The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1911. CONQUEST OF THE AIR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 81, 25 May 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1911. CONQUEST OF THE AIR.

Full particulars regarding the great aeroplane flight, cabled last month, are now to hand, and show that M. Frier, who is Chief Instructor to the Bleriot School, Hendon, had the trip in mind for several weeks, but was delayed by the unfavourable weather. On April 12th the conditions at Hendon were splendid, and accordingly he took the Bleriot monoplane out of its shed in the morning and made a preliminary flight. He left the aerodrome at 12.1(5 and flew towards London, but discovering a leak in the pressure feed of his reserve petrol tank lie.returned to the aerodrome, after being in the air half an hour. He then resolved to start on the big flight so soon as the necessary repairs wore carried out. While this was being done he lunched, and then final preparations were made for the start. At 1.157 p.m. he was given the official send-off, and, rising rapidly, headed towards the eastern side of London. His object was to reach the coast by way of Chatham and Canterbury, pass over to Cape Crisnez to secure a short sea passage, then to follow the coast to Boulogne, and strike inland from there, as he was well acquainted with the, route from Boulogne to Fan’s. When he left Hendon there was a slight northeast wind blowing. As he passed over Dover it was north-west, and ho edged into it. Ho was flying quite 2000 ft. high, and as the word passed that an aeroplane was above, crowds flocked to the front, but most of the people were too late to see him, for ho was travelling at a great pace. Ho reached Dover at a quarter to three, and was lost to sight ten minutes later. Ho crossed the water just as the Ostend boat arrived.' The weather was splendid and the aviator made excellent progress. Reaching the French coast, he turned as lie had arranged to do and passed over Boulogne at 3.40 p.m. Ho was then 3000 feet high. He made a splendid journey to Fan's, landing in front of the Bleriot sheds at Tssy-les-Moulincaux without a stop in four minutes under the four hours. Flo made a perfect landing and concluded his great flight without having experienced any trouble whatever except a slight fog before reaching Dover and after leaving Beauvais. M. Fierro Frier was born at Rouen on December 2(5, 1886, and is therefor just over 21 years of age. He was a certified engineer at the Fan’s School of Electricity, which ho left four years ago. He then did his two years’ military service in the Engineers, and during the second year of his service was attached to the French Aero Corps. On leaving he was engaged by M. Louis Bleriot, and passed through the aeroplane works. He went to Fan to learn to fly at (he beginning of 1910. After (he winter season he moved to the Bleriot summer school at Etampes, where it was his duty to tost all the new machines. He remained there until the end of September, when he came to the Bleriot school at Hendon as chief instructor. Me will bo remembered as the airman who flew over Olympia during the Motor Show last .November. The machine he used for his great flight was a 60-horse-power Onome-cngincd Bleriot monoplane, carrying three special Links for an extra largo supply of petrol. ’I he motor was protected bv a metal hood, which extended towwards the pilot so as to shield him Irani the wind. lb- was well-equip-ped lor tin l journey, and carried, among other things, a special compass designed by i\l. Bleriot.