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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 1872.PDF
BSHB First Aeronautical Weekly in the World m Founded 1909 and AIRCRAFT ENGINEER No. 2181. Vol. LVIII. THURSDAY, 12 OCTOBER. 1950 The dispute with a section of the printing industry in London continues to prevent the normal publication of FLIGHT. A limited-circulation free newsletter ser- vice will be substituted for each missing issue* Periods covered by direct subscriptions will be extended. •. RACING IN RETROSPECT ALL things considered, 1950 has been a remarkably successful year for air racing. Several factors contributed to that success, outstanding among which was the keenness of a nucleus of enthusiasts - the "Throttle-benders Union" - who regularly urged their aircraft round the numerous courses. * With the notable exception of the South Coast event the races have been flown over relatively short closed circuits and, in spite of one or two opinions to the contrary, there is little doubt that point-to-point closed courses based upon one main airfield and not much more than 150 miles in length are best suited to present needs and \ resources. Admittedly such events may not be the best test of all-round airmanship, but they are more agreeable to the great majority of competitors and spectators than the long-distance races. British air racing is an amateur sport, and the cost of preparing an aircraft, of practising; and actually competing bears heavily on many owners and clubs. Moreover, the machines involved - no "hot rod" specials - are for the most part expected to do a reliable work-a-day job betweentimes. ' Although the victors in the newly-introduced South Coast Race received generous cash prixes for their efforts, the reward for winning most of the year*s races would hardly cover the expenses of the day. Additionally, without the voluntary services of very many who may be classified either as central or as local officials, the events could never have been staged at all. The thanks of everyone in flying are due to these people. The decision to split up the annual classics - the Kingfs Cup, the S.B.A.C. Trophy and so on - helped to spread and increase the interest in flying throughout the country, and for this reason was welcomed. Unlike the Americans, who look to their National Air Races as the major aviation get-together of the year, we in Britain have important national flying occasions additional to the races - notably Me R.A.F. and S.B.A.C. Displays and Battle of Britain Week. It is to be hoped that next year it will, on occasions, be possible to reward more adequately the extraordinary efforts of the amateur racing pilots who, month by month during 1950, have coaxed a few miles per hour more out of their willing lightweights in an effort to beat the canny handicappers. Taxation at every stage (air racing receives much the same treatment as horse racing) is the greatest single handicap to such an aspiration. There is no doubt that competition flying - a clean and worthwhile sport - has done much to stimulate interest in the broader aspects of aviation, to improve the breed, and to give an outlet for an immense fund of youthful enthusiasm, surpris- ingly little recognized at Government level. Though the fact may have resulted in a small reduction in attendance from a morbid-minded section of the public, we are thankful to be able to record tfcat in all the brilliant, and at times daring, air exhibitions and races which have taken place over this country during the last two years, there has been no serious or spectacular accident, and but a single fatality aaong the pilots. This must surely be of immense value tb the flying cause.
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