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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0526.PDF
FLIGHT, MAY 29, 1931 "Puss Moths" for CzechoslovakiaA " REPEAT order " lias been received by the DeHavilland Aircraft Co. Ltd., for the supply of two further " Puss Moth " cabin aeroplanes to Mr. Thomas Bata," the uncrowned shoe-king of Europe," who virtually owns the town of Zlin, Czecho-Slovakia, where his giganticfactory turns out 100,000 pairs of boots and shoes every day. Until last year, Mr. Bata operated a fleet of out-of-date German machines, which he now proposes to replace entirely with British aircraft. His two new Puss Mothsare to be provided with navigation lighting and flare equipment, which suggests that night flying is to be in-dulged in to enable his executives to cover his big market. Mr. Bata's heart is very much in civil flying, and hestates that his own use of the fast and economical type of plane is doing much to encourage private ownership.A Metal Construction " Pool " WE understand that an important step has recentlybeen taken by three well-known British aircraft firms in the form of a pooling of the three firms' patents coveringmetal construction of aircraft. The firms in question are Armstrong-Whit worth, Boulton & Paul, and the GlosterAircraft Co., Ltd. Between them these three firms hold patents covering nearly every imaginable form of metalconstruction, and in the future any one of the three firms will be at liberty to use forms of construction coveredby patents held by one or other of the other two. It seems likely that a not inconsiderable number of otherfirms in the British aircraft industry will be faced with the obligation to make some arrangement, either in theform of royalties or otherwise, with the new company, and it is to be hoped, in the interests of the industry generally,that the demands made will not be excessive. Handley Page Slots and the Guggenheim Competition AT the annual general meeting of Handley Page, Ltd.,on May 21, it was announced by the chairman (Mr. S. R. Worley) that the proceedings instituted by the companyagainst the Curtiss company for infringement of patent by using slots on the machine which won first prize in theGuggenheim safety competition had been settled by agree- ment. The American company had agreed to a consentdecree of the United States court whereby they acknow- ledged their infringement and also acknowledged thevalidity of the Handley Page patents. The American company had also entered into a royalty agreement withthe Handley Page firm so that any machines to which they might attach slots in the future would pay royalty.U.S.A. Air Demonstration THE 1st Air Division of the U.S. Army Air Corps,consisting of 600 to 700 aeroplanes of various classes, recently gave demonstrations of American air strength byflying in formation, first over Chicago and, a few days later, over New York. While the formation was crossingover New York, one machine, which had a Press photo- grapher as passenger, was obliged to land from enginetrouble. The pilot brought the machine down in shallow water near the harbour, and both pilot and passenger werepicked up unharmed. The state of the passenger's camera and plates is not reported. Meantime, pacifist organisa-tions held meetings of protest in the streets. - Screening a City with Smoke MARSHAL PETAIN recently witnessed an interestingexperiment in protecting a village near Lille from air attack by creating a thick cloud of smoke or mist, whichspeedily covered the village, and rendered it invisible from the air. The fog is described as quite harmless to thosewhom it enveloped, though they suffered from slight irri- tation of the nose and throat. Small local smoke screensare an old device, but this attempt at a widespread screen is an interesting novelty, which may lead to a greaterdegree of protection for inhabited areas in time of war. Mr. Shackleton returning to England His many friends will be glad to learn that Mr. W. S.Shackleton is shortly returning to England from Australia, whither he went some years ago on account of indifferenthealth. Mr. Shackleton, who will, perhaps, be best remem- bered as the designer of the little A.N.E.C. monoplane,and later the Beardmore " Wee Bee," has now wholly regained his health, and on his return to the " OldCountry " he will, in conjunction with Mr. Lee Murray, who is generally regarded as one of the soundest pilotsin Australia, establish a business as consulting engineer, chiefly in connection with advising on thr suitability andpurchase of aircraft from England by Australian, New Zealand and New Guinea operating companies or privateindividuals. Mr. Shackleton has been chief designer and engineer to the Larkin Aircraft Supply Company. Shackk-ton and Murray have between them a very thorough prac- tical knowledge of Australian conditions, and they shouldbe very successful in attaining their ideal of developing a reliable and unbiassed liaison between aeronautical interestsat home and in the Southern Hemisphere. Promises of support have already been received from Australia, NewGuinea and New Zealand. Mr. Shackleton and his family are travelling home by boat, while Mr. Lee Murray isflying his Desoutter monoplane across Canada and the United States to study conditions there. Mr. Shackletonhopes to reach England early in June, and communications sent to him at Devonshire House, Addlestone, Surrey, willfind him. Death of Sir Trevor Dawson WE regret to announce the death, on May 19, of Com-mander Sir Arthur Trevor Dawson, Bt., Director of Vickers and Vickers-Armstrong, Ltd., and chairman ordirector of several allied companies. Sir Trevor was well known in the iron and steel industry, particularly in thebuilding of warships and the manufacture of guns. He retired from the koyal Navy in 1896, to become Super-intendent of Ordnance to Vickers, Sons & Maxim, Ltd., and later became chairman of Vicker's Artillery and Ship-building Management Board. Wartime Airmen to Fly over London THE South London Branch of the Comrades of theKoyal Air Forces are to visit Croydon aerodrome on Sunday, May 31, at 3.30 p.m., when they will be shownaround the airport, etc., and then ascend for a flight over London. Arrangements have been made with ImperialAirways for a party of around 200 to share this flight. Aero Golfing Society THE Spring Meeting of the Aero Golfing Society forthe Challenge Cup presented by the proprietors of FLIGHT,was held at Walton Heath on Tuesday, May 19, 1931. The winner was Brian Lewis, 84 — 11 = 73.T.M.A.C. at Stag Lane WE understand that the Directors of the De HavillandAircraft Co., Ltd., have given facilities to The Model Air- craft Club for the formation of the 3rd Wing, Squadrons7-8-9, at Stag Lane, for D.H. Students, under Capt. Eden. New Spanish Airport. SPAIN added a new airport to those already in exist-ence in that country when, on May 1, an aerodrome was officially opened at Barajas, near Madrid.A Modern Shop NATIONAL Flying Services, Ltd., have opened inNorthumberland Avenue a shop where everything associated with flying will be sold. The shop, designedby Mr. Raymond McGrath, decoration consultant to the B.B.C., has been prepared to appeal to the general public.Its walls and ceiling are curved to represent the cabin of an aircraft. Its counter is in the form of an aeroplanewing. There are a latticed tower and an artificial wind " stocking " in the window, and many aeroplane modelsare hung in prominent positions. This shop will also sell tickets for journeys by air on air lines, pleasure trips,and taxi services. We would suggest that a more attrac- tive exterior might bring great numbers of people toappreciate the interior. A Modern Shop. (FLIGHT Photo.) 488
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