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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0830.PDF
824 FLIGHT, 26 June 1953 CORRESPONDENCE The Editor of "Flight" does not hold himself responsible for the views expressed by correspondents in these columns; the names and addresses of the writers, not necessarily for publication, must in all cases accompany letters. Net-Type Arrester Gear I WAS very pleased to read in Flight for June 12th, 1953, of the successful use of a simple net arrester gear by the U.S.A.F. I have been confident of the value of this device since we originated it at Woodley over ten years ago. In 1943 we gave a demonstration to Sir Stafford Cripps and senior officers of the three services, which included flying a Messenger down-wind into the net with the wheels two feet off the ground. Neither the aircraft nor the pilot sustained any damage. Several alternative uses for the net arrester system and its associated equipment were proposed at the time, but we were unable to obtain official sanction to continue our experiments under simulated operational conditions and, after some further demonstrations, the idea was reluctantly dropped. Apart from the fact that no provision for protecting the pro peller is necessary with jet aircraft, the principles used in the American development appear to be almost identical with those adopted at Woodley, and it is encouraging to have this unexpected confirmation that our proposals had practical value. Sompting, Sussex. G. H. MILES. Aviation and the Masses YOUR correspondent Mr. W. H. Cazaly should count himself lucky that no airline has ever charged him extra freight for the outsize chip he carries about on his shoulder. It is precisely due to the generous sprinkling of types such as he amongst the educated classes (or, more precisely, the over-educated classes) that the general public keeps a distorted view of such things as flying, the cinema, television and so forth. With perverse pleasure and ill-concealed triumph they will go seeking out the worst possible way in which something can be used as an argument against using it at all; war use of aeroplanes is one example, crime on the screen another, and the outcry against television, on the grounds that it keeps children from doing homework, is perhaps the silliest. But by their very reputation as educated and, in many cases, quite brilliant individuals in their own fields, Caaaly and company influence the thinking of a large number of people. Another, and subsidiary, argument given is that flying benefits only that mythical minority which lives in wealth and luxury and provides such excellent material for chips on shoulders. They, of course, are also "the people who make wars" (the North Korean Communists who started the one which, we hope, is about to stop now, will no doubt be flattered to hear themselves described as "wealthy and money-powerful"). By mentioning Chinese, Japanese and Indian magnates (there seem to be a surprising number of them, and increasing at that!), he tries to counter the valid objection that all manner of countries outside Europe and America now operate successful airlines. What are the facts ? Need we mention flood relief by helicopter, flying doctors in Australia and elsewhere, famine relief in India? Or does Mr. Cazaly think all this was done by magic carpet? It is precisely in large, partly undeveloped countries that the popula tion (lacking, to boot, the gratuitous advice of alternative theorists) has come to appreciate the true value of air transport. This crammed and over-developed country has little scope for spec tacular demonstration of the everyday usefulness of the air; and so it comes about that only those whose intelligence measures up to their education can appreciate fully the significance of flying. A final thought. Whatever makes people like Mr. Cazaly read Flight in the first place? London, S.E.20. IAN S. MENZIES. [Mr. Cazaly's letter (June 12th) challenged some views expressed in a Flight leading article on the attitude of the general public towards flying. In his view, aviation constitutes "the most destructive, wasteful and terrifying curse ever inflicted ... by the wealthy and money-powerful minority."—ED.] To Astonish Posterity YOUR readers may be interested in the accompanying photo graph of a unique memorial, known as the Balloon Stone, at Standon, Hertfordshire. It marks the landing-place of Vincent Lunardi's flight by balloon from the Honourable Artillery's drill-ground in Moor- fields, London, whence he ascended, before a crowd of 150,000 The "Balloon Stone," mentioned by Mr. J. Denton Robinson. people, on September 15th, 1784—the first aerial voyage over England. The stone, which is guarded with a strong iron fence, has a brass on the top bearing the following inscription: Let Posterity know And knowing be astonished that On the 15th day of September 1784 Vincent Lunardi of Lusca in Tuscany The first aerial traveller in Britain Mounting from the Artillery Ground In London And Traversing the Regions of the Air For Two Hours and Fifteen Minutes In this Spot Revisited the Earth. On this rude monument For ages be recorded That Wondrous Enterprise Successfully atchieved By the Powers of Chemistry And the Fortitude of Man That Improvement in Science Which The Great Author of all Knowledge Patronyzing by His Providence The Invention of Mankind Hath graciously permitted To Their Benefit And His own Eternal Glory. Darlington. J. DENTON ROBINSON. [Though Lunardi's flight is generally recorded as being the first to be made in the United Kingdom, historians have adduced a certain amount of evidence to show that, some weeks earlier, the distinction had been achieved by an Englishman, one Tytler, who was reported to have made a successful ascent from Edinburgh in a hot-air balloon.—ED.] June 26- July June June June June 5. lb. 27 27. 27. June 27-29. June 27-30. June June July July July July July July July July July July. 29. 30 4-6. 9. 11. 11. 11. 12. 15. 18. 18. 18. July 18-19. July July July July July 2" Aug July July 19. 22. 25. 25. 3. 26. 26. July 27- Aug . 2. Aug. 1. FORTHCOMING EVENTS Paris Aero Show. College of Aeronautics, Cranfield: Presentation Day and Ball. Official opening of Ramsgate Airport and Flying Club. "At Home," R.N. Air Station, Bramcote. Aero-Club d'Eure et Loire: Chartes Rally. R.Ae.C.: Members' La Baule Rally. Aero-Club di Livorno: International Rally. Combined R.Aux.A.F. Units: Ball. Aircraft Recognition Society (Plymouth): "Twenty Questions" and Contests. R.Ae.C.: Members' Deauville Rally. Jersey Air Display. "At Home," R.N. Air Station Anthorn. Auster Flying Club: Display. Cardiff Aeroplane Club: Display, Pengam Moors Airfield Northern Heights Model Flying Club: Gala Day. Royal Air Force Coronation Review. Vintage Aeroplane Club: Rally, White Waltham. "At Home," R.N. Air Station Brawdy. Royal Netherlands Air Force and Royal Netherlands Aero Club: N.A.T.O. Display, Soesterberg. Aero-Club d'ltalia: Dolomites Tour. Aero-Club de la Vendee: Sables d'Olonne Rally. "At Homes," R.N. Air Stations St, Merryn and Arbroath. "At Homes," R.N. Air Stations Ford and Stretton. R.Ae.C.: National Air Touring Competition. B.G.A. National Gliding Championships, Great Hucklow. R.A F. Model Aircraft Association: United Kingdom Champion ships, St. Athan. International Radio-Controlled Models Society: Aircraft Contests, Southend-on-Sea Airport. Aero-Club de France: World Parachuting Championships Aix-le-Bain5. Opening of Jan Smuts Airport, Johannesburg.
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