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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0034.PDF
FLIGHT JAMUARY 6XH. T949 THOUGHTS ON ALL-WING TRANSPORTS FLYING-WING designs in the civil and researchclasses have received at least as much attention mthis country as in America, and probably the most outstanding and advanced example in the world is thatof the Armstrong Whitworth tailless A.W.52 for research and mail carriage, Nene and Derwent versions of whichhave been flying for some time past. The D.H.108 ;< another most important small semi-tailless design, and insome respects heralds the D.H.106 Comet airliner, which,, it is now learned, will have tail surfaces. erica's large Northrop thirty--, of whijh/are The attractive possibilities of large leading-edge windows are here shown to advantage. Pressure engineers are not, however, likely to enthuse. KRONFELD MEMORIAL DONATIONS THE first list of subscriptions towards the Kronfeld MemorialFund, the foundation of which was announced in Flight, November nth, has been issued by the Fund Committee Chair- man, Mr. Lawrence Wingfteld. Donors and subscriptions are as follows: . / s. d. General Aircraft Ltd 105 o o Guild of Air Pilots 5 5 o Oxford Gliding Club ......... 5 r, o Philip A. Wills 5 o J. Laurence Pritchard 2 2 o L. A. Wingneld 10 10 o Anonymous 7 6 S. Scott Hall 5 5 o Slingsby Sailplanes, Ltd 5 5 o H. V. Roe r 1 o Leo Walter 10 o Proprietors of Flight 10 10 o Proprietors of The Aeroplane: 10 10 o APPRENTICE TRAINING AT NAPIERS THE fourth annual presentation of awards and indenturesto the apprentices of D. Napier & Son, Ltd., took place at the Company's Acton Vale works on December 15th. Fol- lowing the report of Mr. A. T. Parker, the Apprentice Super- visor, and an address by Mr. J. E. Richardson, Ph.D., B.Eng., To provide the maximum ac- commodation at the thickest point and to ensure a good view, crews may be perched in a blister compartment on top of the nose. ,. ordered for bomber duties, has six turbojet power units."Known as the B-49, this version is developed from a piston- engingd B-35 prototype. The all-up weight is a round 100tons, and the span 172ft. Although no civil order has been placed for the all-wingNorthrop, a study has been made of the potentialities. The accompanying pictures give an impression of whatmight be expected in the way of passenger accommodation and layout. Particularly attractive features of the all-wing designare its low drag and structure weight. From experience already obtained with this type of aircraft, it can be saidthat increased running economy could be achieved for civil operation. Very encouraging fuel consumption figureshave been obtained with the A.W.52S. It is very doubtful whether a civil version of the B-49'would be sufficiently large to offer the full advantages of the design. Either an over-deep wing section from the aero-dynajnic point of view would be required or passenger accommodation and headroom would be very restricted.Mr. John K. Northrop has given his opinion—one shared also in this country—that considerably greater span wouldbe necessary for even the smallest practical all-wing airliner. At this stage a near approach to the all-wing design isa practical compromise. Sufficient capacity can be ob- tained by swelling the wing centre section into a smallbody to which, at the rear, is attached a vertical surface. M.I.E.E., A.MJJMech.E., the Principal of the Northampton ! Polytechnic, London, Mr. J. S. Paget, the Manager, pre- sented indentures and merit awards to Student and Trade apprentices. The Chief Engineer, Mr. H.. Sammons, then presented Certificates of Outstanding Merit, and the fitting- shop foreman presented the Foreman's Trophy and prizes to W. Camin, the best Trade Apprentice, and the runner-Up. The Company's Trophy and prizes were presented by Mr. H. G. Nelson, the Managing Director, to the best Student Appren- tice, M. F Knott, and the runner-up. The Napier Company has always considered the training of apprentices to be of the greatest importance and "organized apprentice training" has been in operation since 1835, 27 years after the foundation of the Company. The Napier Apprentice Training Scheme is divided into three grades, Trade, Student and Graduate, the courses of these sections being of five, four and two years' duration respectively. The Trade Apprenticeship is for those of secondary school educa- tion, the Student Apprenticeship for those of public, grammar or technical college education of a more advanced starufeid, and the Graduate Apprenticeship is to enable those who have obtained a degree in engwaeermg or an allied science to gain comprehensive practical experience of workshop operations and functions. Premiums are not required for aay of these grades, and fees for attending technical colleges are also not required. Examination fees are the responsibility of the parent, but the company refunds fees of successful candidates.
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