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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0221.PDF
FEBRUARY 6TH, 1947 FLIGHT 153 SERVICE AVIATION gas turbines present problems which arenot encountered in aircraft practice, and that, generally speaking, aircraft unitscannot be adapted for marine purposes, it is known that the Admiralty has inhand the development of gas turbine machinery suitable for coastal craft, inwhich an aircraft jet propulsion unit is incorporated. Development of gas tur-bine machinery suitable for an escort vessel is also in hand. v Reunions v T is proposed to hold, in London, onthe evening of Saturday, March 15th, 1947, a reunion of all past and presentmembers of No. 51 Squadron, Will those who wish to attend communicate withF/L. T. B. Nisbet, D.F.C., No. 51 Squadron, R.A.F. Waterbeach, Nr. Cam-bridge, by February 28th. A reunion dinner for officers of H.Q.221Group, and of the wings, squadrons, and other units which served with that forma-tion in Burma, will be held at the Waldorf Hotel, Aldwych, on February21st. Application for details should be addressed to F/L. L. W. Stavers,Fighter Command, R.A.F. Bentley Priory, Middlesex. » "Aries II" y p last week recorded the passing •* of the Lancaster Aries I and theacquisition of a Lincoln, Aries II, for the R.A.F. Empire Air Navigation School.It is now learned that the first flight of the Lincoln will probably be a tourto the Far East, to take place at the end of February. Modifications includethe removal of the upper turret, the fit- ting of a second astrodome, installationof three 500-gallon fuel tanks in the bomb bay (giving a range of 4,700 miles),and the replacing of the nose and tail turrets by fairings. Sound-proofing andseats in the fuselage are provided and armour-plating and armament areremoved. Aries II will fly uncamou- flaged. A.S.R. Helicopters FOLLOWING trials by the Air-Sea•Warfare Development Unit, R.A.F. Thorney Island, it is likely that theR.A.F. will use helicopters in future air- sea rescue operations. The Air Ministryhas indicated that helicopters are now being designed and built in this countryincorporating features which R.A.F. re ssarch has shown to be necessary. "^ffrials up to the present have beenmade with Hoverfly Is (Sikorsky two seaters with a cruising speed of aboul65 m.p.h. and a duration of about z\ hours), but it* is obvious that futureA.S.R. helicopters must have greater power and better performance. It is also recommended that accommodation should be provided for two pas sengers as well as for a pilot and observer and that a blind-flying panel and adequate radio equipment, includingaids to navigation, should be provided A radius of action of 150 miles at aspeed of at least 115 m.p.h. is considered necessary, and for the actual rescueoperation the aircraft should carry hoisting gear capable of lifting at least - two survivors in flying kit from thewater. Farewell to Cairo-A IR VICE-MARSHAL S. E. TOOMER.C.B., C.B.E., D.F.C., A.O.C. 219 Group, deputized for the A.O.C.-in-C.M.E.D.M.E. Command at a dance in Cairo, attended by more than 500 people,to mark the R.A.F.'s farewell to Cairo. R.A.F. Winter Sports ^ A WINTER sports association toinclude ski-ing, skating and bob- sleighing has been formed in the R.A.F.and two teams have been sent to Switzer- land by the R.A.F. Sports Board to re-present Great Britain in the contests for the world bobsleighing championshipsand to train for the 1948 Olympic Games. The teams, each consisting of fourmen and one reserve, are led by G/C. R. W. P. Collings, D.S.O., A.F.C., ofthe R.A.F. Record Office, Gloucester, and have been chosen from all ranks ofthe R.A.F. who have had any experience of or show any flair for this kind ofsport. With the exception of one ser- geant all the members of the teams areofficers, but another sergeant, a black- smith and sheet-metal worker by trade,is accompanying the teams as mechanic. possibility of power-flying for cadets,more incentives for cadets, the forma- tion of County Wings, permanent staffinstructors for A.T.C. squadrons and better conditions for officers. One of thecritics said that the Air Ministry should provide some real inducements to attractyoung officers into the A.T.C., and should not rely merely on the fact thatthe Corps could be a haven of refuge from their wives. Sir W. Liqdsay Everard, the host ata pleasant dinner which followed, was presented with an inscribed silver salverto mark his retirement, because of ill health, from the twin posts of Chairmanof the Committee of the Leicester Squadrons and District Inspectingofficer. It had been intended that the salvershould be subscribed for only by officers and committee members, but news of ithaving come to the ears of the cadets of the first A.T.C. squadron—No.1 (Founder) Squadron, Leicester, they, asked to be allowed to contribute. A/Cdre. J. A. C. Wright, A.F.C.,T.D., D.L., who has succeeded Sir Lindsay as Honorary Air Commodore ofNo. 605 (Warwick) Auxiliary Squadron, RADIALS AND ROCKETS : Hawker Tempest IIs, with Bristol Centaurus V engines, of No. 20 Squadron, operating from Agra, India, famed for its Taj Mahal. Eachaircraft is fitted with rails for eight R.P.s. proposed the toast of the AuxiliarySquadrons, to which G/C. H. C. God- dard, D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C., replied.In proposing the toast " The Reserve Air Forces," Lt. Col." J. F. A. Pitcairn,M.C., D.L., J.P., said that the way of the volunteer in this country hadalways been hard. In the past volun- teers had been expected to provide theirown weapons as well as their own uni- forms, an obligation which, happily forthe auxiliary squadrons, was now assumed by the Government. The Very Reverend H. A. Jones, Pro-vost of Leicester, supported by F/L. D. J. Lyon, proposed a toast to SirLindsay Everard and presented the salver. Permanent CommissionsT HE following officers have beenselected for permanent commissions in the R.A.F.: — GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH Wing Commander: C. W. Scott, A.F.C.Squadron Leaders: R. B. Cole, D.F.C.: ). R. Gardner; S. E. Harrison. W.A.A.F. Officers Sign OnO VER 250 W.A.A.F. officers haveapplied for Extended Commissions since the Extended Service Scheme wasannounced. Many of these have been back in civilian life for periods rangingfrom a few months to two years; others have applied before their release is due.Many of those re-engaging intend to make the W.A.A.F. their career as theywill eventually have the chance to trans- fer to the regular Women's Air Forcetor which plans are being made. Leicester A.T.C. Conference*T WO dozen commanding officers olLeicestershire and Rutland A.T.C. squadrons spent three hours on January25th firing questions and complaints at A/Cdre. B. V. Reynolds, C.B.E., A.O.C.No. 64 (Northern Reserve) Group. The Air Commodore's replies revealeda firm grasp of A.T.C. problems and a determination on the part of the R.A.F.to establish the peacetime A.T.C. as an "integral part of the R.A.F. Reserves,"with quality, not quantity, the keynote. Among the subjects discussed was tin-
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