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Aviation History
1937
1937 - 1124.PDF
426 FLIGHT. APRIL 29, 1937, COMMERCIAL /AVIATION AIRLINES AIRPORTS f^9\ElARlAliJ-NTEREST : Cahformans cast a critical eye over a Douglas DF flying boat (two 850 h.p. Cyclone Gs) for Soviet Russ.a. The outboard floats are retractable. A maximum speed of 178 m.p.h. is claimed and the disposable load is 11,1851b. THE WEEK AT CROYDON Coronation Visitors and Preparations : Still More Charter Business : Another Cape Attempt CORONATION, Co-operation and Conferences seemed to be the main themes of Croydon activities last week. The first had already brought many visitors, some by ordinary services and others by special aero plane, among the latter being the Maharajahs of Jodhpur and Jaipur, who had a special K.L.M. Douglas right through from India. Undoubtedly air transport makes a strong appeal to these Oriental potentates, for, apait from speed and comfort, the privacy which the main tenance of purdah requires is easily obtained; the Maharanee of Jodhpur simply walked down a covered gangway straight into her purdah-glazed limousine with the minimum of inconvenience to all concerned. Imperials, too, have had their quota of notabilities, including a Sultan from Lahej (my geographic knowledge is sadly lacking here) [Aden.—ED.] and many Britishers "homing" from South Africa and various parts of their route from Australia. Scylla went into service on one of the pleasant summer like days of the week, complete with Lorenz gear—which presumably satisfies both pilots and the " ice-and-fog" brigade of the House of Commons! Sightseeing in Comfort Olley Air Service report "charters to all points of the compass " and very favourable bookings for the Coronation night flights, and Surrey Flying Services have expectations of beating their Jubilee Week night-flight figures. They have completed the erection of the Beechcraft for Jim Haizhp, who has tested it with evident satisfaction. Surrey's are also looking after Prince Cantacouzene's Caudron Typhon, which made a dusk landing preparatory to cracking off at dawn from Hatfield on a Cape record attempt. A Roumanian by nationality and a nephew of Prince Bibesco, this young man is most thorough in bis preparations. The Surrey hangar is so full that, by the kindness of Personal Airways, they have "overflowed" into the latter's hangar, but as Personals have been busy with charters these temporary measures have not incon venienced them. Capt. Ledlie made two trips to Cannes, one with Lord Beattie, not to mention nine flights to Newmarket, when the passenger lists included such familiar names as Gordon Richards, A. Richardson, Steve Donoghue, and George Duller. Air Dispatch have just obtained Air Ministry "ap proval" for their shops, and rejuvenated Avro 504s for circus work have been seen to emerge with regularity asso ciated with the production of Empire boats. Their Le Touquet service is already well booked up for Whitsun. Nocturnal Safety In connection with Coronation night flying, conferences have been taking place between operating companies and Air Commodore Robertson and his assistants, and it is probable that if some of the suggestions put forward at these meetings are found to work out in practice they may regularly be adopted with Air Ministry approval. As there are likely to be upwards of a dozen aircraft all attempting to land at once, the main idea is to obviate the necessity for distracting a pilot's attention with signals, visual or otherwise, made from the control tower; he can thus devote himself to keeping a pair of watchful eyes on the doings of "the other fellows." "A. Viator " (for whom I am deputising this week) tells me that Capt. Leverton, the K.L.M. manager, has been subjected to an enforced holiday by his medical advisers, and his friends at Croydon wish him a speedy recovery. T. A. R. MAC. Lockheeds for Roumania O be used on services from Bucharest to Gdynia and War saw, and to Sofia, Salonika and Athens, the Roumanian company Industria Aeronautica Romana has ordered four Lockheed Electras. One has already been shipped across. T
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