1941-05-03 — Page 13

Saturday

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH

May 3, 1941.

THIS MAN SAVED BRITAIN

NOTE THE

UNDERWOODS

Wherever You Go!

MORE THAN 5,000,000 ? UNDERWOODS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED AND SOLD

STEE

"I've never seen a Hur- ricane fire its guns in

anger

"I never imagined it would be used against

SYDNEY

the Cormans'

"I was able to do it by. putting the guns. In the

wings"

"After six guns came the order for eight":

"Keep a little in hand is always the best-policy":

CAMM

Creator of the

Hawker

ONE day in Febru-

ary, 1911, that

Hurricane

EVEN to-day he some-

times examines Ger- man aircraft which the

great air pioneer, Mr R.A.F. have shot down. T. O. M. Sopwith, landed I was surprised, though,

on Datchet Golf Course when he told me he had after making the first never seen the Hurricane,

engaged in a dog-fight.

"We are most anxious that the R.A.F. should be flying the best possible aircraft"

*0

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WE CARRY THE STOCKS DO YOUR PART

SPECIFY

four guns and used fabric-not be successful if dificul- ALL BRITISH BUILDING SUPPLIES

landing in the grounds "No, I've not even seen a of Windsor Castle. He Hurricane fire its guns in was watched by an 18- anger," he confided. “But I've talked with many Hur- year-old lad named

ricane pilots and listened at- Sydney Camm, whose tentively to their experiences enthusiasm for flying and suggestions for improve-

ments or alterations." had just previously

So it is a safe bet that the covered wings. They told ties were met in making it." made him found and new Tornado Hawker's Camm fabric wings would.

Mr Camm says that become secretary of the latest aircraft to g into ser- not stand the strain of the

vice with the RA.F-will monoplane's high speeds ("I "Before I design a plane my- privately thought they might self I say, 'Now, you've got Windsor Model Aero-

incorporate all those im- be right!" he admits), but he three things. A pilot, an plane Club.

provements which the grim doggedly went ahead, and engine and some guns. Build

war time gradually, after the first a plane round them.' Neither Sopwith nor experiences of Camm knew it then, but aerial combat have shown Hurricane had flown and

certain modifications had "I never promise too much. that meeting was only the to be necessary.. first of many which were to Full details of the Tornado been made, the new system Keep a little in hand; is develop into friendship, co- must remain secret until the of fabric covering was suc- always the best policy. I've

cessful,

never yet known a plane directorship and ultimately Germans find them out for

have to carry a lighten load result in production of the themselves and to their R.A.F.'s world-famous Hur- cost. But already Mr Camm

NEVERTHELESS, he than it was designed for; also designed a new always heavier. Thus the ricane single-seat fighter. is planning ahead for still

later and better aircraft.

set of all-metal wings. "And Hurricane, originally design- And now the still secret

Meanwhile he is still add- I'm glad we did," said Mr ed to a weight of 5,700lb. to- Tornado.

ing pages to what must be Camm, "because they proved day flies at 7,000lb. To-day, 47-year-old dark the most interesting air to be lighter and more suited

""Well, after the six guns haired, alert Sydney Camm diary ever written the life to the hardship of active

service." is famed in aviation circles history of the Hurricane.

came the unexpected order for eight, with the result Many more changes were decided upon before the seen last autumn."

as

chief designer and a director of the Hawker

Aviation Company.

from all sides.

HE

amount

"Designers owe much to

Hurricane."

E showed me the first famous Hurricane of to-day The Hurricane first flew at page of the Hurri- was evolved. Camm was Brooklands in November, His success has been such cane's History. It began astonished when the Air 1935, Hawker's chief test that a few years ago a very one day in August, 1933, Ministry suddenly told him great percentage of all the with this entry: "Saw So- they wanted six guns in it pilot, Flight Lieut W. S. Bulman, being very pleased R.A.F.'s aeroplanes were of and-So at the Air Ministry instead of four.

with it. his design. Large numbers and discussed with him the

"I was able to do it, of them, notably, of course, possible design for a single- though, by putting the guns the Hurricane, are now win- seat monoplane fighter. in the wings and I was glad the test pilot," said Mr ning the Battle of Britain. From then on the birth I had calculated on the plane Camm. "They can make on His aircraft are praised and development of the plane being able to take a heavier mar the whole of your to its present standard form load than the Air Ministry efforts: the very fate of the Mr Camm began his avia- as used by the R.A.F. is re- originally asked. You see, new type rests in their hands every conference, designing a plane is not just and on their advice. Bulman tion career in the workships cortled of Messrs Martinsyde in every alteration, comments a matter of sitting down 1914, and he agrees that this of the test pilots, right up to with pencil and paper; it is helped me no end with the experience has since proved a party of fighter pilots' re- a big job requiring the help invaluable. But he soon cent tour of the Hawker fac- of a team of experts and a At last in 1987 the RAF. was moved into the drawing tory, when they one and all tremendous

of got its first eight gun fighter, office, and he enjoyed him thanked him for having mathematics. Calculations the fighter that was to win so on stresses and strains are the Battle of Britain in 1940. self each week-end rushing made the Hurricane

of vital importance. up to the Agricultural Hall, strong and robust.

"When we look at the Islington, where the latest "Quite frankly, I set out to "Remember, too, the great. Hurricane now," said Camm, models of captured German design the Hurricane be- help received by all designers "we see many ways in which aircraft were exhibited for cause I wanted. to keep the from the Air Ministry, the it could have been improved. the benefit of British manu- factory busy, and it seemed various R. A. F officers We are most anxious that facturers. Here he would a logical development. I attached for special duty, the R.A.F. should be flying spend Saturday and Sunday never for one moment ima- and from the experimental the best possible aircraft. measuring them up, examin- gined it would be used staff at the Royal Aircraft ing their construction, and against the Germans. In Establishment

and the writing a full-length report fact, right up to a few weeks National Physical Labora- on them in time for Monday before it broke out I obstin- tory. The job of designing tent, Here, I think, is one morning,

ately refused to believe there an aeroplane definitely needs of our biggest problems We learnt a good deal would be a war at all." this co-operation. from those German planes," However, the Hurricane Mr Camm told me. "Some (Camm's own name for it, by times a new type would be the way) began to take 66 GAIN, production re- flown back from the West- shape. It was first designed quirements have to ern Front, and a few days for a smaller engine than be given great consideration later we would have all its the present Rolls-Royce because the most efficient main features in our report." 1,030h.p. Merlin: had only design of aeroplane could

A

"Unfortunately, produc- tion must always lag behind design to a certain ex-

that of changing a design as frequently as possible and at the same time maintain ing a good output."

Geoffrey

Edwards

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