WOMEN FLIERS.

Northern Advocate, 6 May 1914, Page 11

WOMEN FLIERS.

It is well known that many men in j the Services, and out of them, would take up flying and its attendant risks ■were it not for the soft pleadings of their women relatives. More than one hardy aviator prominent in the early days of aviation has allowed his hopes of aeronautical fame to "melt on a warm hearthstone." The tendency of iate, however, has been quite the other way, and one may expect ..at any time to read the itinerary of the first aerial honeymoon. in the meantime, the number of women who have taken up aviation, either as an occasional amuse-

iC-'it or as a regular pastime, or even as a business, is steadily increasing. Many women have ordered small aero-planes,-for their own use, and when the "aviation boom" really gets going, the midget monoplane is likely to figure largely in it. One of the latest aristocratic recruits is Lady Dudley, wno recently madd a flight with Mr Hamel at Worcester. The Baroness yon Sehenk has been a regular flier for some time, and is well known at Hendon. There is a lady practising regularly at Eastborne Aerodrome, across the Channel, at Villaeoublay, Mine. Pallier, who has made several records on an Astra, may be seen at work'with a Nieuport. Up and down the country, and from all quarters, one lears reports of many other women fliers and pilots, and even those Vho have been so unfortunate as to meet with accidents whilst flying are not deterred from continuing. Mrs de Beauvoir stocks is recovering from her injuries of last autumn, and is keen on resuming aviation. Mme. Richer, now quite recovered from her severe accident last summer, is practising at Crotoy with a Caudron biplane. England's leading feminine exponent of aviation, and probably the first English woman aviator, is Mrs Maurice Hewlett, who with 'her partner, M. Blondeau, has an aeroplane factory in S. London. Pour of their machines have recently been purchased by the Government —two for

'g army and two for the navy. —-All these machines passed their tests with "flying" colours, a most unusual experience, as slight alterations and supplementary tests are generally required. Mrs Hewlett was also .the first woman to have a flying school (at Brooklands), where a number of aviators were »successfully trained for the Royal Aero Club's certificate.