Robert Bertram Slack
Robert Bertram Slack (1886-1913). Early aviator.
Robert Slack qualified for his aviator’s certificate on Nov. 14th 1911 (Cert. No. 157) at the Bleriot School, Hendon Aerodrome.
Flying a Bleriot monoplane, he competed in the Irish Aero Club’s Dublin-Belfast Race in Sept. 1912.
He was commissioned by the International Correspondence Schools (ICS) to tour around the country giving exhibition flights and doing so fulfilled all his engagements regardless of weather conditions (flying in winds up to 50mph).
On June 21st 1913 he collected a Morane-Saulnier monoplane from Villacoublay, France for the Grahame-White Co. Whilst flying it across the English Channel, the aeroplane leaked fuel and he only just made Folkestone where he made a forced landing. After repairing the fault, he continued to Hendon Aerodrome in gale force winds arriving after a total of 6 hrs 36 mins in the air.
He competed in 2nd Aerial Derby at Hendon Aerodrome on Sept. 20th 1913 flying a Morane Saulnier, and in the London (Hendon) to Brighton Handicap on Nov. 8th 1913, winning third place in a Bleriot.
Slack was killed on Dec. 21st 1913 in a motoring accident.
See Also
Sources of Information
The History of British Aviation 1908-14 by R. Dallas Brett. Published c1930.