FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1964
1964 - 0525.PDF
316 FLIGHT International, 27 February 1964 Known as the Super Apache 6, this higher-power modification of the standard Piper Apache was devised by Carl Millard of Toronto (see "Apache Modification"). The aircraft is here pictured flying over Vie new terminal building at Toronto Airport SPORT should be addressed to the hon secretary of the Association, Z.I Department, Crown Agents' Office, 4 Millbank, London SWl (Abbey 7730, extension 200). AN P BUSINESS Apache Modification Carl Millard, who operates an aircraft sales and service business at Toronto International Airport, is now marketing a greatly modified version of the Piper Apache. Initially, Millard designed for each of the Apache's engines a special car- burettor heat box which enables air to be taken, at the discretion of the pilot, from inside or outside the cowlings. This device proved so successful that it led to a series of further modifications. Millard now purchases used Apaches on the open market and puts them through the modification programme in his own work- shops, or alternatively modifies customers' aircraft as a package deal. He substitutes 180 h.p. Lycoming engines equipped with Hartzell propellers (with prop-jet type spinners which improve cooling) instead of the 150 or 160 h.p. engines normally fitted; installs the heat boxes and special glass-fibre cowlings to enclose them; extends the fin to give increased side area, and adds a sixth seat in what is normally the baggage compartment. To comply with regulations governing aircraft carrying six people, the front window on the left side of the aircraft is enlarged as an emergency exit. Several minor modifications, including substitution of a pillarless blown acrylic windshield and installation of impluse magneto couplings to enable the engines to be started by hand, are also included in the package. The modified aircraft, known as the Super Apache 6, is creating considerable interest in the USA as well as in Canada. Millard claims that the top speed is increased to 192 m.p.h. at 8,000ft, compared with 171 m.p.h. for the standard aircraft. The most important advantage of the higher power, however, is an improved single-engine performance. At 9,000ft the rate of climb is still 800ft/min at gross load and, even at that altitude, it is possible to feather one engine and maintain level flight without difficulty. Auster Accident The Ministry of Aviation report on the accident to Auster 5 G-AFWO at Willesden on May 29, 1963, published recently, states that there was no evidence of any pre-crash failure in the aircraft, and that "the pilot was inexperienced and unable to maintain control of the aircraft in the difficult weather conditions encountered during the last part of the flight." In the inspector's opinion, the accident was caused by loss of control in poor weather conditions resulting in a stall from which the pilot was unable to recover. Both the pilot, Mr R. I. Campbell, and his passenger, Dr P. O'Sullivan, were killed in the accident. The aircraft was owned by Thurston Engineering Ltd and oper- ated by the Herts and Essex Aero Club. The pilot had said that he intended to carry out circuits and landings at Stapleford Tawny, but the aircraft left the circuit immediately after take-off at about 5.26 p.m. At approximately 6 p.m., after twice diving at a shallow angle out of low cloud over Willesden, it climbed steeply, stalled and dived into the roof of a block of flats. The inspector observed: "It may be significant that the pilot and his passenger lived close to Chingford, where the aircraft was seen at about 1750hr, and that the pilot had previously lived in Ilford, where the aircraft was observed shortly before. The evidence indicates that during the flight south to Ilford, then west to Hackney and north to Chingford, the cloudbase became progressively lower. It seems probable that by the time the aircraft reached Chingford the high ground of Epping Forest, which was then between the aircraft and the aerodrome, was obscured. "The conditions of low cloud and turbulence in the north London area over which the aircraft was flown would introduce severe difficulties, particularly for a pilot of Mr Campbell's limited experi- ence. In view of this and the arrival of the aircraft over Willesden it appears likely that he became lost at some stage of the flight." Westway Air Taxis, a new company formed by Mr Ian Walker of Westway Models Ltd, commenced operations at Luton Airport last month with a Cessna 175 and a Piper Apache, which are available at 2s 2d and 3s 2d per mile respectively. Headquarters of the company are at 15-17 Brunei Road, London W3 (Shepherds Bush 0267), with operations at Luton Airport (Luton 21869). Ainninded Civil Servants appointed to the steering committee of the Civil Service Aviation Association, now being formed, comprise V. S. H. Mitchell, chairman; J. E. G. Harwood, hon secretary and treasurer; A. L. L. Alexander, legal expert; J. Leach, technical expert; A. K. Edgar, RAE representative; D. B. Green, GPO representative and C. A. P. Ellis, London Gliding Club. Enquiries A Beechcraft Queen Air 80 is now being operated by Forte's and Co Ltd, the London caterers, for the transport of directors o.na senior executives. Equipped with electrical de-icing, weather ra^ar and duplicated radio navigational aids, the aircraft is basec; at Gatwick and serviced by Air Couriers Ltd. The company's cnel pilot is Rex J. Downes.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
