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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0404.PDF
three engines was trebling the chances of something going wrong !) Then Chamberlin, on the Bcllanca monoplane, raised the world's duration record to 51 hours 10 minutes. Next, Lindbergh crossed from New York to Paris in about 34 J hours in the Ryan monoplane. And now Chamberlin and Levine have flown, in the Bellanca, from New York nearly to Berlin in 42 hours or so. In all cases the Wright " Whirlwind " was the engine fitted. It would even appear possible that the engine used in the latest Atlantic flight is the identical one which established the duration record, although this cannot be stated for certain at the moment. In any case, the world must take off its hat to Chamberlin and Levine, and to the Bellanca monoplane and the Wright engine. JUNE 9, 1027 was far in advance of anything that has ever been done by a British aeroplane before. There are such things as " glorious failures," and Carr and Gillman's flight was by way of coming in that category. But they are R.A.F. pilots, and the flight was regarded as purely a Royal Air Force experiment. Therefore but little is being said about the flight. That it will have taught not only the constructors of the machine and engine something, but also the R.A.F., may be taken for granted, and, after all, it was a first attempt. There is another " Horsley " and many " Condors " in existence. Who knows but what that combination may not yet command success ? In the meantime, we should thank Carr and Gillman for their gallant effort. A In marked contrast to the receptionContrast given to Lindbergh (a reception which was, of course, thoroughly well deserved) was that, or rather the lack of that, given to Flight- Lieuts. Carr and Gilhnan upon their return to London on June 7. They were met at the station by repre- sentatives of the Air Ministry, the R.A.F., the Hawker and Rolls-Royce firms, and a few friends. The reception was very quiet and informal, and the general public was totally unaware of the return of the two officers. Carr and Gillman did not, it is true, succeed in reaching their objective, and so the recognition which follows success was denied them. But, at any rate, we of the aircraft fraternity should not let our eyes be blinded to the fact that Carr and Gillman did accomplish something which was dis- tinctly meritorious. They flew a distance which, although somewhat shorter than had been hoped for, .. The very sad accident which took place Racing during the Bournemouth Whitsun meet- ing inevitably brings up the problem of number of starters in relation to length of course. A great number of machines undoubtedly adds to the attraction of air racing, but it has become quite evident that for a given course the number of machines must be limited, otherwise the risk becomes unduly great. The new Bournemouth course necessitated 11 turnings, as compared with five for the old course, for the same distance of 10 miles. With 12 or more machines, separated at the start by seconds only, and at the finish, theoretically, by nothing, so many turns must mean bunching on corners, and it is really a wonder that accidents have not happened before. The whole subject of air racing will have to be thoroughly studied if a sport which is just beginning to get popular is not to be doomed at the very outset. BIRTHDAY HONOURS THE official list of honours conferred by His Majestythe King on the occasion of his 62nd birthday on June 3, includes the following :— Order of the BathK.C.B. (Military Division) Air Vice-Marshal Henry Robert Moore Brooke-Popham,C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., A.F.C., R.A.F. Order of the British Empire(Military Division) C.B.E.Miss Joanna Margaret Cruickshank, R.R.C., Matron-in- Chief, Princess Mary's R.A.F. Nursing Service. O.B.E.Squadron Leader Arthur Travers Harris, A.F.C., R.A.F. Squadron Leader Arthur Trafalgar Williams, R.A.F.Squadron Leader William Boston Cushion, R.A.F. M.B.E.Flying Oiiicer Allan Lanman, A.F.C., R.A.F. Flying Officer Graham Stuart Smith, R.A.F.Flying Officer Frank Henry Whitmore, D.S.C., R.A.F. 2436 Sergeant-Major, 2nd Class, William Webster, R.A.F. (Civil Division) G.B.E.Lieutenant-Colonel the Right Hon. Sir Samuel John Gurney Hoare, Bt., C.M.G., M.P. C.B.E. James Molony Spaight, Esq., O.B.E., LL.D., AssistantSecretary, Air Ministry. O.B.E.Franklyn Leslie Barnard, Esq., A.F.C., Pilot under Imperial Airways, Ltd.Henry Albert Cox, Esq., Education Officer, Air Ministry. Charles Francis Wolley Dod, Esq., Pilot under ImperialAirways, Ltd. Ernest Livingstone Johnston, Esq., A.F.C., AssistantRoyal Airship Works, Cardington. Major Rupert Ernest Penny, Principal Technical Officer,Air Ministry. M.B.I',.William John Harris, Esq., Civil Assistant, Royal Air Force Stores, Kidbrooke.Flight-l.ifiitenant (Retd.) Frederick James Hooper, Tech- nical Officer, Royal Aircraft Establishment. British Empire MedalMedal of Ike Military Division. For Meritorious Service 780, Sergeant (now I/light Sergeant) George Wallace licpplr.159387, Corporal (now Sergeant) William Joshua Leslie Brown.330130, Aircraftsman, 2nd Class, William Howson. Air Force CrossSquadron Leader Harry George Smart, O.B.E., D.F.C. Flight-Lieutenant Gerard Stephen Oddie, D.F.C.Flying Officer Ardley George Pickering. Air Force Medal 157333, Sergeant (Pilot) George Fid ward Lowddl.The Flight to Delhi Awards in recognition of the distinguished service renderedto aviation by their recent flight in a light aeroplane from London to Delhi :— Air Force Cross Bernard More Troughton Shute Leetc (Flying Officer,Reserve of Air Force Officers). Thomas Neville Stack (Flying Officer, Reserve of AirForce Officers). Flight to Solomon IslandsAwards in recognition of distinguished services rendered on the recent seaplane flight from Melbourne to the BritisliSolomon Islands and back :— C.B.E. (Military Division) Group Captain Richard Williams, D.S.O., O.B.E., A.D.O.,Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Australian A.F. Bar to Air Force Cross Flight-Lieutenant Ivor Ewing Mclntyre, C.B.E., A.Fc,Royal Australian A.F. Air Force Medal , Corporal (Acting Sergeant) Leslie Joseph Trist, Royal Australian A.F.366
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