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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1046.PDF
HfljflH The two tanks of insecticide and the spray-bar are clearly visible as a Hiller 360 makes its run over the treetops of the Canton Valais Entomological War in Switzerland (Left) One of the Auster J.SGs approaches the operational area; the airfield runways can be seen in the valley. (Above) Melolontha Melolontha—the cause of all the trouble. REPEATING their expedition against the Swiss maybug in 1950, Pest Control, Ltd., sent a spraying team there again this year. The team was equipped, on this occasion, with both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Instead of the S-51s used in 1950, the latest team brought two Hiller 360s and three Auster J.5G Cirrus Autocars, the latter being flown out from England, while the helicopters were towed over on trailers by their ground tenders. The 700-mile land journey took four days. The area to be sprayed covered 15,000 acres of wooded country in the Canton of Valais, extending along the Rhine Valley from Sierre, near the Simplon runnel, to the Lake of Geneva. Heights of ground varied between 1,500ft a.s.l. and 5,000ft, the upper limit being 1,000ft higher than in 1950, because the maybugs were thought to have sought higher ground in order to escape the insecticide. The whole operation was marked by excellent co operation between the Swiss Government and Pest Control, Ltd., and also with the agricultural section of the cantonal government, who had carried out the previous ground-spraying work in this district. Flying difficulties were overcome by as much pre-flight briefing as possible, and the pilots first visited the area in order to obtain a mental picture of all the hazards. Very helpful also was the co-op:ration of the commandant of the team's base at Sim, M. Geizer. As he is one of Switzerland's most experienced light-aircraft pilots, and had made landings and take-offs at 10,000ft on glacier slopes with Piper Super Cubs, he gave pilots the right warnings and meteorological briefing for this valley, which lies
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