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Aviation History
1937
1937 - 1281.PDF
MAY 13, 1937. FLIGHT. 479 COMMERCIAL /\V/AT/ON — AIRLINES ————— AIRPORTS— ATLANTIC CLIPPER : Powered with four unnamed engines, undoubtedly the new 1,500 h.p. two-row Wright Cyclones, this Boeing flying boat, intended for Pan-American's transatlantic trials, should be flying this autumn. Seventy-two passengers will be accommodated over shorter distances. THE WEEK AT CROYDON R.Ae.S Garden Party Aftermath : Hanging Out the Washing : " B " Licence Procession ': Atlantic Receptionists My remarks last week on the paucity of decorations were, perhaps, premature, for our venerable edifice, ex ternally, for the moment, has assumed the aspect of a bleaching green at a laundry, since the Air Ministry has gone all gay witii bunting and code flags. It is suggested that the latter will give " 2nd N " candidates a much- needed facility for daily exercise, though one of the more knowledgeable assures me that the string of letters down the northern approach to one building is quite unpunish able—even in Esperanto. Appropriately enough, whether by forethought or accident one cannot ascertain, the '' paying-off'' pennant fluttered from over the tarmac entrance to H.M. Customs! There is a note, too, of tragedy in these decorations, for the sanctity of our beloved Control Tower has been broken, the radio mast having been degraded (?) to the rank of mere flag mast! On the only fine night of the week extraordinary activity prevailed among "B" licence aspirants, and I am told that no fewer than eight of them successfully completed the Croydon to Lympne (or Lympne to Croydon, accord ing to taste) night flight. At one time control had no little difficulty in deciding who was '' coming'' and who was "going." Coronation is still a problematical question among the pleasure flying and charter companies; the question of success or otherwise is largely in the hands of the weather —and the busmen! We shall want the '' 194-from East- Croydon-which-drops-you-right-at-the-airport" very badly, we feel, otherwise the public will not come so far afield for their jollifications. On the other hand, many I have IF these notes appear to be more than usually discon nected I must apologise to my seven readers and explain that at the time of scribbling my grey matter is distinctly kafuffied and my neck creaks if I venture to glance at the clock. The reason, excuse or blame for this lamentable state of affairs I lay at the door of the Royal Aeronautical Society, for what with Clouston's hop ping Hafner, Staniland's "strip-tease" show in and out of a 150-metre ceiling, and the frightening frolics of the little fellows, I returned as I went—all of a dither. Seeing the World Despite the good fortune of an armchair ride in the security and luxury of the K.L.M. Douglas D.C.3, it has to be confessed that even under these ideal conditions hedge-hopping or gasholder-grazing in and out of cloud is not the pleasantest of pastimes, but the speed and quietude of the D.C.3, together with Mr. Plesman's inimitably entertaining personality as he flitted up and down the gangway, obviously dispelled any disquieting thoughts among the rest of the passengers—including, I am told, a young lady who, up for the first time, success fully mastered what she described as a "crisis" as we left Hanworth very much on our wing tip! Air-Commo dore and Mrs. Robertson were on the passenger list, which also included "Miss Australia." Other Croydon representatives at Heathrow were Mr. Brian Allen on a spanking new Stinson Reliant, Mr. Tommy Wesson on the Spritely Tipsy, and Mr. Field-Richards on the Surrey Porterfield.
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