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Old 8th Feb 2011, 10:00
  #74 (permalink)  
24Carrot
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London UK
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Solo was easier in "the old days"!

I have just started reading "Sagittarius Rising" by Cecil Lewis. In 1915 he went solo in 1.5 hours, in a "Maurice Farman Longhorn".

However, the Longhorn climbed at 40 Knots, so I would guess it stalled at 25-30. He doesn't mention runways, so I guess they flew from a big field, always into wind. From his brief description crashes were routine, but one was expected to survive them. ("How we laughed" when George crashed into the sewage farm...)

On the other hand he got a combat posting after 13 hours, which he did consider inadequate.
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