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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0210.PDF
208 FLIGHT CIVIL AVIATION .... As an extension to their present Paris-Bombay route, T.W.A. introduced a weekly Constellation service to Colombo, Ceylon, on February 3rd. * * * Six of the eight Douglas DC-6Bs on order for Sabena are due for delivery in March and April. They will be used as 73-seaters on the transatlantic, Congo and certain European routes. * * * A Qantas Constellation, flown on various stages of the Indian Ocean route by Capts. Howse, Wharton and Bruce, recently completed an. operational test of Australian distance-measuring equipment during a scheduled service from South Africa to Sydney. They reported excellent results with the instrument, which accurately recorded distances of up to 194 miles at the greatest altitude of approach (15,000ft). Ninety D.M.E. beacons arc scheduled for installation by the Australian department of Civil Aviation at various points on Australian airline routes; /seven instsllations have already been completed, including one on Cocos Island which should be of considerable assistance to Qantas navigators on the long ocean crossing. * * * P.A.W.A. claim that they are now operating the world's longest non-stop scheduled air service—on the 3,900 mile Tokyo- Honolulu route. Taking advantage of the 70-80 m.p.h. westerly "jet streams" which blow along this route in the winter months, the company's Stratocruisers average 355 m.p.h. at 23,000ft, completing the journey in 11 hours. Aircraft formerly landed at Wake for refuelling and the flight took seven hours longer. FROM THE CLUBS IN a letter commenting on Capt. R. E. Gillman's recent article on private flying Flight, January 9th), Mr. Michael Conry expresses belief that the article "will inspire quite a number of people to think of forming their own air syndicates." As chairman of the Central Flying Group, which has now been operating successfully for three years, Mr. Conry is anxious to pass on his experience in the form of hints to those contemplating the forma tion of a similar group. To begin with, he advises against purchase of an ultra-light type of aircraft, which he says, is "desperately limited in its opera tion and capacity and in many cases is far more difficult to fly than ex-R.A.F. surplus trainers." It would be foolhardy, says Mr. Conry, to imagine that flying could be obtained for as little as £1 per hour—"even now we, who paid £25 for our Tiger Moth, find that with the petrol rebate plough-back, we just break even at 32s 6d per hour." In support of his belief that the ex-R.A.F. trainer is the ideal aircraft for group flying, he observes that it is reliable and strong, being built to R.A.F. specification, fully aerobatic and not too simple to fly. The following points are, in Mr. Conry's opinion, essential to the successful formation and operation of a flying group :— (1) Form a small (and I mean very small, say, three) flying committee, headed by the chief flying instructor. (2) The C.F.I.'s word to be absolute law (no exceptions to this rule should be tolerated). (3) An annual weekly subscription of, say, 2s 6d~5s 6d, depend ing on the amount of weekly revenue required to pay rates and taxes. (4) Elect a duty crew (pilot and student pilot) whose duties are to see that certain operational requirements are met: e.g., petrol in the tank, oil levels correct, tyres pumped up, fire extinguishers and chocks in positions, etc. (These two people are the backbone of the operating side of the group and they must, naturally, be prepared to give a great deal of their time and attention to the aircraft in the field.) Whereas they are not neces sarily required to perform every task personally, it is their responsi bility to see that the work is done. However, it is their duty to keep complete and accurate flying records, and communicate all control and pertinent instructions to the pilot and/or C.F.I. (5) The duty crew will supervise ground-handling of the aircraft, assist pilot and student into straps and parachutes, and generally be responsible for all that occurs on the ground during flying periods. Note: The duty crew naturally are first in line for "buckshee" flying such as air-testing. (6) Lectures are on the must list, and at least two hours per week should be devoted to pre-flight (and post-flight) instruction. Members of the group who have their P.P.L.s can be divided into classes for Morse, R/T. procedure, advanced weather, aerobatic and night flying instruction. (7) On-the-spot payment for flying is advisable, to avoid bad debts and bad feeling. (8) The flying committee should be given power for immediate suspension or expulsion for any violation of discipline. No group worth its salt will survive unless it is prepared to maintain a severe standard of ground and air discipline. SEVERAL clubs have recently reported far more activity than is normally expected at this time of year. An example is the Christchurch Aero Club, whose members flew 90 hours in November, 120 in December and 140 in January. The club is fortunate in having the support of two of the 12 companies participating in the flying-clubs scheme, by which employees' flying time is subsidized. At present the fleet consists of three Austers, two Tiger Moths and a Proctor, soon to be joined by two Miles Hawks now undergoing overhaul. The club is run by Mr. T. H. Marshall, who reopened it in June last year, and Mr. J. Pothecary is the recently appointed chief flying instructor. LATEST BONANZA THE Beech Aircraft Corporation's all-metal Bonanza is perhaps the most successful of post-war four-seat single-engine types; it is claimed that no fewer than 3,400 have been manufactured. The first batch of the latest model, the D35, were due for collection from Wichita on January 31st. Approximately 85 firm orders for this new version have already been placed, for delivery by the spring, and rate of production is one a day in spite of the Corporation's large military commitments. Price is §18,990 ex-works. The scale on which American business has taken to private air transport was emphasized by Jack Gatz, Beechcraft's vice- president and general manager, at the "unveiling" of the first D35. He pointed out that the total air transport fleet now in operation with commercial enterprises numbered approximately 10,000 machines. The latest Bonanza is basically similar to its well-tried pre decessors, but it possesses a variety of new features. From the pilot's angle, fluorescent lighting is provided, and flap and under carriage selectors are easily distinguishable by feel owing to their shapes. Normal radio equipment is the Lear LTA-6, but Narco VTR-rD can be fitted at slightly increased cost. Front seats are now adjustable, with special head-rests available if required, and Beechcraft safety harnesses are fitted to every position. Ventilation and noise-level have been improved, there is a map pocket of increased size, and interior upholstery is exclusively of leather. A large range of colour schemes is available, and useful load has been raised by 22 lb to 1,075—of which 822 represent passengers and their luggage. Performance figures remain substantially as before, viz., maximum speed 190 m.p.h., high cruising speed 175 m.p.h., and economical cruising speed 120 m.p.h. Range is 775 miles (or 1,180 miles with 20 gallons auxihary fuel), and optimum fuel consumption is as low as 19.9 m.p.g. The tricycle undercarriage facilitates safe handling, and take-off and landing runs are 525ft and 227ft respectively into a 10 m.p.h. wind. In view of the all-embracing nature of a five-page news-release on the D35—it even tells us that the owner can have his personal monogram added to "the special identification plaque that adorns the Bonanza's safety-designed control wheel"—it appears curious that no mention is made of the make or type of engine; the C35 had a Continental E185-11 flat six giving 120 h.p. for recom mended cruising speed, so presumably the D35 is similarly equipped. THIS YEAR'S MODEL : The latest-type Beech D35 Bonanza, as described above. It was first demonstrated, say the manufacturers, to "more than 125 U.S. sales representatives attending the 1953 national distributors' meeting in a three-day session in Wichita. ..."
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