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Aviation History
1946
1946 - 1374.PDF
54 FLIGHT JULY I8TH, 1946 develop, although, as remarked in a special article in this issue, armament must be designed into a jet bomber and not in future be regarded as an almost infinitely variable item. The whole world awaits a crop of new British bombers powered with the unsurpassed gas turbines which our engine firms have made available. The High Speed Flight SEVERAL reasons for satisfaction are afforded by theannouncement that an R.A.F. High Speed Flighthas teen formed under the command of Group Capt. E. M. Donaldson, D.S.O., A.F.C., and that two special Gloster Meteois will soon be used for an attack on the World's Air Speed Record, established last November by a similar aircraft flown by Group Capt. H. J. Wilson at 606 m.p.h. Group Capt. Donaldson tells us that his flight has been established solely with the object of securing the record, which suggests that the Air Ministry, the Ministry of Supply and C.-in-C. Fighter Command appreciate that in these times Britain's prestige in the air counts for more than ever before. There is little doubt that the Group Captain or one of his pilots will attain a speed very near 630 m.p.h. but even should this figure be recorded the flight will con- tinue to pay for itself in flying the Meteor, and perhaps newer jet fighters, at even greater speeds. Certainly within twelve months the amazing Gloster fighter should fly appreciably faster and will, it is hoped, set even higher mar'.s for Shooting Stars, Thunderjets and other rivals to aim at. In the High Speed Flight, moreover, we shall have the nucleus cf a unit which might be employed specifically fo- the proving of ultra-fast Service aircraft. Should exist' lg R.A.F. formations be considered adequate for this purpose then the course with its elaborate marking and timing facilities might be preserved, for as the development of fast aircraft proceeds accurate timing and observation will become increasingly important in the attainment of transonic speeds. CONTENTS Outlook - Return Flight I0OOK.P.H. . . .or More Battle, Defiant and Henley Here and Thsre - Deauville Rally Jet Bombers Swedish Expansion Civil Aviation American Newsletter Correspondence - Service Aviation 53 55 59 60 62 64 a 67 69 72 73 75 Fait AccompliU NLESS there are any hold-ups and modifications during its passage through the House of Lords, it would seem that the Civil Aviation Bill is now due to become law. On Thursday of last week the Bill secured its third reading in the House of Commons and went through with a majority of 270 votes to 91. In all common sense, no other result could have been ex- pected, and very soon the time will have come for those of any shade of political or ethical opinion to accept the principle of nationalization as applied to air transport and to do their very best to make it work. And it can be made to work provided that the organi- zation is not allowed to become top-heavy and to surfer from the inefficiencies which seem to be inseparable from any large-scale civil service machine. It is obviously essential that a nationalized industry • should pay its way as well as any other, and the need for economic efficiency must, therefore, be as great in the ramifications of the Ministry of Civil Aviation as in the Corporations themselves. The only complete justi- fication, apart from any political ideology, for the nationalization of airlines lies in the fact that so many of the essential ground services are already and.neces- sarily in the hands of the State. The cost of these ground services must be included in any balanc^4j£et. '" Fliglit^lphotograph. THE CO. DEMONSTRATES : GroupCaptain E. M. Donaldson, D.S.O., A.F.C., commanding the R.A.F. HighSpeed Flight, maintains that handling the Meteor at over 600 m.p.h. is "tooeasy," but his flying on a training Meteor IV proves him to be excep-tionally skilled. Further news of the High Speed Flight appears on page 59.
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