FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1932
1932 - 1266.PDF
FLIGHT, DECEMBER 8, 1932 THE R.A.F. DINES THE TRADE VERY year, as has now become custom, the Com manding Officer of the Aeroplane and Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath gives a dinner to members of the aircraft trade. These dinners started more or less as a sort of glorified Guest Night, but have now become full-dress occasions of no mean importance. On December 2 this year the Commanding Officer, GRP. CAPT. H. L. REILLY, as chairman, expressed the view that these dinners did a great deal to further the close relationship existing between the R.A.F. and the aircraft contractors. He referred to the fact that among the guests were many pioneers of flying, including Sir Alliott Verdon-Roe, who made his first and historical flight more than a quarter of a century ago. MR. C R. FAIREY, Managing Director of the Fairey Aviation Company, asked for an expression of the apprecia tion which he was sure everyone felt for the hospitality being extended to them that evening. With regard to the work done for the contractors by the officers at Martle sham Heath, Mr. Fairey said that it had done a very great deal to establish a standard whereby all other air- FTEK an interval of two years, the De Havilland Aircraft Co. again held their annual dinner at the Wharncliffe Rooms on December 3. The De Havilland Co. is unique in many ways, not the least of which is the number of successes which they can claim for their aircraft. It was all the more striking, therefore, to have a programme of the evening presented to each guest which contained no less than eight pages, filled with a list of these achievements. We could not help wondering whether any other company could show such a record as this. MR. T. P. HAWKINS, of the Engine Test Department, very ably proposed the toast of " The Directors and Management." On behalf of the employees he congratu lated the directors and management on designing the " Moth," a machine which, he said, they were all proud to produce. The success of this machine and its subse quent versions had been the means of giving them steady employment—a matter of paramount importance to them —and it was therefore only too certain that he was voicing the feelings of everyone when he asked that successful machines of this type should continue to be produced. A matter of gratification to the employees was the way in which the management was always ready to help them with their troubles, not only in a direct and personal way, but also by the provision of places like the new canteen and club-room, besides funds like the super annuation and sick funds. The employees' health had always been most carefully looked after, and that was another of the things for which they had to be grateful. MR. A. S. BUTLER, Chairman of the Company and of the dinner, said that the abandonment of last year's dinner had been inevitable owing to the state of trade generally, but he was glad that they had been able to hold it again this year, as it was undoubtedly a means of bringing the staff and the works into closer co-operation. He referred to the superannuation fund, which had been the means of providing employees, who had been forced to leave the company's service, with sums up to £90. Last year the financial position of the fund was not too strong, but now the Government securities held by the trustees stood at a value of £1,850 above their purchase price. Mr. Butler spoke of the success of the " Fox Moth," and also the " Gipsy Major " engine, both of which had made their debut this year. The D.H.84 was also some thing of an achievement, as the design was not started until September, yet the first machine was flying on November 24, incidentally exceeding expectations when doing so. Special mention was made of the Service De partment Staff, who were to be congratulated on the way they carried out their particularly difficult jobs. Over 75 per cent, of the firm's total business was done abroad last year, deals being made with the following countries:—U.S.A., Roumania, Switzerland, France, China, Holland, Portugal, Brazil, Belgium, Italy, Japan, Poland, Norway, Iraq, Egypt, Germany, Morocco, Sweden, Denmark, Persia, Colombia, Czecho-Slovakia, Australia, craft in the world were measured. He also mentioned the recent speeches of Sir John Simon, and said that he thought the D.T.D. would be very overworked as soon as the next war started if the suggested limit of 6,300 lb. for aircraft was adhered to. He thought that perhaps one solution would be for the pilots all to be weighed in like jockeys. MR. HANDLEY PAGE, Managing Director of Handley Page, Ltd., made one of his renowned humorous speeches, interspersing his far-sighted observations on matters aero nautical with stories which, while causing much laughter, were somewhat outside the scope of aviation. He felt that the aircraft industry owed a very great deal indeed to the commanding officer and officers of Martlesham Heath, for they had, in his experience, always been most helpful and had done everything in their power to assist in spreading the gospel of aviation. Others who spoke included Mr. John Lord, Managing Director of Saunders-Roe, Ltd., and Mr. C. G. Grey. The former's well-known Lancashire dialect was used to the full to entertain those present, but he, like the other speakers, made very little reference to aviation in his talks. Canada, India, New Zealand, and South Africa. Mr. Butler felt that the Company was helping their fellow- countrymen more by increasing this foreign trade than by any other means in their power. In South America, for example, the firm's representative there, Mr. W. H. T. Ballantyne, had sold 69 machines in the face of severe competition from France and America. Referring to the Persian contract, which was now vir tually completed, Mr. Butler said he would like to take the opportunity of thanking Capt. J. H. Cheybani, together with his associates, Capt. Issa Kahn Staudach, Lt. A. Farzad, and Lt. A. Bayendor, under whose super vision the contract had been carried out, for the har monious way they had worked together. The contract for the training of R.A.F. Reserve officers at Hatfield had been renewed, and this would ensure much further work there for a period of four years, work, moreover, which would have to be done on " Tiger Moths " instead of the 9J's used hitherto. In conclusion, Mr. Butler asked for a continuance of the team spirit, and suggested that " Together " would be a good slogan. MR. C. C. WALKER, Chief Engineer of the Company, proposed the toast of " The Works and Staff." Looking back at the past of aviation, Mr. Walker remembered when a professor had proved that flying could never be economical ; yet, he said, to-day the firm had aircraft doing 23 miles to the gallon of petrol. He particularly wished to mention Maj. Halford and his staff, as the work done by them on the firm's engines was responsible to such a very great degree for the success of the D.H. products. In reply, MR. F. RADFORD, of the Progress and Planning Department, thought that the programme was a wonder ful advertisement for the excellence of their products. MR. W. E. NIXON, Secretary of the Company, proposed the toast of " Our Guests." He said that they hardly seemed like guests, for they were so well known to all that they had almost become members of the firm. Never theless, the part they had played in helping the firm to the place where it now stood was very large indeed, and for that, if for no other reason, the firm owed them a great deal. In particular, he wished to couple the toast with the name of Mr. Ivor McClure, who was responsible for the success of the aviation department of the A.A. MR. I. MCCLURE, in reply, felt that the D.H. products had established a name for themselves throughout the world which was second to none. He asked those present to glance at the programme and consider whether it was not the most impressive list they had ever seen. Following the speeches came a concert, to which the talent of the works contributed in no uncertain manner. The Engine Works would appear to be the most prolific in this line, and we wonder whether there is any hidden attraction between the name " Gipsy " and those who are musical. After all, some of the finest musicians in the world—like Rode's orchestra, for examples—are Tziganes. m ss s ssj s THE DE HAVILLAND DINNER 1180
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
