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Aviation History
1923
1923 - 0655.PDF
OCTOBER 25, 1923 LIGHT 'PLANE AND GLIDER NOTES Those wishing to get in touch with others interested in mattersrelating to gliding and the construction of gliders are invited to write to the Editor of FLIGHT, who will be pleased to publishsuch communications on this page, in order to bring together those who would like to co-operate, either in forming glidingdubs or in private collaboration. AT Colchester's famous " Oyster Feast," held on Thursday,October 18, Sir Samuel Hoare, Secretary of State for Air, referred to the light 'plane competitions that were heldrecently at Lympne, and stated that the competitions had so impressed his technical advisers and himself that they werevery anxious to make use of any development in this direction, and that it might be found that these small light, cheap •machines could be used in the training programme, in which case economical training would result. Sir Samuel added thathe was going to offer, on behalf of the Air Ministry, prizes for two-seater light 'planes next year. Details would, he said, beannounced later. * * * WE are extremely glad to note that the Air Ministry istaking a " benevolent " view of the light 'plane, and, as we indicated in our Editorial Notes last week, we feel sure that itshould be possible to establish a carefully-graded course in flying, beginning with machines that are very stable and yetmanoeuvrable, and finishing up with fairly fast, quickly- controlled types. The Lympne week showed that alreadyboth types are in existence. For keeping pilots' " hands " in it would be difficult to imagine anything better than the typeof light 'plane which is very sensitive and requires careful handling, and by using light 'planes for the purpose the cost tothe country should be relatively neglible. For providing a maximum of flying at a minimum of cost in connection withthe R.A.F. Reserve the light 'plane again would seem to score heavily, and the low cost would enable much greater numbersof machines to be kept in commission, thus ensuring more frequent flying practice for individual pilots, a point of thegreatest importance. * * * WHILE fully realising the as yet untouched possibilities ofthe use by the R.A.F. of the light 'plane, we do not think for a moment that its usefulness ends there. To the privateowner-pilot of moderate means the type offers unlimited possibilities. Not expensive in first cost, and very cheap tooperate, the light 'plane should appeal to hundreds of sports- men at home, while in the Colonies and Dominions, whereroads are none too good and railways few and far between, the light 'plane should prove a boon to land owners residing farfrom the nearest town. Here the fact that the light 'plane is not tremendously fast will not greatly matter, since even aspeed of 50 m.p.h. is far and away faster than any other means of transport available. * * * BEFORE, however, the light 'plane can be confidently •recommended to the general public, we still have a certain amount of development work to do, and as yet we have had insufficient experience to be able to say definitely what size engine will be necessary to ensure a machine that will answerall general purposes. The 750 c.c. engines at Lympne did very well, but they were not perfect, and it seems likely thatthe majority of private owner-pilots will wish to be able on occasion to take a passenger with them, or, if not a passenger,at least a certain amount of luggage, goods, etc. In this connection we would call attention to a suggestion made inthe article on the Parnall " Pixie," that the problem of the aerial " side-car " machine, in which the middle portion ofthe fuselage could be exchanged for another having two seats and a larger wing, seems particularly well worth studying inconnection with the light 'plane. The idea is not original as far as we are concerned, but to us it seems that its applicationto the light 'plane is particularly promising. WHILE at Lympne we discussed with several of the leadingaircraft firms the advisability of holding, in the near future and while the interest of the general public is still focussed onthe light 'plane, a meeting at one of the London aerodromes. The idea was well received, and we are therefore pleased tolearn that it has been decided to hold a light 'plane demon- stration at Hendon on Saturday next (October 27), where,consequently, Londoners will be able to see the latest addition to the aeroplane family at close quarters. AT the moment of writing it is not known what sort ofmeeting is contemplated, but presumably there will be a cross-country handicap race to Bittacy Hill and back. In thegood old day, when the week-end meetings at Hendon did more towards maintaining public interest in flying than didany other event, we used to be able to watch the machines the whole time, and thus the interest was kept alive. A similararrangement should be successful in the case of light 'planes. In addition to any actual competitions that may take place,doubtless there will be demonstration flights on the various machines to show their manoeuvrability, strength, etc., sothat, although no very extensive programme is to be expected, the notice being too short for that, visitors should certainlynot have a dull time, always provided the weather is not too unkind. * * • THOSE of our readers who remember Hendon in the old daysshould bear in mind, however, that as the aerodrome has not been much used of late years they must not expect to findeverything quite as perfect and comfortable as it used to be. But even at that, we think that Hendon at its worst would bea good deal better than Croydon at its best. Certainly it is infinitely more easy to get to, even without the tube extensionthat, next spring, will place the aerodrome within less than half-an-hour of Piccadilly Circus. The very short notice willnot allow of advertising the meeting extensively, and thus it may be expected that the crowds will not begin to approachin numbers those of a Derby Day. Nevertheless, we are quite sure that those who go to Hendon on Saturday—realising that this is but an isolated meeting at the wrong time A Row of Light 'Planes at Lympne : In the foreground the Avro biplane. No. 5. The spec- tators on the left are following the evolutions of Capt. Broad on a de Havilland monoplane. m m. m m 655
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