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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 1445.PDF
SEPTEMBER CJTH, 1948 FLIGHT 287 Farnborough '48 Inauguration of the Greatest S.B.A. C. Display : The Presidential Speech Illustrated with " Flight " photographs From the moment of arrival the Short Seal and light amphibian attracted admirers. It is glimpsed from the shadow of the grim, camouflaged, Avro Lincoln, once again the only heavy bomber presented. THAT the Ministry of Supply airfield at Farnborough,Hants, should have been made available for the1948 Display and Exhibition of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors is a matter for congratulation of the Society and for thanks to the Ministry. Inevitably, the work of the Royal Aircraft Establishment (itself identi- fied with the word "Farnborough") will for several days be more or less disrupted; but adoption of the new venue —which imposes fewer traffic restrictions than Radlett and, more important, allows the long-proposed admittance of the public—should swell the Exchequer by promoting export sales, benefit British prestige and stimulate public morale. In the normal way, Farnborough is a closed establish- ment, being continuously engaged in research and experi- mental work of a secret nature. Many of our friends from overseas will, nevertheless, be able to glimpse something of its facilities and, on the Ministry of Supply stand, some of its achievements. It is mainly for the edification of our visitors that a historical sketch of the Royal Aircraft Establishment will preface an advance report of activities last Monday and Tuesday. To this day, one may see at Farnborough two large sheds which, when the Establishment was founded some 43 years ago, housed balloons and man-lifting kites. The years I9i4-r8 saw the production, by the short-lived Royal Air- craft Factory, of the BE, FE, RE and SE series of military aircraft, and between the first and second world wars research and development progressed along diverse lines. During the expansion of the Royal Air Force in 1943-6 the R.A.E. was the consultant authority both for the Services and the Industry and made important contributions to the performance and operational efficiency of many famous types of British aircraft employed in the late war. To-day, the R.A.E. is advising all three Services and the entire aircraft industry on matters of aircraft and power plant design, and by virtue of its own unique knowledge of the practical side of flying, is able to devise instruments, radio and radar, armament gear and other vitally necessary equipment. It has rightly been said of the R.A.E. that it provides the Empire with a foundation for success in both civil and military flying, and it is thus fitting that its his- toric home should become the scene of Britain's greatest and most significant air display. The Assembly Begins A stiff cross-wind added to the interest of watching arrivals on Monday, September 6. Rumours were rife, as always, and many were the hopes and fears ex- pressed. Word passed round of the successful first flights of the Hermes IV and Tudor VIII (the latter had already been delivered to Boscombe Down), but there was general regret that the Gloster E.1/44 and Attacker would not perform. The warm sun and broken, friendly, cloud promised well for the great day to follow. And, in fact, Tuesday dawned fair, if cloudy, over as impressive a £4 million aircraft park as has ever been mustered. Seventy machines, resplendent and in orderly array, awaited inspec- tion by the chosen delegates of as many countries, and the hundreds of stands were prepared for their expert examination. A fitting start to the aerial activities was the arrival fly-past of the Tudor VIII, and, in contrast, Flanked by the fully furnished Fairey Gyrodyne and the Bristol 171, Mark 2, helicopters, the Cisrvafiir Horse looms massively. 23
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