拍品專文
This airship, after several delays left Lamotte-Breuil (nr Paris) at 0718 hrs 16th Oct 1910 for Wormwood Scrubbs (London) piloted by Messrs Baudry and Le Prince and carrying five passengers - Alphonse Clement, Willie Du Cros (representing the Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee), Mr Sabathier (Chief Engineer), Messrs Delassier and Davie (Mechanics). She arrived at 1336 hrs the same day and was greeted by, amongst others, Arthur Lee M.P. (Chairman of the Parliamentary Defence Committee), and Henniker Heaton M.P.
Clement Bayard II had a capacity of 247,000 cu.ft, was powered by two 130 hp engines and achieved 33 mph (during the crossing).
Historical Note: In May 1909 The Parliamentary Aerial Defense Committee was formed for the 'purpose of co-operating with the Government on aeronautical questions affecting the defenses of the country', with Arthur Lee as Chairman and Cecil Harmsworth as Vice Chairman. The Secretary was Harvey Du Cros, Unionist member for Hastings and founder and President of the Dunlop Rubber company.
Du Cros campaigned hard to persuade the government to take note of and act on the achievements of German and French airships, and was instrumental in not only concluding an arrangement for the crossing of the channel but also for the purchase by the Nation of the airship. No shed or 'garage' existed in England large enough to house the airship and £5,000 was subscribed by the Daily Mail, the shed being built at Wormwood Scrubbs on a site provided by the War Office. Negotiations to purchase the airship were eventually concluded, the price being £17,500 of which £5,500 was raised through public subscription.
Unfortunately it was found that Clement Bayard II regularly leaked so much gas that it would cost a very great deal of money to keep her inflated, so no test flights were made, as planned; she was dismantled and never flew again.
In August 1909 Arthur Du Cros, in a speech in Parliament attacking the Government's aeronautical policy predicted that airships could be used to launch aerial attacks against the country. He also advocated the formation of an Air Service independant of the Army or Navy, which did not take place until after the First World War. The Committee of which Du Cros was Secretary was dissolved in 1914.
Clement Bayard II had a capacity of 247,000 cu.ft, was powered by two 130 hp engines and achieved 33 mph (during the crossing).
Historical Note: In May 1909 The Parliamentary Aerial Defense Committee was formed for the 'purpose of co-operating with the Government on aeronautical questions affecting the defenses of the country', with Arthur Lee as Chairman and Cecil Harmsworth as Vice Chairman. The Secretary was Harvey Du Cros, Unionist member for Hastings and founder and President of the Dunlop Rubber company.
Du Cros campaigned hard to persuade the government to take note of and act on the achievements of German and French airships, and was instrumental in not only concluding an arrangement for the crossing of the channel but also for the purchase by the Nation of the airship. No shed or 'garage' existed in England large enough to house the airship and £5,000 was subscribed by the Daily Mail, the shed being built at Wormwood Scrubbs on a site provided by the War Office. Negotiations to purchase the airship were eventually concluded, the price being £17,500 of which £5,500 was raised through public subscription.
Unfortunately it was found that Clement Bayard II regularly leaked so much gas that it would cost a very great deal of money to keep her inflated, so no test flights were made, as planned; she was dismantled and never flew again.
In August 1909 Arthur Du Cros, in a speech in Parliament attacking the Government's aeronautical policy predicted that airships could be used to launch aerial attacks against the country. He also advocated the formation of an Air Service independant of the Army or Navy, which did not take place until after the First World War. The Committee of which Du Cros was Secretary was dissolved in 1914.