COLONY'S EARLY AVIATION
2
(All Rights of Reproduction are Strictly Reserved)
The year 1911 saw the first aeroplane flight in the Colony. It was a period when several airmen of different nationalities were touring the East giving exhibitions of what was then a great novelty. Before local residents had their first view of a flying machine in the air, however, they were given a sore disappointment, as we can see from the following newspaper extracts:
On January 28, 1911, The S. C. M. Post reported
"Three well-known aviators have arrived in Hongkong en route for the Manila Carnival and their flying machines, two of which are Baldwin's make and one of Todd-Shriver's pattern, are to be landed to-day from the ss Asia.
A representative of the South China Morning Post looked in upon the party last night at the Hongkong Hotel, where they are staying, and obtained particulars of interest to our readers in view of the possibility of a flight in Hongkong. Captain Thomas S. Baldwin is the doyen of aviators, being the inventor of the parachute and the winner of the first dirigible. The days of ballooning are numbered and consequently he has taken to the more scientific art of the aeroplane, though, as he said himself, he prefers to leave the risks of high-flying and long-flying to younger men. 'You see,' Captain Baldwin said, 'I am no light weight (he is 201 lbs) and it takes a bit more fuel to carry me than these younger fellows,' and he pointed to Captain Price and Aviator James C. Mars.
"Asked as to his records, Mars said his highest altitude is 7,600 feet, which stood for a short spell as a world's record; his longest flight is one of 1 3/4 hours' duration, the distance covered being a little over 100 miles at a speed of close on a mile a minute. These records were made last autumn at Helena, Montana, and ... respectively.
"As for Captain Baldwin, he has never been higher than 750 feet, but he has made one of the most spectacular flights on record - a sort of 'threading the needle' flight in the course of which he passed over and then under a bridge. Captain Baldwin is the inventor of a vulcanised silk material for covering the wings of aeroplanes. He carries with him many samples of this material, which is marvellously fine in texture and manufactured with all regard to lightness.
"The wings of the Baldwin aeroplane are 38 feet long and the propeller 7 feet, made of spruce and bamboo. Ten gallons of gasoline are the usual amount of fuel carried, and this suffices for a hundred miles. The machine itself weighs 650 lbs and develops 60 h.p.
"This is not Captain Baldwin's first visit to the Far East. Possibly there are some in Hongkong who will remember his parachute descent here 20 years ago.
"No arrangement has been made regarding an exhibition here. Captain Price said, 'You may take it from me that nothing will be attempted without the fullest sanction of the authorities, and no arrangement of any kind has so far been made.'
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COLONY'S EARLY AVIATION
2
(all Rights of Reproduction are Strictly Reserved)
The year 1911 saw the first aeroplane flight in the Colony.' It was a perioed when s evel airmen of defferent nationalities were touring the East giving exhibitions of what was then a great novelty. Before local residents had their first view of a flying machine in the air, however, they were given a sore disappointment, as we can see from the following newspapers extracts:-
On January 28, 1911, The S. 0. M. Post reported
"Three well-known aviators have ar rived in Hongkong en route for the Manila Carnival and their flying machines two of which are Baldwin's make and one of Todd-Shriver's pattern are to be landed to-day from the ss Asia,
& repre- gentative of the South China Morning Post looked in upon the party last night at the Hongkong Hotel, where they are staying and obtained particulars of interest to our readers in view of the possibility of a flight in Hongkong. Captain Thomas S. Baldwin is the doyen of aviators, being the inven- tor of the parachute and the woner of the first dirigible. The days of ballooning are numbered and consequently he has taken to the more scientific art of the aeroplane though as he said himslef he prefer to leave the risks of high-flying and long-flying to younger, men. " you see " Captain Baldwin said I am no light weight ( he is 201 lbs ) and it takes a bit more fuel to carry me than these younger fellows and he pointed to Captain Hrice and Aviator James C. Mars.
"Asked as to his records Mars said his highest alti- tude is 7,6000 feet which stood for a short spell að a world's record his longest glight is one of 1 3/4 hours duration the distance covered being a little ovef over 100 mibes at a speed of close on a mile a minute. These records were made last autumn at Helena, Montana and Tepeka. Jansus respectively.
*
"As for Captain Baldwin he has nver been higher than 750 feet but he has made one for the most spectacular flight on record - a sort of threading the needle flight in the course of which he passed over and then under a bridge. Cap tain Baldwin is the inventor of a vulcanised silk material for cevering the wings of aeroplanes. He carries with him many samples of this material, which is marvellously in fine texture and manufactured with all regrard to lightness.
"The wings of the Baldwin aeroplane are 38 feet long and the propeller 7 feet made of spruce and bamboo. Ten gallons
of gasolene are the usual amount of fuel carried and this suffices for a hundred miles. The machine itself weighs 650 lbs and develops 60 h.p.
"This is not Captain Baldwin's first visit to the Far East.
Possibly there are some in Hongkong who will remember his parabhute descent here 20 years ago.
"No arrangement has been made regarding an exhition here.
Captain Price s ad " You may take it from me that nothing will be attemoted without the fullest sanction oftheauthorities and no arrangement of any kind has so far been made.
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