FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1936
1936 - 0755.PDF
%24 FLIGHT. MARCH 26, 1936. COMMERCIAL AIRLINES VIATION - AIRPORTS - GOING AHEAD AT GATWICK : After all the weather troubles at Gatwick work is now going ahead rapidly, and it appears that when the airport is officially opened in May the buildings will be complete. The administrative " martello " tower is now receiving its internal fittings. THE WEEK AT CROYDON Peaceful Penetration : Important Affairs : On the Spot Centenarians LAST week's thrill at Croydon was the occupation cf our peaceful airport by a series of military gentlemen —^ who arrived thick and fast in all sorts and sizes of aeroplanes, from a Leopard Moth to a gaunt Hey- ford wearing an unhappy expression and resembling some soured spinster in black bombazine which has faded to an unholy green. This, by the way, is especially noticeable when they draw long, white, wrinkled mittens over the propeller blades. Nobody knows quite why the R.A.F. should have used Croydon to try out various night-landing lights, including, I believe, a new G.E.C. light and the Chance shadow-bar. The choice was a strange one, for no place in England affords so large a selection of absolute experts in night flying as Croydon, and doubtless the proceedings were regarded with a critical eye by pilots of all nations, not forgetting the D.L.H. night mail men, who have immense night flying mileages and who very definitely prefer night to day work. There are lots of other aerodromes, more secluded and larger, where such practice could have taken place, and there is no doubt that a larger aerodrome would have suited some of the people concerned very much better. Anyway, it all went off as well as could be expected, and thanks, I am sure, to the good offices of the chief aerodrome officer commercial traffic was in no way inter fered with, for the fun did not start until all machines but the night freighter were tucked up in bed. Last week also witnessed considerable coming and going of special aeroplanes with important political personages, for it is notable, in these days, that the Airport of London is invariably busy when big affairs are afoot. Among them were the two special Junkers JU.52S from Berlin, one, carrying Herr von Ribbentrop, which came non-stop, and the other, with eleven delegates, which came via Hanover. Never did I see such batteries of Press cameras, and one humorist amongst the delegates returned their fire and actually photographed the photographers. Other specials were an Air France machine which took M. Flandin to Paris on Thursday and a Sabena special to Brussels on Friday with M. van Zeeland. Incidentally, Croydon has been singularly badly off in the matter cf resident photographers. Now Mr. Brenard, jun., aero drome journalist, has a Press photographer on his staff, and Brian Allen Aviation have also engaged one and have a dark room on the premises. Both pilot and photo grapher are living in the same house, and at the end of the same telephone line, within a few minutes' of the aerodrome, and the whole outfit is as ready as any fire brigade. British Continental Airways show a satisfactory increase in traffic, covering all their services. Passenger traffic from March 1 to 18 alone was 75 per cent, up on that carried for the whole of February, and during ..he same period there has been an increase of a little over 200 per cent, in freight. Meteorological Expansion Fairly recently the Meteorological Office at Croydon has expanded to the extent of taking one of the largest first- floor rooms in the main hall, in addition to its old pre mises. On the door is the legend, " Overseas Depart ment," but officials are reticent as to the exact meaning of this. It is, of course, a good thing to prepare m advance for Transatlantic requirements, but why make secret of it? Soon we shall be having the first of the Croydon centen arians telling the world how to live to be a hundred by
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
