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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0869.PDF
FLIGHT, 24, June 1955 WEEK-END IN PARIS Variety and Spectacle in the Grand Manner 867 The Espadon, which stood in for the Trident on Sunday. (Above) The sunshades (which served as umbrellas), the straining tricolors, and the Patrouille de France. (Right) The Leduc 021. THAT delectable concoction of science and an which is theParis Salon was relished to the full on Saturday and Sundaywhen international displays of superb quality topped off a week rich in air-fare. In its variety and proportions the occasion was without precedent, though it must be recognized that these displays at Le Bourget differ in purpose and character from our own great trade demonstrations at Farnborough. And not the least contribution was that of Britain. With the disaster of Le Mans still brooding in the public mind, elaborate, and necessarily restrictive, precautions had been taken; but on Saturday, when the sun shone (as it did for much of the day) the scene lacked little of its characteristic vivacity. Spectators were massed in enclosures 130 metres from the run- way and even cameramen were caged in a narrow walkway immediately in front. Pilots had been warned to make their fast passes along the runway, not lower than 100 metres; and standing by were 50 ambulances, 250 doctors,. 40 fast cars and a flight of helicopters. In the event there were no incidents of any conse- ' quence. President Coty arrived late on Saturday afternoon and visitors earlier in the week had included Prince Bernhard, Sir Gladwyn Jebb and Herr Theodor Blank. Sunday was a sullen, blustering day, with a shower-laden sky which denied any freedom of aerobatic movement, and a wind that viciously uprooted the big sunshades in the enclosures. But much of the programme went through to plan, and our account is, in the main, a composite one, covering both days, and with- out meticulous attention to order of events. The early flying (for the first machines were in the air around 10 a.m.) was a light affair of circuses, with gliders plaving a part on Saturday. For the record, there were some pretty perform- ances by the Tripacer, Super-Cub, Jodel-Wassmer, Jodel- Lutetia and Rondone, Cessna 180, Super Cigale, Nord 3200, Monitor III and Broussard. Gliders were the Hirondelle SZDO8, Mouche SZD12 and Cigogne SZD9, and in military garb were the Potez 75 "police" aircraft (as it is now called) and the N.C.856, launched by "l'Arbalete," which catapults it into the air in 65ft and enables it to land, with arrester, in 40ft. On Saturday, when the sky was fairly clear, two groups of para- chutists made delayed drops. Three men landed squarely on the airfield but ten (who delayed for 90 sec) touched down far off. Britain's three Fairey Gannets (by courtesy of the Admiralty) made great play with iheir Double Mambas, dual Rotols, hooks, (Above) Meteor N.F.11 with ramjet. (Below, left to right) one of the Baroudeurs, the Super Mystere B1, and the Leduc, alone at last. The Trident rockets away tor Saturday's performance.
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