FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0952.PDF
98 FLIGHT CORRESPONDENCE 2- sss The D.H.9A referred to by Mr, J. T. Bennett Twin Pioneers WRITING in the May issue of Travel World—the leading U.K.travel agents' magazine, which has considerable circulation throughout the Commonwealth—W. D. C. Cormack states that themanaging director of Scottish Aviation told him that firm orders have already been placed for "about 200" Twin Pioneers for"operation in countries all over the world" (to quote the author's actual statement). Since the article in question was almost com-pletely devoted to the merits, etc., of the Twin Pioneer, it seems to me that this report must have had the official blessing ofScottish Aviation themselves. I should like to point out that Travel World is usually regardedby U.K. and Commonwealth travel agents as a reputable journal, and is furthermore noted for the high standard of its articles andother reports on air, land and sea transport. Despite the obvious merits of the Twin Pioneer as an almostrevolutionary type, it is clear to anybody who knows anything at all about the aircraft industry that sales figures of "about 200"are carrying wishful thinking to the extreme, for the next year or two at least.The fine report published in Flight on November 25, 1955, "Twin Pioneer in the Air," by your Editor, clearly states thatScottish Aviation eventually hopes to build and sell "at least 100." Since this report was published and at the time of writing, smallorders for the type have been officially announced, including six for Scottish Airlines, two for West Norway Airlines and an undis-closed number for the R.A.F. (the last-named according to the June issue of the R.A.F. Flying Review). In addition, themakers have recently announced they will initially build 15 of the type, and already the civil registration letters of G-AOEN to• G-AOER have been allocated for the first four aircraft. I am sure that most readers will agree that the later figures are very differentindeed from those quoted in Mr. Cormack's report. One feels that exaggerated claims may do untold harm to thisthoroughly promising new British aeroplane, which would indeed be a great pity for all. Nairobi, Kenya. DENNIS M. POWELL.[Mr. D. F. Mclntyre, managing director of Scottish Aviation, Ltd., is of the belief that Mr. Cormack misunderstood his remarksconcerning Twin Pioneer production. In any case, he says, the company has refrained in principle from mentioning the orders itreceives, considering that such announcements should be left to the purchaser. "We have merely stated/' he adds, "the factthat the production quantity of 100 aircraft, as initially planned, was increased to 200 and that we are confident that this quantitywill fall short of the demand for Twin Pioneer aircraft."—Ed.] Flight-refuelling Airliners TN his reply to my letter, L. F. E. Coombs, asking why airlines-*• don't use flight refuelling (Flight, June 15), produces a number of difficulties but doesn't offer any solutions for overcoming them. Yet the U.S.A.F. must have overcome them to enable them tohave adopted flight-refuelling in such a big way. Does Mr. Coombs believe that what the Yanks can do we can't?Civil aviation can often learn from military aviation. When the Berlin airlift of 1948-49 demonstrated how intensive traffic could sssns operate safely in most weather, another member of the It-can t-be-done brigade' said that civil airlines could never have the dis- cipline of the R.A.F. and U.S.A.F. Yet many of the aids whichmade the airlift such a success are now a matter of course in civil ^Difficulties are there to be overcome by human ingenuity, andthe nation or individual which does not overcome them must fall behind in the race to succeed.London, S.W.3. GEOFFREY DORMAN. Australia's Historic Lancaster WITH reference to Mr. G. B. Ducker's letter (Flight, June 8),Lancaster "G for George" was taken on the strength ofNo. 460 Squadron at Binbrook on October 22, 1942, and recorded her first "op." with a trip to Mannheim on December 6, 1942.F/Sgt. J. A. St. Smith did, I believe, 13 trips in her. He was awarded the D.F.M., commissioned, and won the D.F.C. onMosquitoes before being killed on June 29, 1944. G for George was the first away to Berlin on January 16, 1943,with a war correspondent aboard, and came back with 13 flak holes in her. On June 16, 1943, she came back from Colognewith 17 flak holes. F/Sgt. W. A. Watson took her to Kasscl on October 22, 1943, on her 67th operational sortie. Her last tripwas to Cologne on April 20, 1944. "George" was serviced throughout her career by F/Sgt. H.Tickle, and I think it was calculated that she had flown 664 hours 5 mins operationally. Bridlington, E. Yorks. J. L. DlXON. The D.H.9A WAS Mr. Maurice Austin's D.H.9A which carried a sparewheel (Flight, June 29) a civil or military aircraft? In any case, here is a military 9A—complete with spare wheel. Thisparticular aircraft landed in soft ground and turned turtle. Darlington, Co. Durham. J. T. BENNETT. ., Recognition Problem Solved WITH reference to the letter Qune 29) from Mr. Colin M. T.Lamb, I also saw the twin-engined high-wing monoplane over N.W. London on June 14. He states that it was not a MilesAerovan, but I was able to identify it definitely as one. New Barnet, Herts. J. M. WILDE. THE aircraft referred to by Mr. Lamb was Miles AerovanG-AJKP (registered in the name of the makers). London, W.5. D. C. BELINFANTE. June 29-July 13. July July July July July July July July July July July July July July July Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. 14-15. 14-15. 14-25. 15. 15. 18-22. 21. 21. 21. 22 22. 28. 28. 28 28-30. 1-12 4 5-6 1117-19 25-26 Sept. 3-9 FORTHCOMING EVENTS World Gliding Championships, St. Yan, France. Aero Clubs of Trento and Bolzano: Eighth International Tour of the Dolomites. Dusseldorf Aero Club: Air Rally. International Gliding Competition, for the Coupe Jacques Coeur, Bourges. Royal Belgian Aero Club: International Gliding Competi- tion, Namur. R.Ae.S.: Garden Party, Wisley. Venice Aero Club: International Aeronautical Exhibition. R.Ae.C: National Air Races, Third Round (including King's Cup Race), Baginton, Coventry. R.N.A.S. Lossiemouth: At Home. R.N.A.S. Anthorn: At Home. Northamptonshire Aero Club: At Home. Yorkshire Aeroplane Club: At Home. . R.N.A.S. Yeovilton: At Home. . R.N.A.S. Culdrose: At Home. Helicopter Association: Rally and Garden Party, Ripley. Livorno Aero Club: Air Rally. Central Aero Club of U.S.S.R.: World Parachuting Cham- pionships, Moscow. R.N. Air Station Brawdy: At Home. World Power Model Championships, Cranfield. R.N. Air Station Lee-on-Solent: At Home. Sportsflyveklubben: International Rally, Denmark. Midland Aero Club: International Rally, Elmdon, Birm- ingham. S.B.A.C. Display, Farnborough ("Public" days, 7th, 8th, 9th).
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
