FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1951
1951 - 0475.PDF
9 March 1951 297 matters, including the minimum equipment which has to be carried in stated categories. Requirements do not, however, pre- scribe additional equipment and instruments which must be carried in aircraft for specified flights in particular conditions j these are set out in Air Navigation Regulations. * * * On February 14th Philippine Air Lines celebrated their fifthanniversary. Since 1946 P.A.L. have flown a total of 32,000,000 miles and carried 1,500,000 passengers with an unimpaired safetyrecord. In addition, nearly 57,000,000 lb of cargo have been lifted. An enterprising tour which the company is now organizing isa 16-day shikar to the Chanda, Balghat and Mandla hunting districts of Central India. The tour, which has been arranged inconjunction with Jeena and Co., Ltd., one of Bombay's leading travel agents, costs £431 5s per person, including shooting, witha reduction of over £100 per seat for parties of three or more. The price includes the cost of all hotels, transport, bearers,beaters, game licences, porterage and guides for the expedition. * * • In Eastern Australia, airline crews are experiencing difficulty inreceiving 33 mc/s radio-range signals because of the simultaneous reception of distant range-stations using the same frequency. Insome places interference is so severe that a station is ineffective as a navigational aid until the aircraft is within 30 to 40 miles of it.The cause is attributed to a propagation phenomenon known as "sporadic E-layer effect", and apparently little can be done tocounteract it. The Australian Department of Civil Aviation has warned crews of the need for establishing definitely that thesignals being received are those of the desired station. Thirty V.A.R. ranges, which are unaffected by the layer and which usefrequencies in the 112-118 mc/s band, will shortly be put into operation. FROM THE CLUBS THE Ultra Light Aircraft Association has now decided on theconditions which will govern the issue of its proficiency badges. A bronze wings badge may be given if members can produceevidence of having completed a minimum of five hours' solo on recognized ultra-lights; they must also undergo a practical test offlying skill and a technical examination. A blue enamel wings badge will be obtainable by members who have completed aminimum of 50 hours on ultra-lights and who hold a Private Pilot's Licence. A silver wings badge will be awarded to those whohave completed 100 hours of flying exclusively on ultra-lights; of this total, however, 50 hours may have been flown on gliders ofnot more than 1,200 lb a.u.w. Aspirants to silver wings rank must also produce a certificate of "competency to perform aerobatics" insuitable ultra-light aircraft, and must prove their ability to carry out routine instructions and minor repairs in accordance withmanufacturers' manuals. The Association's highest award, a gold wings badge, will begiven for flights which, in the opinion of the executive committee, are of outstanding merit. The first of these distinctions is beingawarded to Mr. Peter Gooch for his flight in an Aeronca in July, 1949, during the Spanish Rally. The honour of holding the firstsilver badge is to go to G/C. E. L. Mole (until recently chairman of the Association), whose experience and flying time on numerousultra-lights certainly qualifies him for this award. AT the annual general meeting of the Northamptonshire Aero **• Club, held in the club-house at Sywell airfield on February 2ist, the chairman, Councillor C. M. Newton, congratulated members on a successful year from both the flying and social viewpoints. It was disclosed that 22 new flying members had been enrolled and 25 Private and Student Pilots' Licences awarded. The annual totals of hours flown on instruction had risen by 78 dual and 40 solo, an increase which was considered to be very satisfactory, particularly as it was completely accident free. The A.T.C. scholarship scheme is now reported to be running smoothly at Sywell and the club expects that, this year, more cadets will be allocated to it for training to P.P.L. standard. OUT OF DOCK: The last Hendy Heck in this country, G-AEGI, has finally emerged from the protracted convalescence which followed its argument with a Spitfire after last year's King's Cup race at Wo/ver- hampton. It suffered severe damage, and a suitable repair scheme was prepared only when its owner contacted Mr. Basil 8. Henderson, who was responsible for the original design of the type. The Hendy Heck will be taking the air again shortly. FOR FRENCH CONSUMPTION: As mentioned on this page, a number of these neat little two-seat Sipa 901 trainers are shortly to be delivered to French flying clubs. The aircraft made its first appearance in 1948. A NUMBER of Sipa 901 two-seat trainers will shortly bedelivered to flying clubs throughout France and the French Union. Nineteen machines have already been completed, ten ofwhich are now undergoing delivery tests at Villacoublay. It is hoped that 40 aircraft will be ready by the end of March and thatsubsequently deliveries will be made at the rate of 15 per month. A photograph of this versatile little machine, which is poweredby a 75 h.p. Minie engine, appears on this page. "EVIDENCE of the valuable part which a personal aircraft can •*—' play in the work of a tea-planter comes from Mr. J. W. Collins, who recently returned to this country on holidav from Assam. In 1947, the year in which he learnt to fly, Mr. Collins pur-chased on his own initiative an Auster Autocrat, which he flew out to Assam with an ex-R.A.F. pilot as navigator. The aircraft wasplaced at the disposal of the plantation owners, and its constant use in subsequent months soon persuaded the company to takeover the machine. An extensive earthquake which occurred soon afterwards gavethe Auster an opportunity to more than justify its existence. In the floods which followed the earthquake, labourers sheltering in"leaf-houses" were fed and cared for by supply-drops of food and medical stores. In the early days of Mr. Collins' 'plantation flying," landingswere made on paddy fields, but landing strips were eventually con- structed and there are now 16 throughout the tea gardens. Dis-tricts which were completely isolated are now visited regularly for the purpose of delivering telegrams, mail and supplies. Althoughexpert maintenance has not been available for the Auster, which has been used almost every day for business purposes, the onlydefect reported to date has been the fraying of a brake-cable. Flying over the tea areas has also enabled the planters to spotmore easily the patches where the tea-plant is not growing satis- factorily and which, therefore, warrant a more detailed examinationon foot. The checking of thefts of firewood, timber and thatch by natives outside the estates has been another part of the Auster'swork. On one occasion the aircraft crossed a 6,000ft saddle-back mountain to visit the Apa Tani plateau, between Assam and Tibet,inhabited by a race which has had little contact with the outside world. In fact, so useful has Mr. Collins' Autocrat proved to hisfirm that it has since been decided to purchase an Autocrat and an Aiglet to improve communications throughout the tea gardens.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
