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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 1155.PDF
FLIGHT, OCTOBER 30, 1931 Take-off tests have already been carried out, and loadedto about 15,000 lb. (that is, 2,000 lb. less than full load) ; the take-off run was only 850 yd. The total run availableon the Cranwell aerodrome is over 2,000 yd., so there should be no difficulty with the take-off when fully loaded. The route to be followed for this flight to Egypt will befrom Cranwell via Duugeness, Cayeux-sur-Mer (about 20 miles north-east of Dieppe), Berre (14 miles from Mar-seilles), Mount Cinto (Corsica), Tunis, Ben Gardane (Tunisia), Bishire (Lybia) to Abu Sueir aerodrome inEgypt, an approximate distance of 2,857 miles. It is expected that the aircraft will reach Tunis about dusk onthe day it leaves Cranwell, arriving at Abu Sueir about noon (G.M.T.) on the following day. The return flight,which is due to leave Egypt by about November 6, is planned in one stage to Malta on the first day and the nextstage to Cranwell on the following day. Since the above was written, the trial flight to Egyptlias been successfully accomplished. After waiting some days for favourable weather forecasts, the monoplane tookoff from Cranwell at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, October 27. The machine passed over Paris at 10.23 and over Nice at4.4 p.m. At 6 p.m. the pilots reported to the Air Ministry that they were over the Straits of Bonifacio (betweenSardinia and Corsica), flying blind through a thick cloud. At 10 p.m. they reported that they were nearing Tunis.Next day, Wednesday, 2Cui, the monoplane landed at Abu Sueir, in Egypt, at 2.15 p.m. Tie w CROYDON EARLY every morning this week, until 9 or 10o'clock, Croydon has been shrouded in a thick mist, although it has not been bad enough tostop flying, because just beyond Croydon the weather has been perfect. I was informed a few days ago,by someone who should know, that Croydon was chosen as the Air Port of London, on account of its freedom fromfogs. This appears to be a fallacy as far as Croydon is concerned ; often it is enveloped in fog, while a few milesaway weather is very good. On Wednesday evening, about 5.30 p.m., the electriclight supply failed, and the whole aerodrome was plunged into darkness. It happened at a time when most of thestaff were on the point of going home, so very little incon- venience was caused. Within a short time, however, theaerodrome was fully alight again, having been switched over to the emergency supply. The aerodrome hotel has introduced some entertainmentinto its programmes. Every Friday evening an artiste entertains in the lounge, and on Saturday afternoons a teadance is held. It is a great pity that a real first-class band is not engaged by Messrs. Barclay Perkins ; it would attracta lot of people. A Farman belonging to the Compagnie Francaise o ^ Royal United Service Institute Lectures AMONGST the lectures to be delivered before the RoyalUnited Services Institute, Whitehall, S.W., during the session 1931-32, will be the following concerningaviation: — 1931\'ov. 18.—" Flying Boats in Empire Defence." by Wing-Comdr. R. M. Bayley, D.F.C., R.A.F. Air Vice-Marshal R. H. Clark-Hall, C.M.G.,D.S.O., in the chair. (3 p.m.) 1932Feb. 4.—" A Flight to Abyssinia," by Sqdn.-Ldr. I. L. Vachell, M.C., R.A.F. The Rt. Hon. Sir Philip Sassoon, Bart., P.C., G.B.E., C.M.G.,M.P., in the chair. (5 p.m.) Mar. 16.—" The- Development of Naval Air Work," by Commodore N. F.Laurence, D.S.O., R.X. Vice-Admiral F. C. Drey.-r, C.B., C.B.E., in the chair. (3.30 p.m.)-War. 23.—" High-Speed Flving," by Sqdn.-Ldr. A. H. Orlebar, A.F.C., R.A.F. Air Marshal Sir Edward Ellington, K.C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., inthe chair. (3.30 p.m.) April 13.—"The N.W. Frontier of India," by Ma .-Gen. S. F. Muspratt,C.H.. C.S.T., C.I.E., D.S.O. Field-Marshal Sir Claud W. Jacob, G.C.B., G.C.S.I.. K.C.M.G.. in the chair. (3.30 p.m.) R.Ae.S. Lectures MR. H. B. IRVING, and Mr. A. V. Stephens, who arelecturing on " Safety in Spinning " before the Royal Aero- nautical Society on Thursday, November 5, will show themodel vertical tunnel and demonstrate how spinning models are kept under observation. They will also show films ofspinning and a number of slides. The lecture will give an account of the work on spinning and the progress whichhas been made since S. B. Gates and L. W. Bryant read their historic paper before the Society four years ago.Piifety in spinning is perhaps one of the most urgent problems for which a complete and satisfying solution isawaited, and the conclusions which the authors put forward f'T attaining safety are the results of the long series of Aerienne arrived on Friday, from Paris, with passengers.It is not often machines belonging to this company come to London. It was, of course, a special charter. Standing on the aerodrome one morning this week, myattention was drawn to the Fokker F.V1I B, belonging to the Belgian Sabena Company. This machine is scheduledto leave for Brussels at 9.30 a.m. On this occasion it was taxied into position on the departure area at 8.55 a.m.,and for the 35 min. before it left, the three engines were left running. This is quite a regular occurrence, the pointthat strikes one being the enormous waste of fuel. It is very profitable for the petrol and oil companies, but whatwould the Belgian taxpayers, who help to subsidise the air lines, say to it? In twelve months thousands of gallonsof petrol must be wasted in this manner. The fine weather is keeping private owners about, therebeing plenty of them in and out of Croydon every week. Col. Darly's little " Aeronca " took the air again onFriday, after several months in the hangar. It is a pretty little machine to watch, but rather gives one the impressionthat it is a toy, and not a machine for real use. The traffic figures for the week were : —Passengers, 828 ;freight, 79 tons. P. B. <•> <•> model and full scale experiments and observations whichhave been carried out. The lecture is at 6.30 p.m. in the Lecture Hall of the Royal Society of Arts, 18, John Street,Adelphi, W.C.2. Capt. W. J. McDonough, head of one of the leadingCanadian transport and exploration companies in Canada, is paying a short visit to this country. Capt. McDonough,who has had a very wide experience of Canadian conditions, has agreed to lecture before the Society, in conjunction withthe Society of British Aircraft Constructors, on aeroplanes as an aid to mineral exploration and the operation of air-craft in sub-zero temperatures. He will show a film illus- trating exploration work in Canada from the air and anumber of unique slides. Owing to the shortness of the notice, it has not been found possible to arrange for thelecture and film at the Royal Society of Arts, so will those who wish to attend make particular note of the changefrom the usual day and place? The day is Monday, November 9, at 6.30 p.m., and the place, the GaumontFilm Company's Theatre, Film House, Wardour Street, W.I." Some Flying Experiences of a Private Owner " ON Wednesday, November 11, at 5 p.m., Col. TheMaster of Sempill will deliver a lecture on " Some Flying Experiences of a Private Owner " at the Portland Hall,Regent Street Polytechnic, in aid of King Edward's Hospital Fund. Admission to the lecture—which is one ofa series on Tales of Travel and Adventure, illustrated by lantern slides or cinematograph—is 2s^ 6d., or, numberedand reserved seats, 5s. Tickets may be obtained from the Secretary, King Edward's Hospital Fund, 7, Walbrook,E.C.4, or from Alfred Hays, Ltd., booking agencies. 1085
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