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Aviation History
1966
1966 - 0819.PDF
rut.ni international, SPORT AND BUSINESS The four-seat Alon X-A4, developed from the well-known Aircoupe, was first flown from th Mcpherson Municipal Airport on February 25. This attractive newcomer is powered by a ISOhb Lycoming O-320A and has a useful load of 1,1071b and gross weight of 2,1501b. It climbs at 880ftImin and has a range of 775 miles. Cruising speed is 140 m.p.h. Air Rent Ltd, the European distributors for Alon, say that the X-A4 should be on sale next year Gliding Awards for 1965 were presented at the recent annual ball of the British Gliding Association by Lady Mensforth. They comprised: — de Havilland Cup for gain of height: Roger Mann (Skylark 4, 16,650ft). Manio Cup for longest goal flight: A. D. Purnell (Skylark 3F, 206 miles). Wakefield Trophy for longest distance: A. D. Purnell (Sky- lark 3F, 206 miles). Volk Cup for longest declared out-and-return: A. D. Purnell (Skylark 3F, 206 miles). Seager Cup for best two-seater performance: R. C. Stafford Allen and Roger Marven (T-49, 116-mile triangle). Douglas Trophy for best club triple-flight cross-country performance: Surrey Gliding Club (for flights by A. D. Purnell, 206 miles; G. R. Paddick, 192 miles; and J. N. Cochrane, 192 miles). California in England Trophy for longest distance by woman pilot: Miss Jane Warter (Olympia 463, 141 miles). Frank Foster Trophy for fastest speed around 100km triangle: Fit Lt Ian Strachan (Skylark 3B, 48 m.p.h.). Robert Perfect Trophy for club with highest proportion of categorised instructors: (1) East Midlands GC; (2) Moonrakers GC; (3) Cornish GC. EAA President in Britain Mr Paul Poberezny, president of the Experimental Aircraft Association, is to lecture in the Royal Aeronautical Society theatre on April 25. The talk, on US homebuilt aircraft, will be followed by a showing of the EAA 1965 Rockford Fly-In film. In addition to British EAA members, other organisations are invited. Tickets are obtainable from the EAA European Office, 11 Stonehills House, Welwyn Garden City, Herts. McAlpine Aviation, the business-flying division of Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons, has been awarded the contract to do main- tenance work on Gregory Air Services' new HS.125—which is to be based at Luton instead of Heathrow as originally planned. Pilots of light aircraft visiting London Gotw/ck Airport will welcome the excellent idea of a special private aircraft terminal, with Customs, located conveniently next to the main car park. The Gatwick centre will be opened on April I; a.similar centre will be opened on the south side of London Heathrow Airport later in the summer "Flight" photograph FAA Encourages Instrument Flying The Federal Aviation Agency is running an Instrument Flight Rules systems indoc- trination programme designed to encourage pilots who hold instrument ratings but lack the confidence to use them—believ- ing that the airspace system is too complicated for their limited experience. The pilot requests a SIP handling when filing IFR plans. Under the programme pilots are given special meteoro- logical and procedural briefings, and ATC radar is used to help them as much as possible. They are informed frequently of their position, distance to destination, frequencies and direc- tion changes. Three Crash Reports The Ministry of Aviation's Accident Investigation Branch has reported* on three light aircraft acci- dents. The first occurred on January 5, 1965, when a Bolkow- Klemm 107c, G-ASAW, fell into the sea near Shoreham, Sussex. Both occupants were killed. The aircraft had been seen performing aerobatics, some of which brought it within 60ft of the water; it was last seen flying out to sea. Remnants showed that it had struck the water at a speed higher than would have been normal for intentional ditching. Though the Inspector of Accidents was unable to arrive at an opinion, because there was insufficient evidence, he concludes that, as the crash probably occurred about 20min before nautical twilight, in hazy conditions, the natural horizon was probably obscured. Another of his conclusions is that alcohol consumed by the pilot during the five-hour period before take-off may have impaired his efficiency and judgment The second report concerns an Auster 5, G-AGYG, which encountered severe turbulence and wind shear while climbing after take-off from Shenington Aerodrome, Oxfordshire, on September 18, 1965. The pilot was killed. Meteorological Office observations indicated that the steep 300ft ridge upwind of the accident site might well have produced these wind condi- tions in the weather prevailing at that time. The aircraft was seen to climb in a steep attitude, to stall and then to spin into the ground from about 300ft. The Inspector's report states that it appears likely that the pilot underestimated the wind conditions, and that the steep climb indicated that the margin of speed above the stall was inadequate for these conditions The third report tells how Auster G-APJY took off itors Walney Island Aerodrome, Lanes, on October 10, 1965, and collided with a glider winch-cable which became wrapped round the propeller, stopping the engine. The pilot attempted to regain the airfield, but when the control column was movedI to stop the turn the aircraft entered an incipient spin and crasne into marshy ground. The pilot was killed and the three pa • sengers injured. The Inspector of Accidents noted that tn normal practice of having the Auster parked near the giw launching point was not followed; that undulations in w airfield prevented its being seen from the glider ^nttC^ point; and that the pilot failed to ensure that the airspace o his take-off path was clear. *Civil Aircraft Accident Reports: Bolkow-Klemm G-ASAW, HM C.A.P. 253, price Is 6d; Auster 5 G-AGYG, HMSO Ufj price Is 6d; Auster G-APJY, HMSO C.A.P. 251, price Is *»•
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