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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 2317.PDF
252 FLIGHT, 20 August »54 CORRESPONDENCE The Editor of "Flight" does not hold himself responsible for the views expressed by correspondents in these columns; the names and addresses of the writers, not necessarily for publication, must in ail cases accompany letters. Hendon—A Suggestion "WOW that it is officially pronounced that Hendon airfield is to "be closed as an Air Ministry flying area,,perhaps it is not inopportune to suggest its ideal future. A site has long been sought for housysjSf vintage aircraft and generally accommodating a collection*-$f exhibits covering the sphere of aeronautical history. What better venue than Hendgaff with its record of past events? The old Grahame-White gaus still stand as a memory of the pioneer days, and the site,is even more accessible by public or private transport than jaAhe days of the many pageants held there. A more closely associated centre it would be hard to find for such a purple, with still ample space for the customary A.T.C. activities, and the occasional gatherings of commemora tion among the fraternity of the air. London, N.W.9. V. N. BUTLER. Clanger I HAVE just seen your Editorial in the issue dated July 2nd, in which, in referring to helicopter and other noises, you state: — "Many have already been spared the equally loud and irritating tramways noises since these fearsorne antiques were finally and belatedly removed. (Our apologies to Sydney, N.S.W., where new tracks are just being laid.f In actual fact your apologies are due to Sydney, not because they are laying tracks, bjjt/because they have decided not to do so. It is Melbourne, Vicjifria, which is laying new track. Maybe your anitfogies are due to them; particularly as they seem to be quite* proud of the fact, and you have mistaken them for Sydney. An unpardonable crime! MelboujBfte. D. H. BLACK. [For .going off the rails, our apologies to Sydney.—Ed.] Airliners in Warpaint FJ your issues of July 23rd and August 6th, Messrs. G. Alan Hill-Reid and D. G. Thorpe reminisce on the Short G-class flying-boats. Mr. Thorpe recalls the loss of Golden Horn with all hands, during a test flight from Lisbon. In fact, there was one survivor, R/Off. Uttley, who had a re markable escape and whose evidence did much to speed the solu tion of this accident. Engine fire followed a mechanical failure which began with piston trouble, and the absence of feathering props made it more than usually difficult to deal with the situation. Dense smoke entered the flight deck through an open drift-sight hatch in the wing root, aided by the extractor effect of an open "clear-view" panel in the cockpit. At the time when die boat should have been levelling off above the River Tagus the tail unit control surfaces had been badly damaged by fireythe boat struck hard, the hull opened, and she sank. I do not think R/Off. Uttley remembered how he got out of the hull; but, finding himself many feet down in the water, he was sufficiently alert to realize that he must not break surface at once as there was a patch of burning fuel right above him. With great presence of mind he swam out beyond the periphery of the fuel patch and was rescued. Colnbrook, Bucks. N. G. BENNETT, Chief Engineer, Graviner Mfg. Co., Ltd. FOR the assistance of future historians who may refer to your correspondence columns I would like to amplify the informa tion relative to Golden Hind contained in the letter from Mr. Hill- Reid published in your issue dated July 23rd. This aircraft was delivered to Short Bros, and Harland's works at Belfast on September 27th, 1945, wearing registration letters G-AFCI plus red, white and blue flashes. It also had provision for midships and rear turrets. The Certificate of Airworthiness showed the owners as B.O.A.C. at the registered address Grand Spa Hotel, Clifton, Bristol 8. This certificate was validated monthly from January 10th, 1943, to March 10th, 1943. It was not valid between March 11th, 1943, and May 17, 1943. It was revalidated until May 17, 1944, and became invalid from May 18th, 1944, until July 6th, 1944, when it was again revalidated until July 6th, 1945. An extension was granted validating the certificate until August 6th, 1945. The aircraft was overhauled at Belfast and converted to carry 24 passengers. The luxurious appointments included ladies' and gentlemen's toilets, a galley and the "beautifully panelled cocktail- bar" (referred to by an earlier correspondent), where also there was a comfortable settee. Golden Hind was delivered to B.O.A.C. at Hythe on a Permit to Fly, on September 12th, 1946. It was taken out of service at the expiration of the Certificate of Airworthiness on September 26th, 1947, and was transferred from Hythe to Poole on Novem ber 18th, 1947. On being purchased by a private owner it was ferried to Rochester on April 17th, 1948, a Permit to Fly having been granted for this flight. The aircraft remained at Rochester until it was wrecked while being towed away this year. Crawfordsburn, Co. Down. J. C. CORLETT. Supersonic Speed Record ? Y\7ITH the advent of the English Electric P.l prototype there " arises a chance to the British aircraft industry that will never arise again. Surely, with this aircraft, it would be possible for the United Kingdom to establish the world's first truly supersonic airspeed record, which would always remain a landmark in the progress of not only Britjshrbut world aviation, and would also add incentive and enthMslasm to the industry as a whole. If the record were to be attempted this year, the decision would have to be made so'on (were it to be done in the British Isles) and preferably, of course, before the S.B.A.C. show at Farnborough. Bristol, 3. PAUL B. HAWKINS (age 15). Dutch Roll WITH reference to your interesting article "The Baroudeurs Advance," you state, "it has, however, had its share of that current element, dutch roll." This statement is perfectly true and it was realized in the very early days that automatic stabilization would be an essential requirement. This company, working in close conjunction with M. Jakimiuk, fitted a stabilizer which delighted M. Nadot (the pilot), negatived the rather excessive dutch roll of the prototype and brought the performance of the aircraft wkhin N.A.C.A. requirements. We are continuing our .collaboration with S.N.C.A.S.E. in the stabilization of the four pre-production aircraft, which have im proved dutch roll characteristics compared to the prototype. Technical Sales Manager—Aviation, E. G. MONK. Elliot* Brothers (London), Ltd. [In congratulating Elliott Brothers upon their work on the Baroudeur, we may also refer to our issue of December 18th last, iri'which was recorded their similar stabilization of the Dassault Mystere IV.—Ed.] FORTHCOMING EVENTS Aug. 28. Southern Aero Club: Goodyear Trophy Race, Shoreham. Aug. 18-28. "Model Engineer" Exhibition, London. Aug. 29. Yeadon Aero Club: "At Home." Aug. 29. R.A.F. Gliding School, Kenley: "Open Day" and flying display. Aug. 29-30. Pescara Aero Club: Annunzio Trophy contest, Pescara, Italy. Sept. 5. Saar Aero Club: Europa-Pokal display. Sept. 6. Society of Licensed Aircraft Engineers: "Medical Aspects of Aircraft Engineering," by W/C. F. Latham, M.D., B.Sc, Ch.B. (at R.A.E., Farnborough). Sept. 6. S.L.A.E. Main Lecture. "The Medical Aspects of Aircraf; Engineer'ng" by W/C. F. Latham 6.30 p.m. in the Assembly Hall, Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. ,, S.B.A.C. Farnborough Display and Exhibition. ("Public days, 10th, 11th and 12th). Helicopter Association: "Helicopter Contracting," by Knute Flint. (Followed by annual dinner.) Royal Aero Club: International invitation air rally. White Waltham. Battle of Britain Week. , Aerodrome Owners' Association: Annual Conference, North ampton and Sywell. R.A.F. "At Home" Day. Aero Club of Germany: Hanseatenflug international rally. Federation Aeronaut ique Internationale: 47th annual genera conference, Istanbul. British Institution of Radio Engineers: "Computing Circuit in Flight Simulators," by A. E. Cutler, B.Sc, Ph.D. Institute of Transport: Presidential address by Sir Gilmour Jenkins, K.C.B., K.B.E., M.C., M.lnst.T. . Rochester Flying Club: Annual dinner and dance, Bearste. Helicopter Association: "Application of Gas Turbines tt' Helicopter Propulsion," by J. Brown. Oct. 15. The Airlines Ball, Royal Albert Hall, London, 8 p.m.-2a.m. Sept. Sept. Sept. 7-12. 9. 9-12. Sept. 13-19. Sept. 16-17. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Oct. Oct. Oct. 18. 25-26. 20-29. 29. 11. 15. 15.
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