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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 1278.PDF
-450 FLIGHT. MAY 5, 1938. SERVICE /VIATION Royal Air Force and Official Announcements : Fleet Air Arm News : Military Aviation Abroad T (Left) A general impression of the scene at Northolt on Wednesday of last week. ' Flight " 'phatoijrajih. M.P.S See trie Service M EMBERS of the Parliamentary Air Committee andother M.P.s were taken to Northolt on Wednesdaymorning of last week to inspect old and new Servicetypes in illuminating juxtaposition. The official purpose of the display was to demonstrate recent types of R.A.F. bomber and fighter aircraft, but not a solitary Blen- heim or Wellesley put in an appearance, though there was a park of sample machines featuring the Hurricane, Gladiator, Fury, Demon, Battle, Harrow and Whitley. It is more than likely that it was decided to disrupt Service routine as little as possible bv centring the whole affair around equipment immediately available at Northolt. No. in (F;) Squadron was on the spot with its Hurricanes, which were, of course, absolutely indispensable; then there were the obsolescent but turret-equipped Demons of No. 23 (F.) Squadron by way of contrast, and presumably to indicate that two-seater fighters are with us to stay (though if this is cor- rect a replacement type must soon be forthcoming in quantity); the Station H.Q. Flight weighed in with a Gladiator and a spatted Kestrel V Fury; and there were six Battles^ (52 Squadron) and a trio of Harrows (214 Squadron) which seemed so at home as to lead one to believe that they had other business at Northolt. One's guess is that they are co-operating with No. in Squadron in evolving new fighting tactics to suit the peculiar qualities of the new single-seater monoplanes A lone Whitley dropped in (metaphorically) and attached itself to the static sample display just before things began to happen. --..-• The Westminster contingent, • after browsing at leisure round the parade of thirty-three machines, coagulated on the tarmac to experience the some- what doubtful pleasure of watch- ing high-speed aeroplanes—in- dividually and collectively— charging over the aerodrome to- wards the spectators and going into their peculiar, but generally cacaphonous, initial climbs more or less overhead. The individual-aerobatic Fury, with the throttle far enough through the gate to admit an impressive poundage of boost, gave its well-known imitation of a super-sports lift in a Brobding- nagian skyscraper. When aero- planes like this finally leave the A flight of Hurricanes of No. in (F.) Squadron gets away oyer three representative fighter types — Hurricane, Gladiator and Demon I (with turret). Service they will take from us thrills which have hushed tre- mendous crowds and made hard-bitten pilots coo with delight. A typically searing dive by way of a prologue built up speed for a series of decidedly upward rolls. Subsequent manoeuvres gave an uncompromising exposition of the Fury's aerobatic qualities, and were rounded off by a circuit with the stick well back. Interest was then transferred to the person of Air Vice- Marshal E. L. Gossage, who commands No. 11 Fighter Group, and who gave an admirable outline of the events which might lead up to a quick getaway by a fighter squadron. Visitors seemed duly impressed to learn that officers of No. 111 (F.) Squadron are required to leave their telephone numbers when away from the aerodrome. When the Air Vice-Marshal reached the appropriate point in his narrative a bell rang, and the Hurricane pilots in their grotesque microphone masks and snowy suits legged it for their respective mounts. In seconds everything was shuddering to the merciless thunder of Merlins. A Hurricane wide open on the ground becomes most im- patient, and when taxying (at suitable reduced throttle open- ing) allows itself to be driven like a racing car. In formation across the aerodrome the squadron awaited the final command to take off while there was widespread parlia- mentary concentration on the second hands of watches. The leader of the formation synchronised his watch with Control by R/T., and soon the green and brown Hawkers were away on interception bent. Five Demons of No. 23 (F.) Squadron, with de-rated Kestrel V engines and Nash and Tompson gun turrets then made Flight" rhoto'jrarh-
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