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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0100.PDF
FLIGHT JANUARY 23RD, 1947 LIGHT-PLANE PARADE obviously practical layout. A surpris- ing thing about the Chipmunk is that its empty weight is lower than that of the old Tiger Moth biplane, while the performance is, of course, vastly better. Percival Aircraft were represented by a Proctor V, a thoroughly practi- cal four-seater for which there should be a good market both in the immedi- ate future and for some years to come. Four German types had been ex- pected : a Fieseler Storch, a Gotha Twin, a Hirtenberg monoplane, and a Messerschmitt Taifun. Only the Hir- tenberg turned up. This machine is the property of Mr. J. H. Davis, of the Bristol Aeroplane Company, who flew it over from Gatwick, where he nearly got bogged before he got away. This is a very robust parasol two- seater, but one could not call it pretty. American types whose absence was greatly regretted included the Repub- lic Seabee amphibian, the Fairchild Forwarder and the North American Navion. However, a Grumman Goose represented the amphibian element, and Mr. Leslie Irvin's Beech Expediter, on which he and his pilot " Jimmy " Youell recently flew across from America, came in for much admiration as a well-equipped modern type with "every convenience." Helliwell Globe But the most intriguing American type was the little Globe Swift, an all-metal side-by-side two-seater with six- cylinder 125 h.p. Continental engine and Aeromatic air- screw. The machine itself has many interesting features, but what pleased the visitors as much as anything was that announcements painted on its sides gave the infor- mation that the type is to be built in this country by Helliwells of Walsall. The Helliwell Globe, as the machine is apparently to be called in this country, is entirely of metal construction SOME ASSESSORS : Left to right. Col. R. L. Preston, E. C. Bowyer, Peter> Malcolm and J. L. N, Bennett-Baggs. TWO NEWCOMERS : At the top is a three-quarter rearHelliwell Globe and, at the bottom, is the new Miles prototype carriage and bubble canopy. including the skin. It does not have a tricycle under- carriage, but the wheels are retractable. Fixed slots of the letter box'' type are built into the outer leading edges, and the trailing-edge flaps are electro-hydra ulically operated, as is also the undercarriage retraction. A sliding canopy over the cockpit gives a very good range of view in all essential directions, and in spite of the small size of the machine, the cockpit is very roomy. Flying controls are of the push-pull wheel type and hanging rudder pedals. A step between them avoids the need for stepping on the seats when getting in and out. With a cruising speed of 140 m.p.h. and a still-air range at that speed of 600 miles, the Helliwell Globe should be a very attractive proposition if the cost of the all-metal construction can be brought down to a reasonable figure. This should bf possible if a sufficiently largt production is planned. Of the flying demonstra tions little need be said They were of the usual type, and although at times there were rather too many ma- chines in the air, no unto- ward incident marred the proceedings. One over-exu- berant pilot had to be " shot down '' while the Minister 0/ Civil Aviation went for flight in the de Haviland Dove, but that was all. Two items of the flying pro- gramme may be given special mention: Pat Fillingham's "hesitation rolls" on the Chipmunk, and the masterly handling of the only glider present. The latter included erfectly executed loops and g-tip turns in an incred- short radius, every evo- ution being a model of grace, and the final touch-down an example of precision flying.
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