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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0434.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 8, 1931 AIIIRIPCIRY NEWS BRISTOL -mp\ KISTOL Airport was the scene of much animation onII -S> Saturday afternoon, May 2. By midday several l|l C_) visiting aircraft had arrived, including Mr. B. S.Allen on a standard Avian (Hermes II) and Miss Winifred Brown in her new Sports Avian " Jerry "(Hermes II). Mr. Allen, who is Aviation Manager for Henlys, had, in conjunction with the authorities at Bristol,arranged an Avian demonstration for the afternoon, and, besides those already mentioned, Mr. H. C. D. Hayter camein one of the very latest Sports Avians with Gipsy II engine and Dunlop semi-balloon tyres, which he had beenlent for the week-end, and later on Mr. V. Holman, the Sales Manager of the Cirrus Hermes Engineering Co.,arrived in his demonstration Avian (Hermes II). Finally, last, but by no means least, Mr. Keith Jopp appeared in hisold Mark II Avian (Cirrus HI). Quite a large crowd was present on the aerodrome,and they all took a very great interest in these machines. The brilliant red new machine which Mr. Hayter hadflown down was in great demand, and must have been tried by very nearly every one present who could fly. Earlier in the day it had been expected that Capt. FrankHawks would have come over from Filton, where he was paying a visit to the Bristol Aircraft Works. Actually,he arrived some two hours late, and apologised for this with an explanation that during the morning he had run shortof money and had to go over to Paris to get some. His flying time from London to Bristol was 28 min. ! Afterhaving looked round the clubhouse and discussed his machine with Capt. Winters, the Manager of the Airport,and many others, he left for Castle Bromwich about 3 p.m.. Being able to travel with such speed as he does must makeCapt. Hawks' life very full, for. having done his duty at Castle Bromwich and taken tea there, he was back inHanworth again soon after 5 p.m., giving an exhibition of towed gliding. We understand that hr has now left forFruiic.t' for a few weeks, but will be paying us a visit again later on. Among those who ably assisted Mr. Allen in entertain-ing those interested in the Avian, was Mr. George Smith, the very popular and genial local Manager of Henlys,Ltd., in Bristol. He was indefatigable in transporting those who were staying the night, into Bristol, and also inseeing to their wants later on in the evening. Two other machines of interest were also on view duringthe afternoon, the first being the Redwing, for which Merlyn Motors are the local agents, and it was broughtdown by Flt.-Lt. Russell, the Redwing Aircraft Co.'s Sales Manager. This machine has an exceptionally low landingspeed, and many interested people were taken for trial flights, to emphasise the advantage of its side-by-side seat-ing. Merlyn Motors also, of course, deal in other aircraft, and amongst their recent sales is a Klenim (Salmson) whichthey sold to Lord Apsley, who is an experienced pilot, and will be using the machine from his country place, nearBristol. The other machine was the Civilian Coupe, for which Henlys have secured the sole agency, and not, as weinadvertently stated last week, Merlyn Motors. Mr. Daw- son brought this interesting machine down, and workedharder than anyone else taking up passengers. He told us he had put in live hours' flying at the aerodrome by thetime he finished for the evening. We described the Coupe very fully in FLIGHT for April 10, and there is no doubtthat the idea of being able to obtain the comfort of en- closed side-by-side seating with an excellent all-round per-formance and an exceptionally good view for under £800, which incidentally includes a machine built like reck andfitted with wheel brakes, will attract a very great deal of attention as soon as it is better known. Arrangements for the summer meeting at the Airport,which is to take place on Saturday, June 20, are well under way, and the occasion will include a visit of Capt.Barnard's Circus to the Airport. The club has been en- trusted with running the race for the S.B.A.C. ChallengeTrophy on the same day, and this will Start from Heston at about 1.30 p.m., finishing at Bristol at about 2.45 p.m.Unless an exceptionally large entry is received, the visitors will not be expected to arrive at Heston before 10 a.m.on the morning of the race for checking over by the handicappers. Capt. Frank Hawks at Bristol; on his right is Mr. Downes-Shaw. the Chair- man of the Bristol and Wessex Club, while on the extreme right of the photograph is Mr. Norman Edgar, who runs Merlyn Motors depot at the Aerodrome, with Capt. Winters, the manager of the Airport, next to him. CROYDON have to endeavour actually to cover the las-tfortnight in this week's notes. Owing to a last- minute hitch, the usual weekly notes did notappear in last week's issue. The main item oi interest for the week ending April 25 was the loss of oneof Imperial Airways' Argosies on the 22nd. The machine was being flown by Mr. Mail, one of Imperial Airways'South African pilots, who was undergoing the usual test of three light and three heavy landings before having hislicence endorsed as being efficient on this type. He had successfully completed five of his landings, and was takingoff again for his final landing, when his left engine cut out completely. He endeavoured to get off on the remainingtwo, but the machine swung to the right, crashed through the iron fencing separating the aerodrome from the aircraftfactory, and settled itself on top of an old aircraft dump in the factory grounds. The pilot managed to get clearjust as the tanks exploded and fired, burning out the machine completely. One of the Marconi engineers, whowas a few yards from the spot, rushed forward, not know- ing the pilot had got clear, and is now minus his eyebrows.However, he made a stout effort regardless of personal in- jury, and we congratulate him for it. The machine crashedon a spot where no clearing up was necessary, and away from the public view. Many opinions have been expressedregarding this accident, but one refrains from any com- ment here, and treats it only for its worth as an item ofnews. We feel deeply sorry for Douglas Mail, for he is a very good fellow. On the Saturday one of the remaining Argosies left forBordeaux to bring home H.R.H. the Prince of Wales and party. The fylot was Mr. Gordon Olley, who was accom-panied by Major Brackley, and Mr. Vaflette acted as wire- less operator. Mr. Olley "has been promoted to the rank ofMajor by certain Sunday newspapers, and in consequence has been presented with a few more cushions. However,although many of us often have a joke at his expense, a better choice of pilot could not have been made, and heknows the Continent better than many of us know London. Now for the week just past. Services have all run 402
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