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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0917.PDF
SEPTEMBER 6, 1934. FLIGHT. HYING A SECTION FOR OWNER-PILOTSAND CLUB MEMBERS THOSE who have been responsible for our postal ser-vices have not until recently shown themselves tobe very convinced of the possibilities of air transport. It is therefore with considerable interest and satis- faction that one learns that an experiment has been decided upon which may open up a new era in the useful- ness of aircraft. It is understood that the aim is to dis- cover whether it is feasible to utilise the Autogiro for the purpose of collecting from and delivering mails on the rcof of the General Post Office at Mount Pleasant. Mails and the Autogiro A LTHOUGH great progress has been *»• made with the Autogiro, the time has not yet come when it could land on and take off from such a base without considerable alteration to the roof, and the proposed experiment will therefore involve the picking up and dropping of the mails whilst in flight. There is no reason to suppose that such a method is impractical, as the Autogiro is practically capable of hovering over its objective. Such a manoeuvre would certainly not be possible with any other type of machine at present available, and the fact that this experiment has been decided upon is a great tribute to those who have brought the Autogiro to the present stage of efficiency. The recognition of its possibilities, not only by the Post Office but by the authorities at Scotland Yard, is an indica- tion that both Departments are in the hands of people of imagination and initiative, and all those who have the interests of aviation at heart will welcome the enterprise that is being shown in these official quarters. Many of us have long pressed for the development of a central air port in London, and this should be nearer realisation if enthusiasm for the air continues to be the policy of the heads of these two powerful departments. Plans for an air port near the centre of the metropolis are further advanced than is generally realised, and there ar« at least three schemes on which a great deal of initial work has been done. In each case, however, the plans envisage accommodation for the landing and taking off of aircraft of conventional fixed wing design. For this reason the expenditure involved is very high, and such a project will need the exercise of a far-seeing policy if it is to be brought to fruition in the immediate future. The advent of the Autogiro and the potentiality of its future development opens up a more immediate possibility of the construction of facilities on a less ambitious scale, and the success of the Post Office experiment will be a great encouragement. This will not be without its influence on the person who is only prevented from becoming an en- thusiastic aircraft owner by lack of means. The increased utilisation of the rotary-winged type of machine promises to inaugurate a period of cheaper machines within the reach of a greater section of the public. Whilst on the subject of the Autogiro I cannot pass without mentioning the great faith which has been shown; " this type since the earliest days by Air Com. NOTES LORD SEMP1LL A.F.C., F.R.Ae.S. de la Cierva, by continuous personal support, but hasalways been a most enthusiastic user of the machine. I have had the pleasure again of visiting the Air Com-modore's home at Skeldon, Ayrshire, during the past two week-ends, where he has a private aerodrome and a well-built hangar which houses several machines. Whilst it is possible to land and take off in an aeroplane, it requiresconsiderable care. With the Autogiro, however, it is per- fectly safe to do so in whatever direction the wind happensto be. My visit to Skeldon was interesting for more than one reason, for whilst there I met two men who, in their several spheres, have played an enormous part in the history of aviation—Lord Weir (who is Air Com. Weir's brother) and Lord Trenchard. Lord Weir, who was one of the pioneers of aviation, will be remembered as the second Minister for Air, and previously did a great deal to organise our Air Technical Services during the War. Lord Trenchard's services to the Nation during the War, and since, will never be forgotten, and in his latest role as Chief Commissioner of Police he still shows his faith in aviation, which is undoubtedly destined to play a great part in the future of his Department. Air Signs for Bad Weather Flying '"THE study of meteorology is not only a fascinating sub- 1 ject in itself, but essential for the air pilot who habitu- ally uses his aircraft for long cross-country journeys. Those not well versed in this knowledge should take particular care to obtain weather reports from reliable stations before setting out on such flights, as a good deal of inconvenience, if not worse, can be met with by running into bad weather in districts where landing places are not very suitable. However good one's navigation is, it is always a source of satisfaction to be able to check up one's position by a ground landmark. Having neglected to take the pre- caution of obtaining a weather forecast, which I seldom omit, on a recent flight which took me through the Mid- lands, I ran into a thick patch which made it difficult to determine my bearings. The industrial centres in this district are not readily distinguishable one from another, and I wished that Municipalities generally were more alive to the great benefit they could confer on airmen, at no great cost, by suitably marking their towns by air signs. In this instance, I was lucky enough to be able to check my whereabouts by catching sight of the sign painted on the top of a gasometer at Leamington. In flying from London to Liverpool, although I kept a good look-out, this was the only air sign I saw which a pilot could readily distinguish in such circumstances. For the guidance of Municipal Authorities, I might men- tion that a memorandum on standard air signs has been prepared by the Automobile Association and issutd by the Civil Aviation Section of the London Chamber cf Com- merce. The scheme embodied in this memorandum has the approval of the Air Ministry and of the R03 al AerojH J^jg tVDe SinCe n y y ^ T. G. Weir. He has not only encouraged its inventor, Senor Club, and would be a great help to air pilots.
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