FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1950
1950 - 1235.PDF
FLIGHT, 6 July 1950 The commentator will be S/L. T. F. Neil, D.F.C., of Fighter Command, who has played a leading part in the planning of the flying programme. Rediffusion installa- tions are abundant. The next two days will be a culmination of several months' intense activity, not only on the squadrons, but at Farnborough itself, where the R.A.F. Display Unit— now some 350 strong—has been at work for six months. Granted fine weather, the Display should certainly justify all the effort behind it, and prove to be the finest military air pageant ever held—certainly in this country. The R.A.C. has erected hundreds of its familiar blue and-white signs to indicate a continuous route from the North of London all the way to Farnborough. The problem of traffic control has been aggravated by two other events in the area; London motorists are therefore asked to follow the indicated routes on both outward and homeward journeys. NORTHERN HEIGHTS MODEL MEETING SINCE its inception in the early 'thirties, the Annual Galaorganized by the Northern Heights Model Flying Club has probably become the most popular event in the diaries of model aircraft enthusiasts. The directors of Hawker Aircraft, Ltd., again made avail- able Langley airfield as the venue for this year's highly suc- cessful meeting held on Sunday, July 2nd. On behalf of all those who took part in and witnessed the contests, Dr. A. P. Thurston, the president of the Northern Heights Model Flying Club, sent a telegram to the Queen: The trustees of the Queen's Cup, the Gala Committee, the officers and members of the Northern Heights Model Flying Club, the directors of Hawker Aircraft, Ltd., the comman- dant, officers and apprentices of Halton, Royal Air Force, the representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Dominion of Canada, the Union of South Africa, the United States of America, the competitors, model flyers, their families and their friends, now gathered together for the Queen's Cup competition at Langley airfield, the Mecca of model flyers, send loyal and affectionate greetings and grate- ful thanks. PETER THURSTON. Her Majesty's reply to Dr. Thurston was as follows: The Queen has received with very great pleasure the message ofloyal and affectionate greetings which you have conveyed on behalf of all those present at Langley airfield to-day. "HerMajesty commands me to thank you all most warmly and to wish you all a most successful Gala Day. MAJOR THOMAS HARVEY, D.S.O., Private Secretary.Approximately 20,000 enthusiasts—for enthusiasts they all were—took part in a thoroughly enjoyable day's flying atLangley. A conservative estimate has placed the number of model aircraft flown during the day at something like 3,000.To an eye-witness most of them appeared to be either in the air or diving earthwards at the same moment. In fact, it wasa brave man who progressed more than a few yards without displaying signs of the proverbial fighter-pilot's "twitch." In a speech made during the prize-giving ceremony, SirRichard Fairey paid tribute to the exceptionally high standard of design and construction. Lady Fairey presented thecoveted Queen's Cup for the duration contest for rubber- powered aircraft to Mr. J. A. Howard of the Kentish NomadsModel Flying Club. Other prizes were handed to their deserv- ing recipients by Lady Violet Bonham-Carter. CIERVA PILOT APPOINTED IT is announced by the Cierva Autogiro Co., Ltd., that, asfrom June 30th, Mr. G. A. Ford has taken up the appoint- ment and duties of chief pilot to the company. Mr. Ford joined the Cierva Company in February this year. DIRECT TRANSATLANTIC SERVICES THE recent announcement that B.O.A.C plans to introducea weekly non-stop London to New York and return service with their Stratocruisers is very welcome, for we are of thefirm opinion that a direct North Atlantic service is required Many travellers find the landings in the early hours of themorning in Ireland and Newfoundland very tiresome; there are obvious time-saving and operational advantages 111 addition On further examination, however, the initial statement, ifaccepted as it stands, is somewhat misleading and needs further qualification. While the carriage of a full complement of60 passengers over the 3,400-mile stage non-stop is a com- paratively easy matter on the eastbound flight, a direct journeyin the opposite direction, with its strong prevailing headwinds, could not be accomplished with any appreciable regularity unlessthe Stratocruisers exceeded their present maximum a.u.w. The true interpretation of B.O.A.C.'s statement is that theservices are only scheduled to be flown non-stop in the east- ward direction; from London to New York at least one stopis planned at either Shannon or Gander. Passengers may leave *t 0900 G.M.T. and arrive in New York at 0255 G.M.T. Thereturn flight departs from New York at 2100 G.M.T. and reaches London at 1000 G.M.T. the following morning. While an a.u.w. increase is known to be under considera-tion by the C.A.A., a recent announcement in this country that it had already been granted is understood to be incorrect.It is interesting to note, however, that, as reported on page 4, the C-97A Stratofreighter (the military version of the Boeing377) was recently flown at a gross weight of 174,500 lb. PRESENTATION DAY AT CRANFIELD IN the company of a large number of most distinguishedguests, the third annual presentation of diplomas and prizes took place at the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield, on Friday, June 30th. The presentations were made by Mr. W. T. Gill. The Governors' Prize was won by Mr. G. S. Henson, as the best all-round student of the two-year course, and the Principal's Prize foi the best piece of original work by a second-year student was awarded to Mr. Robert Westley for his work on the problem of curvilinear supersonic motion. In this connection, Mr. Ernest F. Relf, the Principal of the College, said he thought that Mr. Westley had laid the founda- tion of a great deal of work which must inevitably follow.Other awards were : — Diploma with distinction.—J. E. Daboo, K. D. Harris, W. J.Rainbird, R. Westley (Aerodynamics); S. Butler, C. R. Fletcher, J. W. Fozard, J. E Hart, G. S Henson, H. S. Liner, J. R. Lloyd,K. A. Rowland (Aircraft Design); S. Gray, F/L. J. T. Morris (R.A.F.), G. R. Nicolson (Aircrait Propulsion). Diploma.—C. F.Bee, G W. Bleasdale, A. L. Buchan, B. Caiger, E. C. Carter, T. N. Corkill, F/L. D. Duncan (R.A.F.), A. H. Eldridge, M. D.Hodges, C. G Hughes, E. T, B. Smith, P. M. Somervail, P. E. Watts (Aerodynamics); T Berry, H. Chetwood, K. E. Cheverton,C. Faulkner, Lt. D. M. Hardy (R.N.), R. D. M. Harper, E. E. Labram, A. McKay, Lt. R. K. Midgley (R.N.), Lt. J. A. I. Reid(R.N.), K. O Scott, N. H. Stewart, Lt. D. G. Titford (R.N.), S. Wood (Aircraft Design); W. E. Digweed, R. G. Richards (AircraftEconomics and Production); E. S. Elmolla, J. Finnegan, A. L. R. Fletcher, F. D. Henderson, C. J. J. Jessop, Lt. D. C. McGlashan(R.N.). L J. Stephenson (Aircraft Propulsion). Certificate for c.ie- year advanced course.—E. S. Farris (Aircraft Propulsion and Aero-dynamics); E E Watts (Aircraft Economics and Production). Certificate for one-year course.—F/O. D. J. Cockrell (R.A.F.), F/L.J. N. Quick (R.A.F ). NEW S.B.A.C. PRESIDENTN EWLY elected President of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors for the year 1950-51 is Mr W. T, Gill, C.A., financial director of Rolls-Royce, Ltd. He wit Roy Dobson, the managing director V* * of A. V. Roe, Ltd. Mr. W. T. Gill joined the Rolls- Royce company in 1939 as accountant at their Glasgow factory, and in 1942 was appointed chief accountant of the whole group of factories (Derby, Glasgow, Crewe and Barnoldswick). His appointment as commercial man- ager came in 1945, and as commercial and financial director in 1946. Since that time he has been a member of the council of the S.B.A.C. and its Management Committee. Rotol, Ltd., and Renfrew Foundries, Ltd., are among other companies of which Mr. Gill is a director. Mr. W. T. Gill, C.A. DE HAVILLAND CHAIRMAN RETffiES TPHE retirement of Mr. Alan S. Butler from the chairmanship-*- of the de Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd., and from his directorships of the parent company and associated companies,was announced on June 29th. Mr. Butler had been a director of the de Havilland Co. since ig2i, and chairman since 1924.Mr. F. T. Hearle has been appointed chairman, and Mr. W. E. Nixon deputy chairman of the company.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
