PIONEERS OF AVIATION

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1011, 29 December 1910, Page 6

PIONEERS OF AVIATION

DEPARTURE OF SPECIAL. MISSIONS. FOR. INDIA, AUSTRALIA, AUD NEW • ' '.ZEALAND. . The: British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Limited,'are (says the "Bristol Times unci Mirror" of November 15) amply justifying .their title. ' They have shown vjhat British "skill can do by producing the' "Bristol" biplane 'with which sucli marvellous performances were made .by the celebrated aviator Captain-Dickson at tho "Army manoeuvres on Salisbury .Plain in September last. They are . now like the pioneers-of old, fitting'out, not . Argosies, but aeroplane expeditions to the British colonies. The first organised effort to make the results of the science of aviation a worldwide commercial industry is-now to be made by tho,British and Colonial Aeroplane "Company, Ltd., of Bristol,' whose chairman, Sir; George White, Bart., is already well known to the world-of engineering 'by his long connection with successful railway and tramway undertakings.. During this, month, this enterprising company sends' missions to Australia, . NeW Zealand, ■ and: to India. The Australian and New Zealand commission will'consist of Mr. Sydney E,. Smith, the company's manager; Mr. Joseph Hammond, a certified. pilote-aviateur; and a staff of mechanics, one of whom,. Mr. L. M'Donald, is also a pilote-aviateur of the Royal Aero Club".' Mr.' Hammond, with two of the latest pattern "Bristol" biplanes, leaves immediately, and arrives in Australia about the middle of December; and Mr. .Sydney Smith will arrive there before the end of' the, year, also. Mr. Hammond is an aviator of the most finished style, and is never content to be near, the "groifrid; "He made what must he a record for:the French schools ■of aviation by qualifying .for. his :pilot's certificate in a period of ten days. . Mr. Hammond is an Australasian, and'will be welcomed ill the land of his. birth by many- friends. He should prove most popular, for his past experience all over the world cannot but appeal to .the true sporting instincts of the people of Australasia. He was born in Feilding, NewZealand, and educated at Wellington Uiiivcraty, and, then Went, ranching in Australia. ' From this occupation ho turned to gold-digging in Klondike and trapping in_ Alaska. ■ For some six months after this he' toured in the United States as a cowboy in. the famous show of Buffalo Bill.' Coming to' Europe, ho travelled in most., of .its countries, and'became -fascinated by the new art of aviation, and after gaining much" experience by visiting the; best-known aerodromes in France; lie entered, the school at Rheims and obtained his certificate- with marvellous rapidity. "

The sight .of an Australian - aviator- of tho; greatest courage and daring, flying the-production of, a manufacturing i company of tho Mother' Country, should evoke- the greatest' enthusiasm a.U' over the Continent and in. New Zealand.' The manager hopes -to have the opportune tv of demonstrating to, the. military authoi-i'-ties of itbft Commonwealth ofv Australia, and also to those of New Zealand, that ,he brings a machine which is absolutely invaluable as a means of tactical -.reconnaissance, _ and -the-acquiring of a number; of .which would in a few months enable .them to take foremost places among the aerial fleets of the. world. Indian- commission will consist of Mr. I-'arnall Thurston, as, business manager;. Mr. .Henry; Jnllerofc,. the well-known-aviator; .and a staff of ' mechanics, one-of whom is. also a capable-pilot. The patty sails from-England on; November 25. by. the P. .and -.0. - s.s, Egypt, arriving in India in! the .middle■ .of •December, .where an;extended, tour, covering .practically thot whole, of the Indjian' , 'Empiro, ' ; W. beniade.*, This party . are ' taking 1 several,. ;pf .-pattern. "Bristol" .two of whicli have,been actually flying 1 " on' Salisbury . Plain, and during vtliis week :at Bristol. ■ . IT. Jullerot is a native of France, but I speaks English fluently, having lived, for I Jt, number of years in Anierica, and previously had ...received his mechanical training at the . woll-kpown Mercedes works, in Germany. M. Jullerot passed I out of the .Academy of Engineering in Ithcinis first of .his year,' winning the Special Diploma offered by the Minister of Commerce for France, and .is therefore a highly-qualified engineer. M. Jullcrot's ! caToer as an aviator has been brilliant m the extreme.' Ho commenced his,traini'lng at Mourmelon, and,' acquiring tho art very -rapidiy, he took his . pilot's, certificate in-March this year after four mghts, and since then.has achieved great, C/isnnctioii at many-of'the Continental' meetnigs. -- Among his numerous successes ! are the following:— . v.. 1

"Bordeaux meeting.—Prize : for ' greatest heights (aggregate heights,. 21,000 feet' in four days), i ' . 1 rilsen (Bohemia).—Flight over city : ahd cross 'country to grounds .'Count Sclieonborn.: .. • . ' Budapest- meeting.—Sixth of 50 competitors for total '.distance. Two prizes for. speed; one .for highest'flight,'and oho for lon£ distance.. . St. Omer.—Endurance prize for flight of 2 hours 10 minutes., , Bar-le-d'uc.—Flights in wind of 40 miles per hour. 1 . Jtaiaga-Flißlits over sea and over British fleet at anchor. Bourg'es.—Cross-country flight, Bourses to Camp at Avors. . ' • '. JCn the Indian Empire it io nl^o'• n'-nti-Oipated that' the interest of the military authorities will be greatly aroused when' the commission has brought before 'I hem in practical demonstration. the possibili■rOS« r , , e use of aeroplanes in warfaro of the future, and.it is expected that at the great military centres of India'special exhibitions will be made' with this object ui vievf, • • >. The biplanes, will be exhibited in flight all qver Australia, -New. Zealand, and India, as-a means, of providing their practicability-and as.a'' necessary preliminary to establishing aviation as a new industry. There are no countries in tlie. world taore, eminently suited for the successful' use of aeroplanes than Australia and India, and when the ■ biplanes are shown in flight , there is no doubt .that aviation will be .taken up by the. sporting communities of ■ these Continents in a manner in which- it has not been elsewhere in the world. ' -The Mr. Hammoml 'mentioned is a former- resident of- liangitilcei.