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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 0944.PDF
FLIGHT, SEPTEMBER 4, 1931 hill. However, the best was made of a bad job, and avery good best it was. The gliding had to be carried out down the north slope of the hill, which is comparativelygentle, and thus does not create much in the way of up- currents, while the landings had to be made amongbushes, stones, trees, and many other forms of obstruction. The best nights were made by F/O Mole in a " Scud."He was shot up far higher than the other machines owing to his light weight, and the way in which he pulled hisglider up at just the right moment. Utilising his flat gliding angle, he was able to carry on a long way out overthe almost flat country, to land in fields the other side of the obstructions, which worried most competitors. Thehandiness of the " Scud " was shown up well here, because there was no need for more than four men to go downto bring it back. The handholes on the sides are excel- lent for the purpose, and no difficulty was experienced inbringing the machine back up the hill again. Other excellent glides were those made by Mr. LeroyBrown in a glider which he has designed and made him- self. Mr. Brown is the power behind the Southdown Sky-sailing Club, and others of his members also made good flights in this machine. The wind conditions were, in a way, better for theprimary gliders than for soaring proper, and several local members made extended flights in their " Zogling," whichcarried them right down among the bushes. Herr Krause, with the Lyons Tea " Falke," made anattempt to soar, but on each occasion was forced to land a long way from his start. The interest roused in thePortsmouth district was large, for the crowd numbered several thousand. The management had also engaged aparachutist to make a drop, and no doubt this accounted to a certain extent for the number of spectators ; theywere, however, very interested in the gliding, and we hope that the Club will benefit accordingly. AT THE WASSERKUPPE: The " Kassel 25" just before landing on the southern slope of theWasserkuppe. This type will shortly be put into production. <•> <*> <$> A Confirmed CaterpillarTHE noted American pilot, Major " Jimmy " Doolittle, who is head of the aviation department of theShell Petroleum Corporation in America, recently made his third jump for life whilst testing a new plane equippedwith a 512 h.p. " Wasp " engine, which had been con- structed for the purpose of attempting a new world's land-plane record. Doolittle's laconic remark upon his escape was " Aeroplane failed, Chute worked." Each of hisjumps was made with an Irvin Air Chute. French Air Council Created ON August 27 M. Doumer, President of the FrenchRepublic, signed a decree constituting a Higher Air Council, to be an advisory body on all subjects relevant tomilitary aviation. From this to the creation of a governing Air Council is probably a small step. TheFrench Air Minister is ex-officio president of the new Air Council, the members of which are the Minister for Air.the Inspector-General of the French Air Force, the Chief of the Air Staff, the Director of Technical Services, and chiefofficers of the French Air Force. Italian Air Manoeuvres No less than 900 aircraft are reported to have takenpart in Italy's air manoeuvres held during the period August 27-31. The view is expressed that, on the whole,the attacking forces must be regarded as having been extremely successful, while "A" force, the defenders, werein most cafces outmanoeuvred and outfought, and, in the end, had to ask for an " armistice." Apparently Italywent a good deal farther than we do in this country in introducing real war conditions. For instance, during the attack on Spezia at night, all the electric light was cut offand motor cars were not permitted to show any lights. " Darkness and composure " seem to have been the watch-words. One wonders how much of the overwhelming superiority of the attacking forces was carefully engineeredin order to prepare for an increased Air Estimate in the next Budget. France also Manoeuvres THE French air manoeuvres, held in the Nancy district,and mainly consisting in air attacks upon that city, took place at the same time as the Italian air manoeuvres, andas in Italy so also in France the attackers seem to have been more successful than the defenders. The " lesson ''which French air opinion draws from the manoeuvres is that in anti-aircraft defence an extensive system of groundorganisation, with listening posts, lines of communication, searchlights and guns, is absolutely essential if the attack-ing air forces are to be dealt with effectively. The " lessons >J might have been much more realistic if Franceand Italy could have gone to war (in a friendly way, of course), French machines attacking Italy and Italianmachines attacking France. The idea is not, perhaps, as mad as it sounds, and we present it to our goodfriends in France and Italy free gratis and for nothing! Change of Address WE are informed that Palmer Tyres, Ltd.—the makers of the well-known Aero wheels, tyres and brakes—have moved their Head Office to Aldwych House, Aldwych, W.C.2. The 'phone number is now—Holborn 8461 (8 lines). 882
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