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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 1585.PDF
528 #0 @Kn7 MAY 25, 1939 '•«•-':•" A •'• • •! I^.ffi Crowds— ticularly impressive. This station is for tunate in having available so many of the latest types of aircraft, and among the many interesting items of the flying programme was the "Cavalcade of the Air. 1919-1939," a fly-past of 14 differ ent types of aircraft. It was led by the Virginia, designed in 1919, and included the Fury and Henley, Wellington, Hud son and Spitfire. Flight aerobatics by three Gladiators from Hornchurch was another popular item, and the fly-past of flying beats from Felixstowe cannot have failed to impress the spectators. The difference of speed between the old and the new was well demonstrated in the exciting handicap race over a tri angular course of about 40 miles. Although the scratch aircraft, a Spit fire, had not left the ground before the first, a Moth, had completed its first lap. a very close finish resulted, a Hud son being a narrow winner. On the ground the public were given an opportunity to inspect the hangars, barrack rooms, dining-room and kitchen and the gymnasium, and amongst other exhibitions of particular interest were an hourly demonstration of a Hawker Hurricane firing its eight guns and an A.R.P. exhibit arranged by the Suffolk County Council. The 18,000 people who attended the Display must certainly have been im pressed by the very interesting and in structive programme. A DONCASTER almost the last moment it was decided to hold the Empire Air Crowds— Three Northolt glimpses. Display at Doncaster again this year, instead of at Finningley as had been arranged. As has become a habit, the R.A.I-', co-operated with the civil authorities to produce a good show, which opened with a demonstration of the refuelling, rearming and bombing-up of six Hampdens. This was followed with interest by the public, although it naturally lasted rather long for a non- flying event. His Worship the Mayor of Doncaster took the salute at a march- past of an A.A. detachment, the Civil Air Guard, and No. T03 Squadron, Air Defence Cadets, and then interest was turned skywards again by a display of individual aerobatics by an A.A.F. Gauntlet. Possible " tension " after this event was relieved by the parachute descent of three dummies from a Whitley, and a comic contribution by the Sheffield Aero Club. The arrival of the K.L.M. D.C.2 on the regular service aroused much in terest, as did demonstrations of air drill and low-level practice bombing by Hurricanes and Hampdens respectively. The pupil-and-instructor turn by two Tutors was new to Doncaster and was well received. The Doncaster Aero Club formation in three Swallows with odd engines (two Pobjoys and a Cirrus) was quite impressive. For the set-piece a local landmark was assumed to be a vital waterworks, and was attacked by Hampdens and defended by Hurricanes and A.A. guns. Although the weather was a little doubtful, the attendance was over twenty-one thousand. CASTLE BROMWICH IN spite of hazy and overcast weather conditions, a record crowd of over 21,000 people attended Castle Bromwich Aerodrome to witness an interesting and Curious effect produced at Biggin Hill by two formations of Ansons. Z' A —and more crowds. varied flying display. The public en closures were already crowded when nine Gladiator aircraft of the Auxiliary Air Force opened the programme with a flight in excellent formation around the outskirts of Birmingham. The second event was a fly-past of different types, including Hurricane, Blenheim, Har vard, Battle, Harrow and Oxford. This was followed by a very polished exhibi tion of individual aerobatics, formation drill by flights of Hurricanes and Spit fires, and low-level bombing attacks by Blenheims. A very interesting and realistic finale to the display was the set-piece, in which two flights of bombers raided a munitions factory on the edge of the aerodrome. To the wail of the warning siren, the firing of anti-aircraft guns, and the bursting of bombs, the A.R.P., ambulance, demolition and anti-gas squads rushed to the rescue of the casualties. During the latter part of the display the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Kingsley Wood, the Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Cyril Newall, and Air Vice Marshal Gossage landed and were enter tained to tea. An unexpected and appreciated item was a visit by an Ensign, which flew twice over the enclosures and gave the public of Birmingham their first view of this huge aircraft. CRANFIELD (Blctchlcy) W ITH all the skill in the world, it becomes more and more difficult to make a Roman Holiday from the demonstration of modern high-speed military machines. In spite of the more than effective work by flights of Hurri canes and Blenheims, the general public at Cranfield seemed to be much more taken by the performances of the three veterans of varying ages brought over from Mr. Shuttleworth's workshops at Old Warden. In particular, the Sopwith Pup, which had previously been de monstrated at Duxford by Sqn. Ldr. Wheeler, provided a magnificent con trast between the war-time types and those which are used to-day, while Messrs. Edmunds and Shuttleworth did quite an exceptional amount of flying with the Deperdussin. The cross- Channel Bleriot made several short flights before its engine got so hot that it lost the 2 h.p. reserve necessary to get it into the air. Probably the most attractive per formance of the afternoon was by three Hurricane pilots, who went through their high-speed drill routine. When these same pilots demonstrated the method of attack—on three Blen heims—they had little chance of show ing the machines off. The Hurricanes
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