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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 1455.PDF
FLIGHT, 23 May 1952 Another type used by the R.A.F.G.S.A. is—in addition to the T.31 two-seater trainer—the Sedbergh two-seater trainer. In the picture on the right is the Association's Weihe, which was taken to France last year to explore the St. Auban standing wave. With it are S/L A. R. Williams and GjC. G. J. Paul, D.F.C., chairman of the Association. An article on the St. Auban trip appeared in "Flight" of November 9th, 1951. SERVICE GLIDING . . . by Bomber, Coastal and Technical Training Commands, and by 90 Group, the incorporation into the Association of the old 12 Group Gliding Club, first formed at Middleton St. George in 1945; and the creation of the "Moonrakers Gliding Club" in the West of England; this latter is of special interest, having been formed by the banding together of the resources of a number of units in the area, and thus forming the prototype of the club on which the second and latest reorganization has been based. The first reorganization was followed by a period of growth and consolidation, during which the total numbers of aircraft available increased, from the original two, to 25 by the end of 1951; these included many Cadets, a Weihe, a Gull II, a Gull IV, an Olympia, three Sedberghs and four T.31S, two of these being under con struction from kits of parts. By the middle of 1950 it had become evident that the existing organization (at that time based upon Commands), while having the advantage of following the normal chain of R.A.F. Command, and responsibility, failed to make best use of the increased facilities becoming available. The R.A.F. Command system at home is, of course, designed on a functional basis, with the geographical areas of interest of each Command overlapping; thus, to apportion R.A.F.G.S.A. resources by Commands was uneconomical. The decision was therefore made to organize the constituent clubs upon a purely geographical basis, locating them in such a way as to secure the most even distribution of facilities amongst the R.A.F. population of the country, and at the same time making membership of each club open to all members of the R.A.F. and W.R.A.F. of whatever Command or unit within the area. As a result of this decision, there are now seven clubs, together comprising the R.A.F.G.S.A. and one associate club. The seven clubs are located re spectively at Balado in Scotland; Middleton Saint George, County Durham; Bri dgnorth, Shropshire; Scampton, Lines; Watton in Nor folk; Boscome Down, Wilts; and Compton Bassett, Wilts; the associate club is that at the R.A.E., Farn- borough, this status having been adopted on account of the special conditions pre vailing there, which make it impossible for the club to comply with the conditions of full membership of the R.A.F.G.S.A. by being open to all comers from other units. Within the limits prescribed by the Association's stand- Locations of stations in England and Scotland at which member-clubs of the R.A.F.G.S.A. are at present operating. The stations are underlined. ing orders, each club is fully responsible for, and independent in, the conduct of its own affairs, and elects its own officials and committees. The aim in equipping each club has been to provide it with a minimum establishment of one good sailplane, two elementary single-seater gliders, and one two-seater equipped for dual instruction. At present the R.A.F.G.S.A. fleet consists of the following aircraft:— Sailplanes.—Weihe, Gull II (two-seater awaiting C. of A.), Gull IV, Eon Olympia, Gull I. Two-seaters (Dual).—Five Slingsby T.31S (two under construc tion from kits of parts), two Slingsby Sedberghs, one Falcon II. Medium and Elementary Single-Seaters.—Ten Slingsby Cadets, one Kirby Kite, one Slingsby Tutor, one Slingsby Prefect, one Eon Baby. This makes a total of 27 aircraft. Of these, the Weihe and the Gull II are in rather a special category, and are unsuitable for use as standard club sailplanes in the Association's present state of development; the Weihe is at present under overhaul, on comple tion of which it will be located at Turnhouse, under the direct control of F/L. Forbes, where it is hoped that he, and other suitably qualified members of the Association, will be able to explore the interesting standing waves which are frequently reported to occur in that area. A decision upon the future of the Gull II awaits its receipt of a certificate of airworthiness and subsequent return from its makers, in whose hands it now is. It will thus be seen that, in order to complete the new organisation, the Association requires five new sailplanes, and their purchase is the next immediate objective of the R.A.F.G.S.A. committee. The present position has not been achieved without exertion, and it is worth remarking upon that, since every gain has been the outcome of members' personal efforts in their spare time, there are no "passengers" in the organisation; those who belong are driven by an insatiable enthusiasm. Members look forward now to a period of consolidation by the seven existing clubs, during which each must grow in vigour and size, until it, in turn, reaches the point where it can expand again, in the same way as did the initial foundation at Detling. The final aim, when achieved, should see the Association so. organized and so equipped as to be able to offer to any airman of any trade, provided he is possessed of initiative and determination, a fair opportunity to qualify as an R.A.F.G.S.A. pilot. Those interested now should refer to Air Ministry Order N.245/52. G. J. C. P. ASLIB'S PROGRESS SOME indication of the wide scope of work now being con ducted by the information and documentation service known as Aslib is contained in the annual report, recently issued. Of its "special groups," and of that covering the aeronautical field in particular, the organization has this to say:— "A start was made early in 1951 towards forming the first of a number of special groups, each representing a particular interest. The Aeronautical Group was formed not on Aslib's initiative but at the instigation of members of the aeronautical industry, and it says much for the group's vigour that it has already secured sub stantial recognition outside Aslib. About 100 representatives of the industry attended its inaugural meeting at the R.A.E., Farn- borough. The Royal Aeronautical Society generously gave up one of its main winter meetings to a joint meeting with the group on 'The availability and use of aeronautical information,' and valuable relations were established with foreign organizations . . . "The Aeronautical Group has set up working parties to con sider abstracting, the indexing of aerodynamic data and the com pilation of a union list of periodicals." The headquarters of Aslib are at 4 Palace Gate, London W.8.
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