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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 1577.PDF
FLIGHT, 24 August 1950 211 (Abave) Beautifully flown by Neville Duke, the last Hurricanetook third place at 295 m.p.h. Commandant Perrier's indi- vidualist Stampe (righr) flies past in characteristic attitude. Gipsy-powered Gemini and the dainty cream-and-redSparrowhawk of Geoffrey Alington. Neville Duke's royal blue Hurricane, The Last of The Many (Princess Margaret's entry for the King's Cup) was still waiting on the runway when the other six competitors completed their first lap—still in order of take-off. Jem- mett's Hawk Trainer fell back* in the second lap and Dunkerley moved in to lead the field as the last lap began. The Hurricane, with a smoky black trail hinting at high boost pressures, began its second circuit at this point; it overhauled the Hawk Trainer just before the pylon, which it negotiated in exemplary style. The other aircraft made their second appearance—again in order of take-off—and a second impressive cornering by the Hurricane introduced the period of final speculation, for the winner would now be the first to appear. At five o'clock, eyes were strained to identify the solitary speck coming in low from the south-west. It proved to be Dunkerley's Gemini—an unchallenged winner. After a surprisingly long interval the Nighthawk, Hurricane and Gipsy-Gemini, in orderly sequence, took second, third and fourth places. Shortly afterwards, the Sparrowhawk and Proctor hurried across the field and the non-arrival of Jemmett's Hawk Trainer was satisfactorily explained by the news that it had forced-landed on Rhossili Beach. Dunkerley—a particularly deserving winner, since he has been a keen but unwinning competitor at several meetings this year—reported a smooth, uneventful ride and perfect performance by his hard-working Cirrus engines. His Gemini—as always—was beautifully polished, faired and taped-up, but there was no visual evidence as to how he had increased his King's Cup speed of 158.5 m.p.h., remarkable in itself, by 4 m.p.h.—and the pilot himself (perhaps with an eye to future races) maintained a canny silence. Neville Duke, incidentally, added 12 m.p.h. to the " Wolverhampton " speed of his Hurricane, but to no avail. Immediately after the race the Apex Group of three para- chutists baled out of a Rapide at about 2,000ft and by superb judgment and hard shroud-pulling contrived to make a soft landing on one of the few grass areas on the airfield. The flying display programme, painstakingly organized by Mr. John Fricker, ended in fitting style with "Dumbo " Willans' solo jump from a Magister. Trophies and prizes were presented by Mr. D. Martin Evans-Bevan, the president of the meeting. Lift and drag : Guy Baker (right) in the veteran Cierva C.30 autogiro,and (below) Ranald Porteous caresses the ground with one wheel of his Autocrat's Goodyear castering undercarriage.
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