the mastery of the air(操纵空气)-第26章
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pioneers who have helped to make the science of flight what it is to…day； it
would be unfair not to mention the generosity of Lord Northcliffe and his
co…directors of the Daily Mail towards the development of aviation in this
country。 Up to the time of writing； the sum of L24；750 has been paid by
the Daily Mail in the encouragement of flying； and prizes to the amount of
L15；000 are still on offer。 In addition to these prizes this journal has
maintained pilots who may be described as 〃Missionaries of Aviation〃。
Perhaps the foremost of them is M。 Salmet； who has made hundreds of
flights in various parts of the country； and has aroused the greatest
enthusiasm wherever he has flown。
The progress of aviation undoubtedly owes a great deal to the Press；
for the newspaper has succeeded in bringing home to most people the fact
that the possession of air…craft is a matter of national importance。 It was of
little use for airmen to make thrilling flights up and down an aerodrome；
with the object of interesting the general public； if the newspapers did not
record such flights； and though in the very early days of aviation some
newspapers adopted an unfriendly attitude towards the possibilities of
practical aviation； nearly all the Press has since come to recognize the
aeroplane as a valuable means of national defence。 Right from the start the
Daily Mail foresaw the importance of promoting the new science of flight
by the award of prizes； and its public…spirited enterprise has done much to
break up the prevailing apathy towards aviation among the British nation。
If these three great events had been mere spectacles and nothing else
such as； for instance； that great horse…race known as 〃The Derby〃this
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chapter would never have been written。 But they are most worthy of
record because all three have marked clearly…defined stepping…stones in
the progress of flight； they have proved conclusively that aviation is
practicable； and that its ultimate entry into the busy life of the world is no
more than a matter of perfecting details。
The first L10；000 prize was offered in November； 1906； for a flight by
aeroplane from London to Manchester in twenty…four hours； with not more
than two stoppages en route。 In 1910 two competitors entered the lists for
the flight； one； an Englishman； Mr。 Claude Grahame…White； the other； a
Frenchman； M。 Paulhan。
Mr。 Grahame…White made the first attempt； and he flew remarkably
well too； but he was forced to descend at Lichfieldabout 113 miles on the
journeyowing to the high and gusty winds which prevailed in the Trent
valley。 The plucky pilot intended to continue the flight early the next
morning； but during the night his biplane was blown over in a gale while it
stood in a field； and it was so badly damaged that the machine had to be
sent back to London to be repaired。
This took so long that his French rival； M。 Paulhan； was able to
complete his plans and start from Hendon； on 27th April。 So rapidly had
Paulhan's machine been transported from Dover； and 〃assembled〃 at
Hendon； that Mr。 White； whose biplane was standing ready at Wormwood
Scrubbs； was taken by surprise when he heard that his rival had started on
the journey and 〃stolen a march on him〃； so to speak。 Nothing daunted；
however； the plucky British aviator had his machine brought out； and he
went in pursuit of Paulhan late in the afternoon。 When darkness set in Mr。
White had reached Roade； but the French pilot was several miles ahead。
Now came one of the most thrilling feats in the history of aviation。 Mr。
White knew that his only chance of catching Paulhan was to make a flight
in the darkness； and though this was extremely hazardous he arose from a
small field in the early morning； some hours before daybreak arrived； and
flew to the north。 His friends had planned ingenious devices to guide him
on his way： thus it was proposed to send fast motor…cars； bearing very
powerful lights； along the route； and huge flares were lighted on the
railway； but the airman kept to his course chiefly by the help of the lights
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from the railway stations。
Over hill and valley； forest and meadow； sleeping town and slumbering
village； the airman flew； and when dawn arrived he had nearly overhauled
his rival； who； in complete ignorance of Mr。 White's daring pursuit； had
not yet started。
But now came another piece of very bad luck for the British aviator。 At
daybreak a strong wind arose； and Mr。 White's machine was tossed about
like a mere play…ball； so that he was compelled to land。 Paulhan； however；
who was a pilot with far more experience； was able to overcome the
treacherous air gusts； and he flew on to Manchester； arriving there in the
early morning。
Undoubtedly the better pilot won； and he had a truly magnificent
reception in Manchester and London； and on his return to France。 But this
historic contest laid the foundation of Mr。 Grahame…White's great
reputation as an aviator； and； as we all know； his fame has since become
world…wide。
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CHAPTER XXXIII Three Historic Flights （Cont。）
About a month after Paulhan had won the 〃London to Manchester〃
race； the world of aviation； and most of the general public too； were
astonished to read the announcement of another enormous prize。 This time
a much harder task was set； for the conditions of the contest stated that a
circuit of Britain had to be made； covering a distance of about 1000 miles
in one week； with eleven compulsory stops at fixed controls。
This prize was offered on 22nd May； 1910； and in the following year
seventeen competitors entered the lists。 It says much for the progress of
aviation at this time； when we read that； only a year before； it was difficult
to find but two pilots to compete in the much easier race described in the
last chapter。 Much of this progress was undoubtedly due to the immense
enthusiasm aroused by the success of Paulhan in the 〃London to
Manchester〃 race。
We will not describe fully the second race； because； though it was of
immense importance at the time； it has long since become a mere episode。
Rarely has Britain been in such great excitement as during that week in
July； 1911。
Engine troubles； breakdowns； and other causes soon reduced the
seventeen competitors to two only： Lieutenant Conneau； of the French
Navy…who flew under the name of M。 Beaumontand M。 Vedrines。 Neck
to neck they flewif we may be allowed this horse…racing expression
over all sorts of country； which was quite unknown to them。
Victory ultimately rested with Lieutenant Conneau； who； on 26th July；
1911； passed the winning…post at Brooklands after having completed the
course in the magnificent time of twenty…two hours； twenty…eight minutes；
averaging about 45 miles an hour for the whole journey。 M。 Vedrines；
though defeated； made a
