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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 2177.PDF
AUGUST I, 1940 KERE AND THERE (CONTINUED) 45,000 New Pilots for U.S.A. THE C.A.A. Civil Pilot TrainingProgramme will be expanded to pro- vide primary training for 45,000 new pilots by July, 1941. It was announced in mid-June that the programme would have turned out 9,810 pilots by the end of that month, and that 15,000 additional pilots would be trained by September. Teaching facilities are avail- able at 550 centres in U.S.A. and its territories. Only one student has been killed while flying. A Splendid Example TN a broadcast speech last week Lord A Beaverbrook disclosed the fact that employees of A. V. Roe and Co., Ltd., of Manchester, had undertaken to make a gift of one of our latest fighters to the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Lord Beaverbrook paid a handsome tribute to the Avro workers through Mr. R. H. Dobson for their generous example. No mention was made of the type of fighter, but the word latest is significant, and, as Avro's make bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, it may be assumed that the fighter will be bought from another firm in the Armstrong- Siddeley group. A Redoubtable Family FLYING - OFFICER RHODES-MOORHOUSE, who has been awarded the D.F.C. for bringing down five enemy machines, is the son of Second-Lieutenant W. B. Rhodes-Moor- house, of No. 2 Squadron, who was the first air V.C. The Victoria Cross was awarded for bravery shown in coming down as low as 300 feet to bomb a target against considerable rifle and machine- gun fire from the ground defences. De- spite the fact that 2nd/Lt. Rhodes- Mcorhouse was wounded in the abdomen by a bullet and yet again in the thigh and in the hand on the way back, he flew his aeroplane back to his own base at Merville although there were other and nearer aerodromes at which he might have put down. He died of wounds the next day. He was one of the pioneers of flying in this country, having qualified for his pilot's certificate in 1911. F/O. Rhodes-Moorhouse was con- missioned as a pilot officer in the Auxiliary Air Force in 1937 and was for some time a director of Percival Aircraft, Ltd. Grumman Into Production AN order for 80 Grumman fighters hasbeen placed with that factory and production is now well under way with the testing and crating for shipment of the first one at Roosevelt Field, Long Island, on July 28. From its description it is apparently " Flight " photograph. F/O. W. H. Rhodes-Moorhouse READY FOR ANYTHING : H.M. the King inspecting aircraft crews of the Bomber Command during a recent visit to one of the bomber stations. It will be noted that the crews are wearing the new Irvin Harnisuit which incorporates the usual parachute harness and also the flotation jacket The suit has quick-release hooks for releasing the parachute on reaching the water and the flotation jacket is supplied by a small bottle of compressed C.0a for inflation. Should this fail a mouthpiece is also provided. H.R.H. the Princess Royal, accom- panied by Air Marshal E. L. Gossage, inspecting two Airspeed Oxford air ambulances, which were bought with Girl Guide donations. the Grumman G-36 single-seater fighter, a single-engine midwing monoplane with the wheels retracting into the fuselage. Of all-metal construction, it has the stumpy appearance characteristic of all Grumman,s. The engine is either a Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp or a Wright Cyclone, each having about 1,200 h.p. available for take-off, with altitude ratings of 900 h.p. at 17,400ft. or 1,000 h.p. at 13,500ft. respectively. Maximum speeds are 330 m.p.h. at 19,500ft. or 325 at 15,500, also respec- tively. At sea level the maximum speed is 290 m.p.h. Tankage is given as 160 U.S. gallons (133 Imperial gallons). Consumption on 75 per cent, power would be about 50 g.p.h., so that the corresponding duration would be 2.7 houis. Armament is believed to be six machine guns. Expanding American Production LORD BEAVERBROOK, Minister ofAircraft Production, announced in a broadcast that the United States will set about expanding its industry up to such an extent that it will be able to supply aircraft at the rate of 3,000 per month. He said that plans to this end will be developed without delay and that the production rate mentioned was in addition to the orders already placed by the Allied Purchasing Commission. Such a rate is a tremendous one and is a stag- gering increase on present production which, if confined to aircraft of military value, is probably not more than 500 per month. Though it will take some time to achieve this rate, the decision is news we are very glad to hear. Editorial comment is made on the announcement on The Outlook page. Mr. Morgenthau, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, says he has no doubt that Britain will be able to pay for the huge number of aircraft under the expanded scheme. We have no doubt that Britain will pay, for it has been agreed under the financial arrangements that the cost of the new factories to be erected will be met by Great Britain.
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