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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 1642.PDF
416 FLIGHT SEPTEMBER 30TH, 1948 CORRESPONDENCE The 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. MACH I PLUS A DisclaimerP LEASE !—I was uot " primarily responsible for the design of the D.H.ibS," nor of any other aircraft Flight, September 16th). I am a keen foxhunter, a great lover of wild animals, not such a great lover oi human nature, an enthusiastic Wagnerian, am more than ordinarily interested in aviation, and doubtless have a number of other vices; but I am not a designer of anything, and vehemently refute this allegation. Furthermore, I am not connected in any way with a some- time wigmaker and fire-raiser, from whose ox, ass, and every- thing that is his I wholly dissociate myself. Finally, my name is not Willie, arid I equally dislike in- tensely being hailed by this name. I am yours, irascible and somewhat exhausted, Harpenden, Herts. RICHARD M. CLARKSON. [We did not refer to Mr. Clarkson as "Willie."—ED.] LONDON TRAFFIC CONTROL r " What Will Happen When Jets Come Into Use ? FROM what little I have been able to gather from chattingto various people who have had actual experience of it, the present system of air traffic control for London Airport and Northolt seems to be somewhat cumbersome, although quite effective for the present air traffic conditions. Presumably, there are advantages in having the South- Eastern Air Traffic Control Region centred at Uxbridge, and a separate Metropolitan area for aircraft to and from Heathrow and Northolt, but as the intensity of aircraft movements increases, and as speeds go up and up, it would appear that the "inertia" of so ponderous a control scheme as at present existing will prevent it keeping pace with both the volume and speed of the traffic it is designed to control. Furthermore, when gas turbines come into general commercial use, their voracious appetite for fuel will not permit leisurely orbiting until such time as Control can deal with them. Doubtless these points are realized by the authorities, but no one to whom I have spoken on the subject has any ideas of the methods envisaged (if any) whereby the control system is to be modified to cope with the overall load. Croydon. P. M. ANSON. NOISE A Selfish Outlook > FROM time to time a complaint is voiced by the inhabitantsof some town or village that the noise of aircraft operating from a nearby airfield is troublesome and '' ought to be stopped." One wonders whether the supporters of these com- plaints pause to think just what sort of action they are demanding. For every hundred people whose names appear on the complaints list it is probable that fewer than ten are genuinely troubled by the aircraft noise, that some twenty more are of the sort whose names appear on every such list, and that the rest weakly and thoughtlessly agree to inclusion. What they demand is, roughly speaking, the flying activities be transferred to another airfield where the noise would presumably bother other people—truly a most selfish sug- gestion; or that flying training should cease, which is absurd. Those responsible for the control of flying have in the past been most reasonable and helpful. Where possible, without causing great inconvenience and expense of travel, airfields well clear of towns are used. Consideration is being given now to the external silencing of all airliners which must operate day and night from city airports, even though such silencing must inevitably result in reduced power and increased drag and weight, all of which, directly or indirectly, spell increased cost to the operator. Other local arrangements made to avoid discomfort to residents include the laying down of prohibited areas, minimum heights for flying, corridors, and airfield circuit direction designed to keep aircraft clear of towns whatever the wind direction. The latest complaint about noise comes from certain residents of Woking, and concerns the local airfield, Fairoaks. Have these people, who are probably not representative of the town, anv real cause for complaint? Ninety-five per cent of flights from Fairoaks are made by V.R. pilots under training in Tiger Moths. The largest aircraft to be operated from the field is the occasional Anson, the few others are small clul? and private-owner aircraft of the Tiger and Auster type. All these can be listed among the quietest to be seen in the air to-day. Moreover, right-hand circuits are flown when the wind (not the prevailing wind) necessitates a take-off direction and circuit over the heathland towards the outskirts of Woking. It should be remembered, too, that on Tigers it is usual to make an almost silent glide approach. Regarding the com- plaint of noise from night flying, this essential part of training is not carried out at week-ends; and only on occasional week- days; moreover, it is almost always completed before midnight. Even the most enthusiastic pilot would admit grounds for..' complaints about Harvards, submitted by the people of Grantham, for example. They had had more than their share of the shattering noise which on occasions seemed to fill the town as these aircraft took off from Spittlegate field on the hill bounding the town on the east side. There was rather less justification for complaints from Skegness in wartime"con- cerning practice bombing at Wainfleet Sands at the top of the Wash. Woking has no real grounds at all, for the airfield was already there when many of the people moved into their homes, and, if anything, there has been a reduction in the volume of traffic in and out of Fairoaks. Let them be thankful that they do not have Croydon and Kenley to hem them in. War is not yet just around the corner, it is still a full block away, but flying training and practice is essential. It might be that in the months to come, as once before, the people1 of Woking and other towns, far from cursing the noise of British aircraft, will "scarce forebear to cheer." Ashtead. H. R. LEA. R.A.F.V.R. AB INITIO TRAINING ? Use the Tiger Moths to Best Advantage ."":•""• THE recent discussion in Flight's Correspondence columns" on the merits of week-end Tiger Moth flying by pilots of the R.A.F.V.R. appears to have been conducted'mainly from the viewpoint of the amount of personal pleasure in- volved. ' The more important aspect, the usefulness of such an occupation, seems to have been ignored to a large extent. I cannot help feeling that experienced pilots can derive but small advantage from flying elementary trainers, and that the aircraft would be put to better use in giving initial instruction to suitable pupils, thus making available a reserve of at least partially trained pilots in the event of an emergency. The iiecent relaxing of entry conditions for the R.A.F.V.R.. by which ex-pilots who did not reach wings standard would be admitted, was a step in the right direction. If further concessions were made to admit suitable volunteers who were unable to become members of aircrew while serving in the Forces, there would be thousands of young men of 20 or 21 ready to undertake such training, and give up their spare time. particularly former members of the A.T.C. Chertsey. " KEEN TYPE." FORTHCOMING EVENTS Sept. 30th.—Royal Aeronautical Society : Fourth British Commonwealth and Empire Lecture : " Some Economic Factors in Civil Aviation, with Emphasis on Civil Aircraft and their Pros- pective Trends of Development," Peter G. Masefield, M.A., F.R.Ae.S. Oct. 6th.—Royal Aeronautical Society (at Birmingham) : " Some Aspects of Power Plant Development," Dr. E. W. Still, B.Sc. A.F.R.Ae.S. Oct. Sth.—Lancashire Aero Club : Annual Ball, Grand Hotel, Manchester. Oct. 9th.—The British Interplanetary Society : " Interplanetary Man," Olaf Stapledon. Oct. 13th.—R.Ae.S. (Hatfleld) : "Aircraft Photography," John Yoxall. Oct. 15th.—Second International Air Ball at London Airport. Oct. 16th.—Wolverhampton Aero Club : The Siddeley Trophy Race. Oct. 21st.—Royal Aeronautical Society : " Cold Weather Operation of Aircraft," G. W. Wilson, A.F.R.Ae.S. and S/L. E.P. Bridgland, R.C.A.F., BSc, A.F.R.Ae.S. Oct. 26th.—R.Ae.S. (Graduates and Students) : " Flight Refuelling," Sir Alan J. Cobham, K.B.E., Hon. F.R.Ae.S. Oct. 27th.—R.Ae.S. (Preston) : " Design Problems of Large Flying Boats," H. Knowler, F.R.Ae.S. C 28
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