1933

A complete list of Alan Cobham's 'National Aviation Day' and the 'British Hospitals Air Pageant' displays, in the UK and South Africa, during 1933.

Cobham: 306 displays. Two tours operated simultaneously in the summer in the UK.

AIR CIRCUS'S 700,000 MILES. SIR ALAN COBHAM'S PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR. Taunton people who remember the visit of Sir Alan Cobham's air circus this year will be glad to hear that it is likely to return next season. Sir Alan is now at work on a programme including still more exciting aerobatics" which he hopes to make a feature of the displays. The pilots and machines are now in their winter quarters after having given displays during 1933 at 306 towns in Great Britain and Ireland. The 18 machines which comprised the two squadrons flew a total distance of 700,000 miles, consuming 124,000 gallons of National benzole. Over 800,000 people paid for admission to the displays, and enjoyed aerial trips. In most cases it was their first flying experience. The road transport section of the circus necessitated the use of 36 vehicles, which covered more than 9,500 miles on each of the two tours.

May 4, Gloucester:

Gloucestershire Echo "TEN MACHINES TAKE PART The display was a big improvement on last year's show. No fewer than 10 machines took part, the aerobatics and exhibitions were more daring and comprehensive, the general arrangements were better, and there was greater variety of flying. The whole from the most intricate exhibition to the efficient car parking arrangements, ran smoothly and punctually. The attendance was as big as ever, which seems to indicate that Sir Alan's aim to make everyone air-minded is being fulfilled in this district least.

Large numbers booked flights with great eagerness, with the result that machines were constantly going up and down giving passenger flights. In the lighter and faster 'planes longish trips with half rolls cost 7s. 6d. a passenger, and all the stunts imaginable could be obtained for 15s.

Though to many the novelty of flying must have worn off, as soon as Captain Eskell, who superintended the display with his usual proficiency, announced a particularly attractive item there was a rush for the booking tent.

CRAZY FLYING For the amusement of those who prefer to be air-minded from a terrestrial standpoint—with their feet firmly planted on the ground and neck craned skywards—there was a certain Capt. Mackay, among others. This wizard of the air likes nothing better than flying in and out of trees, people's heads and other things close to the ground. His impersonation of a pilot who had forgotten quite a lot about aeroplanes was probably the best aerial entertainment seen in Gloucestershire. After darting hither and thither with the skill and sureness of a dragon-fly, Capt. Mackay reached a thrilling climax by streaking over the heads of the crowd, standing in his cockpit and waving his arms all directions.

Capt. Jacques demonstrated the autogiro, which with its weird mechanism is capable of such wonderful feats.

Mr C. W. H. Bebb, flying Tiger Moth, gave a fine display of aerobatics, in which he flew upside down for an unusually long he righted the 'plane with a skilful inverted turn.

Kemp and Mr. Faraday gave exhibition of simultaneous wing walking the wings of the same plane. The crowd cheered its admiration of their daring.

There were hosts of other interesting items, such as speed-judging competitions, height-judging, shooting st balloons from the air, pylon racing, and the grand formation flight."

May 8, Barnstaple:

"In connection with the National Aviation Day Crusade, Sir Alan Cobham will be coming on Monday next, May 8th, to Barnstaple personally to conduct and fly in his air display, which is to be held at Heanton Court. With the support of the entire aeronautical community, Sir Alan has arranged to hold the National Aviation Day Display at over 300 towns throughout the British Isles this summer, and once again Sir Alan is bringing before the public the finest air pageant yet seen. At each display Sir Alan will show the public what British aviation is doing by the most effective means possible —by a brilliant display of flying, which will depict in a popular manner all that is finest in aircraft and piloting skill.

Sir Alan's squadron is composed of such distinguished pilots as Flying Officer C. K. Turner Hughes and Mr. C. W. H. Bebb, masters of the art of aerobatics, Flight Lieut. A. H. C. Rawson, the famous pioneer test pilot of the Autogiro, Flight Lieut. H. C. Johnson, and Capt. J. D. Parkinson, well-known as pilots of Sir Alan's Handley Page and airspeed air liners, Messrs. Ivor Price and H. Ward, the leading British parachutists, Mr. Martin Hearn, most fearless of wing-walkers, and the two redoubtable exponents of crazy flying, Capt. A. N. Kingwill, and Mr. W. MacKay ("Daredevil Red MacKay.")

Sir Alan has assembled the greatest gathering of air talent yet brought together in one organisation, for he is determined to stir everyone to give enthusiastic support to the cause of British aviation. "

"For the 1933 display season, Sir Alan Cobham’s rival, the British Hospitals Air Pageant (BHAP), had obtained the use  of Cornwall Aviation Company’s aircraft, which were normally used by Sir Alan Cobham, leaving Cobham requiring replacement aircraft.  This short fall was made up from the bankrupt stock of Northern Air Transport supplied through Lance Rimmer’s association with the company.  Thus surplus military Avro 504Ks G-ABLL (ex.J8333), G-AHBJ (ex. J8343) and G-AHBK (ex. J8351) appeared with the No.2 team after August 1933.  

Rimmer also put the Avro 504Ns of his own company,North British Aviation, at Cobham’s disposal for the duration of  this short fall.  G-AHBJ & G-AHBK were written off later in the year after crashing at Hooton Park, halving the fleet of Northern Air Transport."

May 29th, Builth Wells:

These august members of the Builth Wells Council were taken up aloft in the Airspeed Ferry by pilot E.B ('Safety First') Fielden (q.v.)

(photo courtesy Phillip Jones)

 June 11, Leeds:

"TWO BOYS KILLED AT AIR CIRCUS. Two boys were killed last night when they were struck by an aeroplane belonging to Sir Alan Cobham's circus in Middleton Park, Leeds, where an aerial display was being given. The boys were Frederick Smith, 12, of Cameron street, Stoneyrock lane, Leeds ; and Leslie Taylor, 8, Westbury-street, Leeds. Sir Alan Cobham was greatly distressed. It is terrible," he said. There was no defect in the machine, and neither the pilot, Mr. Johnson, nor any of his 21 passengers knew that anything had happened until they were told afterwards. The two boys were struck by the tail of the plane. I cannot account for the accident unless the machine was caught by a sudden down current or gust of air. The machine was landing in the ordinary course, and the boys were on the edge of the aerodrome. They were not in the reserved enclosure. Mr. Johnson is a most experienced pilot. This is the first serious mishap we have had at one of the displays. Nearly 1,000,000 spectators have witnessed them in various parts of the country, and about 250,000 passengers have been in the machines. We have given about 800 displays."

 July 7/8, Limerick:

Alan Cobham: "At Limerick in 1933 Geoffrey Tyson was flying the Fox Moth with four passengers on board, and suddenly found himself without an undercarriage, so that he had to make a belly landing. He did this most delicately in soft grass, and his passengers were unhurt and even unaware that anything unusual was happening. It wasn't his fault; a local Irish pilot had insisted on joining in with the display aircraft without bothering to learn the necessary discipline, and had flown beneath Geoffrey's aircraft and wiped off the undercarriage. He and his passenger were both killed."