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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 1054.PDF
478 FLIGHT, 18 April 1952 FROM THE CLUBS ON Sunday, April 6th, the London Aeroplane Club staged itS first dawn patrol of the season beneath heavy skies and with the promise of gales approaching from the south-west. The weather obviously acted as a deterrent to many would-be attackers and as we approached Panshanger only one solitary defender—an L.A.C. Tiger Moth—was in sight, with no trace of the breakfast-hunters. However, within a few minutes the sky gave evidence of a group of hungry pilots from White Waltham and another from Denham; a small contingent had arrived from Herts and Essex; Southend was well represented, and by 0930 hr some 15 machines were firmly chocked and picketed outside the club house. We ourselves were unfortunately unable to escape the eagle-eye of that lone Tiger Moth's pilot, but nevertheless watched enviously as the five lucky pilots were each refunded their "prize money." Those who successfully penetrated the defences were: Mr. Varcoe from White Waltham, in Messenger G-AKKG; Mr. Cooper, also from White Waltham (Fairey Flying Club) in Magister G-AKUA; G-AIGE, an Autocrat from Southend, with the airport manager, Mr. Collins, at the controls; Dr. James, who battled his way against 35 m.p.h. head-winds from Southend in the diminutive Chilton; and, another brave attacker, G-ALMA, Mr. Hayward's Piper Cub from Broxbourne, flown by Mr. Roberts. On emerging from the R.A.F.V.R. Mess, having enjoyed a first-rate breakfast, the visitors were greeted by the promised gale, visibility of less than a mile and a cloud base of 200-300 ft. A few of the more intrepid aviators decided to crawl home between the hills—though some returned within minutes—but the majority remained convinced that the warm fire and comfortable armchairs of the club lounge were called for, and with little prospect of the weather clearing before midday the chance of an impromptu lunch patrol being held seemed probable. And so it turned out. THE Southend Flying School, whose financial year ended on March 31st, logged a total of 1,827 hr flying during that period on its fleet of three Austers augmented by a Dart Kitten and a Proctor. The flying time for March amounted to over 97 hr. Since the beginning of the year three members have been awarded their P.P.Ls. and some 24 pupils are now under instruc tion, including three who are studying for their Commercial Pilots' Licences. With the new approach talk-down system, and equipment for night-flying—two of the three Austers are fitted with radio and one with two-stage amber—the S.F.C. is logging a consider able number of instrument-flying hours and approach training. Incidentally, Southend are eager to hear of any other flying school or club, with night-flying facilities, who would be interested in co-operating in nocturnal cross-country flights. Any such organization would necessarily have to be within, say, 30 or 40 miles from Southend. Mr. S. G. Smith, until recently the school's C.F.I., has now taken up a similar post at Plymouth and in his place Southend is shortly to welcome a Mr. Wales from Australia; Mr. Collins, the airport manager, is meanwhile carrying on as C.F.I. The dawn patrol at Panshanger, mention of which is made above, was supported by the S.F.C. in strength, and in addition to the entire club fleet two privately owned machines also arrived. Three Austers from Southend, incidentally, all made use of their radio on the return journey. As is the case with other flying clubs situated with easy access to Customs clearance, the S.F.C. is planning to organize Con tinental cross-country flights for its pupils during the coming season; this may be considerably cheaper in the long run than local cross-countries, in addition to which the pupil will receive the navigational and other benefits obtainable from flying abroad. A similar programme is also being planned by Mr. Cotter, whose "Penguin Squadron" flying school now operates from Gatwick. FOLLOWING the agreement given by the M.C.A. to repre sentations initiated by the Association of British Aero Clubs and Centres in 1950, to the effect that the F.A.I. Aviators' Certifi cate should no longer be a pre-requisite for the issue of a Private Pilot's Licence, two further concessions have now been obtained, one in connection with the validation of pilots' licences issued by countries which are members of I.C.A.O. and the other concerning the requirement for a photograph to be affixed to the P.P.L. An extension until the end of 1952 has been granted in con nection with the suspension of the requirement for validation of Licences imposed by Article 21 of the A.N.O., 1949, and the A.B.A.C. draws attention to a statement which it issued last April: "In giving the concession, the M.C.A. has been influenced NEW U.S. TWIN : The Piper Twin-Stinson, mention of which was made in "Flight" recently, is now on flight-test for production next year. Powered by two 135 h.p. Lycomings, this four-seater has a cruising speed of 150 m.p.h,, range of 720 miles and estimated cost of £8,900. by the understanding that normally certain checks are imposed by the clubs on visiting pilots and that the following practice would be adopted by the clubs as a standard and long-standing practice : (1) The club ensures that the visiting pilot has a valid licence (issued by a country that is a member of I.C.A.O.). (2) The visiting pilot is required to demonstrate to a club instruc tor by a flight of approximately 15 minutes' duration his com petence to handle an aircraft of the type he desires to fly. (3) The visiting pilot is required to satisfy a club instructor that he is familiar with the Air Traffic Regulations of the U.K. and the Flying Control Rules at the aerodrome on the routes to be flown." The A.B.A.C. hopes that, provided clubs take all necessary precautions to ensure that pilots with foreign licences operate to a satisfactory standard of safety, the M.C.A. will at the end of the current year make permanent this waiver of the requirement for validation. An amendment to the requirement for a photograph to be affixed to the P.P.L. is shortly to be issued by the M.C.A. With the redundancy of the Aviator's Certificate so far as the P.P.L. is concerned, the abolition of the photograph and the extension of the waiver of validation of Pilots' Licences issued abroad, the A.B.A.C. (which initiated the negotiations with the M.C.A. for all three concessions) can claim to have taken yet another step towards simplifying and cheapening private flying. "POURING March the Strathtay Aero Club's flying time *-* amounted to 74 hr 50 min, bringing the total since Janu ary 1st to 271 hr 30 min. Weather during these three months has been particularly bad in the Strathtay area, but, nevertheless, the S.A.C. has managed to keep pace with the flying times of its Southern contemporaries—in fact, it can claim to have exceeded the totals of many of them. On Sunday, March 30th, heavy snowstorms in the Forth area prevented members of the club from attacking Macmerry Aerodrome, where a tea patrol was being held. AIR-RACE NEWS ENTRY forms for both the Speed and Transport Handicap Sections of the England-New Zealand Air Race, to be flown in October, 1953, have now been issued by the Royal Aero Club. Entries must be received by January 31st, 1953. Forms are-now available, also, for the National Air Races and the Goodyear Trophy Race. In connection with the National Races, the Secretary-General of the Royal Aero Club has announced that provisional reservation has been made for a number of rooms at the County Hotel, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 1, for those competitors desiring accom modation, and that a list of other hotels is available on request. The County Hotel will be the headquarters of the Royal Aero Club officials, and transport for competitors will be arranged from this hotel to and from the airport on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 10th, nth and 12th. Completed entry forms for the National Air Races must reach the Royal Aero Club not later than May 19th. The Goodyear Trophy Air Race, to be held at Wolverhampton Airport on May 17th, will be the first of the eight nominated air races which are eligible for the British Annual Air Racing Championship. Entry forms for this contest are available from Mr. L. E. T. Barley at the Wolverhampton Aero Club, and the closing date for entries is April 30th. The number of entries for this race will be limited and application should therefore be made as early as possible.
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