FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1947
1947 - 1298.PDF
135 Aircrew Selection FLIGHT AUGUST 7TH, I947 Handleye/velocity co-ordination is assessed by a rotating drum mechanism which requires motor anticipation for success. to escape his control and move outside the centralsquare during the 90 sec test run. The second apparatus consists of a drum coveredwith ivorine through which are punched a series of holes in an irregular spiral. A bronze ball con-tact moving sideways along a rail is remotely con- trolled by the candidate' by a rotatable disc tohis left. The aim is to make the ball hit as many of the punched holes as possible whilst traversingthe wavering spiral path from left to right. Each "hit" is registered by an electric counter. Thecontrolling disc operates through an integrating gear so that motor anticipation is essential. Rapidmovement a.t the last moment causes delayed over- shooting. This test was originated and developedby the Department of Psychology. Cambridge University, which department also collaborated—with the R.A.F. Medical Services—in developing the first-mentioned hand / eye / foot test apparatus. Lastly, candidates—for pilot duty only—take another co-ordination test which, incidentally, is very good fun. It is the Visual Link. This is a modified Link Trainer set in thecentre of a strikingly realistically painted cyclorama—a circular room the walls and skirting of which are painted to representa cloud / land / seascape as seen from about 2,000ft. A flying boat, a lighthouse and a battleship represent three clearlydefined targets at which the " pilot " can aim his " aircraft and which he can use as reference points in executing theinstructor's orders. Each pilot candidate gets three half-hour periods on the Visual Link, one period only in a half-day so that by spreading the three half-hours over a day and a half, recovery from fatigue is possible for the candidate and, there- fore, a reliable sample of his performance may be obtained. There are seven selection boards at North Weald, the Com- mandant being W/C. M. P. Thompson, and the maximum flow rate of candidates through the boards varies between 200-250 at any one time. The entrj- examined are for (i) air- crew; (ii) Cranwell cadets; (iii) glider pilots; (iv) apprentices (admin, and aircrew); and (v) boy entrants. The tests we have reviewed are those given to aircrew and Cranwell candidates. 4O<OOM\<. AN American method of protecting aircraft, engines andcomponents (or. in fact, any kind of equipment) for ship- ment or storage has been introduced to this country and was demonstrated recently to Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry representatives at No 9 M U , Cosford. The demon- stration was organized bv t.hcj Ministry oi Supplv in WEATHER - PROTECTED : The appearance cf a Mk.22 Spitfire finally " cocoo :ed" with an aluminium outer coating. conjunction with R. A. Brand and Co., Ltd. (Ormonde House,26, St. James's Street, London, S.W.i), who have acquired the British rights from the American sponsors, Butler andCo., Inc., Philadelphia. Aptly known as '' cocooning,'' the process consists of wind-ing a few criss-cross turns of tape round the article (though this may not be necessary in the case of equipment with asmooth surface, such as a complete aircraft) to provide a framework on to which a cobweb-like coating of a vinyl-resinous compound is then sprayed with an ordinary paint- spray gun. This in turn provides a basis for a somewhatsimilar solution, also applied by spray until it forms an air- tight skin which dries almost immediately to a tough, leatheryconsistency. Any number of coats can be applied, according to the time for which protection is required, and the workis finished off by an outer coat of a bituminous compound which, if required, can be finally covered by a sprayed alu-minium coating. With full protection of this kind, it is claimed, the equipment is weatherproof for ten years. Adessicant is introduced inside the '' cocoon '' to absorb any moisture which may be present in the original air. At the Cosford demonstration, "cocooning" was applied toseveral items of Army equipment and to a Merlin XXIV, and there was also on view a Mk. 22 Spitfire which had been com-pletely enclosed in a tight-fitting bitumen-aluminium skin; only the wheels were left exposed. The "cocoon " is removed by cutting away and tearing oil ^leaving the equipment quite clean, as the coating merely forms an envelope and does not stick. ILIFFE Recommended by "Flight1 7s. 6d. (postage 4d.) "FLIGHT" HANDBOOK 4th edition GAS TURBINES AND JET PROPULSION FOR AIRCRAFT by G. Geoffrey Smith, M.B.E., 4th edition, 3rd impression 12s. 6d. (postage 6d.) WALL DIAGRAMS : Rolls-Royce Derwent ) De Hivilland Goblin II \ 4s. each MetFovick F/3 Gas Turbine ' (postage 4d. each) TURBINES FOR AIRCRAFT (4-page colour leaflet re- printed from '' Flight ") 6d. (postage lid.) From all leading booksellers or from Iliffe & Sons Ltd., Dorset House, Stamford Street, London, S.E.I. FORTHCOMING EVENTS. Aug. 9th and 10th.—Southend flying meeting. Aug. I6'.h.—Strathtay Aero Club : Perth arc display. Aug. 20th. to 29th.—Twenty-Second Model Engineer Exhibition. New Royal Horticultural Hall, Vincent Sq., S.W.I. Aug. 22nd to 25th.—Norwegian Aero Club: Airrally.Tonsberg, near Oslo Aug. 28th. to Sept. 13th.—Engineering and Marine exhibition. Olympia. London. Aug. 30th and 31st.—Cinque Ports Flying Club Folkestone Air Race? meeting. Lympne airport. Sept. 3rd to 6th.—Royal Aeronautical Society : Aeronautical Congress. Sept. 6th.—Naval Aviation : Air display and static exhibition. Lorsie mouth air station, Moray. Scotland. Sept. 6th.—Air Display at R.N.A.S. Yeovilton. Sept. 9th to 12th.—S.B.A.C. Exhibition and Display. Sept. 14th.—Royil Aeronautical Society r Garden Party, Radlett airfield. Sept. 17th to 19th.—Federation Aeronautique Internationale : Annua General Conference, Geneva.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
