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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0754.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 29, 1932 UP AND AWAY ": Mr. Brie lifting the " Autogiro " from the ground for a steep climb when competing at Brooklands on Sunday. (FLIGHT Photo.) used quite a lot during the week by the British Inter national Film Co. for scenes of their new film entitled The King's Cup," the flying side of which is being diiected by Lt. Com. P. G. Rodd, R.N. A large number of entries have been received for the blind flying contest. On Sunday, July 24, a very interesting competition was held which was an endeavour to show the relative effi ciency of various types of aircraft, also taking into account the efficiency of the pilot. For this competition each competitor had to take off with the shortest possible run, climb to 1,000 ft. in the shortest time, stop his engine and glide down to a mark on the ground, taking as long as possible over his glide, touch the aerodrome as near this mark as possible and land with the shortest run possible. The entrants included Capt. D. Davis on one of his own " Moths " (Gipsy I), Mr. A. B. Gibbons on his " Klemm " (Pobjoy), Mr. R. A. C. Brie on an " Auto giro " (Genet), Mr. J. A. Mollison on his " Puss Moth " (Gipsy III), and Mr. J. E. McClure on his " Wood- pigeon " (Anzani). A system of marking was evolved which took into account the distance run in feet, and time taken to glide and climb in seconds, the latter being measured by barograph. It will be seen from the table that Mr. A. B. Gibbons was a very easy winner. This competition, although not so well patronised as had been hoped, created nevertheless quite a large amount of in terest among the club members, who turned up in force to witness the efforts of the various participants. We hope that there will be many more competitions like this. Name. A. B. Gibbons"".. R. A. Brie Capt. S. Davisl .. J. A. Moliisonl.. J. E. McClure .. Take off. ft. 49 164 136 216 156 Land ing run. ft. 124 20 211 309 185 Glide from 1,000 ft. min. sees. 2 30 1 30 1 35 1 40 2 00 Climb to 1,000 ft. min.sees. 1 15 1 35 1 30 1 43 2 55 Accuracy (landing) marks. 256 252 222 229 147 Score. 908 653 490 304 241 A CCIDENTS AT THE WASSERKUPPE •** The well-known glider pilot Herr Giinther Groenhoff, of Frankfurt, who for some years past has been official pilot at the Wassefkuppe Gliding School of the Rhon Rossitten Ges., was killed on Saturday, July 23, during a flight over the Wasserkuppe. Herr GroennonC had just taken off in the " Fafnir," the sailplane upon which he made his record flight of 172 miles from Munich into Czechoslovakia last year, but did not appear to gain full control of the machine. He jumped out at a very low altitude and his head struck a branch of a tree before his parachute had opened properly, killing him instantly. Earlier in the week Herr Kronfeld had a narrow escape when his enormous sailplane, the " Austria," crashed from a high altitude Herr Kronfeld jumped clear and his parachute functioned satisfac torily. The reason for his aban doning the " Austria " has not yet been published. This machine was illustrated in FLIGHT for July 3, 1931, on the occasion of its visit to Hanworth Park, when Herr Kronfeld made several flights in it over the club. During the same visit he also made an ex tended flight from Hanworth to Chatham, returning in his " Wien." MAIDSTONE AIRPORT West Mailing aerodrome has, as we have already mentioned, been taken over by Land, Air & Water Service, Ltd., and will in future be known as Maidstone Air port. The company will continue to operate the flying school there and both the charges for flying and in the restaurant will be kept as low as possible. The accommo dation for the Maidstone Aero Club is being redesigned and will include a swimming pool, squash courts, dormitory, changing room, lounge, large dining room with dance floor, etc. The company have a high-speed car avail able should persons who land there wish to carry on to London by road. Customs facilities will be available and every facility will be provided for taxy work. YORK COUNTY AVIATION CLUB * The York County Aviation Club held a very successful " At Home " on July 23 and 24, quite a large number of private owners turning up from places as far apart as Cramlington and London. A dinner and dance followed during the evening, and Mr. Irving, whose name is well- known in connection with his parachutes, entertained the company with many of his parlour tricks. Mr. Irving is one of the most versatile entertainers we know, and appears to prefer standing on his head when doing such mundane things as drinking a glass of beer or playing the piano! On Sunday the weather, unfortunately, was rather thick and very few visiting aircrafts were able to get through to Bridlington for the bathing picnic which had been arranged. Five aircraft from the club succeeded in reaching the ground, while several others landed near Grin- dale, from whence they were fetched in motor cars. READING NOTES Mr. Heelas went solo with the Phillips & Powis School on Sunday, July 17, and on the Monday the school wel comed back one of their oldest members, Mr. Scott, who has recently returned from a very interesting holiday in Soviet Russia. On Wednesday a " Moth " was sent to Yateley, in connection with the annual village fete, and over 50 persons were taken up for joy rides. The Hon. Mrs. Victor Bruce has been supplied with a " Moth " to form part of the refuelling flight for her endurance record. This is of particular interest, as the machine supplied is the one which has been specially fitted for night and instrument flying, and by its use Mrs. Bruce hopes that contact will be established with her " Windhover " under all conditions. Despite the fact that this " Moth " has full night-flying equipment, as well as blind-flying instru ments in each cockpit, its performance is certainly as good as any other " Moth." This same machine was at Lord Willoughby de Brake's meeting at Kineton on Saturday, July 23, and in it Fit. Lt. Johnson secured second prize for the aerial golf competition. On returning to Reading, Fit. Lt. Johnson, who, as everyone knows, is the accepted expert on instrument flying, tested out the " hood " which has been devised for this machine in conjunction with the firm's instructor, Lt. Com. C. W. Croxford, R.N. This hood, being of white canvas, does not have the depressing effect on the pilot, when it is closed, as does the common green Willesden canvas ; moreover, it allows a larger per centage of light through, thus making the instruments easier to read. These two pilots were evidently satisfied with the machine, and showed themselves bitten with the fascination of flying by instruments, as after Com. Croxford 706
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