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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0531.PDF
FLIGHT, JUNE 3, 1932 THE SHOP : The Shop which is run by Mrs. Duncan Davis (right) and Miss Winifred Beer (left) is a great attraction at Brook lands, and despite the weather, they are doing a good trade in new models of wearing apparel for both male and female visitors. (FLIGHT Photo.) Breguet was somewhat hair raising to watch, but one can well understand his feelings at the appearance of these aircraft right in the middle of his display. Why they did not keep to the edge of the aerodrome instead of sailing straight across it we cannot imagine. A pylon race around the confines of the aerodrome by Col. L. Strange on a " Spartan," Fit. Lt. Clarkson on a "Swift," Mr. Brie on an "Autogiro," and Mr. George Lowdell_ on a "Moth" showed that there would be something in this form of racing if it were revived with special aircraft for the job. Col. Strange is, of course, one of the old hands at it, and many will remember him at Hendon before the war ; it would be interesting to know whether he agrees with the opinion we heard expressed by several other pilots that all the aircraft taking part on Saturday were far too fast for the spectators to get the best out of the race. Slow machines with a flying speed of about 50 m.p.h., and possibly all of the same type, would appear to us to offer the best solution, for, though the race on Saturday was well handicapped and resulted in thrills for the public, it is certain that aircraft like the Comper Swift " are far too fast to give anyone more than a fleeting glimpse of them. After all. 40 to 50 m.p.h. a few yards away from you and close to the ground can look quite terrific. After the race there came the piece de resistance in the shape of flight- aerobatics by a Flight from No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, R.A.F., which is stationed at Tangmere, and is commanded by Wing Com. R. M. Drummond. Fit. Lt. O. E. Carter led the flight and their performance almost beggars description. Several of their manoeuvres we have not seen before, and though we feel that the justification for close-formation flying such as these necessi tated, has by no means been proved, yet there is no doubt that they did show up the excellence of the flying of this squadron. The performance of these manoeuvres was undoubtedly helped to a great extent by the fact that they were flying Hawker " Furies." These aircraft with their large speed range and reserve power make formation flying easier than it used to be with the older, less efficient, fighters, but this does not in any way detract from the result. A dive in Vee followed by a half loop with a half roll off the top still in Vee formation, for example, or a dive, zoom and flick loop at the top in same formation, are manoeuvres which must require the greatest exactitude in training. By way of contrast this display was followed by a parade of some civil aircraft types. These included the Ford (three Whirlwinds), the Spartan " Mailplane " (three Gipsy (three Genet Majors) and ECHOES OF HENDON: Col. L. Strange takes his Spartan " Arrow" round the pylon in the true Hendon style, losing less than anyone on his turns. (FLIGHT Photo.) Ill's), the Westland " Wessex a Lockheed " Vega " (Wasp). These aircraft were flown round by their respective pilots to show off their different attributes. Demonstrations of commercial aircraft are always hard to make interesting to the general public, and there is little that can be done except to fly round and round ; most of them did just this, though why the Vega " should do so in the reverse direction to the others, against the common rules of the air and to the danger of all, is past comprehension. It did, however, draw attention to the speed of this machine, which is, of course, far and away greater than any commercial aircraft we have as yet flying in this country. Incidentally, before these notes are in print Miss Earhart will probably have THE EXHIBITION : Many machines and engines were exhibited in the hangars at Brooklands on Saturday ; here are seen the latest Hermes II with enclosed valve gear and lacquer finish, and also the " Puss Moth " of the Anglo- American Oil Go. On the right Mr. George Lowdell gets ready for his crazy flying display, one which, incidentally, was as good as any we have seen. (FLIGHT Photos.) 491
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