“Lateral control is by wing warping, the movement being carried out by a wheel mounted on a vertical column, a fore-and-aft movement of which operates the rear elevators through a connecting-rod and countershaft. The warp cables are led from a rockshaft to pulleys let into the uprights of the fuselage just above the rear spar attachments of the lower plane. From these pulleys the cables go to the top sockets of the rear outer struts. A continuous cable also runs from each of the outer rear strut sockets of the lower plane over pulleys on the tops of the two rear struts attached to the fuselage.... Flying over the measured course at Farnborough, fully loaded with fuel for 2½ hours, pilot and passenger, a maximum speed of 92 m.p.h. and a minimum speed of 36.9 m.p.h. were attained. The climbing speed was 1,200 ft. in one minute, also fully loaded—quite a credit to British aeroplane design. It was originally intended to take this biplane over to Paris during the Aero Show in order to demonstrate its wonderful capabilities in the home of aviation, so to speak. We understand, however, that this plan has been changed, and that the machine has been sent out to Australia, where Mr. Hawker will put it through its paces above his native soil, and endeavour to rouse the interest of the Australian Government. After staying there some months, we may hope to see him back in England. Our readers will, we feel sure, join us in wishing both Mr. Hawker and the Sopwith Aviation Co. every success in this latest enterprise.”
Among other new machines under construction at the Sopwith Works about this time may be mentioned a huge seaplane of 80 ft. span, propelled by two 120 h.p. Austro-Daimler engines. The two propellers were each of 12 ft. 6 in. diameter. There was also a new type of flying-boat driven by a 200 h.p. Canton-Unné, or Salmson, radial water-cooled engine. This machine, which was exhibited at the Aero Show held at Olympia in March, 1914, was considered the strongest and best-made flying-boat of its time. Very soon after the advent of the Sopwith Tabloid, and shortly after Harry’s departure for Australia, another Sopwith made its first appearance, in the shape of a machine whose size was between the Tabloid and the standard 80 h.p. tractor biplane. This new biplane, known as the Tweenie, was engined with a motor of 100 h.p. The first model was acquired by the Admiralty. In April, Pixton, on a Sopwith Tweenie fitted with floats, won the classic Schneider Cup at Monaco. The achievement attracted much attention from foreign journalists as signifying a great British triumph. Very little notice of the event was taken by the British lay Press; but the Royal Aero Club held a luncheon in honour of Sopwith and Pixton, on which occasion Sopwith recounted many of the amusing little incidents which led up to the evolution of the winning machine.
Before giving a detailed account of Harry’s experiences on his Australian expedition it is well to record one or two happenings which transpired in his absence from England.
“Will o’ the Wisp,” in Flight, January 10th, 1914, perpetrated the following, which calls for no further explanation:
“‘Sopwith Aviation Company, Ltd. December 15th, 1913. £26,000 (£1) (6,000 six per cent. cum. pref. and 20,000 ord.). To take over,’ etc. Um—sounds all right. Fast little beggar that new Baby-plane. Good Hydro, too, that one that nearly got round the circuit. Clever chap T. O. M., clever men with him, too: what are we going to see in 1914?”
An Australian, after a visit to England, said: “Plenty of flying can be seen at Brooklands. They’re cool customers nowadays. They bid you good-day, hop on board their machine, there’s a whiz and a flutter, and your man is out of sight, all in a space of a minute or two.”
Of nine tractor biplanes ordered from the Sopwith firm by the War Office about this time, Harry was only able to deliver the first, as the others were completed in his absence, when Pixton was responsible for delivery.
Harry’s name was well known outside aeronautical circles, even in these days, when trans-Atlantic flights were no more than suggested. The following incident, reproduced from Flight of January 31st, 1914, provides amusing evidence of this. “Will o’ the Wisp” is again the culprit.
“When Mr. Hawker returns to this country from Australia he will have to search out Mr. Rutherford, of Gainsborough, and have a few words with him. Mr. Rutherford rode up to one of the hotels in Lincoln the other day on a motor-cycle, and said he was Hawker, come to do some exhibition flying in the neighbourhood. He was, of course, immediately the hero of the place, and was introduced to all and sundry. He had great tales to tell of his flight round Great Britain and what he was going to do in the future. So friendly did he become, that he promised to take many of the guests for a joy-ride so soon as his mechanics should arrive with the machine. Of course, there is always somebody who can’t leave a poor chap alone, and the kill-joy in this case was a policeman, who turned up and arrested the giddy Rutherford for stealing the motorbike, which he had hired at Gainsborough and had forgotten to return. The police found that he was in the possession of ninepence, which goes to prove the old saying that it is not always necessary to possess money to be happy. Incidentally, he said he had had over a thousand offers of marriage. Perhaps, when he has finished his four months’ imprisonment, he will consider one of them.”
On Tuesday, February 3rd, 1914, Harry’s British height record of 11,450 feet was unofficially broken by Raynham, who, with Mr. Harold Blackburn as passenger, ascended to 15,000 feet. Harry’s absence in Australia provided an unique opportunity for his records to be broken and new records held by others, at least until his return. On the following Tuesday, under official observance, Raynham broke Harry’s record for one passenger by ascending to 14,420 feet with Mr. MacGeagh Hurst. On March 7th, Captain Salmond’s flight of December 13th, 1913, when 13,140 feet was reached, was officially recognised as beating Harry’s record. Harry’s other records, for one, two, and three passengers, still stood, pending confirmation of the reports of Raynham’s attempts to break them.