AVIATION DEVELOPMENT

In this chapter, the evolution and achievements within the realm of aviation for the year 1911 are meticulously documented, featuring both European and American records that underscore the rapid advancements in the science of aviation. Highlighting the exceptional feats, the records are segmented into categories that include greatest speed, distance, duration, and altitude achieved by aviators, with distinctions made between flights conducted solo, with one passenger, and with two passengers.

European records spotlight the accomplishments of aviators like Garros in St. Malo, France, who achieved the highest solo flight in a Bleriot Machine, reaching an altitude of 13,362 feet. Similarly, American records showcase the prowess of pilots such as A. Leblanc and St. Croix Johnstone. Leblanc, flying solo in a Bleriot Machine at Belmont Park, N.Y., accomplished a remarkable speed of 67.87 miles per hour. Meanwhile, Johnstone, piloting a Moisant (Bleriot Type) Machine in Mineola, N.Y., achieved the longest distance flown alone, covering 176.23 miles.

Significant mentions include Howard W. Gill from Kinloch, Mo., who, flying a Wright Machine, maintained the longest duration aloft solo, with a flight lasting 4 hours, 16 minutes, and 35 seconds. In the domain of altitude, L. Beachy from Chicago, Ill., ascended to 11,642 feet in a Curtiss Machine, marking the greatest height reached solo in America.

Furthermore, the chapter delineates the advancements in weight carrying, with P. O. Parmelee’s feat of transporting 458 lbs. in a Wright Machine from Chicago, Ill., underscoring the potential for practical application of aviation technology.

The chapter concludes by emphatically stating the unprecedented progress made in aviation throughout 1911, emphasizing that this advancement was not limited to any one country or continent. It presents a picture of global participation in the pursuit of aviation excellence, marking 1911 as a notable year in the annals of aviation history for its remarkable achievements and the broadened horizons of flight capabilities and technology.