FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0602.PDF
FLIGHT, JUNE 24, 1932 THE AIRCRAFT OF THE R.A.F. COAST DEFENCE TORPEDO PLANES-(Continued) about to attack they would certainly break forma tion, and each machine would act independently until it had released its torpedo. One suggestion is that an attack should be made by bombers and torpedoes at the same time, so that the dropping of the bombs from overhead should attract the attention of the fleet anti-aircraft gunners and allow the torpedo attack to come as a surprise. For this reason the two land-plane squadrons which use torpedoes are also practised in dropping bombs, and each retains the title of Bomber. The Hawker " Horsley," with Rolls Royce 650-h.p. " Condor " engine, is the equipment of No. 100 (Bomber) Squadron at Donibristle, in Fife, and also of No. 36 (Torpedo-Bomber) Squadron, which is stationed at Singapore. The " Horsley " is a very fine aeroplane which, a few years ago, was the standard day-bomber of the Wessex Bombing Area. It is still used as a day-bomber by one Cadre squadron, No. 504 (County of Nottingham) B.S. Its great weight-carrying capacity led to its being chosen as the machine with which the first three attempts were made to fly non-stop to India by Flight Lieut. Carr. Some foreign countries also use the " Horsley " in their flying corps. It has been decided that No. 100 B.S. shall be re-equipped with the Vickers " Vildebeest " with Bristol " Pegasus " engine as a bomber and torpedo- plane. The change will be carried out in the course of the present summer. The " Vildebeest " is a modern design, and the machine has a very fine per formance. It will be heartily welcomed as a new type of R.A.F. equipment. FLOAT-PLANES T HERE is. only one squadron in the Royal Air Force which is equipped with float-planes, or seaplanes with twin floats. This is No. 202 (Flying Boat) Squadron, stationed at Malta. It is officially called a Flying Boat Squadron, and it is intended to have flying boats. The Air Force List states that the equipment of this squadron with float planes is only temporary. The type in use is the Fairey III F fitted with twin floats. The III F most certainly is well called a General Purpose aero plane. We have already seen it as a day bomber, and it is also much used by No. 24 (Communications) Squadron. In the Fleet Air Arm it is used as Spotter Reconnaissance machine. Now we see it as a sea plane. In this metamorphosis it is also much used on warships (not on aircraft carriers, which do not carry seaplanes) and is launched by catapult, as was described in the issue of FLIGHT of June 17. In the hands of No. 202 F.B.S. the Fairey seaplane has done some very useful work in the Mediterranean. For those who would like further in formation on this subject, we may mention an article in the last April issue of the Royal Air Force Quarterly, in which an account is given of a cruise by six seaplanes of this squadron from Malta to Aboukir and back. Nevertheless, it cannot be called a satisfactory state of affairs that a regular squadron should be left for long with a type of aircraft which is admit tedly only temporary equipment. The fact is, and it is not denied, that the Air Ministry is on the look out for new types of flying boat. The designers are busy, and several specimens have already been tried out. Before long we feel sure that more than one new type will be adopted, and then No. 202 F.B.S. will become a flying boat squadron in reality as well as in name. TROOP CARRIERS EVERYONE will remember the ex citement aroused a few years ago by the revolution in Afghanistan when it was feared that the British Resident and other foreigners might be in danger. The crisis occurred at the height of winter when the passes be tween India and Afghanistan were mostly blocked by snow. It was felt that as a precaution the foreigners ought to be evacuated without delay, and not only the British subjects. This could only be done by the use of aeroplanes. The Air Force in India commenced operations with some Bristol Fighters, but as they are only two-seaters they could CLIVE VICTORIA not do much. Meanwhile urgent appeals for reinforcement were sent to the R.A.F. in Iraq. At the station of Hinaidi outside Baghdad there is No. 70 (Bomber Transport) Squadron, which is equipped with the Vickers " Victoria " troop-carrier, driven by two Napier " Lion " engines. This squadron at once despatched some " Victorias " to India where they arrived in two days, and without delay they com menced to fly over the passes of the North-West Frontier hills and to land near the Residency at Kabul. The Afghans were not in the least unfriendly, and the aeroplanes were not molested. A number 554
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
