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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 1574.PDF
542 FLIGHT. JUNE 2, 1938. Finally, the fly-past by aircraft ex- hibited in the park afforded an inter- esting comparison between relative speeds. LEUCHARS '"TORRENTIAL rain throughout the J- day did not prevent the hardy Scots from turning out to visit Leuchars aero- drome. At two o'clock there was a par- ticularly heavy downpour, but in spite of this cars, motor cycles, bicycles and pedestrians could be seen filing steadily into the aerodrome. A spectacular and exciting programme, including synchronised aerobatics by two Nimrods, a formation flight by five Tutors and bombing of an " aircraft car- rier " and a " destroyer " on the aero- drome had been arranged for the visitors. Unfortunately, owing to lack of any wind, it was not possible for the launch- ing of aircraft from the catapult to take place. Spectators were, however, able to see a machine being hoisted and placed in position on the catapult. The greater part of the arranged pro- gramme was performed and spectators had their last and greatest thrill when the beautifully built " warships " H.M.S. Curious and H.M.S. Versatile were bombed and set alight by three Harts diving in perfect formation. A source of amusement both to the children and the adults was the antics of the " Loch Ness Monster," which performed all kinds of flying tactics without leaving the ground. Ground exhibits presented a great attraction to spectators, and at all times during the afternoon officers and air- men could be heard explaining the various types of machinery to interested listeners. The Link Trainer drew vast crowds, and the officer in charge was kept extremely busy demonstrating its working. One hangar was entirely de- voted to refreshments and did great credit to the officers at Leuchars, who themselves had taken on the large job of catering. The most spectacular hangar was the one showing various ground sections at work. In one corner airmen were busy packing and unpacking parachutes; there were also demonstrations by the Photo- graphic, Medical, Wireless and Arma- ment Sections. The new fire tender, with airmen dressed in fire-fighting outfits, was a great attraction. Sir Kingsley Wood toured a number of stations by air. He is seen at Hendon with Air Chief Marshal Sir Cyril Newall, who accompanied him. It can be safely said that, in spite of the worst possible weather con- ditions, every visitor to Leuchars Aerodrome -— and there were 8,000 of them — appeared in- terested and thrilled. HANWORTH AT Hanworth theweather cleared just as proceedings began, and the programme was mainly affected by the non-appearance of a number of the civil air- craft that were to have been demonstrated, though one or two of the Service items also failed to transpire. The aerodrome Reserve school did its share, the instructors giving a fine low - altitude acrobatic show on B.2 Trainers and Harts, and the pupils busying themselves with the ground organisation, a process in which the ubiquitous push-bike seemed to play a large share. Undoubtedly the most appealing part of the flying display was the comings and goings of five Fairey Battles of No. 105 (B.) Squadron from Harwell, Berks, which did formation drill and low- altitude bombing with smoke bombs at a ground target. During the course of the afternoon the Battles made quite a number of take-offs and landings; as Hanworth's unconventional shape and the direction of the wind compelled these processes to be effected quite close along the front of the public enclosures, even the uninitiated had a real insight into flap technique. When not flying the Battles were parked where young England could—and did—-fondle them, and so was a Hawker Hurricane, which later ripped the Han- " Flight " photograph. See how they run ! A dual-control Swordfish, equipped with cockpit head-rests for catapulting in comfort, causes a stir at Calshot. worth sky as it had never been ripped before. A formation of nine Hurricanes, purposefully proceeding from A. to B., passed over during the afternoon. A Gauntlet pilot from No. 54 (F.) Squadron, Hornchurch, completed the Service show with a finished aerobatic display. Outstanding among the comparatively small number of civil demonstrations was a close-formation act by Messrs. Brie and Marsh in two C.30 Autogiros. To watch rotor-tips whirling within a few feet of one another as the two machines made steep turns together would have been a little chilling, to say the least, had one not known the competence of the pilots. The tricycle club—B.L.G. Avian, Mono- spar, Arpin and S.C.A.L. pusher— cavorted entertainingly, though a fifth member, the Scheldemusch, arrived just too late from another aerodrome. A Tipsy, the General Aircraft Gygnet, a Monospar, an Aeronca, and the Chilton were all nicely demonstrated, and the Short Empire boat Corinthian arrived and made a number of circuits, fast and slow, though Capt. L. A. Egglesfield did not descend to the profoundly low alti- tude at which he visited Heathrow with Calpurnia three weeks before. HENLOW "C^ARLIER in the week a Valentia had -*-> borne us doggedly to Henlow that we might witness the odd item in the dress rehearsal. As things worked out, we had almost to be dragged by the scruff of the neck from the School of Aeronautical Engineering where science was being popularised most instructively. On Saturday we swore to keep on the aerodrome for the all-too-short duration of our visit. Not even the Parachute Repair Section, the General Engineering Squadron or the Officers' School ot Aero- nautical Engineering could lure us in- doors. We pottered around the lines of cars reminiscing about the Hendons of yesteryear and wondered at the skill of the gunner in a Hind who swung his blank-charged Lewis apparently oblivious of "g," attitude and draught.
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