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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0679.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 8, 1932 OVERFLOWING SPIRITS AT PORTSMOUTH D. Smith (Air Taxis), R. H. Stocken (Pageant Manager), G. Birkett (Air Taxis), J. Jeffs (Control Officer), I. McClure (A.A.), C. Bird (A.A.), J. R. Ashwell Cooke, A. G. Lamplugh (B.A.I.C). (FLIGHT Photo.) flying by a flight from the C.F.S. at Wittering. On this occasion only three " Tiger Moths " (Gipsy III) took part instead of the five as at Hendon, but the display lost nothing and, in fact, gained therefrom. To see this flight, with Fit. Lt. J. B. Veal at the head, changing formation when inverted and doing such evolutions as tight turns both ways in " V " formation was an education not only for the extraordinarily high standard of their piloting, but also for the controllability of the " Tiger Moth." This is a machine which has been built expressly for cheap training, and it should make a very admirable aircraft indeed for those nations whose Air Force insists upon the highest class, but whose Treasury allows them only a small grant. One of the most impressive of their manoeuvres was undoubtedly the simultaneous half-loop from line astern to line astern inverted and proceed ing in the opposite direction. The extra ordinary accuracy of their flying upon this occasion and the way in which they levelled off in the inverted position absolutely dead at the top of their loop was one of the most amazing things we had ever seen. Follow ing the " Tiger Moths " came a flight of " Furies " from No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron, commanded by Sqd. Ldr. C. B. S. Spack- man. As before, the flying of the flight was even more abandoned, but yet seemed even more accurate than at Hendon. The speed range of the " Fury " permits of the closest formations being kept with safety, and it is safe to say nothing better in flight aero batics has been seen. A somewhat lighter interest was then introduced by the " monstrosity " versions of the " Hart " and " Ptero dactyl " shooting down " monstrosity " balloons. The lesson of Hendon had evidently been learned, for there was no question of the balloons failing to rise adequately here, and, as before, Fit Lt. G. H. Stainforth in the " Ptero dactyl " scored the largest bag. Mr. H. A. Marsh demon strated the " Autogiro " (Genet), F/O. C. F. Uwins the " Bulldog " (Jupiter), F/O. P. E. G. Sayer a " Fury " (Kestrel), Mr. F. F. Digby a " Ford " (three Wasps) and Fit. Lt. C. Clarkson a " Swift " (Pobjoy). Mr. G. Lowdell, the Chief Instructor of the Brooklands School of Flying, combined a crazy flying display with that of bombing a car with flour bags. Messrs. Tranum, De Greeuw and Fairlie made parachute drops, the first with an Irvin chute, incidentally from a " Spartan Arrow " flown by Mr. Irving himself, and the latter two with Russell Lobe chutes. Mr. Tranum, despite the bumpiness of the weather and the many machines in the air at the time, managed to land in the circle. The final item, but certainly one of the most fascinating to watch, was the display of inverted flying by Fit. Lt. W. E. P. Johnson, which had been postponed from earlier in the programme owing to previous delays. Fit. Lt. Johnson was flying a similar " Tiger Moth " to that used by the C.F.S. officers, and as he himself has only recently left the C.F.S., we naturally looked forward to something rather extra special. We were not disappointed. Fit. Lt. Johnson got the maximum out of the " Tiger Moth," both inverted and right way up. The accuracy and smoothness with which he performed every known form of aerobatic in either position was astounding, and the machine seems to lend itself very satisfactorily for either type of flying. We have already mentioned its suitability for training where the matter of first cost is important, and during a recent extended trial we were able to confirm this opinion. The inverted engine gives a good view in front, and the adjustable seat in the pilots' cockpit is certainly of great PORTSMOUTH RYDE AIR FERRY SERVICE Time Table Portsmouth, depart 10.15 a.m. 11.40 a.m. 3.15 p.m. 7.15 p.m. Ryde, arrive 10.25 a.m. 11.50 a.m. 3.25 p.m. 7.25 p.m. Ryde, depart 10.35 a.m. 12.10 p.m. 3.35 p.m. 7.35 p.m. Portsmouth, arrive 10.45 a.m. 12.20 p.m. 3.45 p.m. 7.45 p.m. Corporation express 'Bus Service connects with all departures from and arrivals at Portsmouth. ' Bus Service to and from Sandown and Ryde, I.W. 'Phone : Portsmouth, 6689. Ryde, 333. Shanklin, 324. value, while those critics who demand an easy exit for both pilot and passenger, should either have to take to their parachutes, are fully answered in the " Tiger Moth," with its wide and deep doors each side of both cockpits and its lack of flying wires to the rear spar root fittings. In the evening the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs. F. G. Foster) held a reception, which was followed by dancing, in the Guildhall, Portsmouth. During this function the cups and challenge trophy were presented. The subject of Portsmouth Airport cannot be discussed without reference to the Portsmouth-Ryde Air Ferry Ser vice, which is now running with regularity. The P.S. & I.o.W. Aviation Co., who are running this service, use a three-engined (Genet) " Westland Wessex." and the machine runs four times daily in each direction. An ex press bus service from Portsmouth has specially been arranged to connect with all departures and arrivals, as do buses from Sandown and Ryde in the island. As this journey only takes ten minutes from aerodrome to aero drome, those business people who are in a hurry will be able to effect a considerable saving of time, and we doubt not that as soon as the regularity of this service becomes known it will prove extremely popular. FROM HESTON WD AY, June 27.—Many machines left Heston to day to attend the 280th anniversary of the dis covery of champagne, the celebration of which took place at Rheims. They were:—Mr. White and one passenger, " Moth "; Miss Winifred Spooner and Mr. Lindsay Everard, Mrs. Vereker and the Hon. Leo Russell, Mr. Davenport and Mrs. Norman, in " Puss Moths." Mr. Ambler left for Paris in his " Puss Moth " with one passenger, returning during the evening. Viscomtesse de Sibour left for Paris in her Farrnan cabin machine. Mr. Piper arrived from Paris. This terminated a ten- 631
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