FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1959
1959 - 0227.PDF
104 FLIGHT, It January 1959 Club and Gliding News SECRETARY-GENERAL of the Royal Aero Club for thepast 13 years, Col. R. L. Preston is to relinquish this appoint-ment, at his own request, on April 30. His main duties are being taken over by Maurice Imray, aviation secretary, andWilliam Marsden, house secretary. Col. Preston has accepted the appointment of honorary secretary-general as from May 1whereby, the club state, "his experience and ability will not be lost to the club; when required he will represent the club oninternational and national committees and attend our various committee meetings." THE move of flying clubs from Croydon Airport to the officialalternative base of Biggin Hill, originally scheduled to be made by the end of 1958, had not taken place as this issue goesto press. The situation remained as briefly reported last week, with the clubs being permitted a total of 20 movements per dayfrom Croydon, and circuits, landings and other training being carried out at Biggin Hill. In a newsletter circulated last week, Surrey Flying Club listedtheir reasons for the delay in moving to Biggin. Firstly, they emphasized, the main problem was that of determining whichCroydon organizations would be making this move. Morton Air Services and Olley Air Service were going to Gatwick, and othernon-club operators and maintenance firms had not yet decided between Gatwick and Biggin. The second problem listed by the club was that of the cost ofoperating the airfield (at Biggin): "If Surrey Flying Club and the various smaller clubs and groups were to go, the cost would notbe too disastrous as not much is required in the way of special service. However, others wish for additional facilities whichwould send the costs up astronomically, and they would find it difficult to pay the extra amount involved." Thirdly, the news-letter refers to hangarage: "There are two fine big hangars avail- able at what is to us a very high rent. . . The difficulty here isthat the Air Ministry find that they can only let the hangars as a whole, and only the very biggest maintenance firms would beable to take on the commitment. As a by-product of this problem, if all at Croydon decide to go to Biggin Hill there will beinsufficient floorspace in the hangars available." In the account of the club's problems printed in the news-letter, Surrey purposely refrain from inserting comment on the rights or w.-ongs of the Croydon closure or of the time limitimposed on the clubs. The Minister's December 30 decision, however—that the Croydon clubs should be grounded fromJanuary 1 until they were allowed to fly at Biggin, and then should be al'owed only 20 Croydon movements per day, and thisonly until the end of January—does call for comment. This decision, to say the least, was strong evidence for those who claimthat Mr. Watkinson has discriminated and is discriminating against the clubs. His action makes an interesting contrast with his wordsin the House of Commons on November 5, when he asserted: "No one is keener than I to encourage private flying." Theaccuracy of this claim now seems rather doubtful. A NEW trophy, to be awarded annually for the most noteworthyperformance in aviation by a British woman pilot, has been established to commemorate the work of Jean Bird, who was killedin a flying accident at Manchester in April 1957. Known as the Jean Lennox Bird Trophy, the award—an antique Chinesejade carving—will be administered by the British Women Pilots' Association. The selection of candidates will be made by aspecial committee comprising Lord Brabazon, Lady du Cros, Maurice Imray (Royal Aero Club), Capt. O. P. Jones (G.A.P.A.N), Rev. P. & Kelly dismounts from his home-built Turbulent G-APCM after his first flight in the machine at Newtownards on December 23 Miss Alison King (B.W.P.A.), Alan Sproxton (A.B.A.C.) andPhilip Wills (B.GA). Flying clubs, gliding clubs, other organizations and individuals are invited to propose candidatesfor the 1958 award: these nominations should go to Miss M. Woodall, 71 Vale Road, Worcester Park, Surrey, by January 31. DRACTICE formation flying by members of Plymouth Aero-*• Club has begun at Roborough, with the ultimate aim of pro- ducing a club display team. Members of the team, who fly TigerMoths, are Bill Boylett, Peter Lucas, Ted Szparowski, Doug Taylor and Jack Ware, and instruction is given by Mr. Lucas,Dick Gliddon and Philip Cleife. The club's annual dinner dance is on February 13 at the Duke of Cornwall Hotel, Plymouth. RETROSPECT From "Flight" of January 16, 1909 Church bans Flight: If General Kovanko, one of the speakers at theannual meeting of the Russian Aero Club, has been correctly reported, it would appear as though the Orthodox Church is opposed to thestudy of aviation. It seems also, although the secret has been wel] kept, that Russia has a peasant who can easily beat Wright and Farmaoat their own game. He is said to have had the audacity to fly over a church in the aeroplane he has invented, and for this deadly sin hewas prosecuted by the priest, condemned to be birched and anathematised by the local diocesan council. We ought to hear moreof him—or the reporter. SOCIAL activities at Lancashire Aero Club, Barton, are on theincrease, a resident band for dancing on Saturday nights having quadrupled clubhouse attendances recently. Elected at lastmonth's committee meeting were the following sub-committee members, (flying) R. Ogden, A. A. Rollo, R. B. Stockfis,H. Burrows; (social) N. N. W. Bradpiece, Mrs. B. Emery, Miss J. Isaacs. THE Bernay factory of Societe Aeronautique Normande (whoseactivities are among those described in an article on pages 93-95) is now concentrating on the production of the three-seatDR.100 Ambassadeur and the four-seat D.140 Mousquetaire. The fourteenth of an initial batch of 50 Mousquetaires was deliveredat the end of last month, and the batch will be completed by the end of May; and firm orders have been received for 50 DR. 100s.Manufacture of Jodel D.I 17 two-seaters was transferred on January 1 from Bernay to Societe Alpavia at Tallard Aerodrome,Gap, who will produce these aircraft at an initial rate of two per month under the direction of MMs. d'Assche and Noin. THE Netherlands Government Civil Flying School at Eeldc,near Groningen, is reported to have chosen the Saab 91D Safir as its new single-engined training aircraft, and delivery of 18 ofthese machines is expected to begin in the spring. As reported in the account of a Flight visit to the school in our issue of May 24,1957, other types under consideration have been the Beech Mentor and the Piaggio P-149. The single-engined trainers employed todate have been Tiger Moths, Harvards and Saab 91A Safirs. OXFORD Aeroplane Club are adding a Proctor 3 to their fleetto cater for advanced training and touring. The club's annual dance is planned for Friday, February 20, at the Bear Hotel, Woodstock. NEWLY appointed general manager at Lasham Gliding Centreis Lt-Cdr. Dennis Lough, who succeeds Lt-Cdr. A. J. Phillips. Among current projects at Lasham is the construction ofa second hangar to house tug aircraft, gliders and ground vehicles. Martin Tips displays fuselage framework (as supplied to kit-builders) of the Fairey Tipsy Nipper, described in an article on pages 93-95
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
