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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 1281.PDF
MAY 30, 1935. FLIGHT. 58i j_„ district. The duties of the many and varied aircraft of the Cranwell Command were being demonstrated in a compre hensive programme which included aerobatics (" Hart '' and "Bulldog"), formation flying ("Harts" and "Tutors"), fly ing training as it should and should not be carried out (in structor in one " Tutor " and alleged pupil in another], message picking-up (" Atlas "), attack on a ground party with gas bombs, parachute demonstration, wireless control, radio training in the Vickers " Valentia " "flying classroom." and—a bright thought—a supplies-dropping demonstration in which a parachute safely brought to earth a crate of beer! No unprincipled enemy having attempted to intercept this valuable cargo on its way down, it was auctioned in aid of the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund, to which good cause, incident ally, the modest admission fees paid by the public at all service stations were devoted. Cranwell, too, had staged a fine in door exhibit of engines, equipment, etc. Continuing, we arrived at Henlow, which houses the Home Aircraft Depot, just in time to see Sqn. Ldr. Sandbags and seven of his brothers make a simultaneous drop from a " Vir ginia," though, sad to relate, the parachute of one of this distinguished family failed to open. Parachute maintenance and testing is only one of the manifold duties of the H.A.D., which is responsible for major overhauls of practically all Service aircraft and engines used in Great Britain. The acres of workshops and engine bays, as clean as a new pin, were open to inspection, and crowds were taking advantage of the opportunity. One was constantly amazed, both here and elsewhere, at the public interest in technical exhibits. We stayed to watch the display of aerobatics by " A " Flight of No. 19 (Fighter) Squadron from Duxford. " Magnificent " ip the only word that describes the performance of the three "Gauntlets." The most impressive evolution of all was a series of upward half-rolls, rolls and double rolls in flight formation—not each machine rolling individually, but the whole flight rolling as one, the two outer machines pivoting about the leader. Their loops in echelon, too, were a joy to watch. North Weald, near Epping, our final port of call, reported a crowd of 3,500 (a third of them children) and goo motor vehicles. This station, which houses Nos. 29 and 56 Fighter Squadrons (the latter is McCudden's old unit, and they have his flying kit in the Mess) were, concluding a long and varied programme, in which shooting at the stop butts had been the most popular item, while the aerodrome's location near London had added interest to a display by Territorials with a searchlight and sound locator. Incidentally, no fewer than 160 visitors had asked for information about R.A.F. recruit ing. And so back to Hendon in the dusk, to find the three A.A.F. squadrons tidying up after a day which must have seemed like a premature Royal Air Force Display. 13,000 had attended—" top score " for any aerodrome during the Day. And now to deal with some typical stations in detail. It is readily understandable why Biggin Hill, for example, proved so popular on the Day. Position, of course, counts for much, at least with those in whose minds thoughts of the relative merits of two-seater and single-seater fighters do not prevail. But for those who take pride and interest in the defence of the Metropolis—and we guarantee that their number has multi plied enormously since Empire Air Day last year—this station is a special attraction. For there, working literally side by side, are Nos. 23 and 32 (Fighter) Squadrons, armed res pectively with the Hawker "Demon" two-seater fighter and the Bristol '' Bulldog '' single-seater. With the "Demons" The " Bulldog,' having been our standard fighter for about five years, must be considered obsolescent, and the " Demons " used by "23" are not of the very latest type, for they use the original 480 h.p. Mk. IIS "Kestrel" giving them a speed of about 185 m.p.h. at 13,000ft., whereas the newer type, with its 600 h p. " Kestrel V," is reputed to do better than 200 m.p.h. at the same altitude. What an outstanding per formance even the older type can put up we found when we flew in one of those machines seen in the photograph overleaf. These, together vrith the photographic machine, were the only " Demons " "at home " on the day of our visit. The others were out on a "job of work," for the fighter squadrons always have something to keep them busy, especi ally so this year. We are to fly, we find, in the flight leader's machine, and after photographs have been taken of the formation in the air we shall do what he hopes will be a spectacular breakaway from formation, after a dive on to the aerodrome—" a half roll off a loop or something like that." Snug but clumsy in Sidcot suit and parachute harness, helmet, scarf and goggles, one scales the fuselage via footstep, wing and exhaust pipe, and slithers down over the gun mount ing. Unlike the other members of the Hawker two-seater family, the " Demon " has its gun ring tilted at an angle to the line of flight, the fuselage, accordingly, being cut away in order to offer protection to the gunner from the airstream at high speeds. The parachute (observer's type) is carried either stowed in a leceptacle behind the pilot's seat, where it is easily accessible and yet does not interfere with gunnery, Trying out the smoke- producing apparatus on a "Bulldog" of No. 3 (F) Squadron at Kenley. Five of these machines did aerobatics with smoke on Empire Air Day [Fhght photograph.) (Right) The civil side : A number of factories were opened to the public, and this is a scene in the General Aircraft Company's works at Hanworth, with inter ested visitors examining a Monospar S.T.12 des tined for the Heston- Croydon " ferry " service.
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