D
This image clearly shows the Constant Speed four-blade propellers of the Viscount that Ron learnt so much about, including how close to the ground they were during taxiing manoeuvres.
FLYING SCHOOL
Captain Ron Macdonald was a dedicated Volunteer at Brooklands who fl ew Vickers Viscounts during his long career. Here are some of the late fl yer’s memories of training to fl y this Brooklands-built aircraft.
Words: Ron McDonald Photos: Brooklands Museum Collection/Chocks Away
uring February 1958, I was a Douglas DC-3 Captain for Trans Canada Airlines and was eagerly awaiting the
equipment bid awards. I was advised I had been given a Viscount Captain’s assignment and was to report to the ground school in March. There were 10 of us in ground school:
fi ve Captains and fi ve First Offi cers. The course required a 95 per cent pass mark, so it was heads down and hard work. Considerable time was spent on the Rolls- Royce Dart engines, explaining things like jet pipe temperature and engine power torque. It also covered all about the Constant Speed four-bladed propellers which did not need propeller pitch control nor an engine run-up before take-off, and the use of water methanol in very hot weather. Pressurisation was explained and how the cabin altitude could be maintained at about 7000ft when fl ying at 19,000ft but which was only used on the longer sectors. Quick-don masks for the pilots were installed in the event of a de- pressurisation, but as 10,000ft or lower could be reached quickly, masks were not required for the passengers. The hydraulic system pumps were on engines 2 and 3 and the undercarriage was raised and lowered by buttons on the throttle quadrant but, big surprise, the fl aps were electric with a manual over-ride in the passenger cabin if the electrics failed.
Ron McDonald was born in Canada but settled in the UK. He was a regular and much- loved member of the Viscount Team. Here he is aged 81 just after completing a barrel roll 40 years after his previous one.
MAY - JUNE 2020 | BROOKLANDS BULLETIN 37
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