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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0046.PDF
FLIGHT JANUARY 13TH, 1949 Caretaker Government setting up a Ministry of Civil Aviation, followed by months of deliberations. Then the present Government abandoned the former Govern- ment's schemes and, after further delays, established the three nationally owned Corporations. " It would," Mr. Brancker said, " be difficult to over-estimate the re- markably harmful effects of having no definite policy at a time when it -was essential for all possible effort to be concentrated on constructive work and not dissipated in discussing what was to be done. In this respect I think that the idea alone of nationalization must be con- sidered to have been harmful, because if private enter- prise could have been given the ' all clear ' it might have made a very much more rapid start." It was refreshing to hear Mr. Brancker admit that under nationalization there was a tendency to adopt the Civil Service outlook and to get the organization closer and closer to Civil Service lines, " by no means the right ones for air transport." Mr. Brancker did not think nationalization had inter- fered with obtaining the right types of aircraft. Ordering DirectA N announcement from Downing Street that in future British Air Corporations will be allowed to negotiate directly with the manufacturers tor their new aircraft instead of ordering through the agency of the Ministry of Supply, will be received enthusiastic- ally. This course has for long past been advocated by operators and industry alike, but opposed by the M.o.S. The change should not only effect important economies in time and personnel but also go a long way towards re-establishing close co-operation and goodwill between makers and operators, which alone can ensure the best results. Efficiency has been impaired by the less direct approach and lack of personal contacts attributable to the interposition of a third body. The old system was criticized by the Courtney Com- mittee investigating the Tudor position; the new pro- cedure follows recommendations from the advisory group set up by Lord Nathan, under the chairmanship of Mr. J. Hanbury-Williams, and including Sir Rowland Smith and Mr. G. Wansbrough, almost exactly a year ago. Development of new aircraft, wisely, we think, is to remain under the general control of the Ministry of Supply whose research work is largely financed from public funds. At an agreed stage in the development of an aircraft, the Corporations will be able to step in and place a production contract. CONTENTS Outlook • - Export Trainer - ... Ground Crews of the R.A.F. - - - The Modern Autopilot - Here and There - Civil Aviation News ----- United They Stood - - - - Armament in Action - Arctic Rescue The Few and the Many .... Nothing to it ...--- Physiological Aspects of Flying ... News from Italy Aviation Analysis Correspondence Service Aviation ------ Forthcoming Events page 57 31 33 35 37 39 41 45 - 46 48 49 50 51 53 54 56 58 The Palestine OutrageT HREE years ago the United Kingdom was regarded by the rest of the world with respect; its prestige had never stood higher. To-day the Jews in Palestine can shoot down aircraft of the Royal Air Force and our pilots are forbidden to fire back. The recent provocative and impudent act naturally led to strong protests. The Air Ministry has stated that the R.A.F. aircraft were on reconnaissance above Egyptian territory when they were shot down by Jewish fighters. The Jews claim that some were inside their border. It would not be surprising if some of our pilots, in taking evasive action (how it must have galled them to be limited by official instructions to do this!) had inadvertently crossed the border. The full facts of this incredible incident with all its ramifications are not known as we go to press, but the results are deplorable, and the very presence of our muzzled military aircraft on a tensioned border-line seems highly regrettable. It has been reported (but not officially confirmed) that the attacking fighters were Messerschmitt Meiogs. That may well be the case, for it is known that the Czech national aircraft works at Cakovice, formerly owned by the Avia firm, were building this machine. The top speed is less than 400 m.p.h., and it might have been thought that our Spitfires and Tempests should easily have been able to avoid being shot down, but probably the attack came as a complete surprise and our pilots would obviously be preoccupied with watching the ground during their reconnaissance. CONSTRICTED PYTHONS : Though the Python-Lancaster, which flew for the first time on January 3rd, will provide valuable experience in the operation of the new power units, a faster machine will be needed for the study of characteristics at high pow;-rs and speeds. 8 2
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