272
FLIGHT
RUSSIAN COUSINS of the S-5S are these new-type helicopters shown at
the Tushino Display. (See news item below).
Moscow's Big Fly-Past
E air display and fly-past which were postponed from the
THSoviet
Air Force Day on August 9th took place at Tushino
f
FROM ALL QUARTERS . . .
regards the balance between quality and quantity. It continues:
"The British industry being run by designers it is sometimes alleged
that the production side is neglected with consequent delay in putting
prototypes in operation. During the last war, when it was hard to
maintain a proper balance between the desire of the R.A.F. and designers for improved aircraft, and the need to produce large numbers
of planes, it was found that some firms with experience of large-scale
production outside the aircraft industry were able to organize aircraft
production with fewer delays than some firms wholly concerned with
aircraft. This experience seems to have been repeated since the war
with the English Electric Canberra jet bomber."
T h e report concludes that whether such considerations weigh
more heavily in the balance for public ownership than the disturbance in the industry that the latter might cause is a matter
of very serious thought. It adds that while commitment to specific
measures of public ownership would be unwise, a more detailed
analysis of the problems involved must be made in conjunction
with the Confederation before final conclusions are reached.
Sabena's Helicopter Passenger Services
Tuesday last, September 1st, Sabena inaugurated their
ONinter-city
helicopter passenger services on several of the
routes over which they have been successfully operating mail
flights for many months past, using Bell 47Ds and Sikorsky
S-55s. T h e passenger routes are Brussels-Lille (twice daily in
each direction), Brussels-Antwerp-Rotterdam (three times daily
each way) and Brussels-Liege-Maastricht-Brussels (once daily).
For these services the S-55s are being employed, and the Liege
service is soon to be extended to Cologne and Bonn. Early next
year it is planned to open yet another route, to Luxembourg
and Saarbrucken.
A feature of the services is the use of heliports, with small
but well-designed passenger buildings, at or near the centres
of most of the cities served. Flight was invited to sample one
of the services, shortly before the public opening, and some
impressions of the journey will be given in next week's issue.
INTER-CITY 'BUS: One of Sabena's SSSs is refuelled—from a hydrant,
via a mobile pump—on the Rotterdam Heliport. In the background is
the City Hall. (See "Sabena's Helicopter Passenger Services," above.)
" F l i g h t " photograph
Airfield, Moscow, on Sunday last. A commentary on the flying
was broadcast over the entire Soviet radio network, hundreds of
thousands of the public were reported to have attended, and
members of the Russian Government (including Mr. Malenkov)
watched the fly-pasts.
A large group of Yak-i2s appeared first, the leader towing a
red flag on which were pictures of Lenin and Stalin. They were
followed by two aircraft towing the banners of the Soviet Air
Force, and then in turn by 16 machines carrying the flags of the
constituent Soviet republics. After a short interval, a formation
of 75 Yak-i8s passed over, outlining the words "Glory to the
U.S.S.R." T h e leader of these formations was stated to be
Lt. Gen. of the Air Force Kamanin.
After a group of aircraft flown by women pilots, and led by
the wartime pilot Marina Techneva, came a formation of towed
A-9 type gliders (designed by Antonov) and next 24 Yak-18 twoseat trainers.
T h e second part of the display, commanded by Lt. Gen. of
the Air Force S. U. Rubanov, was opened by formation aerobatics
(including the "Nesterov loop") by Mikoyan jet fighters. Ilyushin
jet bombers, and jet fighters of unidentified type, followed.
Col. Gen. Gorbatov was in charge of the third section of the
display, which consisted of a demonstration by "new helicopters,
designed by the brilliant young designer Mil," and a massed
parachute landing by some 200 men from II-12 machines.
Western observers, while impressed by the skill and precision
of the Soviet flying, stated that the types of aircraft appeared
to be unchanged since last year's display, but the number of
military jet aircraft participating had increased from 182 to 424.
T h e Polish Air Force, now completely under Soviet control,
celebrated its Air Force Day on August 23rd also. I n a special
order of the day, Marshal Konstanty Rokossowski, the former
Soviet Army general who now heads all the Polish armed forces
and holds the office of Minister of National Defence, urged all
Air Force personnel to emulate the Soviet Air Force and to obey
the party.
1953 Air Race Championship Result
T 7 I N A L placings of the majority of competitors in this year's
A British Air Racing Championship, organized by the Royal
Aero Club, are shown in the table below. Those omitted—with
six points or fewer—had all entered for one event only, out of the
seven qualifying races. Those included have flown in at least two
races, or have as many points as the lowest two-race pilot.
T h e points awarded to winners in the respective races are
printed in heavy type: in the National Air Races, Robertson won
the Grosvenor Cup, Bowles the Norton-Griffiths Trophy, and
A. S. K. Paine the Kemsley Trophy. Last year's winner was
Pat Fillingham, who achieved sixth position this year. Points
towards the championship are based on the pilot's placing in
conjunction with the number of starters in a given race.
Abbreviations in the column headings below denote: G.T.,
Goodyear Trophy (May 16th); W.A.D., Welsh Air Derby (May
30th); N.A.R., National Air Races (June 20th); K.C., King's Cup
Race (June 20th); S.T., Siddeley Trophy (August 22nd).
Points A w a r d e d
Competitor
Place
1
2
3
J. Rush
G. R. I. Parker
W . P. Bowles
5
6
7
8
9
A. S. K. Paine
W . P. I. Fillingham
J. N . Somers
F. Dunkerley
D. J. Bennett
D. R. Robertson
P. Hillwaod ...
A. J. Spiller
C. Gregory
Prince Alexander ...
S. A. Holloway
D. C. Jemmett
N . F. Duke
A. Bough
D. F. Ogilvy
G. M a r l e r
F. Murphy ...
M. R. T. Chandler ...
C. M. M. Grece
D. M. Spencer-Smith
R. H. Mcintosh
H. J. G. Turner
R. R. Paine
1?
12
13
15
16
17
M
M
20
21
22
j
I
(
(
G.T.
W.A.D.
N.A.R.
K.C.
S.T.
Total
16
20
9
22
11
7
3
8
14
11
13
6
15
6
11
9
13
5
13
17
15
4
11
11
17
62
52
47
47
46
41
39
33
30
30
28
20
19
19
17
16
13
13
13
10
9
7
7
7
7
7
—
12
—
2
15
—
—
—
9
10
3
—
—
—
5
—
2
—
4
—
—
2
—
—
—
—
—
17
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
4
n
—
4
15
13
—
9
11
—
13
6
9
7
5
7
7
3
—
15
7
3
17
—
9
5
13
—
—
4
6
—
—
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
15
—
17
5
—
—
7
3
—
—
—
—
—
11
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—