FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0439.PDF
Designed by L. K. Heuberger of Los Alamitos, California, this novel delto two-seater is being built in Mr Heuberger's garage in the suburban surround- ings here depicted. The aircraft is powered by a 125 h.p. Lycoming and will incorporate folding wings twelve-year-old winner of a competition held in conjunction with alocal newspaper, the llford Pictorial. The prize for the winners was a visit to the club and a local flight. STATEMENTS made in recent weeks by spokesmen for thiscountry's gliding movement have indicated clearly that the future of Lasham Gliding Centre is now safe. The old bogy of insecurityof tenure has apparently been laid—not with the purchase of the aerodrome, as the gliding fraternity desired, but on the basis of alease over a not-unreasonably-short period. Speaking at the British Gliding Association ball on March 10,Air Chief Marshal Sir Theodore McEvoy said: "'An announcement will be made in May regarding Lasham. The outcome may not beas hopeless as many had feared." In the BGA chairman's report presented at the association's annual general meeting on March 11,Mr Philip Wills stated: "On the major issue of Lasham, our efforts . . . seem likely to bear fruit, and at last we may hope for a solutionwhich will enable us to pursue our major ambition to build this into a Commonwealth gliding centre . . . There is a feeling abroad thatat last the Powers that Be are willing to help beyond the merely negative sense of leaving us to be our own masters and of verbalencouragement." And in the Royal Aero Club chairman's report presented on March 22, Col C. F. H. Gough commented: "I amglad also to report that there is every hope that Lasham will be able to continue on a long-term basis as a Commonwealth glidingcentre." It is understood that a 21-year lease on Lasham Aerodrome (withthe exception of the section used by the Royal Aircraft Establish- ment) will be offered, with perhaps an option to extend to 42 years.It is hoped that the lease will be held by the Shaw Slingsby Trust. The offer of a lease follows the failure of negotiations to purchasethe aerodrome from the Air Ministry. At the time the purchase was being considered, a special appeal to Lasham members raised theexcellent figure of over £17,000, but this was not sufficient to meet the Ministry's price. Leasehold negotiations have since been carriedon with the Ministry of Aviation. THE SHORTAGE OF PILOTS for all types of flying jobs inNew Zealand has led indirectly to the establishment of a specialized agricultural flying school. In the five weeks up to February 26 fivetop-dressing pilots were killed in accidents, and a statement issued by the Chief Inspector of Aircraft Accidents, Mr O. J. O'Brien,reported that four of the accidents were caused by pilot error and inexperience. The accident details, with the chief inspector's comments, are:—January 31, Piper PA-18A stalled on take-off, crashed and burnt out. pilot killed. Comment: "The main factor here was inexperience; thehazard was created by the pilot himself." February 5, Fletcher FU-24 dived in vertically, pilot killed. Com-ment: "The pilot lost control when elevator cable was cut through by a screw jammed in the pulley. The aircraft was inspected thoroughlyonly three days before the crash. The screw would have cut the cable in five to 10 hours' flyinjj time." February 9, Piper PA-18A's engine failed on take-off. Pilot killed.Comment: "The aeroplane had just been refuelled in the starboard tank. The pilot forgot to switch fuel from the port tank, which had justenough fuel to get the aircraft into the air. Here was a combination of mismanagement of the fuel system and an element of inexperience." February 16. Piper PA-18A struck high-tension power line. Pilotkilled. Comment: "The pilot was experienced. He was flying down the valley looking for a truck. I assume he was preoccupied with the joband did not see the solitary wire which he forgot was there." February 25, Piper Pawnee stalled and spun on take-off. Pilot killed.Comment: "Here was an element of inexperience. The high altitude of the strip (2.000ft) and temperature (90 ) contributed by making theengine sluggish." The shortage of trained pilots became so acute recently, a NewZealand correspondent writes, that a special inquiry into the problem was set up by aviation interests in the Dominion. Repre-sentatives of the National Airways Corporation, Royal New Zealand Aero Club, the Aviation Industries' Association, andTasman Empire Airways attended the meeting. No findings have yet been released, but reliable sources throughout New Zealandhave indicated that facilities and methods of encouraging young potential pilots to enter commercial aviation are inadequate. As a result of the shortage many aerial-work operators have beenhiring newly fledged commercial pilots who have not had sufficient experience to embark on this specialized work. Last year's top-dressing accident figures were reduced to anall-time low of two accidents per 10,000hr, but, if the present trend for this year continues, the pilot shortage is likely to begreatly aggravated. INFORMATION from all sources is being sought by the Associa-tion of British Aero Clubs and Centres in order to compile a register of aerodromes and landing grounds suitable for lightaircraft in the United Kingdom. The location of such fields, together with the name of the owner or controlling authority, shouldbe sent to the ABAC at 7c Lower Belgrave Street, London, SW1. CURRENT BRITISH PRICES of the four main models of theAero Commander, including delivery charges and import duty, are quoted by the UK representatives. Field Aircraft Services, asfollows: Model 500A, £29,426; Model 500B. £35,300; Model 560F, £42,434; and Model 680F, £48,730, and not as given in ourMarch 23 issue. THE UMBAUGH 18 AUTOGIRO is expected to be on sale in this country later this year at a price of £4,200, according to Mr I. G. Shrigley, managing director of Holman & Co of Glasgow, who have a United Kingdom concession for the type. During this month Mr Shrigley is visiting the USA for instruction on the type, and a demonstration aircraft is expected at Glasgow. AN L-200 MORAVA is currently engaged on a world sales tour. The aircraft left Prague last month and will be visiting Jugoslavia, Greece, Egypt, countries in the Near East and Far East, Australia, South America and North America. Following the Royal Aero Club annual general meeting on March 22 a number of club awards were presented by Lord Brabozon: from the (eft, M. Charles Marchetti of Sud Aviation receives the Louis Breguet Memorial Trophy, V. H. Bellamy, Geoffrey de Havilland Trophy; Sgt John Williamson, bronze Medal; j. M. Houlder, Bronze Medal; B. F. Collins, Bronze Medal
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
