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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 0794.PDF
364 CIVIL AVIATION . . . FLIGHT AVIATION FROM THE CLUBS GEMINI WITH A DIFFERENCE : The Hon. Max Aitken's Gemini IIIB, to which reference is made on page 356 of this issue. Similar to the Gemini III A in that it has Gipsy Major 10 engines, this aircraft is fitted with split flaps. OEADING the chairman's 1951 report at the annual general -I*- meeting of the Royal Aero Club last week in the absence of Mr. Whitney Straight, Mr. S. Kenneth Davies (vice chairman) said that the Records, Racing and Competitions Committee, under the chairmanship of Major Mayo, had distributed over 1,000 entry forms to all parts of the world for the 1953 England-Christchurch Air Race. Great interest was being taken in the event, which was assuming a r61e of great significance. The report continued : "The Royal Aero Club owes a great debt to Viscount Kemsley, who through the Kemsley Flying Trust has so generously contributed to the sport of aviation and especially to the gliding movement in this country." The Trust would support an ambitious meeting once again this year, when the National Air Races would be flown at Newcastle-upon-Tyne on July 1 ith and 12th. Mr. Davies went on to say that, despite the ever-increasing cost of living, air racing had so far not shown any decline in popularity. The report paid tribute to the way in which the R.Ae.C. Air Touring Department had been constantly engaged in efforts to overcome the increasing recession in private flying. Although the activities of private pilots did not appear noticeably less, the num ber of Customs Carnets issued showed a marked decrease; the 1951 figure of 536 compared badly with that of 921 in 1947; this was undoubtedly attributable to the general economic and financial situation. In an endeavour to encourage more air touring, the R.Ae.C. had recommended to the F.A.I, in 1950 that a one- journey carnet should be introduced. The proposal was approved and this carnet was now available for British pilots. Valid for three months, it cost only £1 and entitled the holder to fly overseas, tour in one country and return to the U.K. Mr. Davies went on to say that the R.Ae.C. was considering the issue of four classes of Royal Aero Club Pilots' Certificates as an incentive and as a recognition of experience above the P.P.L. standard. Other points mentioned in the report were that Club member ship—there had been a slight increase in the number of associate members—now stood at 1,880, and that the accounts again showed a slight surplus for the year. This latter point reflected credit on all concerned and particularly on Col. Devereux and the Finance Committee. Mr. Whitney Straight's report concluded with the words : "I have had the honour and privilege of serving you as chairman for the past six years. I now think it is time for someone else to take my place, and consequently I am not seeking re-election for the forthcoming year. Your committee will elect a new chairman at their next meeting." A GENERAL meeting of the Ultra Light Aircraft Association •**• is to be held at White Waltham Aerodrome at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 3rd. This happily coincides with the second rally of the Vintage Aeroplane Club and may well result in both organizations gaining new members, for there is inevitably a close connection between the two. TT is now officially announced that the Daily Express South Coast A Air Race—which, as recorded in Flight recently, is to take place on August 2nd—will be held at Shoreham. Organized on lines approximating to those of last year, the race will start from Shoreham Airport, cover a similar course, and finish at Brighton West Pier. Further particulars will shortly be available from the Royal Aero Club. HTHE Fair Oaks Flying Club has so far this year logged a total of •*- over 300 hours on its fleet of Tiger Moths, Magisters and Autocrats. During January, five Private Pilots' Licences were awarded; another was gained in February, and two more pupils will shortly be taking their tests. All these licences were gained by A.T.C. cadets. It appears that ordinary members—as at most other clubs—take anything from three months to three years to gain their P.P.L.s; as if this were not enough, Fair Oaks—once again in company with many other clubs—are seriously considering having to raise the present instruc tional rate of £3 an hour, in view of the increased cost of petrol. The A.T.C. cadets are completing their training up to licence standard in something like 35 hours over a period of sometimes less than a month—an achievement of which Mr. Arthur, the C.F.I., is justifiably proud. The secretary of the club has intimated that a flying display similar to that held last year is to be staged during the coming season; particulars will be announced later. Air Racing Championship HTHE Royal Aero Club announces a very practical incentive for -*- pilots to enter more races during the coming season: it takes the form of a system whereby the British pilot who scores the greatest number of points in nominated races during 1952 will be declared British Air Racing Champion. With this title will go the award of the Royal Aero Club Jubilee Trophy and £100; the two runners-up will receive £50 and £25 respectively. The club hopes that this innovation will encourage greater interest in air racing and attract a considerably larger number of entrants. Briefly, the championship involves the award of points, pro portional to the number of starters and based on the place attained in each of certain races. The nominated events are the Goodyear Trophy (Wolverhampton, May 17th); Grosvenor Challenge Cup or Norton-Griffiths Challenge Trophy or Kemsley Challenge Trophy or Air League Challenge Trophy (Newcastle upon Tyne, July nth); King's Cup (Newcastle upon Tyne, July 12th); Daily Express Trophy (Shoreham, August 2nd); and die Siddeley Chal lenge Trophy (Baginton, August 23rd). Pilots need not fly the same aircraft in each of the races, nor need they compete in all of them, though to be eligible for the championship they must compete in at least two. If a race is flown in heats, points will be awarded only to those pilots who finish in the final. The trophy will not be awarded unless a mini mum of three of the nominated races takes place. The nominated races will be classified as "A," "B," "C" or "D," depending on the number of starters in each, e.g. an A- category race will be one in which six or fewer aircraft start; B, 7-15; C, 16-30; D, 31 and over. Twelve points will be awarded to the winner of an A race, 17 for a B, 22 for a C and 27 for a D. Applying this system to the 1950 season, the results would have been: Dunkerley, 79 points; Somers, 72; Rush, 69; and Paine, 60. In 1951 the scoring would have been: Wood, 45; Paine, 42; Hayhow, 40; and Jemmett, 31. Thus the pilot who is finally declared champion will in effect be the one who has attained the highest average placing throughout the year. The result of each of the nominated races will indicate how far each pilot is towards winning the championship. Apr. 4. Apr. 6. Apr. 15. Apr. 21-24. Apr. 22. April 22-24. Apr. 24. May 3. May 3-10. May 5. May 5-16. May 10. 10-11 FORTHCOMING EVENTS College of Aeronautics: Senior Common Room Society's Annual Dinner. London Aeroplane Club: Dawn Patrol and A.G.M. R.Ae.C.: Film Show. S.A.E. Aeronautic Meeting, New York. R.Ae.S. Graduates' and Students' Section: "Servomechanisms." by F. H. Borlace, B.Sc.(Eng.), Grad.R.Ae.S. R.A.F. Golfing Society: Spring Meeting. Walton Heath R.Ae.S.: "Fuel Systems for Turbine-driven Aircraft," by J. E. Walker, A.F.R.Ae.S. (at Luton). Vintage Aeroplane Club: Rally, White Waltham. F.A.I.: Committee Meetings, Madrid. I.A.T.A.: Fifth Annual Technical Conference, Copenhagen. , British Industries Fair. , Exeter Aero Club: Display. • 'Association des Amis de I'Aumoneries Rally. de I'Air: Cathedrals
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