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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 0817.PDF
512 FLIGHT FROM THE CLUBS IN the House of Commons on April 18th, the Secretary ofState for Air announced that the number of A.T.C. Flying Scholarships to be awarded in the current financial year was tobe increased to 300. The scheme has now been in operation for a little more thannine months and results to date suggest that it is proving to be an unqualified success. In a recent report the A.B.A.C. says that theattendance and discipline of the cadets has been excellent and that, with few exceptions, they have shown above-average aptitude. When the scheme was introduced it was stated that its primaryobject was to assist the flying clubs because of their "indirect value" to the Royal Air Force. Since these scholarships havebeen granted, however, the R.A.F. has already received very direct benefits from the large number of cadets who havesignified their intention of joining the Service. From the view- point of the clubs, many of whom were on the verge of closingdown, the scheme has proved of great value. Though the margin of profit from training cadets is not great, it has enabled overheadcosts to be spread; and in several cases it has undoubtedly per- mitted the continued operation of clubs which would otherwisehave closed. Up to January 31st this year, 210 cadets had been allocatedto some 34 clubs; the largest allocation—37—was that to the Strathtay Aero Club. Of the total, 95 had qualified for PrivatePilot's Licences, a further 67 had gone solo and only 12 had been suspended as being unlikely to qualify within the required period. The A.B.A.C. is of the opinion that the large number of cadetssuccessfully trained during the six-month period, most of which was rendered particularly difficult by bad weather, shows that alarge increase in the scheme could be effected immediately. It is thought that as many as 750 cadets a year would be well withinthe immediate capacity of the clubs. (This view was expressed before the Commons statement, quoted above, was made.) Among the direct benefits which have been noticed, the reportmentions the fact that competition for the scholarships has tended to increase the keenness and standard of proficiency throughoutthe A.T.C. Every cadet trained, except one, has been accepted by the Aircrew Selection Board. Apart from shortening theperiod necessary for ex-A.T.C. cadets to qualify as aircrew in the R.A.F., the scheme is said to have produced an increase in thenumber of applicants for regular commissions. Also, as a result of tests carried out by the Home Command Examining Unit ofboth club instructors and cadets, it has been ascertained that the training at all clubs achieved a standard which was in every wayacceptable as a pre-entry training qualification for the R.A.F. From many other quarters also, Flight has heard the scholarshipscheme acclaimed, and it is to be hoped that in due course the Air Council will be able to effect a more substantial increase in thenumber of scholarships awarded. On April 25th, incidentally, the president of the Royal AeroClub, Lord Brabazon, personally presented Aviator's Certificate No. 2700 to Cadet A. Smith, of No. 131 (Newcastle) Squadronof the A.T.C. Cadet Smith was the hundredth pilot to obtain a certificate under the scholarship scheme. SKI-TUG : In Sweden a novel use has been found for this Cierva C.30 Autogho, which is apparently still in good flying order. Ski-ing enthusiasts need no longer dread the weary haul to the top of the slope: they merely hitch themselves to a tow-line and the Autogiro does the rest. AT the completion—on March 31st—-of its fourth year of>• operation, the total of hours recorded by the Southend Municipal Flying School stood at 8,240. Last year's figure (1,687)was rather below the average and was attributed to the poor weather experienced throughout the year. The School's Proctor has now been permanently withdrawn from service and one Auster placed in reserve. The aircraft at present in use are three Austers and two ultra-lights. The fourth Auster will be brought back into service in the summer months if business is sufficiently brisk. Recently the Motor Tutor was flown to Liverpool and back, taking less than three hours in each direction. The School announces, also, that a "tea patrol" is being organized for Saturday, May 12th, when visiting pilots are invited to penetrate the Southend "defence zone" between 4.30 and 5 p.m. This event will be followed, in the evening, by a dance and social in the club-house. THE Kemsley Flying Trust has awarded the remaining 20 gnsof its Winter Gliding Prize to Mr. D. G. Ince, chief instructor of the Midland Gliding Club, for a flight of 100 miles from Church Stretton, Shropshire, to Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, on March 27th. Two other flights which were specially commended were made by Mr. G. H. Stevenson and Mr. J. H. Currie, who achieved distances of 83 and 59 miles respectively. FORTHCOMING EVENTS Apr. Apr. May May May May May May May May May May June June June June June June June June June July June June June July June July July Julv July July 28.29. 5-8. 6. 12-14. 13-14. 14. 19. 19. 20. 26. 26. 2-4. 2. 3. 8-10. 9. 910. 10. 15-18. 15- 1. 24. 27-28. 31- 1. 30- 2. 1. 4-11. 7. 7. Exeter Aero Club Rally. First International Helicopter Competition, Italy. Foire de Paris Rally, Toussus-le-Noble. R.Ae.S.: Garden Party, White Waltham. Aero-Club de France: Champagne Rally. S.M.A.E. International Model Competitions. S.S.A.F.A.: Air Display, Hucknall, Notts. Derby Aero Club: "At Home" and Flying Display. Helicopter Association: Annual General Meeting. Kent Coast Flying Club: "At Home" (sponsored by A.B.A.C.). Newcastle-on-Tyne Air Display. Wolverhampton Aero Club: "At Home" and Goodyear Trophy Race. Yorkshire Aeroplane Club: Internationa! Rally. Auster Flying Club: Rally, Rearsby. Auster-Ragosine Homing Trophy, Rearsby. Air Circuit of Sicily. Rally and Race, Fairwood Common Aerodrome, Swansea. Royal Air Forces Association: Annual Conference, Torquay. Lancashire Aero Club: "At Home" (sponsored by A.B.A.C.). Royal Danish Aero Club: International Rally. Paris Aero Show. International Rally, Pisa, Italy. Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences: Annual Summer Meeting, Los Angeles. Cognac International Rally, France. R.Ae.C.: Members" Deauville Rally. International Rally, Savona, Italy. F.A.I. Committee Meetings, Brussels. S.S.A.F.A.: Air Display, Prestwick. Aero-Club de Savoie: International Rally, Aix-les-Bains, France. July 7-8. R.Ae.C: Members' La Baule Rally. July 7-8. International Wakefield Cup Model Contests. Finland. July 14. Bristol Corporation: Air Race Meeting. July 14. S.M.A.E. Festival of Britain Model Championships, Wembley Stadium. July 15-18. Royal Danish Aero Club: Rally. July 15-22. Aero Club of Italy: International Air Week. July 16-20. Aeronautical Union of Jugoslavia: International Parachute- jumping Competitions. July 19-21. R.Ae.C.: International Rally-and "Fifty Years of Aviation" Display and Exhibition. July 22. Luton Flying Club: "At Home" (sponsored by A.B.A.C.). July 22-29. National Gliding Championships, Camphill, Gt. Hucklow, Derbyshire. July 29. Columbus Centenary Rally, Genoa. Aug. 4-5. Aero-Club de Touraine: International Rally, Tours, France. Aug. 6. Daily Express Challenge Trophy International Air Race, Shoreham Airport, Sussex. Aug. 18. International Air Circuit of Switzerland. Aug. 18. Wiltshire Flying Club: Thruxton to Isle of Wight Air Race. A.'g. 19. Yorkshire Aeroplane Club: "At Home" (sponsored by A.B.A.C.). Aug. 25-26. International Air Circuit of the Dolomites, Italy. Sept. 2. A.B.A.C. Summer Convention. Sept. 3-7. R.Ae.S. and I.Ae.S.: Third Anglo-American Aeronautical Conference, Brighton. Sept. 3-8. International Congress of Astronautics. Sept. 10-16. Battle of Britain Week. Sept. 11-16. S.B.A.C.: Flying Display and Exhibition, Farnborough. " Sept. 15-16. International Rally, Parme, Biarritz, France. Sept. 25. Milan International Grand Prix. Oct. 31. R.Ae.C.: Jubilee Ball. Dec. 17. Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences: Fifteenth Wright Brothers' Lecture, Washington. D.C.
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