THE STORY we ran in this column some months ago about a miniature unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) which is under development in the United States for the armed forces and which has been dubbed
the “Hummingbird” because, like the real bird, it apparently defies the laws of aerodynamics, has caused something of a stir among some of readers.
The content of the article, which originated in the USA, claimed that the UAV was the only one of its kind and that it was still under development. Remotely controlled, it is able to do everything a helicopter can do – and more, but in miniature. Brian Walters who was a hard working
correspondent for World Airnews until he decided to retire some years ago, still keeps in touch and was quick to react to the Hummingbird story we published. He sent us the following email: “The story (on the UAV) prompts me to send the attached pic taken at the EuroSatory exhibition in Paris in 2010. The coin is a one Euro piece and the ‘micro-drone’ was shown by ONERA (the French Aerospace
Laboratory), which began research in 2002. “Somewhere in my UAV files there is a cutting from a Russian magazine that suggests that they, too, have been researching flapping wing flight.”
This picture should revive some memories. Somehow this arrived on my desk via our correspondent
Geoff Jones, in the Channel Islands, and originated from a publication called the “ORAFS” – Old
Rhodesian Air Force Sods. It is a picture of a Canberra bomber of No.2 Squadron flying through
a hangar at Air Force Base Amberley. The date of the flight is unknown but apparently
it was attributed to the result of boredom on the part of the crew.
Can anyone (especially the chap on the ground), elaborate on the incident?
Then another reader sent a clipping from a newspaper in the USA about real hummingbirds. He wrote: “Now I have seen it all!!!!! Would you believe it? A Dutch traveller was arrested as he was about to board an aircraft at Rochambeau Airport, in Cayenne, French Guiana. He was trying to smuggle more than a dozen live hummingbirds in his trousers. “The birds were found in special pouches sewn into the inside of his underwear. The birds were individually wrapped in cloth and taped up to prevent them from ‘escaping’ from their sweaty travel container.” Had he not been caught before boarding the aircraft, his fellow passengers would probably have wondered why he was fidgeting around so much.” On a different tack, another reader sent us a report of a novel method used for refuelling aircraft at an airfield in kwaZulu-Natal – no names, no pack-drill. The refuelling agent first fills a container with avgas from a barrel, climbs a ladder and then pours it into the aircraft’s tank through a funnel.
Effective, indeed, but one wonders why a pipe from the barrel is not used instead. Maybe there is not one to hand. Also, we hope, for the pilot’s sake anyway, that the fuel is strained through a chamois leather to trap any water which may just be contaminating the fuel. If not, the pilot can look forward to that “deathly hush” occurring en route to his next landing point.
SOME R/T FUNNIES
A British Airways flight asks for push back clearance from the terminal. The control tower replies: “And where is the world’s most experienced airline going today without filing a flight plan?” ATC: “Al Italia 345 continue taxi to 26L South via Tango - check for workers along taxiway.” Al Italia 345: “Roger, Taxi 26 Left via Tango. Workers checked - all are working.” Nova 851: “Halifax Terminal, Nova 851 with
you out of 13 000 for 10 000, requesting runway 15.” Halifax Terminal (female): “Nova 851, Halifax, the last time I gave a pilot what he wanted I was on penicillin for three weeks. Expect runway 06.”
