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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 2059.PDF
DECEMBER 2ND, 1948 FLIGHT 673 OX.A.S. DINNER ON Friday evening, November 26th, members and guestsof the Oxford University Air Squadron met together, forthe Squadron annual dinner, at the Randolph Hotel. W/C. C. N. Foxley Norris, D.S.O., the chief instructor,proposed the toast of "the guests," but this, as usual, was but the epilogue to a model speech reviewing the conditionof the Squadron and including some trenchant observations on the need for Tiger Moth replacement. Before this, however,the C.I. welcomed Air Marshal Sir Hugh Saunders, the Air Member for Personnel, Dr. G. N. Clark, the Provost of Oriel,and Air Marshal Sir Alan Lees^ A.O.C. in C, Reserve Com- mand. In addition, a warm welcome was extended to theheads of no fewer than six colleges, and to the C.O.s and officers of five other University Air Squadrons. In regard to the O.U.A.S. position, this was eminently satis-factory. At the start of the current term a recruiting drive was initiated, with such excellent results that the presentestablishment was up to the maximum permissible figure of 100; further, there was a waiting list. Not only this, butSquadron attendance had increased. Replacement of the Squadron's Tiger Moths was urgent.There was a desperate need for an all-weather training aircraft, for an all-weather air force needed an all-weather reserve.The Provost of Oriel responded for the guests in sparkling terms, and to cries of "Shame" observed that he was also a Fellow of a Cambridge college. (Dr. Clark was Regius Pro-fessor of Modern History between 1943 and 1947, and Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge). He stated that in his journey-ings between Oxford and Cambridge he went via Bletchley, and all that was very out of date—particularly Bletchley. Hethought that the R.A.F. had shown the way, and suggested a roo per cent air lift between the two universities. Air Marshal Sir Hugh Saunders, in proposing the toast of"The Squadron," paid tribute to that great man Dr. Stally- brass, the late Vice-Chancellor, whose wise counsel and greatinterest in the Squadron was going to be so sadly missed. He then said he had taken to heart the remarks of the C.I. (regard-ing new aircraft) and would pass on the requirements. Of the future, the Air Marshal stated that it would be mad-ness to neglect our defences, particularly the air force, for it was now universally acknowledged that the R.A.F. was ourfirst line of defence. To-day the demand was for a very high standard indeed, and it was no secret that the hope was toget some of the hard-core of the new Air Force from the University Squadrons. The response on behalf of the Squadron was made by Mr.A. J. B. Scholeneld, of Oriel College (the undergrads of which make up no less than 19.78 per cent of Squadron strength).It was one of the best speeches the writer has ever heard made by a young man. AEROMODELLERS ACCLAIMED A DINNER at the Dorchester last Thursday was a fittingoccasion on which to honour those members of the Society of Model Engineers whose recent performance atAkron, Ohio, secured until next year the coveted Wakefield Cup. Proposing the toast of "The Winning Team," the RightHon. Lord Pakenham, Minister of Civil Aviation, felt that, as in Anstey's Vice Versa, his aeromodeller son might wellhave taken his place. Who should be first in aeromodelling would, in Lord Pakenham's view, be first in the air. Mr. R. B. Chesterton (the winner) replying, recalled that theBritish team met for the first time only seven weeks before the contest, which was fought out in a temperature of 102 degrees.He was enthusiastic in his tribute to our American hosts and foresaw stiff competition next year. The Rt. Hon. George Tomlinson," M.P., Minister of Educa-tion, who was to have proposed "The Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers, coupled with The Royal Aero Club,"had been detained in the House of Commons, but Mr. F. Bray, Under-Secretary for Further Education, spoke—most en-couragingly in the view of modellers present—in his stead. Replying, Sir Robert Bland Bird, Bt., M.R.I., referred tothe "wonderful prescience" of Lord Wakefield. He expressed the hope that the Cup would '' oscillate '' between the fourquarters of the globe, and that the contest would never share the fate of the Gordon Bennett race, and gradually be divestedof its spirit of sportsmanship Sir Patrick Hannon, M.P., proposing "La FederationAe'ronautique Internationale," spoke inspiringly of the "exalting, refining and stimulating influences" of the Federa-tion, and Mr. A. F. Houlberg, replying, referred to the '' regrettable number '' of model aircraft records held by theU.S.S.R. "Our American Hosts" was proposed by Lord Brabazon,who thanked Sir Robert Bland Bird, the host of the evening. Lord Brabazon described himself as " a human pterodactyl."Two forms of aerial sport, he believed, remained—model flying and gliding. Mr. Percy E. Charley, an American guest, in his replyhoped for '' a little less hobby and a little more science,'' and looked forward to the inclusion of aeromodelling in theschool curriculum. His speech epitomised the brotherhood of sportsmanship linking British and American aeromodellers. : DEVELOPMENT OF THE MAMBA TN its two-and-a-half years' existence, the Armstrong -*- Siddeley Mamba turboprop has been developed to the stage of being a type-tested engine with over 5,000 hours' test bed running and 100 hours' flying. In his paper, The Development of the Armstrong Siddeley Mamba Engine, read before the Royal Aeronautical Society at the Institution of Civil Engineers on Nov. 25th, Mr. W. H. Lindsey, M.A., A.F.R.Ae.S., Assist. Chief Designer of Armstrong Siddcley Motors, Ltd., said that the first pro- posal for the turboprop, which subsequently became the Mamba, tame from the Director of Engine Development, in 1945. It was to do the same job as an 850 h.p. radial piston engine which was being developed by the company at that time. As it was necessary to provide 850 s.h.p. for take-off anywhere, the gas turbine engine had to be designed to give the power at about 5,000ft under tropical conditions, which fixes the standard I.C.A.N. sea-level power at 1,000 s.h.p. A recent development of great interest was mentioned by Mr. Lindsey, namely, the redesign of the compressor and turbine which had led to an important increase in power. This new compressor, with efficiency greater than 85 per cent, formed the basis of the Mamba 2 now under- going development, and early performance testing had already shown that the new engine could be developed to give at least 1,300 s.h.p. (A review of Mr. Lindsey's lecture and the subsequent discussion will be published next week.) ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION (Concluded from page 672) by the Lord Chancellor. Where appropriate, the President will have the assistance of one or more assessors appointed ad hoc by the Minister after consultation with the President. (xiv) The procedure will be that laid down by Regulation 7 of the Air Navigation (Investigation of Accidents) Regula- tions, 1922. The Attorney-General will, if he desires, appear in order to represent the public interest; interested parties may be represented, cross-examine witnesses or call evidence themselves. The extent to which the strict rules of evidence should be observed will be left to the discretion of the Court in each case. (xv) Subject to (a) and (b) below, Reports of Court In-vestigations will invariably be published. These Reports (and also Reports of Inspectors' Investigations which are tobe published in accordance with (xi) above) will be published B 29 as soon as possible after presentation to the Minister,except:— (a) on security grounds; (b) where a foreign aircraft is involved and the agree-ment of the foreign government must first be obtained; (c) where it seems likely that criminal proceedings maybe instituted and it appears that publication of the Report pending those proceedings would be an injustice to theaccused. The Air Navigation (Investigation of Accidents) Regula-tions, 1922 to 1935, will be revoked and replaced by a new consolidated set of Regulations. Meanwhile, the procedureindicated above will, so far as possible, be brought into effect forthwith PAKENHAM.November. 1948
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