FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1938
1938 - 1571.PDF
JUNE 2, 1938. FLIGHT. 539 Lighter-and-heavier-than-air Day in the big hangar at Cardington. In this non-stop variety picture are barrage balloons, a Blenheim and a Battle (left), a new Hind Trainer (foreground), Hector, Shark, Swordfish and Cloud (right), not to mention other less discernible aircraft and a goodly proportion of the population of Bedfordshire. I EMPIRE AIR DAY The Royal Air Force, Assisted by Civil Aerodrome Owners, Holds Its Nation-wide "At Home" THE Royal Air Display at Hendon may have beenthe star and Empire Air Day the understudy; butwhen the younger event stepped up last Saturday into the limelight vacated by the departed elder there was nothing uncertain about the warmth of the public ovation. Let the truth be told: the Hendon Display, however firmly entrenched as a social fixture, left certain aspects unsatisfied where the general public was concerned. For one thing, there was always that slightly superior and official remoteness of the display, the aeroplanes, and the performers. No amount of broadcasting or air-to-ground telephony could bridge that implacable chestnut paling which barred the way to closer acquaintance with the wonders of the sky. And particularly was that true in respect of the younger generation. So far as John Willie is concerned, let him but rub his nose in the oil on a Lewis gun and you can keep your squadron air-drills, interception exercise and aerial refuellings. There lies the chief appeal of Empire Air Day, and the reason that it has blossomed so fruitfully since its incep- tion by the Air League five years ago. Once cajoled to an aerodrome, young and old alike become consumed by a raging curiosity to see, touch, sniff and scramble upon aeroplanes at close quarters— especially military aeroplanes. And there is always tha^t flattering feeling that " We're being let into secrets." All this constituted one of the chief reasons why last Saturday's rain did not have any appreciable effect at the eighty-eight aerodromes—mainly R.A.F.—that opened their gates to the public in return for a modest contribu- tion to Service charities. What matter if a few of the flying events here and there were washed out? If some of the promised formations curtailed their tours? Sons could sit in fighter cockpits, kings for a day. Fathers could ask questions intended to prove that they really knew what their income-tax was buying. Mothers could see the domestic side of Service life. So everybody was happy.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
