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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0915.PDF
FLIGHT, AUGUST L'8, 1931 Following this amusing event the flight carried out ademonstration drill. They took up various formations when ordered to do so by wireless from the Flight-Commander. These orders were picked up a ground station and relayed through the broadcasting system sothat the spectators could hear the orders being given. The whole operation was fairly successful and certainlyinterested the crowd. The final for the Grosvenor Cup Race was the nextevent, as the heats had been run off earlier in the programme. The complete race can be followed from the tables,which well illustrate the success achieved by Messrs. Dancy and Rowarth in their handicapping. About therace itself there is little to say. It is open to all makes and types of aircraft of unladen weight not exceeding1,500 lb. The course was a triangular one, over which two laps had to be flown, making a total distance of53i miles. The organisation was very good indeed, and there were no untoward incidents other than the retirementof Mr. D. Kennard in his heat owing to sooted up plugs, a much regretted matter, as Mr. Kennard is well knownwith his black and white Klemm (Cirrus III) at Cramlington, and was a fancied pilot for the race. One very noticeable featurewas the increase in the excellence of cornering. Many of thecompetitors were amateurs who have been racing consistentlyduring the last season or so, and the way they handled theirmachines on the corners showed that the more experienced pilotshave little advantage over them. The winner was Sqd.-Ldr.J. W. Woodhouse in a Bluebird (Gipsy I), who flew with hisentrant, Mr. H. Peake, as his passenger. The prize for thefastest time in the race went to the Arrow-Active flown byFlt.-Lt. C. B. Wincott, who put up a speed of 129 m.p.h. Following this race there camea demonstration of combined aerobatics by Flt.-Lt. H. M. A.Day and P/O. D. R. S. Bader, both of No. 23 (Fighter) Sqd., fly-ing Gamecocks (Jupiter). This was without any doubt the finestexhibition we have ever seen. Their timing was perfect and theirshowmanship really good. They managed to keep well up wind,did not gradually drift across the aerodrome in the way we have soof ton seen, and were at all times just the right height to be A " NATIVE " : F./O. Leech, who put up afine display on the Martlet (Genet) at the meeting, talking to Flt.-Lt. N. Comper, de-signer of the Comper Swift. ON A CORNER: A Bluebird rounding a corner. seen comfortably. Particularlyspectacular was their method of flying off up the aerodrome side-by-side after having done a dive and rocket opposing each other.This was accomplished by an aileron turn inwards while nosedown after the rocket. The dis- play was doubly interesting inthat it was probably the last time these Gamecocks would be seenin public, as we were told that they had been kept on charge inthe squadron, which has since been equipped with Bulldogs,solely for this display. The parachute descent wasmade with a dummy, as Capt. Stewart is still suffering fromthe effects of his dislocated shoulder. The Relay Race which finishedthe programme was somewhat of a wash-out. In this it wasnecessary for the machines to take off, fly a circuit, and thenland between two lines on the aerodrome. Those who landedshort were at once disqualified, while those who over-shot had toman-handle their machines by themselves back again to betweenthe lines. After this the second pilot could take over and fly the THE FASTEST IN THE RACE : Mr. Thornton, designer, and Fit. Lt. Wincott (R.) in front of the Arrow Active before the race. 861
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