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Aviation History
1967
1967 - 1324.PDF
106 LETTERS.. . FLIGHT International, 20 July 1967 Glasgow: a Simple Solution? SIR,—This controversy over the naming of Prestwick and Abbotsinch can really be solved very simply: Prestwick becomes Glasgow Intercontinental and Abbot- sinch becomes Glasgow International. This is not a new idea, of course: many years ago Geneva stole a march on its rival at Zurich by using the more grandiose Inter- continental. But in the case of the Scottish airports it would neatly make the point about the part each of the two Glasgow airports has to play. Horsham, Sussex P. E. H. RITTMEYEJ* S.6B Sort-out SIR,—I think you've had your leg pulled. The Super- marine S.6B illustrated on page 21 of your July 6 issue (the aircraft normally at Southampton) did not win the Schneider Trophy. That machine (S.I595) is in the Science Museum in London. The Southampton aircraft (S.I596) put up a world record after the race, flown by Stainforth, whereas it was Boothman who gained the Schneider Trophy for Britain. Leigh-on-Sea, Essex LESLIE HUNT QFE for all to See SIR,—I wonder whether the following has ever been done or suggested? A large number of airfields are still not radio- equipped, therefore for student pilots on cross-country flights some difficulty may be met at the destination air- field in assessing the QFE for landing. 1 know people will say, "Oh, we are PPO and will give you the QFE when you phone to obtain permis- sion." However, on a long trip this QFE may change considerably after the time of telephoning. I suggest that a board giving the latest QFE be placed at the base of the signals area. This board (rather similar to a cricket scoring board, where letters and figures are hung on a hook, but a little larger so as to be visible from circuit height and the reverse side visible from control), would have the letters QFE followed by the appropriate figures. In this way I feel that students and others would benefit at non-radio airfields, and also at radio-equipped airfields where they have permission to land with non- radio aircraft. I should like to hear other readers' com- ments. Sranxted Airport. L. RICHARDS Essex Relic in the Roof SIR,—In the . heart of the midlands of Ireland is a wooden building—a machine shop typical of its kind and all of 60 years old—that contains a fascinating collage of engineering history. Memories are dim and facts are few, but early in this century Mr. Frank Aldritt, of Maryborough, Queens' County, established a workshop in the middle of the town and, as was the fashion, built motor-cars. His thoughts then turned to aviation and about 1908 he started to build an aero- plane. When nearly complete the project was shelved and he turned again to his successful motor-cars. In 1913 Mr Aldritt died, and with him went all hopes of ever flying the monoplane. The aircraft was transferred to the workshop rafters, and it has remained there ever since. Mr Aldritt's son, incidentally, still lives in semi- retirement nearby. The wing of the Aldritt monoplane, stored in halves one upon the other on the joists of an Irish garage. The rear end of the fuselage is just visible at bottom left (letter from Mr Skillen) Technically the machine owes much to popular air- craft of its day, the design coming from various books and publications. It is a monoplane with a typical truss- style fuselage. The wing is untapered, with two bamboo spars, and was probably intended to warp. The tailplane and rudder are of cruciform style, very like the Ferguson of 1909. Perhaps the most interesting part of the machine was the three-cylinder in-line engine, of the large bore typical of the day. Regrettably the engine was sold for scrap only a few years ago. Also missing is the original paddle propeller. The only parts of the entire machine not built by Mr Aldritt were the crankshaft, which was specially forged by R. & E. H. Hall of Salford, Man- chester, a few other engine parts forged in Dublin, and a specially designed Bosch magneto. Completing the list of dusty relics still to be found are a wickerwork air- craft seat and a bicycle-type wheel. By a quirk of fate this relic has escaped untouched for over 50 years. Mind you, in that period the country's name, the county's name and the town's name have all been altered, and it is to Port Laoise, Co Leix in the Republic of Ireland that you must venture to see the Aldritt monoplane. It is sincerely to be hoped that this will some day be preserved by an official body in either Eire or the United Kingdom before the destructiveness of the unrealising public deprives us of yet another rara avis. Belfast GRAHAM J. R. SKILLEN Avro 707A, not C SIR,—The photograph in "Straight and Level" (Flight, July 6) of an Avro "7O7C," is, in fact, the Avro 707A, with the serial number WD280 clearly visible. Apart from this, the 707C accommodated two pilots, and the 707A one—again clearly visible. I hope Mr Mallet of Melbourne looks after his machine, as I include this aircraft in fond memories of my apprenticeship with A. V. Roe & Co, where I worked on it during 1951-52. Bramhall, Cheshire E. VALENTINE DIARY July 21-22 July 22 July 23 July 22-23 July 28-30 July 30 July 31-Aug 12 National Air Races—Round I; Plymouth, Devon. Helicopter Club: Historic House Hover-in. Helicopter competition; Oxford Airport. International Iberian Air Tour; Iberia, Portugal. Third Ulster International Rally; Newtownards Airfield,Co Down, Northern Ireland. Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society: Open day; Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, Beds. NASA Manned Spacecraft Center: Apollo applications summer meeting; University of California, Santa Crui, California.
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