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Aviation History
1931
1931 - 1341.PDF
FLIGHT, DECEMBER 25, 1931 old men should dream dreams. This went to prove thatevidently Lord Wakefield, who is the greatest benefactor to the young, combined in himself those qualities of bothyouth and age, and was therefore able to see the visions as well as dreaming the dreams. MR. C. G. GREY moved a vote of thanks to the Chair-man, Mrs. Shelmerdine. He also, he said, was glad to hear that women were the inspirers of men and couldinduce them to do things, for now, he said, all they would have to do was to get round Mrs. Shelmerdine, and thenwe, no doubt, should be able to get a great deal done through Col. Shelmerdine, the Director of Civil Aviation.With regard to Lord Wakeneld's prophecy that the tide would turn in February next, he said that Lord Wake-field had a habit of backing winners, and if there was anything to be made out of the £ at that date, then hehimself would back it. In conclusion, he asked everyone to drink the health of their Lady Chairman. <$> <£ <J> <•> HINKLER AT THE ROYAL AERO CLUB QD. LDR. H. J. L. HINKLER, A.F.C., D.S.M.,R.A.A.F., was entertained at a House Dinner held in the Royal Aero Club on Wednesday evening,December 18. Lord Wakefield, who was to have taken the chair, was unfortunately unable to preside, andMr. Handley Page officiated in his stead. " H.P.," in his opening speech, read a letter from Lord Wakefield ex-pressing the latter's great regret that he was unable to be present, and paying tribute to the magnificent flight ofthe guest of the evening. He went on to sketch Bert Hinkler's career from the time he joined the R.N.A.S.in 1914, following on with his attempt, immediately after the war, to fly home to Australia on a " Dove," and so tohis non-stop flight to Turin in the Avro " Baby " with the little 35-h.p. Green engine. This flight was, he said, theforerunner of all long-distance flights, and started the present-day craze lor this form of recreation. Hinkler'srecord flight to Australia in 15 days was next described, and finally his last magnificent effort in flying the SouthAtlantic solo after having made the first flight from New York to Trinidad. Hinkler; he said, was, as alreadyannounced, being presented with the gold medal of the Royal Aero Club in recognition of this achievement. Bert Hinkler himself then said that many people hadtold him that he was sadly lacking in a sense of publicity, and he had therefore decided to be his own publicityagent, for which purpose he was going to read out a number of so-called records which it is said he had createdby means of his flight. These were:—The first British aircraft to arrive in Jamaica ; the first non-stop flight ofany nationality to Jamaica from New York ; the first land machine to land in Jamaica : the first British air-craft to fly over the Caribbean Sea ; the first non-stop flight between Venezuela and Trinidad ; the first Britishaircraft to fly to the coast of South America ; the first land aircraft to fly eastward along that coast ; the firstaircraft to land at Pera on the Amazon ; the first British aircraft to land at Ceara ; the first solo flight across theSouth Atlantic ; the first British machine to fly over the South Atlantic ; the first west-east successful flight overthe South Atlantic ; and the first Canadian registered aircraft to arrive in England under its own power. BertHinkler then described many of the more interesting in- cidents of his flight, such as the exceptional weather hefound near Jacksonville on one occasion when preparing for this flight. He treated his arrival in Jamaica lightly, and similarly glossed over the difficulties he had en-countered when flying from Trinidad to Natal. He men- tioned the great surprise he had felt when he saw a" Moth " coming out to meet him from Trinidad. He then described some of t'le sights he had seen on his tripover the South American jungle, mentioning the wonder- fully coloured birds and in particular the enormous flocksof scarlet ibis which he had seen flying beneath him. In- cidentally, the " Ibis " is the name chosen by BertHinkler for the small amphibian boat which he built in this country and which was illustrated in FLIGHT ofDecember 18, 1931. The Amazon struck him particularly as a real river, for it took him, he said, over one hour'sflying in the " Puss Moth " to cross the mouth of this " stream " ! He scouted the idea that he was, as re-ported, arrested, the facts being, he said, that he was merely asked to wait a few days while certain papersrelating to his movements were sent on from Pera. His actual flight over the South Atlantic from Natal toBathurst, he also, in his usual modest manner, tried to dismiss in a very few words. It was only later that, inreply to a question by Mr. Handley Page, he expanded at all and described some of the terrific weather throughwhich he had had to pass and the difficulties he had in maintaining the machine on an even keel during some ofthe terrible electric storms which occurred in the Doldrum regions. The flight from Bathurst to England he hardlymentioned, the only point he made being that he con- sidered Morocco a suitable place for anyone who wishedto do a little quiet flying, adding that there was an excellent flying club at Casablanca. Col. Ormonde Darby moved a vote of thanks to BertHinkier for his speech, and also extended a welcome to Air Com. Kingsford Smith, who had arrived the same daywith the Christmas mails from Australia and was present at the dinner. Kingsford Smith, in a few words, said hewas proud to claim Bert Hinkler as a brother " Aussie." In a friendly, but admiring, way he reprimanded Bert forthe risk he took in flying the South Atlantic in a " Puss Moth," and asked him if there was any big flight he wasnot going to do, as he himself would like to have due notice and a chance to try it. A few other members having asked questions about par-ticular points of the flight which, after being answered by Bert Hinkler in a few short modest words, wound up avery delightful evening. AN AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING COLLEGE Some two months ago the College of Aeronautical Engineering in Sydney Street, Chelsea, started its first course with about 6o students. The success of the scheme and the demand for the training provided were immediately apparent. Last week 20 of these students were given a preliminary examination by an Air Ministry official, it being the end of their probationary term : and of these, 18 were passed as well above the standard. A striking advertisement for the efficiency of their training ON Saturday, December 19, this College, togetherwith the Automobile Engineering Training College,held an annual dinner and dance at the ParkLane Hotel, London. The Principal of both Colleges, which are virtually one, certainly in so far asbuildings and management go, MR. C. H. ROBERTS, wasin the chair, and he therefore proposed the toast of " H.M. The King." Following him came MR. E. C. GORDON ENGLAND with the toast of " The AutomobileEngineering Training College." MR. GORDON ENGLAND started by congratulating Mr.Roberts on the vast amount he had achieved in such a short time. He claimed that the apprenticeship systemwhich had done so well in the past had now broken down, and that it was time for us to realise that boys requireda thorough practical training on the lines given at this college instead of the haphazard method of gaining know-ledge synonymous with the old apprenticeship system. We as a nation, he said, clung to our ancient traditions fartoo much, and all businesses would be far better off if 1263 • ?>•? C
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