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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0812.PDF
FLIGHT, OCTOBER 19, 1933 AIRPORT NEWS CROYDON I T is probable that a record was broken at the Airport of London one day recently, when some 60-odd pas sengers passed through in five minutes. First came an Imperial Airways " Heracles " with 27, closely followed by two Sabena machines carrying eight apiece. An Air-France " Golden Clipper " left with 10 aboard, and as the machine took off another of the same company landed with 10 passengers. It speaks volumes for the speed with which Airport Customs and emigration officials work, and for the organisation of the companies themselves, that the passengers were on their way to London in the various companies' vehicles in a remarkably short space of time. The popularity of swift air travel to the East was strikingly demonstrated one day last week, when an air cruise to Cairo was arranged by Imperial Airways, Ltd., for Helena, an aeroplane due for delivery in Cairo. When Capt. Walters took off every place was booked and occupied. There can be no doubt that " air all the way " is preferred by an air-minded public which wishes to have done with trains whenever an air alternative exists. Record trips by scheduled air services, performed by regular pilots with standard air line craft, are perhaps best regarded as " newspaper fodder " as a rule, because they depend of necessity on a strong following wind. Nothing is ever said of the late arrival on the same day due to the same wind blowing in the opposite direction. There is something to be said, however, for the air-line pilot, like Mr. Bax, of K.L.M., who on Tuesday of last week made the journey from Croydon to Waalhaven (Rot terdam) in one hour and nine minutes, thus beating the previous fastest time by three minutes. His machine was a standard Fokker F.12, PH-AID, named Duif—in Eng lish The Dove. Before leaving Mr. Bax made a very care ful study indeed of the strength of the upper winds, and flew at exactly the height at which he would travel fastest. Curiously enough, the same scheduled service the follow ing day—with another F.12—was flown in one hour and ten minutes. On board was Sir Henry Deter ding, who expressed his gratification. Mr. Rogers, one of the oldest of the Imperial Airways pilots, made an experimental landing in conditions of poor visibility along the neon strip which is let into the ground under glass at this air port last week. His observations are of interest. Condi tions were slight fog, visibility 800 yd., but it was also dark at the time. At 4,000 ft. he could see the neon light perfectly, but at 2,000 ft. he completely lost sight of it. When coming in to land, however, he picked it up again, and was able to land along it with perfect ease. He concludes that it would be even more efficient if its rays spread more and were not so vertical. An aeroplane which paid the airport a visit during the week and created much interest owing to its speedy and graceful lines was the " Couzinet " 33, F-ALMV (three " Gipsy Majors "). The pilot was M. Verneil-Pugrazeau. He brought the machine from Paris on October 10 and then flew on to de Havilland's, Stag Lane, where new engines were fitted. On October 16 he landed at Croy don again, and left for Paris the following day. The aeroplane has a cruising speed of 134 m.p.h. It is in teresting to note that there is a considerable increase in the amount of delicate air freight, such as wireless parts and electric lamps. Importers of these classes of goods find that packing costs are considerably reduced owing to careful handling. The steady upward curve of freight figure lines on the various companies' graphs is a matter for congratulation. Freight seldom gets its due amount of notice, for it is a humdrum side of the activity of an airport. Air-France has followed the example of Imperial Airways, Ltd., in mounting a " flag " on all departing or arriving aircraft. The difference is that Imperial Air ways, Ltd., fly the Civil Air Ensign, whereas Air-France sport the company's house flag. These flags add a note of gaiety to commercial flying, and I look forward to the day when the other companies will follow suit. I expect the Royal Dutch Air Lines will fly the company's house flag, whereas Deutsch Luft Hansa will probably affect something more official, perhaps with a swastika on it. A. VIATOR. FROM HESTON iRIGHTSON & PEARSE have acquired a " Moth " (" Cirrus II "). Anyone with a licence may hire it at a flat rate of £2 a day, paying his own insurance and petrol, which in the case of a pilot of 80 to 100 hours' experience will amount to about 15s. an hour, although the former will, of course, decrease in proportion to the pilot's record and experience. Messrs. Falk and Braddel have just toured the North of France in this machine for a week, and returned well satisfied with its performance. Wrightson & Pearse will be acquiring other newer and faster aircraft for the same purpose if the demand should justify this. The Editor of Shell Aviation News informs us that Mr. H. E. Evans, who left Heston on September 11 on a flight to India in a " Moth " (" Gipsy Major ") arrived at Almaza, Misr-Airwork's aerodrome at Cairo, on the 26th, and left for Gaza on October 2 on his way to Karachi. Mr. Evans complained of the petty restrictions and the unnecessary documents which he had to sign en route, which, he said, spoilt the pleasure of flying and made life a positive burden. Capt. Barnard and his Fokker (" Jupiter ") the " Spider," landed at Heston on the 12th with Mr. R. (" Wing ") Wyndham, who is to make an attempt on the record for a delayed parachute drop. He will make the drop over Salisbury Plain with Capt. Barnard as pilot. Five places are available for passengers on the delivery flight of two D.H. " Dragons " (" Gipsy Majors ") to the associated company of Airwork, Ltd., Indian National Airways, and two places on a third " Dragon " which is being delivered to Misr-Airwork at Cairo. The fare will be £50 to India, £30 to Baghdad or £25 to Cairo, exclu sive of food and hotel accommodation en route. These are not schedule flights, and so the starting date is to some extent dependent upon weather conditions, hence the low rates quoted. In all probability the Indian machines will start about October 28, and the Egyptian machine a day or two later. About 50 lb. of luggage per passenger will be carried if all seats are filled, otherwise intending pas sengers will be notified of any extra luggage accommoda tion. All bookings should be made with Airwork, Ltd., at Heston as early as possible. Mr. Mahony, of the Misr- Airwork staff, has been sent over to England to pilot the Egyptian " Dragon." During the nine months from January 1 to Septem ber 30, 230 new pupils have been entered in the school register. Of these, 35 have taken their "A" licences. This appears a small proportion, but it should be borne in mind that a very large number of the pupils are already pilots, and go to Heston for navigation, blind flying or aerobatic instruction, or for refresher courses in ordinary flying. SEE be withdrawn from the Register. We hope that Lord Ratendone's efforts will result in the establishment oi another and even better ground for that town. Many people will, otherwise, soon regret that Eastbourne ' is ground, A.B. in the A.A. Register, is now being ploughed one of those old-fashioned places where we can't land. up for wheat, and that the schedule should, therefore, dear, we had better go on to B. 1052 No Landing at Eastbourne REACTIONARY opinion has evidently won at East bourne, as the latest aviation notice from the aviation department of the A.A. informs us that the landing
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