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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 1735.PDF
OCTOBER 9TH. J947 filGHT American Newsletter Aviation a Political Football : Sales Value of World's Records : f ' Preparing the Way far the DC-9 '••'-'- By "KIBITZER " NOT long ago one of the government officials in civil to about .85 and that any higher speeds will be approachedaviation over here made some rather startling state- very gradually. This record does, -however, eliminate ments regarding the unsound condition of the British any possibility' of being able to get the record back with civil aircraft programme. Almost the next day another a purely military aircraft. Prior to the war the speed member of the American aircraft trade came out with a record was nearly always obtained by a special machine— contradictory report. To a visitor to the United States, which was itself the forerunner of a new fighter. We are and probably to the layman over here, such wide dis- apparently back in that stage again and, so far as America crepancies are very puzzling, and it might be as well is concerned, I should think that it will be a long time to try to give some sort of explanation for them. They before a military iighter—as opposed to a research aircraft are, unfortunately, nearly always political both in con- —regains the record, ception and design. The U.S. Army, however, can congratulate itself on two Aviation is one of the major political footballs here. It other international records—the "closed course" record is a subject which has always held the imagination of the and the "triangular course" record. Both of these were public and is, therefore, a valuable asset to any public captured by their long-distance B-29, the Pacusan Dream,- figure who wishes to put over a point of view. Aviation boat, which took the former from the French with a dis- can be made to serve many political masters. It can help tance of 10,000 km at an average speed of 277 m.p.h., and the progress of one or other of the political parties in their the latter from the Italians with a distance of 8,954.8 miles, dection campaigns, or it can be used to block their oppo- A considerable number of world records have now been nent's path. It can get publicity for politicians who may captured in this country, and the American export trade is need it—or think they need it—-and past mistakes can be using this fact to the utmost in their sales dritfe, particu- hauled out of the skeleton cupboard and be rattled in front larly in South America. One hopes that every endeavour of the voting public. will be made to try to recapture the long-distance record It is all a great pity, but that's the way it is here, and for Britain, and it might be worth while to make the ter- so far as domestic aviation goes it is their affair. Only minal point a town in Brazil or the Argentine, rather than when British aviation is used as the bogey are we entitled in one of the Dominions. It would be good for trade. to comment on what is said. For an authority to state * # * before one of the many aviation committees in existence - s Douglas announce the delivery of the 1,242nd and here that, m his opinion, our civil types have " had it" for . L\ last DC_4 they also have sent Qut data Qn the the next six years, and that no adequate competition from A. A posedDC-9. The method employed in introducing this the United Kingdom can be expected, makes one very type may well be that which wiu have to ^ adopted jn angry. But when the next witness says that in his opinion the future. The specification has been circulated to all the our lead 111 jet and turbo-airscrew engines will make us operators, and their detailed reactions are awaited. It is dangerous competitors in three or four years' time our quite obvious that no manufacturer can possibly afford to wrath is quenched and we look smug again. All very produce an aircraft of over 25,000 lb on the off-chance that silly; and perhaps avoidable if people would give a little he can procure orders. He must be more certain of a thought to the extreme importance of British-American market before he can go to the enormous expense of de- understanding. Good international relationships are signing, building and test-flying a prototype. If, on the largely founded on mutual esteem, and we need good re- otller hand, he can issue an attractive specification and on lationships right now. Badly. the basis of that) and nis past reputation, obtain firm orders By the same token the aviation press over here—some (SUDject to fulfilment), then he can go ahead on a new type, sections of it anyway—could give such matters a second And the specification of the DC-9 sounds attractive enough thought. After a rather stupid article in one of the weekly to make tne operators very interested indeed. papers saying, in effect, that most of the European lines At the risk oi repeating figures that may well have been sacrificed oPerating efficiency for the frills of passenger ser- widely published in England already, the following is the vice, I was glad to see some immediate and adequate specification of the DC-9, which is to be a tricycle-under- rephes from the airlines mentioned. B.O.A.C. was merely carriage aircraft powered by two Wright Cyclone 1820 included in an "efficiency" list (fairly far down, be it engines- said), and it is a pity that the staff oi the paper in question ' A11 up weight "~~ . 30 ooolb. didn't consult some of the actual B.O.A.C. figures for Landing weight".'. '.'. '.'. V. '.'..... 29,ooolb. hours flown per aircraft and passengers carried. For some Disposable Load 10,4061b. months now they have had a higher aircraft utilization than Capacity 28 passengers + 2,3801b. any other Atlantic service, and, as recorded in Flight of Range 1,000 miles at 10,000ft. September 25th, carried more passengers per flight during Cruising speed 264 m.p.h. at 17,800ft. tne rush of June and July than anvone else did. For June Cruising speed 257 m.p.h. at 11,600ft. the figure was 39.6 passengers to their nearest competi- Jake-eff run at 3°,°oolb .-. 3.640ft tor's 37, and fa? Jul/it J 33-i *> the other's 32.7 ? *^S^&» ^ ^ \\£££ * * * Pressurizatjpn available if required.T iE U.S Navy has put up a wonderful effort in Reversible-pitch airscrews. their capture of the world's speed record with the Water injection if required. Douglas D-558. It will be some time before either P»ce (Approximately) $280 000 to $285,000. the U.S. Army or the British can get it back again. In All of which adds up to a nice-sized aircraft, with the the latest record of 650 6 m p h the speeds for the four type of load and performance that is ideal for routes that qualifying runs were 652.642, 649.358, 652.579 and 648.730, cannot handle machines as big as the DC-4. Whetner nut at the time of writing the outside air temperature Douglas will build it remains to be seen, but my feeling is ruling at the time has not been published, so that the that a machine of this size and type will always be required Mach number achieved is unknown. I should imagine and it only remains for them to make something as good that this particular machine has probably been flown up as the DC-3 for it to be a very successful project.
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