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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0424.PDF
MAY 24, 1928 THE SOUTHERN AERO CLUB'S FLYING MEETING ON Saturday last, May 19, the Southern Aero Club held their first meeting, and despite the bad weather reports sunshine prevailed throughout the afternoon and the meeting was very successful. The attendance was also good, being approxi- mately 6,000. Proceedings opened at 2.30 p.m. with the Fly Past, in which seven machines took part, as follows—Avro " Baby," Avro " Avian," Avro 504K, Avro " Gosport " (one member of the Avro family, the " Lynx," was unable to be present owing to indisposition), Blackburn " Bluebird," D.H. " Moth," and S.E.Sa. The second event, The^Club Instructors' Obstacle Race, proved quite amusing. In this the instructors and crew were lined up and started by the firing of a pistol. They raced to their machines and a lively tussle ensued to sort out] sundry flying garments—which had been securely tied up—and then took off in their respective machines and flew three circuits. C. L. Pashlev was the first away and the subsequent winner. Following this came a delightful demonstration of flying by Capt. Broad on a D.H. " Moth," fitted with the new D.H. engine. His " show " was very much appreciated and warmly applauded. The next event, a wing-folding competition—in which competitors had to unfold the wings, start machine, fly one circuit, land and fold wings—provided a thrilling finish, Capt. Broad just beating F. G. Miles in his Avro " Avian," and Capt. Neville Stack (D.H. " Moth ") making a close third. The prizes for this event were : 1st, Silver cigarette box, presented by F. G. Miles, Snr. ; 2nd, Propeller clock, presented by the club ; 3rd, " Fill-up " 20 gals, of petrol, by Gnat Aero Co. ., Flight-Lieut. Luxmore then gave an exhibition of flying on the new all-metal Avro " Gosport," and put up an exception- ally good show—his slow flying being greatly appreciated by the audience. Capt. Blake next took the air on his Blackburn " Blue- bird," and demonstrated the efficiency of this machine to great advantage. He, also, put up some slow flying, and during his hovering it was hard to realise that he had not a slot or two hidden up his sleeve. As one of the events down on the programme—the Balloon Bursting Competition—could not be held, aerial bombing a car with flour bags was substituted. This was won by Flight-Lieut. Luxmore for the most consistent shots ; no direct hits were recorded. After this came a demonstration of Wing-Walking by A. H. Hawes on one of the Gnat Aero Co.'s Avros, piloted by F. G. Miles, Jnr. The ominous presence of black clouds caused the last event to be pushed forward, and a native citadel was bombed and destroyed. In the absence of the RAF., Messrs. Broad, Stack and Luxmore undertook the offensive, and succeeded in driving out the hostile Arabs, who were composed of boys of the Lancing College O.T.C. The silver cup presented by J. de Vere Naunton for the taxi-ing competition was won by Capt. Broad. Flight-Lieut. Luxmore received a propeller clock from the club, and Capt. Stack a fill-up from the Gnat Aero Co., Ltd. The final event of a climb to 2,000 ft. was won by Capt* Broad on a " Moth," time, 2 mins. .15 sees. ; Flight-Lieut. Luxmore, Avro " Gosport," time 2 mins. 46 sees. ; L. F. R. Bellairs, Avro " Avian," 3 mins. 46 sees. The prizes of a silver cup and a propeller clock for the smartest machine were won by Capt. Neville Stack, " Moth," and F. P. Raynham, " Avian." The prizes were presented to the various winners by Mrs. F. Raynham in the club house, amongst a happy gathering. Among the many who flew to the meeting was Mai. Mealing, who officially represented Sir Sefton Brancker. AVIATION HONOURS LADY HEATH A LUNCHEON in honour of Lady Heath's latest flight from Cape Town to Croydon, which ended on May 17, was given on May 23, at the May Fair Hotel by the Air League of the British Empire, in co-operation with the Royal Aeronautical Society, Royal Aero Club and Society of British Aircraft Constructors. His Grace The Duke of Sutherland presided. He stated that they were gathered to do honour to Lady Heath, and before continuing his speech he referred to the receipt of many telegrams from those who were unable to be present, and offering their congratulations to Lady Heath. One was from the secretary of the Women's Athletic Association, in which Lady Heath was eulogised as a pioneer of athletics amongst women. The Essex and Middlesex Flying Club also sent their congratulations. His Grace said that but for the short notice there would have been a larger gathering. They were gathered, he continued, to welcome an intrepid lady who is a pioneer in aviation throughout England and the whole world. Her flight had proved the safety and reliability of the British aeroplane and British engine. The culminating exploit had not to make us forget what Lady Heath had already done for aviation. With Lady Bailey she shared altitude records, had won trophies all over Europe, and was the first woman to loop the loop. She had demonstrated that the air age had definitely arrived, and woman's persuasion, continued the chairman, was more effective than man's. The world had not conceived as possible for women a flight alone from Cape Town to England until her flight. When flying between Pretoria and Bulawayo she was attacked by sunstroke and along the African coast a native fired at her. Over Nairobi he understood that it was necessary to lighten her machine, so she threw overboard tennis rackets and several novels. It would be interesting to know what novels they were, commented His Grace. She arrived at Croydon. however, completely unruffled. During the flight she had been looked after by Lieut. Bentley, whom they were proud to have with them that day. Referring to her previous career, he said that Lady Heath had taken a science degree at Dublin University and lectured at Aberdeen University. She had held the world's record for women in the high jump. In conclusion, said the chairman, Lady Heath was an inspiration to all aviation in the world. Lady Heath then rose. She could not thank them enough, she said, for the welcome given her by the Air League and other Societies. Her flight had been done in slow time and over a round-about route as she had had no wish to bv the first to cover a particular area. All previous flights between our Colonies had been started from this country, and she took her Avro " Avian " to Africa by boat last December in order to see what could be done without any previous organisation. The difficulties encountered had at times been almost insurmountable. It had been impossible to get the right fuel and local fuel had cost her 5s. 6d. per gallon. But in every place, however. she had been able to get Wakefield oil. The " Cirrus " engine with which she had flown 173 hrs. had given marvellous service. Lieut. Bentley had been a great help, particularly at Abercorn when a petrol leak occurred. One difficulty was the absence of maps. Lieut. Bentley had the only maps of the route and he generously let her have them. Lady Heath next emphasised the lack of communications in some parts of Africa and the consequent danger to those travelling by road, motor car or air. There was one stretch of 600 miles of fever swamp, It was not realised, she said, what our Colonies are to us. Describing her flight briefly, she traced her progress first round the coast from Cape Town to the»five flying clubs. One of her passengers had since learnt to fly and bought a machine. She believed that one was always doing something for aviation when carrying a passenger. There was tremendous enthu- siasm amongst the clubs and the whole country was dying to get into touch with aviation. In conclusion, Lady Heath thanked the numerous bodies who had helped the flight, amongst them, the Colonial Services and Headquarters, Italy, the R.A.F., A. V. Roe and Co., A.D.C. Aircraft, Sir Charles Wakefield, S. African A.F. Rand Daily Mail. She also made the suggestion that the firms concerned in her flight might like to subscribe for a fund for the Air League to found four Flying Scholarships. She hoped /200 might be raised. Amongst those present were :— Sir Hamar Greenwood, Sir Sefton Brancker, Sir J. F. A. Higgins, Mr. Philip S. Foster, Sir Charles Wakefield, Col. The Master of Sempill, Mr. Fairey, Mr. R. Blackburn, Mr. A. V. Roe, Mr. T. Sopwith, Sir F. R". McClean, Mr. J. Ford, General P. R. C. Groves, Col. O. Darby, Mr. Griffith Brewer. Capt. P. D. Acland, Col. N. G. Thwaites, Maj. J. Stewart, Col. Barrett Leonard, Capt. Farina, Lieut.-Col. Goppi and Mr.. A. L. Chorlton. 388
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