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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 0314.PDF
i6o Commercial Aviation FLIGHT. CROYDON FEBRUARY 7, 1935. Alternative Ports in the Fog : A French "Beau Geste" : Record Runs Airport Away : "Beacons" that Aren't Blowing the LAST week opened in a fog which demonstrated the value of alternative airports! Imperial Airways made use of -A Lympne, to which port inward bound machines flew in the morning, returning to Paris with passengers at mid day. K.L.M. landed at Gravesend for the disembarkation of inward passengers, bullion and freight, and one outward ser vice to Holland was operated from there. Redhill was also used as an emergency airport for Spartan Airlines, Ltd., whose inward and outward machines on the Isle of Wight service were thus enabled to operate. This made it possible for the ioo per cent, regularity of this com pany in 1935 to be maintained. Great credit is due to the authorities at these airports for the efficient way in which they handle visiting air liners on these occasions. A curious development of air transport is that while air liners can take off along a white line or neon strip in fog so thick that the pilot can see no more than a few yards, ground transport from the City centre to the airport is often slowed down so as to delay departures. French Soldiers' Helpfulness Capt. " Bill" Ledlie, of Olley Air Service, Ltd., was bring ing a little girl, aged n, an invalid, by air from St. Moritz to England during a recent gale. Conditions made it desirable to land for the patient's sake, and a landing was made at Melun, France, where Army training was in progress. A mimic battle was delayed while troops held the machine steady on the ground. The Commanding Officer not only telephoned the local hotel to prepare a bedroom, etc., but arranged for an ambulance. When it came he caused two rows of soldiers, some kneeling, some standing, to form a sheltered lane with their overcoats spread wide, down which the invalid was carried to the car. It so happened that the troops were the 13th "Dragon" regiment, and regarded the descent among them of a " Dragon '' with considerable enthusiasm. Little inci dents of this sort are pleasant to record and make for inter national good feeling. The well-known green coaches used by K.L.M. and sup plied by United Services Transport are now being used by Air France also. Both these companies start from the same place in London, Horseferry House, the latest of the air line terminals in London. It is decorated in exactly similar style to the K.L.M. passenger departure station at The Hague. Scylla, piloted by Capt. Armstrong, returned from the Iraq pipe line special charter job. It is said that the steward's front name is Lucullus, so high was the standard of catering in the desert. Record trips were made last Friday, thanks to high winds. A D.L.H. machine flew from Croydon to Schipol (Amsterdam) in 67 minutes from tarmac to tarmac, or 62 minutes' flying time. The same day Capt. Oliver, of Railway Air Services, Ltd., flew a D.H. 86 from Belfast via Liverpool (where a land ing was made) to Croydon in under two hours. The distance is about 350 miles. Talking of gales, a large commercial aeroplane makes quits a miniature gale. Experienced pilots, when about to take off never turn their machines' tails to the doorway through which passengers reach the departure platform. Some younger pilots need a lesson in courtesy in this respect; a machine took off in this inconsiderate manner recently, covering with dust and small stones people who were seeing passengers off, blow ing people almost off their feet, upsetting several tall pairs of steps, and causing a small trolley to run away and damage a car, as well as making a bicycle turn a somersault. There were ladies among the spectators, and there is no doubt that such affairs redound to the discredit of the companies con cerned. The Duke of Cavadonga is a democratic air traveller. Last week he arrived on a "no passport " week-end trip from Paris, by Imperial Airways. A French fellow-traveller who '' had no English '' was in difficulties over some dutiable articles, and the Duke acted as interpreter. Recently, on the Empire service from Cape Town which arrives on Sundays, there were two travellers from Johannes burg with return tickets, and they designed to spend exactly one week in England! The Boulton Paul Feeder Apart, of course, from the very full description published in Flight, not much news is available about Boadicea, or, more correctly, perhaps, Boudicea, the new Boulton Paul P. 71 A, which has now been handed over to Imperial Airways, Ltd. It is understood that Mr. Horsey has flown the machine. Perform ance is quite up to expectations, I hear, and Fit. Lt. Feather and Mr. Sayers, of Boulton Paul, Ltd., have now left Croy don looking very pleased with themselves. A Notice to Airmen states that a white line has been laid down at Heston, but does not say how long a run there is at the end of the line before the nearest obstacle is reached^ which seems an important bit of information for pilots. The Croydon white line finishes at a point which gives a clear run of 450 yards. An envelope of the first Liverpool to Isle of Man, Isle of Man to Liverpool air mail, flown by Blackpool and West Coast Air Lines, has just reached me. There is a growing desire among air-line pilots here for a white flashing beacon instead of, or preferably as well as, t& red neon beacon. The point is that so much " neon " is used commercially in the neighbourhood that pilots flying in log may be lured away by a blaze of red light which turns out to be an advertisement for meat extract or malt liquor! A. VIATOR. New Zealand Air Mail The Postmaster-General of New Zealand, Mr. A. Hamilton, and the Director-General of the P.O., Mr. McNamara, are to meet the British delegates in New Zealand to discuss schemes for the extension of the Australian mail service to New Zealand. The Isle of Man Mail Last Friday the mails were carried to the Isle of Man by Blackpool and West Coast Air Services, Ltd. There was a moderate Westerly gale blowing when the first "Dragon" left Liverpool at 8 a.m., piloted by Mr. Higgins and carrying 554 lb. of mail, 270 lb. of freight, two passengers, and Mr. Higgins' small son. At the same time Mr. Armstrong left Ronaldsway with another " Dragon." On arrival at Speke he was received by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, who took the first mail bag and presented Mr. Armstrong with the mail pennant. Mr. H. L. Cowin, a member of the House of Keys, and Mr. Gordon Olley then spoke. On arrival in the Island, Mr Higgins was met by Mr. O'Shea, the Manx Postmaster, and also presented with the pennant. This service materially improves postal communications to and from the Isle of Man. For example, letters can be posted in London at midnight in the central areas and between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. in other area§, for delivery in Douglas on the fol lowing day at 10.30 a.m.—as compared with 4.30 p.m. deli very previously obtained. In the reverse direction, letters posted overnight in the towns of the Island leave at 8 a.m.. and delivery is effected in Liverpool at 10.30 a.m., in Man chester at 1.15 p.m., in the London Central Areas at 33° Pm' or 4 p.m., and in many towns over a wide area by the after noon delivery. With the mail contract Blackpool and West Coast Air Ser vices, Ltd., have started their spring time-table, which will be in force until May 5, when the company will probably announce further extensions. During this period two services will be run on each week-day and one on Sunday. The traffic headquarters, incidentally, are now at spe*e (Garston 64). A Midland Charter Firm For some time a charter firm, Midland Airways, Ltd., have been operating from Sywell aerodrome, Northampton, using a D.H. "Fox Moth" and the King's Cup "Hawk Major which is owned by Capt. Shaw, the chairman of the c°"!" pany. Mr. C. R. S. Hayne is manager and chief pilot, i"1 rates are is. per mile for the " Hawk " and 6d. per mile pe fSassenger for the " Fox Moth."
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