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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 0226.PDF
194 FLIGHT FEBRUARY igTH, 1945 minates appointments to the boards of the corporations. Lord Nathan explained in the House of Lords that he had decided that it would be incompatible with the dis- missal of Bennett as chief executive that he should remain a member of the board, and that he awaited Ben- nett's resignation. "In the absence of this," the Minister of Civil Aviation concluded, "I should feel it incumbent to take appropriate action." According to an interview, Bennett's reply to that was that if Lord Nathan asked for his resignation, he should have it. • That was the position when we went to press with this week's issue. We have a great deal of sympathy with Don Bennett. The board of B.S.A.A, would probably concede, in spite of any disagreements there may have been, that it was Bennett's drive and strong personality which was largely responsible for the good results the corporation was able to show in its first report. It was his long practical experience as a pilot which enabled him to say unequivocally that the Tudor was suitable for his routes, and it must have been extremely galling for him to see the type grounded because one machine disappeared, with no evidence whatever that the disappearance was due to any fault in the aircraft. The newspaper interview expressed the opinions of Don Bennett. It did not claim to represent the views of the entire board. And goodness knows there is already too much tendency towards muzzling any strong expres- sion of opinion. To that extent, therefore, we sym- pathize with Bennett. On the other hand, the corporations are national undertakings, and it is not customary to have civil ser- CONTENTS Outlook ------- All-Through All-Weather - - S-SI to the Rescue - - - Civil Aviation News - - Last Out - New Bristol 170 Airscrew Vibration Testing Here and There - - - - - American Newsletter - - - - Rotating-wing Problems - The Brancker Memorial Lecture New Czech Sailplane - Correspondence Service Aviation Forthcoming Events, pagi 2i7 193 195, 198 199 203 205 209 210 212 214 21.5 216 217 2!9 vants expressing their frank opinions of their depart^ mental chiefs. Consequently the action of the board of B.S.A.A. is understandable enough. •- The whole unfortunate affair really boils down to ti^e fact that Don Bennett, would have been the right man In the right job—if the corporation had not happened to be a socialized concern. He is not universally popular (a man who drives himself and others as hard as he does could not be popular with everyone), but he is greatly respected and there are fe,w enough like him in British civil aviation who have the courage to stand up for British aircraft, the knowledge to know what he wants, and the ability to make up his mind and to abide bv his decision. "Flight" photograph, DOUBLY* DEADLY1 : With its radar search gear, operated by the second member of the crew, the D. H. Sea fifwaet 2/ is enabled » strike more effectively at night, or in bad weather, with its four cannon. The prototype of this Naval fighter /strike navigator on test, flown by Mr. Geoffrey Pike.
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