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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0193.PDF
MARCH 24, 1927 Commenting on these aerial surveys Mr. Flory says : "I iearned more about the forests of Alaska in a two-hours' flight I made in one of the 'planes than I ever was able to iearn from my own years of observation and the records of those who preceded me. Many thousands of pounds will be saved the government departments in Alaska by these operations. Projects which ordinarily require a year for my department to survey were accomplished in an hour by the planes, while in the same flights they achieved other objects as well. So accurate are the pictures that every tree in the timber areas can be counted, timber suitable for mill use and for pulp can be segregated, and much of the work we are now doing at considerable cost eliminated." Another point of great value noted was this. So close generally is the stand of the trees that the sun cannot reach the soil, and rains keep it constantly wet. As a result reforestation would be a quick and perpetual process. Of the three 'planes, two were employed for mapping and the third as a standby, ready at all times to go to the rescue in case of call, or to search should one fail to return, when due. Emergency rations and carrier pigeons were taken on every mapping flight, and each 'plane carried a pilot, navigator and photographer. The work is technical and exacting, and every man was busy every moment in the air. They had many thrills and perilous experiences. What made flying difficult were the sudden winds, locally termed " willie waws," which blow down from the mountain tops with a velocity ranging from 50 to as much as 100 miles an hour. They usually spring up on clear days, and it is impossible to forecast them. One of the 'planes encountered one of these winds while taking oblique photographs at a comparatively low elevation over Le Conte Glacier. It was forced down to within a few feet of the ice, and being unable to rise had to skim along the top of the glacier for a distance of 15 miles and then for 5 miles across the bay, only escaping the countless small icebergs by a hair's breadth. The speed meter indicated 115 miles an hour, yet for 20 miles the " willie waw " bore the 'plane perilously low. The highest climb made was that of Lieut. Wyatt, the officer in charge of the expedition, who went up to 14,400 ft. to obtain close-up photographs of the lofty Fairweather group along the international boundary, 125 miles north-west of Juneau. Mt. Fairweather is 15,480 ft. high, and the adjacent ranges 8,000 to 14,000 ft. The approach had to be from the south-west and a 60-mile wind was driving from the north- west, resulting in violent down-bumps. Although the 'plane had been lightened as much as possible it could not be forced up higher than 14,400 ft. Then it struck a strong down current and the 'plane dropped to less than 200 ft. above the snow-covered jagged edges of the mountains. It was a narrow escape and in the jolts that occurred the camera was thrown against the side of the cockpit and smashed. Much magnificent scenery was observed, including snow- capped peaks, mountain lakes, waterfalls and glaciers. From on high some of the bays, particularly those served by glacial streams, had a charm all their own. They were dotted with bergs and floating ice which to the airmen had the appear- ance of water lilies or stars in an inverted sky, the whole being framed by a black-green forest of brilliant luxuriance. Although the Alaskan coast is pitted with glaciers and the waters strewn with floating ice the temperature is certainly not Arctic, and in late September the gardens at Juneau and Skagway were full of bloom. The ship's cold-storage plant was supplied with ice cut out of small bergs from the Taku glacier. As already stated, the expedition was in the field four months and constituted the largest aerial survey yet made by the air service of any government. Apart from the actual mapping of much hitherto unknown territory, hundreds of oblique views were made for the Lighthouse Service, for the Forest Department, to enable it to determine the quality, quantity and type of timber, for the Roads Department, and for the Bureau of Fisheries, which desired photographs of its hatcheries and contiguous lakes and streams with the object of extending its activities. The whole enterprise of this Alaskan survey is a striking object lesson of the use to which military 'planes can be put in time of peace for the benefit of the country and the people generally. All told, the 'planes covered 50,000 miles, equivalent to twice around the globe at the Equator, and it is gratifying to record that not a single accident marred the venture. IKe Roc/al &ero Clu of the United. Kii\gdo. OFFICIAL NOTICES TO ME.MBERS Committee Meeting A MEETING of the Committee was held on Wednesday, March 16, 1927, when there were present:—Lieut.-Col. Sir Francis K. McClean, A.F.C., in the Chair, Mr. Ernest C. Bucknall, Lieut.-Col. M. O. Darby, Wing-Commander T. O'B. JJubbard, M.C., A.F.C., Col. F. Lindsay Lloyd, C.M.G., C.B.E., Lieut.-Col. M. O'Gorman, C.B., Mr. F. Handley Page, C.B.E., Mr. T. O. M. Sopwith, C.B.E., and the Secretary. Election of Members.—The following new Members were elected :—Marcel Victor Litton, Admiral Richard Fortescue Phillimore, Robert Stanley Luen, Pilot Officer John Mathew Hunter, Edmund Lawrence Debonnaire Moore, Edmund Kell Blyth, Tom Roberts Thomas, William John McDonough, Arthur James Brown, Leslie J, Irvin, Walter Lawrence Hope, Thomas Terrell, Pilot Officer Walter John Pickard, Gerald Merton, Flying Officer Christopher Clarkson. Aviators' Certificates.—The following Aviators' Certifi- cates were granted :— 8072 A. H. Bell, Newcastle Aero Club. 8073 K. V. Wright, London Aeroplane Club. 8074 Harold Bolas, Bristol Flying School. 8075 S. O. Bradshaw, London Aeroplane Club. 8076 R. L. Brooke, De Havilland Flying School. 8077 J. de la Cierva, Hampshire Aeroplane Club. 8078 S. P. Birley, Lancashire Aero Club. 8079 L. S. Dawson, Yorkshire Aeroplane Club. 8080 Arthur Mann, Yorkshire Aeroplane Club. 8081 G. O. Wood, Yorkshire Aeroplane Club. 8082 R. L. Wade, Lancashire Aero Club. 8083 The Hon. Geoffrey Cunliffe, De Havilland Flying School. Britannia Trophy.—The award of the Britannia Trophy for the year 1926 was deferred. Racing Committee.—The Report of the Racing Com- mitee held on March 3, 1927, was received and adopted. The report included the recommendations for the King's Cup Race, Bournemouth Easter Flying Meeting, and the Aerial Derby. Committee.—Mr. E. C. Bucknall expressed his desire to retire from the Committee. In accepting the resignation, which was done with much regret, the Committee expressed their warmest appreciation of the services rendered to the Club by Mr. Bucknall, who had served almost continuously on several Club Committees for over 20 years. Major H. A. Petre, D.S.O., was co-opted to the Committee to fill the vacancy. Sub-Committees.—The reports of the Finance and House Committees were received and adopted. Schneider Race.—The Secretary reported that three entries had been made on behalf of Great Britain, and that the acknowledgment of the same had been received from the Aero Club of Italy. Offices : THE ROYAL AERO CLUB, 3, CLIFFORD STREET, LONDON, W. 1. H. E. PERRIN, Secretary. 175
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