FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0056.PDF
54 FLIGHT FROM THE CLUBS r* is announced by the Royal Aero Club that there were 19 entries for the light aircraft design competitions which closed on December 31st. The R.Ae.C. promoted competitions for three types of aircraft—a two-seater light aircraft, a single seat Acer and a single-seat aerobatic machine; specifications were drawn up by the Club's private flying committee, and the Kemsley Flying Trust agreed to provide prize money (totalling £525) for the best three entries in each category. No entry was received for a single- seat aerobatic .machine but there were 12 entries in the two-seat category and seven for a single-seat racing aircraft. No details of judging may yet be announced, but it may be some weeks before the winning designs are finally chosen. It is believed that, in general, the entries are of a very high standard and that many competitors have completed their design work to the very last detail. AT a recent meeting of the Ultra Light Aircraft Association it • was decided to adopt the new title of the Popular Flying Association and to broaden the aims of the organization to give more active support to affiliated co-ownership groups which operate light aircraft as opposed to ultra-light machines. At pre sent there are about 10 of these groups—formed by not less than five people who jointly own and operate light or ultra-light aircraft for recreational flying—and more are in the process of formation. There will be no slackening in the policy of encouraging the development and operation of ultra-light aircraft. Good progress is being made with the Dart Kitten ultra-light, single-seater pro ject sponsored by the association; flight trials for the Type C. of A. are almost complete and before very long it will be possible for amateur constructors to obtain kits of parts or sets of working drawings. The cost of drawings and a particularly comprehensive construction manual is expected to be in the region of £15 to £20, while the price of the complete kit of parts, less engine, will be approximately £495. The J.A.P. engine for the type will normally cost £100, and complete assembly of the Kitten is estimated to require some 1,000 man-hours. A reduced price of £80 for the engine will, however, be available to members of the Association, which has 24 such power units remaining from the original stock provided by the Kemsley Flying Trust. The association's future activities will be greatly facilitated by the appointment of a full- time secretary, Mr. Maurice O. Imray, a founder member of the U.I..A.A. Enquiries may be addressed to him at the Royal Aero Club Aviation Centre, Londonderry House, 19 Park Lane, London, W.i. IN his monthly newsletter, S/L. J. E. Doran-Webb, C.F.I, of the Wiltshire Flying Club, remarks that more and more members are showing interest in winter flying. Tiger Moths have been particularly popular and their monthly and annual utiliza tion has been greater than that of the club's Autocrat fleet. Des pite the weather, members flew 93 hr 40 min in November and 146 hr 45 min in December, bringing the club's total for the year to no less than 3,249 hr 50 min compared with 2,547 hr in I95i- THE newly appointed C.F.I, /manager of the Elstree Flying Club, David Ogilvy, reports that on Wednesday the club was due to begin a series of lectures designed to make the ground syllabus as interesting as possible. Dealing with such subjects as theory of flight, airmanship, navigation and meteorology, the lec tures are quite brief and, given suitable attendance, should pro duce some useful discussions. They are to be held each Wednes day, beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday, January nth, has been fixed as the date for the spot- landing competition with Denham Flying Club. It will be an "away match," beginning at 12.30 p.m. Wind-direction permit ting, the white circle in the centre of the field will be used and each pilot (four from each club) will make two attempts. As part of its re-organization scheme, the club recently began working to a pre-arranged flying programme which should facili tate higher utilization of aircraft. On Saturdays and Sundays the entire programme for the day is published on the notice board, telling members exactly when they are due to fly, in which air craft and with which instructor. Ogilvy reports that, although it may be too early to decide the results of the scheme, it is proving popular with members and should certainly ensure less wastage in turn-round time. One of the Elstree fleet, Autocrat G-AHAP, is already wearing the new colour scheme (light blue with dark blue trimmings) and another Autocrat (G-AGXT), at present on C. of A. overhaul with the parent company at Wolverhampton, will soon appear re-upholstered and re-sprayed. • Despite the time of year, membership has increased steadily in recent weeks. In addition to the usual ab initio members (ten joined during the last fortnight), the club has four pilots about to undergo instructor's courses and two more working for com mercial licences. Weather, however, has prevented any increase in flying activity. One of the Club's A.T.C. members, Cdt. Sands, recently completed his 30 hr P.P.L. course, and two more are under instruction. Like Capt. R. E. Gillman, whose article on page 50 will interest all club-members, Ogilvy is a leading light of the Vintage Aero plane Club; his energetic efforts at Elstree will certainly please those who agree with Gillman's contention that "something more must be done to encourage the comradeship that is to be enjoyed in the freemasonry of the air . . ." RE-ORGANIZATION has also been under way at Southamp ton, where the Hampshire Aero Club was recently taken over by Mr. Henry Stisted. It will continue under its present name but with "greatly improved flying and club facilities." Messrs. W. Dunning and C. Gleed are in charge of maintenance and repairs, and R. Longridge remains as chief instructor. Fees for dual instruction continue at £3 per hour, with night flying at £4 10s and solo at £2 10s. The club's Taylorcraft Plus D is avail able to approved pilots at £2 per hour. EGYPT now possesses what may be the world's largest gliding school. It was started just over a year ago by Capt. Swirtn (the only'Englishman to retain his employment with the Egyptian Government during the recent disturbances) and is now instructing over 300 students.' On the right, pictured in the cockpit of their Slingsby 7.21, are Lt.-Col. Husseinin of the Egyptian Army (left-hand side), and Capt. Swinn, chief instructor of the Egyptian Gliding, School. The left-hand view shows them making the first landing ever performed by an aircraft at the foot of the Pyramids.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
