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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 0416.PDF
418 Part of the fleet of the Royal Singapore Flying Club, whose new club-house was opened (right) by the Governor of Singapore (see first news item). CLUB AND GLIDING NEWS THE new club-house of the Royal Singapore Flying Club atSingapore Airport was opened by the Governor, Sir RobertBlack, K.C.M.G., O.B.E., at the end of last month. This occasion, together with the recent grant of financial aid from theGovernment of Singapore, marked the culmination of a long struggle to ensure the continued existence of the club, whichwas formed in 1928 with one D.H. Moth seaplane. The "Royal" prefix—a source of great pride to the club-—wasgranted by King George V in 1931, on the recommendation of the then Governor, Sir Cecil Clementi. At the outbreak of thesecond world war, the club was based at Kallang Airport with a mixed fleet including a Moth Minor, a Hornet Moth and a WhitneyStraight. These aircraft, together with most of the club members, were subsequently absorbed into the Malayan Volunteer Air Forceand rendered gallant service during the closing stages of the battle for Malaya and Singapore. In 1947 the club was re-formed with the aid of a war-damage grant, and flying started again with ex-R.A.F. Tiger Moths. When Kallang was closed at the end of 1955, members and staff set to and built themselves a club-house and hangar at the new city airport at Paya Lebar. The result of their labours was reflected in the total of 1,387 hours flown by the club during 1956. Shortly after the opening of the club-house a Hindustan AircraftH.T.2 was handed over to the club. This machine, believed to be the first British-registered H.T.2 to fly in the Commonwealth, hasbeen, loaned by the Indian Government under the terms of the Colombo Plan and will be used for the training of local youths. Two Chipmunks are now on order. Other aircraft in the club'sfleet are two Tiger Moths, two Austers and one Cessna 170. President, captain, and honorary C.F.I, of the club at present arerespectively Capt. P. J. White (Malayan Airways), F/L. D. I. Fairbairn (R.A.F.) and Mr. J. H. Wagstaff (Director, Telecom-munications, Malaya). FORMATION of a new co-ownership group is planned tooperate a Super Aero 45 light twin from Croydon. Interested pilots should contact Capt. E. S. Davis, 16 Fountain House, Park Street, London, W.I. RECENTLY announced by the Plymouth Aero Club is the"Mayflower Air Rally," to be held at Roborough on April 13-14, 1957. Organized with the co-operation of Project May-flower, Ltd. (the body responsible for construction of the May- flower replica), the rally will include a time-of-arrival competition,concours d'elegance, conducted inspection of the Mayflower replica, reception and dance at the club-house, "aerial tour ofthe environs of Plymouth with a farewell salute to the Mayflower and (should sailing date coincide) an air escort for the ship outof Plymouth Sound," and a coach tour of Plymouth. "INSTRUCTIONAL flying at the Northamptonshire Aero Club-*• during the last year exceeded by a handsome margin (and for the first time) the 1,000-hour mark. This was reported at therecent a.g.m. at Sywell by the chairman of the club, Alderman C. M. Newton, M.B.E., who went on to congratulate the chiefflying instructor, Mr. L. C. Hilditch. Fifteen private pilots' licences had been gained during the year and 73 members hadflown solo. The club's annual flying competitions had been won by K. E. Corbett (best student pilot), J. W. Kingston (navigation),J. A. Wardley ("Find your way home" contest and championship cup) and J. Beaty (general flying). "p XETER Aero Club members have flown over 600 hours during-"—' the six-months' period ending last month. First solos have been logged by Messrs. Austin, Purchase, Kemp-Lowland, Brad-shaw, Barr, Gillard, Burton, Hartle, Butler, Mgjn&ng and Miss Someryille; and P.P.L.s have been obtainea^f^iessrs. King,McFarlane, Ashcroft, Groves, Jarman, Kemp, Gage andfiowlands. Messrs. Innalls, King and Heelas are now ch?ir&wn, fryts&g com-mittee chairman and C.F.I, respectively. "E3rtr§*c(STiculir" acti- vities at Exeter are numerous; they include those of fl^ee squashteams, a dramatic section (now busily rehearsing for "Ladies in Retirement"), and an active social programme, w&fle if is livpedthat a new tennis court will be in use this summer "DRITISH gliding awards for 1956, presented to the winners by •*-* Lord Brabazon at the B.G.A. Victory Ball on March 15, went to the following pilots: — De Havilland Cup for greatest gain in height: David Kaye, Derby and Lanes Club; 14,200ft during Camphill-Newcastle flight on October 21.Manio Cup for best goal flight: Sgt. John Williamson, R.A.F., Army Gliding Club; 196 miles from Farnborough to St. Davids in a Weihe onMay 22. Hon. mention: P. Bisgood, E.T.P.S., 194 miles from Long Mynd to Great Yarmouth on May 23. Wakefield Trophy for longest distance: Sgt. A. Gough, R.A.F.G.S.A.Wessex Club; 199 miles from Andover to Grassington on May 21. Hon. mentions: P. Bisgood and J. Williamson, as above. Volk Cup for best "out and return": David Ince, Surrey GlidingClub; 132 miles, Lasham-Stanton Harcourt-Lasham on May 20. Seager Cup for best two-seater performance: Derrick Goddard andTed Hargreaves, Surrey Gliding Club; 84 miles, Petersfield-Lewes- Petersfield in a Gull II on April 28 (U.K. two-seater goal and returnrecord). Hon. mentions: (1) D. Piggott and V. Alexander, Surrey Gliding Club; 100 miles, Lasham-Dunstable-Lasham in T.42 Eagleon May 20; (2) Dr. B. James and Miss Jill Walker, Surrey Gliding Club; 11,400ft gain of height in Gull II from Lasham on July 18). California in England Trophy for longest-distance flight by a womanpilot: Dr. M. Gilbert, Imperial College Gliding Club; 98 miles from Lasham to Castle Bromwich on July 11. Douglas Trophy for largest cross-country mileage on three members'flights from one club: Surrey Gliding Club, 493 miles (David Kerridge, 173 miles from Farnborough to Login on May 22; Derrick Goddard,155 miles from Lasham to Dinas Mawdwy; John Mackenzie, 165 miles from Lasham to Tonbridge via Cirencester). At the annual general meeting of the British Gliding Association,held in Londonderry House, London, on March 16, the chairman of die association, Mr. Philip Wills, reported another year ofgrowth—limited only by the physical capacity of most of the clubs to take on new members. A record number of long-distance flights had been achievedduring the past year, the report continued, including nine "Gold C" distances, of which five qualified for the 300 km goal-flight"diamond." The total number of hours reported by the clubs was 15,726, associated with 99,429 launches; these figures showedan increase of 956 hours and a decrease of 195 launches compared with those for last year. In addition, the Air Training Corps hadlogged 5,186 hours and 65,200 launches. The Kemsley Flying Trust had approved new loans for clubsand private-member groups to the extent of £16,465 during the year. The establishment of permanent gliding centres was thefirst consideration of the trustees and two such projects were under consideration. Reporting on the work of the council, the chairman said, "Inthe latter part of the year, we did much work towards a revision of the proposed new airways and control zones which the M.T.C.A.plan to introduce in 1957 and 1958 to cope with the increasing flow of air traffic. We managed to improve the position of theLondon Gliding Club by getting them out of the London Control Zone, but were faced with a more intractable problem in the caseof the Derbyshire and Lancashire Club at Camphill. The new plans envisage the creation of an airway directly over the site and,at the present time, the maximum concession offered has been to investigate the possibility of lifting the base of the airway fromthe original figure of 3,000ft a.s.l. (only 1,600ft above the site) to 5,000ft a.s.l. . . ." The general problem of airspace restrictions was discussedfollowing a resolution from the London Gliding Club "that the meeting is gravely concerned at the restrictions on freedom ofglider flying arising from controlled airspace and strongly urges the council to continue and expand its activities directed towardsachieving a greater degree of freedom in this respect." The resolution, put forward by Mr. Godfrey Lee, was carried. During the informal discussion which followed the meeting, itwas announced that the principle of an allocation of petrol in connection widi this year's national gliding championships atLasham had been agreed. It was hoped that the championships would feature launching by aero-tows. "CROM April 1, the Kronfeld Club, 74 Eccleston Square, Lon-*- don, S.W.I, will be open from 6.30 p.m. each evening from Monday to Friday, with talks and film shows continuing onWednesdays.
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