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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 2111.PDF
i August 1952 137 The General Council of the Trades Union Congress has announced its opposition to the new civil aviation policy of the Government. * • * During 1951, deaths from accidents to scheduled American airliners totalled 206 (including 33 crew-members), compared with 144 passengers and 21 crew in 1950. The index of passenger- deaths per 100 million passenger-miles was 1.3 in both years. * * * De Havilland Herons will be used by New Zealand National Airways for services from Rongotai to Blenheim and Nelson, and on the Dunedin-Invercargill and Christchurch-Timaru-Oamaru routes. * * * K.L.M. report that their traffic figures for the first quarter of 1952 show good progress in relation to the same period last year. The number of passengers carried was 98,750, compared with 90,974 in the first quarter of 1951—an increase of 8.5 per cent. The amounts of freight and mail have increased by 17 per cent and 46.3 per cent respectively. The ton-kilometre figure rose by 13.5 per cent and there was a 12.9 per cent increase in sales. The B.O.A.C. Stratocruiser fleet of ten aircraft has made over 3,120 crossings of the North Atlantic since the first of the aircraft entered service on the London-Montreal-New York route in December, 1949. During the six summer months of 1951 the average daily utilization of the ten Stratocruisers was 7 hr 32 min; equally intensive operation was expected this year, but the fuel shortage curtailed flying. Nevertheless, utilization during the first six months of 1952 was 6 hr 55 min per aircraft. * * * Lockheed's backlog for commercial versions of the Super- Constellation reaches 90 with a new order for two 59-seat luxury models—to be delivered in 1954—for Linea Aeropostal Vene- zolana. * * * The Navigators and Engineer Officers Union has issued a statement in connection with B.O.A.C. dismissals following the "Hermes" inquiry. The statement points out that "neither of the two officers involved were members of the Union or qualified to be members." It adds that the navigational arrangements on the aircraft were "in accordance with the present policy of B.O.A.C., which is to place responsibility for navigation on pilots and not on specialist navigators." ST. MERRYN'S AIR DAY THE weather was just kind enough to allow a successful air day to be held on June 19th at R.N. Air Station, St. Merryn, Cornwall (Capt. A. S. Webb, R.N.), with flying and static displays of the station's usual high standard. Flying opened with a stream take-off by 12 Fireflies and six Barracudas, followed by rocket-assisted take-offs by four Mk 6 Fireflies of 820 Squadron and a Barracuda. Both squadrons flew past, with 796, led by Lt-Cdr. Barnes, in an unmistakable anchor formation. Later they attacked a midget submarine on the airfield. Lt-Cdr. Lygo and F/L. Pinnington, in two Hornets from Cul- drose, brought a gasp from the crowd as they passed each other on the narrow runway after taking off from opposite ends; and another Culdrose contribution was a polished demonstration of formation aerobatics by three Meteors led by Lt-Cdr. Perrett. Lt. Knight from Gosport, after giving a display in South Wales earlier in the afternoon, arrived in time to demonstrate the air- sea rescue function of a helicopter by rescuing a pilot from his dinghy; he then put on a small ballet in front of the crowd. The next item was a type fly-past of naval aircraft, and even the controllers in the tower were surprised to see an extra machine which joined the stream; it was towing a banner advertising Culdrose's air day! Finally, after the Fireflies and Barracudas had finished their carrier drill and stream landing, an opportunity was given for (Right) Appropriate: An anchor formation by Fireflies of No. 796 Squadron. (Below, left) Lt-Cdr. Perrett's Meteor in aerobatic action; note the shock precipitation from the starboard aircraft. (Below, right) Capt. A. S. Webb and Capt. A. C. G. Ermen, respectively present and past Commanding Officers ofH.M.S. "Vulture" (R.N. Air Station, St. Merryn). budding aviators among the visitors to make, over the radio, requests for aerobatics by the pilot of a Chipmunk from Exeter's Reserve Flying School. Both before and after the flying display, a Gemini, a Messenger and an Auster of the Plymouth Aero Club and a Proctor from Exeter provided joy rides for the public as a counter-attraction to the wide range of excellently-laid-out static displays, which included both technical and non-technical subjects. A good demonstration of drill was given by the W.R.N.S., and the Fire Station's "Emett" fire engine was a popular attraction.
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