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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 1498.PDF
FLIGHT SEPTEMBER IST, 1949 Numerous tests and demonstrations were made from Johannesburg. Only the front half of the wide entrance is open in this study of G-ALFZ PROVING THE PRINCE Full Story of the Two Tropical Data-collecting Flights Organized by Percival Aircraft t-z^ -. - ATIRESOME discrepancy invariably exists betweenaircraft manufacturers' performance estimates andoperators' actual results on route flying. In conse- quence, any completely new type is an unknown quantity economically, and there is no alternative for the operators but to accept estimates of fuel consumption, range and payload (inextricably linked), operating costs and be- haviour in extremes of climates. Each must take upon himself the responsibility of putting right those airframe and engine troubles which appear only in operational service, and of assessing the spares requirements. The Percival Prince was a private venture from the start—as was, of course, the Alvis Leonides engine, two of which are fitted—and all development costs are bonne by the manufacturer. Having concluded development trials in this country, Percival Aircraft undertook (and great credit is due to them for it) the tasks of finding out how the Prince would react in other than temperate climates: whether it would pass A.R.B. route requirements ; of gather- ing operational data to present as actual findings instead of as estimates; and to removing as far as possible those teething troubles which are normally so expensive to air- line operators. , Two quite different trials (to which brief references have already been made in Flight) were necessary. Actual performance in tropical conditions can be -determined only by flying the aircraft to a typical area. Africa was chosen not only beciuse of the widely varying climatic conditions which can be found in a flight from the north to the south of that continent, but also on account of the poten- tial market there and the presence in Johannesburg of Air- service, Ltd., another of the Hunting group of companies. It is not enough for an operator to know that a new type can fly fully laden in all conditions with safety, so a further flight was planned to India in' order to make a detailed study of the Prince under true operating condi- tions along typical routes and over typical stage lengths. The four main objectives for the African proving flight were Khar- toum, which at that time of the year •—March—was ideal for tests in great heat; Nairobi, as a typical .high-level airfield in a hot climate (5,160ft. a.s.l.) ; Johannesburg (5,000ft. a.S.I) for moderate temperature take-off performance from a high level air- field ; and Accra, which combined both high temperature and humidity. A standard eight-seater Prince was chosen, and, in addition to the Col. Robbins, managing director of the Aircraft Operating Co. of Africa. Ltd.. Capt. Hornall (pilot), Mr. D. M. bay (Percival's assistant sales manager), Mr. G. L. Hunting (director of Hunting Aviation Management, Ltd.) and Mrs. Hunting discuss the company's feeder liner at Johannesburg.
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