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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0175.PDF
JANUARY 30TH, 1947 FLIGHT CORRESPONDENCE 7 he Editor does not hold himself responsible for the Views expressed by correspondents. The names and addresses of the writers, not necessarily for publication, must in all cases accompany letters. " I THE FIRST VI When and Where Did It Fall ? WAS a little surprised to read in the article " Behind theScenes" (Flight, January 16th), which was a write-up of the Cabinet Chief-of-Staff Committee report on "CertainPhases of the War," that "the first Vi arrived over England on the night of June 12-13, 1944." I agree that this was thedate upon which the offensive began, but was under the im- pression that at least one '' sighting shot '' was previouslyfired. Circumstantial evidence, available to the layman, would indi-/rate that the " reconnaissance machine" which crashed with •*8^/flames coming from its tail at Park Gate, between Southamptonand Portsmouth, at least one month, and probably more, before D-Day was a Vi. Anti-aircraft fire was weak, and before defen-sive action was taken the machine appeared to be suffering from engine trouble. Subsequent Vis falling in the area passedover or near Park Gate. Moreover, the explosion at the scene of the crash was of V1 proportions. I submit, therefore, that this was at least one of the first Visto fall on England. It may be that other readers have similar evidence.of " sighting shots." SOTONIAN.. VERY ODD ODE - '. Nothing New in Propaganda HAVING read the article on statistics and the harm theycan cause, I thought this other sort of anti-aviation propaganda might interest you. It was obviously issued by the"Railway Interests" to be instilled in the Minds of the Very Young, and was published in 1829, the year whenStephenson's Rocket achieved its great success. Here is an excerpt from " The Mothers Fables," 5th edition,and being couched in the metre since made famous by Cyril Fletcher, I call.it " Odd Ode No. 3," coming up!'' While round about the Skylark sung, A partridge there had rear'd her young.And being of her children vain She loved to see them in her train. The eldest, stionger than the rest, Was often straying from the nest. At length, assisted by the breeze. He's borne aloft above the trees. The breeze is brisk, as brisk can be; But now it sinks, and so does he, Now reach the place where, almost dying, He mourns his self-conceit in flying. For my presumption now you see, What sad misfortune's come on me; Do you my pride a\:d folly shun, And be content awhile to run." Incidentally, I still have the original. O. GRUGEON. PILOTS LICENCES Flying Condition the Vital Factor A IR CONTRACTORS, LTD.'S, commercial manager inhis excusable enthusiasm for the abilities of his firm's Aerovans (Flight, Jan. 16th) failed to read my letter (Jan.completely, lor I particularly stressed the two to three light aircraft as the type so widely used in " taxi-piloting "—types such as the Auster, Proctor, Messenger, Gemini, and the old die-hards, the Tiger and Hornet Moths. These aircraft perform essentially the same duties whilstoperating as club aircraft as they would if used as aerial taxis; namely, local and cross-eountry flights of short duration inconditions favourable for contact flight; radio and " Fido " aids both are of little importance to these trips, or theiroperators, for it such weather as required these aids were imminent, the customer and operator would both elect totravel by other means over the relatively short distances involved. Flying such as I quote goes on each and every suitable day,in privately owned aircraft such as flocked to White Waltham on September 28th, 1946, to show their paces, and ir charteredaircraft hired by business men and women who recognize that travelling by air is the pleasant way of covering a hundred miles cleanly and quickly, without bustle, hustle and tins-table worries. These people ate the air-minded folk who would know whenconditions were unfavourable for flight; who recognize the need for adequate traffic control and aids to flight that suchconditions require; the people who, by their criticism and support, will lurther the safety of civil aviation. More freedom to cater for these air-minded types will in-crease their numbers. Competition is the best stimulant for enterprise, and I fail to see that such a matter as the hireof a small, light aircraft for a trip essentially no more hazardous or complicated than a club flight needs a licence so elaboratelydifferent. If the "A" licensed pilot is to be entrusted with the safety of a passenger and the inhabitants of every hamlethis flight path crosses, I have still to be convinced that the same journey is affected merely because his passenger is payinga fee and himself earning a living in the best way he knows. Isn't he more likely to be even more careful with his customerthan when impressing a pretty friend? LAYMAN'S LAMENT A Poetic Plea for Less Speed When carriages without a teamWere static, and the day of steam Was just beginning, learned menWould speak of Stevenson, and then Say "20 m.p.h.? The paceIs much too great. Downright disgrace. Man cannot stand it. Wait and see." And thus, as man's velocityIncreased, the wise ones duly upped The speed at which one must disrupt(N.B.—The figures which they gave Were in convenient hundreds, saveIn early days of speeding, when They mounted only ten by ten).This practice was continued till Quite recently; and one can stillObserve it: but, some years ago, When others than those in the knowWere wont to gaze in wonderment At Gloster's kite with anal vent A subtle change was brought about;It was the layman's turn to spout "Men can't fly faster than—(he'd quote Some arbitrary igure; note,In thousands no,,, the numbers ran). Perversely, scientists beganRefuting all suggestions that There was a limit to the batAt which a body could survive. They said you could remain aliveRegardless, if you'd only learn That g depends on rate of turnTimes V, or some such; they decreed— "Do not, on any score, exceed,Say, No. per minute, lest Acceleration (awful pest)Impair your frame at certain points. For instance, both the elbow jointsMight come undone, just for a start; The body, limbs, and head would part:The blood congealing (if you please) In solid lumps about the knees.Apart from this, its quite all light To emulate the speed of light.But bear in mind the what and why Of friction. Mind that you don't fry." And so I make this solemn plea:Bring back the days (at least for me) When mighty king-pins, pundits wise, Were loath to let the limits rise And even if we turn up latePreserve us from this dreadful ' PETER HILL, Late R.N.V.R. (A). lateadful fcfte! , / PEV Lat
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