Comments on: The greatest air service in the world http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/ Airpower and British society, 1908-1941 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:50:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Brett Holman http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37689 Brett Holman Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:59:56 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37689 Clipper beats H.P.42. Sunderland beats Clipper. But Empire beats them all, IMHO. I agree that there's something about the H.P.42. I think it's two things, firstly the juxtaposition of fairly streamlined fuselage with biplane wings, and secondly the sheer size of the whole thing. We are used to thinking of biplanes as small, unstreamlined aircraft, so it makes an impression. Oh, and since Alex mentioned Modernism, Le Corbusier seems to have been a fan of the H.P.42. At least, he included a very striking photo of one (from behind one of the wheels, looking towards the cockpit) in his <em>Aircraft</em> (1935) -- it's reproduced in <em>England and the Aeroplane</em>. Thanks for the references -- another good one for flying boat enthusiasts is Graham Coster's <em>Corsairville: The Lost Domain of the Flying Boat</em> (2000). Finally, I have to admit I didn't know what jc was referring to. The answer is <a href="http://www.airwaysmuseum.com/Junkers%20G31%20VH-UOW.htm" rel="nofollow">this</a>. Pretty impressive stuff! Clipper beats H.P.42. Sunderland beats Clipper. But Empire beats them all, IMHO.

I agree that there’s something about the H.P.42. I think it’s two things, firstly the juxtaposition of fairly streamlined fuselage with biplane wings, and secondly the sheer size of the whole thing. We are used to thinking of biplanes as small, unstreamlined aircraft, so it makes an impression.

Oh, and since Alex mentioned Modernism, Le Corbusier seems to have been a fan of the H.P.42. At least, he included a very striking photo of one (from behind one of the wheels, looking towards the cockpit) in his Aircraft (1935) — it’s reproduced in England and the Aeroplane.

Thanks for the references — another good one for flying boat enthusiasts is Graham Coster’s Corsairville: The Lost Domain of the Flying Boat (2000).

Finally, I have to admit I didn’t know what jc was referring to. The answer is this. Pretty impressive stuff!

]]> By: jc http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37394 jc Fri, 02 Feb 2007 22:31:35 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37394 Those statistics don't mention Australia (and Territories). I don't have figures but the tonnage on the Lae-Wau route alone at that time was pretty large probably several thousand tons a year. Everthing to Wau went by air not just 3,000 ton dredges. Those statistics don’t mention Australia (and Territories). I don’t have figures but the tonnage on the Lae-Wau route alone at that time was pretty large probably several thousand tons a year. Everthing to Wau went by air not just 3,000 ton dredges.

]]> By: CK http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37344 CK Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:44:13 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37344 And you'll probably love this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wl42l9dMZc And you’ll probably love this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wl42l9dMZc

]]> By: CK http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37341 CK Fri, 02 Feb 2007 13:26:21 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37341 Glad you mentioned the Sunderland, Alex, because I was going to make some thoroughly disparaging remarks about the HP42 in relation to the sophistication of plane at the beginning of this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo3YlNWdqoo There is something quite attractive about the HP42, though. Probably the Heath Robinson of it all. Glad you mentioned the Sunderland, Alex, because I was going to make some thoroughly disparaging remarks about the HP42 in relation to the sophistication of plane at the beginning of this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo3YlNWdqoo

There is something quite attractive about the HP42, though. Probably the Heath Robinson of it all.

]]> By: Alex http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37321 Alex Fri, 02 Feb 2007 10:34:00 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37321 Oh yes, and something else: aviation and Modernism. Imperial Airways was a patron of Laszlo Moholy-Nagy when he was in exile in London in the 1930s. They commissioned him to design adverts, a route map, and a timetable, all of which were in last year's retrospective at the Tate Modern. He als designed posters for London Transport. Oh yes, and something else: aviation and Modernism. Imperial Airways was a patron of Laszlo Moholy-Nagy when he was in exile in London in the 1930s. They commissioned him to design adverts, a route map, and a timetable, all of which were in last year’s retrospective at the Tate Modern. He als designed posters for London Transport.

]]> By: Alex http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37319 Alex Fri, 02 Feb 2007 10:29:49 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37319 The merger of Imperial and British Airways was curiously recapitulated in 1976, when BOAC merged with British European Airways to form the BA we know and love - BEA was the post-war equivalent of pre-war British Airways. Curiously the divide continues to this day - BA traditionally makes money on long haul (=ex-BOAC) and loses it on European operations (=ex-BEA), and there are plenty of old Nigels who will tell you that it all changed for the worse when BEA was added. BOAC brought its call sign to the wedding, hence BA flights are known as "Speedbird [flight number]". And yes, those flying boats were wonderful. Interestingly, BA's arch-competitor Virgin Atlantic still advertises "4 Engines 4 Long Haul". The merger of Imperial and British Airways was curiously recapitulated in 1976, when BOAC merged with British European Airways to form the BA we know and love - BEA was the post-war equivalent of pre-war British Airways. Curiously the divide continues to this day - BA traditionally makes money on long haul (=ex-BOAC) and loses it on European operations (=ex-BEA), and there are plenty of old Nigels who will tell you that it all changed for the worse when BEA was added.

BOAC brought its call sign to the wedding, hence BA flights are known as “Speedbird [flight number]“.

And yes, those flying boats were wonderful. Interestingly, BA’s arch-competitor Virgin Atlantic still advertises “4 Engines 4 Long Haul”.

]]> By: Corporate Golfer http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37287 Corporate Golfer Fri, 02 Feb 2007 03:45:28 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37287 Those early pioneering airline outfits were impressive. I enjoyed reading the Fly to the Cape in 9 days bit (no overnight <a href="http://www.southafrica.to/transport/Airlines/to-South-Africa/flights-to-Cape-Town/cheap-flights-London-Cape-Town.php5" rel="nofollow">flight from London to Cape Town</a> in those days). Clearly, pervaying a sense of safety was important '4 engines for extra safety'. Those early pioneering airline outfits were impressive. I enjoyed reading the Fly to the Cape in 9 days bit (no overnight flight from London to Cape Town in those days). Clearly, pervaying a sense of safety was important ‘4 engines for extra safety’.

]]> By: Paul Gilster http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37225 Paul Gilster Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:36:31 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37225 Brett, I've always been enthralled with Imperial Airways and wonder if you've read Alexander Frater's Beyond the Blue Horizon: On the track of Imperial Airways (Heinemann, 1986). Wonderful stuff. Brett, I’ve always been enthralled with Imperial Airways and wonder if you’ve read Alexander Frater’s Beyond the Blue Horizon: On the track of Imperial Airways (Heinemann, 1986). Wonderful stuff.

]]> By: Alan Allport http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37213 Alan Allport Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:44:22 +0000 http://airminded.org/2007/02/02/the-greatest-air-service-in-the-world/#comment-37213 in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chasing-After-Danger-Terence-OBrien/dp/0002150980/sr=1-2/qid=1170344261/ref=sr_1_2/102-3534196-4572953?ie=UTF8&s=books" rel="nofollow">Chasing After Danger</a>, Terence O'Brien provides a wonderfully vivid account of his journey from Australia to England in an Imperial Airways seaplane at the outbreak of war. He rushed to the UK because he was worried that he was going to miss all the war's action, having been a plantation overseer on a sleepy Pacific island called Guadalcanal ... the book (and its sequels <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Out-Blue-Terence-OBrien/dp/0002171988/sr=1-3/qid=1170344261/ref=sr_1_3/102-3534196-4572953?ie=UTF8&s=books" rel="nofollow">Out of the Blue</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-War-Clandestine-Operations-Ulverscroft/dp/0708921760/sr=1-1/qid=1170344261/ref=sr_1_1/102-3534196-4572953?ie=UTF8&s=books" rel="nofollow">The Moonlight War</a>) describe his service first in Coastal Command, and later as one of the RAF Special Duties pilots supporting Chindit ops in Burma. Last time I checked Terence was still very much with us and was an occasional contributor to the old WWII usenet newsgroup, incidentally. in Chasing After Danger, Terence O’Brien provides a wonderfully vivid account of his journey from Australia to England in an Imperial Airways seaplane at the outbreak of war. He rushed to the UK because he was worried that he was going to miss all the war’s action, having been a plantation overseer on a sleepy Pacific island called Guadalcanal … the book (and its sequels Out of the Blue and The Moonlight War) describe his service first in Coastal Command, and later as one of the RAF Special Duties pilots supporting Chindit ops in Burma. Last time I checked Terence was still very much with us and was an occasional contributor to the old WWII usenet newsgroup, incidentally.

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