FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0908.PDF
SEPTEMBER 27, 1928 DR1VA FLYING A Section ef FLIGHT in the Interests of the Private Owner, Owner-Pilot, and Club Member PRIVATE FLYING FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES By CAPT. H. BALFOUR, M.C. (This plea for the utility of the light aeroplane for business as well as pleasure is timelv, and also appropriate, from our contributor, Capt. H. Balfour, M.C., General Manager of Messrs. Metal Propellers, Ltd., Crovdon, for he experiences what he advocates. His D.H. "Moth X" (Cirrus Mark II) has the D.H. split axle and Handley-Page slots.—ED.) WE hear much about those fortunate ones who have the time and facilities for foreign air touring, but it has occurred to me that many people have not yet realised the advantages and practicability of the light aeroplane as a substitute for a car on a business trip. In the hopes that it may interest others, I give this short account of a tour just completed on my D.H. "Moth " for the purpose of visiting certain R.A.F. units and aircraft firms. Capt. H. Balfour, M.C., with his D.H. "Moth X" (Cirrus Mk. II), which has the Handley-Page slotted wings. He is general manager of Metal Propellers, Ltd., of Purley Way, Croydon. To have covered the ground by car would certainly have taken several long and tiring days at the wheel, instead of a flying time total of under seven hours. My passenger, a business associate, who had only been up once, but who wanted the experience of a light aeroplane flight across country, and I watched the Autogiro leave for Paris from Croydon on Tuesday, September 18, then into our D.H. " Moth," and off at 10.30 a.m. Up to 2,000 ft. and above the misty clouds in bright sunshine until clear of Twickenham, when we came through to pick up our course north. Alas, the fog clouds were so low that I was flying about '200 ft. only above the house tops. Where the new Great West road joins the Bath road, there is a fine stubble field, and into this we descended to wait until the sun was strong enough to disperse the fog. Only about four men came up to the machine, and even the A.A. scout at his box a few hundred yards away did not turn a hair. All of which shows how air-minded the average citizen is becoming. After a glass of beer and a biscuit at the pub on the corner, we took off at 11.30 a.m. A glorious flight over the finest hunting country in England brought us to Hucknall by 1 p.m—to be met with the kindness and hospitality of the Nottingham Club and Mr. Martin. Lunch at a local hostelry, petrol and oil, and into the air again about 2.45 p.m. Inadequate maps, coupled with a long standing proclivity for losing myself, and a thick pea soup atmosphere combined to make a landing advisable, after flying due north for about 40 mins. We chose a football ground at the edge of a large town, which could be seen dimly, but smelt acutely, for visibility was nearly nil by then. As we landed, the houses behind disgorged hundreds upon hundreds of men, women and children of every size and shape. I saw that if they once got up to the machine we should never get off again, so I leapt out, collared the man who was first favourite in the race, and leading the field, and asked where we were. " Kotherham, lad," he replied in a broad north-country accent. I almost vaulted into the cock-pit and opened the throttle in one motion, and we were off before the pack got near their prey. North again, till we judged ourselves to be near Sherburn, but air still thick, so down into a stubble field to find we were but five miles away. A few minutes more, and we were on the Yorkshire Club aerodrome, being well looked after by Capt. Beck, an old friend of R.F.C. days. Here I dropped my passenger, who had to return to London, and I took off for Catterick, which was reached after 45 mins'. flying in glorious sunshine and blue skies, down to Nottingham, a contrast to the weather south of Sherburn. After the chief objective of my trip had been attained, I left Catterick at noon the next day and three-quarters of an hour later I was enjoying the hospitality of Major Bumpus and Capt. Blake of the Blackburn Aeroplane Co., Ltd., at the firm's splendid club on Brough aerodrome. Off again at three o'clock and directly the River Humber was crossed, the haze belt was again run into, but this time it was not so bad as on the previous day. Steering due south, the Wash was hit off by Boston, and following it round (but keeping well clear of an R.A.F. Horsley towing an aerial target), King's Lynn was passed over about an hour and five minutes after leaving Brough. When steering a course for Norwich, a desire for tea became the leading feature, so down into a good-looking park in the hopes that the kind owner would supply the need—after the excuse of being lost was given as the reason for landing ! ! Alas, only a gardener came up, for Lady T. (the owner) was away. Off again, and in 20 mins. came Norwich, where the Norfolk club soon made me forget the tea thoughts. Some business done, petrol and oil taken in (as well as other supplies, by Tollemache !) and off to Martlesham, the Felix Hotel, and a certain tall Air Force friend, his charming wife and sister. The next morning, a leisurely start at 11.30 a.m., and 45 mins. later I crossed the Thames by Hornchurch aerodrome, to meet once more the local pea-soup haze, which brought me down to 400 ft. and necessitated a detour round the outskirts of London towards Croydon. Two miles short of the aero- drome it cleared up, and the little D.H. " Moth " and I landed in brilliant sunshine. The engine, "Cirrus Mark II," never missed a beat, but ran as it always does and has done, consumed only about four and a-half gallons of petrol per hour, a negligible amount of oil, while the aeroplane was as comfortable and charming to fly as it always is. WESTLAND "WIDGEON" ACTIVITIES THE Westland " Widgeon " is finding a considerable market One of them is to be used in the mining industry by a well- abroad. There is a batch shortly being shipped to Australia known mining company. The mine is situated far from the for the agents, Messrs. Brockway Motors, Ltd., of Sydney. coast, and can only be reached by bearers, for rail or motor 838
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
