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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 0937.PDF
FLIGHT. MARCH 30, 1939 Fitted with nine rifle-calibre machine guns, the twin-hulled Fokker G.i is a formidable machine for ground strafing. (Below) A formation of Breda 65 " assault " machines of the Italian Air Force. They are normally used as single-seaters but can carry a gunner if required. and /or a small load of bombs would be most unwelcome under many circumstances which might arise in a major war, though their short range would limit their usefulness. The French Caudron Cyclone, already discussed as a fighter, suggests possibilities. This single- seater, it may be recalled, does nearly 300 m.p.h. at altitude, carrying a disposable load of about 750 lb. The fitting of a ground- boosted engine and adaptation of armament for ground strafing would be interesting. With a quickly interchangeable fully super charged engine the machine would serve as a useful '' army '' fighter provided take-off and landing characteristics were satisfactory. Hav ing regard to the precautions being taken to defend mobile columns (light A.A. guns of about 37 mm. calibre mounted in power-driven turrets on fast armoured cars after the fashion introduced by the American Arma ment Corporation) large machines, which although fast are sluggish on the controls, seem undesirable. As already stated in Flight, the use of first-line aircraft for army duties would be wasteful. The French have ordered the Breguet 69b (two small- diameter Gnome-Rhdne 14 Ms) for attack work. This machine is much smaller than the Curtiss, and is said to be capable of nearly 300 m.p.h. It is a three-seater and, alternatively, can be used as a bomber. All the French twin-engined fighter bombers are potentially very reason ably good attack machines, while the Fokker G-i (Faucheur) has been fitted with nine machine guns (eight fixed in the nose and one in the rear conical turret) for the same purpose, though its use' is also visualised as a high- altitude fighter and dive bomber. Armour protection is coming into vogue for ground strafing aircraft, and the remarks made on this subject in the "fighter" section of this review hold good for the attack machine. A popular attack type on the export market, the Vultee V-12 can alternatively carry a heavy load of " demolition " bombs. It is here seen with a 1,100-lb. projectile in a faired rack. DINING THE LEICESTER R.A.F.V.R. AT the second annual dinner of the Leicester R.A.F. Voluntt-er Reserve, Air Comdre. E. L. Gerrard, C.M.G., D S.O., the commanding officer of the centre, explained how the unit had grown in strength from a number of 39 pilots last yeai to 109 pilots and observers this year. Actually, about eighty members and guests attended the dinner. Air Comdre. Gerrard was proposing the toast to the guests when he men tioned these figuies and he said that the town centre itself had been outgrown and that, though extensions had been approved, he was afraid that by the time these were com pleted the number of pupils would again have outgrown the capacity at the buildings. In his reply, the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Aid. T. J. Good ing, struck a somewhat depressing note, though necessarily so in view of the events in central Europe. He had himself spent some twenty-five years in Germany and was quite con vinced that the leaders in that country were intent on world domination. He added thai he would not be surprised if compulsory national service were instituted in this country in the near future. Other speakers replying for the guests were Sqn. Ldr. G. H. Reid and Mr. H. A. Taylor, of Flight. The former said that the aerodrome at Desford would very shortly be increased in size to offer a two-mile landing ground and he had' recently bought ij sq miles of land in the area. In opening his re marks he gave special credit to the recent Air Minister, Lord Swinton, who, he said, was largely responsible for the institu tion of the present reserve scheme. D.O. Training at AST. DECENTLY Air Service Training have been including J-*- drawing-office training in their ground engineering course —the object being to give experience of drawing office practise, to give tuition in the production of plans and drawings, and, in fact, to provide a full working knowledge of all that the drawing office means in aeronautical engineering.
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