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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0594.PDF
Dick Emery and Chipmunk (see letter from Mr Leslie Hunt) LETTERS . . . have arisen with two identical types with different names, both were termed Walrus. Capt Gibbes, in partnership with Harry O'Hara and Tony Whiter, discovered VH-ALB, plus three others (VH-BLD, X9515 and one unmarked), at Camden, NSW. Originally all four were to be placed in service, but this was later changed, and latest news from Sydney indicates that the three have been burnt to provide hangar space. Recently VH-ALB was offered for sale at £A6,000. As suspected, there are Beaufighters in Australia. An Australian-built Mk21, A8-328, is in a playground approx imately 40 miles south of Melbourne and is in poor condition as the attached photograph [reproduced herewith.—Ed] shows. Two further examples, which were used at the Woomera Rocket Range until about 1958, were recently broken up near Adelaide and soon after melted down. It would be of interest to know how the Seagull V differed from the Walrus. After the RAAF order for the Seagull, the RAF ordered it with the new name Walrus. Until the start of the Second World War the RAAF had 24 Seagull Vs and later obtained six Walruses from Singapore. East Bentleigh, Vic TREVOR W. BOUGHTON Honorary Secretary, Aviation Historical Society of Australia [The Seagull V and Walrus were one and the same aircraft, although the original 24 Australian machines may have differed in equipment from the later British Naval examples. The name Seagull was in any case an anomaly because the so-called Mk V version differed very extensively from its predecessors. Flight of August 8, 1935, carried an Air Ministry announcement to the effect that the official name of the Supermarine spotter reconnaissance amphibian fitted with Pegasus engine was to be Walrus.—Ed.] European Student Co-operation SIR,—We should like to introduce the Euroavia organization to aeronautical and astronautical students in Great Britain. First let us explain what Euroavia is, and what its aims are. Euroavia is an international organization of aeronautical and astronautical students who study at technical universities in NATO and Common-Market countries. The organization was founded in March 1959 at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle). Since that time, students in France, Italy, the Benelux coun tries and the Federal Republic of Germany are working together in the belief that close co-operation between the European countries in aeronautics and astronautics is of great importance. Such co-operation is essential, as those dealing with current aviation and space problems will confirm. Many common programmes in the development, design FLIGHT International, 12 April 19Q and manufacturing of aircraft and space projects show that the need for co-operation is also regarded as of great value by the various governments. But it seems to us that the progress attained up to now is not sufficient. Euroavia, therefore, is striving for a closer co-operation by means of contacts between all European aeronautical and astronautical students. This is our first important aim. It could lead to an organization of European engineers and designers which might later be the first step towards a High Council for Aeronautics and Astronautics in Europe. Besides these rather idealistic aims, we have others of a more practical kind. In this connection our document centre must be mentioned. This supplementary library was established at Aachen in order to supply students with material needed for their studies, especially for design and construction work. This collection of technical documents will be expanded continuously; it already contains aircraft and engine manuals; overhaul, maintenance and operational handbooks; NASA reports, DVL reports and Agard reports. Another field of activity is the organization of excursions and meetings in countries where Euroavia groups are located. Finally, we are working to establish the English language as the main language for aeronautical affairs among the students of all European countries. All these aims and activities have been considered to be of great value and importance by several leading personalities of Europe, including M Robert Schuman, Dr Theodore von Karman and Herr F. J. Strauss, and by professors at the universities of member countries. But we are of the opinion that a European organization must include Great Britain. There fore we would like to contact all aeronautical and astro nautical students in the United Kingdom, to interest them in our aims and, if possible, to encourage them to establish new Euroavia groups in Great Britain. At present there are Euroavia groups at the technical universities ENSA and ENICA in Paris, ENSMA in Poitiers, and at the technical universities of Pisa, Delft, Berlin, Stuttgart, Munich, and Aachen. The central committee of Euroavia, for the time being located in Aachen, is willing to answer any questions from persons who are interested in Euroavia affairs. We do hope we will have the chance to recruit new friends for our aims, and for co-operation among all European students of aeronautics. THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF EUROAVIA Technische Hochschule Aachen, Templer Graben 55 Show-business Flying SIR,—An interesting sequel to the letter about Jackie Rae (March 8) comes from Dick Emery, one of our most popular show-business stars, who, although not successful in his "pilot or nothing" application in 1941, spent six years in the RAF, three of them in one of Ralph Reader's Gang Shows (which included Peter Sellers, Tony Hancock, "Cardew" Robinson and others). Eighteen months ago he saw a picture of Jackie Rae's lovely wife, Jeannette Scott, climbing from an aeroplane at Fairoaks, where she was taking flying lessons. The next day, Dick joined the flying club and, spending every possible moment there, got his pilot's licence in under two months. Then, after lOOhr solo in Tigers, Austers, Chipmunks, Tri- Pacers, Colts, Jodels, Aeroncas, Piper Super Cubs and Hornet Moths, he became the proud possessor of a Tiger Club card. Last August he heard of a Magister for sale at £100. Fairoaks engineers gave it a favourable report and, flying it carefully to C of A (which added £163), Emery now has a reliable machine. ("She may be old but she's all the world to me," he says.) With 200hr solo in his logbook he's taking the assistant instructor's course to improve his flying and to get airborne as often as engagements permit. Cycling down the ramp of the Channel Air Bridge freighter at Southend recently for "It's a Square World," he had to fight hard to overcome temptation to ride on past the cameras and "borrow" one of Bernard Collins' aircraft for a look at the pier from above. Leigh-on-Sea, Essex LESLIE HUNT
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