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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0934.PDF
DECEMBER 8, 1927 SIR CHARLES WAKEFIELD DINNER AT the Savoy Hotel, on December 5, a dinner was given by Sir Charles Cheers Wakefield, Bart., C.M.G., to the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Institute of Aeronautical Engineers, to celebrate the amalgamation of these two bodies and to present certain medals to three very prominent members. Sir Charles Wakefield stated that it was his first duty and a very pleasant one to present three medals. The Taylor Gold "Medal for 1927 was awarded to Capt. F. S. Barnwell, whose paper entitled " Some Notes on the Design of Air- Screws " was considered by the Council the most valuable paper submitted during the session. Capt. Barnwell had a very distinguished record as a scientist and as a pilot, and had been interested in aircraft design for twenty-two years— a record that would be hard to beat. Sir Charles then expressed his pleasure in asking Capt. Bamwell to accept the medal. Continuing, he said that he was next asked to present to Sqdn.-Ldr. G. H. Reid the Council's Silver Medal, given annually to the member who had made the best contribution to the science or practice of aeronautics during the year. On this occasion the Council had in mind the " Reid Turn Indicator" and the " Reid Reaction Indicator." Except for a brief period when for reasons beyond his control, Sqdn.- Ldr. Reid was unable to obtain free access to the air—except for breathing purposes—he had been actively engaged in flying since 1914. He was sure, therefore, that his contribu- tions to practical aeronautics would be of great and permanent value. The presentation to Sqdn.-Ldr. Reid was then made. Continuing, Sir Charles said it was his privilege now to present the first of the Annual Gold Medals, which bore his name, to Mr. M. L. Bramson, which was awarded for the de- sign of an invention or apparatus tending towards safety in flying. This was the " Savage-Bramson Anti-Stall Gear." It was common knowledge that Mr. Bramson had written other names than his own in letters of smoke across the heavens (Mr. Bramson was a sky-writing pilot), but he hoped that his valuable invention would write his own name in far more enduring fashion. Sir Charles then made the presentation to Mr. Bramson, with hearty congratulations and good wishes. Continuing, he said that the Toast which he now had the honour to propose bore w-itness to the joint association of two distinguished scientific bodies. It was the marriage of winter and spring, for the Royal Aeronautical Society was the oldest and most famous Society of its kind in the world, while the Institution of Aeronautical Engineers was young in years but not in wisdom. This was a union of more than ordinary promise, and a matter of general satisfaction amongst all who had the progress of aviation at heart that it had been satisfactorily completed. Credit for this was due to many gentlemen whose names were household words wherever aviation was discussed or practised, and particularly to :— Col. The Master of Sempill ; Col. Moore-Brabazon ; Mr. Handley-Page ; Mr. Frederick R. Simms and Mr. Norman J. Hulbert. Offering his cordial good wishes to the amalgamated bodies. Sir Charles said that the growth of aviation as a practical contribution to the amenities of civilised life was an out- standing fact of the last decade, and the development, would be maintained and enhanced in the future, although many difficulties would have to be overcome. We needed not only a common stock of research and experiment but also to arouse keen and wide-spread public support for aviation. Nothing would awaken this aeronautical patriotism more than further scientific discovery rapidly confirmed by successful demonstra- tion in the air. The prospect before the Society was both challenging and exciting. He asked them to drink to the Toast, with which he associated the names of two distin- guished members, Air Vice-Marshal Sir Sefton Brancker and Lt.-Col. Moore-Brabazon. They were prophets and priests of the aeronautical age that is to be. Sir Sefton Branckcr then rose and outlined the history of the two aeronautical bodies and mentioned the necessity of getting the Society on a proper paying basis and claiming as their slogan—solidarity. He eulogised the work of Mr. Laurence Pritchard and Mr. Norman J. Hulbert in the success- ful association, and that of Col. The Master of Sempill and Col. Moore-Brabazon. Finally, he paid a moving tribute to Sir Charles Wakefield, the Patron Saint of Aviation, whom, he said, they honoured, respected and loved. Col. Moore-Brabazon next responded and on concluding he presented cigarette cases to Mr. Howard Flanders, Mr. L. Wingfield, and Mr. Norman J. Hulbert, on behalf of the Insti- tute for the fine work they had done for that body. The Toast to " Aviation " was proposed by Sir Francis K. McClean, who gave a very humorous account of the " non- mathematical " days ot flying, and he was supported by Col. The Master ot Sempill and replied to by Mr. F. G. L. Bertram, Deputy Director of Civil Aviation. Finally, Lord Thomson of Cardington proposed ttu- Toast to " The Chairman." Amongst the guests was Mr. Bert Hinkler who had recently returned to England after his fine attempt on the long-distance record with Capt. Mclntosh. He was congratulated on this, flight and Sir Charles Wakefield asked him to give an account of it, to which Mr. Hinkler complied very modestly. The guests invited included :—Mr. Handley-Page. Mr C. R. Fairey, Mr. T. Sopwith, Mr. O. Short, Major R. H. Mayo. Mr. A. V. Roe, Mr. j. D. Siddcley, Mr. H. T. Vane. Mr. H. E. Wimperis, Mr. F. Sigrist, Col. W. A. Bristow, Capt. I'. 1>. Acland, Sqdn.-Comdr. J. Bird, Comdr. Burney, Col. M. O. Darby, Mr Roy Fedden, General P. R. C. Groves, Mr. Woods- Humphrey, Capt. A. G. Lamplugh, Major H. Hemming. Mr. R. N. Dangerfield, Capt. F. T. Courtney, Mr. W. l^appin. Mr. R. A. Loader, Mr. A. Limb, Mr. R. Luen, Mr. C. F. Lumb, Capt. H. Broad, Mr. W. H. Berry, Capt. Oram. Mr. R. J. Parrott, Commdr. H. E. Perrin, Mr. G. F. Sanger, Mr. F. R. Simms. IMPERIAL AIRWAYS Satisfactory Annual Report THE Third Ordinary General Meeting of Imperial Airways, Ltd., was held at the Hotel Cecil on November 29, and the Chairman of the Company, Sir Eric Geddes, presided. In his speech, Sir Eric stated that the accounts showed an improvement in net result of £31,876 2s. lid. (This yielded a net profit of £11,461 as compared with a loss of £20,415 last year.) Aircraft and engines stood at£275,000,less£20,000for units written off. During the year, the addition of £113,000 mostly represented the aircraft and engines purchased for the Middle-East section. Cash and investments stood at nearly £153,000 as com- pared with £95,000 of last year. A credit balance of over £54,000 was brought forward as against £22,000 last year, which meant they were now working at a gross profit as a result of their bold policy in re-organising the fleet. Further, it made possible the catering for additional traffic with their existing fleet independently of and without any subsidy on further miles flown. Aviation and general insurance accounted for £8,000 odd, and the directors were convinced that no other air transport company in the world enjoyed such favourable rates, which were a direct result of their " safety first " policy. The increase in the traffic amounted to 5,000 passengers, 75 tons of baggage and general merchandise, and 10 tuns in letter and parcel mail. It had been said that the vast majo- rity of their passengers were American tourists, but the majority nationality was actually British, who represented 45 per cent, of the whole passenger traffic. Of the remaining. 55 per cent., foreign visitors so discriminated their services. Flights completed to schedule for the year under review came to 92 per cent, in Europe, and in the Middle-East, where flying conditions were so much better, the Cairo-Basra line had operated with a regularity of 100 per cent, since its inauguration, eleven months ago. The traffic on this service was improving, and the mail carried was worthy of particular mention, continued Sir Eric. Approximately, one-third of the total mail between England and Iraq and over half the total incoming mail from Iraq was conveyed by this air line. Concerning the political situation in this quarter the British Government had provided for a fortnightly service between Cairo and Karachi, and at the time this agreement was entered into they were assured that all necessary political arrangements had been satisfactorily completed. At the last moment, however, the Persian Government failed to ratify the Convention and thus prevented the objective, which was, of course, a through, service from Egypt to India. Subsequent 842
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