FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1932
1932 - 1042.PDF
FLIGHT, OCTOBER 13, 1932 seater fighter, the " Bulldog," is well-known as a particu larly fine piece of all-metal aircraft construction. Besides aircraft, the firm also builds air-cooled radial aero engines, and their latest model, the " Pegasus," is already recog nised as one of the leading engines of its type in the world, Its predecessor, the " Jupiter," is probably manufactured under licence in a greater number of foreign countries than any other engine, and is doing an immense amount of work in the hands of both Service and civilian users. Their apprentices are chosen from many selected candidates and accepted on a five-year agreement, it being usual for one year to be spent in each department. During this time, one whole day each week is spent at Bristol University, and it is also compulsory for students to attend evening classes. The fees for these classes are paid by the company, and the apprentice is paid his time in addition. In certain cases indentures are signed, but if a lad is accepted as an apprentice, no difference is made in his training, whether indentured or not. Like many other firms, the number of applications received is very large indeed, while the number of vacancies is comparatively small. SARO Saunders-Roe, Ltd., East Cowes, Isle of Wight SAUNDERS-ROE is a firm which, to a large extent, specialises in flying boats and amphibians. Their present range includes the well-known Saro " Cloud," " Wind hover," and " Cutty Sark," besides various larger boats for Service use. In the majority of these, the hulls are proper boat hull§, built upon what one might call, ship building lines, with " Alclad " plating and light-alloy frames, while the wing of the above amphibian boats is generally a plywood structure. These boats are used both for Service training and also for civilian ferry work in many parts of the world, and there is no doubt that the Empire, being separated as it is by large tracts of water, will naturally cause an increase in the number of boats used in coming years. Their apprentices normally serve five years with an opportunity, during the last year, of entering the drawing office. Like many other firms, they stipulate that the apprentices should attend evening classes, while they have also arranged with the local authorities to conduct classes in aeronautics, the lecturers being members of the firm. Situated as the firm is, in the Isle of Wight, it is only natural that preference should fall upon local applicants, and those from the mainland are always advised to apply to other companies. It is the general feeling that boys would be better off obtaining real engineering experience in other branches while taking an aeronautical course at a recog nised college, particularly so, as owing to the fluctuations of work in the aircraft trade, the number of staff it is possible to maintain also fluctuates considerably. For example, at the present time, Saunders-Roe have more applications than they have vacancies. GLOSTER The Gloster Aircraft Co., Ltd., Gloster Works, Hucclecote, Gloucestershire THE GLOSTER AIRCRAFT CO. are well known for the success they have achieved with single-seater fighter air craft, like the " Grebe " and " Gamecock," which were standardised in the R.A.F. for many years. Latterly they have produced the large twin-engined " Air Survey " machine, which has been doing such excellent work on photographic survey in Africa. They now specialise in metal construction, while their subsidiary company, the Steel Wing Co., Ltd., as its name implies, produces wings entirely built of steel, large numbers of which have been used on the standard general-purpose R.A.F. machine the Westland " Wapiti." They take apprentices under a scheme whereby pupils arc given a period of approximately six months in each department of the works, finishing up in the department in which they intend to specialise. Thus, for example should an apprentice wish to become a draughtsman, he would do six months in each of the following departments : fitting shop, machine shop, sheet metal shop, erecting shop, and then spend the rest of his time in the drawing office. Conversely, should he wish to become a skilled artisan, he would probably go first to the drawing office, and then after going through the other shops, finish up in whichever shop he desired. The company already have a long waiting list, and it is therefore impossible for them to fix up with any new- apprentices for some time. ROLLASON Rollason, Muir & Rickard, Air Port of London, Croydon ROLLASON, MUIR & RICKARD is a flying school and air- taxi concern, operating at Croydon and also at Ford Aero drome, Yapton, near Bognor. They operate most of the ordinary light aircraft, including " Avros," " Moths," " Klemms," " Desoutters " and " Puss Moths," so that apprentices working with them would obtain not only a varied experience of machines, but also of engines, includ ing Cirrus-Hermes, Gipsy, etc. Their apprenticeship scheme consists of a training period of two years, "both theoretical and practical instruction being given in their workshops, for which a premium in full of £50 is asked. The instruction is planned so that at the termination of this course the student is in a position to take his " A " and " C " ground engineers' licences should he wish to do so. All instruction is of course, given by fully-qualified and licensed ground engineers, and there is ample opportunity for practical work on aircraft. In order that the instruction may be, as far as is possible an individual matter, the number of apprentices taking a course at any one time is limited to three. 01 those at present with the company, two are shortly completing their course, so that there will be two vacancies before very long. ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Ltd., Coventry IN Coventry, ARMSTRONG-SIDDELEY aero engines are made alongside the well-known Armstrong-Siddeley cars. The range of engines which they make in these works varies from the little 85-h.p. " Genet " up to the " Leopard," developing somewhere about 800 h.p. They are all similar, in that they are radial air-cooled engines, and in many cases the parts are interchangeable between the various engines. Many interesting and unique constructional features are included in this series and one and all are widely used by our own R.A.F., the Air Forces of most other nations in the world, and by civilian aircraft opera tors in many countries. Boys are accepted for apprenticeship either for a period of five years or three years, according to their age. Apprentices have to attend technical classes, and of course obey all the regulations of the department of the works in which they are working. They receive wages according to the length of time they have been at the works, and according to their age, and if engaged upon production are not debarred from piece work. Various courses are in operation, according to which department the apprentice is selected to specialise in. Alter the first few months, their capabilities being considered by the company, before the selection of the course is made. NAPIER D. Napier & Son, Ltd., Napier Motor Works, Acton, London, W.3 NAPIER aero engines are well known for the part they have played, not only in such trials as the Schneider Trophy Contest but also in the steady hard work imposed upon them by service in the R.A.F. The Napier " Lion," with its three banks of cylinders arranged in W form, has perhaps for many years been better known than any other water-cooled engine in general use in the Service. At the present time, they have a very full complement of apprentices, and state that there is no prospect of any openings for a considerable time. They carry out the usual system of trade apprenticeship as operated in the majority of engineering shops, but have no definite scheme of special training whereby apprentices can obtain ground engineers' licences on their particular engines. PHILLIPS & POWIS Phillips & Powis Aircraft (Reading), Ltd., Woodley, Reading PHILLIPS & Powis have a flying school at Reading aero drome, with very well-equipped workshops where they do considerable work in the overhaul of aircraft of all types. The company is the agent for De Havilland aircraft over a large part of England, and also does a large trade in second-hand aircraft. Their workshops are fairly exten sive and well fitted, and an apprentice to them should gain a very good all-round training, particularly in the maintenance and overhaul of light aircraft. They have an apprenticeship scheme covering a period of two years, the premium for which is £50, which is paid back as wages to the apprentice at the rate of 10s. per week the first year, and 15s. per week the second year. During this period they undertake to train apprentices to such a pitch of efficiency that they should be able to qualify for their ground engineers' licences " A " and " C." COMPER The Comper Aircraft Co., Ltd., Hooton Park Aerodrome, Cheshire THE COMPER AIRCRAFT factory is situated in delightful surroundings at Hooton Park, and is at present chiefly engaged upon construction of the Comper " Swift," a light single-seater machine which has obtained outstanding success in races during the past year. It is generally fitted either with the Pobjoy 7-cylinder radial engine or the Gipsy HI inverted engine. In both forms it is an interesting little machine, and is selling well to those who wish to travel alone at high speed. It is of wooden con struction, but the metal-fitting shop in the works is quite extensive, as the firm make all their fittings themselves. The firm only takes on a limited number of student apprentices, thus ensuring that each has adequate supervision during his work. A small premium is paid for this advantage in order to cover the cost of such super vision, and the apprentices receive no wages. The course laid out is spread over three years, and entails work in all departments, finishing in the last year in the drawing office. It can however, if required, be modified to suit students' individual requirements. All students are encouraged to attend evening classes to study such subjects as mathematics, mechanics, mechan ical drawing, materials, aeroplane construction, etc., and permission is given to take such instruction, or instruction in flying, during working hours if these cannot be taken during the evenings. To be continued) 970
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
