The Montrose Flight.

The adventure of Captain Darbyshire in Regent's Park on Monday last may well serve as a warning to those who are responsible for the idea of flying to Montrose from Farnborough at this time of the year. For the next month or two weather conditions are absolutely unreliable, and one cannot agree with the wisdom of permitting officers whose crosscountry experience has been deliberately limited by orders confining their flight to the regular highway between Farnborough and Salisbury Plain to attempt a big flight not only over absolutely unknown country but into a totally different climate.

Even here in the South at this time of the year a calm means a fog, and a fine day means a big wind. A comparison of the weather reports in the "Week's Work" columns during the past few weeks will show that often when there has been a full day's flying at Farnborough in a steady wind there has been on Salisbury Plain a gale from quite a different direction, often with snow or heavy rain, which has prevented even the hardiest of pilots at the Central Flying School and at the Bristol School from venturing out, or vice versa. When the apparently fine weather comes the conditions are even more dangerous, for an apparently still, bright day brings most inexplicable phenomena owing to the effect of the sun's heat and possibly of its light, on the cold and rain-sodden ground.

Almost a year ago, on the day of Mr. D. G. Gilmour's fatal accident at Richmond, several aviators found that the air at Hendon, Shoreham, and Eastbourne on that day was of very uncertain quality and experienced some extraordinary currents. Writing shortly afterwards Mr. W. H. Ewen. who is one of the most observant of the men at present flying in this country, said: "Here is some information which takes one back to the day of poor Gilmour's smash. On Wednesday, Salmet, Hucks and myself were flying over totally different parts of the country outside the aerodrome, and Turner was flying about the aerodrome. In comparing notes afterwards, we all expressed the opinion that the air was as tricky as, or more so than, on any previous occasion in our experience. Now I have just heard that René Caudron, who was flying on the same day at Crotoy, formed the same opinion. This is now the second time I have had a somewhat similar experience, only this time the area covered is much greater. Are we to put this down, as on the last occasion, to mere coincidence, or is it possible to assume that the atmosphere over such a large area can be regularly good or bad? I leave you to your thoughts.

"Then, again, what think you of this suggestion? We are now really beginning the day of decently long cross-country flights, and soon we will all want to know the best way from and to various places. Would it not be a good plan to keep, say, a log-book, so that the men who first go over what will later on be recognised air-routes, might report any special circumstances which might be a benefit to future fliers?"

The first paragraph of Mr. Ewen's letter deserves the very careful consideration of the Royal Meteorological Society, and it is to be hoped that when the Royal Flying Corps gets to work and various officers are flying all over the country, very careful observations will be made to investigate this quality of

39K-3in:

"trickiness" in the air. Even now the Aeronautical Society might do much to collate the experiences of various aviators on various days when unusual conditions prevail.

The second paragraph is also of very great importance, and it would be most useful if cross-country fliers could be induced to put on paper any circumstances surrounding any particular flight which might be of use to others following the same line. For instance, notes as to any bad ground which may be avoided by a deviation from the direct line, any good landing places noticed in passing, any bad currents from certain hills or valleys, and so forth, should be placed on record. Such matters will be part of the regular work of the Royal Flying Corps, but civilian aviators who think of joining the Reserve should make a practice of doing so also. THE AEROPLANE will always be most willing to publish such observations.

One could wish that those controlling the Royal Flying Corps would have the moral courage to admit that the idea of flying to Montrose was a mistake from its inception. It could only be possible in the event of a steady and uniform frost covering the whole of the country, and even then there would probably be too much fog.

Scare-ship Effects.

The visits of the various "scare-ships "have evidently not been without salutary effect. Colonel Seely, Secretary of State for War, has drafted a Bill to amend the Aerial Navigation Act, which has for its object the restriction, if necessary, of flights by foreign aircraft over this country. The text of the Bill was published on Monday.

The Bill gives a Secretary of State powers to prohibit the flying of aircraft over proscribed areas, which may include the whole of the coast-line and the "territorial waters (i.e., within three miles of the coast) adjacent thereto."

If an aircraft flies over a proscribed area, or fails to comply with the landing regulations, a signal shall be given by "the officer designated for the purpose." If the aircraft still fails to comply it shall be lawful for the officer to fire at or into such aircraft and to use any and every other means necessary to compel compliance."

It will be remembered that similar laws have been in force in Germany, France, Russia, and Austria, for some time, so that Great Britain occupies its accustomed place in matters aerial.

The Aero-Show Trophy Race.

Given fine weather there will be keen competition for the first big race of the season at Hendon, Saturday week, February 22nd. The entries close on Saturday next, the 15th. at noon, so pilots who are thinking of competing should make up their minds quickly. The first heat of the race is timed to start at 3 p.m., and the second at 3.20 p.m., and as the heats always show as good sport as the finals, visitors should be in good time. After the heats there will be an exhibition of fancy flying by Mr. Grahame-White and other well-known pilots, and the final of the race for the Aero-Show Trophy will start at 4.15 p.m., after which there will be more exhibition flying and passenger carrying. Throughout the Show from February 14th to 22nd there will be daily exhibitions, and passenger flights can be arranged on any day.

Length - 5940.3in. Span.-3240. Din. Motor.- 80HP. Gnome.

The latest experimental Bleriot Monoplane,

The Royal Aero Club.

The annual dinner will take place at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, S.W. (by kind permission), on Thursday, March 13th (instead of March 6th), 1913, at 7.30 for 8 o'clock. Tickets (exclusive of wines and cigars), 15s. each.

The following prizes won during the year will be presented : The British Empire Michelin Trophy No. 1, to H. G. Hawker; the British Empire Michelin Trophy No. 2, to S. F. Cody.

At the committee meeting on the 4th inst., the following aviators' certificates were granted: 409, Horace A. Buss (Blackburn monoplane, Blackburn School, Hendon); 410, Montague F. Glew (Blackburn monoplane, Blackburn School, Hendon); 411, Hubert Scott (Deperdussin monoplane, Deperdussin School, Hendon); 412, Air Mechanic Reginald Collis (Maurice Farman biplane, Central Flying School, Upavon); 413, Christopher Nevile (Bristol biplane, Bristol School, Brooklands); 414, Capt. E. G. R. Lithgow, R.A.M.C. (Short biplane, Central Flying School, Upavon).

The Kite and Model Aeroplane Association. DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT.-It is with great regret that the secretary announces the death of the president, Colonel F. C. Trollope (late Grenadier Guards), who died on Tuesday, January 28th, from pneumonia. He attended a council meeting of the association on Thursday, Jan. 23rd, when the council presented him with a small memento for the work he had done during his term of office. There is no doubt that he caught a chill on his way home from the meeting, for he never went out again.

He was buried by the wish of Lord Kesteven in the family vault at Tallington Church, Stamford, on Saturday, February 1st. Lieut. T. O'B. Hubbard, Royal Flying Corps, represented the association. Colonel H. S. Massy, C.B., and Colonel J. Templer, late Superintendent Government Balloon Factory, represented the association at a memorial service held at St. Thomas's, Orchard Street, W.

Colonel Trollope will ever be remembered for his work in connection with balloons and kites, as well as the work he has done in raising the War Kite Squadron, which he did not live to see equipped with their outfit, but it was his last wish to see the 1st squadron complete. It would therefore be a fitting memorial to him if his friends would fulfill his wish by subscribing towards a section of the squadron and name it after him. This is the memorial he himself would have liked.

His kindly presence and his valuable help will be greatly missed. The council and members of the Association tender their sympathy to their late president's relations and friends in the loss they have sustained.

AERO SHOW.-The entries received number about 170 and show that the Model Section will be the finest model exhibit yet seen in the world. It includes French and Chinese entries, and the exhibition will be worth visiting, if only to see this section, which will show the scientific use of models. It is the object of the Association to prove to the public that models are useful besides simply forming a pastime and sport only. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.-This will not be held till March, but the hon. sec. will be pleased to receive all notices of motion before February 22nd, together with any nominations for the various offices.

PRESENTATION TO THE PRESIDENT.-The Council on Thursday, January 23rd, presented Lieut.-Col. F. C. Trollope with a cigar cabinet as a slight token of esteem for the kindness and courtesy extended to them and the members of the Association during the year.

OFFICIAL TRIALS.-The Paddington and District Aero Club have invited the Association to hold the next Trials in March on their ground at Sudbury. This offer has been accepted with thanks, the date fixed being March 15th, at 3 p.m.

The Edinburgh Aeronautical Society.

A meeting was held on Friday, February 7th. Members have the following advantages: Use of excellent aeronautical library and free access to reading room at the Rutland Hotel, where all the aeronautical papers may be seen. The society has also been lent the use of a 30-h.p. biplane for the summer. Free advice on any aeronautical subject may be obtained free from our technical advisers, which include A. V. Roe, and W. H. Ewen, Esqs. The society has also made arrangements with an aeronautical firm whereby members wishing to enter the aeronautical trade as aviators, mechanics, designers, etc., may do so to their advantage. Full particulars from G. T. Cooper, hon. secretary, 41, Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh.

A Sign of the Times.

A meeting of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company, Limited, the makers of the "Bristol" aeroplanes, was held at Bristol on February 10th, Sir George White. Bart., presiding. A resolution was unanimously adopted increasing the