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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0439.PDF
MAY 31, 1928 [" FLIGHT " PhotographSeeking the shelter of the wing from the sun are (left to right) Mr. Newington, Mr. F. Sigrist, Mrs. Sigrist, Mrs. Hawker, Miss Alteson, Mrs. Newington and Mr. Leach. however. He wisely attacked before his balloons rose very far off the aerodrome, and he dived again and again at the scattered ones. Mr. Bartlett also showed immediate aptitude with his bunch, scoring before they were aloft almost, and then attacking with low climbing turns as they separated. Flight-Lieut. Bonham-Carter did even better by destroying his batch at his first attack. Flight-Lieut. Bruce was also arood, and Flight-Lieut. Luxmoore won himself second place in the event to Flight-Lieut. Bonham-Carter's first. The prize was £'10 for the winner, and each competitor was given three minutes. R.A.F. Display.—A most important part in the dav's programme was played by the R.A.F. There was an exhibi- tion of Gloster " Gamecocks," piloted by Sqdn.-Ldr. C. N. Lowe, Flying-Officers N. A. P. Pritchett and H. C. O. Hayter, and Flight-Lieut. A. C. Collier. They flew over the aero- drome in various formations and drilled, then co-operated with a formation of two Blackburn " Dart " torpedo' planes led by a Blackburn " Blackburn," piloted by Flying-Officer L. H." Brooke. Flight-Lieut. C. B. Riddle and Flying-Officer Thompson flew the " Darts," each of which carried a bright red-nosed torpedo beneath the fuselage. The groups were flown together to emphasise their difference in relative •performance, which was clearly apparent. Might-Lieut. Rawson gave an interesting demonstration of various stunts in the Avro " Gosport " training machine, including inverted flight, slow rolls and loops from the inverted position. Flight-Lieut. A. C. Collier did similarly in a Gloster " Game- cock," and brought his machine at close quarters to the enclosures and gave the public an intimate but safe view of the " Gamecock " in flight. Formation flying by a flight of " Gamecocks " was given efficiently by Flight-Lieut. A. C. Collier and Flying-Officers N. A. P.'Pri'tchett and H. C. O. Hayter, of No. 43 Squadron, R.A.F., Tangmere. Their manoeuvres synchronised per- fectly, and included loops and the movement describing the Prince of Wales feathers. A Fairey " Flycatcher," piloted by Flying-Officer^ F. C. lennings, engaged in combat with an Avro " Bison," flown by Flight-Lieut. J. S. Harrison, and in due time it forced the "enemy " to descend in " flames," whilst the dummy crew escaped by parachute. Two large brilliant yellow lights trailed beneath the bottom wings of the " Bison," with two trails of smoke to represent fire, and it descended like the falling leaf. One of the dummy crew fell into high trees beyond the aerodrome, and the parachute sprawled on the side branches, whilst the other member of the crew disappeared beyond the trees altogether. A thrilling item was a ground strafe by Gloster " Game- cocks " flown by Sqdn.-Ldr. Lowe, Flying-Officers N. A. P. Pritchett and H. C. O. Hayter, and Flight-Lieut. A. C. Collier. They appeared over the aerodrome in formationand surprised an hostile machine (a derelict Avro) in enemy territory, which they proceeded to bomb after parting.Diving on it steeply in turns from all angles, they released small objects which burst into white smoke on contact andquickly enveloped the machine in a thick cloud. Perhaps the R.A.I'", item which most thrilled the crowd wasthe performance of Flight-Lieut. F. L. Luxmoore on the fast single-seater fighter, the Avro " Avenger," which is fittedwith the Napier " Lion " engine. In the hands of its expert pilot it tore very low and direct for the enclosures,and then zoomed high and swiftly into the blue skv. The roar of the engine transmitted itself as strong as an electriccurrent through the crowd. It came to be expected each time of approach, and, as it were, steeled against. Theeffect made this event more intense than anything else during the afternoon. It can be said that the co-operation of the Air Force at airmeetings dominated by light aeroplanes is a decided fillip for the public, for with the powerful machines, the effect ismore impressive and often electric. After a few hours watching light aeroplanes with appearance and performancerelatively similar to the public, the difference is marked. There is a general audible cry of pleasant surprise when afast single-seater fighter takes off or a large bomber or torpedo 'plane lunges across the aerodrome, with its load ofarmament and prominent Air Force crew, whose alert attitude always gives the impression that they are going into battle or,at least, have a job of work on hand. They scorn their Siats, and those in open cockpits usually squat on top of thegun ring. Their prominence in the large machines also suggests that they are crowded out. The two concluding items in the civil programme werea demonstration of the slotted wing, and a parachute jump. Capt. Broad flew a slotted wing D.H. " Moth," and Capt.H. A. Brown a slotted-wing Avro " Avian." Together they stalled at very low altitudes and gently floated before theenclosures. Mr. John Tranum, the Russell " Lobe " parachute expert,jumped from a D.H. " Moth " piloted by Mr. J. Carberry, at a height of about 1,000 ft. He used the silk type which quicklyopened, brought him down steadily and collapsed when he reached the ground. Tranum is now connected with theBritish Company formed to produce the Russell parachutes, and has recently returned from Sweden, where his exhibitionjumps from a D.H. " Moth," flown by Mr. J. Carberry, attracted wide interest in the Press. Before his descent atHamble, he folded the parachute on the ground in quick time. He contributed another item to the programme byclimbing over Mr. Carberry's machine in flight, riding at one moment on a wheel, and on landing he was sitting on thetop wing. 403
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