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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0919.PDF
Three pilots of the famed Patrouille d'Etampes: (left to right) Adj. Claveau. Lt, Darbois, Adj. Menard; their leader, not seen here, is Capt. Kerguelen. JERSEYS CORONATION DISPLAY . . . Coronation display. If the public didn't receive value for money, that could only have been because admission was free. Having admired the silver, white and blue Heron which took part in the display, we welcomed the opportunity of returning to the mainland in it the following morning. Jersey Airlines added the Heron, G-AMYU, to their fleet of six Rapides in May, and it has already flown over 300 hr on the Paris, Exeter and Gatwick routes. The company, incidentally, was formed some four years ago by the present chairman, Mr. M. L. Thomas. With virtually no previous experience of running an airline, he has nevertheless built up an enviable reputation for efficiency and reliability. Mr. D. Le Calvez, the traffic manager and self-termed "general factotum," told us that the company's Jersey staff now totals 50, with representatives in London, Exeter, Bournemouth, Coventry, Gatwick, Paris, Dinard and St. Brieuc. The Heron, though expensive to buy, is cheap to operate and has proved equally popular with its pilots and with the travelling public. The loss of one engine affects performance very little, and it can be flown safely on two. Within 15 mln the Heron's interior can be convened to any of three versions : 14, 15 or HPHE appearance of a Boeing B-47 Stratojet and the Dart Kitten -•- on the same programme gave some indication of the wide variety of fare offered at this year's Air Display of the Auster Flying Club at Rearsby. The July 1 ith forecast of bad weather proved to be premature, and the afternoon was bright as the trumpet band of No. 1 City of Leicester Squadron—the founder- squadron of the Air Training Corps—provided a musical preface to the flying programme. A fly-past of a varied selection of visiting aircraft took place first. Among these types were the Hirtenberg H.S.9A, Fred Dunkerley's Gemini, Ron Paine's Hawk Speed Six, Aviation Traders' Ercoupe, Dunlop Aviation's Dove, and an ultra-light circus consisting of a Dart Kitten, Fairey Junior, B.A.C. Drone and Tipsy trainer. Geoffrey Alington in the neat Fairey Junior gave a demonstration of aerobatics; then smilingly passed before the crowd and dropped in gently to land. Views of the home product were then given: an Aiglet of Aerial Spraying Contractors sprayed the airfield—and some of the crowd—and Ranald Porteus gave another of his admirable demonstrations, of both polished aerobatics and crazy flying, in the Aiglet Trainer G-AMMS. From the Naval Air Fighting Development Unit at West Raynham came an Attacker, shown to good advantage in both low- and high-speed runs by Commissioned Pilot Darlington. The Auster Ambulance/Freighter appeared twice during the afternoon, showing its abilities in both roles, firstly by carrying two stretcher patients, and later by carrying—and dropping un damaged—a load of crockery. The Gloster Gladiator G-AMRK was then demonstrated by V. H. Bellamy, an ex-Naval pilot who flew the type during the war and who owns this particular machine. After a road-safety demonstration by members of the Leicester shire and Rutland Constabulary, an exhibition of sailplane aero batics was given by George Thompson in the green Olympia loaned by Mr. Jack Rice. Two high-speed bw-altitude runs past the crowd preceded a final well-judged landing. A demon stration of the -use of A.O.P. Austers then followed, by members of No. 664 (A.O.P.) Squadron, R.Aux.A.F., 25-pr. guns manned by Territorial personnel being directed on to a target on a nearby hillside. Hesitation rolls were a striking feature of the next display, by F/O. Camp in a Meteor 4 of the R.A.F. Central Flying School. This preceded the highlight of the afternoon, the appearance of a Boeing B-47. After some difficulty in finding the airfield, the in*.**. p»oii>.jrapns Jersey personalities: Senator W. H. Krichefski, organiser of the display. with Mr. C. P. V. Roche (left), airport commandant, and Mr. J. H, Herbert, airport manager. 17 seats, according to the route. Load factors to date suggest that these capacities are just about right for the present Jersey Airlines network. The cabin is neatly finished in grey and fawn, with eight windows (seven large, one small) on each side, giving good view and a light and airy effact within. From Jersey the Heron flew (in 15-seat form) with only two seats vacant—and these were reserved for passengers from Alderney, 18 minutes away. Capt. Bradley set "Yoke Uncle" down in less than half the 2,730ft grass runway available on this little island. We taxied to the miniature terminal building and exchanged one passenger for three. On these short routes the Heron can comfortably be operated by a one-man crew, so that Capt. Bradley was able to invite Flight up-front for the one^hour Alderney-Gatwick stage. Perhaps the most significant part of the trip was the take-off: at little below all-up weight the Heron soared willingly with plenty of run in hand, bearing out the pilot's observation that "she .leaps into the air." At 4,500ft, with the Gipsy Queen 30s set to give 1,900 r.p.m. and 24m. of boost, the Heron cruised at 160 m.p.h. We touched down at Gatwick, 150 miles away, exactly an hour later. The M.C.A. party, headed by Mr. Lennox-Boyd, returned to Gatwick from Alderney in Jersey's Heron later the same day. R.B. huge machine was brought in to make a 400-kt run across the field at about 1,000ft, and to provide the spectators with a new shape in the sky over Leicestershire. Next came the incomparable Patrouille d'Etampes, giving their first exhibition at Rearsby. Especially appreciated in their magnificent display were the formation vertical reverses and the solo low-altitude inverted runs. Meteor 8s of 610 and 611 Squadrons of the R.Aux.A.F followed in a selection of formation mancEUvres. A varied programme was concluded by F/L. Hutchins, who performed Chipmunk aerobatics at the direct R/T request of some of the younger generation, and by "Chuck" Thompson, who—returning from his honeymoon and arriving late—performed a spectacular delayed parachute drop. A WEEK TOMORROW AS already announced in these pages, it is hoped that several prototype aircraft flown by their makers' test pilots will participate in the Royal Naval Air Day at Stretton, near Warring ton, on Saturday, July 25th. A very full flying programme has been arranged, beginning at 2.30 p.m. (gates open, 10.30 a.m.). Admission prices (in aid of Naval charities) are 3s (children is), with car parking 2s 6d; these are considerably reduced if advance bookings are made, through local branches of W. H. Smith and Son*, or travel agencies. On the same day a Naval Air "At Home" is being held in the South—at Ford, near Littlehampton. Gates open at 1.30 p.m. and flying begins at 2.30. Admission is is (children 6d); cars are 5s (including up to three occupants) or 7s 6d (four or more occupants). Formation aerobatics by Attackers will be a feature of the programme, and there will also be demonstrations of S-51, S-55 and Hiller helicopters. Beginning on July 25th is the 1953 National Gliding Champion ship meeting at Great Hucklow, Derbyshire, which continues until August 3rd. Also on the 25 th is the National Air Touring Competition organized by the Royal Aero Club. This, as already announced, is to start and end at Panshanger Airfield. Three days earlier, on Wednesday next, July 22, "At Homes" are scheduled to take place at the Royal Naval Air Stations at St. Merryn and Arbroath. REARSBY'S MIXED BAG
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