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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0452.PDF
274 FLIGHT MARCH 27TH, 1947 Theseus -powered Hermes : Mutual Insurance Scheme : U.S. Attacks Airport Bottlenecks MAINLINER : The tDouglas! DC-6, of which thirty-flrehave been ordered by Unite3"""Air Lines, the American domestic operator. They are due to start scheduled operations next month. MORE ABOUT THE TUDORS T ORD NATHAN, Minister of Civil Aviation, informed theJ-< House of Lords last week that it was too early yet to determine how long it would take for modifications to becompleted on the Tudor I to bring it up to the standard required by B.O.A.C The Corporation, it will be remembered,did not consider their first aircraft to be satisfactory for service on their routes. He also said that the prototypebeing fitted with Rolls-Royce Nene jet engines would be known as the Tudor VIII. Of the original order for twenty-two production aircraft, sixteen would be completed as Tudor Is for B.O.A.C., eight of which ha.d already been test flown. Twoothers were on order for the M.C.A. for special communications duties, and they would be equipped to a different standardand known as Tudor Ills. The Mark IV, which had been developed from the Mark I to meet B.S.A.A. requirements,would have a longer fuselage and carry thirty-two passengers. Lord Nathan said that production was proceeding, butamendments to the original programme had been necessary owing to difficulties in technical design and the further delaywhich had been caused by recent fuel restrictions, during which time the factory nad been closed for nearly a month. He hopedthat the first Tudor IV would fly at the end of this month. Practical information regarding the performance of the TudorII with Bristol Hercules engines (Tudor VII) is eagerly awaited, although there has been no indication that Hercules engineswould be fitted as standard even if performance and handling are improved. The Hercules 120s which were supplied some months ago fortrial installation in the Tudor are not the most suitable units available, being a civil version of the 100 as installed in theHalifax VI. Their particular characteristic is maintenance of good w.m. cruising power up to high altitude. The laterHercules 763, which will give 2,200 h.p. for take-off even at. Nairobi altitude, would be more suitable.An interesting feature of Bristol power ratings is that most units are tested and approved on the test beds at 1 1b boostabove the rated figure quoted in order that the full power output claimed shall be delivered in the aircraft with exhaustsystem fitted. It has been suggested that apart from the improved take-ofldue to increased take-off power, the swing tendency of the Tudors might be improved, due to the effect on slipstream ofa symmetrical thrust line and clockwise (from the front) rota- tion of the airscrew. By symmetrical thrust line is meant anairscrew mounted in the centre of the circular section engine cowling and nacelle. THIRD-PARTY INSURANCEO NE of the leading Protection and Indemnity Shipping Associations has drawn up a scheme for third-party mutual in sura nee for the aircraft industry. Such a scheme has existedfor many years in the shipping industry, and it has been the 'opinion of some that a similar arrangement was necessary foraircraft owners. ION NEWS Towards the end of 1944 the leading aircraft users in thiscountry and abroad were circulated for support, and rules have since been drawn up for the proposed Aviation Protection andIndemnity Association, Ltd. Membership is open to carriers, aircraft owners and operators wishing to insure against third-party risks, and the business of the Association will be con- ducted by a committee of members elected by members them-selves. The committee will be assisted by the managers of the Association. As in the case of similar associations for shipowners, it willbe the endeavour of the Association to be of service to the air- craft owner to relieve him as far as possible of trouble andanxiety in connection with claims either made or threatened against him by third parties. The funds from which claims willbe met will be raised by contribution from members on a strictly mutual basis in proportion to the aircraft entered, based'upon weight, computed, probably, as payload plus fuel. The risks to be covered as defined in the rules of the Asso-ciation embrace the whole field of third-party liability. AIRCREW VISAS A TTENTION has been drawn in the House of Commons by**• G/C. Wilcock to the expense and delay caused by the necessity of obtaining visas for aircrew members flying throughEurope and Africa. He asked that arrangements might be made for the regular crews of aircraft to be granted, perhaps,a six months' visa, as in the case of Sweden. A written answer referred to the P.I.C.A.O. recommendation for a stan-dard ruling that no visas should be required on any general declaration or any passenger or cargo manifest of any airline.It was pointed out that the U.K., as a member of P.I.C.A.O., had applied such recommendations to grant aircrew of foreignairlines arriving in this country, with the exception of Russia, a temporary discharge which allowed them freedom to leavethe airport and move about the country without restriction, for a limited time. It does not apply to charter or privatecompanies. A list of countries was issued showing that for many of them a visa was not required for British aircrew onregular services. Progress is, however, being made in the" general abolition of visas for European countries. It is ratherinteresting to note the observation made by Mr. J. W. Booth, chairman of British South American Airways, in a recent lec-ture, that ships' crews are issued with a discharge book which grants freedom of entry to any port but they are not requiredto carry either passport or visa. AWAITING THE SOLENTS THE last "C" Class flying-boat, Caledonia, to operate onthe B.O.A.C. South African service has arrived back in this country This marks the end of operations for the classafter a magnificent record. The South African flying-boat service was opened in May, 1937, with these boats, and theroute down the Nile and along the coast knocked one and a half days off the land plane route which had up to that time beenoperated When Italy came into the war in 1940 the sixteen
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