Jean-Pierre Lauwers Collection

The famous "hydroplane" aviation-week organised on the Schelde river at Temse by the Royal Belgian Aero Club between 7 and 16 September 1912, was in fact nothing less than a competition to determine which seaplane was found most suitable for service in the then Belgian Congo. During the week, which at first was plagued by exceptional bad weather, the 15 contestants all gave splendid performances which, day by day, were judges by a jury composed of Major Batia, Count Mercier and Baron van Zuylen. The official winner of the week (award 9.000 bfr.)  was Chemet with his French Borel seaplane, followed very closely by Benoist on a Sanchez Bera  hydroplane. For more details we can recommend to read the splendid article: "De Vliegweek van Temse in 1912" by Walter Verstraeten, published in BAHA's Contact n°8 ,page 8.

General overviews of the competition.

All pics Jean-Pierre Lauwers Collection 

Beaumont in his Donnet-Lévêque seaplane seen landing at Temse on 9 September 1912. On the official results, Beaumont ended up on the fourth place.

Jean-Pierre Lauwers Collection

The Sanchez Bera of Benoist is moored on the Schelde, while the Nieuport of Weynann is being launched.

Jean-Pierre Lauwers Collection

Verschaeve on a Belgian Jero is preparing for take off.  

Jean-Pierre Lauwers Collection

Last updated 05/08/08 18:11   Daniel Brackx