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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 1697.PDF
"Flight" photographs A three-nation trio demonstrated: (left to right) The Swedish Saab Safir, German Fieseler Storch and the Canadian de Havilland Beaver. value. Fairey test pilot M. R. V. Morris took up the little Fairey Junior (Walter Mikron) in a loop straight off the deck; then, having completed the loop and thus brought himself back to spectator-level, he proceeded to give the remainder of his demon stration at that altitude (if altitude be the word), one or other of OO-ULA's distinctive low-aspect-ratio wings alternately fanning the grass in near-vertical turns. Two de Havilland products, Canadian and British, were demonstrated in company—a Beaver, G-ALOW (Wasp Junior) and a Chipmunk, G-ALWB (Gipsy Major 10), were flown by D. B. Taylor and Pat Fillingham. Taking off together, they then separ ated and made their passes in opposite directions. All those who had read of the exploits of Beavers in various backs-of-beyond, but had never seen the aircraft in the flesh, were soon able to gain some idea of why it is such a dependable maid-of-all-work. Next the stilty Fieseler Storch (Argus inverted vee-eight) with its greenhouse-like cockpit enclosure (adorned inside with earnest texts, in large red letters, e.g., "HAVE YOU TURNED THE PETROL OFF?") took off with a Meise glider (the original German Olympia) on tow. The Storch, owned by the R.A.E., was flown by S/L. J. L. Sowrey, a Farnborough pilot, and in the cock pit of the Meise was Lt-Cdr. G. A. J. Goodhart, who will be a reserve pilot in the British team in Spain. Having been cast off at about 3,000ft, Goodhart descended in a series of loops and stall turns, finishing with a beat-up in which he reached 120 kt along the front of the enclosure. Sowrey then proceeded to stall the Storch (which can fly at 30 m.p.h.), purposely stopping his engine; but when he dived to re-start it nothing happened— there was it seems, on this particular occasion, a sudden lack of ignition, so what looked like a demonstration dead-stick landing was in fact a forced one. The remaining helicopter demonstration was by D. Colvni of Westlands with the S.51, G-ALIK, which had been kept busy during the various tea intervals in giving joy-rides. We have never seen any helicopter keep quite so literally still in mid-air. A "rescuer"—we believe it was Lt-Cdr. J. S. Sproule—was lowered by winch to the ground. The final demonstration—unadvertised—was by an aircraft which brought acute attacks of nostalgia to many present—the Gloster Gladiator G-AMRK, one of the two existing aircraft of this type which Flightways, Ltd., of Eastleigh, have "cannibal ised." Like Mistinguett, this shapely lady has kept time at bay : and her slim legs (the comparison remains apt) are as graceful as in the days when Mr. Dowty's internally sprung wheels gave the Gauntlet the cleanest undercarriage ever. Flown by V. H. Bellamy, the biplane swept round at well over 200 m.p.h., the dis tinctive note of the Bristol Mercury as evocative of pre-war (and early war) Service days as the compact silhouette of the aircraft itself. Among aircraft shown statically were one of the Slingsby Sky sailplanes which will represent Britain in the international contests; the Avro XIX "radio classroom" owned by the College of Aero nautics; two Dart Kittens; and Tom Hayhow's Aiglet—complete with Decca Navigator, lots of radio, and roller-map case fixed on top of the joystick. , In conclusion, three bouquets must be awarded—to G/C. R. G. Slade, who was in control of the smoothly run flying; to B. J. Hurren, for a well-balanced commentary; and to whoever com piled the unusually informative printed programme. OTHER WEEK-END EVENTS Rearsby Defies the Rain AN unusually full and varied programme of events planned for the Auster Flying Club's air display at Rearsby on Saturday was much marred by extremely bad weather—continuous drizzle and an average cloud-base of 300ft. Even so, twenty of the items were carried through on schedule and some 5,000 enthusiasts were there to see them. Everyone was agreed that the oustanding event of the afternoon was the display by F/O. A. J. A. Ellwood, flying a Meteor 4 from No. 203 A.F.S., Driffield. In fact, he made two appearances during the programme, landing at Wymes-wold in between. In the quite appalling weather F/O. Ellwood, who is son of Air Marshal Sir Aubrey Ellwood, made extremely precise and slow rolls which several very experienced pilots present declared the best they had seen in any weather. The rest of the programme included a demonstration of a Drone by Mr. Waterhouse, this machine being the only one with Bristol Cherub power; some very good aerobatics in a Chip munk by F/L. Hester, C.F.I, of No 5 Basic F.T.S., Desford; and an excellent show by Bill Bedford in the Hurricane (he pressed on through the pervading clamp to the Rearsby area, returned to Dunsfold, having failed to find the field, but refuelled and set out once more to arrive in time for his demonstration). Neville Duke was also present to aerobat the Tomtit, and F/L. Barry Radley of Farnborough demonstrated the Storch. Hay how was there with G-AMOS, and Auster's No. 2 test pilot put the Model S and the Ambulance/Freighter through their paces. The Auster B.4 Freighter was flown with the tail fairing removed so that precise supply-dropping of bulky packages could be demonstrated. Ranald Porteous somehow found space between cloud and ground to aerobat the Aiglet Trainer, and the Patrouille d'Etampes put on an excellent, if limited, display of formation flying. The programme closed with gliding by a Sedbergh, crop- spraying and dusting by Aiglets, and an interesting combined event by 664 A.O.P. Squadron, R.Aux.A.F. and No. 228 Field Regiment R.A., T.A. in a co-operative radio-controlled shoot. At Sywell: Air Chief Marshal Sir Ralph Cochrane, G.B.E., K.C.B., A.F.C., inspecting a contingent of Air Rangers from Liverpool at the Air Ranger Pageant. (See "Air Girls," in column two above). Air Girls DESPITE poor weather the Air Ranger Section of the Girl Guides Association managed to stage a successful "flying pageant" at Sywell Aerodrome, on Saturday. H.R.H. The Duchess of Gloucester was present, with her son Prince Richard, and Air Chief Marshal Sir Ralph Cochrane, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, took the salute at the march-past. A 19-year-old Air Ranger of No. 1 Westminster Flight, Audrey Windle, who has just qualified for her P.P.L., flew a Chipmunk,
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