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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0178.PDF
II* FUG HI JANUARY 27TH, 1949 Correspondence Again, the attitude expressed by this argument cannot last for ever, but will ultimately break down, either by the force of counter-argument, a sense of justice, or simply by the passage of time, when it will just wear itself out of old age and die with the "haters"! Regarding the second argument, a man's ability to fly, and his enjoyment of it, will not, and obviously cannot, of itself '' deveiop military tendencies,'' and still less will it do so with "disastrous results," Does the driving of a motor car develop military tendencies among prospective army drivers? Or the riding of motor cycles develop military tendencies among motor cyclists? Again, does the enjoyment of simple walking develop military (i.e., infantry) tendencies? Surely it is time all this fear, and condemnation of certain activities and productions automatically being "warlike deve- lopments '' or '' having warlike intentions'' came to an end; • lor how is one to know where to draw the line? Where' do " warlike tendencies " end and peaceful ones begin? The manu- facture of trousers, so essential to soldiers, could easily be condemned as a "warlike industry" because it is .essential to military activity, So with the button which the soldier, sailor and airman must have to hold his '' warlike trousers'' up; should this manufacture be stopped because it is a " mili- tary activity " ? Or will the manufacture of food have '' disas- trous results " for us, for without doubt food is the greatest military requirement of all? Would anyone dare suggest, though, that because food is so necessary.to every warlike activity it automatically '' develops military desires or tendencies "? It is time that those people who persist in looking backwards at past events turned their eyes a little towards possible future events. The future definitely looks doubtful, and a simple survey of current events will show the great need, not only for our own full preparedness against a possible enemy, but for good friends who can, and would, render us useful assistance. Many Germans both could and would fill this need only too gladly in any military adventure which may be forced upon us, and what British pilot is there who, from experience, would not say that such assistance from Germans would be worth having? In short, to deny Germans the right to fly not only irritates them (who are already irritated enough by defeat) and belittles us, but deprives us of a very competent prospective ally London, S.W.4. FRANCIS W. ASHFORD. v : THE BERLIN AIR LIFT ,r Freighters not the Only Twins WITH reference to the advertisement material used by theBristol Aeroplane Company, Ltd., on the back page of Flight dated January 6th, 1949, we would like to point outthat, to us, having been employed on the Air Lift from its commencement, their statements are nothing short of balder-dash. The Air Lift was started and maintained in its early daysby squadrons of Dakota (twin-engined) aircraft of Transport Command and U.S.A.A.F., and to my knowledge at least sixof the R.A F. squadrons are still operating, not to mention the U.S.A.A.F. and civil airline Dakotas. Backloading is carried out as directed by H.Q. Air Liftand on all types of aircraft. The only "consistent" backloading out of Berlin is on theP.19 service to Buckeburg, which completes a minimum of twelve lifts per day with capacity payloads, and this serviceis carried out by Dakota aircraft of Transport Command. In view of the foregoing, the facts of which can be confirmedby H.Q. Transport Command, it is only fair to the crews operating on the Air Lift that in an early edition of Flighta disclaimer be published, which should be in the nature of an apology. STAFF OF AIR MOVEMENTS SECTION(who are short of a lot of sleep since the Air Lift commenced).R.A.F. Station Buckeburg, B.A.F.O., B.A.O.R.i. Some " Twin Ghosts " Protest IN your issue of January Oth you printed on the rear coveran advertisement by the Bristol Aeroplane Co., Ltd., which stated that the Bristol Freighter is the only twin-engined aircraft at present engaged on the Berlin Air Lift. For your information, at the R.A.F. Liibeck airfield you will find nearly one hundred Dakotas and crews flying the corridors to Berlin. These squadrons originated the Air Lift, pioneered the major airfields in use in the British Zone and have been flying daily on the Lift, almost non-stop, since its inception, as well as having pioneered most of the routes in use to Berlin from the British Zone. 1 think you will readily agree that the "Dak." is most definitely a twin, and although we realize that this statement was made in an advertisement, I am surprised that a periodical with the reputation of Flight should publish such an obvious misrepresentation of a fact surely known to anyone in close touch with current aviation affairs. A copy of this advert has been pinned up on the '' Operation Plain Fare" notice board here by someone, and is now the current joke among the Air Lift crews, who were very sur- prised to find that they had not been flying twins to Berlin for the last six months after all. You can imagine the consternation this has caused among us, and psychology seems to be indicated to remove these delusions from our minds. I hate to think what my wife will say when she reads this advertisement and discovers that I've not been on the Air Lift for the last six months after all. Any suggestions for a good excuse to give? "ONE OF THE GHOST AIR LIFT CREWS." R.A.F. Lubeck. B.A.F.O. FLYING-BOAT TRAVEL Far More Pleasant Than Flying Omnibus MR. SIMON WARRENDER in a letter in Flight, January13th, gave some interesting evidence of the passenger's preference for flying-boat travel. Why cannot our policy- makers see the choice as the travelling public sees it? For the ordinary passenger a lengthy flight is a rare ex- perience for which he is compelled to pay a considerable sum of money; yet far from receiving any pleasure from the event, he is in most cases compelled to sit for hours studying the blank back of the chair ahead, or to edge down the tunnel- like aisle of his flying omnibus in a fruitless search for a change of scene. No wonder the company hurls him from A to B with more despatch than decency in order to make the ordeal as short as possible. In marine aircraft, on the contrary, it is better to travel than to arrive. The Solent is, after all, by a long leg the world's most luxurious air liner. The spacious interior, the excitement of the short voyage to the point of take-off, the silky landing, and the historic and commercial interest of the great ports through which the routes pass, give the flying boat an atmosphere entirely its own. I am convinced that the popularity of the flying-boat cruises now being planned will prove that time spent in travelling, far from cutting into a holiday, can provide a large part of the pleasure to be obtained. In this new form of sea travel, as in the old, Great Britain holds an unchallenged lead. Why cannot our Corporations be content to concentrate on the service we provide so well, and leave the flying charabancs and Midday Specials to leas fortunate competitors? CHRISTOPHER "BLACKBURN. London, N.3. FORTHCOMING EVENTS « Jan. 27th.—Royal Aeronautical Society : " Radar as an Aid to the Study of the Atmosphere," Dr. F. E. Jones, M.B.E., B.Sc, A.M.I.E.E. Jan. 27th.—R.Ae.S. (Manchester) " Flight Testing of Civil Aircraft," P. A. Hufton, M.Sc.-. Jan. 28th.—R.Ae.S. (Weybridge) : Annual Dance. Jan. 28th.—London Aeroplane Club ; Banquet and Ball. Jan. 29th.—Society of Licensed Aircraft Engineers South Eastern Area Lecture. " Rolls-Royce Power Units," W. P. Calvert, A.F.R.Ac.S. Manson House, 26, Portland Place, London, .. W.I, at 3 p.m. Feb. 1st.—R.Ae.S. (Belfast): "The Propeller Turbine Engine," F. M. Owner, M.Sc., F.R.Ae.S., M.S.A.E. Fab. 2nd.—R.Ae.S. (Luton) : "The Application of Propeller Turbines to Modern Aircraft," E. J. Richards. M.A. A.F.R.Ae.S. Feb. 2nd.—Royal United Services Institution : " Meteorology in War," Sir Nelson King-Johnson, K.C.B., D.Sc, A.R.C.S. Feb. 2nd.—Institute of Traffic Administration : "Why Refuel in Flight," Sir Alan J. Cobham, K.B.E., A.F.C. Feb. 3rd.—R.Ae.S. (Graduates' and Students' Section) " Notes on Fighter Development 1936-1948," Jeffrey K. Quill, O.B.E., A.F.C. Feb. 3rd.—R.Ae.S. (Isle of Wight) " The Probable Role and Influence of Aircraft in Future Warfare," Air Marshal Sir Robert Saundby, K.B.E., C.B., M.C., D.F.C., A.F.C. Feb. 5th.—Air Scout Movement : Exhibition at Hotloway Baptist Church. Feb. 9th.—R.Ae.S. (Leicester) " Airscrews," E. Danvers. Feb. 9th.—R.Ae.S. (Southampton) " Radio Aids," F. R. Wills. Feb. 9th.—Royal United Services Institution : "Land/Air Warfare," Air Vice-Marshal W. L. Dawson, C.B., C.B.E. Feb. 9th.—R.Ae.S. (Weybridge) : " Civil Air Transport," P. G. Masefield. M.A., F.R.Ae.S.
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