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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 1241.PDF
*LIGHT, DECEMBER 1, 1932 AIRPORT NEWS CROYDON EATHER conditions, although not altogether favourable, have been considerably better than the previous week, and practically all the air services have been maintained without any serious delay or interruption. There has been considerably less local flying, however, and very few pleasure flights have been made. Nevertheless, there have been many visitors to the aerodrome, and the guide has been kept busy conducting parties of sightseers around the airport. The change in the weather on Sunday, November 20, was greatly welcomed by Mr. Georges Seversky, who was returning to Cannes. His police permit expired at mid night, and as there had been no air services to Paris the previous day, he had almost made up his mind to a long and tedious journey by boat and train when conditions became better, and he was able to reach his destination by what he considers the best mode of travel. Mr. R. A. Jahn, the manager of the Deutsche Luft Hansa at Croydon, flew to Berlin on Monday, where he is attending the meetings of station managers from the vari ous aerodromes of the D.L.H. Mr. Jahr is expected to be abstent from Croydon for about a fortnight. Mr. Rollason reports that his firm is at present busily engaged at Ford aerodrome overhauling six planes of their own for C. of A.'s and six planes for private owners. The school at Ford has been very active, and flying tuition has been given to the full extent of the time permitted by the weather. Mr. Victor Smith was expected to complete his flight from Cape Town to Croydon on Wednesday. News was received early in the afternoon that he had reached Mar seilles, but shortly after 6 p.m. a message stated that he had landed at Avignon and would leave for Croydon at 3 a.m. On Thursday, he was reported to have left Avig non at 6.50 a.m., and then there was no news of him for several hours. In the meantime a large crowd of news paper reporters and camera men arrived at the aerodrome. Later a report rapidly circulated that Mr. Victor Smith's machine had been seen to pass over Lympne and that he would reach Croydon shortly after 1 p.m., but this infor mation proved to be false. About three hours later a farmer telephoned to Croydon to say that Mr. Smith had HE weather on Monday, November 21, was brilliant, and Banco were early off to Berck with one passenger in their " Puss Moth," return ing after lunch with an invalid from the hospital at Berck. This passenger was delighted with the smooth passage and considered it the best means of travel for his needs. Mrs. Fairhe arrived from Berck in her " Klemm," after a very cold journey. Mr. G. Lacombe, the agent in France for the Comper " Swift " Co., left for the Paris Aero Show in Comper " Swift " G-ACAG. One of the flying school machines was specially chartered for photographic work, which had been held up owing to the mist. Wednesday, November 23, at the commencement of the day was blowing a gale, but after a heavy hail storm about noon, the wind calmed down and a good deal of flying was carried out up to dusk. Among those flying in school machines were Lady Haddington with her sister, Miss Cook, and Visct. Borodale. Mr. W. R. dea Voeux, Grenadier Guards, and Mr. G. E. W. Porter, Grenadier Guards, qualified for their " A " licence. Customs on Thursday, November 24, were solely occupied with foreign machines. Heer Ten Bos arrived from Rotterdam in his " Pander "; Mon. Clermont-Tonnerre from Paris in a " Caudron," with Mon. Bideau as passenger, returning later in the day. Friday, November 25, the Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale cleared Customs soon after 8 a.m. and was off to Paris by 8.30 a.m. in a " Moth " with one passenger. From Paris they are proceeding to Switzerland. Later in the morning a member of the Household Brigade Flying Club left for Paris in his " Moth " with one passenger. Lord Apsley left at 9.30 a.m. in his " Parnall Elf" to attend a Hunt meet at Bristol, for which he was suitably been forced down by a heavy rainstorm and had landed in a field near Hothfield railway station, about four miles from Ashford, Kent, and was unable to restart his engine. After several consultations had been held, it was decided to send a plane to bring the unfortunate airman to Croy don. Lt. R. R. Bentley and Capt. Muir left in a Desoutter ; it was raining heavily when they located the place where Mr. Smith had landed, and by the time they reached Croydon it was dark. The aerodrome floodlight afforded the camera men a good opportunity to take photographs. Mr. Smith looked none the worse for his adventure. While everyone at Croydon extend their good wishes and admiration to those who engage in stunt flying and record breaking, it is felt that the time has come when some distinction should be made between the different branches of aviation carried on under, the title of Civil Aviation. Those engaged in the direction of serious busi ness undertakings, such as air-line companies, would pre fer that their part in the flying world should be termed Commercial Aviation, while other forms of civil aviation could be known as Private Aviation. It is also felt that the arrival of stunt flyers at Croydon is likely to interfere with the arrival and departure of air liners, and that people engaged in stunt flights should therefore make arrangements to fly to and from such air parks as Heston and Han worth, where this type of aviator is catered for and is naturally welcome. Sir John Simon arrived by the Imperial Airway's air liner " Heracles " from Paris on Saturday morning. Sir John, who was returning from Geneva, was accompanied by Col. Seymore. They were met at the airport by friends and drove away almost immediately. Capt. Birkett, of Birkett Air Services, Ltd., visited Croydon in his " Puss Moth " on Saturday afternoon. He was accompanied by a photographer, and had been en gaged in taking aerial photographs of the new powered gliders at Hanworth, which proved to be no easy task on account of the difference in the speed of the " Puss Moth " and that of the gliders. The total number of passengers for the week was 641 ; freight, 40 tons 5 cwts. HORATIUS. attired. Visct. Carlow arrived from Paris flying Mrs Vereker's " Puss Moth." Banco, on Saturday, November 26, had a charter to Paris with the Fokker, which left at 8.30 a.m. with eleven passengers, piloted by Capt. Barnard. Soon after a private owner left in his Avian for Berck with one passenger. The private owner returned to Heston owing to cloud being down to the ground at Dorking, and Capt. Barnard landed his passengers at Littlestone, most of them completing their journey by boat and train. Capt. Birkett, of Birkett Air Service, had a charter to take photos of machines in flight. As they were slow flying and there was a high wind it was difficult for him to keep his speed down sufficiently, he being in a " Puss Moth." One new pupil joined the flying school. Our first two pupils during the morning were ladies taking advanced instruction with Capt. Baker. In spite of the high wind a full booking list was accommodated. The visibility on Sunday, November 27, was simply wonderful after the bad weather we have been experi encing, but the high gusty wind somewhat interfered with instruction. After lunch our old friend " rain " arrived, but still instruction continued. There were many visitors to Heston, both by air and road, and the restaurant was crowded during the lunch time, also for tea. There was an early demand for Customs—one " Kestrel Hart " (G-ABMR), pilot Mr. Lucas, and one " Pegasus Hart " (G-ABTN), pilot Mr. Sayer, leaving at 9.25 a.m. for Paris. The next to clear was an Autogiro (49-1), piloted by Capt. Rodriguez, which set off for Madrid, it having been purchased by the Spanish Government. One private owner arrived from Paris in his " Moth " with one passenger. Visct. Borodale left in his " Puss Moth " for Sywell. FROM HESTON 1155
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