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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 0452.PDF
13 February 1959 225 Magnetometer-equipped Apache operated by Aero Service Cor- poration in search for new mineral resources in Alaska. News item on this page reports flight of similarly equipped Apache to Korea Sport and Business THE AIR LEAGUE, its history and aims formed the subject ofa talk at the Kronfeld Club on Wednesday, February 4, by A. Cdre. G. J. C. Paul, the League's secretary-general. The talk,he explained, was the prototype of one he hoped to give to flying and gliding clubs throughout the country during this year, in anendeavour to recruit more members for the League. 1959 was the organization's 50th anniversary year, and an Air League historywas being written for the occasion by Gavin Cochrane (previously Exchange Telegraph air correspondent and now an executiveof Sidney-Barton Ltd., the firm which handles the League's public relations). In many respects, A. Cdre. Paul suggested, the years 1909 and1959 were "not dissimilar." At the time of the formation of the League, and again today, there was a great interest in aviationin spite of official discouragement. The speaker went on to detail the activities of the League during the inter-war period and tomention its plans for the future—which were to be amplified on the anniversary occasion in April. In the period of discussion and questions after the talk the aircommodore asked for—and received—criticism of the League and of his presentation as a recruiting medium. Were there not alreadysufficient separate organizations dealing with sporting flying, and were not the Air League council-members out of touch with prac-tical flying? Certainly a united sporting-flying movement was needed, A. Cdre. Paul replied, but the Air League's interestsincluded defence affairs and so were wider than those, for instance, of the Royal Aero Club. As for the council-members, if all thosepresent that night at the Kronfeld joined the League and came along to its annual meetings, they could most effectively influencethe election of the council. Why was the Air League not repre- sented on the recently formed M.T.C.A. standing joint committeeon private aviation? A. Cdre. Paul said that he, too, wanted to know the answer to that one. Other points arising from the discussion were that the speakerpersonally did not believe that the anticipated results nor this country's resources justified Britain's entry into the space race,and the news that the president of the Air League, the Duke of Hamilton, had been invited to open this year's National GlidingChampionships at Lasham. FIRST SOCIAL EVENT to be organized by Sir W. G.Armstrong Whitworth Flying Group, a buffet dance on January 30 was attended by over 120 members and guests. Onthis occasion club vice-president F. Martin presented tankards to retiring committee-members N. Wilson, D. Javes, A. Thomsonand R. Adams for their efforts for the group during their three years of office. The present committee comprises J. R. S. Nicholls,chairman; W. Johnson, vice-chairman; D. A. O'Clarey, secretary; and D. Dumbleton, treasurer. The Armstrong Whitworth group, since its formation less thanthree years ago, has operated Tiger Moth G-ALWW. Total flying time logged during 1958 was 266 hr, with instruction in thehands of C.F.I. Norman Slater and Colin Woodward. Of the total membership of 60,14 members now hold P.P.L.s and severalare aiming at Assistant Instructor's ratings in the near future. SURREY FLYING CLUB and most of the smaller Croydongroups were prevented by fog from flying their aircraft from Croydon to their new base at Biggin Hill on Sunday last,February 8. The transfer of most of the Surrey club's furniture and clubhouse equipment, however, was completed by road as planned. The only aircraft to fly from Croydon to Biggin on thatday was Tiger Moth G-OAES of 600 Squadron (City of London) Flying Club. A PIPER APACHE fitted with a tail magnetometer sting wasrecently flown across the mid-Pacific from Oakland, California, to Seoul, Korea. Owned by Aero Service Corporation of Phila-delphia and delivered by a two-man crew from Skyways Aircraft Ferrying Service, Van Nuys, California, the machine is to be usedto obtain mineral-survey data for the Republic of Korea. The 8,300-mile delivery flight was made by Jack H. Ford, chiefpilot of Skyways A.F.S., and Walter A. Henderson, chief navi- gator, and their route was Oakland - Honolulu - Wake Island -Tokyo - Miho - Seoul. Cabin tanks provided an extra 200 gal of fuel. At Seoul the aircraft was handed over to representatives ofAero Service Corporation. The first Apache to be delivered to Korea was flown byMax Conrad over a North Pacific route via the Aleutians last summer, and the more recent flight of the Aero Service machineis said to be the first Apache flight across the mid-Pacific. RETROSPECT From "Flight" of February 13,1909 Flight at the Coliseum: A new "turn" was put on at the LondonColiseum this week, entitled M. Noiset and his flying bicycle, and, judging by the nature of the performance, it would seem as if this latest"star" from France will have very good reason to wish to fly on his own before he and his machine and the revolving stage have had a muchmore extended acquaintance. M. Noiset looks comfortable enough so long as he remains securely aloft in the air, and the extraordinaryarrangement of drapery which adorns his bicycle successfully obscures his blushes from the audience—as well it may. Once he has blown thatfatal whistle which is the signal for his descent on to his little revolving stage, however, the trouble—or the fun, according to the point ofview—commences. We can conceive that it might not be an easy feat to maintain perfect composure, even when alighting on terra firtna,while seated on a motor bicycle in full action, even if the machine is supported—by wings. But to be expected to make a landing on awobbling revolving stage must surely be beyond a joke, and as M. Noiset does not profess to be either an acrobat or a trick cyclist, andgives no indication of having a special aptitude for either of these very honourable professions, we can thoroughly sympathise with his feel-ings, as he is caught by the whirling stage and is more or less speedily swept over the edge of the table, what time the curtain descends tohide the climax. INSTRUCTIONAL LECTURES on gliding and glider main-tenance are to be held at the Kronfeld Club under the auspices of the British Gliding Association. Beginning on February 19at 8 p.m. and continuing for a further three successive Thursday evenings, Ray Stafford-Allen will give a course on the variousaspects of glider maintenance. The charge for the complete course is 10s, or 3s per lecture. The same fees apply to theinstructional lectures on gliding to be given by Derek Piggot on Monday evenings at 7.30 p.m. beginning on March 9 and endingon March 31. Further details of both courses are obtainable from the British Gliding Association. YORKSHIRE AEROPLANE CLUB, which ceased operationsin March last year, is to get a new lease of life. The club is to be re-opened at Yeadon Airport, thanks mainly to the efforts ofMr. Frank Leach and Mr. Albert Barker. The new club virtually replaces the Yeadon Aero Club, whose activities were suspendedfollowing the taking over of Yeadon Airport by the Leeds and Bradford Joint Aerodrome Committee. Also flying from Yeadonat present are members of the Yorkshire Flying Group, previously at Sherburn. Prototype of the Si pa 1000 Coccinelle two-seater (65 h.p. Continental) seen at Toussus le Noble recently. Note large-area tail surfaces
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