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Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0062.PDF
Y JANUARY 29, 1925 CROYDON DISASTER INQUIRY THE official public inquiry into the Croydon air disasterwas opened at the Law Courts, before an independent chair- man (Sir Arthur Colefax) and two assessors (Prof. B. M.Jones, ARC, and Mr. J. Swinburne, F.R.S., M.Inst.C.E.), on January 23. Mr. Trevor Watson, for the Air Ministry, firstdescribed in detail the regulations governing inquiries into air accidents, and then gave particulars of the granting ofairworthiness certificates, with special reference to the machine involved (D.H. 34 G-EBBX), which, he stated, was re-certified on November 18 last. After outlining the move- ments of G-EBBX just prior to the accident, Mr. Watsondealt with Croydon Aerodrome and its regulations, all of which he said had been complied with, and described thestart, etc., of the machine on the occasion of the ill-fated flight. Referring to Major Cooper's examination of thewreckage, Mr. Watson stated that this examination led to the conclusion that there was no mechanical defect in theengine during the flight, and that the lubricating system was working properly. He further made the following importantstatement :— " One definite fact did emerge from the inspection, and thatwas that the petrol pipe lining of the petrol pipe which supplies petrol to the carburettor was blocked or partially blocked.The blockage in that pipe is due to swelling and distortion on the inside lining. This is a condition which might havebeen proved to be due to the aftermath of the accident, but it is notable that the outside covering of that particular pieceof pipe does not seem to have been affected by the fire at all, and that the swelling on the underneath part of that pipe ismost marked at the point where the outer canvas casing is not burned." Major Cooper (Inspector of Accidents, Air Ministry) gaveevidence on this and other matters. In his evidence on January 24 Major Cooper said that his own conclusions werethat engine trouble was experienced very soon after leaving the ground, and that the pilot first headed towards the golflinks to land, and then, not having sufficient height to clear the trees, made a desperate effort to turn back very abruptlyto the aerodrome. He was, however, at such a low height, and engine trouble was so acute, that he decided to land onthe piece of open ground directly into the wind. In man- oeuvring the machine to do so, it lost flying speed at from50 to 100 ft. and nose-dived into the ground. In answer to a question, Major Cooper said that, in his opinion, a slightoverload, under the circumstances, would not have been a contributory cause of the accident. Evidence was also givento the effect that Captain Hinchclifif, who had previously flown the machine, had reported that the engine was" rough." The Inquiry was resumed on January 27, a report on which will appear in next week's issue of FLIGHT. • m m m m Barrow, G.O.C. in C. Eastern Command, was held onJanuary 21, theJR.A.F. took an active part for the first time at an Indian review. The Viceroy, who took the salute,was accompanied by General Lord Rawlinson, Commander- in-Chief, and Air Vice-Marshal Sir Edward Ellington, AirOfficer Commanding R.A.F. in India. In addition to the march past of troops, artillery, armoured cars, and tanks, asquadron of nine aeroplanes flew past in single file, dipping in salute, and then flew over the parade ground in formation. Lisbon-Portuguese Guinea Flight . Two Portuguese aviators, Capt. Pinheizo Correio and*Lieut. Sergio de Silva, will attempt a flight from Lisbon to Portuguese Guinea, a distance of 2,500 miles, in March next. " The British Aviation Mission to Japan '' ON January 21 Colonel the Master of Sempill, R.A.F..gave a lecture before the members of the Japan Society. Baron Hayashi, Japanese Ambassador, presiding. In thecourse of his address Colonel Sempill said that there was every reason to believe that an airship service between London andTokio would be inaugurated in the very near future. Rigid airships, about 700 ft. long and carrying from 50 to 100passengers, would be employed on this service, and would in the summer fly via Scotland, Norway, and Russia—a distanceof nearly 5,000 miles—taking about four days, during only one of which would darkness be experienced. Bombing Tests on H.M.S. " Monarch " AIRCRAFT took part, in company with light cruisers andbattleships, in the sinking of H.M.S. A1(marrli otf the Scilly Isles on January 20. New U.S. Aircraft Carriers ON January 24 the U.S. House of Representativesadopted a Bill authorising the amount to be expended upon the two new aircraft carriers—" Lexington " and " Saratoga "—to be increased from $23 million to $34 million each. The Bill has now to go before the Senate. London-Berlin Air Mail THE Postmaster-General announces that the letter airmail service to Hanover, Hamburg and Berlin has been temporarily suspended. The air mails to Germany viaCologne and to Holland are being maintained. The Supermarine " Southampton." WHEN it became known that a new series of flying boatsbeing built by the Supermarine Aviation Works, Ltd., for the Air Ministry were to be given the class name of " South-ampton," the Borough Council of that important town had the happy idea of presenting silver and enamel name platesto be fixed on the bows of each machine of this class. French Saharan FlightTHE De Goys mission, which, as fully reported in last week's FLIGHT, is flying in two four-engined Bleriot biplanes—" Roland Garros," piloted by Capt. Pelletier d'Oisy, and S Jean Casale," piloted by Colonel Vuillemin—from Paris,across the Sahara, to Lake Chad and Bangi (or Bangui), and back, is now well on its way. They left Paris at 11.45 a.m.on January 18 and landed at Avord at 1.30 p.m., but were unable to resume their journey, owing to fog, until January 21.Avord was left at 11.59 a.m. and Perpignan was reached at 4.40 p.m., but once again they were held up by bad weather.The 700-mile journey from Perpignan, across the Mediter- ranean, to Oran was started at 7.20 a.m. on January 23, andwas safely accomplished in 10 hrs. 25 mins. They did not land at Alicante, as originally planned, but, it is reported,descended at Carthagena for petrol. From Oran they resumed their journey at 10.55 a.m. on January 25, and arrived atColomb Bechar at. 3.30 p.m. Cobham to Fly Over Everest WE wonder if it is by way of passing the time, pendingSir Sefton Brancker's convalescence, that Mr. Alan Cobham proposes, according to the Calcutta Statesman, to reconnoitreMount Everest from the air ? Cobham has flown from Calcutta to Darjeeling, the base from which the Everestexpeditions start, with this object in view. Sir Sefton is making good progress, and hopes shortly to resume his flightto Rangoon. R.A.F. at Delhi Review . . AT the Viceregal Review of the troops assembled atDelhi, which, under the command of Lieut,-Gen. Sir G. FLIGHT The Aircraft Engineer and Airships 36, GREAT QUEEN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C- 2.Telegraphic address : Truditur, Westcent, London. Telephone : Gerrard 1828. SUBSCRIPTION RATES " FLIGHT " will be forwarded, post free, at the following rates :— UNITED KINGDOM s. d.3 Months, Post Free.. 7 7 6 15 2 12 „ „ ..30 4 ABROAD* s. d.3 Months, Post Free.. 8 3 6 „ „ ..16 612 , 33 0 These rates are subject to any alteration found necessary under abnormal conditions and to increases in postage rates. * European subscriptions must be remitted in British currency Cheques and Post Office Orders should be made payable to theProprietors of " FLIGHT," 36, Great Queen Street, Kingsway, W.C. 2, and crossed London County and Westminster Bank, otherwise no responsibility will be accepted. Should any difficulty be experienced in procuring " FLIGHT " from local newsvendors, intending readers can obtain each issue direct front the Publishing Offict, by forwarding remittance as above. §2
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