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Aviation History
1965
1965 - 0100.PDF
62 LETTERS . . letter from the Aero Club of Poland which casts considerable doubt as to whether Kuparentko used a parachute. The letter, from the president of the club, says that' "according to some ballooning 'and parachute authorities in this country no special parachute had been used in this accident." My correspondent goes on to say that Kuparentko's life was probably saved because of the drag produced by the torn fabric of the balloon. This, of course, corresponds to a number of similar incidents during the century. While I am trying to obtain further confirmatory information from Poland, it would seem to me that those many writers who considered that Kuparentko was the earliest person who saved his life by parachute were incorrect. Hitchin, Herts s. B. JACKSON Southport's Old Stagers SIR,—The D.H. Fox Moth G-ACEJ, mentioned and photo- graphed by A. W. Jesse (Letters, November 5) resharpened the focus on my most memorable flying experience. It was the summer of 1939. I had 2s 6d (or was it 5s?) which I paid to the man in the glamorous white overalls. Within seconds we were airborne, I for the first time in my life. As for Mr Giroux, the pilot, it would be impossible for him to count the times. Within ten minutes we had climbed, levelled off, flown as far as the pier, throttled back by the outdoor swimming pool, skirted the amusement park, and kissed the flat white sands again. Exhilarated, I had at the age of 15 acquired myself an enchanting mistress—flying. And, a quarter-century later, she fascinates and satiates more endearingly than ever as I wing about piloting rented Cessna 182s on business and pleasure in Canada and the States. I still cherish "Passenger Certificate No 146510" signed by Mr Giroux of Giro Aviation. Dated 8/8/39, it carries this quotation: "The Giro Aviation Co, of Southport, have carried over 130,000 aerial passengers during 19 years of post-war aviation." On the reverse side of the postcard-size certificate is a photograph of the Fox Moth that started my affair. But, unlike the one you published, its registration is G-ACCB. Agincourt, Ont DESMOND M. CHORLEY End of the Industry? SIR,—I have just finished reading, in an article in the New York Times of Sunday, January 3, that there is a very good possibility of the manufacture under licence, or outright purchase by the British Government, of (1) the C-141, (2) F-lll (TFX) and (3) Lockheed Orion. This must be unwelcome news to the British aircraft FLIGHT International, 14 January 1965 industry. Do you realize that the whole British defence equipment would be based on American-designed or -built equipment ? The Royal Navy will have Polaris, the RAF will have the F-lll and Coastal Command will have the Lock- heed Orion; and, last but not least, Transport Command will have the C-141. I am afraid this would signal the end of the British industry. Think of all the foreign exchange the American Government will be earning Out of this! You will have to sell quite a few BAC One-Elevens to make up for it. If you take the easy way out, and start to rely completely on foreign supply for your defence equipment, Britain's voice in foreign affairs will become even smaller than it is now. You have to stop living on past memories and think of the future. You have to take gambles in the world today, but before you can reap any benefits of a gamble you will have to stake a bet and put hard cash on the line. If I were a representative of a foreign government I would be afraid to place an order for aircraft with the British industry, because of the fear of cancellation of the project. You had better put an end to the go-stop-go-stop policy of your government. I am sure the American aircraft industry would welcome some competition in any form. Newark 12, NJ R. FULFORD "What Constitutes Valid History?" SIR,—With reference to a paragraph in Mr Jenkinson's letter (December 24), I would like to point out a few facts of which he is obviously ignorant. I would say that there are more than 10,000 persons in the British Isles alone whose interests lie in what he terms "the immensely laborious and totally useless assembly of arid details—constructors' and Service numbers, civil registrations, colour schemes, successive owners, etc—of individual aircraft, from the production line to the scrap- yard." After all, a history of any aircraft cannot be compiled without any of the above information, which he regards as being useless. For his information, and for that of any others who are ignorant of the facts, there are many organizations in existence that devote all their time in the compilation of these "arid details." Most other countries also have many similar organizations, and almost certainly some form of aviation historical society, as in New Zealand, Australia, America, Canada and Sweden. Most of these organizations publish a magazine in which one would not find an aircraft mentioned without some form of registration, construction number, colour scheme or owner being mentioned. Camberley, Surrey j. HUNT, Blackbushe Aviation Group DIARY Jan 14 Jan 14 Jan 15 Jan 19 Jan 19 Jan 20 Jan 20 Jan 20 Jan 20 Institution of Electronic and Radio Engineers (Southern Section) and IEE: Joint meeting, "Attitude Control of the Skylark Sounding Rocket" by J. F. M. Walker. RAeS Halton Branch: "The Concorde," by G. L. Autv. Institute of Navigation: "Visual Factors in Aircraft Navigation," by E. Heap. RAeS and IEE: Joint discussion, "Development of Dependable Fire-warning Systems in Aircraft" to be opened by J. R. Stevens. RAeS Prestwick Branch: "Space Research," by D. H.Beattie. Kronfeld Club: "The 1965 World Gliding Champion-ships" by Ann Welch. RAeS Agricultural Aviation Group: All-day sym-posium. RAeS Bristol Branch: "High-supersonic Aero-dynamics," by Dr J. Seddon. RAeS Coventry Branch: "Man-powered Flight" byF. Vann. Jan 20 Jan 20 Jan 20 Jan 21 Jan 22 Jan 22 Jan 22 Jan 23 RAeS Gloucester and Cheltenham Branch and IEE: Joint lecture, "Communication Satellites" by a GPO spokesman. RAeS Manchester Branch: "Handling of Modern Jet Transports, with Special Reference to the Super Stall," by E. B. Trubshaw. RAeS Preston Branch: "Structures and Materials for the Aerospace Era," by I. C. Taig. RAeS Cambridge Branch: "The Wallis Autogyro," by Wg Cdr K. H. Wallis. Society of Licensed Aircraft Engineers and Tech- nologists: "Electronics Systems Reliability." The airlines' view: F. Hoyle; the manufacturers" view: J. Stewart. British Interplanetary Society Western Branch: "Space Environment," by R. F. Ayers. RAeS Belfast Branch: Annual dance. British Interplantetary Society Yorkshire Branch: "Planetary Radar," by Dr J. H. Thomson, Leeds.
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