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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 2245.PDF
206 FLIGHT, 13 August 1 4 CHILTERN AIR RACES THE arrival of 26 "attacking" aircraft, seven of whom had got through unobserved, signalled the opening of the Bank Holiday rally and race meeting organized by the Vintage Aeroplane Club at Denham on Sunday, August 1st* After lunch on Sunday, the day was devoted mainly to various tests of pilot skill (balloon-bursting, supply-dropping and forma tion flying), beginning with an impeccable example of how to burst three balloons in treble-quick time by Capt. Ron Gillman in the Vintage Club's Cadet. Most memorable sight was the ultra-low, ultra-light approach of John Dible in his red Aeronca G-AEVS, who seemingly picked his way between the wings of parked machines to drop his supplies. Demonstrations of .the shiny Black burn B.2 and the agile Auster J.8L (Gipsy Major jfe) by Tim Wood and Ranald Porteous were also included in the,sday's programme. Main attractions at Denham on the following day, Monday, were the three air races, each over the 17*mile closed circuit Denham - Little Chalfont - Coleshill - Fulmir - Denham. In the morning, the first of these—the Harmel Tr^)hy Race—took place, the ten competing aircraft consisting entirely of Geminis, Mes sengers and Hawk Trainers. First away .was W. H. Bailey in the Elstree Club's Hawk Trainer: at the oftier end of the handicap list were the Geminis of Bowles, Djinkerley and Nat Somers. The winner was Spiller in his Messenger, followed by Ogilvy (Hawk Trainer), Parker (Messenger)/Bowles (Gemini) and Wright (Hawk Trainer). These went forward to the Chiltern Hills Race. The West London Trophy Raffe—for Vintage aircraft only— was held after lunch. The linejfip included the Blackburn B.2, Cirrus Moth, Spartan Arrow arid Avro Cadet as well as Miss Leafs Hawk Major and Ron/Paine's Hawk Speed Six. Gusty conditions favoured the monoplanes, and the first four home were Miss Leaf, Spiller (Leopar^ Moth), Paine, and Marler (Miles Falcon). Beating the other biplanes into fifth place, however, was W/C. Clem Pike in the Cirrus Moth, which had been first away. Before the principal evetit of the day, the Chiltern Hills Trophy Race, there were several Jiistractions. These included demonstra tions of alleged radio control over the Avro Cadet (Capt. Gillman piloting the pilotless aicraft); of the Dart Kitten by G/C. Mole; of the formation abilities of the Vintage Club's team (Cirrus Moth, Avro Cadet, Moth $fajor, Spartan Arrow and Tiger Moth); of the J.8L by the incomparable Porteous; and a most improbable chase by a police-mjnned, bell-ringing Tipsy after an Auster, from which was dispensed articles of feminine clothing and, eventually, an underclad femfile. First machine Away in the Chiltern Hills Race was the Cirrus Moth. It was $st completing its first circuit as Spiller's Mes senger, fourth |way, took off. Wright and Ogilvy, close together in their Hawk/Trainers, rounded the pylon after their first lap as Marler in hjs Falcon started and, as scratch-man Paine was finally flagged away (21 min 25 sec after the Cirrus Moth) Miss Leafs Hawfc Major began her second circuit. Although the field was closing up continuously, it was not until the third lap that there was any change in position. Bowles' Gemini, its undercarriage stuck in the "down" position, then dropped back from seventh to ninth. On the last lap, Miss Leaf was doing well and was leading at the final Fulmer turn, only to be passed on the final leg by the speedy Speed Six. Third was Parker in the "King's Cup 1954" Messenger, followed by Spiller and Marler. The extremely close duel which Ogilvy and Wright had enjoyed in their Hawk Trainers continued right up to the finishing line, which the two passed in almost a dead heat. Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 CHILTERN HILLS TROPH Pilot, Aircraft and Engine R. R. Paine (Hawk Speed Six, Gipsy Six H.C.) Miss F. M. Leaf (Hawk Major, Gipsy Major 1) G. R. I. Parker (Messenger 2A, Cirrus Major 3) ... ... s'... A. J. Spiller (Messenaer 2A, Cirrus Major 3) ... ^J ... G. C. Marler (Falcon Six, Gipsy Six 1) D. F. Ogilvy (Hawk Trainer 3, Gipsy Major 1) D. C. G. Wright (Hawk Trainer 3, Gipsy Major 1 ) C. A. Pike (Cirrus Moth, Cirrus Hermes 2) W. P. Bowles (Gemini 1A, 2 Cirrus Minor 2) Y RACE H*cap min 21 13 11 10 18 09 09 00 14 Time sec 25 07 43 56 48 26 52 00 28 Av. Speed m.p.h. 186.5 135 128.5 125.5 164 119 120.5 93.0 129.5 "Flight" Scenes at the Chiltern Hills Air Race Meeting: (reading fnrr, bottom) Ron Paine taxies his Speed Six in aftet winning thema'' Spiller's smartly-striped Messenger, winner of the Hdrfnel'Trap- a low beat-up by the Moth Major (flown by Capt. "Panda vv after the Vintage Club's formation flying; and the Blackburn BU< taxied out by Tim Wood prior to his demonstration flight. The /vie. in which Wood won this year's King's Cup Race at Coventry wo at Denham by "Sailor" Parker. ip W <ent; "ice; ison) sing nger
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