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Aviation History
1946
1946 - 1329.PDF
JULY IITH, 1946 and the checking and weighing-in took place at 7.30 p.m. on Friday, June 21st. However, the flight was cancelled due to bad weather at the intermediate stop in Ireland. It would be quite within the Constellation's capacity to over-fly Rineanna, but this was not in any case desirable on a proving flight, and there is always a possibility in the event of unusually strong headwinds of running un- comfortably close to the fuel safety mark on East to West crossings. No Pressurising The trip was postponed again on Saturday night on C.A.B. orders, because of the cabin supercharger trouble •ffecting all Constellations, but after disconnecting the offending drive during Sunday all seemed ready for depar- ture on Sunday night. Unfortunately the flight had now to be made below 10,000 feet, because the pressurising and conditioning equipment was temporarily out of use. It proved later that this made little difference to the comfort of the flight, although it was less satisfactory from the point of view of weather and aircraft operation. From the time log below it will be seen that take-off was nearly two hours late on Sunday, due to the small hydraulic defect. When the service has been running for a while and corners have been rounded off it should prove possible to reduce the time between arrival at the Victoria Terminal Chocks away (Scheduled) Airborne Set course RETURN JOURNEY NEW YORK to GANDER Hours G.M.T. hr. min. 1826 Engines off 2245 Total time 4 9 1830 (Scheduled) 4 20 1835 Landed 2241 Flight time 4 6 1837 Overhead 2237 Time on course 4 Static time on ground, I hr. 33 min. (Scheduled I hr. 15 min.) GANDER to RINEANNA Chocks away 0018 Engines off 0811 Total time (Scheduled) 0005 (Scheduled) Airborne 0026 Landed 0808 Flight time Set course 0029 Overhead 0748 Time on course Static time on ground, I hr. 24 min. RINEANNA to LONDON Chocks away 0935 Engines off 1140 Total time (Scheduled) 0905 (Scheduled) Airborne 0943 Landed 1135 Flight time Set course 0946 Overhead 1130 Time on course S3 45 42 19 555 52 • :i:J«£.... (7.30 p.m.) and take off (10.00 p.m.). There seemed to be an unwarranted period of delay after examination of documents and passports, and during this time passengers were '' heid " in a tent by a zealous airport policeman until the scheduled time for embarkation. Numerous B.O.A.C. officials were, however, most helpful and courteous. A providential release from the stuffy tent seemed imminent when a Pan American Constellation started up, but the flapping canvas and guys took the strain. Time to board arrived at last and after a short taxi and long run up, the Constellation was airborne and the lights of Heathrow were rapidly lost to view. During preparation for take-off on the Constellation (and the Skymaster) the noises of flap motors and other devices and the sudden dimming and brightening of lighting during engine starting is anything but reassuring to the average passenger; however, taxying and take-off were smooth and reassuring. The noise, even at full power, is not excessive while under cruising conditions a normal conversation can be carried on and the steady drone is quickly forgotten and becomes almost soothing. The Constellation is quite comfortable and roomy and adequate seat adjustment is provided. Vision through the windows is good in view of the size restriction occasioned by the practical requirements of a pressure cabin, and the uniform neutral colour of the interior is restful to the eyes. The same cannot be said of the main roof lighting, which produces a number of bright and disturbing spots of light. Personal opinion and something of a compromise govern Passengers who had taken dinner in London on the previous evening, walk in New York's hot afternoon sunshine on arrival at La Guardia Airport.
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