“Farman's record-breaking Henri Farman in his biplane attempt for the Grand Prix of Farman takes off while course overshadowed all a , else on Friday. It was Antoinette and Bleriot circle above him extraordinary, too, that such success should have been obtained, in view of the fact that the installation of the new Gnome motor was only completed 40 minutes before the time set as the limit for starting. However, the change proved grandly successful, and Farman kept up in the air M. Lefevre in a Wright Flyer until well after the official time for declaring the meeting at an end for the day. As will be seen from our tables he was officially “Lefebvre was again flying in the dusk, credited with having flown 180 kiloms. in and once more performed some 3hr. 4m. 56s., but as a matter of fact he only As reported in Flight, Henri Farman says that when extraordinary evolutions, the most missed completing another lap by a few he was making his record flight of 112 miles, when impressive being a number of sharp yards. But the clock had chimed half-past machines were flying above him, he felt very distinct double turns and ‘8’s’ in front of the seven, and the official eyes were closed.”* tendencies to drive him earthwards grand stand”*

“The sensational feature of the day was “Fournier experienced a second tumble, this time the contest for the Altitude Prize, for which much more serious than the first smash. He was flying Latham, Paulhan, Farman and Rougier at a good height and had travelled about half-way competed. Latham made the most round the track, when his Voisin machine, struck by a impressive flight, and when he returned to miniature whirlwind, suddenly swerved, turned over terra firma it was Henry Fournier in his once or twice, and then crashed sideways to the found that his Voisin biplane ground. Fournier, with the usual good luck of an barometer aviator, escaped serious injury.” registered 155 metres (504 feet).”* The Winners Gordon Bennett Trophy - Glenn Curtiss Herbert Latham (15min 50.6sec) in an Antoinette Prix de Tour de Piste - Louis Bleriot (August 28th, 7min 47.8sec) Prix de la Vitesse - Glenn Curtiss (August 29th, 23min 29sec) Grand Prix de la Champagne et de la Ville de - Henri Farman (August 27th, 180km) Prix des Passagers - Henri Farman (10km, 10min 39sec) Prix de l’altitude - Herbert Latham (155m, 508ft) University of Liverpool The official Reims Centenary Day advertisement poster for the 26th August 2009 Reims Week will feature: Ⅲ Re-enactment of the various Reims ‘races’, including the famous Gordon Bennett trophy, scheduled throughout the day – more details to follow Ⅲ Test pilots playing the part of the main ‘actors’ at Reims, many familiar with flying vintage aircraft Look for updates at: Ⅲ Presentations on the creation of the http://www.liv.ac.uk/flightscience/reims

various simulation models For more details, please contact: Dr Mark White Ⅲ Presentation by Philip Jarrett – “British Flight Simulation Manager, Flight Science & Technology Research Group Aviation in 1909; a Year of Struggle” Department of Engineering, The University of Liverpool Walker Building, The Quadrangle, Liverpool L69 3GH Ⅲ Opportunities for visitors to ‘fly’ the T +44(0)151 794 6848 F +44(0)151 794 6841 E [email protected]

simulated aircraft that took part at This event is open to the public and attendance is free; to help our planning for the the Grande Semaine day please complete the form below (photocopy if preferred) and send to Dr Mark White, at the address above or email [email protected] with the required information Ⅲ A variety of French ‘moments’ by 31st July 2009 throughout the day…. Name: Number of guests: Affiliation: * Quotations from Flight August - September 1909 Address: Some photos scanned from The First Air Race, The International Competition at Reims 1909 by Owen S Lieberg, Doubleday 1974 Email: Tel:

This event is partly funded by ‘The Friends of The University of Liverpool’ the support of the Friends is gratefully acknowledged. A simulated Célébration de la experience in Grande Semaine celebration of d’Aviation the Centenary of the Grande Semaine d’Aviation Flight Simulation Laboratory, Walker Building, The University of Liverpool Wednesday August 26th 2009 Researchers in the Flight Science and Technology Research (FS&T) Group at the University of Liverpool have been using flight simulation to develop leading edge aerospace concepts since 2000. These include developing handling qualities for the European Civil Tilt Rotor (ERICA), novel display concepts that aid pilots’ view of the future, control laws that integrate handling qualities’ improvements and load alleviation, to creating high-fidelity models of the helicopter-ship dynamic interface and safety cases for vortex wake interactions. The virtual engineering research undertaken by FS&T provides insight into the Pilot’s view from simulator efficacy of vehicle innovations and new cockpit simulation methodologies for exploitation in the next generation of civil and military aircraft; results from this research have been recorded in more than 50 journal and conference papers.

Sunday, August 22nd. Monday, August 23rd. Schedule at Reims Elimination contest for the nomination of the French Grand Prix de la Champagne et de la Ville de Aero Club’s champions in the Gordon-Bennett Reims, first day; Prix du Tour de Piste, second 1909 International Aviation Cup Competition; Prix de la day; Prix des Aeronauts, second day. Vitesse, first day; Prix du Tour de Piste, first day; Prix des Aeronauts, first day. Amidst the high pace of this forward looking research, FS&T is undertaking a ‘footsteps of early aviation’ centenary project that started with the ’ groundbreaking work in the 1900-1905 period and continued with the early British aviation activities of Cody and Roe in 1908. The first, and perhaps one of the most significant, ‘international’ aviation meetings took place at Bethany field, just outside Reims in the Champagne region of France, during the week August 22nd – 29th 1909. Aside from the Wright brothers and Santos Dumont, who chose not to attend the meeting, the aviation pioneers of France, alongside Glenn Curtiss, Bleriot monoplane being prepared for take off at Reims representing the USA, converged on Reims to fly a cumulative distance of nearly 2,000 km over the week. Over the period 2006-2009, under the supervision of Professor Every speed, range, endurance and passenger carrying Gareth Padfield, a number of undergraduate and postgraduate capacity record was broken during a week that saw more students have been creating FLIGHTLAB© simulation models than half a million people witness the wonders of flight for of the leading aircraft featured at Reims, notably; the first time. As recorded in Flight at the time; Ⅲ Wright Model A (Joseph Dickenson, based on Ben Lawrence’s 1905 Flyer III) “Of thirty-eight machines entered, scarcely Ⅲ Bleriot XI (Paul Roscoe, Callum Brown) more than a third that number ever rose off Ⅲ Farman biplane (Owen Tucker, Wasique Alam) Ⅲ Curtiss Reims Racer (Philip Maund, Michael Jones) the vast plain of Betheny ... The course was Ⅲ Antoinette monoplane (Greg Keeley, Michael Jones) Ⅲ Voisin biplane (Oliver Hitchman, Wasique Alam) a 10 kilom. (6.2 English statute miles) one, In addition, concerning early British aircraft that did not take oblong in shape, being 3,750 metres part at Reims, Thomas Richards has created a simulation parallel to the grand stand, and 1,250 model of the Cody 1908 biplane and Philip Perfect created models of the 1910 Bristol Boxkite and the early (1908- metres in depth away from it.”* 1910) A.V.Roe aircraft.

Tuesday, August 24th. Wednesday, August 25th. Thursday, August 26th. Prix de la Vitesse, second day; Prix du Tour de Grand Prix de la Champagne et de la Ville de Grand Prix de la Champagne et de la Ville de Piste, third day; Prix des Aeronauts, third day. Reims, second day; Prix du Tour de Piste, fourth Reims, third day; Prix du Tour de Piste, fifth day; day; Prix des Aeronauts, fourth day. Prix des Aeronauts, fifth day; Landing competition for spherical balloons. A typical FLIGHTLAB© simulation model Wings & canard - Power plant and transmission Aerodynamic interference - aerodynamic components wingtip vortices, wing upwash, comprises a number of ‘components’ canard downwash & roll-up. featuring aerodynamic, structural, geometric, control system, power plant and inertial descriptions and data. The model can be exercised to determine its trim-ability and stability in flight and dynamic handling performance using the real time operating environment of the Flight Simulator. Structure - Control System - masses & inertias, airloads, translations, gearing, hinges rotations and structural dynamics

“The proceedings opened soon after ten, when Curtiss brought out the machine on which American hopes were fixed, and made a trial for the Circuit Delagrange in Prize. He succeeded in lowering the record to 7 mins. 55.4 secs. Then, finding a Bleriot above his machine running well, he determined to make his cast for the great event. Bethany plain The two laps were covered in 15 mins. 50.4 secs., and this time not being bettered, the Cup crosses the ‘herring pond’, and the next contest for it will have to be held in America.”*

“Ideal weather prevailed, and it was anticipated that an exciting duel would be witnessed between Curtiss and Bleriot for the Speed Prize. Bleriot made a determined attempt to capture the prize, but alas, his hopes were soon dashed to the ground. He brought out his fastest machine, but at the far end of the course a sudden descent caused some flexible petrol connections to break. In some way the petrol became ignited, and a few moments later the racer was a wreck. Fortunately, Bleriot was able to get clear, but not before his hand had got Curtiss’ Reims Flyer in action badly burned.”*

Friday, August 27th. Saturday, August 28th. Sunday, August 29th. Grand Prix de la Champagne et de la Ville de Coupe Internationale d’Aviation Gordon- Prix de la Vitesse, third and last day; Prix des Reims, fourth day; Prix du Tour de Piste, sixth Bennett; Prix des Passagers, first day; Prix du Passagers, second and last day; Prix de day; Prix des Aeronauts, sixth day. Tour de Piste, seventh day; Prix des Aeronauts, l'Altitude; Prix du Tour de Piste, eighth and last seventh day. day; Prix des Aeronauts, eighth and last day.