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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 0520.PDF
FLIGHT APRIL 22ND, 194S ably with that of landplanes. The Hythe boats on long Empire routes required onty an average of 4.5 man- power-hours per flying hour on direct maintenance. To sum up the whole situation, direct operating costs of flying boats are not high ; maintenance cost is low ; bases are not expensive (the new one at Southampton has cost something like £140,000, but that is a terminal, rnd bases en route could, as the Saunders-Roe estimate indicates, be built for half that amount); the boats them- selves are no more expensive to buy than comparable landplanes; and the public already likes flying boats. It would like them even better if improved facilities were provided on the routes. It is difficult to see why there has been all this delay in deciding the fate of the Saunders-Roe SR/45S. In the Select Committee Report, to which we referred briefly last week, the observation is made that it is sur- prising that neither the Brabazon nor the Saro SR/45 project was included in the Prime Minister's priority. list. The report further states: "In view of the ex- penditure already incurred, the importance of both pro- jects to British civil aviation, and the rapid obsolescence of modern aircraft, your Committee recommend that every step be taken both to expedite their completion and to ensure the immediate production of the aircraft if they should prove to be successful." The Miles Tragedy AFTER prolonged negotiations, and repeatedadjournments of hearings in the High Court ofJustice, creditors and shareholders in Miles Air- craft, Ltd., have agreed to accept the scheme put for- ward by the Receiver, thus avoiding going into liquida- tion. That financial losses are entailed in the reconstruction scheme is regrettable, but what, from the national point of view, is a greater loss is that the Miles family team CONTENTS Outlook - - Meteor's Stable-mate Gyrodynes and Fireflies •• Fratricidal Frolic Civil Aviation News - - - - - Trans Canada with T.C.A. Casual Commentary - - - - - Here and There Ace in the Air - - - - - The New Marine Air Terminal - Visual Aids for Low Visibility Conditions - Correspondence ..--.. Service Aviation Forthcoming Events, page 452 427 429 433 434 436 439 443 444 446 449 450 452 453 is separated from the concern which it built up with so much enthusiasm during many years. That the Miles brothers and their wives will quit aviation alto- gether is unthinkable, and it would be a pity if they did. Few designers have shown such originality, as the flow of new types from the Woodley factory has testi- fied. It may be that this was one of the troubles which led to the present unfortunate position, but British avia- tion is in need of people with ideas, and some means must be found to enable the Miles family to go on con- tributing their quota. The one bright spot in an otherwise sombre picture is that, although Miles Aircraft, Ltd., will gradually cease to exist, the Miles Marathons are to be built by Handley Page, Ltd. For some time there was some doubt about the willingness of the Government to implement the order for 50 of these machines, but it is now certain that at least 40 will be ordered, if not the whole 50. Thus an aircraft type which promises to become very useful will be saved from extinction. THE FAIREY GYftODWE. The first prototype has completed a series of trials and has no* been stripped for detail txamination. Trie second prototype is finished and ready for flying. Other pictures will be found on p. 433.
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