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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0907.PDF
SEPTEMBER 27, 1928 engines with leaking cylinders were changed. The engines were decarbonised, new rings fitted, and valves ground in. Nothing further was necessary. The " 9's " had wheels made from Michelin motor-car rims fitted with Dunlop balloon car tyres. These proved quite satisfactory. The D.H.50 started with aero wheels and special square tread tyres, but there was difficulty through the walls breaking, and at Longreach they were changed for a pair of ordinary aero tyres as used by Quantas. These had one or two punctures. At Adelaide wheels and tyres similar to those on the D.H.9's were fitted, and no further tyre trouble was experienced. It was found advisable to use smooth tyres, as a tread was apt to pick up pebbles and cast them into the propeller. Some wood shrinkage was noticed, and the machines required regular trueing and tightening up. The report seems in favour of metal machines, but reflects that the wooden machines of the airways give from 1,200 to 1,500 hours before overhaul. Special propellers were designed and made at Randwick. They proved so satisfactory that they were standardised for D.H.9's throughout the R.A.A.F. The oleo under- carriage of the D.H.50 proved far superior to the standard " V " of the D.H.9's. The former also had a far superior tail skid, and a similar type was afterwards fitted to the "9's." Survey " It might probably be said with truth that Australia is one of the worst-mapped countries in the world." Such is the conclusion of the report after the flight had wrestled with the maps supplied to them before the start. Most of these maps were nothing more than plans. Xo contoured maps of the Commonwealth exist, except of a small portion covered by the Army Survey Section. By ordinary ground methods the mapping of the Commonwealth would probably take hundreds of years to complete, and cost a huge sum. The only practical way of dealing with the problem is by means of air photographs. The suggestion is made in the report that the R.A.A.F. should undertake an aerial survey of the Commonwealth. F. A. de A". R. Liverpool-Belfast Experimental Air Mail Test ON September 22 the Short " Calcutta " flying-boat flew from Liverpool to Belfast and back as an experimental test flight for this week's service. On board were Sir Sefton Brancker, Sir F. Bowring, Capt. Mace, Mr. S. Salvidge and representatives of Imperial Airways. The landing was made in Musgrave Channel and the Lord Mayor entertained them to a luncheon. The return air journey was made in the afternoon. The service was scheduled to start on September 24 and continue until September 29, providing a daily mail service each way between the two cities. Mail carried by this service required a special fee of Id. per 2 ozs. in addition to ordinary postage and registration or express fees ; the usual Air Mail label being affixed (Yes, we have no air stamps !). On the inaugurating flight the machine arrived in Musgrave Channel nearly an hour late, owing mainly to bad weather conditions. After being ofncially inspected by the Lord Mayor of Belfast and others, the " Calcutta " made a flight over the city, and later returned to Liverpool with a full complement of mails and passengers. Mail 'Plane Down A MAIL hydroplane working on the Marseilles to Algiers route left the Balearic Isles early on September 22 and sent out wireless appeals for assistance three hours later as it had been forced down at sea by engine trouble 50 kms. from Cape Palos. A ielief machine was at once despatched from Perpignan, but returned after a fruitless search of three hours. But in the afternoon it was found and taken in tow by the French steamer Chassinand, with the airmen safe. On the same day another mail aeroplane, which left Casablanca, Morocco, for Cape Juby, disappeared, but was eventually found undamaged near Agadir, S. Morocco. Sir Philip Sassoon's Air Tour THE Under-Secretary of State for Air, Sir Philip Sassoon, will leave England by air on September 29 to vi^it the Royal Air Force stations inMalta, the Middle East, Iraq, and India. The route to be followed will be Plymouth, Marseilles, Xaples, Athens, Cairo (whence a visit will be made by air to the Air Force squadron at Khartoum), Amman, Baghdad^ Basra, the Persian Gulf, Karachi. The type of aircraft which will be employed for the greater part of the tour will be a Black- burn " Iris " flying-boat with three Rolls-Royce Condor engines and manned by the normal service crew. The I'nder-Secretary of State will spend nine days in India and will visit by air the squadrons in that country. He will leave Karachi on October 24 for England in the " Iris " which is due at Plymouth on November 6. On the return journey a visit will be made to Malta, which will be reached via Aboukir and Benghasi. Sir John Salmond in New Zealand AIR VICE MARSHAL SIR JOHN SALMOND lias extended his visit to New Zealand after circling Australia by air. He reached Auckland from Sydney and is to confer with the Government at Wellington. He is reported to have said that there was no reason why the airship now being built for the (Government should not visit New Zealand as well as Australia in two years' time. The Speed Record ON September 24, Flight-Lieut. D'Arcy Greig took out the Supermarine-Napier seaplane in which the record is to be made for the first time, but he contented himself with taxi-ing as visibility was bad. King's Cup Winner Flying to Africa CAPT. L. HOPE, who won the King's Cup Race twice, and left London recently on a flight to Cape Town via Kenya Colon -, is suffering from sunstroke and will probably be delayed at Atbara for a few days. World's Tour by Light Aeroplane VICOMTE AND VICOMTESSE DE SIBOUR, who are attempting a world's flight in their D.H. Gipsy-Moth, flew from Tangier to Fez on September 24. They started from Stag Lane on September 14, and first flew to Paris. Cattewater Extensions As a result of the decision to re-open Cattewater Air Station, Plymouth, as an active Royal Air Force station, extensions are to be carried out. The present buildings will be reconditioned, lecture rooms provided, sick quarters improved, and accommodation for officers and staff increased. The present slipway will also be extended, and portions of the Cattewater dredged. When this is completed, the largest flying boats will be housed. " Crazy " Pilot Hurt SQDN. LDR.J J. NOAKES, the " Crazy " flying expert and originator, was injured on September 20. whilst testing a new machine at Martlesham Heath Experimental Station. His injuries were not serious. For Canada MR. J. D, PARKINSON, instructor to the Newcastle Aero Club, has been appointed chief pilot to the Inter- national Airways of Canada. Scottish Notes ON the 22nd inst. the Avro-Avian G-EBTY was flown from Edinburgh to Moorpark aerodrome, Renfrew, Glasgow, for use by the Scottish Flying Club. The machine was first owned by Mr. J. P. Drew, who was killed while flying a service machine in May last. It was acquired by an Edinburgh enthusiast, Mr. T. J. Connolly, B.L., who has for some time been pressing Edinburgh Town Council to la ' down a municipal aerodrome. On the Air Ministry refusing facilities for Edinburgh-owned civilian aircraft, Mr. Connolly disposed of his machine to the Scottish Flying Club. Capt. Kingwill flew the machine to Renfrew. This is the first Avro-Avian owned by the Scottish Flying Club, their previous machines having all been D.H. Moths. The Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale, known as the " Flying Marquis," addressed the Rotarians on " Flying " in the North British Station Hotel, Edinburgh, on the 20th inst. Capt. Hanney, of the Cameron Highlanders, emphasised the need of enthusiasm in the Scottish capital. Mr. W. J. Stoddart, of the Empire Exhibition, Edinburgh, thinks we should have an aero exhibition in Edinburgh in 1929 or 1930. This project has already been under discussion among Scottish enthusiasts, and has meantime been " turned down." So far as Edinburgh is concerned, there are two factors against its being the locale, viz., (1) the Waverley market is not nearly commodious enough, and (2) the only aerodrome in the district (Turnhouse) is closed against the civilian. In mid-August the Air Ministry refused to licence Turnhouse for use by civil aircraft, and this has given " air-mindedness " a set-back meantime. Edinburgh must remain out of the game until Turnhouse is thrown open to civil aircraft or the Town Council lay down a municipal aerodrome. Glasgow has Kelvin Hall and Moor- park aerodrome, and is thus the only venue meantime for a Scottish aero show. 837
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