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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 1176.PDF
64 FLIGHT JULY 17TH, 1947 Spectral Development .... arrangement seems to offer more aero- dynamic advantage—mounting the en- gines right out at the wing-tips like the Shooting Star's drop fuel tanks. But, apart from "plumbing" prob- lems, nobody has yet discovered a way of preventing the whole aircraft from acting like a helicopter if one engine fails. From the maintenance point of view the Banshee offers all the usual advan- tages of the jet aircraft's simplicity and low overall height. In addition it incorporates a new feature which makes possible the storage of some 30 per cent more aircraft on a carrier's deck. Its nose wheel can be partially retracted indivifiually, enabling the aircraft to '' kneel'' down on to a small nose dolly, with its tail high in the air. The nose of the next aircraft behind can then be tucked under its tail, and so on down the line, making for a big saving in deck space. On the restricted deck of a carrier the warning " Beware of Airscrews" becomes even more significant than else- where and therejiiave been several most unpleasant acci- Short tail pipes contribute to efficiency. This view also shows the flap formation. The Banshee with its smaller and lower-powered predecessor the Phantom in the background. dents in the past. Consequently, when the possibilities of operating jet-fighters from carriers were first considered, there were many lurid descriptions of what would happen to any unfortunate deck-hand who walked in front of or behind the engines when they were running. Kendall Perkins adds that the risk of serious injury has been proved to be less than with airscrews: " The suction of the air inlet is enough to tug pretty hard on a man who approaches too near, but serious injury is unlikely. The jet-blast at the rear is warm, but fortunately it is also fast enough to ensure that a man walking into it too close to the engine will be blown away beforeTie has time-to be burned. And at a sufficient distance it is perfectly safe and not too un- comfortable to walk through the jet-blast." There is little doubt that the carrier-based jet-fighter is now a highly practical proposition. It has the advantages of a propeller-driven fighter, with the exception perhaps of a low landing-speed, and a very much better performance. " McDonnells admit that they have encountered compressi- bility effects with the Banshee and remark that future jet- fighters will probably have to change their appearance rather radically before these obstacles can be surmounted. Bearing that in mind, it will be interesting to watch for further developments from this progressive American company. PERCIVAL PRINCE '"THE Percival Prince, details of which were given in FlightJ- of March 6th, has now reached the assembly stage. Com- ponents have been coming through steadily for the first model,and it is the Company's intention to create a flow of com- ponents and so permit production to start as soon as the firstone is finished. Flying tests of the Merganser are progressing well and much of the experience on that prototype will beapplied to the development, of the Prince. The "machine is scheduled to fly late this year. THE MAC CHI MB 308 \ AN interesting little two-seater high-wing monoplane which -^ has recently made its appearance on the Italian market is the Macchi MB308. It has a cruising speed of 100 m.p.h. andis powered by a 60-75 hP- Continental engine. The aircraft is of wooden construction throughout and has a useful load of484 lb. The new tourer has a good pedigree—it was a MacchiS*L Castoldi 72 which raised the seaplane speed record (class C) ill •1934 to 440-41 m.p.h. . An impression of the Percival Prince. The new Macchi MB 3S8 two seater.
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