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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0794.PDF
788 An impressive low fly-past by the wide-spanning Elizabethan (Ambassa dor). (Upper right) A line-up of veteran warriors, Bristol Fighter nearest, Sopwith Pup, and Gloster Gladiator. (Right) Beside the Lincoln is a Super-Dakota of the U.S. Navy. "Flight" photographs FIFTY YEARS OF FLYING . examination. The first was the weathered Ibis (less its two 40 h.p. Salmson radials), designed by Bert Hinkler, built in 1931 and recently resurrected by Mr. Stisted of the Hampshire Aeroplane Club. The second was a well-preserved Hucks Starter based on a Model T Ford chassis, this example having been built by de Havillands in 1920 Two other items in the "static" marquee must be mentioned, the first a truly magnificent display of photographic enlargements, mainly from or of B.O.A.C. Comets. These, we feel sure, are the work of B.O.A.C.'s photographer, Mr. Hensser. The other was an exhibit of the Low Speed Aerodynamics Research Association. The radio-controlled model aircraft which they displayed has recently been fitted with a slow-burning solid-fuel rocket giving 4 lb thrust for 90 seconds. In fact, the rocket uses 63 Jetex slow- burning pellets—a somewhat expensive though convenient method of obtaining altitude. This glider-rocket combination has yet to be tried in the air. The Flying Display The first performers were a Hawker trio—Neville Duke in the Tomtit, Bill Bedford in the Hart, and Frank Bullen in the famous Hurricane Last of the Many. The closeness of the forma tion as they passed very low over the crowd was, to say the least, moving. The Hurricane was seen to be keeping station with the aid of a fair quota of flap. Even stronger in its nostalgic effect was the next item, which began with a Bristol Fighter and a Sopwith Pup being swung with the Hucks starter. A. Cdre. A. H. Wheeler, accompanied by a "gunner," was at the controls of the Brisfit, and W/C. R. F. Martin flew the Sopwith—and a very pretty and lively picture the two aircraft made, in formation or cavorting individually against the angry backcloth of the sky. The Gloster Gladiator flown by V. H. Bellamy continued the proceedings, reminding one vividly (on take-off in particular) of the power which this, the last of the biplane fighters, used to employ to such good effect. How little space these old biplanes require to manoeuvre and how sweet and quiet are their engines ! Next, more sedately, came a lighter elderly trio, D. H.Cirrus Moth (P. Fillingham up), Hawker Cygnet (Frank Murphy), and Black burn B.2 trainer (Mr. Watson). After this, powered-flight gave way for a spell to the silent sim plicity of two sailplanes, the Slingsby Sky in the hands of G. H. Lee, and the Meise (D.F.S.) Olympia piloted by Lt. Cdr. Good- hart, R.N. The latter was taken to height by Miss Lettice Curtis, making her first glider-tow: Gopdhart gave his usual faultless display of aerobatics, whilst Lee showed, among other things, how slow is the rate of descent of a high-performance sailplane. Then the peaceful silence was broken by the crackle of the Genet-engined C.30 Autogiro, flown by Norman Hill. The machine gambolled around—not as impressively as the modern helicopter, maybe, but in a very lively manner for an important ancestor. It was followed by D. J. Masters in a civil-registered Fulmar, B. Radley in Jean Batten's Percival Gull Six, and R. L. C. Blyth in the noisy but practical D.H. Beaver. Then there were a couple of helicopters, an S-51 flown by Lt. Morton, R.N., and one of B.E.A.'s elegant two-seat Bells, piloted by ist/Off. Crewdson. Last up before the heavier stuff was Ron Paine, in his attractively finished Miles Hawk Speed Six The Mosquito B.35 flown by S/L. D. de Villiers started the military ball rolling, its pilot exhibiting an amusing propensity for appearing round the side of any convenient patch of trees. Six Meteors of 604 (R.Aux.A.F.) Squadron from North Weald were next overhead, when the weather was at its blackest, and these were followed by F/O. T. Glover in a Spitfire and F/L. W. N. Trimble in a Wellington. After them came a Canberra, flown by S/L. E. H. Turner; but he had clearly been briefed to keep his distance, and the demonstration must accordingly be described as sedate. In place of the U.S.A.F. jets was a B.E.A. Elizabethan, huge yet elegant as it passed low before the spectators. And then there was an unrehearsed surprise. The Handley Page Victor could be seen in the distance, starting a local test-flight from Radlett, and to everyone's delight the pSot's course took him low across the edge of the airfield. Size may be deceptive, but the big machine seemed to be wasting precious little time. (Late in the evening, at St. Albans, the writer saw it again, this time with a Canberra tucked in behind it in tight formation—presumably taking cine- photos.) The three final turns provided a complete and culminating con trast. The 1912 Blackburn monoplane flew, first between the ranks of onlookers and then out into the middle of the field. S/L. G. Banner must have been airborne for at least 1,000 yd, which was a very fine effort: he even attempted a ten-foot zoom and a gentle turn, but this seemed to be asking rather too much, and a sudden and awkward return to earth resulted. Immediately afterwards the 1910 Deperdussin rose some inches into the air— not so readily, maybe, but still in a manner that was a fine tribute to so old a machine, and to the pilot, W/C. C. G. B. McClure. Finally, when these irreplaceable aircraft were once more at rest, the ultra-modern in the shape of Avro's delta-winged 707B took off—and left us wondering, after its demonstration, what the shape of aircraft will be after another 50 years of flight. INDIAN AIRLINES NATIONALIZED AS the outcome of India's Bill to nationalize her airlines, two - corporations have been established, with effect from last Monday. The existing name "Air India International" will be applied to the new foreign-service organization, and the domestic- service corporation will be known as "Indian Airlines." The existing nine companies will receive £3lm in compensation. VISITING PARIS BY PROXY IT now appears that British representation at the Paris Show is likely to be on a larger scale than at first thought likely. It is known, also, that France will probably show more than one aircraft of exceptional technical interest. Comparatively few people other than those members of the industry directly concerned are likely to be in a position to pay a personal visit; to the rest, therefore, we venture to recommend perusal of the next three issues of Flight. Next week (June 26th) we shall be publishing a preview of the show; on July 3rd the outstanding features will be fully described; and on July 10th there will be a further report, discussing technical aspects, describ ing the static exhibits and individual aircraft demonstrations and —last but by no means least—telling the story of the great inter national flying display at Le Bourget. We also plan to continue H. F. King's graphic story of his Korea trip (see pages 773-777 of this issue); and, of course, the show report numbers will be very fully illustrated with exclusive Flight photographs.
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