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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 1846.PDF
PLIGHT, 25 June 1954 817 Three star-turns: The Armstrong Whitworth prone-pilot Meteor, the Blackburn monoplane (Gnome) of 1912, and the Canberra formation THE NATIONAL AIR RACES . . . Scarff-mounted Lewis with flaunting defiance as the two machines dog-fought through the tight, clean manoeuvres on which their fame is founded. "The Development of the Light Aeroplane, 1919-1938" was illustrated by remarkably well-preserved specimens of the Hawker Cygnet, D.H. Moth, Hawker Tom-Tit, Spartan Arrow, D.H. Leopard Moth, Blackburn B.2, Avro Club Cadet, D.H. Moth Major, Percival Gull Six, Miles Hawk Trainer, Miles Whitney Straight, D.H. Moth Minor and Tipsy 1—each flying vigorously in its fashion. (The sharply nose-down attitude of the Club Cadet, when flying all-out, was especially remarked upon.) Neville Duke, on the Tom-Tit, rendered an aerobatic encore of singular grace, though the little blue biplane often jibbed in surprise on hitting its own slipstream—like the dachshund round the tree. Hawker's famous Hart "MR" (which actually dates from the early 1930s) led the tableau "The Second World War," and was followed by Fairey Swordfish NF389 (the last of 2,391 built), the Gloster Gladiator G-AMRK, the Hurricane Last of the Many, A. Cdre. A. H. Wheeler's Spitfire V AB910, and a Bomber Command Lancaster which, descending to very intimate levels indeed, was seen to be carrying a mock-up of the Wallis "weapon" for its part in the film The Dam Busters. The film star having bowed out, the Saro Skeeter and Bristol 171 helicopters swung low before the crowds like the sweet chariots they are, and Ranald Porteous put the pretty little red-and-white Auster Aiglet Trainer through its enchanting paces. Epitomizing the "Jet Age," there thundered on to the scene a Meteor 7, in charge of F/L. R. W. Jordan, D.F.C. Being a C.F.S. instructor, the flight lieutenant flew with donnish per fection, though one supposes that he might muff a manoeuvre if he tried very hard. To the writer's own mind one of the most completely satisfying events of the day was the demonstration by four English Electric Canberras of No. 10 Squadron, Bomber Command, which bore down upon the field in box formation (a vie of three blue and one—silver-finished—in the box) at some 520 m.p.h. As they roared and rumbled round the enclosures, one reflected that no machine in the Canberra's class could possibly have paralleled this performance, every phase of which bespoke docility of control, reserve of power, and—certainly not least—the skill of S/L. D. R. Howard, D.F.C., A.F.C., F/L. Collins, Master Pilot Brown and F/L. Briggs. This well-merited eulogy of the Canberras must in no way detract from the lustre of the performance of the Canadair-built Sabres of the R.C.A.F., individually by F/L. E. D. Kelly and in concert by F/L. D. Wingate, F/O. M. Gillies, F/O. N. Ronaason and F/O. J. Kerr. Their shows were in every sense terrific—and how the crowds goggled at the writhing smoke trails as they struck across the fields like fearsome serpents! At Sabre-like speed there came upon the scene a lone Sea Hawk, occupied by yet another Kelly—not, be it said, from the Isle of Man, but from Brawdy, Wales, in the person of our old friend, Lt. J. Kelly, R.N., of 898 Squadron, F.A.A. Eloquent of his skill, and of the Sea Hawk's powers were very tight turns, very late pull-outs, and very precise rolls. The surprise items (in anticipation of which commentator Charles Gardner had everyone on tenterhooks) materialized as dashing appearances by the Armstrong Whitworth prone-pilot Meteor, the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire-Lancastrian, and re heat Sapphire-Canberra. The Meteor's performance appeared to be quite uninhibited by its nasal transformation, and Eric Franklin and Bill Else—respectively prone and seated—deserve a word of special praise for a show which was a delight in itself —quite apart from the Meteor's technical interest. The promised French ultra-lights were nowhere to be seen, but France made her mark with the Hurel-Dubois H.D.31—now with its wing-tips cocked up at a saucy angle. The phenomenal short-field performance of this potential Dak-replacement is well- known to readers, and as a display-piece it is equally out of the ordinary. The official proceedings of the day terminated with the prize-giving, but joy-riding continued—if not until dusk, then for as long as the present writer lingered on the scene. Out of retirement: (Top) The Sopwith Pup; (centre) Mr. Long's balloon, the Gladiator, Hurricane and Spitfire AB910 (TE357, from Middle Wallop also demonstrated): (bottom) the Bristol Fighter.
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