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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 0895.PDF
MARCH 31, 1938. FLIGHT. 321 Private Flying A ROYAL AERO CLUB YEAR The Chairman's Report at the Annual General Meeting THE work of the Royal Aero Club during 1937 was fullycovered and explained by Mr. Lindsay Everard, M.P.,when, as chairman, he presided at the Club's annualgeneral meeting, which was held on Wednesday of last week. Dealing first with air touring, he said that the Federation Aeronautique Internationale held its thirty-seventh annual conference at the invitation cf the Club in London last June, when twenty-four countries were represented in the Conference Hall at Ariel House. Among the subjects discussed were the Club's proposals concerning the standardisation of a series of aeronautical maps on the half-million scale, as well as improve- ment and standardisation of the symbols used in these maps. The club's proposals were illustrated by charts drawn up by them and by the Automobile Association, and these proposals were unanimously adopted. The suggestion that a short-wave radio band should be reserved for private owners was then referred to the Inter- national Conference on Kadiotelecommunications which met in Cairo last month. Standardised signs to be placed on aero- dromes and buildings to indicate reporting and other points were adopted by the Conference and were now in use in certain countries, though, urVortunately, the aerodrome owners heie were satisfied with the present methods of indication by the single letter "C" for "Control." The use of a single document for air tourists, to take the place of the numerous ones which have now to be carried, was also discussed, and though the proposal was desired by all it would require international agreement. All the countries represented promised to examine the question with a view to approaching their respective governments. At the conference, decisions were also reached on the regula- tions for new class records; on the appointment of a medical commission; and on the use of the English language at all F.A.I, conferences. The expenses of the Conference, amounting to £647, were met by donations by members, and the foreign delegates were appreciative of the hospitality shown to them both officially and privately. The F.A.I, honoured the Club by electing Lord Londonderry as the vice-president of the Federation. The Royal Aero Club had been invited by the Air Ministry to discuss the regulations drafted by the British and French Air Ministries concerning the institution of certain one-way routes for machines flying between London and Paris. The matter was still under consideration. In view of the delays experienced by private pilots on German airports in bad weather conditions, the Private Owners' and Air Touring Committee had raised the question with the German Aero Club and members with a sufficient fly- ing experience (300 hours) could now be issued with special certificates permitting them to depart from such aerodromes in any weather. The F.A.I. Identity Card, which gives free landing and free housing for a period of 48 hours in 19 countries, was being freely used and the Carnet system was now working in practi- cally every European country—Turkey and Finland having recently adopted it. During the year 582 Carnets were issued by the Club. Mr. Everard thanked the members of the club committees for their work and explained that in air touring matters the Club worked in the closest co-operation with the Aviation Department of the Automobile Association through a joint standing committee. The Club welcomed ideas and suggestions from members interested in air touring. During last year 981 pilot's certificates were issued. This figure showed slight falling-off, which was due largely to the R.A.F. expansion scheme. Air Ministry " A " licences were issued to 2,458 pilots and " B " licences to 195 pilots, the respective figures for 1936 being 2,447 and 178. The numbersof current licences at the end of last year were 4,694 (" A ") and 879 ("B"), as against 4,356 and 736, respectively, in1936. According to the latest information from the Air Ministrythere were 1,660 machines registered on December 31, 1937, of which 672 were termed " privately owned." In comparisonwith the previous year's numbers these figures were almost stationary. The club thanked Lord Wakefield, who generously doubledthe prizes for last year's King's Cup Kace, which was hsld over a 1,442-mile course and was won by Mr. Charles Gardnerwith a Percival Mew Gull at 234 m.p.h. During the year twenty-two aviation meetings were held in various parts of thecountry. The club organised an entry in the Paris Exhibition Rally and the British team of fourteen machines won the Inter-national Trophy. Visits to Deauville and Le Touquet were also organised. Among the outstanding performances of the year was thegaining of the world's altitude record (class C) by Fit. Lt. M. J. Adam, who reached 53,937ft. with a special Bristolmonoplane with Pegasus engine; Miss Jean Batten's flight from New Zealand to England in a Percival Vega Gull, forwhich she was awarded the Gold Medals of the Royal Aero Club and of the F.A.I.; F/O. A. E. Clouston's fourth placewhen flying against organised government teams from France and Italy in the Damascus race, and this pilot's records, whenaccompanied by Mrs. Kirby-Green, between London, Cape Town and return, for which F/O. Clouston was awarded theBritannia Trophy by the Royal Aero Club and the Segrave Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club. The Club officiallyobserved all these flights, as well as those between Tokyo and London by the Japanese airmen and between New York andLondon by Mr. Merrill. Qliding Progress The General Council of the Associated Light AeroplaneClubs now comprised 39 clubs, and Mr. Everard noted that since 1925 more than 10,000 of the members of these clubshad taken their "A" licences. The administrative work of the General Council was carried out by the Royal Aero Club. The Club also did the administrative work for the BritishGliding Association. There were now fourteen clubs affiliated with the Association, and these clubs were assisted by aGovernment subsidy to the extent of ^5,000 per annum. The certificates issued in 1937 were: "A," 245; " B," 197; and" C," 133. The total of 575 compared very favourably with that of 281 for 1936. Owing to the generosity of Lord Wakefield a British teamwas able to participate in the International Gliding Contests at the Wasserkuppe in July. They finished fourth. InAugust the National Gliding Competitions were held at Great Hucklow, Derbyshire, and the progress shown there was alsoindicated "by the awards of " Silver C " certificates for British pilots, twenty of which were awarded in 1937. After the chairman's report the Club officers were elected as follows:—President: The Duke of Atholl, K.T., G.C.V.O., C.B., D.S.O. Vice-Presidents: The Duke of Sutherland, K.T.; The Marquess ofLondonderry, K.G., M.V.O.; Viscount Wakefield of Hythe, G.C.V.O., C.B.E.. LL.D.; Lord Gorell, C.B.E., M.C.; Lieut.-Col.J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon, M.C., M.P.; and Lieut.-Col. M. O'Gorman, C.B.Committee (nine members nominated): W. Lindsay Everard, M.P.; The Marquess of Chdesdale, A.F.C., M.P.; Major A. Good-fellow; A. C. S. Irvvin; The Marquess of Londonderry, K.G., P.C., MV.O.; Major I. H. Mayo, O.B.E.; Lieut.-Col. T- T. C. Moorr-Brabazon, M.C., M.P.; W. R. D. Perkins, M.P.; and Major H. A. Petre, D.S.O. M.C. Redhill Improvements DURING the last year or so the Redhill Club's accommoda-tion has been considerably enlarged. Details of the fleet and flying rates were given in the review of the clubs last week, but it is worth noting that the rates for Gipsy Moth flying have now been reduced to 30s. an hour for solo work. The Redhill Club ha* always specialised in " B " licence training, and no fewer than seven Imperial Airways' pilots, two of them now on boats, were trained ab initio by them. Needless to say, facilities are available for the private owner and the usual overhauls and icpairs can be carried out. The New Witney THE Witnsy and Oxford Aero Club has now been taken overby Mrs. Beatrice Macdonald and Mr. E. B. Taylor, who it will be remembered, are now in charge of the ground training school at Witney aerodrome, near Oxford. The flying instruc- tor will be Mr H. N. Olley, and the secretary is Mr T W Welch The Club fleet consists at present of two Gipsy Moths andthe Hawk Major registered in Mrs. Macdonald's name, but the addition of a Tiger Moth for advanced and instrument trainingis to be expected
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