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Sammy. R. CROW
- 1935 - A crowded Day
Northern Heights M.F.C. Gala Day - Heathrow Aerodrome, Great
West Road...............
The Duration Hunters - Flight Challenge Trophy
Second place went to Mr. S. Crow (Blackheath M.F.C.), flying
a D.H. "Fox Moth" and obtaining a total duration
of 53.3 sec.
['Flight' magazine - pg.65, 11th July
1935]
- 1935 - S.M.A.E. Scale Model Contest
Only four models took part in the recent S.M.A.E. scale
model contests for the C.S.S.A. cup, but two of them flew so
well that they saved the contest from being a
"flop"...................
The cup was won by Mr. S.R. Crow (Blackheath M.F.C.), who
scored 138.6 points with a Fox Moth. Biplane models are
usually difficult, but this one took off easily and flew
consistently well, its best flight being 33 seconds.
['Flight' magazine - pg.260, 5th Sep 1935]
- 1935 - S.M.A.E Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Society of Model Aeroplane
Engineers was held on February 13......... The season 1934
had been one of exceptional interest ..................
Mr. Crow, of the Blackheath M.F.C., set up a record, the
first of its kind, for wingless fuselage Autogiros.
['Flight' magazine - pg.213, 21 Feb 1935]
Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers - Official List of
British records, 1935:-
Fuselage Machines - Auto-Gyro (H. L.) - S. R. Crow - 14.4s.
- 1936 - At Heath Row
For the fourth year the Northern Heights Model Flying Club
attracted a large number of models, modellists and
spectators to Fairey's Heath Row Aerodrome, the occasion
being the Gala Day on June 21. The meeting was a decided
success, in respect of the number of clubs represented -
most remarkably - the fine weather! Heavy raid did fall, but
not until everyone had left the aerodrome.
Though the Flying Scale Model Contest, for
which Flight's Annual Challenge Trophy was awarded,
attracted but a small entry, the quality of the models and
their flying showed considerable improvement on previous
contests. Any scale was permitted, but the wings had to be
in the true scale position. The models were judged for
workmanship and faithfulness to type, and the total duration
of three hand launched flights were taken.
The Trophy, with a small replica, went to
W.L. Henery, who scored 116.8 points with a Leopard Moth
which we illustrate this month. The stately flying and
excellent landings were much admired. S.R. Crow (Blackheath
M.F.C.) provided a marked contrast with a beautiful little
Mew Gull, which had a phenomenal speed and climb, and a high
degree of stability. His score was 78.9.
.............................................
There were the usual popular duration contests,
the three prizewinners in the "light" category
being Mr. Hook (Blackheath M.F.C.), 204.83 sec.; A.H.
Liggitt (T.M.A.C.), 130; and T.H. Ives (Hayes Club), 108.06.
The "heavy" champions were W. Worden (T.M.A.C.),
126.5; E. Chasteneuf (Blackheath M.F.C.), 86.5; and L.A.
Wood (unattached), 73.23. The Fairey Challenge Cup for the
Inter-Club Team Contest again went to Blackheath Club, Crow
and Chesteneuf totalling 353.5 sec........................
A Concours d'Elegance in four categories
resulted as follows.................
Juniors, any type - (1) Mr. Mackenzie (Blackheath); (2) Mr.
Montgomery (Blackheath), both free-lance lightweights.
['Flight' magazine - pg.41, 2nd Jul 1936]
- 1936 - Autogiro Progress
Comparatively few modellists care to tackle that toughest of
propositions, the model autogiro. Consequently entries were
scarce for the S.M.A.E. Autogiro Contest on August 23, but
the results indicated progress. For the first time, rise-off
ground flights were stipulated.
Mr. S.R. Crow (Blackheath M.F.C.) won with an
average on three flights of 35.36 sec. His best flight,
39.03 sec., established a new R.O.G. record, whilst prior to
the contest, he raised the hand launched record to 49.45
sec., both subject to confirmation. His model differs from
the 1935 type in having a cambered tail plane set at a large
positive angle, upturned tips, and the rotor blades mounted
without incidence, the tips being steamed to a negative
angle. It reached a height of about 80ft. flying strongly,
the only point calling for further experiment being a slight
stalling tendency when the power ceased.
['Flight' magazine - pg.260, 3rd Sep 1936]
- Machines and Materials - on Exhibition : A Beautifully Constructed Nonscale Model
By M. R. KNIGHT
On Show
THE Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers was responsible for a most effective display at The Model Engineer Exhibition, recently held at the Horticultural Hall, Westminster. The centre piece was a superb example of the flying scale-model, a tapered-wing Hornet Moth constructed to a scale of 1in. to 1f t. by Mr. H. J. Towner (Brighton D.M.F.C.). Beautifully constructed, attractively- finished in cream and
white, and, possessing fine flying qualities, it perfectly demonstrates what a flying scale-model should be like, and all too frequently is not. There was also an excellent Leopard Moth to the same scale by
Mr. S. R. Crow (Blackheath M.F.C.). This model has recently captured the hand-launched and rise-off-ground records in its class with flights of 62 . 1 8sec. and 98.35 sec. respectively.
Duration types included the very fine shoulder-wing model with which Mr. R. N. Bullock (Blackheath) secured for Great Britain second place in the 1937 Wakefield contest, a similar
type with which Mr. E. Chasteneuf (Blackheath) obtained the leading place in the British Wakefield trials, and a successful
"Wakefield" class of monocoque model by Mr. R. Copland (Northern Heights M .F. C.).
Marine activities were represented by Mr. H. E. White's twin-motored flying-boat Goose, sister (or, more accurately, daughter) ship of
Ganda, which was recently described and illustrated on this page. Mr. A. E.
Brook's high-wing Skyrocket, with inverted 18 c.c. Comet motor, spread its 7ft. bin. wing-span protectively over the smaller exhibits.
Elsewhere in the exhibition were Air. R. J. Trevithick's
3ft. span parasol with 1.75 c.c. two-stroke, which it is hoped to describe in a future issue, and the beautiful shoulder-wing monocoque model by Mr. E. W. Evans
(Luton D.M.A.S.), which won the prize offered by Mr. D. A. Russell for the best flying model in the show; it is described and illustrated on this page.
['Flight' magazine - pg.458, 4th Nov 1937]
- Gala in a Gale
The sixth annual gala meeting held at Fairey's Great Western
Aerodrome on June 19 [1938] might be described in the
words of a spectator, as the Northern Heights Club's gale
day. Nevertheless, models, modellists and cars turned up in
large numbers, and over 300 competitors participated in the
nine contests which were successfully concluded. Only the
contest for the Coronation Cup was postponed, ......
The Flight challenge Trophy for
flying scale models with wings in the true scale position
was won by Mr. S.R. Crow (Blackheath M.F.C.). His fine
Leopard Moth holds the hand launched and rise-off ground
type records of 61.5 and 109.39 sec. The scale is 1in. to
1ft., and the only variations from the prototype ara a
slightly larger airscrew and 10 per cent. increase in tail
area. A single skein of rubber is employed, and the total
weight of the model is only 3 1/2 oz. A photograph appears
on this page.
['Flight' magazine - pg.49, 14th Jul 1938]
- Runner up - Seventh annual gala of the Northern Heights
Model Flying Club, Fairey's Great West Aerodrome, 18th Jun
1939. Runner up in the 'Flight Trophy' with a Leopard Moth.
['Flight' magazine - pg.46, 13th Jul 1939]
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The model Autogiro is original and
was restored by Alwyn Greenhalgh. [Tim
Westcott]
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The Facula - Apparently the model won a
'scale' model competition in the USA because the
Americans confused 'Fairy' with the 'Fairey' who built full
size aircraft! [Tim Westcott]
My thanks to Syd Crow (Sam's brother) for
providing the above photos.
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I would like to hear from any old members, or anyone who can add history,
links or further information about the Blackheath Model Flying Club. I can be
emailed at :-  |
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