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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 1094.PDF
xogb FLIGHT. OCTOBER 18, 1934. Private Flying . . ;• " ' "•,.- * .. ~ -i,-<^~~;. "DROOKLANDS '/,'-*-* Total flying time last week amounted to 83 hr.—40 hr. solo and 43 hr. dual. There was a great deal of early morningflying; Capt. Findlay and Ca.pt. MacKenzie have both had pupils at 7.30 a.m. on several mornings.Future pupils taking the ground instruction course will enjoy the facilities of tlw new lecture room, which is being builtagainst the outside wall of the main hangar. It is being designed on the same lines as the clubhouse, with a flat roofand plenty of window space all round. It is interesting to note that the Club has already completed2,400 hours' flying, and the Air Ministry year does not end until March. Five school machines are constantly in use, withone in reserve. Coming events include a tea-dance next Sunday, a fireworkdisplay for the children of the employees of Brooklands on November 3, and a landing competition on October 28. It isproposed to make up a party to go on a sea cruise for three weeks in January. Flying members who are interested shouldcommunicate with Capt. H. D. Davis. "DRISTOL AND WESSEX - •' ''^~Z '_''"*V '• .-L' During September the 177 hours flying done by the club constituted a record for that month, but the weather inthe first fortnight of this month has curtailed flying consider- ably, to the disappointment of several ab initios who areanxious to complete their training. The new C.30 autogiro is in great demand, Mr. A. H.Phillips, a director of the club, being the first member to fly it solo—after only ij hours' dual instruction.Mr. C. V. Ogden has relinquished his appointment with the club as assistant instructor in readiness for his flight to Indiawith Lady Douglas, and his place has been taken by Mr. A. N. I. Worger-Slade. A new pilot member is Mr. A. Davenport, who is chiefdesigner at Westland Aircraft Works, Yeovil. PROGRESS IN AUSTRALIA Australia's civil aviation will soon be in the forefront, accord-ing to an official statement issued recently at Canberra. The policy followed by the Commonwealth Government since ittook office in 1932 has resulted in what may be one of the most complete aerial transport systems in existence, linkingAustralia, by fast services, to a considerable portion of the globe. This development grew from the appointment in 1932 of anInter-departmental Committee to advise as to the future policy regarding air transport services. Last year tenders were calledfor many important services, and this year the Government has accepted all these tenders, save that between the Ord Riverand Wyndham, and, in addition, has decided to give South Australia direct access to the oversea air service by establish-ing a weekly service between Adelaide and Bourke. The con- tract for the Melbourne-Hobart service will ensure a dailyservice (except Sundays) across the Bass Straight. All the new services should be in operation by the end of the present year,when there will be an increase of approximately 130 per cent. in the mileage flown annually by regular air services in Austra-lia. It is estimated that the regular air lines in Australia will total 11,000 miles next year, and that, approximately,1,500,000 miles will be flown during 1935. In other directions there has been a marked develop-ment in what has become an essential factor in the life of a country of such great distances as Australia. Considerableexpenditure has been made on improving existing aerodromes and preparing new landing grounds; the rentals charged forthe leasing of Government hangars by private aircraft opera- tors ,have been reduced; and local authorities have beenencouraged to establish aerodromes, the number of which has greatly increased. Aero clubs have been assisted; strictersupervision has been maintained over the day-to-day main- tenance of aeroplanes; steps have been taken to ensure wire-less facilities on the air mail routes where they pass over the sea; while gliding, which stimulates interest in aviation gener-ally, has been encouraged. Altogether, Australia appears to be looking forward to a real future. THE PILOTS ENTERTAINED Airmen Become Chairmen for a Short Period at the Banquet given to them by the : :?-" .: • . •„,.•-:• Royal Aero ClubT HE most striking feature of the Royal Aero Club's banquet at Grosvenor House to the pilots of the England-Australia race was not its magnificence nor the number and quality of those present, but the unexpected histrionic abilities of the guests. Every one of the nine who replied to the toast of the pilots, so admirably proposed bj' H.H. Prince Bismarck, the German Charge d'Affaires, made some useful contribution, and several were really witty. Lord Gorell, C.B.E., M.C., the chairman, who proposed the toast of the Races, and the Right Hon. Stanley M. Bruce, P.C., C.H., who replied, actually started a species of humorous discussion. The chairman looked forward to the day when the world would be encircled in a day, and wondered whether, as you gain a day in one direction, you possibly arrive home yesterday. Later in the evening the charmingly relative doggerel about a certain Miss Bright was remembered. The High Commissioner for Australia, on the other hand, after paying tribute to Sir MacPherson Robertson, emphasised the value of the race as a test of reliability as well as speed, introduced a wasp into the argument, reminded the competitors that the race was hardly beginning when they arrived at Darwin, and told a good story to impress Australia's size. He made a brief but admiring reference to the late Sqd. Ldr. Bert Hinkler. Prince Bismarck, proposing "The Pilots," expressed his regret that the Only German entry, that of Herr Hirth, had been withdrawn, but assured everyone that the entire German nation would follow the course of the race with interest and good wishes. He pointed out, too, that the sexes had achieved a degree of equality in aviation that was almost unknown in other sports. Hereafter the torch was handed to the pilots,.and to Col. Roscoe Turner in particular. Apparently the job of ob- taining innumerable passports and visas was rather on his mind, and he hoped that the race might do something to secure the freedom of the air. Mr. Roy Parer, who flew to Australia in 1919, taking eight months over the trip, spoke on similar lines, and said that the pilots were doing their work in this generation to advance the cause of humanity. By this time it was becoming a little difficult for the people at the other end of the hall to hear everything that was being said, for the microphone was not handed to each pilot as he raised himself regretfully to his feet. However, Col. Fitzmaurice could be heard dealing with the local racial question and claiming that he would pos- sibly become legendary as a most discerning pilot for choosing a Scotsman as his co-pilot! Capt. C. W. A. Scott caught hold of Lord Gorell's " earth-girdling " remark and reminded us that only air pilots know how large the earth is. Serious notes were introduced by both Mr. Clyde Pang- born, who is flying with Col. Turner, and Mrs. Mollison. Both remarked that the race was a risky enterprise, and that the pilots knew it. Mrs. Mollison wished all her com- petitors the best of luck. Capt. Stack took some time to get into his stride, but was entertaining enough without sound effect, and, after more or less inaudible but mirth-provoking remarks, said that if the British pilots do not acquit themselves well it will not be the fault of our aircraft manufacturers. Mr. J. H. Wright "wisecracked" his way through a short speech, Mr. Polando had his say, and Mr. J. W. Dulanty, High Commissioner for the Irish Free State, proposed the health of the chairman. Thereafter the party split up into "discussion groups" or drifted away homewards. H. A. T.
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