BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

Evening Star, Issue 21415, 19 May 1933, Page 2

BENEATH THE WINDSOCK

[By Gipsy Motu.]

TOLD AT THE DROME. Despite the rough weather last week, flying time kept up very well, the total of twenty-five hours being quite up to the average. Flight-lieutenant Olsen visited Cromwell, Ranfurly, and Oamaru last week to give instruction. All tiie Otago planes were at Oamaru for the week-end in connection with the Waitaki jubilee celebrations, joy rides, (light formations, and aerobatic displays • were given at frequent intervals. The following Otago pilots flew up:—Mr J. 11. Stevenson, Mr R. R. Hudson, and Mr W. R. Smith. A lauding competition held over tire week-end resulted in a win for Pilot A. N. Jones, with Miss Rowntrec second and Pilot W. R. Smith third.

Competitions will bo continued each week-end up to and including June 11, when an all-day meeting will be held. All finals will be decided that day, and the winners from the various other centres will compete with the local pilots. Flight-lieutenant N. B. Burrell visited the ’drome on his annual tour of aircraft inspection, and the Otago machines were specially commended for their excellent order and appearance. Botii flying and associate members arc reminded of 'the dance to be hold in the Garden’s Tea Kiosk on June 10. On the rally day (Juno II) a combined lunch will bo held in the hangar.

GRADING OF PILOTS. All flying members have now been graded according to their qualifications, and the following flights have bcerf formed

A Flight.—D. Campbell A, 1. Penrose A, S. Hudson A, D. Whittaker A, R. Shaw A, F. Taylor B, J. Dovey B, L. Whittaker C, J. Wallace C, T. Corrigal C, I l ’. M'Caw C. B Flight.—-R. Hudson A, J. H. Stevenson A, A. Burbridgo A, E. Hope A, S. Black C, T. Martin C, C. Renton G, K. Mitchell C, V. Dale C, G. Harvey C, G. M'Cluskoy C, C Flight.—A. Jones A, E. Moen A, N. Rowntrec N, J. C. Tait A, L. Stewart B, W. R. Smith C, S. Goiirley C, J. R. Neil! C, 6. Sellars G, T. Freeman C, M. Ellis C. A grade pilots aro endorsed to carry passengers. B grade pilots, fifteen hours solo up to cpdorsemont. G grade pilots, up to fifteen hours solo.

FLYING MEMBERS’ MEETING. A meeting of flying members of tho Otago Aero Club was held on May 7, when Mr I. Penrose presided over a good attendance. Tho chairman explained that the meeting had been called for the purpose of bringing tho flying members together and making things more interesting in the dub. Tho members showed a tendency to drift apart, and something .should bo done to bring them together. A series of competitions was to bo held, and it would be necessary to form flights amongst the members. There were several trophies which had not yet been competed for. The following office-bearers were electedGhib captain, Mr 3). Campbell; deputy club ■ captain, Mr J. H. Stevenson; flight commanders—Messrs D. Campbell, R. R. Hudson, and A. N. Jones; Social Committee—Messrs E, A. Moon, A. N. Jones, J. C. Tait, and Miss N. Rowntrec; secretary, Mr G. Umbers; treasurer, Air I, Penrose. It was decided to leave tho selection of personnel for the three (lights in the hands of the pilot-instructors, tho flight commanders, anfi Mr 1. Penrose. '

It was also decided that tho pilotinstructors and ground engineer he tho sole judges of competitions. On the suggestion of Miss N. Rowntrec it was resolved that the pilots bo graded in accordance with the- number of hours flown, the grading to bo as follows: C grade, up to 15 hours solo; B grade, 15 hours solo to endorsement of license; A grade, endorsed license holders.

The matter of preparing tests was left in tho hands of Flight-lieutenant E. G. Olson to submit them to the committee for approval. A competition extending over six months is to bo held, and during the period competitors are to take part in six individual landing competitions, the first to take place in tho third week in Juno.

The question of procuring blind flying instruments was discussed, and Flight-lieutenant Olson was instructed to inquire into the cost. Mr Umbers also stated that he would ask Commander E. F. Watson to demonstrate compass-swinging at tho aerodrome.

PROGRESS OF AVIATION. Somo idea of tho growth of British air transport may bo gathered from the fact that in 1924, when Imperial Airways took over tho British cross-Chan-nel routes, seventeen relatively small and inefficient aircraft operated over litle more, than 1,000 miles of airway (ail within Western Europe). To-day, the forty-one aircraft in the Imperial fleet ply regularly over more than 12,000 miles of airway, serving three Continents and crossing nineteen countries. Tho average size of tho company’s airliners is much greater than in any other commercial air fleet in the world, and tho aircraft used are admittedly the safest, most “economic,” and most practical big air transport planes in existence. In all that 10,000,000 miles of flying only five accidents have occurred which involved injury to passengers.

BRITISH PLANES IN DENMARK

Following extensive tests in winter and summer conditions of four “ Bulldog ” single-seater fighters, the Danish Government have decided to manufacture these fast warplanes under license at the Royal Danish Army Air Corps factory at Kastrup. It is understood that the immediate requirements of the service cover fifteen new machines, each of which will ho driven by a single Brit-ish-built Bristol “ Jupiter ” aircooled motor developing 150 h.p. “ Bulldog ” aeroplanes form the fighting equipment of eight land fighter squadrons, of the British Royal Air Force, and they have also been purchased by no fewer than eight countries overseas. - The Danish choice of this machine is fresh testimony to the excellence of typically efficient and robust British aircraft. Constructed entirely from high tensile steel, except for fabric covering to wings, fuselage, and tail unit, the “ Bulldog ” is a biplane capable of speeds in excess of three miles a minute and exceptionally agile in the swift evolutions needed in aerial combat. The standard machines as supplied to the British air service reach their

speeds at heights of 10,000 ft to 11,000 ft. ■ Denmark is not the only country bordering on Baltic Sea which employs “ Bulldog ” fighters. Sweden, Latvia, and Estonia have also acquired machines of this type, and in the latter countries they constitute the chief flying equipment of tho national air services. TRAINING BRAZILIAN NAVAL AIRMEN. Twelve Gipsy Moth trainers belonging to tho Brazilian Navy Flying School flew in the aggregate 2,288 hours during the last six months of 1902. They were also employed to n considerable extent on active operations in the course of tho two months of tho recent revolutionary outbreak. So satisfied are the Brazilian authorities that they have placed ;r repeat order for twelve similar Gainers with tho Do Haviland Company, and have also contracted for tho supply of five Fox Moth cabin biplanes and live Tiger Moth open cockpit craft. At the school’s '* Brovit ” Day, which corresponds with the passing out ceremony held in British service flying schools, the commanding officer, Commandanto Raul Bandeira, was able to report that the passing out. list was the largest since the school was formed in 191(3, and that during tho whole of tho 1992 period not one personal accident had occurred. Only one of the twelve Moth trainers had needed attention in the workshops, and then only for a minor repair. Before tho commandant’s address pupils of tho school performed a series of evolutions in their training planes, going through individual and combined acrobatics in a manner reflecting great credit on tho school’s standard of tuition, and demonstrating tho handiness and efficiency of those businesslike British craft.