FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1935
1935 - 0885.PDF
APRIL 18, 1935. FLIGHT. 427 THE FIRST PERFORMANCE Opening National Avia tion Day Display of the Year : Sir Alan Cob- ham's New Programme Starts at Redhill WITH a public that has, for the most part, be come inured to the sight of mere flying, or even of aerobatic flying, a modern team of display pilots must be beyond criticism, and a modern display must rival, if in minia ture, the great show at Hendon. Furthermore, Sir Alan Cobham's display, designed as it is to en courage people to use the air, must blend the spectacular with the commonplace so that the "circus" element is not too dominant. Actually it is possible, with a well- knit collection of experts, for such a show as the National Aviation Dis play to improve, in some respects, on the big affair of the year. Since the crowd is not so large and the area not so congested, the trick pilots can perform all their evolutions at a height which allows the always Roman-holiday spectators to see the expres sion on the performers' faces! In addition, crazy flying, by far the most entertaining type from the spectator's point of view, can be seen, and the public has an opportunity of being with the machines as passengers in all but one or two of the events. A Borrowed Autogiro At Redhill on Saturday Sir Alan's show was incomplete, the Autogiro being without its necessary rotor blades, and the organisers were lucky in having the use of the Redhill Flying Club's Autogiro and of the club's instructor, Mr. R. F. Bulstrode, who was kept tmsy during the whole afternoon either demonstrating or giving short flights. In fact, the interest of the general public in the machine, which the efficient announcer alluded to as the "wingless wonder," was most marked. For this year's series the fleet is larger and' several new items have been introduced, not all of which were taken out of the hat at Redhill. However, Mr. C. W. A. Scott gave a short address. Mr. H. T.. Brook demonstrated his record- breaking Miles " Falcon " and spoke the odd word, and Miss One way of picking up a message. Fit. Lt. Tyson uses his port wing-tip for his well- known handkerchief trick. (F/ig7nPf>hotograph.) < Heron-Maxwell was pulled off. the Handley Page "Clive," Astra, simultaneously with that accomplished " brolly " expert, Mr. Ivor Price. Both landed firmly and unharmed more or less in the centre of the aerodrome. Fit. Lt. Tyson now uses an Avro " Tutor" (" Lynx ") for his singularly clean display of inverted and other aerobatics. Never were slow rolls so slow and rocket loops so interminably prolonged. With the extra power, enabling him to climb quite steeply in the in verted position, the recovery from a disturbingly low final inverted passage over the crowd is rather less disturbing. Fit. Lt. Tyson looks safe enough, though engines do st<;|> occasionally, even in the year 1935. Refuelling The " Clive," of course, carries a maximum complement of passengers with a comparatively small supply of fuel and, from the operational point of view, the work of the special mobile National Benzole tanker is most interesting. The whole job is carried out in a few moments—and moments are valu able in such an accurately organised display. Incidentally, organisation also extends to the careful planning of innumer able circuits and landings when minor ground accidents must be avoided. One or two pilots who were rope<l in for this first display could be excused for "rubbernecking" their Miss Meakin wheels her special glider into position for the tow-off Sir Alan himself brings up the end of the cable. (Plight photograph)
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
