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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0676.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 5, 1934 THE S.B.A.C. DISPLAY More than 40 Aircraft were shown to some 1,500 guests of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors at Hendon on Monday last, in addition to the Engines, Materials, Accessories and Equipment on view in the " Static " Exhibition A ROM every point of view the third display and ' exhibition organised at Hendon by the . S.B.A.C. on the Monday following the R.A.F. Display was a success. The weather was perfect, the variety of aircraft was large enough tc convince the potential purchaser of the very wide range of British types available, and the stationary exhibits covered the field of power-plants, materials and equipment in a representative if somewhat limited manner. The organisation was excellent, and of the international character of the concourse one could not long remain ignorant if one mingled with the crowds which surrounded the machines on the aerodrome. If there is any criticism to be made it is that one day is barely enough for guests to see all that deserves to be seen, although many of the foreign visitors are usually pressed for time and have to return on the Tuesday morning. From 10.30 to 12.30 there was a flying display of some of the aircraft exhibited. The luncheon interval occupied the time from the end of the flying to 2.30 p.m., and afterwards there was inspection of the machines on the aerodrome, followed by pas- THE CHAIRMAN : Mr. H. J. Thomas, of the Bristol Aeroplane Co., welcomed the guests at the official luncheon, first in English and then in French. He is seen here inter- rupted in the task of explaining to his young ion some of the mysteries of the " Bulldog IV." (FLIGHT Photo.) 678 senger flights until 6.30 p.m. or, as one should say in B.B.C. 1934, 18.30. In his speech of welcome at the luncheon, Mr. H. J. Thomas, of the Bristol Aeroplane Co., Ltd., Chairman of the S.B.A.C., mentioned that possibly the flying part of the display did not bring out to the full the importance which the British aircraft industry attaches to all matters connected with the development of civil aircraft and civil aviation. Mr. Thomas was, we imagine, thinking of the larger com- mercial aeroplanes, of which no representative was demonstrated. It is to be presumed that this was due to the fact that all our large British commercial machines are operated by Imperial Airways, and that no type could be spared for the purpose of demonstration at Hendon. The " feeder line " types and the smallei types suitable for the private owner covered that field adequately and helped to make up in no small measure for the fact that so far the British aircraft industry does not appear to have mads any serious effort to open world markets for the large class of machine. ; Another reason for the preponderance of military types was the holding, but two days previously, of the R.A.F. Display, at which several of the latest military aircraft had already appeared and were therefore on the spot. These, as well as some in- teresting new types not previously shown, naturally came in for close inspection by those foreign visitors who were looking around for types to equip their own air forces, and one formed the opinion that they were impressed by much of what they saw, THE "DYNAMIC" DISPLAY ^ Some 18 firms demonstrated aircraft in flight. Each firm was allowed from four to eight minutes in which to demonstrate its machines, according to the number, but the system was that if a constructor desired to show more than two types, he had to have them in the air together, as he was only allowed eight minutes. This arrangement gave rise, in one or two cases, to some formation flying, which actually provided a not unwelcome change from the demonstrations of single machines. The order in which constructors demonstrated their types had been decided by ballot, but it will be more convenient here to refer to the demonstrations and aircraft in alphabetical order. Airspeed, Limited.—Two smaller commercial or " feeder line " aircraft represented this firm, a standard " Courier " six-seater monoplane fitted with Siddeley 275-h.p. " Cheetah " engine, and the new " Envoy " seven-seater monoplane, which has two Wolseley 185-h.p. A.R.9 engines. Both types have the patented Airspeed type of retracting undercarriage, the wheels being partly housed in the wing. The " Courier " with " Cheetah engine has a cruising speed of 150 m.p.h., and the " Envoy " also cruises at about 150 m.p.h. In the demonstrations at Hendon the " Courier " was flown first, the pilot being Mr. C. H. Bremridge. The " Envoy " was demonstrated by Mr. C. H. A. Colman. Both machines made a favourable impression by their speed and general handiness, and it was noticeable that the
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