Aviation

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 209, 23 August 1930, Page 15

Aviation

News and Notes

(By

“Wing Tips.”)

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND FLYING. In the course of his speech at the opening of the twelfth triennial congress of the Federation ot Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire last month. H.R.H. the Prince of Wales remarked that he had found a topic in the agenda of the conference which made peculiar appeal to him “This,” he said, “relates to communication by air. Aircraft do much to make the whole world kin and to lead to that community of thought among nations which is the best augury for the future peace—and with peace the confidence and prosperity—of the world. As you are aware, I have in my time done a certain amount of flying and I hope to do a considerable amount more. While in Africa I have experienced to the full the boon that flying can be in saving time and in shortening distances We have all been watching with the greatest interest a plucky, singlehanded attempt to shorten the distance between England and Australia, and I am sure that you will all join with me in congratulating Miss Johnson on her remarkable achievement.”

A Strange Club. For ten years there has been in existence what is probably the most unique club in the world. It has no constitution, no rules no terms of membership, no entrance or subscription fees. It has no political, social, sex. religious or nationality barriers. And strangest of all, very few of the members know each other; they are scattered all over the world Anyone is eligible, yet all the wealth and influence it is possible to obtain would not bring membership. Membership is onlv given to those who save their lives by parachute! The Caterpillar Club—named after the insignificant little silkworm which provides the material with which parachutes are chiefly made—was founded by Mr. Leslie Irvin in 1920, and its membership now stands at 260. Colonel Lindbergh is the Great Chief Caterpillar; he has saved his life by parachute no less than four times. On two occasions he had to abandon his aeroplane through fog and the failure of his landing flares when flying the night mails on a trans-continental airmail route. On another occasion he had to resort to his parachute when a new type of aircraft he was testing became unmanageable. A collision in mid-air necessitated yet another parachute descent. So far, the fair sex has only one representative—Mrs Irene MacFarlane. There is a touch of irony attending her membership. She made

a flight to demonstrate a parachute of her own invention, but was obliged by the authorities to wear also a parachute of an approved type. Her own parachute failed to open; the approved type saved her life and made her a “Caterpillar.” Another member set out in similar circumstances to prove the claims of the child of his brain—five parachutes opening one after the other at set distances. He, likewise, was obliged to wear an approved type of parachute in addition. Not one of his five opened. Any loss of dignity suffered by the use of another man’s parachute brought adequate compensation—and Caterpillar Club membership. One young and inexperienced pilot broke two strict regulations. He did not fasten himself in the cockpit, and then tried to do acrobatics. Two thousand feet above the ground he suddenly found himself rapidly losing height—without his aeroplane! He did not stop to enquire into the circumstances of the parting, but pulled the rip cord of his parachute and added to the number of Caterpillars. Another pilot lost his nerve when attempting to land after his first “solo” flight. Four times he approached the aerodrome and four times he failed to land. Utterly disgusted, he solemnly climbed to 1500 feet and “stepped off.” He had far more confidence in his parachute than in his judgment! British civil pilots are prone to regard the parachute as an unnecessary accessory. Probably this feeling has been brought about by the excellence of British aircraft. Recently, however, a well-known British pilot flew with four parachutes. In case he should be accused of ultra-caution, or even cowardice, it should be explained that all four were securely stowed in the passengers' cockpit and the pilot himself was unencumbered by so much as the parachute harness. Last year 19 members of the Roval Air Force became members of the Caterpillar Club Altogether the R.A.F. has nearly 50 members. One is an R.A.F chaplain—the Rev. K. A. H. Warner —who qualified for membership early this year when flying as a passenger in Egypt. His pilot also became a member at the same time.

The symbol of Caterpillar Club membership is a gold tie-pin in the form of a silkworm. This is pre-

sented to members by Mr. Leslie Irvin when the reports of escapes from death by parachute reach him. Mr. Irvin is himself an expert parachutist and began his experiments in 1912. In America he was known as Sky(Hi)lrvin, and in 1920 made the first recorded “free” drop. My First Flying Lesson. [This essay was written by an English schoolboy Alex Davis, who was a prize-winner in the recent schoolboys’ essay competition organised by the Air League of the British Empire.) Recently I went to National Flying Services aerodrome at Tollerton. near Nottingham, for the half-hour instructional flight, which I won in the Air League competition I introduced myself to Captain R. T. Shepherd, the pilot in charge, and awaited my turn to go up with him in the de Havilland Cirrus-Moth. A helmet and a pair of goggles were found for me and I clambered on board, plugged in my telephones, and we took off. We circled the field and when we had gained sufficient altitude Captain Shepherd briefly explained, and demonstrated the action of the controls. He then waved his hands in the air and told me to take over. I did. The nose went up slightly; I pushed the stick forward and we started to dive, so I pulled it back to flatten the ’plane out. By now the left wing was high up and the right was pointing earthward. I levelled the Moth laterally and by now we were climbing again, so I put the nose down and started the vicious circle all over again!

By the end of the half-bour, however, my piloting had improved considerably. and I think that I was doing quite well at flying level, keeping the nose as near as possible to the horizon, which I could only see through two Tripley windscreens and the usual haze. As my instructor flew the machine on the turns, and I on the straight, I had several opportunities of admiring the landscape beneath. It was then that I realised the truth of Captain Norman Macmillan’s line: “And the skies are blue and the earth looks new as the aeroplane flies along”; for fields are all smooth, tiles and bricks bright red, and water all clear, when seen from above. But all good things must end and we came to earth after a flight of about 35 miles. So ended my first flying lesson; I do not think it will be my last. » • • Junior Air Club. In my previous notes I have referred to a ‘‘Junior Air Club” about to be formed in Hastings and to be affiliated with the present senior members club. Quite a number of lads have expressed a desire to become members, but a good number of names are yet required to start the proposed club off on the right lines. The advantage is going to be all on the boys’ side as it will inculcate air-mindedness. As soon as there are sufficient names a meeting will be called and it will be at that meeting, that a full explanation will be given of the advantages to be derived by being active members of the Junior Club. The members’ subscription fee will be a small amount, enabling any intelligent lad to join. « • « I understand that the Hawke's Bay Aero Club has decided to institute flights to the public at half the ordinary charges. This is a move in the right direction and no doubt a good many will take advantage of the cheap fare and have a flight.

Gisborne reports progress with their municipal aerodrome. Sixty men under a qualified engineer are at work scooping, levelling, and otherwise getting the area shipshape. This absorbed a lot of otherwise unemployed labour during the last month. One great advantage, and a boon to Gisborne, is that the area selected is close to the town. What was once a rough, undulating piece of grass land, will be in the near future a valuable flat flying field.

A “Dominion Airways” Spartan machine, en route to Gisborne from Wellington with a passenger, made the Hastings 'drome a stopping place for a short while last Wednesday morning. This was the second occasion within a week that the Airways machine has made use of the club’s aerodrome,

* * * Several new pupils have come forward during the last fortnight for a course of training, and so far, considering the amount of dual instruction already received, are shaping very well. The club at present is in the position of being able to take several more local flying pupils. The Director of Air Services will be in this district next month to examine the pupils who are now in course of training.

I understand that the local club has adopted (not before it was too late) what may be practically termed

a fixed amount to learn flying and obtain an A pilot s license. Taking as a basis, what it has cost-some of the local pilots in the recent past to obtain their A licenses, the amount is said to represent a cutting in hall. This sure is a step forward.