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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0896.PDF
5* FLIGHT The thunder of Aeons, the flash of silver in the grilling sun—the Canberra, Beomont up. below, the Hunter (Neville Duke). LE BOURGET 1953 'FLIGHT" PHOTOGRAPHS PERFECT weather blessed the efforts of V Union Syndi cate des Industries Aeronautiques Francoises to stage, at Le Bourget last Sunday, one of the greatest international air displays yet seen in Europe. It also enabled Mike Lith- gow to provide his hosts with the perfect curtain-raiser by completing (in 19 min 5.6 sec, as reported on page 40) the fastest-ever flight between London and Paris. Although the blue-painted Swift arrived two hours before the display began, the crowds were already massing. Over 200,000 were in position at the start of the 4i hr programme, which comprised no fewer than fifty separate flying events. Out of the past whirrs the Caudron G.3, flying strongly. "'.. ';: • The previous day had seen a somewhat less lavish display for 80,000 technicians, members of missions, journalists and other specially invited guests. Of these, at least 3,000 lunched with organizing officials in the impressive U.A.T. Comet hangar. The flying on that day was confined by low-hanging cloud, and in the absence of both sunshine and the military formations of NATO, Saturday's activities were considerably less colourful. Our narra tive, therefore, deals with the superlative public display which terminated the 20th Paris Aeronautical Salon. The first performer was M. Goue, pilot of an Emouchet sail plane fitted with what appeared to be four drain-pipes slung in pairs beneath its high wing. These attachments were, in feet, four S.N.E.C.M.A. pulsejets which lifted the Emouchet from the runway with a noise which would have done justice to a mass for mation of V.i flying bombs. After a very brief take-off run, this unique aircraft jettisoned its trolley undercarriage, climbed quite steeply and circled noisily until, not a moment too soon, the pulsejets were cut for a glide landing. Quieter and altogether more pleasing was the Cessna 180, powered by a 225 h.p. Con tinental engine, and featuring a new tail design. Both the "180" and the Cessna 195 (300 h.p. Jacobs), which was also demon strated, were so beautifully finished that no aerobatic tricks at all were required to sustain public interest. Next in the parade of light types were the camouflaged N.C. 856 air observation post and the shiny, Beaver-like Max Holste, both of which illustrate a French tendency to equip single-engined machines with twin fins and rudders. The Max Holste displayed a short take-off run and steep climb which, coupled with the ability to carry a pilot and four passengers on 220 h.p., suggested that it has the makings of a useful light transport for bush opera tion. A fine aerobatic performance came from a yellow-painted Saab Safir wearing the three-crown insignia of the Swedish Air Force. This 190 h.p. three-seater makes an excellent trainer as well as an attractive touring aeroplane and is now being used by Sabena for basic instruction of potential airline pilots. A Morane Saulnier 733 two-seat trainer—actually the ninth of 100 ordered by the French Air Force—gave a lively if rather
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