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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0532.PDF
JUNE 28, 1928 aircraft, engines, wireless, photography, navigation, arma-ment, and instruments. A small wind tunnel is installed, and there is also a research laboratory. In this matter thesquadron is giving active help to the University, for the Chair of Aeronautics is not equipped with a laboratory,and Professor Melville Jones uses that of the squadron of which he is an honorary member. A lecture room is alsoprovided, which is fitted up as a reading room and aero- nautical library, and members can get light refreshmentsthere. Outside authorities give lectures there usually once a fortnight, and members are expected to attend these. Flying training is carried out at Duxford, about nine milesaway, on four afternoons a week during term time. The usual attendance of members is about 10 a day. Duringterm time, no member of the University who is in statu pupillari is allowed to fly solo unless he is a qualified pilot.Quite a number of members have, however, earned their " tickets," and one, at least, is the owner of a D.H. 53. Membership of the squadron (apart from honorarymembers) is limited to 75. The number could easily be doubled, for applications are far more numerous thanvacancies. An applicant must have permission from his parents or guardians and from his tutor, and must pass a another occasion they went to Felixstowe and had a flight in a Calcutta. The following table shows the work of the squadron on one day. The 24 members present are divided into parts " A " and " B." Routine for Thursday, June 21. " A." 7.30 a.m., Breakfast. 8.0 a.m., Flying. 9.30 a.m., Cease Flying. " B." 7.30 a.m., Out Aircraft.8.0 a.m., Breakfast. 8.40 a.m., Camera GunPractice in 16 Squadron machines. 9.45 a.m., Photograph (Group), 1st Batch.10.30 a.m., R.T. Practice 10.15 a.m., Flying. in 16 Squadron machines.12.15 p.m. Luncheon. 1.15 p.m., Flying. 1.30 p.m., R.T. practice in air.2.40 p.m., Camera Gun Practice in air.4.30 p.m. Tea. 5.0 p.m.. Continuation of CRICKET versus STATION OFFICERS. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY AIR SQUADRON AT OLD SARUM : The afternoon parade. : and six Avro Lynx. Three Bristol Fighters medical examination. The Chief Instructor is able to pickand choose, and his guiding principle is to select men who intend to take a serious interest in flying in their future lives.For instance, one member is a son of Sir Auckland Geddes, and, of course, a nephew of the chairman of Imperial Air-ways. Two others are members of the Booth family, of the Booth Shipping Line. Some members do not proposeto become active pilots, but to devote themselves to aero- nautical research. Wranglers and men with honours inscience are included, and whether they intend to apply for service commissions or to engage in research, they will bevaluable acquisitions to the cause of flying. The present 75 represent all the colleges of Cambridge, and are drawnfrom some 40 public schools—a very fine body of men. For the past three years the squadron has been attachedto the station at Old Sarum. The camp lasts for six weeks (this year from June 10 to July 21), and the members attendin three batches, each for a fortnight. All work extremely hard, and when flying is over for the day, there are cricketand tennis, etc., matches against the officers of the station for a challenge plate. Usually, everyone flies three timesa day, but no instructional flight lasts more than half-an-hour. Solo flying is begun at Old Sarum, and more advanced pupilsdo cross-country flights. Usually on one day a week the squadron is taken out towatch aircraft working with army units. One week they all went to Calshot to see Southamptons at work, and on Now, perhaps, some troublesome economist may askwhy public money is expended on what might be described as a flying club ? The Air Ministry is amply justifiedin doing so. In the first place, flying clubs are admittedly a worthyobject for expenditure of public funds. In the second place, the amount spent on a University squadron is verysmall. In the third place, 40 members of the squadron are officers of the R.A.F. Reserve, though they may notuse their rank while working with the squadron. Fourthly, a number of members apply for University commissions inthe regular R.A.F. Three are applying this year, and six are expected to apply next year. On receiving a Universitycommission, an officer who has taken a pass degree gets an antedate of 12 months, while an honours degree gives anantedate of 18 months. At present no limit has been placed upon the number of University commissions. The fact isthat applications from the schools for Cranwell Cadet College have not been so numerous as could be desired. It is veryimportant that the R.A.F. should be able to tap other sources of supply. After long experience the Army hasfound that Oxford and Cambridge provide officer material of the very highest quality, and the Royal Air Force alsowill certainly find that to be correct. Mo one who has seen the members of the C.U.A.S. in camp can have the leastdoubt of their quality. F. A. de V. R. Capt. Oliver Vickers AN aeroplane circled the grave when the late Capt.Oliver Henry Vickers, of Vickers, Ltd., was buried at Brook- wood Cemetery, on June 20. Tribute to Sir John Alcock COMMANDER \Y. STULTZ and Mr. Gordon, the latestAtlantic airmen, flew to Manchester on June 23, from Crovdon, and laid wreaths on the grave of Sir John Alcock,who made the first non-stop flight across the Atlantic. The Lord Mayor entertained them to lunch. They returned toLondon by air later, and were due to embark for America with Miss Earhart, on June 28. On June 22, the formerwere at dinner with the Royal Aero Club. Aircraft to Co-operate with LinersTHE French Air Union and the White Star Line are jointly arranging a service of machines between Cherbourgand Paris in connection with the arrival of passengers at the French port, on June 29 and July 6, who wish to reachParis quickly and save five hours. 480
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