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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0556.PDF
FLIGHT, JUNE 7, 1934 did, north again to Saint Louis. The dust of the journey hitherto will probably have penetrated tanks and/or car- burettor, however careful he may be in the matter of filters. This remark is based on experience, for about a hundred miles north of Saint Louis we did have a stoppage, and a landing had to be made in a happily-placed salt pan. This was alleged to be friendly country, but it was an incident that would not have allowed repetition a few hundred miles farther north. This was not the only forced landing from this cause, despite further drainings and flushings of petrol systems, for while returning from the Grand Canary, some ten miles or so from the volcanic island of Fuerteventura (" Fort Fortune," and not Spanish for " frightful wind up!"), we were at 6,000 ft., and 4,000 ft. had to be lost in a series of dives and with much throttle movement before the stoppage began to clear itself. The problem before us was whether to hang around that miserable island, or venture over the next sixty miles of open and very rough sea to Cape Juby. In fact, we compromised, and made our height again over the island, giving us courage to take the latter course. Dogs and Canaries All this is not described just to make a story but to illustrate to others that even " Gipsy " engines feel the burden and heat of the day and do not thrive on a diet of dust. The Canaries (incidentally, the name is derived from dogs and not birds!) are very well worth the detour of some 300 miles. The airport at Gando, on the Grand Canary, is over an hour's drive from Las Palmas, which is a drawback, but private tourists seldom arrive, and if information is wirelessed beforehand from Cape Juby, as it certainly should be, the visitor will probably be met by the ever enterprising Shell organisation. A flight we made over TeneriflEe, another sixty miles farther on, was one of the most magnificent. A joyriding company might well do good business if it included this as an attraction to passengers of the liners, though a more convenient aerodrome would be essential. The fact that we carried two very well-defined bullet holes in our starboard wing, though we knew nothing about them until found in course of inspection, testified that to enjoy the Rio di Oro and its neighbouring coast it is necessary for the motor to turn and turn well. But once over that beautiful but rather sinister barrier, the Grand Atlas, into Morocco again, one almost invites the engine to misbehave for the pleasure of parking in some of the glorious green meadows of that pleasant land. We made for Marrakesh (pronounced "Mrackesh "), and would not have missed it for worlds. From the perhaps expensive comfort of the Mamounia one can enjoy a Garden of Eden which must be unrivalled. The colours baffle description and always in the background there are the snow-covered contours of the Atlas. T.vje aerodrome here is a French military station, and a good hangar is available in which to perform all the: rites called for in a " routine." Spain is a big country, and if one is about to tackle the journey home it is well to ensure perfect airworthiness before leaving a country where flying is almost a normal means of transport. We stopped at Rabat, and then, omitting Tan- giers after previous experience, made direct for Granada. The Straits of Gibraltar in this instance were in pleasant contrast to their appearance on our way south, when one of the depressions off the Atlantic, which use the Straits as a tram line, was entering the Mediterranean. The route from Granada to Alicante takes one along the edge of the Sierra Nevada, which is a range of snow scenery well worth a camera. It is a longish flight from Alicante to Perpignan, and much bad weather can be met along the Spanish coast. It is not advisable to be too clever and fly either above the clouds or in them on this stretch, unless one can claim considerable experience of it, for the coast is very rugged. We omitted to call at Barcelona this time because, apparently, the formality of clearing Customs outwards from Spain is optional. Anyway, neither Alicante nor Perpignan seemed to mind. Thence we made Geneva for that very enterprising event, the International Aero Show, but Switzerland will probably only be included in the return journey if the purse still remains to be emptied, for it is now a rather most expensive country. For a change we returned to England via Zurich, and the one-and-a-half hours' flight from Geneva carries one over the finest scenery imaginable. Hints for Tourists For those whose appetite is whetted the points of sucha flight may be summed up. If it is for pleasure, do not try to do too much ; take a rest every four days or so. Boththe human and the aircraft motor want attention, and the fitness of both is paramount. Always carry food and water,and a Thermos will not come amiss. It is amazing how a stick of barley sugar and a few Horlick's malted milktablets help to while away thirty thirsty kilometres. To those who like mental recreation, a stock of cross-wordpuzzles and a backgammon board are recommended. When all is said and done, for every hour flown therewill be seven more to be put away, and they cannot all be passed in eating, sleeping, and exercise, though each playsits part. Touching the important matter of finance, it is curioushow opinions will differ as to the cost of a trip of this nature. Out of 24 nights, 17 were spent in hotels, manyof which provided more than ordinary comfort. If one assumed that the hospitality enjoyed on the remainingseven nights was not available and that one was prepared to accept a slightly lower standard of comfort to balancethe extra expense so involved, one can safely say that the cost for two people will not exceed £150, to which,of course, must be added fuel charged on the Shell Carnet for some eighty hours' flying. For the interest and independence enjoyed, surely thiscompares favourably with some of the " cruises " adver- tised as " from 42 gns.," touching only at pre-arrangedports, and on which the tourist will be led up the garden path of further expenditure, and be left a helpless victimof surroundings usually comparable to Hastings Pier on a Bank Holiday? WINIFRED SPOONER MEMORIAL Bronze Unveiled by Mr. Lindsay Everard, M.P. N Thursday of last week honour was paid to the memory of the late Miss Winifred Spooner by the Woman's Automobile and Sports Association when Mr. W. Lind- say Everard, M.P., unveiled a bronze of Miss Spooner, presented to the Asso- ciation by a member who wishes to remain anonymous. The Viscountess Elibank, President of the Association, opened the ceremony. Mr. Everard, to whom Miss Spooner acted as pilot for two years before her death, spoke at length of her achievements, which, he declared, had done more real good for aviation than any of the much boomed long-distance flights of others. Miss Spooner, he said, had shown that flying was a reliable means of transport, and that was far more important than feats of endurance which convey an impres- sion that aviation is still in its infancy. The bust, which is the work of Mr. Donald Gilbert, is to occupy a position of honour in the Association's club rooms at 17, Buckingham Palace Gar- dens, S.W.I. 556
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