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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 0872.PDF
545 TheBristol Sycamore is seen on a fast run. A helicopter of this type is to be delivered to the R.A.A.F. by Bristol Freighter. Mr. "B/7/" Pegg (right), :' who delighted everyone with his performance on the Bristol Fighter, showed that Brabazon-piloting has not left him ham-fisted. The first aerial performance was that of Ian Forbes in the amazingly spritely Lycoming-powered Miles Aerovan Mk 6. This, of course, is by no means a "has-been" (it was built in 1947), and it offers a challenge which no other machine of its class is yet able to take up with impunity. A.V-M. Don Bennett took time off from his airliners to demonstrate the Youngman-Baynes monoplane, built in 1947 for high-lift research and now operated by Fairflight, Ltd. It has full-span, retractable aerofoil flaps and inset ailerons. Even higher lift was displayed by the "R" type observation balloon of the Balloon Unit, R.A.F. Cardington, which rode the gusts somewhat sickeningly on 700ft of cable. Then a string of four Cody-type man-lifting kites tugged skywards, with a near-relation of Major Sandbags dangling nonchalantly, his moustache "soft-lifted by the winnowing wind." The first British free balloon built since 1933 (a spherical type of 28,000 cubic feet capacity and LI The appealing little M.8.308, with 85 h.p. Continental C-85 engine, was flown—os proclaimed by its registration—from Italy, by Signorina Cassini. with a four-passenger basket) remained deflated. Another non-participant was the airship Bournemouth, which is not yet ready to sally forth from Cardington to crusade in the hghter-than-air cause. Mr. F. G. Irving showed off the lines and capabilities of n Olympia Mk 2 glider in impeccable style, and Mr. C. G. AJington exhibited the dainty form and lively performance pi the Tipsy B. This Fairey presentation was succeeded y a second, involving Mr. Peter Twiss in a Swordfish. blazoned on the fin was the badge of the Aircraft Torpedo development Unit and in the bath-like rear cockpit romped11 ? °f high-spirited passengers. As Twiss threw the silver wingbag" around with nautical verve, these worthies unproved the shining hour by standing on their heads, attempting to embrace the pilot and generally comporting themselves in a diverting manner. Entering into the spirit of the proceedings, Twiss gave himself a batsman's wave-off on one very low run and duly went round again. To many eyes the most beautiful machine present was the Bristol Fighter. In this endearing old war-horse Bill Pegg gave a reminder that he is no mere "Brabazon-basher," but that in his time he has been a fighter pilot and instructor of no mean ability. Signorina Nina Cassini made Italy's charming contribu- tion in the fixed-tricycle Macchi-Bazzocchi MB.308. Name, pilot and aircraft are equally attractive. Hawker's Frank Murphy gave the best performance yet in the 1924 Cherub- engined Hawker Cygnet. Mr. John Fricker took full advantage of the stiff wind and of his 32 h.p. Carden-Ford engine to delight the assembly with his 1936 B.A.C. Drone. Somebody made him a tempting offer for it on the spot. No doubt, also, there were others present who would have been glad to tender a fat cheque for the Sopwith Pup, handled in the true 1916 spirit by R. F. Martin. Another first-rate show was that of H. Watson on the side-by-side Blackburn B.2 trainer of 1934; he was followed by the nimble, parasol-winged, Hirtenberg H.S.9A of 1938, with D. D. Budworth up. A de Havilland Dragon, its cabin populated by trippers, and with T. E. Scott-Chard in the driver's seat, exhibited none of the reluctance of its film-famous kinsman, and Neville Duke, in Hawker's trim blue-and-gold Tom Tit, put on the prettiest aerobatic display of the day. His falling leaf captivated everyone—especially those (and there were many) who had never before witnessed this manreuvre. Mr. F. Bullen, whose renditions, like those of his Hawker chief, Neville Duke, are much appreciated by the con- noisseurs, put the 14,000th Hurricane Last of the Many through an uncompromising sequence of aerobatics with wheels down. His undercarriage light was literally "on the blink," and he was unaware of the source of the extra drag until he had completed his roll. Bristol's C. T. D. H. Hosegood went astern in the Sycamore (171 Mk 3) heli- copter, and then proceeded full ahead at a spanking rate. The Sycamore is an unusually fast, tractable, and good- looking specimen of its kind. In our own view the honours of the day went to Gordon Banner in the Blackburn 1912 monoplane. This oldest inhabitant whirred its way off into the gusting wind, turned cautiously but with determination on to the down-wind leg, and battled its way back into wind for landing. It received the same sort of spontaneous ovation as grandmother is accorded when she concludes her Christmas polka. To close the proceedings Pat Fillingham went through his Chipmunk routine; so the thousands who know it will judge that the afternoon ended on a high note.
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