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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 1379.PDF
MAX 19, 1938. FLIGHT. 483 wide distribution of aircraft throughout the country and it has been officially laid down that events are to be representative of the work of the station or unit con- cerned. Thus schools and similar establishments whose normal functions are not of a particularly spectacular character must rely to a great extent on visiting aircraft. The determination of the Air Ministry to give every- one as good as show as possible led to some exacting demands on detached units, particularly aerobatic nights. One such flight was originally entered in the Scheme of Things to give eight displays during the afternoon, with cross-countries between stations to keep the pilots on their toes. Such an undertaking, of course, would have been quite superhuman and the schedule has been modified accordingly. Last year's gruesome crop of tragedies has resulted in a general tightening-up of flying regulations for the Day. The more extensive use of modern monoplane equipment will automatically reduce the chances of accidents arising from aerobatic events and items calling for spinning. The public must realise that Empire Air Day at Service aerodromes is no Roman holiday, but rather a great "at home " and that they are the guests of the Service. Missing the ObviousT IE mission under Air Commodore J. G. Weir has gone to America and Canada to see if either or both of those countries could spare a few aeroplanes for poor old John Bull, who forgot to order them some years ago when he had plenty of opportunity. A reader suggests in our Correspondence pages in this issue that we ought to ask Fritz Koolhoven to build us some. (One wonder how Fokker has offended him. The other day, in the Daily Telegraph, someone had just re- turned from Italy with the marvellous news that not only would Italy gladly help her very old friend with a lot of wooden aeroplanes, but she would even train British workmen to build them! She could do that because in Italy " aircraft production has reached saturation point." Flight, if we may say so, has always been to the fore in making helpful suggestions. We pleaded for a resump- tion of wood-cum-metal aeroplanes long before anyone else had realised that there was likely to be a hold-up in con- nection with all-metal aircraft. We pointed out that the Cadman Committee very nearly, but not quite, put its finger on the real trouble in the Air Ministry. At last the much-needed reorganisation seems likely to be carried out. And now we humbly suggest that all these enthusiastic idealists have overlooked the most obvious solution of all our troubles. Germany's first-line strength and rate cf production are always being rammed <J°.wn our throats, with a fine afsregard for £ s. d. (or its German equivalent). Very well, why not kill two birds with one stone ? Why not buy all our extra aeroplanes from Germany ? You see the beautiful simplicity of it? For every aeroplane we buy in Germany she will have one less, and we shall have real parity, or Lord Swinton's strength "adequate for our necessities," in no time at all. Columbus's egg again! VindicationW ITH the full-load separation trials off Felixstowe last week the Short-Mayo composite aircraft prin- ciple may be said to have been proved from the technical aspects. Not only was the take-off accom- plished in a very short time—about 17 seconds, in practi- cally no wind—but the separation took place smoothly, with the two machines in perfect trim. The fuel-discharge tests were also entirely successful and at no time did the petrol tend to reach any part of the machine where there could be the slightest fire danger. Technically there is now no reason why much higher wing loadings should not be adopted, and an even greater gain in cruising range and speed attained. "Flight" photograph. NOT ANOTHER " COMPOSITE "—just a pair of Short Singapore flying boats (two Kestrel VIII and two Kestrel IX) of No. 209(General Reconnaissance) Squadron practising near Harwich for their Empire Air Day display. This picture was secured from the third machine in the echelon.
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