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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 1527.PDF
FLIGHT, 8 September 1949 291 CIVIL AVIATION NEWS.. at the, engineers' station. The simulator is understood tohave made an effective contribution to Pan American training ot Stratocruiser crews, and American Overseas Airlines havealso taken advantage of the device. ,~- :— -• -- « » * •» ••• ••-"" • It has been reported from Australia that Australian NationalAirways have, in fact, decided to buy ten Vickers Viscounts. At the time of going to press the order had not been confirmed in this country, but it is known that A.N.A. have beenshowing considerable interest in Ihis aircraft as a competitor with the Convairs flown by T.A.A. # • # * C.N.A.C., the China National Aviation Corporation, sus-pended operations into Hong Kong when the local government requisitioned all facilities at Kaitak airport. The airline'soperations in Asia as well as to the United States have been stopped, because the Corporation's main engine workshops areinvolved. •_ - - . FROM THE CLUBS THE Midland Aero Club celebrates its 40th anniversary thisyear and, to mark the occasion a ball has been arranged for October 13th at the Grand Hotel, Birmingham. Membersof all other flying clubs are invited and tickets are already obtainable on application to the secretary/manager, Mr. D. S.Scoffham, D.F.C., Elmdon Airport, Birmingham. Several patrols and visits have recently been made to variousparts ot the country, including Bournemouth and Marlow. An organized party visited Gatwick for the air display at theend of July. The club was particularly pleased that' all but one of their aircraft were successful during a recent " attack "on Baginton (Coventry Aeroplane Club). Elmdon can offer excellent catering facilities at the terminal building and alsoovernight accommodation at the airport hotel. # • • ALTHOUGH there were several days during July when windsrestricted the activities of members of the London Gliding Club, on only one day was it impossible to fly. The monthwas a very successful one: the number of launches was a post- war record at 1,435, flying time was 296 hr 56 min, and totalmileage flown on cross-countries was 304. Achievements by members during the month included nine "A," twelve "B"and nine "C" certificate qualifications, and three duration, two distance and three height-qualifying flights for silver ' C 'badges. Nine cross-countries, including one goal flight, an.i three out-and-returu cross-countries were completed. Socialactivities in the club continue to flourish and lectures are being delivered regularly. « * » - ••• ", ' WEST LONDON AERO CLUB has been officially approvedas a flying school by the Ministry of Civil Aviation During July 276 hours weie flown, and just over 250 weierecorded in August. Throughout the summer, club members have taken part in cross-country competitions, both under thehood and solo; during the latter, in which two landings weie made away from base for the purpose of the competition, anaverage time was fixed for each leg to be flown, and competi- tors' landing and take-off times were recorded at each stop. Alanding competition was held on May 21st, and the last event planned for the season will be another landing competition onSeptember 24th, followed in the evening by a dinner at the Dor- chester Hotel, London. On that occasion the Windmill TheatreChallenge Cup will be presented to the club member who has shown the best perfoimance in competitive events during thisseason. The cup, which is competed for each year, was pre- sented by Mr. Vivian Van Damm. Ministers See for Themselves FLYING clubs cannot exist upon gestures by junior miuisteis,nor entirely upon their members' unbounded enthusiasm, which up to now has carried them through many post-war difficulties. The events of the week-end of August 27th-2Sth, however, when two under-secretaries of state each devoted a day to visiting and inspecting clubs in England proved that there is, if nothing else, an official interest in private flying. In a Dakota lent by Kearsley Airways, Ltd., Mr. G. H. M. Miles and Mr. F. E. Darlow, chairman and vice-chairman oi the Association of British Aero Clubs, were escorts to Mr. Geoffrey de preitas (Under Secretary of State for Air), Mr. G. Lindgren (Parliamentary Secretary to the M.C.A.) and a party which consisted of the following: W/C. K. J. Powell, of the Directorate of Training Plans, Air Ministry ; W/C. L. G. Schwab, of the Directorate of Flying Training, Air Ministry ;. and Mr. D. E. Proudlove (Training Standards) M.C.A. Mr. de Freitas flew on the Satnrdav and earlv on the Sunday, when he handed over to Mr. Lindgren. On the first day threeclubs originally in the flight plan were omitted by reason of bad weathei but visits were paid to the United Services FlyingClub at Elstree. the Midland Aero Club at Elmdon, the York- shire Aeroplane Club at Sherburn-in-Elmet, the West RidingAviation Centre at Yeadon, and the Blackpool and Fylde Aero Club, Squires Gate. On the Sunday, Mr. de Freitas visitedthe Wirral Aero and Gliding Club at Hooton Park, after which Mr. Lindgren took over. The clubs visited during that Jaywere the Wolverhampton Aero Club, Bristol and Wessex Aero- plane Club at Whitchurch, Weston Aero Club, Wiltshire FlyingClub at Thruxton and Redhill Flying Club. Those of us who accompanied the party were impressed onthe one hand by the enthusiasm of club members and on the other by their depression and dismay at the Government'sofficial attitude towards private flying. It has been made clear many times before—but both Under-Secretaries had itimpressed upon them during the tour—that the club movement is not begging for monev but isseeking to do a sound and thorough job'of work and so make a real contribution to aviation andto be fairly paid for so doing. This means in effect (and as pointed out during the tour by Mr.R. Ashley Hall, president of the Bristol and Wessex Club) that some form of sub-contractingwork for such organizations as the R.A.F.V.K. or A.T.C. is needed. The M.C.A., however, hasalready made it known that direct help will not be forthcoming and it is difficult to see how anysub-contracts can be expected from that depart- ment. The Air Ministry must therefore be lookedupon as the only remaining source of possible assistance. In attempting to attract the Air Ministry totheir cause, the clubs have put forward schemes COMPETITION DAY : In addition to flyingdemonstrations and displays there was a number of competitions for small aircraft at CowesAirport on August 28th. Mr. R. H. Wood won both the balloon-bursting and bombingcontests. Flight's Gemini, incidentally, can be seen.
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