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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0922.PDF
534 FLIGHT 0 JUNE 5TH, 1947 K.C., chairman of B.W.I.A., is expected in this countryshortly to take part in discussions on the future of Caribbean air routes. B.W.I.A. started their first service on November 20th, 1940,with a survey flight to Barbados from Piarco Airport. Since then development has involved a route network of 3,600 milesthroughout the Caribbean, and a total of 100,000 miles is flown each month. HEATHROW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON Sunday, June, 1st, the public enclosure at London Airport,Heathrow, was opened to the public for the first time. The enclosure is near to the control tower and close to one ofthe main taxi tracks, and an estimated 3,000 people who paid admission had a grand view of aircraft arriving at and depart-ing from Heathrow. A running commentary on inbound and outbound aircraft was broadcast from the control tower, inter-spersed with music when no aircraft were to be seen. Amongst those present on Sunday were the Mayor and Ma\'oress ofHounslow, accompanied by local dignitaries of the surrounding districts of Feltham, Hayes, Hendon, Uxbridge and Staines,who were given flights in a B.O.A.C. York aircraft to com- memorate the occasion. From now on the public enclosureat Heathrow will be open on weekdays from 2 o'clock until dusk, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. until dusk. DESIGN COMPETITION RESULT TWO years ago a Mr. Donald J. Wheeler was the successfulcontestant from among 3,345 entries in an international professional design competition for personal aircraft. On April23rd, at Tacoma, Washington, the Wheelair, the first of two prototypes built to his design by Pugef Pacific Planes Inc., ofwhich he is engineering vice-president, made a successful first flight. It is an all-metal, two-control, tricycle pusher typewith a roomy car-like cabin to seat four, and accommodation in addition for 160 lb of luggage. With a 190 h.p. Lycomingengine the maximum speed is 140 m.p.h. and the cruising speed 125 m.p.h. The landing speed of 55 m.p.h. is on the high sidefor personal aircraft, and the wing and power loadings are 13.95 lb/sq ft and 13.1 lb/b.h.p. respectively. The emptyweight is'1,350 lb and the gross weight 2,500 1b. The cruising range is 600 miles at 12 m.p.g. consumption. RE-START . ; IT is gratifying to hear of air services getting into their strideafter the war years, and we are pleased to recount that Birkett Air Services, Ltd., have now been able to recommence their activities at Croydon Airport. At present only a small fleet, consisting of two de Havilland Rapides and one de Havil- land Leopard Moth, are in use, but it is hoped to augment these later by the addition of a Percival Q.6 and an Airspeed Consul. Birkett Air Services operated for seven years before the war, charter flying and carrying out contracts for the Air Ministry, including the operation of the No. 29 (E and R) Flying Train- ing School, of Luton, Beds. • ~*X»t ?•»*-"< TWO-CONTROL PUSHER : This four-seater, all-met&l Wheelair IIIA is seen taking off on its first flight in the U.S.A.Power is supplied by a 190 h.p. Lycoming engine giving a maximum speed of 140 m.p.h. FAST DELIVERY FLIGHT COUNT GUSTAV VON ROFEN, Commander-in-Chief of theAbyssinian Air Force, has completed a remarkable delivery flight from Sweden (Linkoping) non-stop to AddisAbaba in a SAAB Safir, powered b ' a de Havilland Gipsy Major 10. The flight, which was via Vienna, Rome, Tripoli and Khar-toum, took 31 hours; 2 hours less than planned. Fuel for 36 hours was carried in extra tanks in the cabin, together withtwo cold chickens, one kilogram of chocolate and three flasks of coffee to sustain the pilot. The Safir is one purchased byHis Majesty the Emperor Haile Selassie. A description and photograph of the SAAB-91 Safir appearedin our issue of April 3rd, in the article "Swedish Wings." BREVITIES W/C. E. A. Gibson, director of air transport in the R.N.Z.A.F., has been appointed the Director of Civil Aviation in New Zealand. « • • International Airways at Croydon have taken delivery of athird Consul. The company's Gemini recently flew to Lausanne, the outward leg taking 4 hr. 40 min. and the return 4 hr.35 min. Petrol consumption averaged only 9 gall, per hour. * • *The Bristol Wayfarer, when making its first demonstration flight in Australia, had the misfortune to lose a hatch whichhad been insecurely fastened, soon after take-off. The elevators were damaged but the aircraft was landed safely.* * # An airport for Adelaide is under constructionat West Torrens of the I.C.A.O. size classification "medium range regular airport." One runwaywill be 2,150 yd, and the other two will be 1,650 yd. It is expected that the airport will eventuallybe able to cater for 500 movements daily. * * * Furthei rules affecting pilots approaching Lon-don, Northolt and Bovingdon airports are pub- lished in Notice to Airmen No. 129 of the vear1947, which cancels previous Notice's to ^t Nos. 167 and 172 of 1946. * * * Aircraft Advisors Inc., an American firm deal-ing in technical services in collaboration with Canadair, Ltd., of Montreal, Canada, have an-nounced an offer of a complete inventory of C.47 and DC-3 spare parts. Lists and prices of spareparts are being circulated amongst all foreign operators of C.47 and DC-3 aircraft.* * * Six Swedish girls have been selected out of 250applicants for employment as air hostesses by American Overseas Airlines in Stockholm. AIR TRAMP'S CREW : Dr. Humby (second from right) with the crew ofthe Halifax, Port of Sydney, photographed at Mascot. Australia. (See D. A successful conclusion is expected of the talksbetween the Afghan Government and a delegation from the Indian Interim Govenrment for an airagreement to link Kabul with Peshawar and Kandahar with Quetta.
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