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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 1217.PDF
FLIGHT, .NOVEMBER 24, 1931J GMumAum, tk& 3cm UUHCU Mr. Smith's Flight MR. VICTOR SMITH, the young South African airman who left Capetown at midnight on November 12-13 to fly to England in a Gipsy II " Moth " (as was reported in FLIGHT last week), reached Gao on the Niger on Novem ber 20, and set off again for Croydon. Mr. Smith had been missing since last Monday and much anxiety had been felt for his safety, as it was feared he had force landed in the forests north of Duala. It appears he went down at Dori, an isolated spot 150 miles south-west of Gao. Exchange states that Mr. Gordon Store was just setting off in Mrs. Mollison's " Puss Moth " to search for the missing airman when news came through of the latter's safety. World Flight Disaster THE world flight of Mr. Arthur Loew (full particulars of which were given in FLIGHT of October 13) came to an unfortunate end at Victoria Falls on November 18. It appears that the pilot, Capt. James Dickson, landed at the Victoria Falls aerodrome, mistaking it for the Living stone aerodrome, nine miles distant. While trying to take off again the wheels of the Lockheed " Orion " monoplane sunk into the soft sand of the aerodrome, causing the machine to turn over and crash into a tree. Mr. Dickson was killed and his two passengers, Mr. Loew and his secre tary, injured. Italian Planes to Fly Atlantic PLANS for the Italian Formation flight have been altered somewhat. The 20 Savoia-Marchetti seaplanes are to attempt a crossing of the Atlantic from Rome to New- York, then on to Chicago and back again to Rome. Italian warships are to be stationed in the Atlantic which will keep in wireless communications with the machines. The seaplanes are similar to those which made the Southern Atlantic crossing to Brazil, though they have been modified and strengthened to withstand Atlantic storms. It is to be hoped that General Balbo will lead the squadron. United States Control over Big Flights AT last a nation has been sensible enough to put a check on senseless flights which prove nothing and only result in unnecessary risk of good lives and valuable material. The United States Government has decreed that in future all projected transoceanic flights will require the preliminary approval of the Department of Commerce. Permission for such a flight will only be given after the Department of Commerce is fully satisfied that the pilot is qualified to make the flight and his equipment adequate, also that permission to land has been obtained from the country to which the flight is intended. Artificial Fog AN interesting experiment in aerial defence was carried out over Paris lately. On the alarm being given that enemy aeroplanes were approaching the city, dense columns of smoke were shot into the air, with the result that in four minutes the whole place was covered by an impenetrable mist. This protective fog covered an area of about one square mile and was so dense that the attack ing airmen were unable to spot their targets. German Thanks to Lifeboat Inst. THE German Ambassador has forwarded the thanks of his Government to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for the gallant efforts made, in very difficult circumstances, to rescue a German aeroplane which was lost in the Channel on October 29. News was received at Dover ;ust before 10 at night that an aeroplane was down in the Channel ; in spite of the fact that a gale was blowing, two lifeboats put out to sea immediately. One searched for four hours, and the other did not return home until 7^30 the following morning ; unfortunately, nothing was found. Sea and Air Port for Galway PREPARATIONS are being made for the establishment of a new sea and air port at Furbough, Galway Bay, on the West Coast of Ireland. Such a new Atlantic terminal port, with a service of 30-knot liners across to Halifax, Nova Scotia, would bring New York a day and a-half nearer to London. The scheme has the approval of the 1 British, Irish Free State, and Canadian Governments. Various technical and financial details are being prepared by Mr. Maxwell Ayrton, F.R.I.B.A., a famous firm of civilian engineers, one of the best-known London firms of chartered accountants, and Sir Alan Cobham. Prime Minister of Iraq flies to Geneva GENERAL NURI PASHA ES SAID, the former Prime Minister of Iraq, left Baghdad by air for Geneva on a special mission. General Nuri Pasha first flew in a Hand- ley-Page when fighting with Col. Lawrence in Trans-Jordan against the Turks, and has been an ardent believer in aerial transport ever since. The New D.H. Machine THE new De Havilland production (first mentioned in FLIGHT of September 16), which is to be designated the D.H.84, is now nearing completion, and should be ready for test shortly. It is a biplane of wooden construction, powered by two inverted " Gipsy Major " engines. The mounting of these engines is of particular interest. They are mounted on each lower wing, but instead of being built into the wings or rested on them, each engine is mounted forward of the leading edge, in which position it is not only extremely accessible for inspections and repairs, but the maximum amount of natural cooling will also be obtained. Another interesting feature is the placing of the petrol tanks, which are mounted on the wings behind the engines and so carry off the streamlining of that part of the engine which is above the level of the plane. Two types are being constructed, one for civilian use, which possesses a cabin with ample accommodation for six passengers, and a large compartment for luggage ; several of these have been ordered by Hillman's Airways. The second type is for military purposes, several being destined for Iraq. The pilot's cockpit is forward of the main cabin, and the view from it is good. The machine will have an estimated cruising speed of about 110 m.p.h., which, considering the load carried by the two " Gipsy Major's," is very creditable. All the controls are internal, and under the fuselage are inspection holes large enough to admit the head of a normal man. Royal Aero Club House Dinner THE Royal Aero Club will hold a house dinner on November 30, at 8 p.m., at which Lord Gorell will preside and Mr. R. D. Blumenfeld will speak on " The Press and Aviation." The price of the dinner will be 5s. (lounge suits), and members wishing to attend are requested to forward their names to the House Secretary together with remittance for 5s. Town Planning by Air IN the November issue of The Parthenon Mr. H. Hemming writes a very interesting article illustrating the value of aerial photography ; as he points out, the aerial camera has revolutionised the present methods of ground survey without in any way destroying them, for aerial survey needs the close co-operation of a ground staff. Two aerial surveys which have been done lately illustrate, better than any written article, the value of the aerial camera. In Northern Rhodesia 62,000 sq. miles were sur veyed in 18 months at a cost of £1 per sq. mile—a daily average of 690 sq. miles ; the actual photography was completed in three months. A survey of Rio de Janeiro, the beautiful capital of Brazil, was completed in three and a-half years and would have taken ten to twelve years without the aid of aerial photography, by which time three- quarters of the work would have been out of date. The result of this survey was that extensive improvements were carried out which much increased the city's beauty, and excellent maps were produced that were a model of accu racy. The Aircraft Operating Co. did the work on British machines though employing much Brazilian labour, and the actual flying was done at heights between 5,000 and 12,500 ft. New French Air Attache LT. DE VAISSEAIT V. ALBERTAS will take up the duties of Air Attache at the French Embassy, from Lt. de Vaisseau P. A. Sala, as from December 1. 139
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