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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0945.PDF
SEPTEMBER 13, 1934. FLIGHT. 9-; 7 on August G, breaking the journey at Singapore. Pareraffirms that this .will be his last race. Now in his forties, he plans to settle down. The lady responsible for this decisionlives in Bradford. Racing No. 31—H. L. Brook, and —? • ••'-•• -"-•-. - (England) And speaking of Bradford, here is Harold Leslie Brook, whowas born there in 1897, and now resides in Harrogate. He joined the R.F.A. on August 20, 1914, at the age of 16,obtained his commission soon afterwards, and, despite a couple of wounds, served five years in France and India. Restored Mr. H. L. Brook. Miss Ruth Nichols. to his family, he remained a normal civilian until Yorkshirebegan to build and fly sailplanes and gliders. These occupa- tions kept, him mildly diverted until the approach of his 37thbirthday. Then he began to yearn for horse-power. The York County Aviation Club at Sherburn-in-Elmet offered alikely fulfilment of this secret ambition. So, in August, 1933, Brook placed himself in the hands of Instructor Cudemore,and after four hours' instruction became a soloist with serious designs on the MacRobertson Handicap, for which Phillipsand Powis have built him the first of their Miles " Falcons. ' What happened between last autumn and this spring is nowalmost historic. Brook bought the "Puss Moth" (Heart's Content) in which the Mollisons had crossed the Atlantic, and,with a total of 43 hr. in his logbook, pushed off solo from Lympne to survey the route to Melbourne. That was onMarch 28, 1934, at 5.20 a.m. By noon the incident had closed. Describing it a few days later Brook said that, while •flying through very dirty weather over France, he was forced down from 12,000 ft. by ice formation on the wings, and,before he knew how or why, the side of an unsuspected moun- tain was rushing up at him out of the murk. Guided by someuncanny sixth sense, he brought off a bloodless landing on the mountain proper. The scene of this epic of the air wasGenolhac, in the Cevennes. With some local help he salvaged the "Gipsy Major," brought it back to England, and lashad it installed in Heart's Content II. Brook's next attempt on the Australian record will not besolo. If expectations are realised, he will be accompanied by two lady passengers. Racing No. 49.—Miss Ruth R. Nichols (U.S.A.) Miss Nichols, writing trom New York on August 23, says that, while it is highly improbable that she will fly the "Altair" entered in her name, there is a remote chance of her joining the crew of another entry. She adds: "If ulti- mately my plans include the race, I shall be glad to advise you accordingly." Miss Nichols is the second woman to receive the U.S. Depart-ment of Commerce transport licence, and one of the few fo hold its ground engineer's licence, of which only four h vebeen granted She also holds the first F.A.I international hydroplane licence for women.A singularly competent aviatrix, Miss Nichols commenced flying in 1922. Having taken her B.A degree at WellesleyCollege, New York, in 1924, and been appointed head of " sales'promotion " to the Fairchikl Aviation Corporation, iepiloted, in 1929, a 12,000-mile tour of the United States. In 1931 she held three world records simultaneously (for women) :altitude (28,743 ft., March 6), speed (210.65 m.p.h., April 13), and distance (1,977.6 miles): this last was set up onOctober 24-25 from Oakland, Cal., to Louisville, Kentucky. Later she added the West-East transcontinental record of 13 hr. 21 min., and wasawarded the 193 r'U.S.A. cnampionshipby the'Xigue Internationale des Aviateurs. Incidentally, she is the first woman to pilot a regular passenger air line. InDecember, 1932, Miss Nichols became air traffic manager and reserve pilot of New York-New England Airlines. In thesame year she made a. 3,000-mile " good-will " tour as repre- sentative, or " Air Ambassadress," of the National Councilof Women. Miss Nichols' varied career includes the following minoractivities: First non-stop New York to Miami, foundation member of Aviation Country Clubs, founder and editor of Th?Sportsman Pilot, and competitor in the first Women's Trans- continental Air Derby. As an interesting lecturer on aviationtopics she is known throughout the United States, and unsolicited testimonials descend upon her in a glittering shower. < Latest Race Neu>s The Northrop machine nominated by Miss JacquelineCochran is a two-seater cabin monoplane with a Curliss " Suoer Conqueror " SGD-1570 F.-4.S. supercharged liquid-cooledengine. The standard " Super Conqueror " gives 600 h.p. up to 12,000 ft., and 750 h.p. at sea level. Miss Cochiau. who willfly in the machine throughout the race, will employ two pilots, Wesley Smith and Royal Leonard, the latter being stationedat Allahabad, and taking over the machine from Wesley Smith at that point. Miss Cochran and her pilots have taken aspecial course of instruction in navigation under a leading expert in the United Stales. They have compiled a series oftables for obtaining results quickly when taking sights by two sextants of new design, one manufactured by the PioneerInstrument Co. The Northrop Co. are said to be confident that the machine will cruise at least at 250 m.p.h. at analtitude of over 20,000 ft. Mr. Wesley Smith has already flown to Australia to make observations. A Change of Pilot The Manawatu Aero Club, New Zealand, has notified theAir Race Committee of its substitution of another pilot for Major G. A. C. Cowper. The substitute, whose name has notyet been ascertained in Ei gland, will arrive here on September 20. The entry is a Miles Hawk (" Gipsy III "). Mr. I,. V Chandi, the only Indian entrant, is reported tohave abandoned the idea of taking part in the race because his pilot, Mr. A. A. Murad. is unable to obtain leave. Although Short Bros, have received no order or instructionsfrom Mr. Wallace, who has entered a " Scion," this gentle- man has sailed for England with the apparent intention ofparticipating in the race. We hear from America that the T. W. A. Douglas D.C.2,nominated by Mr. Harold Gattv. will not compete, the manufacturers and T.W.A. having changed their mindsafter entering the machine. It appears also that the chief engineer of K.L.M. has cabled from America that the Douglasnominated by K.L.M. for the speed race will not be able to compete. Entertaining the Competitors : The Royal Aero Club invites subscriptions to a Hospitality Fund, which has been organised for the entertainment of com- petitors in the England-Australia races. Subscriptions should be sent to the Secretary, The Royal Aero Club, 119, Picca- diJ'y. W.i, at the earliest possible date. A banquet, the object of which is lo welcome and entertain all pilot-; taking part in the races, will be held by the Royal Aero Club at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, on Fridav, Octo- ber 12th, 1934, at 8 p.m. The price of tickets exclusive of wines is one guinea. Members may bring guests, including ladies. MACROBERTSON " ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA AIR RACE r October 20—November 4 ~ PRIZES: Speed Race: 1st £10,000 and Gold Cup ; 2nd, £1,500 ; 3rd. £500. Handicap Race 1st, £2,000; 2nd, £1000 Sixty-four entries representing fourteen nations Start: Miidenhall Finish: Melbourne. Control point* (Handicap Race in italics):—Marseilles. Rome.Athens, Aleppo, Baehdad, Bushire, Karachi, Jodhpur, Allahabad, Calcutta, Rangoon, Bangkok, Ator Star, Singapore,Batavia, Rambang. Koepang, Darwin, Newcastle Waters Cloncarry Charleville and Narrowmine. Tola: Distance (Great Circle):—11,333 miles,
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