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Aviation History
1946
1946 - 0394.PDF
204 FLIGHT FEBRUARY 28TH, 1946 aircraft used by clubs for primary flying instruction is not necessarily ideal for the private owner. But even if that be granted, there is the question of engines. A very great variety of aircraft types can, as we saw before the war, be "built around" one type of engine. Con- sequently the clubs had a not inconsiderable effect on engine production and, therefore, on engine costs. With the clubs removed from the market, the British manufacturer of low-powered engines will iind it difficult to reduce his engine prices to a level at which he can hope to sell them abroad. The price of aircraft as well as of engines will, therefore, be increased, and the export of light aircraft will be seriously hampered. The small manufacturer has not the capital needed for laying down a large production programme in order to bring down manufacturing costs; while the larger firms can hardly be blamed for giving priority to the higher- powered engine types for which the demand is likely to be more assured. It would seem that, unless some wealthy man or concern is willing to put a lot of capital into the manufacture of a low-powered engine, the out- look is somewhat depressing. Perhaps Lord Nufneld might be persuaded to re-enter the engine market in a large way. There are, in fact, rumours that some such plan is afoot. Second-line NTIL the Strength nextU nex Defence White Paper has been published and we learn of any arrangements which have been made to keep a proportion of the vast number of ex-aircrew members in flying train- ing, it is difficult to be constructively critical about the other aspects of the club decision. But there is no doubt that a large number of amateurs feel that they have been extremely ill-used. The services of hundreds of club-trained pilots, who CONTENTS Outlook - - - - - The Latest Mosquitoes - Here and There - - - - British Civil Aircraft ... Quo Vadis? - - - Boston and Havoc - Propjet and Plain - - - Air Survey of West Africa No Subsidy for the Clubs Approved Air Routes - Informal Radar Conference Civil Aviation News ... Correspondence - - - - Service Aviation ... The Industry - - - 203 205 209 210 212 a 216 218 219 220 221 222 223 225 228 had spent, in their enthusiasm, a great deal more than^ they could reasonably afford on their flying in peace- time, were accepted, either directly or indirectly, with- out question or even thanks, by the Air Force and Navy. If the clubs had never existed, this second-line aircrew strength would not have been available in the days of emergency. Yet these enthusiasts are now to have their pastime, and even, in some cases their means of liveli- hood, taken from them without explanation or a show of gratitude. Throughout the various discussions there has been too great a tendency to consider only future club trainees and their possible value. But there are still the thousands of trained and useful pilots who should be kept in prac- tice, and among these there is going to be a very big proportion who will not, for age or fitness reasons, be considered for any future volunteer appointments, yet who will be just as useful in a future emergency as they ever were. ON THE TARMAC : Fairey Fireflies and a Spearfish awaiting production-testing at Heston. The Fairey . own airfield at Heathrow has been incorporated in the big commercial airport now under construction.
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