FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0736.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 22, 1932 " Kent " flying boats were put in operation by Imperial Airways. The world's largest float-plane, the Short " Valetta," carried out a long-distance flight in Africa, and gave indications of being aerodynamically one of the most efficient aircraft yet built. Two new models of the " Autogiro " were produced, which, says the report, " mav soon take their place among the types of light aircraft in general use. The most striking event of the year was the winning of the Schneider Trophy and the establishment of a high-speed record with a modified version of the seaplane which won the 1929 contest. The development of the rac ing Rolls-Royce engine may, says the report, have impor tant effects on design during the next few years. The only civil aircraft actually completed during 1931 which may be said to indicate any new important develop ment was the Avro " Mailplane," the fastest commercial aircraft yet produced in this country. Other civil machines completed during the year (all of which have been already described in FLIGHT) are tht Blackburn " Segrave " four-seater twin-engined cabin monoplane with two " Gipsy 3 " engines ; the Arrow " Active " two-seater light biplane with Cirrus " Hermes 2B " engine ; the " Autogiros," types C19, Mark 4, and C24 (alluded to above) ; the Vickers " Velox " biplane with two " Jupiter " engines, a freight-carrier developed from the " Vellore 4 " ; the Saunders-Roe " Spartan " monoplane mail-carrier with three " Gipsy III " engines ; and the Monospar monoplane with two 45-h.p. Salmsons. Under construction at the close of the year was the Arm strong-Whitworth A.W. XV high-wing monoplane (the " Atalanta ") with four 340-h.p. " Double Mongoose " engines for use by Imperial Airways on the African service. Under the Air Ministry experimental programme, the " Valetta " was completed. The report remarks that it has very attractive qualities for operations from inland waters, but not from the open sea. Under construction were one monoplane and one biplane designed by the Blackburn firm. During the year a tender was received tor the Boulton & Paul mail-carrier (of which an illus tration is given), which complied with the revised Air Ministry specification (namely, a cruising speed of not less than 150 m.p.h., a payload of 1,000 lb., and a range of 1,000 miles). As a result of the cancellation of the con tract for the Mediterranean Flying Boat, a contract was placed early in 1932 for an aircraft of this type. The six-engined flying boat was commenced by the Vickers-Supermarine firm, but as a result of Government economy measures, was abandoned. All other proposals for new types of experimental aircraft have been aban doned for the time being. ENGINES. The construction of the racing engines (Rolls-Royce) for the Schneider machines is described as an important achievement. Work proceeded on several unorthodox types of power units, notably on compression-ignition engines. AIRSHIPS. It was decided to sell the airship R.100 as scrap, and by the end of the year the process of breaking her up was almost complete. GROUND ORGANISATION. At the end of 1931 there were 57 licensed " permanent " aerodromes, landing grounds and seaplane stations in the United Kingdom as compared with 50 in the year previous. The subject of roof aerodromes has continued to excite New Imperial Airways Terminus in Paris LARGE increases in passenger traffic by Imperial Air ways between London and Paris—figures for June showing, for example, that 4,311 travellers flew between the two capitals in the company's airliners, as compared with 2,206 for a similar period last year—have led to a decision to transfer the arrival and departure point in Paris from the Avenue de l'Opera to the Hotel Bohy-Lafayette, in the Square Montholon, Rue Lafayette. Great difficulty has been experienced, owing to growing pressure, in dealing with large numbers of passengers and increasing quantities of luggage, in the space at present available, while traffic congestion in the Avenue de 1'Opera has rendered it no easy matter, at busy periods, to deal with the cars and interest, and the Air Ministry has been asked to examine several schemes. The Report continues:—"The import ance of clear approaches and clear take-off runs for all wind directions, together with the magnitude of the impact load which the roof must be designed to withstand, are amongst the important points generally ignored." HIGII-TENSION CABLES. The Air Ministry takes the view that the towers and cables in certain sections of the routes should be marked by day and illuminated by night. A committee has been set up to examine the technical aspects of the problem. CIVIL AVIATION VOTES. A net sum of £497,400 was provided for expenditure in connection with civil aviation for 1931-32. Of a total sum of £520,000 to be provided for subsidy payments to Imperial Airways, Ltd., £155,000 was contributed from Dominion and Colonial votes. The net provision under this heading was therefore £365,000 as compared with £408,000 in 1931. LICENCES AND CERTIFICATES. On December 31, 1931, there were 2,091 "A" Class, 315 " B " Class licences or certificates current, and the corresponding figures for 1930 were 1,708 and 252. INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENTS TO CIVIL AIRCRAFT. In the course of civil aviation in this country during the year, there were altogether 52 accidents requiring notifica tion, one less than the previous year. No lives were lost on the regular transport air services, although of the fore going number 15 resulted in loss of life, eight involved non-fatal, but severe, injuries to persons, and the remaining 29 had no serious consequences beyond extensive damage to the aircraft. One mishap occurred on the cross-Channel air routes, an Imperial Airways' machine being damaged in a forced landing due to engine failure, but no one was hurt. DOMINIONS, INDIA AND THE COLONIES. A total sum of £1,613,153 was voted for 1931-32, as compared with £2,125,501 for 1930-31. These figures show considerable decrease, but this is, however, natural, owing to the general economic situation. The miles of routes in regular operation during 1931 give a grand total of 24,722 as compared with 23,005 during the previous year. The lack of any very substantial in crease is largely accounted for by the fact that restrictions have been imposed on the services in Australia and Canada, with the result that the route mileage in operation in the Dominions, India and the Colonies, shows a decrease of approximately 3 per cent. The total number of light aeroplane clubs (i.e., both Government-assisted and non-assisted) in 1931 was 117, the same as in 1930. Government-assisted clubs increased in number from 73 to 82, but the unassisted clubs fell from 44 to 35. FOREIGN COUNTRIES. Information concerning important developments in Bel gium, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Sweden, Switzer land, and the other European countries, United States of America and Central and South America is given. An Appendix includes " Regular Air Transport, route mileage and miles flown throughout the world " (page 95), while another gives " Statistics of Regular Air Services " (pages 96 and 97). taxicabs of passengers. Definite advantages will accrue from the change to the Hotel Bohy-Lafayette. For one thing it is six minutes nearer to the airport of Le Bourget than are the existing premises in the Avenue de l'Opera ; and, for another, it is outside the area of heavy traffic congestion. Furtheimore, it is near the Gare du Nord, and provides every convenience for passengers, including baths, hairdressing saloons and a theatre-ticket office ; while as yet another advantage it is extremely easy to locate, the Rue Lafayette running direct from the centre of Paris to the Gare du Nord. This change from the Avenue de 1'Opera to the Hotel Bohy-Lafayette took place on July 20. The office at 38, Avenue de l'Opera will still be retained as a booking office and inquiry bureau. 688
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
