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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 0037.PDF
JANUARY 6, 1938. FLIGHT. Howard Hughes's engineering consulting staff has been working on the modernisation of the Driggs Skylark, new known as the Western Pirate. Thousands of old parts made in 1929 for planes that were not assembled are being used. Test flights have been conducted on the West Coast by Howard Hughes with his latest '' flying gas tank ' '—a Sikorsky S-43 that is being prepared for some spectacular flight. The ship is more or less standard except that the hull is one huge fuel tank with room for pilot and co-pilot. Further aft is a small compartment for the radio operator. Recently the best in radio and navigation equipment was installed at very great expense. The Hughes S-43 's Per~ haps the most complete long-distance airplane ever built. Now that the Lockheed 14 transport has been given its A.T.C. approval there is no possibility of doubt that the Fowler flaps incorporated are successful. They have been so successful, in fact, that the whole aspect of aircraft design will change. Why use split flaps when you can now use Fowler flaps? If one is able to increase a plane's wing loading to 27 lb./sq. ft. on a small ship like the "14," imagine what can be done on larger airplanes, such as the proposed new flying boats. Many engineers have been working on the design of huge boats which, they say, will be so large that they will land at about 150 m.p.h. with safety. Increasing the wing loading on these boats so they would still land at 150 m.p.h. with Fowler flaps would really be the keynote to efficiency. That is something yet to come when engines are developed for such giants. . What Youth Wants to See A IRCRAFT take a foremost part at the Schoolboys' Ex-A hibition now open at the Imperial Institute, South Kensington. Petrol-powered and rubber-driven models, and super-detailedwood and metal scale models, are to be seen in large numbers. The piece de resistance is undoubtedly an actual GlosterGladiator, with covers and fairings removed to expose the "works." Small pushes on a panel light up nameplates onessential parts, and close-up inspection of every section is per- mitted. Other switches, on panels nearby, illuminate onlarge maps the air routes of the British Isles, all fighter or bomber squadron aerodromes, the progress of the SaroLondons to Australia, etc. The Navy's exhibit includes a fine scale model of H.M.S.Ajax carrying catapult gear and its complement of Hawker Ospreys. Imperial Airways are represented, Short Empireboats and A.W. Ensign machines being depicted in models and photographs. There are a good many photographs of aero-nautical interest to be seen on various stands. The Exhibition opens at 11 a.m. each weekday and continuesuntil next Saturday. Assorted Adventure " Freelance Pilot," by Norman Macmillan (William Heine- mann, Ltd., 15s. net).A MAN who is an air pilot (and of the test-pilot class), a bit of a philosopher, and an accomplished writer, is equipped for life with more than is bestowed on most mortals. He cer- tainly ought to enjoy himself; and, being a writer, he is able to give no little pleasure to others. Capt. Norman Macmillan, M.C., A.F.C., has already given much enjoyment to the readers of his book Into the Blue, in which he told the story of his experiences as a fighter pilot during the war. Now he has carried on his autobiography with an account of his doings in the years just after the Armis- tice. He ferried aeroplanes to Spain, he watched a battle in Spanish Morocco from ,the Spanish firing line, and he acted as instructor to the Spanish Flying Corps. Then he joined with Major Blake and Mr. Malins in an attempt to fly round the world. The attempt ended with Blake in hospital in Calcutta and Macmillan and Malins stranded for nearly a week on a foundered seaplane in the Bay of Bengal. The story was told vividly at the time in a cable written in the hospital at Chittagong, and it is here told again in greater detail. It is strange that the tale of a flight made fifteen years ago should have such interest in these days when adventurous, and mostly successful, flights are now so common, but so it is. This book simply grips the reader. That is due to the wizardry of Capt. Macmillan's pen. Retirement of George Hawkins T^HERE must be very few people in the British aircraft -»- industry who have not at some time or other come into contact with Mr. George H. Hawkins, advertisement manager of Flight. To Mr. Hawkins, with Mr. Stanley Spooner, fell the task of launching this journal nearly thirty years ago. When Flight began publication in 1909 there was practically no British aircraft industry, and there were many who did not hesitate to tell Mr. Spooner that he was wasting his time and money on a forlorn hope. Neither lost faith, however, and time has proved their optimism justified. After a period of twenty-nine years Mr. George Hawkins has relinquished his post, failing health having rendered retirement and rest imperative. He will carry with him in his retirement the good wishes not only of the members of our own staff but of all those in the industry with whom he has come in contact during his long association with this journal. The post of advertisement manager of Flight has been taken over by Mr. B. G. Wootton, who has assisted Mr. Hawkins since 1934. NEW YEAR HONOURS and AWARDS '"THE names of those connected with Aviation who have been honoured in the New Year's List are not great in number, but many of them are already distinguished in various aeronautical spheres. The names appear below. HONOURS VISCOUNT William Richard, Baron Nufneld, O.B.E., D.C.L. ORDER OF THE BATH K.C.B. (Military)—Air Marshal William Gore Sutherland Mitchell, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., A.F.C., R.A.F. C.B. (Military)—A.V.M. John Eustace Arthur Baldwin, D.S.O., O.B.E., R.A.F. C.B. (Civil)—Albert Henry Self, Second Deputy Secretary, Air Ministry. ORDER OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE C.I.E—Group Capt. Malcolm Henderson, D.S.O., R.A.F., lately O.C. Aircraft Depot, Karachi. ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE C.B.E. (Military).—Group Capt. Frank Hubert McNamara, V.C., R.A.A.F. (Hon. Fit. Lt.) Leslie W.O. Cl.i.; Sydney M.B.E. (Military). Q.-M. Griffiths Carter, R.A.A.F.; Alexander Noble, R.N.Z.A.F. O.B.E.—Adam Henry Robson, M.C., M.Sc, Ph.D., Principal Educational Officer, Air Ministry. ROYAL RED CROSS A.R.R.C.—Miss Grace Elsie Margaret Clubb, Senior Sister, P.M.R.A.F.N.S. AWARDS Air Force Cross.—Sqn. Ldr. .Arthur William Baynes McDonald ; Sqn. Ldr. Francis Victor Beamish; Sqn. Ldr. Wilfred Leslie Freebody ; Fit. Lt. (Lt. Cmdr., R.N.) Ian Ross Grant; Sqn: Ldr. Arthur George Loton (R.A.F.O.) ; "F/O. Arthur Edmond Clouston (R.A.F.O.). Air Force Medal,—Fit. Sgt., Jack Rawlinson; Fit. Sgt. Jack Williamson. •.- •.- .
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