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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0612.PDF
416 FLIGHT APRIL 14TH, 1949 Beating the BomberR ESOLVED to withhold such tactical information as might prove valuable to an enemy, the author of the major article in this issue was constrained to omit some significant observations. He was minded, for instance, to allude to the possibilities, under certain conditions, of the head-on attack—generally considered, by reason of the high rate of closure, prohibitively diffi- cult and dangerous. For what were deemed good reasons he forbore to do so. In the brief period since his study of fighter require- ments was completed, published references to eollision- xourse attacks by jet fighters have been noted in the British and American Press. A British report quotes figures for the approach speed and break-away distance of the Meteor during such an attack, and remarks that the manoeuvre is most effective against B-29 bombers. American Aviation, on the other hand, describes the head-on attack as "impossible," since the closing speed requires visual sighting of the bomber outside of human sight limits. The height assumed in this instance is 40,000ft. This is appreciably greater than the normal operating levels of the B-29 tvPe< but the much larger B-36 is credited with at least two twelve-hour flights at this altitude. To American Aviation we further acknowledge the observation that, astonishing as it may seem, the Braba- zon-sized B-36 can actually ont-manaeuvre an American jet fighter at 40,000ft. The explanation of this is not far to seek; with its "high-speed" wings, the fighter stalls out of anything more than a shallow turn, while the bomber, with its great wing area, and relatively low- CONTENTS The Outlook Fighter Requirements .... Here and There Civil Aviation News Air Horse Royal Occasion - Ercoupe in the Air Pointing the Way to Safety ... Double-Decked Clipper .... Correspondence Service Aviation - - Forthcoming Events page 440 • 415 - 417 - 423 - 424 - 427 - 432 - 434 - 436 - 438 - 440 - 441 span loading, can make reasonably steep turns without loss of control. Without exception, American jet fighters are inferior in high-altitude handling qualities to comparable British types, amongst which the de Havilland Vampire is especially notable for its tractability at 35,000-45,000^. It is common knowledge that tactical data of the utmost value have been forthcoming from affiliation exercises between Vampire and Meteor squadrons of Fighter Com- mand and elements of the U.S.A.F. bomber force based in this country, and that the benefits of this co-operation (entailing only B-29 bombers) accrued more to ourselves than to the Americans. As a quid pro quo the R.A.F* might do well to offer a section or squadron of Vampires, for high-altitude trials against B-36S and the latest types of American jet bombers. THE GRAND MASTER ARRIVES. H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth was installed as Grand Master of the Guild of Air Pilots Londonderry House last Thursday. The event is described on pp. 432-433.
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