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$E:\Flypast\Flypast 40-4.Wpd$ Volume 40 December 2005 Number 4 http://www.cahs.ca/torontochapter This Month’s Meeting: receiving the DFC. He also holds the Order of Mustangs and Voodoo Military Merit and is Canada’s most decorated Christmas Special Meeting citizen. In the postwar period he was also the Gift Exchange - Once again meeting attendees CO of RCAF Squadron #411 at Downsview. are invited to bring a wrapped unmarked He later became Chief of Reserves of the Christmas gift to exchange for another. This has Canadian Armed Forces. been a long term tradition for the Toronto He is currently the author of “Generally Chapter’s December meetings. Speaking - The Memoirs of Major-General Richard Rohmer”, his 28th. book. Speakers - We are pleased to have two excellent speakers for this meeting. Mr. Martin Keenan - Mr. Keenan is a chapter member , past chapter director and a heavy lubricants expert with Petro Canada. He is also an aviation researcher with special interest in high performance aircraft and has been published in “Airforce” magazine. All are welcome to come out and celebrate on He will speak on the CF-101B “Voodoo” in the 102nd. Anniversary of Powered Flight! Canadian service. December 17th Meeting starts at 1:00 p.m. sharp. Chapter News - December 2005 ....... 7 2006 Winter / Spring Meeting Dates ... 7 2006 Snowbirds Schedule ............ 7 Last Month’s Meeting Video --- de Havilland at Hatfield Reporter: Gord McNulty Toronto Chapter Secretary-Treasurer Bob Winson presented an outstanding 70-minute colour video, de Havilland at Hatfield, as an Major-General Richard Rohmer - alternative when scheduled guest speaker Allen Major-General Rohmer was one of Canada’s top Stern was unable to attend because of work Mustang photo reconnaissance pilots in WW II obligations. The video combined impressive 1 Flypast V. 40 No. 4 aerial photography with unique archival footage, the thousands. In 1920, Captain de Havilland together with personal recollections from formed the de Havilland Aircraft Co. The luminaries such as chief test pilot John company survived on scarce military contracts Cunningham, Anne de Havilland, granddaughter and overseas orders, but it was the Moth which of Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, and others in a saved the day. Launched in 1925 as a safe, tribute to the legendary British company that attractive and affordable touring and training influenced the course of aviation for more than two-seater, it became an immediate success. 60 years. Produced in 1996, the video covered Powered first by the 60 horsepower Cirrus the origins of de Havilland, how operations at engine, and later by the long-lived, more Hatfield started, the eventual amalgamation of powerful Gipsy series designed by Frank de Havilland into Hawker Siddley, followed by Halford, the Moth was in demand everywhere, British Aerospace and finally the closing of flown by private owners, flying clubs and air Hatfield itself. forces. Moth aircraft reflected Geoffrey de In 1930, the de Havilland Aircaft Co. of Stag Havilland’s lifelong admiration for the natural Lane in Edgware acquired open farmland, 20 world. His granddaughter, Anne, said he miles north of London in Hertfordshire, to became very interested in the outdoors, birds, establish a new headquarters. Hatfield flowers, butterflies and moths, and it was Aerodrome became the centre for a worldwide reflected in his art. The Moth established de aviation enterprise, producing aircraft, engines, Havilland as a major manufacturer, which propellers, missiles and rockets. There was, as became famous for epic flights in the 1920s. In many of the people interviewed for the video 1926, a new airliner emerged from Stag Lane, noted, a distinctive style to de Havilland’s the three-engined D.H. 66 Hercules which flew designs which made the company’s aircraft a up to 12 passengers on remote air routes for favourite of many aviation enthusiasts. Frank Imperial Airways and in Australia. By the late Vann, who was chief structural engineer, said: 1920s, the de Havilland company was “No one consciously put artistry into it. But established in all corners of the world, with somehow de Havilland aeroplanes always came Moth aircraft and Gipsy engines in huge out looking better than anyone else’s. There was demand. a saying at the company that if it looked right, it was right. De Havilland aeroplanes always did look beautiful.” It all began with Sir Geoffrey de Havilland, who was not only a brilliant engineer but also an artist. He developed an overwhelming desire to fly. With his wife’s support, and some money left by his grandfather, he designed and constructed an aircraft and a specially built engine. His first aircraft crashed within yards of takeoff, but using the undamaged engine, Geoffrey quickly constructed a stronger machine In 1930, in the midst of an economic slump, de and flew it successfully in 1910. This second Havilland purchased 150 acres of farmland at aircraft launched his career as a designer and test Hatfield for a new airfield away from the pilot of famous types such as the D.H. 4, built by congestion of Stag Lane. A training school Flypast V. 40 No. 4 2 operated by de Havilland made Hatfield a to win the MacRobertson Trophy and 10,000 popular centre for the sporting, free and pounds. Only five Comets were built. The easy-minded pilots of the 1930s. Alan Copas, a winning aircraft survives today after painstaking senior designer with 50 years of service at de restoration. The Comet established de Havilland, noted Hatfield was built as a grass Havilland as leaders in the design of airfield, which enabled pilots to use a runway no high-performance aircraft, but the Dragons, matter which way the wind was blowing. Top Dragon Rapides, Hornet Moths, Tiger Moths pilots of the day were attracted to Hatfield. The together with the Gipsy engines brought annual King’s Cup Air Race, a social event and financial stability. One of de Havilland’s most test of man and machine, was based at Hatfield beautiful aircraft ever was the Albatross, in 1933. Capt. de Havilland set out in a Leopard intended as a trans-Atlantic mailplane and a Moth, first flown six weeks previously on an flagship of the Imperial Airways fleet. It first 804-mile course. He returned as the popular flew in 1937 and won records for fast airline winner of this prestigious event, at an average schedules throughout Europe. speed of almost 140 miles per hour. In 1934, the building of a large factory was started, and as orders for Moths recovered after the slump, an imposing new headquarters building took shape. It would become the nerve centre for the de Havilland enterprise, and a famous landmark. The company established a Technical School renowned for its training in aviation science. It was also a pioneer in sponsored apprenticeships. By the late 1930s, Frank Halford’s engines and de Havilland’s aircraft were being built in ever-greater numbers. Capt. de Havilland’s son, Geoffrey, assisted with test flying. The Technical School produced fast racers as design exercises, such as the TK4, which claimed the life of the company’s chief test pilot in 1937. An early project at Hatfield was the D.H. 88, the Geoffrey de Havilland, Jr., was then appointed famous Comet racer, with the speed and range chief test pilot. The serious business of test to win the 1934 England to Australia Air Race, flying appointed John Cunningham, who had and able to give America’s new Douglas DC-2 learned to fly with the RAF Reserve. The a run for its money. The all-wood Comet had a company’s first all-metal type was the retractable undercarriage, flaps, variable pitch Flamingo, but it was development of the propellers, and was very fast. Three Comets, famous “wooden wonder,” the D.H. 98 costing 5,000 pounds each, were privately Mosquito, which further advanced the entered. The team of Charles Scott and Tom company’s reputation. The deHavilland team, Campbell-Black, flying Grosvenor House, thinking of the proven advantages of wood in reached Melbourne in under 71 hours flying time terms of high speed and performance, with ease 3 Flypast V. 40 No. 4 of construction, went ahead without government In 1942, de Havilland entered the jet age with approval on the top-secret project. It was 1939, the development, in great secrecy, of the Goblin and to avoid the risk of air raids disrupting the turbine engine. It powered de Havilland’s first design work, a nearby manor house, Salisbury jet, the Vampire, which first flew in 1943. The Hall, was taken over. The Mosquito was Vampire was another milestone for Hatfield. designed in isolation of the activities at Hatfield The company continued to set records: in and the prototype was completed at Salisbury March, 1944, a Mosquito became the first Hall. R.E. Bishop’s design was a masterpiece. twin-engined aircraft to deck land at sea. A In record time, the design and construction team scaled-down, single-seat progression of the produced a twin-engined fighter-bomber which Mosquito, the Hornet, first flew in 1944. It was exceeded the specifications in every way. It was built of wood and metal, and had all the more remarkable in that conditions at contra-rotating propellers to avoid swing on Salisbury Hall were far from ideal. There was takeoff. It too made a first landing at sea, in hardly any heating, for instance, but the August, 1945. In December, 1945, the Vampire teamwork was outstanding. People who asked became the first jet to land on an aircraft questions were told that work was being done carrier. In 1944, Capt. Geoffrey de Havilland on “Oxfords.” was knighted for his contributions to aviation.

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