Flight 1938-03
Flight
MERLIN-POWERED: An Armstrong Whitworth Whitley heavy bomber fitted experimentally with two Rolls-Royce Merlin engines. The installations are graced with all the latest advances, including ejector-type exhaust pipes. It may be that the engines are Merlin Xs, which give 1,040 h.p. at 2,500ft. and 965 h.p. at 13,250ft. “Maximum” figures are somewhat higher.
Fitted with Merlin 4s, K7209 was one of three Whitley Is converted to prototype Mk. 4s.
A FASTER WHITLEY: An example of the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley heavy bomber, now in service with Siddeley Tiger engines, has been fitted with Rolls-Royce Merlins of higher power. The new machine, as shown, has temporary fairings over nose and stem gun positions.
OFFICIALLY READY. The terminal building and hotel of the Basra land-water airport at Margil, with a K.L.M. Douglas D.C.3 on the tarmac and an Imperial Airways Short Empire boat at her moorings in the Shatt-al-Arab River
A fine study of perspective is offered by this “shot” of an echelon formation by Hurricanes of No. 111 (F) Squadron.
Hawker Hurricanes of No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron at Northolt. Hurricanes are fitted with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines and one squadron machine recently flew from Edinburgh to Northolt at 408 m.p.h
CONTROLLED POWER: The world’s most formidable fighter squadron - No. 111 from Northolt - demonstrating their mastery of the Hawker Hurricane multi-gun single-seater fighter monoplanes (Rolls-Royce "Merlin") with which they have lately been equipped. The Hurricane is the fastest military aircraft in service anywhere in the world.
WINGS OF THE WIND: Hawker Hurricane multi-gun fighters of No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron, Northolt. The Hurricane will be a key-type in the even greater Air Force foreshadowed in Mr. Chamberlain’s speech.
THE FASTEST SQUADRON: Pilots of No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron, Northolt, with Sqn. Ldr. Gillan, the C.O., who flew from Turnhouse to Northolt at 408.75 m.p.h., in the centre, expressing satisfaction and bearing documents.
FIGHTING STOCK: Tigger, mascot of No. 111 (Fighter) Squadron, Northolt, has evidently ceased to be impressed by the formidable "300-pIus" Hawker Hurricanes.
MORE BATTLES FOR BELGIUM: Last Thursday five Fairey Battles (Rolls-Royce Merlin), the first batch of sixteen ordered by Belgium, were collected from the makers aerodrome at Heathrow, Middlesex, by Belgian Air Force pilots, making the journey to Brussels in an hour. The pilots, seen in the photograph, were Adjts. Nollet, Claert, Caryn and Geerts, and Flt. Lt. Spoelberch.
These extracts from the "British Movietone" slow-motion film of the separation tell the story vividly; especially do they show the steadiness of attitude in both units after separation. These pictures are not a continuous extract; they are selected from some eight feet of film.
A war-time memory ot No. 214 Squadron, or, as it was then, No. 5 Wing, R.N.A.S., later divided into No. 7 and No. 14 Squadrons. The picture shows a O/400 Handley Page safely home after being “winged” by anti-aircraft fire.
The attractive view of a Miles Magister at work. Since the blind-flying hood tends to spoil the appearance of the machine in the picture, it might be asked whether these excrescences cannot be hidden!
CIRRUS-MAGISTER: The first few of a batch of Cirrus Major 150 engines have been installed in Miles Magisters and encouraging results obtained. Externally, the new Cirrus combined manifold and exhaust pipe are apparent.
ADVANCED TRAINER: An Airspeed Oxford (two Siddeley Cheetah X) of No. 11 F.T.S., Wittering, flying with “feet down.”
HOISTED: The photograph shows another stage in the flight-testing of the A.W. Ensign (four 880 h.p. Siddeley Tiger IX): she is seen with her wheels retracted. Each Lockheed undercarriage is retracted by two hydraulic jacks which have an extended length of seven feet; they are believed to be the largest yet built.
Both the Grumman JF-2 and the Northrop Delta have the Wright Cyclone engine.
Vickers Wellesley
No. 76 (B) Squadron was the first to have the Vickers Wellesley medium bomber.
Looking, in a way, unfamiliar with undercarriages extended - the Wellesleys taking off from Finningley.
Pilots of No. 76 (B) Squadron. Left to right (front row): P/O. J. S. Sherwood, P/O. J. T. B. Sadler, Sgt. S. W. Jenkins, P O. W. D. Corr, P/O. J. E. Riepenhausen, P/O. J. M. Warren, Flt. Lt. Isemonger, Sqn. Ldr. L. E. J. George (Commanding Officer), F/O. L. R. Stewart, P/O. P. H. Rebbeck, P/O. F. L. Chadwick, P/O. J. N. Culverwell, P/O. C. A. Baskett. Back row: Flt. Sgt. E. G. Couch, P/O. G. K. Pea­cock, P/O. B. P. Jones.
TURRETED: The nose of the Douglas B-18 bomber used by the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Flying-officer R.A.C. Brie flying the C.30A Autogiro. His demonstrations of vertical descent and of forward flight within a foot of the ground at little more than walking pace are popular features of flying displays.
BELFAST OPENING: Hawker Hind light bombers of No. 502 (Ulster) (Bomber) Squadron in their demonstration of formation flying at the opening last Wednesday, by Mrs. Neville Chamberlain, of the Belfast Harbour Airport. The airport adjoins the Short and Harland factory, so presumably will be used for the testing of the Hereford bombers now under construction.
This photograph - the first close­up to be published of the installation of the Bristol two-row sleeve-valve Hercules in its Northrop A.17 flying test-bed - shows how compactly a unit giving over 1,300 h.p. can be installed. Features to be noted are the single large exhaust outlet, the air intake scoop above the cowling, the controllable cooling gills and the mounting behind the bulkhead for the Bristol remote box for auxiliary drives.
A Swordfish and a Shark dip over the troop transport bearing R.A.F. units to eastern parts.
COURTESY CALL: A Curtiss SOC-1 observation floatplane about to be taken on board the U.S. cruiser Milwaukee at Singapore after celebrations in connection with the opening of the new dock.
Curtiss SOC-2 scout-observation floatplanes from the U.S. cruiser Louisville are seen in highly creditable formation. These machines have Handley-Page slots and slotted flaps, and are fitted with the Pratt and Whitney Wasp engine of about 550 h.p.
A Dolphin drops a hurricane warning to a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Mexico.
A Douglas Dolphin and a brace of Fairchild 24s at their St. Petersburg (Florida) base
A Douglas Dolphin (two P. and W. Wasps) comes to the aid of a burning fishing craft.
Both the Grumman JF-2 and the Northrop Delta have the Wright Cyclone engine. The Grumman is similar to a type used by the U.S. Navy.
CITIZEN PILOTS: Cadets of Australia’s Citizen Air Force receiving armament instruction at Laverton aerodrome. They fly Ansons extensively.
Two Series I Sixes power the De Havilland Rapide. The cold intake, and inside warm air intake with flame trap, can be distinguished.
No. 214 (B.) Squadron’s H.P. Harrows demonstrate echelon, stepped up - an unusual formation for heavy bombers.
Some pilots of No. 214 (Bomber) Squadron (left to right): P/O. J. B. Murray; Sgt. Sach; P/O. F. L. H. Eddison; Sgt. Styles; P/O. C. L. Gilbert; P/O. K. W. Kaufmann; P/O. H. W. Poultney; Sqn Ldr. H. A. Constantine; P/O. P. C. Pickard; P/O. J. M. Griffith-Jones; P/O. E. J. Carter; F/O. R. E. Dupont; P/O. H. E. Bufton; P/O. L. M. Craigie- Halkett; F/O. B. D. Sellick; P/O. R. C. Simmons; Flt. sgt. Blake: Sgt. Duffy.
A vivid impression, by Flight's photographer, of the crew of one of the Handley Page Harrow heavy bombers of No. 214 (Bomber) Squadron. The second pilot has left his seat to check navigation at the chart table; the head of the first pilot can just be seen above the fuselage cross-member. Seated on the left is the radio operator.
Winter sports enthusiasts can now reach the St. Moritz playgrounds by means of Swissair’s new "on demand" fine-weather service from London to Samaden, the 5,000 ft. aerodrome adjoining the famous resort. This fine photograph shows the Douglas D.C.2 amid some of the most striking scenery of the Engadine
A view of St. Moritz itself, taken by a member of the staff of Flight from the D.C.2 as it circled the town.
The Potez at Lyons airport.
An unusual angle on the Potez 621 (two 700 h.p. Hispanos) used on the Paris-Lyons run.
The two six-seater cabins of an Air France Potez 621.
The Belgian SA.B.C.A. 30, an unorthodox two-seater with 40 h.p. Sarolea engine.
Staggered side-by-side seating in the new two-seater Tipsy increases the effective amount of room available for the occupants. The dual control column arrangement is interesting.
The Carden-Ford in the Chilton Minor
Inside the two cockpits of a typical ab initio and aerobatic trainer - the D.H. Tiger Moth.
In this photograph the intake trunk from the leading edge to the cylinder banks can be seen. The picture, incidentally, shows how the whole installation of the inverted vee-twelve engine is little larger in diameter than the airscrew spinner.
An elevation and plan which make the operation of the Gipsy Twelve cooling system instantly apparent.
The smaller Pobjoy-engined Monospar S.T.25.
The hinged panel of the Monospar Universal is designed for ambulance and freighter work, fifth seat may be "manufactured" from tne luggage tray at the rear of the cabin.
The high-pressure, flexible oil-pipe from pump to v.p. airscrew operating mechanism can be seen on the Series II Gipsy-Six installed in the Heston Phoenix.
For a single-engined machine the amount of space available in the Heston Phoenix is noteworthy. The seating arrangement shown is that for charter or feeder-line work.
A neat installation of the Anzani twin in the Luton Minor.
REGAL POISE: The prototype Monarch, Mr. F. G. Mile's new offering to the private owner. One of its big selling points is likely to be the "glide control," the precise nature of which is still something of a secret.
THE LATEST MILES: The new Monarch, which may be described as a development of the Miles Whitney Straight, posed suitably in front of the Falcon Hotel at Reading Aerodrome. This machine, which has a number of interesting features, should be out and about in a week or two.
A fast four-seater - the Percival Vega Gull, shown here with a Series II Gipsy Six and v.p. airscrew.
The Short Empire boat Caledonia over New York after one of her experimental Atlantic trips last year.
Students at the De Havilland Technical school are busy modifying their T.K.2 monoplane for this year’s races. It is to have a Series II Gipsy Major; the engine shown is a dummy.
One of the “contour-changing” flaps of the Wicko, which assist considerably its already docile behaviour in the air.
The Wicko Monoplane, shown here making an approach with the flaps fully down
In this view into the Wicko’s cabin the flap lever may be seen behind the nearest of the two control columns. Engine controls are of the “organ-stop” type.
Views of the Bloch 220 on the ground at Croydon respectively.
M. Charvet, the Secretary-General of Air France, introduces Mme. Maryse Bastie, the well-known pilot, who christened the Bloch at Le Bourget and afterwards travelled in it over to Croydon for the first regular service on the following day.
Flight deck of the early Bloch 220, probably the prototype, with three-panel wind­screen.
FOR THE PARIS RUN: The control cabin of the new Marcel Bloch 220 which is shortly to be introduced on the London-Paris-Marseilles service by Air France. The radio receiver on the right, matching the blind-flying panel on the left, is an interesting feature and it will be noticed that the windscreen layout is very similar to that of the Wibault which will be replaced.
View aft from the front cabin of a Bloch 220.
A wind-tunnel model of the French C.A.M.S. 161 trans-oceanic flying-boat (reproduced by courtesy of l'Aeronautique), some notes on which were given in Flight last week.
One of the most efficient of modern light aircraft is the German Messerschmitt Taifun with 240 h.p Argus. Its top speed is just on 190 m.p.h. and it seats four.
The Hamburger Ha 139 seaplane is all-cantilever, even to the float support. The only exception is the tail, which is strut-braced. Note the “cranked’’ wing The machine is used by the Deutsche Luft Hansa on the Atlantic service and is catapulted off the floating base ship.
British equipment figures prominently in the Dutch Koolhoven two-seat trainer
A CLIPPER SEES DAYLIGHT: Out of its massive “cocoon” of scaffolding, the hull of the first of six Boeing 314 trans-oceanic flying boats is now on the slipway at Seattle. The special beaching gear is eight-wheeled and weighs fifteen tons.
THE NEW FAIRCHILD: One of the first - if not the first - private machines to land at the new St. Moritz landing ground was a Fairchild 24 brought over by Herr Kronfeld. The 1938 version of this machine, for which M. Antoine Gazda is offering concessions in this country, is a full four-seater with ample luggage accommodation.
A striking impression of the Fairchild "24" in action
The way in which the fuselage shape is "humped" to provide head-room may be seen in this view of the machine.
Inside the Fairchild's cabin. The general layout is arranged on lines comforting to the car owner and the dashboard scheme is worthy of note. The flap lever is in the centre.
CYCLONE-POWERED “FOURTEEN”: The first Lockheed 14 transport for the Royal Dutch Air Lines. This model has Wright Cyclone G engines (850/1,000 h.p.) which, it is estimated, should give it a top speed of over 265 m.p.h. Machines of this type will be used on K.L.M.’s West Indian services, and this particular 14 has recently been flown to Curasao by Cdr. Geisendorfler.
A metal stressed skin side-by-side two-seater from the States: the Ryan S-C with Menasco engine.
A result of close application to private-owner problems: the American Stearman-Hammond Y with Menasco engine. It was one of the first "modern" machines to have a tricycle undercarriage.
The B. A. Eagle, which has a reputation for exceptional cabin quietness among light aeroplanes.
Seen over the petrol pumps, is the sunny expanse of Lympne - part Air Ministry airport, part Service aerodrome, but primarily the home of the Cinque Ports Flying Club.
There is plenty of room under the Miles Whitney Straight “bonnet” for the Villiers Hay Maya engine
Two approaches to the “double-decker ” problem: The Air-Wibault (top], and the Breguet 760
The high-wing Aeronca Model K does 93 h.p. on 40 h.p.
The 10-passenger 150-m.p.h. Wibault 283 (1934)
Clouston and Ricketts in the famous Comet
Clouston, Ricketts and wives.
This scale drawing re­calls the layout of the four-year-old Comet. The “rebuilt” dimensions are shown
The De Havilland Gipsy Major I, here seen in a Leopard Moth, runs for 1,000 hours between overhauls.
Mooring practice from the nose of the Short Calcutta, used for advanced instruction.
“Taking in tow” is an art in itself.
The view from the club­house, opened last summer, of the Thanet Aero Club, Ramsgate.
ONE of the U.S. Army's imposing Boeing B-17 heavy bombers caught by the camera during a landing approach with flaps down. Though various fantastic figures have been advanced by imaginative newspaper­men for the speed of this type, it is probable that the maximum is in the region of 230 m.p.h. The engines are four Wright Cyclone G radials rated at 850 h.p. each and giving over 1,000 h.p. for take-off.
The Saro Cutty Sark amphibian used for initial training in flying-boat work.
A scaled-down trainer biplane - the Currie Wot.
Latecoere 631
A privately owned Kirby Kite sailplane at the London Gliding Club’s site at Dunstable. Note the gull wing, tapered and washed-out tips, and oval fuselage.
A machine of distinctly unusual design - the Shapley Kittiwake.
S.E.200
The windscreening of the B.A. Swallow is particularly adequate.
Taylorcraft A
The Misses Mabel and Sheila Glass, whose sporting and sportsmanlike participation in races and other events, almost from the time they took their “A” licences, has earned general admiration.
A Grunau Baby sailplane climb­ing steeply with the aid of the London Club’s winch. The wind is too far north for slope­soaring, but the clouds are evidence of plenty of thermal lift.
Data for the projected U.S. Consolidated oceanic flying boat are: top speed 226 m.p.h. at 10,000 ft.; range with 10,000 lb. payload, 6,000 miles; take-off time in still air 1 min. 7 sec.; gross weight 110,000 lb.; span 18s ft.; passengers, 54; crew, 10.
There is ample transparent area in the carefully shaped cabin roof of the C.W. Cygnet. The locker on the left of the standard instrument panel can be used to accommodate any special blind flying instrument panel.
Air-Wibault
The Seversky Super-Clipper with floats retracted - a model.