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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 1209.PDF
AUGUST 5TH, 1948 FLIGHT 149 Derby club is S/L. R. L. Porteous, whose flying displays in Messenger, M.18 (belonging to his wife) and particularly the tiny Chilton, are well known. S/L. George Watson assists with club flying. The chairman is Mr. F. Leeson ; Wolverhampton can claim to be in the happy position of having more private owner-members than any other club of its type.. Although it was restarted from scratch after the war, there are now no fewer than 41 owners and 220 flying members among a total membership of 270. The aircraft types '.jnclude a representative variety, pre- dominantly of Miree design, such as Messengers, Geminis, Magistrfs, 'an "M^8 anrL'the Hawk Speed Six, in addition to various mark^ of Auster and Proctor. The club has two Autocrats, two Magisters, a Messenger and an Arrow. During 1948 1,314 flying hours were recorded on club air- craft alone. A. Cdre. John Oliver, A.F.C., is president of the Wolver- hampton club and Col. W. H. Binns is chairman. S/L. S. Robinson, A.F.C., the C.I., is assisted by "Tubby" .Wild. • Charter work is undertaken by Air Schools, using a Rapide, two Geminis and an Aerovan. The company's executive aircraft—a Messenger and a Monarch—are also available. Charter activities were recently taken over from another company and have been in operation since June 1st. Servicing and Conversions A most important part of the company's work is concerned with airframe and engine overhaul, C. of A. renewal, repairs and conversions of ex-Service aircraft. Facilities have been built up to their present level chiefly during the last two years. From a modest beginning, but one backed with a determination to offer only high-quality workmanship, the volume of work has increased so much that space available, staff and facilities have placed the limit on the amount which can be accepted. The attractive aircraft conversions as well as good ser- vicing facilities offered are, to a great extent, responsible for the success of the club and private-owner activities. Some interesting examples of conversion were examined recently. An ex-Service Auster V, fully overhauled, attractively up- holstered in leather, well sprayed externally and complete with starter and standard blind-flying panel and, of course, C. of A., cost its owner £750. A Magister from a similar source, finished in cream, upholstered and ready to fly away, cost £300. An ex-radio-school Proctor III for £400 and a Gipsy Major-Messenger for around £1,200 are other examples. Such prices are not unique, but the high quality I of work and materials, coupled with modest price, would be difficult to match. One contract worthy of separate mention is the con- version of Ansons into comfortable, finely trimmed, eight- Wseat passenger machines for use by Blue Line Airways of , ^Nottingham. The interiors, which appear exceptionally Complete overiiau en of an ex-Service Anscn, cne of many such JODS unaertaken by Air Schools Ltd. roomy, are finished in blue, grey and brown, and large oval windows are fitted. This work, of which a few examples are quoted, is carried on at both airports, together with repairs and C.s of A. for any aircraft up to Rapide or Anson size. Work was proceeding on a Q.6 at the time of our inspection, in addition*, to Dominies and Ansons. Mr. R. R. Paine and Mr. A. W.' Webb, the chief engineers at Wolverhampton and Derby respectively, are responsible. Both are practical men with long experience and, incidentally, Mr. Paine, who owns the Speed Six, acts as his own test pilot. The technical ground staff now numbers 56, and the proportion of licensed ground engineers to improvers, rather more than one in three, is noteworthy, the usual being about one in ten. Moreover, most of the improvers have five or more years' exuerience of the work. Crest of the Wolverhampton Aero Club proudly carried on all their aircraft. From ii/s managing directorial office in the control building, Mr. £. VV. Phillips, here seen talking to W/C. Roxburgh, has a fine view of airfield activities. V.R. School Management It would not be appropriate here to give details of the two particular V.R. schools managed by Air Schools, Ltd., except in so far as they exhibit signs of - the company's influence. Some experi- ence of a number of the new V.R.F.T.S.s, however, makes one sensitive to the atmosphere at such a unit, and this is almost entirely dependent on the attitude adopted by the management. At No. 16 R.F.S. Derby nine Tiger Moths are operated, and these are soon to be augmented by Ansons for navi- gator training. Wolverhampton which, during the war, housed No. 28 E.F.T.S.—often called the "allied E.F.T.S.—and is now the base of No. 25 R.F.S., flv twelve Tigers. The C.F.I.s are respectively W/C. Rox- burgh and S/L. L. S. Loveridge, A.F.C. Mr. Lionel Barley is the Wolverhampton manager. The points of interest, however, do not concern the equipment or basic organization which are common to all V.R. schools. What is noticeable is the genuine keenness of all con- cerned with the V.R. at Derby and Wolverhampton. The company feels itself fortunate in having a team of enthusiastic young instructors all with A.i categories. Moreover, the directors do not believe in paring costs by providing barely adequate facilities, food or quarters, or in binding staff and pupils with unnecessary restrictions or a heavy E.F.T.S. outlook. A good spirit, not lacking in enterprise, has made itself apparent, and V.R. pilots can feel that everything is being done to encourage and help them, while their accommodation at the mess in Burnaston House would be envied by pilots from most other schools. Flying hours are nine a.m. until dusk, seven davs a week; A.T.C. cadets are given air experience whenever it can be arranged, and training is made as interesting as possible by the inclusion of plenty of cross-countries, formation flying and night flying. It is to be hoped that such enterprises as Air Schools, Ltd., which are essential units in the civil aviation machine, will soon have their task simplified as they deserve by the grant of official aid more tangible than mere words to the private flying movement.
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