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Aviation History
1966
1966 - 0083.PDF
Before and after—the pictures referred to in the letter below from Gp Capt J. H. Hill. The crash was more spectacular than serious Shark up the Superstructure From Gp Capt J. H. Hill, CBE, RAF (Retd) SIR,—The picture of a Shark "climbing up the super- structure" of an aircraft carrier (page 1078, Flight, December 23) reminded me very vividly of the incident The ship concerned was HMS Courageous, in which I spent four very happy years in No 800 FF Squadron, and the pilot was Lt "Slob" Solby. Both he and his crew escaped serious injury. Thanks to some very good work by the ship's photog- rapher, I am able to send you two more action shots of the incident. [Reproduced above—Ed.] East Horsley, J. H.HUX Surrey More for the Next Honours List? SIR,—Geoffrey Dorman's proposed honours list (Letters, December 23) seems the usual one that ignores the real personalities who enrich our industry. I would nominate Fred Laker, not just for building up an airline of useful proportions, but for his faith in buy- ing the BAC One-Eleven off the drawing board, so helping in that aircraft's success, and for giving the VC10 back its pride when BOAC had shamed it. Jack Jones of Channel Airways would be my candidate for sheer hard work in making a profitable airline, and a really independent one, without the aid of any complex shipping buy-out deals to help him become one of our largest operators. As a design nominee I think Barnes Wallis is long overdue, and perhaps the more honest ones would recog- nise Eric Knight of Lombard, who was about the only man who would finance an aircraft before we all became respectable. It would make a refreshing change to see some names that mean something receiving an honour, rather than the usual dreary list of nonentities who played it safe in the Ministry of something. Luton Airport, T. D. KEEGAN Beds First DC-3 Flight SIR,—On page 1102 of your December 30 issue you state in the caption to the photograph of the American Air- lines DC-3 that the first flight of this famous "workhorse of the air" took place on December 22, 1935. The initial flight actually took place on December 17, 1935, with take-off at 3 p.m. and landing lhr 40min later. The pilot was Carl Cover and the engineers aboard were Fred Stineman and Frank Collbohm, who is now director of the Rand Corporation. For its first flight the prototype DC-3 (c/n 1494) was registered XI4988, later becoming NCI4988 when it was bought and delivered to American Airlines on April 29, 1936. As part of the AA fleet it was named Flagship Texas. During March 1942 NCI4988 was sold to Transcon- tinental and Western Air, but its ultimate fate is unknown to the writer. Llanbedr, A. PEARCEY North Wales Culinary Comeback SIR,—As one of the United Kingdom's most practically experienced "aviation" consultants in a specialist field we feel that we must comment on the final paragraph of Straight and Level in Flight for December 16. Briefly, apart from our professional activities, we are also keen students and connoisseurs of the skillet From such studies and experience we have found that one of the most efficient forms of cookery is compressed steam. We have also discovered that improperly hung and matured Bacon is apt to become dry, green, and slightly nauseating. Hythe, Kent i. H. H. GROVER, Phoenix Flight Services (Development) Ltd. DIARY Jan 13 Society of Environmental Engineers: "Cooling of Aircraft Equipment in Extreme Conditions," by W. R. Shapey. Royal College of Advanced Technology, Salford, 7 p.m. Jan 13 RAeS Bedford Branch and RAF Technical Society: Joint meeting, "Problems of Running an Independent Airline," by A. M. Blakemore. Guild House, Harpur Street, Bedford, 7.45 p.m. Jan 13 RAeS Cambridge Branch: "Safety and Airworthiness Prob- lems," by an ARB lecturer. Cambridge University, 8.15 p.m. Jan 13 RAeS Gloucester and Cheltenham Branch and IEE: Joint meeting. St. Mary's College. Cheltenham, 7.30 p.m. Jan 13 RAeS Yeovil Branch: "Aviation Medicine," by Wg Cdr P. Morris. Technical College, 6 p.m. Jan 13 Institute of Transport, West Middlesex Group: "Air-rail Competition on UK Inter-city Services," by J. H. Nunneley. Fortes Airport Hotel, West Drayton, 6.30 p.m. Jan 14 RAeS Rotorcraft Section: Half-day symposium, "The Future of Vectored Thrust." by G. M. Lewis; and "Helicopter Stability," by Prof H. L. Price; 2.15 p.m. RAeS Belfast Branch: Centenary Year dance. Culioden Hotel. Kronfeld Club: "Theory and Technique of Soaring," by John Everitt; 74 Eccleston Square, London SWI, 8 p.m. RAeS Graduates' and Students' Section: "Research at the College of Aeronautics," by J. Busing, 7.30 p.m. RAeS Christchurch Branch: Film evening, including "Flight of Gemini Four." King's Arms Hotel, 7.45 p.m. RAeS Prestwick Branch and Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers, Scottish Lodge: "Transpolar Air Routes," by Navi- gator Einar S. Pedersen. RAF Association Club, 7.30 p.m. RAeS: All-day symposium, "Metallic Materials," 9.30 a.m. RAeS Chester Branch: "The Helicopter: Achievements and Prospects," by D. M. Davies. Grosvenor Museum, 7.30 p.m. RAeS Coventry Branch: "Aerodynamics of Sails," by T. Tanner. Herbert Art Gallery, 7 p.m. RAeS Glasgow Branch: "VCI0 in Service," by a BOAC captain. University, 7.15 p.m. RAeS Hatfield Branch: "History of Parachutes," by S. B. Jackson. HSA Senior Staff Restaurant, 5.30 p.m. RAeS Manchester Branch: "Modern Russian Aircraft," by J. W. R. Taylor. College of Science & Technology, 7 p.m. RAeS Swindon Branch: Centenary lecture: "Conception of the Aeroplane and the Development of Air Transport," by B. S. Shenstone. Technical College, 7.30 pm. Jan 19 RAeS Weybridge Branch: R. K. Pierson Memorial Lecture, "Aeronautics at Weybridge—A Centenary Review," by H. H. Gardner. BAC (Operating) Ltd. 5.15 p.m. Jan 20 RAeS Bristol Branch: "Design and Manufacture of Light Aircraft," by T. D. R. Carroll. BAC Filton, 6 p.m. Jan 20 RAeS Isle of Wight Branch: "Hovercraft," by S. R. Hughes. Saunders-Roe Sports and Social Clubhouse, 6 p.m. Jan 21 Institute of Navigation: "Loran C," by C. Powell and A. Woods. RAeS, 5.30 p.m. Note: RAeS lectures other than those given at branches take place in the Society's lecture theatre at 4 Hamilton Place, London Wl Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan 14 17 18 IS IS 19 19 19 19 19 19 19
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