AIR TRANSPORT NEWS
Page 51
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Leopard Moth Wins King's Cup Race.
At an average speed of 139.5 m.p.h. for the whole course of 830 miles, the new Leopard Moth, piloted by its designer, Capt. G. De Havilland, won the King's Cup Air Race last Saturday. This new machine, the result of experience with the Puss Moth, was briefly described in our issue dated April 21.
The race was a handicap, and second place was taken by a Camper Swift (Pobjoy engine), and third place by another Leopard Moth, the speeds of these machines being respectively 126.9 m.p.h. and 138.5 m.p.h. A De Havilland Dragon finalist averaged 132.7 m.p.h. .
The fastest time in the first round was attained by a Comper Swift (Gipsy Major engine), which did 160.46 m.p.h., and three Percival Gulls put up laps at about 153-154 m.p.h. Two Hawker Tomtits, equipped with the new Wolseley radial engine, made speeds of 137 m.p.h. and 138.4 m.p.h. There were 35 starters.
• Machines that were of interest to airtransport operators included the Dragon, the Percival Gulls, the Leopard Moths, the Monospar entries and (for fast mail work.) the Camper Swifts. The first Eve machines home had Smith instruments and compasses.
Latils Help Air Transport.
Lath vehicles have been employed in conjunction with aeroplanes to mark Out a. 700-mile track (visible to airmen) across the part of the Sahara between In-Azoua (south-east of Tamanrasset) and Nguimi (near Lake Chad).
Isle of Man Ferry Figures.
During June, British Amphibious Air Lines, Ltd„ Blackpool, carried out, with no failures, its schedule of 15 trips to and from the Isle of Man, 42 passengers being carried and 1,890 miles being flown. Three extra charter trips with 12 passengers (378 miles) were flown to the Island, alsci two trips with six passengers (160 miles) between Manchester and Blackpool. In addition, 521 passengers were given pleasure flights.
Gravesend Machines Busy.
Private charter work continues fully to engage Gravesend Aviation, Ltd., and two business men's trips arranged for next week are to Hamburg and to Beauvais.
Isle of Wight Figures Still Improving.
Portsmouth, Southsea and Isle of Wight Aviation, Ltd., gives the following figures of passengers carried in the week to July 6:—Portsmouth-Hyde, 263 single journeys ; Isle of Wight-Shore ham, 4; Portsmouth-Shanklin, 44; Ryde-Shanklin, 11; Portsmouth-Shoreham, 6.
The New Isle of Man Service.
In our issue dated June 0 we gave details of the proposed Liverpool-Blackpool-Isle of Man service of Blackpool and West Coast Air Services, Ltd. The service started on July 3 with a Dragon, using Hooton, Speke and Squires Gate.
Across-Europe Charter Flights.
The British Air Navigation Co., Ltd., and Birkett Air Services, Ltd., both carried out urgent charter flights to Poland last week for Press material in connection with the release of the British prisoners from Moscow. The Banco machine made the Berlin-Heston stage non-stop in 5 hrs. 10 mins.
Air Transport for Our Associated Journal,
Carrying photographic plates for our associated journal, The Light Car and Cyclecar, Capt. W. Ledlie, of Brooklands Airways, Ltd., covered the 268 miles from the Isle of Man to Heston on Wednesday in 1 hr. 55 mins. (139.57 m.p.h.). The photographs were of the Manikin Beg motor race. Capt. Ledlie used the Junkers type-F13 monoplane (G-ABDC), and believes his time to constitute a record for an air-transport machine cm this -trip. Hillman Figures and Developments.
Hillman's Airways, Bamford, give the following figures of passengers carried in the week to July 9 :—RomfordClacton line, 78 single journeys ; Romford-Margate line, 49; Romford-Paris line, 82. London passengers are now picked up at the Hotel Victoria, Northumberland Avenue.
Mr. Hillman has started a week-end service to Vichy, leaving Romford at 1.45 p.m. on Fridays and arriving at Vichy at 5.55 p.m., leaving Vichy at 10.45 a.m. on Mondays and connecting with the 1.45 p.m. plane from Paris. The fares are 17 10s. single, 110 10s. return.
His machines are busy with privatecharter work. On Monday a load of cinematograph films was taken at a few minutes' notice to the Isle of Man, and the same evening a machine left hurriedly for Berck, arriving back just before midnight.
Carlisle Plan to Proceed, Carlisle Corporation is to proceed with the layout of the municipal aerodrome at Kingstown, according to plans prepared by Air-Commodore Pitcher.
Civil Aviation Progress in 1932.
The report on the progress of civil aviation for last year has been issued by the Air Ministry. It shows that over 40,000 Imperial Airways passengers arrived and departed from London, against 28,000 in 1931, the mileage of subsidized flights on regular European services increasing by 33,520 to 656,520.
The total of air-transport flights, including all Imperial Airways air-transport operations, was 11,468, against 7,814 in 1981, this work accounting for 2,000,000 miles (against 1,604,000), 56,683 passengers (against 25,211), 637.9 tons of freight (against 653.9) and 139.1 tons of mails (against 120.1).
During the five years, 1928-32, seven accidents causing death or injury are reported in air transport, equal to one per 1,094,000 miles flown, whilst in other flying for hire or reward in the United Kingdom three fatal and four non-fatal accidents are reported, equal to one such accident per 409,000 miles.
Messrs. Norman Edgar, Bristol, are reported as having carried 258 passengers (6,900 miles) in the last four months of 1932 on the Cardiff-Bristol line; Portsmouth, Sonthsea and Isle of Wight Aviation, Ltd., carried 2,455 passengers (11,06 miles) in June-November; the B.A.N. Co., Ltd., carried 1,775 passengers (48,542 miles) ; and British Amphibious Air Lines, Ltd., 2,218 passengers (16,184 miles). Air Taxis, Ltd., did 650 hours of flying, mainly on Press work.
Airwork Engine Service Develops.
The registered capital of Airwork Engine Service, Ltd., Heston Airport, has been increased from £2,000 by a further 12,500 nominal capital in. 9 per cent, preference shares.