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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 0953.PDF
FLIGHT. APRIL 16, 1936. OUT of the PAST Two Historical Machines, a Sopwith Camel and a Pre-war Farman, Being Resurrected by a Brooklands Enthusiast By W. BODDY ::• . EACH November, for some years past, owners of "historic" motor cars have competed in the very sporting Com memoration Run from London to Brighton, now organ ised by the R A.C., and formerly held at the suggestion of a daily newspaper with the co-operation of The Autocar. Last November over ninety veterans took part in this con test. Most of these historic cars have been unearthed in the most unlikely places and then restored as nearly as possible to original condition by their enthusiastic owners. Now it would seem that a similar enthusiasm for un earthing and restoring historic specimens from the past is developing in aviation circles. Flight has already described (November 7, 1935) the cross-Channel Bleriot which R. O. Shuttleworth is thoroughly restoring at his Biggleswade aerodrome. Now comes news that Richard G. J. Nash, who is well known as an enthusiastic collector of old bicycles and "period" motor vehicles, as well as a successful driver of small racing cars in sprint and hill-climb contests, has added two early aeroplanes to his collection, which is gathered together at a shed on Brooklands aerodrome. War# and. Pre-War One of these machines is a Sopwith Camel of 1917 vint age, with 140 h.p. Clerget engine, which is being re conditioned and restored to war-time condition. The second acquisition is a 1912-13 Farman pusher- biplane, which before the war was the personal machine of M. Maurice Farman. It is powered with a 130 h.p. twelve-cylinder Renault engine. Mr. Nash plans to fly these machines. He will hire them out to film producers, and fly them at exhibitions and club displays. Naturally, there will be some who will consider that such historically priceless machines should, when restored, A Farman biplane of the type acquired by Mr. R. G. J. Nash. be put safely away in a museum. Against that it can be argued that while the Veteran Car Run is primarily a sporting matter for the competitors, nevertheless very large numbers of persons are enabled to see the veterans in action and thereby appreciate very vividly the progress that has been achieved, and a moving procession is far superior to a stationary museum exhibit in this respect. So it is with antique aeroplanes, and, provided that such machines are seriously restored to original condition as far as is possible and are subsequently flown seriously and not regarded merely as an amusing "stunt," then their acquisition provides sport and interest unrivalled by any other kind of antique collecting. However, the way of the would-be historic aeroplane collector will be by no means straightforward. Whereas the old-car enthusiast can come to very little harm if he remembers the inadequate roadholding and primitive brak ing of his possession, a pre-War flying machine can be a very adventurous proposition, not only on account of the difficulty of ascertaining the condition of every part of the air frame, but also on account of peculiarities of control and flying characteristics. Again, although aviation is younger than motoring, there must be very, very few genuine old machines still in exist ence. The Air Ministry list of aeroplanes registered on December 3r, 1934, shows that there were then onlv a few pre-1918 machines on record, and not a solitary Sop with or Farman was on the list. It will, at all events, be interesting to see if any other veterans are unearthed this year and how Mr. Nash s ex amples take to the air. Incidentally, if interest grows, there is likely to be a furious demand for early volumes of Flight. EMPIRE AIR DAY : CIVIL AERODROMES IN addition to the list of nearly fifty R.A.F. stations which will be open to the public on Empire Air Day, Saturday, May 23 (given in Flight of March 26) it is now possible to disclose the names of twenty-three civil aerodromes which to date have also promised to give facilities. They are: — London and Home Counties Middlesex: Heston Airport, Hounslow (Ainvork, Ltd.); Hanworth Aerodrome, Feltham (The London Air Park Flying Club, Ltd.). Hertfordshire: Hatfield Aerodrome (De Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd.). Kent Gravesend Airport (Airports, Ltd., Airworthiness, Ltd.); Bekesbourne Aerodrome, Canterbury (Airsales and Service, Ltd.). Surrev: Redhill Aerodrome (British Air Transport, Ltd.). Sussex: Brighton, Hove and Worthing Airport, Shoreham-on-Sea; Ford Aerodrome, Yapton (Yapton Aero Club, Ltd.); Wilmington Aerodrome (Eastbourne Flying Club, Ltd.). Provincial Cheshire: Merseyside Air Park, Hooton. Cambridgeshire: Fen Ditton Aerodrome (Marshalls' Flying School). Cumberland: Carlisle Municipal Aerodrome, Kingstown, Carlisle. Gloucestershire: Bristol Airport. . . ,,. Hampshire: Hamble, Southampton (Air Service Training, Lta.i. The City Airport, Portsmouth (Portsmouth Aero Club, Ltd>' Lancashire: Airport of Manchester, Barton (Airwork, Ltd.). Norfolk: Norwich Municipal Aerodrome (Norwich and Norioi Aero Club, Ltd.). .^ Northumberland: Woolsington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Tsewca: upon-Tyne Aero Club, Ltd.). , , r0 Warwickshire: Castle Bromwich, nr. Birmingham (Midland . Club). , nr Yorkshire: Leeds-Bradford Municipal Aerodrome, Yeadon, Leeds (Yorkshire Aeroplane Club. Ltd.). Scotland Ayrshire: Prestvvick Aerodrome (Scottish Aviation, Ltd.). Perthshire: Perth (Airwork, Ltd., Reserve Training senw Co. Down: Ards Northern Ireland Airport, Newtownarris. (If Club is open-
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