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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 1470.PDF
GhoMpneastrian jf'zU Armstrong--Whitworth A.W.5S5I T is hoped that two versions of theA.W.52 tailless jet-propelled research aircraft may be present at Farnborough.The first has two Rolls-Royce Nenes (10,0001b. max. thrust) and the second,two Derwents (7,000 lb). The wonderfully constructed, swept-back, laminar-flowwing with thermal deicing is not the only remarkable feature of the "52." There isa boundary-layer suction system which, though not altering appreciably the stall-ing speed, delays the loss of control dut to wing-tip stalling. The wing loading, at25.1 lb/sq ft, is relatively low. system; the Supennarine "Dumbo" fromwhich.valuable data on the characteristics of variable-incidence wings have beenforthcoming; and the Reid and Sigrist Desford light twin-engined monoplanetrainer, possibly to be used for special investigations at the Royal AircraftEstablishment, Farnborough. Towed gliders are exemplified by the tailless seriesbuilt by General Aircraft to Ministry of Supply requirements, and by the A. W.52G,forerunner of the 500 m.p.h. jet-powered flying wing. Official mention has been made of aresearch aircraft of "Delta" (triangular) form. Such a machine is likely to have anunusually high critical Mach Number, and, if fitted by one of the more powerfulBritish turbojets—e.g. Rolls-Royce Nene —should have a truly remarkable per-formance. FLIGHT Records of the Year DURING 1948, one world's record andtwo international records have been broken by British aircraft. Details follow: On March 23, taking off from Hatfield,Mr. John Cunningham, D.S.O., D.F.C., reached a height of 59,492 ft (18,133 m) ina modified de Havilland Vampire with a D.H. Ghost turbojet. On April 12, flying from the same airfield,S/L. John Derry, D.F.C., broke the 100-km record with a speed of 605.23 m.p.h.(974.0259 km/hr). His aircraft was a de Havilland 108 fitted with a specially ratedD.H. Goblin turbojet. On June 28, flying the Fairey Gyrodynefrom White Waltham, S/L. B. H. Arkell broke the speed record for helicopters,averaging 124.31 m.p.h. (200.0657 km/hr) over a 3-km course. tickers-Armstrong 'TPRE first passenger transport aircraftA in the world to be powered solely by turbojets, the Nene-Viking is intended forresearch into the problems of high-alti- tude, high-speed commercial operation.Exhaustive investigation will be made of problems associated with noise, high-frequency vibration, climb, ceiling, take- off and baulked landings. Differences fromthe standard Viking IB can be summarized as follows : increased skin gauge on mainand tailplanes; new engine nacelles below the wing; re-designed undercarriage; andrevised fuel and oil systems. Nene-Viking \ •• D.H. 1O8 FOR investigation of problems ofstability and control associated with aircraft having swept-back wings, the deHavilland Company has built the Type 108 to Ministry of Supply requirements. The108 is not strictly "tail-less," in that it has swept-back fin and rudder surfaces.Lateral and longitudinal control is effected by "elevons" on the wings. The aero-dynamic efficiency of the design can be judged from the fact that speeds approach-ing 650 m.p.h. are possible with a single specially rated D.H. Goblin turbojet. Themachine to be demonstrated at Farn- borough is the third prototype, in whichMr. John Deny established a 100-km. closed circuit record of 605.23 m.p.h. onApril 1'2. It is one of the fastest turbojet aircraft in the world. The precise thrust of the Goblin in-stalled in the 108 may not be quoted, but is known to be greater than the 3,300 lb ofthe Goblin 3. De Havilland High -Altitude Vampire ' • VHIS most remarkable record-breakingX machine is basically a standard Vam- pire, but has a wing of 48 ft. span and isfitted with a D.H. Ghost turbojet in place of the standard Goblin. It was calculatedthat 1 lb weight saved was worth 2 ft in altitude, and measures taken to saveweight included the removal of all paint from the exterior surfaces, the fitting ofsmaller batteries in the place usually occupied by ballast, and the removal ofradio and armament. With 202 gallons of fuel (sufficient for one hour's endurance)the take-off weight for the record bid was 8,400 lb. The pilot's cockpit has a metalcanopy, special heater and ten compressed air bottles for emergency use. To compensate for the very small airflow at 50,000 ft and above, the Ghost is fitted with a special high-pressure ato-mizer and with an additional burner- pressure gauge.
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