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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0515.PDF
•' MARCH 17TH, T949 FLIGHT 329 ERVICE AVIATION Air force and Naval Aviation News and Announcements TRAINER FROM WEYBR/DGE: An artist's impression of the Vickers 648 shows how it differs from the Valetta transport in undercarriage layout and fuselage form. The revised nacelle; are also distinctive. Vickers Trainer AS the drawing on this page shows,the new Vickers 648 operational trainer is directly descended from the Valetta transport, and differences be- tween the two are mainly functional. This similarity is evidence of the econo- mical and d^iay-saving policy of em- ploying proven design features to the full. The most important alteration is the trainer's forward-folding nosewheel un- dercarriage, with double wheels on all three oleo legs. Its hydraulic nosewheel- steering and undercarriage-door retrac- tion have been adapted from those de- signed for thi' Viscount. Both bomb- bay and bomb-aimer's position are accommodated in a large external bulge beneath the fuselage. The trainer retains the Viking-type tail cone, which disappeared from the Valetta to permit installation of a glider- towing hook. Fuselage length has been increased from 65ft 2in to 67ft 6in, and the wing span of the T.I is 94ft nin, compared with the 89ft 3m span of the Valetta. The two Bristol Hercules • power plants aie enclosed by re-designed nacelles and cowlings which simplify servicing. Chipmunks for the Reserver HE question of replacing the Tiger Moths of the R.A.F.V.R. has finally been settled by a Ministry of Supply order for an unspecified number of de Havilland Chipmunks. It may be assumed that, as standard aircraft of the Reserve Flying Schools, hundreds of Chipmunks will eventually come into service to give both refresher experience to members of the V.R., and—as the force expands—ab initio instruction to its future recruits. Certain modifications, meeting R.A.F. requirements, will be made to the original design, which was described in detail by Flight on August 21st, 1947 In addition t*-> the alterations shown in the accompanying illustrations, amber screens, which can be quickly fitted in the air, are provided. STR9 V.H.F. radio installed in the front instrument panel gives inter-comm. by means of a press-to-mute switch. Full night-flying equipment is specified. The undercar- ii 31 riage is situated 3m tarther forward to compensate for the slightly increased weight of the 145 h.p. D.H. Gipsy Major 10, which replaces the Gipsy Major I. Long'Range LancctstersA HIGH-ALTITUDE sortie of 1,625miles to Castel Beuito forms the first leg of a 7,000-mile navigationaltraining flight to Khartoum and back by six Lancasters of the R.A.F. EmpireAir Navigation School, Shawbury, which was due to begin at 2000 hr last Tues-day. A similar sortie was to con- stitute the second leg of the outwardjourney, which was to be completed the following night, navigating entirely by"Astro" and dead reckoning. It is intended that the aircraft shallreturn home from Khartoum on Friday via Fayid, in the Canal Zone, and Luqa,Malta, spending a day at each. The flights will provide an opportunityfor practising experimental navigation techniques, including the use of pre-computed graphs, the grid system in- stead of latitude and longitude charts,and pressure-pattern flying. Auxiliary Appointments A PPOINTMENTS of commanding•ii- officers for three fighter-control units of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force havebeen announced by the Air Ministry. G/C. R. H. Scott, who is to commandNo. 3502 (Ulster) F.C.U., located at Tyrone House, Belfast, joined theA.A.F., as it was then styled, as a pilot officer with No. 604 Squadron in 1937.He transferred to fighter-control duties in 1941, and later served in the MiddleEast and Mediterranean on signals«and radar work for three years. When re-leased from the Service in September, 1945, he was at Fighter Command H.Q. The new CO. of N«. 3605 (County ofWarwick) F".G.TJ., W/C. G. E. Race, joined the R.A.F. in 1940 as an airgunner, later transferring to the opera- tions room at Biggin-flill. He served asa controller at Peterhead, Biggin Hill, and Honiley before his release in 1945.His command is situated at Castle Brom- wich, near Birmingham. No. 3511 (City of Dundee) F.C.U.,which is located at the T.A.F.A. H.Q.. Perth Rd., Dundee, is to be commanded CHANGED CHIPMUNK: In service, this trainer will have the modifxd hood shown, with increased vision for the instructor. The instrument panel now has full blind-flying equipment.
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