FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0225.PDF
MARCH 31, 1921 •/- OIL-PROSPECTING BY SUPERMARINE AN interesting experiment is shortly to be carried out Air Ministry ; opened up the first commercial flying boat - 1 * T"» • 1 * i t~\ 1 11 l _»~\ • 1 T"** t 1 f~* " ______ j • . _Jl. «_* •_.««*-*_-- « »-_ 4"T-* _"_ I—_T»1 +-1 r*V_ l_/ *%*% *~h« wtst _^«H._J _Ll-__ i___ . _L 1 __.__ ______ ____._!____ __1by the British Controlled Oil Fields Co. in connection with prospecting for new oil-fields. Realising the possibilities ofaerial survey, they approached the Bermuda and West Atlantic Aviation Co., Ltd., with a view to sending out anaerial expedition to survey the delta of the Orinoco River in Venezuela, with the result that two supermarine flyingboats were ordered for the job. These two machines have been completed and passedthrough their acceptance flights a fortnight" ago, and are now on their way across the Atlantic (via rail and ship).They are of the standard Mark 1' Channel type " Puma " machine, with the fore part of their hull altered and re-designed to take special camera gear. Arrangements have been made for the instantaneous raising and lowering ofthe camera and a special device for the fastening of the camera opening by a manhole cover with a kind of breachblock action. Abaft this forward compartment, which is occupied by the photographer, is a complete watertightbulkhead which in case of accidents, renders the machine seaworthy. Special plate racks, insulated from vibration, have alsobeen fitted to the machine. We believe the expedition takes place over ground whichhas not yet been explored by white men, and should, therefore, prove both interesting and exciting to the crew—which,by the way, will comprise well-known oil-experts and skilled photographers, in addition to the pilots. It is estimated that the survey will be completed in 4-6weeks, which, undertaken by the old methods, would run into a number of years, and might even be impossible. service in the British Empire, and the first international The Supermarine oil-prospector : This view showsthe special camera-manhole in the bottom of the hull » near the bows. One of the two Supermarine flying boats which are being sent on an oil-prospecting expedition to South America. This, it may be mentioned, is another pioneer movement flying boat service from Southampton to Le Havre. For undertaken with Supermarine machines, they having obtained tlie credit of British aircraft, we wish this expedition every the first Air and Seaworthiness Certificate from the British success. NOTICES TO AIRMEN Aerodromes for Civil Use : Amendments NOTICE to Airmen No. 1 of 1921 (Aerodromes for Civil Use : Consolidated list) is amended as follows :—LIST C, Licensed Civil Aerodromes. (b) Civil Aerodromes licensed as " suitable for Avro 5O4K and similar types of aircraft only." The following should be added :—Stretford (2 fields ad- joining Junction) : Nearest railway station, Stretford Junction, adjoining Cheshire Lines. Sale, Brooklands Farm : Nearest railway station, Brooklands, | mile Cheshire Lines. The following should be deleted :—Blythe Bridge, Longton ; Knutsford, Tabley Lane ; Northenden and Wellingborough. (No. 27 of 1921.) Pilots' Licences : Compulsory Examination in Navigation THE technical examination in navigation, referred to in Notice to Airmen No. 13 of the year 1921, will not be brought into operation as from April 1, 1921, as stated therein, but from a date to be notified later when the Convention relating to International Air Navigation has been ratified. In addition to the syllabus attached to the above-mentioned Notice to Airmen, every applicant for a pilot's licence to fly passenger or goods aircraft (Class B Licence), or for a renewal of such licence, will be required to undergo an examination in elementary meteorology. The syllabus of this examination will be published shortly. (No. 28 of 1921.) Canada Prohibits " Stunting " " STUNTING " other than when flying solo, has recently been forbidden under the Canadian Air Regulations upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the Air Board. It is held that " there is no purpose in ' stunting ' in civil flying, and that its prohibition would be beneficial not only for the purpose of preventing accidents but also for ttie purpose of inducing a realisation that civil flying does not involve or require the taking of risks." The Air Regulations, 1920, are therefore amended as follows :— (a) No pilot of any flying machine shall unless he is alone therein permit or cause such flying machine to spin, roll, loop or execute any other evolution involving unnecessary risk. (b) It shall be a defence to any prosecution under section 4, sub-section 2, of the Air Board Act for a breach of the fore- going regulation if the pilot establishes thai the dangerous evolution was performed without intention on his part and notwithstanding the exercise by him of reasonable care. 225
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
