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Flight 2.11.1956

50 years ago

Hawker's New Fighter

Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday the Minister of Supply, Mr. Reginald Maudling, stated that the Hawker Siddeley Group were developing a new piloted fighter as a private venture. It is understood that the design, by a Hawker team led by Sir Sydney Camm, was refused a development contract by the Ministry of Supply, although it is reported that 1,800 m.p.h. is aimed at, and that a prototype should fly in 18 months.

Landing Fine Reduced

The appeal made by Mr. Norman Jones against a fine of £200 imposed on him by Lymington magistrates for landing his Tiger Moth at Beaulieu R.A.F. airfield on March 17 was heard by the Hampshire Quarter Sessions Appeals Committee at Winchester on October 26, and resulted in the fine being reduced to one of £50. Mr. A. C. Munro Kerr, for the respondents (the police), said Mr. Jones left Fairoaks on the morning of March 17, his flight plan indicating that he was going to Brockenhurst, where his wife was staying at an hotel. The only aerodrome near there is Beaulieu, where the runways were marked with white crosses. After Mr. Jones had landed he was taken to the guard room and questioned. He then said: "I have had enough of this. Who do you think you are? Do you think this is Russia? I have every right to land here, provided I do not endanger life."

Getting his Own Back

A Grumman F11F-1 Tiger has been destroyed after being struck by 20 mm solid cannon shells fired by its own four guns. U.S. Navy reports on the accident state that during gun-firing trials off Long Island the aircraft was put into a shallow dive at 880 m.p.h. The pilot fired two four-second bursts one after the other. Immediately after the second burst, his windscreen was shattered by what he thought was a bird. It was one of his own shells. Two others hit the nose and engine respectively, and the pilot was seriously injured in making a forced landing near his base.

Turboprop Challenger

A Bristol Proteus 705 is the intended engine for the car now being designed for an attempt by Mr. Donald Campbell on the world land speed record of 394 m.p.h., set by the late John Cobb in 1947.




Source: Flight International