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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0215.PDF
FLIGHT, 18 February 1955 215 The Firth FH-1 helicopter referred o below; it utilized the fuselage of the Planet Satellite, an unorthodox low-wing monoplane of 1947-48. 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 all cases accompany letters. '. A Graceful Helicopter TpHE photograph in your issue of January 28th of the Firth•*- Helicopter revived nostalgic memories for me. I was Mr. Firth's secretary at the time of its construction, and I watched itsprogress from blueprint to engine and rotor tests. Flight tests never took place, because modifications to correct slight nose-heaviness were found to be necessary, and, unfortunately, at this point the company ran out of funds. The FH-1 was, I think, quite the most handsome little helicopterever built, and it saddened me that its first public photograph should show it in an incomplete state. I am therefore enclosingtwo others which I hope you will find it possible to print. I am sure Mr. Firth, who, I believe, is now in Vancouver, would notobject to their publication. Letchworth, Herts. JOAN HAGGARD. Future of the R.Aux.A.F.I N view of the fact that many keen ex-Service aircrew have beendeprived of their flying by the closure of the V.R. is it not inconsistent that the university air squadrons should be preserved?It seems that these privileged persons can be taught to fly without committing themselves further than an ordinary NationalServiceman. I have spoken to a few members of one U.A.S., all of whomhad only one object: to learn to fly at the expense of the taxpayer and consequently to do their National Service as aircrew. Isthere the slightest reason why this delightful opponunity should be confined to a few gentlemen at the universities?Now it seems the U.A.S. are to be kept on while the R.Aux.A.F. is to be dissolved.Many of us who were pilots in squadrons would welcome the odd 60 hours' flying a year. Or are we too old at 25? Welwyn Garden City, Herts. W. R. BURROWS. YOUR contributor's dissertation concerning the future of theRoyal Auxiliary Air Force [January 28th, page 128] has been read with interest, and through it one perceives much regret atthe passing of the old way of things. Undoubtedly life in the militia in die days of the horse, a sword and a bag of fodder was very pleasant for the part-time soldier. That day has gone forever and it is no use remembering Auxiliary pilots' ability to handle D.H.9as, Spitfires or even Meteors. The complicationtoday lies nor only in the actual pilotage, but in the ancillary aids to air fighting. However, until the day of complete press-button warfarearrives, and squadrons as we know them cease to exist (horrid thought!), unit esprit de corps is an essential. To turn famousunits, such as are many of the R.Aux.A.F. squadrons, into part- time training units is to insult them, their illustrious honoraryair commodores and the cities and counties from which they take their names. There are, it would seem, three ways of solving the problem.The first is to bow to the inevitable and disband completely the flying side of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force—this solution wouldat least have the virtue of the squadrons being retired as honoured fighting formations rather than dragging out an existence astraining units. A second alternative would be to change the role of the squadrons to either fighter/bomber or army transport. A third, and perhaps more appropriate, way would be to turnthe squadrons into regular units, retaining their present names and associations, the auxiliary personnel being completely in-tegrated with other members of the squadrons—not relegated to "auxiliary flights." Under this arrangement it would be necessaryto add only such regular personnel as were found essential; and if, as your contributor avers, "swept-wing" standard could beattained, then a very small regular element would be required —everyone being on his toes to reduce it to nil. London, S.W.19. Aux The Slab Tail FI connection with your recent leader and subsequent corre-spondence, it may be of interest that we were flying a slab tail on the Gillette Falcon in 1944. This aircraft was used for flightresearch on the very thin bi-convex wing and empennage sections of the supersonic M.52 project which was abandoned due to achange in official policy when the aircraft was approaching completion. G. H. MILES, Shoreham, Sussex. Director, F. G. Miles, Ltd. FORTHCOMING EVENTS Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Mar. 18.18. 18. 19. 22. 23 24. 26 1 Mar. Institute of Welding: London branches' annual dinner. Institute of Navigation: "Automatic Dead Reckoning Instruments," by H. C. Pritchard. AT.A. Association: Reunion dinner. _ British Interplanetary Society (provisional Yorkshire branch): Film show. R.Ae.C: Film Show. . Royal United Service Institution: "Rocket Propulsion and its Implications to Human Society," by A. V. Cleaver, F.R.Ae.S. Aerodi.me Owners' Association: Annual general meeting and dinner. . ,. , Northern Heights Model Flying Club: Annual dinner and RAeS. Section lecture: "The Scientific Approach and Research in Aircraft Production," by Prof. J. V. Connolly, British Institution of Radio Engineers (North-western section): "Computing Circuits in Flight Simulators, by A. E. Cutler, B.Sc, Ph.D Mar. 5. British Interplanetary Society: "Radio Exploration of Space," by R. C. Jennison, B.Sc. Mar. 5. British Interplanetary Society (Midlands branch): "The Path to Space Travel," by K. W. Gotland. Mar. 5. The Cranfield Society: Annual dinner and annual generalmeeting. R.Ae.S. Branch Fixtures (to March 3rd) Feb. 21, Ho/ton, Branch night, "Aircraft Operations in the Arctic," by Maj. Webb; Hen/ow, "Aircraft Production," by Prof. J. V. Connolly. Feb. 22, Belfast, "Trends of Engine Development," by Dr. S. G. Hooker; Bristol, "Work of an Aircraft Establishment," by Handel Davies. Feb. 23, Preston, Lecture; Southampton, Branch prize papers; Weybr/dge, R. K. Pierson Memorial Lecture, by W. E. W. Petter. Mar. 1, Boscombe Down, "Developments in Gliding," by A. H. Yates. Mar. 2, Brough, "Pilots' Limitations in Aircraft Design," by W/C. H. P. Ruffell Smith; Luton, "Aerial Photography". Mar. 3, Isle of Wight, "Aircraft Engineering in the Arctic," by Maj. James H. Webb, U.S.A.F.
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