The Masefield Trophy

rf\HE Masefield Trophy was presentectr to the Association in 1950 by our president, Mr. Peter Masefield, I to be awarded to the group which had shown rnost efficiency during a given year for its flying and allied activities.

In presenting the Trophy, Peter Masefield particularly asked that the safety record of the group and its efforts to promote safety should be taken into account.

For the first two years of the Competition, Cardiff Ultra Light Flying Club proved that they were the most efficient group in the way they operated their Tipsy Trainer. The following year Experimental Flying Group won the Trophy with their Moth Minors at Redhill.

U LTRA LIG !.{T SCORES

In those early days the fact that a group operated an ultra light aircraft carried a great deal of weight and in the following year, 1953, the Montgomeryshire Ultra Light Flying Club won the Trophy with its operation of a Tipsy Trainer from the eyrie at Welshpool.

Tn 1954,47 Sqn Flying Group won the Trophy, but a year later it passed into the hands of the Cambri<ige Private FlYing GrouP.

By now the Association and its groups were growing so fast that much. of the judges' time was spent travelling, and the bias towards the ultra light was being outstripped by the larger groups with. several aircraft. The Warwickshire Flying Group in 1956 demonstrated the supremacy of the large group with. a number of machines. This groupi, while it was a member of the Association, was one of our largest groups, and with its films and television interviews, did much to strengthen the Association and bring it to the public eye, besides landing the Trophy'

The Suez crisis in 1957 limited the flying ) activities of the groups so much that it was decided not to run the competition that year.

The beginning of 1958 saw a complete change in the judging panel and to the new judges it was obvious that the growth of the competing groups would make the Trophy a battle of giants with the smaller groLrps pushed out by sheer weight of numbers.

Revised Ru Les

The original rules and questionnaire were revised and a system of ratios devised to place all competing groups on the same level. This was done by sending questionnaires to the groups from which information was obtained on the number of aircraft, total hours flown, numbers of pilots and students, etc. From this was calculated the average hours per aircraft, hours per pilot, pilots per aircraft, and the ratio of pilots to students.

This data was averaged for each. ratio and marks awarded according to whether a group's particular ratio was average, just above or below average, very low or very high. These four sets of marks gave a basis, and from the rest of the questionnaire information was gleaned on such matters as premises and equipment, method of instruction, social events, lectures, touring, etc., but above all, the safety record, which, needless to say, is always checked with Lloyds. The marks thus allocated add up to produce the short list.

In 1958 our modified judging was justified by the fact that two big groups were on the short list with two of the small groups. Round two

Pottulur .Fl.vins. Murch-Apri!. 1961

olthe competition comprised visits to the groups, where the facts given in the questionn.aire were checked. Were the maintenance and machines as good as we had been led to believe ? Log books, pilots records, even the balance sheet were looked at. One of the most important requirements was group spirit.

Spot Visits

Spot visits made sure that the group was not seen on its best behaviour, with everything clean and tidy, but just as it would normally be throughout the year.

The judges did not require the casting vote of the Chairman in 1958, for they quickly decided that the Sir Armstrong Whitworth Flying Group were the winners with Glamorgan Flying Club and Sherwood Flying Group coming second and third. Th.us a one 'plane outfit, with sheer enthusiasm and hard work had won the Trophy from the big groups.

The 1959 Competition was held along the same lines and again the A.W.A. Group took the Trophy with the Fakenham Group second. A group which did not get on to the short list but who are worthy of mention is the Great Easton Flying Group. They were quite resigned to the fact that they did not have a chance, but as they said in their covering letter, they were prepared to put up some opposition to the bigger groups.

The winning group f,or 1960 has yet to be decided ; the forms h.ave been sent out once again and are beginning to come in. Those who return their questionnaire within 14 days get a bonus point, while those who only manage to get their forms back inside the four weeks time limit get nothing. Forms returned during the 4-6 weeks period lose a point, while forms returned later than six weeks are disqualifled. The Hornet Private Flying Group have probably set up a record by returning their questionnaire completed in four days.

The AWA Boys reckon that they must win Populor Ftyins. March-April. 1961, the Trophy as they cannot get it off their club room wall! But the McAully Group say they are quite prepared to accept the wall as well ! 600 Sqn. Flying Group at Biggin Hill feel that the Trophy would be well partnered by their Squadron Plaque in their crew room. Lincoln have also commented and Blackpool & Fylde would no doubt like to have it as an additional attraction to the illuminations. The Rutherglen Boys, of course, feel they are ready to win the Trophy and take it north of the Border and in fact there is every sign of keen competition throughout the Groups for the honour of being the next Masefield Trophy winners.

R.M.

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