500N - "Gung-ho" is a description that best fits most of the aviators of the 1920's and early 1930's.
I have some copies of "Wings" (Australian Aviation magazine) from 1930 and 1932, and the contents are appalling by todays standards and requirements.
Typical articles;
"An excellent aerodrome for £8 ..."
"It's easy to Fly! - Educational series on Aeroplanes. #6. Seaplane Flying ..." (2 pages of instructions on how to fly a seaplane, of course!)
"Avro 504K for sale. Crashed, but complete. Engine and airscrew in serviceable condition. Inspection by arrangement. Will take £50, or good offer. Contact Larkin Aircraft Supply Co. ..."
In the "Rumours" page ...
"
A little Bird tells Wings that ..."
"A Hercules piloted by Major Brearley carried 26 boys and 3 adults, although there was seating accommodation in the machine for only 14 passengers ..."
"Major Brearley says his pilots depend on the Defence Dept groundsmen to advise them if they contravene (flying) regulations ..."
In the "Incidents and Accidents" page ... (13 events for the month!)
"C. Kingsford-Smith, in Southern Cross landing with 14 passengers at West Maitland, broke the machines back ..." (!)
"J. V. Fairbairn, taking off at Camperdown, struck tree. Machine damaged ..."
"C. T. P. Ulm in an Avian crashed into HT wires near Geelong Rd. Machine wrecked. Pilot and passenger taken to hospital ..."
"R. Hawe overturned after striking log obscured by long grass in paddock near Nowra. Rudder, propellor and wing of DH50 smashed. Hawe was conducting short flights ..." (and a very short one, in that case!)
"F.O. Diprose, in "Bulldog", caught trouser leg on throttle, taxied into mailplane at Brunette Downs, damaging wing bracing ..."
Then there's the letters to the editor ... such as the one urging all commercial airlines to supply a parachute to every passenger, plus a rapid escape exit chute in the aircraft, for use of the pax, should there be an imminent crash ...
These old mags make for some amusing reading and make one realise just how devil-may-care, many of the early aviators were.
