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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 1334.PDF
FLIGHT, DECEMBER 25, 1931 interceptor " Fury," a second bomber squadron received the " Hart," and several more squadrons were equipped with " Bulldogs." The " Hart " has also made its debut as a two-seater fighter and as an army co-operation machine. The Fleet Air Arm has received a number of " Ospreys " and " Nim- rods." Some old war-time squadrons have been re- formed, and one new squadron of flying boats has come into being. The squadron at Basra has re- ceived " Rangoons " instead of " Southamptons." The flying boat Saro A.7 has flown non-stop from Gibraltar to Plymouth. Catapulting has been developed, and a " Virginia " has been launched into the air in this way. Major Savage's new grid searchlight may perhaps play a great part in keeping off enemy night-bombers, though there is no assur- ance that it may not also be used to defeat the ends of our own bomber formations. The age-limits for short-service commissions have been narrowed, which is a step in the right direction, and the experience necessary to a flying instructor has been lengthened, which is another very wise move. The Air Exercises held in the summer seemed to indicate that the losses of an enemy who tried to bomb London would be too heavy to be tolerated for many days. The year ends with the new Fairey-Napier long-distance mono- plane slightly damaged on its leisurely return from a successful trial flight non-stop to Egypt. Turning to civil and commercial flying, the chief event of the year has been the opening of the African airway by Imperial Airways Ltd. This is certainly an event of first-class importance, but, for various reasons, the opening of the through route to Cape- town has been so long delayed that one hardly counts this event to the credit of 1931. The first mail machine for Capetown left Croydon on December 9. To the debit side of the year must be placed the decision of the Indian Government to close down all air-mail activities so far as possible, in spite of having placed an order for Avro 10 machines to work be- tween Karachi and Calcutta. One of those machines has been delivered in India for the use of the Viceroy on his tours. In Australia the unsubsidised Aus- tralian National Airways Ltd. had to cease its regular services, but it has ended well by sending Christmas mails to England in an Avro 10 piloted by Kingsford Smith. In interesting civil flights, useful and otherwise, the past year has been unusually rich. Many of these flights have been made in light aircraft. Taking them all together they show how reliable the modern aircraft and aero engines have become. Some pilots, both men and women, with compara- tively little experience but a certain amount of luck, have travelled in all directions across the world. Experienced pilots, such as Hinkler, Scott, Mollison, Kingsford Smith, Store, Glen Kidston, and others, have set themselves exacting tasks and have put up performances at which the whole world has won- dered. In one class of flight the crossing of the South Atlantic by Hinkler is outstanding, while in an- other class the records set up by Mollison and Store are remarkable examples of the endurance of the man and the machine. Butler's flight to Australia in a " Swift " deserves a word all to itself. While we mention the great flights which have attracted the attention of the Press, we certainly ought not to forget the faithful regular work of the air mail pilots of Imperial Airways, the two Aus- tralian airways, and the numerous air services in Canada. Their work has nothing of the " stunt " element about it and therefore seldom receives recog- nition by the public. It is, however, the most praise- worthy form of civil flying, and the rarity of any failure proves the quality of the pilots more satis- factorily than it could be shown in any other way. With these pilots we should class those of the Royal Air Force who have taken part in formation flights to South Africa, to West Africa, to Basra, and else- where, and have seldom failed except through the experimental nature of some feature in their aircraft. The clubs and schools are passing through a difficult time, and most of them have had to exercise all possible economy. Nevertheless, they have mostly held their own in membership and in efficiency. A very welcome movement is in progress to demand really high qualifications from the instructors who are employed, and most of the instructors at the schools have now been through courses at the Central Flying School. Courses in advanced flying, in instrument flying, and in ground engineering are now provided at many schools and clubs. A notable movement which has smarted during the year is the formation of flying clubs among the employees of commercial concerns, such as the London General Omnibus Company and United Dairies. Gliding has increased in popularity during the year. From the point of view of the designer, the year 1931 has not been very rich. It has been a year of steady development rather than of startling inno- vation. The principle of the monospar wing has been incorporated in aircraft which have flown. The Pobjoy engine has been developed and put on pro- duction. Two four-engined commercial types have been brought to completion and put into regular service, namely, the " Kent " and the Handley Page 42. Another four-engined type is being de- signed by the Armstrong Whitworth firm for the African airway. In equipment certain useful refine- ments are becoming more general, such as wheel- brakes, tail wheels, and low-pressure tyres. With the dismemberment of R 100 an end has been put to the airship activities of this country for the present. We have, however, been delighted to receive a visit from the Graf Zeppelin, and all who were at Hanworth greatly admired the skill with which Dr. Eckener and his crew brought the airship to earth both in calm weather and also on a rather gusty evening. In conclusion our thoughts turn to the prominent members of the flying world who have passed away during the year. Among others we have to mourn Air Commodore Samson, Air Vice-Marshal Holt, Fit. Lt. Waghorn, Lt. Brinton, Lt. Com. Glen Kid- ston, Miss S. O'Brien, Mr. Montague Napier, and Sir Trevor Dawson. Lt. Col. Brinsmead, the Con- troller of Civil Aviation in Australia, is lying seriously ill in hospital after a crash in a Fokker in Siam. We wish him a complete recovery, and we are sure that all our readers will join with us in this wish. 1256
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