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Aviation History
1937
1937 - 1451.PDF
JUNE 3, 1937. FLIGHT. 545 modem flying equipment attracted an element of tech nically knowledgeable spectators not so pronounced in the past, and a large proportion of newly fledged pilots bore testimony to the sound training now given. In the pages that follow will be found impressions gleaned during rehearsals by Flight representatives who flew in the machines, and reports of typical displays on the day itself. No. 13 (Army Co-operation) Squadron at Odiham, near Basingstoke, was Flight's first call in a short programme of preliminary visits. This unit, the command of Sqn. Ldr. S. H. C. Gray, is the first to be equipped with Hawker Hectors, which differ mainly from the Audaxes which previously armed the Squadron in that they mount the twenty-four-cylinder Napier Dagger " H "-shaped air-cooled engine. The more spectacular work of an army co-operation unit, which has been outlined on various occasions in Flight, was being practised during our visit for presentation on the day. Message picking up, supply dropping and ground strafing were all on the programme and one noted the excellence, despite the comparatively novel equipment, of the formation work. A Miles \Vhitne3' Straight and Short Scion were discovered on the aerodrome where they are based for service tests in accordance with a recent decision by the Air Ministry to try out light aircraft for possible employment for liaison work. The recent provisioning of a beleaguered force in Waziristan prompted the writer to enquire more deeply into the technique of supply dropping. The containers with their parachutes weigh about 40ID. empty and will take 1401b. of supplies. Pro viding that liberal use is made of kapok and sponge rubber even eggs may be "posted" to the troops. Adaptations of the standard containers may be filled with water, petrol or oil. Release is effected by the bomb-dropping lever, the containers being secured to standard bomb carriers. Incidentally, army co-operation machines are fitted with racks for eight 2olb. fragmentation bombs or a pair of " hundred-and-twelves,'' their crews being trained in dive and precision bombing. The Hectors are Westland-built machines and, although basically -similar to the Audax type, carry some improved equipment apart from being powered with Napier engines. For example, Two dramatic " shots " of Demons of No."64 (F.) Squadron : top left, a tight echelon ; above, the start of a dive- bombing attack over the sea. (Flight photographs.) Blackburn B.2s of the Hanworth Reserve School show their paces. (Flight photograph.) the wireless gear (one of the most essential items in the A.C. aircraft's stock-in-trade) is of a revised pattern and is said to be pilot-proof. The importance of this will be realised when it is considered that the pilot himself does all the co-operating with the army, wirelessing, writing reports, and taking photographs, while flying the machine like an automaton. His air-gunner acts as a sort of sentry and is constantly scanning the surrounding sky for enemy fighters. The popular belief is that the man in the back seat does the observing while the pilot acts as his chauffeur. The army co-operation aeroplane normally works at 4-5,000!!., and accordingly the Hector is fitted with the medium-supercharged version of the Dagger which delivers its rated output of 725 h.p. at 3,500 r.p m. at 3,500ft. and gives a top speed of about 200 m.p.h. at slightly greater heights. The Hector carries 90 gallons of 87- octane fuel and throttled back to give 120 m.p.h. the Dagger con sumes about 19 gallons in 46 minutes. As the army co-operation unit does a good percentage of its flying at night, No. 13 Squadron is particularly pleased with the new
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