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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 1570.PDF
FLIGHT International, 21 May 1964 LETTERS... craft were generally used in the joy-riding business up to about 1935, there were several fitted with the 80 h.p. air cooled vee-8 Renault engine to be seen each summer in North Wales in the early 1930s. This Renault engine became the source of a large number of parts for the original Cirrus Mk I engine, and I believe it is correct to say that, except for a new crankcase and new design of cylinder head, almost everything else was Renault. Further, the Cirrus I with only four cylinders gave almost as much power as the eight-cylinder Renault, presumably due to the efficient design of the cylinder heads. Swansea, Giant c. s. WILLIAMS SIR,—Concerning Squadron Leader Horrox's letter (May 7), the following particulars of Avro 504Ks with a variety of engines may interest him. I have personally flown or been flown in 504Ks as follows: Monosoupape (the original rotary for the type); 110 h.p. Le Rhone (rotary); 130 h.p. Clerget (rotary); 100 h.p. Anzani(radial, ten cylinder in two banks of five, with automatic inlet valves and two five-cylinder-firing magnetos); 80 h.p. Renault (vee-eight, air cooled—when fitted with this engine the type was re-named the 548). I have also seen a 504 with a B.R.2 rotary, which over- heated very badly in such a slow airframe: also (in 1917) a 504 with a front spider bearing to its Gnome rotary engine. I also remember photographs of a 504K, in Australia, fitted with a 200 h.p. Sunbeam Arab vee-eight engine, water-cooled (in my opinion, probably the worst aero engine ever made!). Finally a 220 h.p. Wolseley Viper vee-eight (from an S.E.5A), water-cooled, was fitted in a 5O4K air- frame, but again overheating could not be overcome. The Viper was a Hispano Suiza made under licence. The Avro 504N was not a true 504 type at all, only a development from it. The "toothpick" undercarriage was scrapped in favour of an oleo and the weight of that, com- bined with the Lynx radial engine, necessitated the fitting of a variable-incidence tailplane. Many other detail alterations were also necessary. RAF Staff College, RIVERS OLDMEADOW Andover, Hants 869 cost which is inseparable from any scheme to keep veteran aircraft in flying condition, particularly Second World War types like the high-powered twin-engined Mosquito. In order that those enthusiasts who believe that the aircraft must fly to justify their existence may have the chance to assist in the good work of implementing such a scheme, a Skyfame Supporters' Society is to be formed very shortly. In this way, for a modest amount subscribed annually, a member will not only have free access to the Museum and flying demonstrations by its aircraft throughout the year, but will also have the immense satisfaction of knowing that he (or she) is contributing to the furtherance of a popular idea. We will be interested to know readers' reactions to this plan. Perhaps Mr Brown would be the first subscriber? Staverton Airport, PETER M. THOMAS Cheltenham, Glos Managing Director, Skyfame, Ltd History of CFS Standards Squadrons SIR,—For some considerable time one of the aims of the Central Flying School has been to ensure that the desired quality of flying and flying instruction is maintained through- out the RAF. At present the standardization elements of the CFS are known as Standards Squadrons, but in the past their task was carried out by the Examining Wing and for a while the Examining Flight. Although much is known about the history of CFS generally, there seems to be a lack of photographic evidence available concerning the varied activities undertaken in the past by the predecessors of the Standards Squadrons. I would, therefore, be grateful if any of your readers could supply us with photographs, either for retention or for copy- ing, dealing with past activities and aircraft flown by either Examining Wing, Examining Flight or Standards Squadrons during their association with either CFS or ECFS. Any item sent on loan would, of course, be carefully treated. It is hoped that in this way the present Standards organiza- tion will be able to build up a photographic record of its history for display in Standards Headquarters at the CFS. Central Flying School, 3. HODGSON, RAF Little Rissington, San Ldr, RAF ' Cheltenham, Glos The Paper You Can Trust? SIR,—No doubt other air-minded readers of The Daily Telegraph were as surprised as myself recently, when they read details of the types of aircraft currently engaged by the RAF in the South Arabian operations. As I waded through the gloomy news on the back page of the May 4 issue, despondency set in when I noted that ground operations were being supported by "rocket-firing Hurricanes"! Faith was restored two days later, however, for on the front page on May 6, mention was made of "a Beverley helicopter." This would seem to be a major breakthrough for Britain, and I dare say we can look forward to reading about helicopter versions of the Hastings and Shackleton in the near future. I suggest that a Flight International photographer be dispatched to RAF Khormaksar with all speed. East Bolden, Co Durham R. LEVY Preserving the Veterans SIR,—I was most interested in the letter from Mr R. C. Brown (April 23), concerning our policy regarding historic aircraft. Whilst I cannot agree with his contention that non-flying veteran aircraft are not worth saving (the thirteen thousand people who visited the Short Sunderland at Pembroke last summer would not agree either!) there is something to be said for this point of view. The annual Veteran Car Run to Brighton gives rise to a much greater interest in old cars that would be the case were these static for evermore. The great difficulty is, of course, the huge increase in In Brief Photographs of Hurricanes and Spitfires at RAF Kenley in 1939 and 1940 are proving extremely difficult to locate, says Mr W. Gordon Newall, who hopes Flight International readers can help him. Mr Newall's address is 80 Beverley Road. Whyteleafe, Surrey. FORTHCOMING EVENTS May 21 RAeS Rotorcraft Section: "The US Army's Light Observation Helicopter Project," by C. C. Crawford. May 21 RAeS: Second Handley Page Memorial lecture: "Life and Work of Sir Frederick Handley Page," by Dr G. V. Lachmann. May 22 RAeS Agricultural Aviation Group: a.g.m. May 23 US Armed Forces day, Alconbwy, near Huntingdon, and Bentwaters,near Woodbridge, Suffolk. May 23-24 International " Wings Pilgrimage" TarbesjLaloubere. May 26 RAeS: Joint discussion with the IEE, "Designing and Engineering Aircraft Electrical Systems for Relia- bility," to be opened by G. G. Wakefield. May 26-28 Society of Automotive Engineers: Air Cargo Forum, Montreal. May 28 Fleet Air Arm Review, Yeovilton entry by invitation ticket only). May 28- June 7 Light Aviation Salon, Cannes; Paris - Cannes Race. May 30 de Havilland Aerobatic Trophy, Ipswich. May 30-31 Cote d"Amour Aero Club: 4th European Rally, la Batik. May 30-31 Maconnais Aero Club: International Macon rally, Macon. May 31 Waveney Flying Group: Light-aircraft rally. Seething.
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