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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 0142.PDF
FLIGHT International, 16 January 1964 99 SIR,—Have no fear—you're in the clear! The aircraft concerned was a D.H. 82C Tiger Moth, and if I had had a proper filing system for my photographs I could have sent you another confirming the incident. Although 1 don't know the exact date I can tell you that it happened between late March and early May of 1942. I happened to be on the same course at the time. Luckily for the instructor and pupil concerned, the fuselage finished up resting on a beam inside the hangar; otherwise they wouldn't have been able to walk away as they did—after having been helped down to ground level. Glasgow SI R. A. FORBES Brickbat for Bacon SIR,—Having demonstrated the superior recognition powers of Flight International's staff by extensive investigation of the Tiger Moth photo, you commit a HUGE howler by printing a "Straight and Level" heading photo captioned ". . . Piper, or whatever it is." (January 2). Surely you know that the aircraft shown is from the Champion clan. The rear window shape gives it away from the start, and the tail unit shows it to be an Aeronca 7AC Champion. Compare it with a photo of G-AOEH and see what I mean! Edinburgh R. W. SIMPSON Wing Fences SIR,—Just outside Twyford in Berkshire there is a fence composed of two wings. One appears to be off a Westland biplane (a Wallace?) which had originally been doped silver, but was then given a coat of green/brown camouflage on the upper surfaces with yellow/black target-towing stripes on the under surfaces. The other is unidentified, but has a metal leading edge with "6966; drawing No 5083-5" on a plate in the corner. We have contacted most of the well-known authorities on the subject without result and we thought perhaps you or your readers could supply some information. Staines, Middlesex s. G. WILLIAMS The Longest Flight SIR,—In Flight International for January 2, in the news item "The Longest Flight," you stated that Pan American's New York - Buenos Aires Boeing 707-320B flight was the longest all-the-year-round service. I was wondering why Pan American's Los Angeles - London service was not mentioned. Using Boeing 7O7-32OBs PAA operated this service all throughout last year alongside BOAC, who used Boeing 707-420s. On certain flight plans, the BOAC 420s recorded over 5,500 statute miles, on the same Polar route as Pan American. Camberley, Surrey PETER T. HUGHES BEA v British Eagle SIR,—Reference the report on page 787 of your November 14. 1963 issue, under the heading "The Competitors," 1 was astonished to read the quite ludicrous official statement* put out by "a BEA spokesman," quoted in your report, relating to the current state of affairs between BEA's domestic network and the newly granted routes being operated by British Eagle. May I suggest that the spokesman should read and digest what his chief executive published in BEA Magazine. July 1961 issue, page 21. An extract from the concluding paragraph, written by Mr A. H. Milward, says: "Lei us be sure we remember our humble beginnings, and let no pompous spirit play any part in our lives today—we still have much to learn." The occasion of Mr Milward's message was the 15th anniversary of British European Airways. Writing in the November 1963 issue of Mainliner (a maga- zine produced by United Airlines) Mr G. E. Keck, the company's president, says "as for exclusive service features. an advantage of this kind is short-lived because the world's airlines readily borrow each other's innovations. Any new method, will, if successful, be widely imitated . . ." Mr Keck goes on to say: "The really significant difference between airlines is not found in outer forms. It is found in the men and women who work for the respective carriers. It is found in human attitudes, competence, experience and training. ..." Nairobi, Kenya DENNIS M. POWELL [* The statement said: "We really do not know what Mr Bamberg is talking about. BEA have been expanding their routes and services for 17 years to cater for the growing demand for air transport and we do not really need to borrow any ideas from Mr Bamberg as to when and how to operate air services for the benefit of the travelling public."—Ed] First Across the North Sea SIR,—Readers may be interested in the following letter which I have received from Olav Wetting, Curator, Depart- ment of Aeronautics, Norsk Teknisk Museum, Fyrstikkalleen 1, Oslo:— "On July 30th, 1914 the North Sea was crossed by airplane for the first time, Pilot Tryggve Gran, a Norwegian marine officer. It is 50 years ago the summer coming. The plane Mr Gran used was a Bleriot II with an 80 h.p. Gnome motor, flight time 4hr lOmin from Cruden Bay to a point south of Stavanger on the western Norwegian coast. The machine is on display in our museum, in very good condition. "In a full sense of the word, Tryggve Gran may be said to be an avant courier for the air traffic later developed between our countries, also for the brotherhood in arms in two wars. Tryggve Gran joined the British RFC in 1917, fought over London and on the west front. He is now living in Villa Capri, Fevik, Grimstad, Norway. "On Sola Airfield south of Stavanger his flight will be commemorated this summer." The flight was, of course, fully reported in Flight of August 7, 1914. London Wl F. H. SMITH, Librarian, Royal Aeronautical Society FORTHCOMING EVENTS Jan 17 RAeS, Hatfield Branch: Social evening. Jan 21 RAeS, Leicester Branch: "Future Trends in Space Propulsion," by A. V. Cleaver. Jan 21 RAeS, Cambridge Branch and IME: "International Co-operation in the Aircraft Field," by A. H. C. Greenwood. Jan 22 RAeS, Brough Branch: Young Peoples' Christmas lecture. "Space Travel." Jan 22 RAeS, Weybridge Branch: "Medical Aspects of Space Travel" ColJ. T. Heavey. Jan 22 RAeS, Hatfield Branch: "Space Excursion," by H. E. Butler. Jan 23 RAeS, London Airport Branch: Lecture, by A. C. Lovesey. Jan 23 RAeS, Glasgow Branch: "Development of the Trident." hy J. P. Smith. Jan 23 RAeS, Halton Branch: "Development of the Buccaneer," by D. J. Whitehead. Jan 23 RAeS, Yeovil Branch: "Atomic Power and Propul- sion" by J. Fell. Jan 27 RAeS, Henlow Branch: "Powerplants for High Mach Numbers" by J. G. Keenan. Jan 29 RAeS, Christchurch Branch: "Hovercraft" by D. E. J. Tipping. Jan 29 RAeS, Isle of Wight Branch: Film evening on Materials. Jan 29 RAeS Brough Branch and Institute of Transport: "Hovercraft Possibilities" by W. J. Eggington.
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