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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 1225.PDF
774 FLIGHT JUNE 30TH, 1949 RESEARCH ENTERPRISE —public and Private: New Home for R.A.E. Instrument Depart- ment : Developments at G.E.C. Laboratories ALTHOUGH the Instrument De- /% partment is one of the oldest at the Royal Aircraft Establish- ment—in 1919 it was known as H Department—it is now housed in the most modern of the buildings at Farnborough. The official opening ceremony was performed last Thurs- day by the Right Hon. A. V. Alexan- der, C.H., M.P., Minister of Defence, before a most distinguished company. In his introductory speech, Mr. W. .G. A. Perring, Director of the Estab- lishment, recalled some of the out- standing contributions to aeronautical development which had been made by the Instrument Department; they formed a long list from which it is invidious to select items for mention. Nevertheless, as typifying the degree of importance, reference can be made to the development of the bubble sextant in 1919, and the first flight of an aircraft with an autopilot in 1920. The Larynx pilotless aircraft (equivalent of the German V-i) was developed in 1925, and the following year Dr. Griffith published his now-famous report on the aerodynamics of the gas turbine engine. The radio-controlled Fairie (sic) Queen and Queen Bee target aircraft were initiated in the Department, as was the famous "George" automatic pilot. In 1932, the D.R. compass was developed ; 1935 saw the introduction of the Mk. 8 bubble sextant and, during the war, the stabilized automatic bombsight was developed. Among navigation equipment, it is sufficient to mention the A.M.U., A.P.I., G.P.I, and drift recorder. The new building housing the laboratories, workshops and offices of the Department is an architecturally satis- fying fabric of " H " plan-form to provide maximum Hght- Spectacular demonstration of the Hclmore light. The R.A.E. gyro laboratory is typical of the new building opened at Farnborough. area. The central power house supplies A.C. at 400 and 1,600 c.p.s., D.C. at voltages up to 30, and suction at 3|in Hg (with no-flow vacuum equivalent to a height of 50,000ft). Within the laboratories themselves, excellent' provision has been made for work benches, lighting and, apart from the special services from the power house, mains electrical supply at 440 and 220 volts A.C., and 210 volts D.C., whilst high-pressure air at 60 lb/sq in, gas and water are also available. With windows along the north, east and west sides, and roof lights along the centre, the drawing office can accom- modate 30 draughting tables. In the model shop the work benches are ranked on each side of a central aisle, whilst along the side walls are some excellent machine tools. Mr. H. C. Pritchard, the present head of the Instrument and Photographic Department, expressed the aim as being to permit aircraft to operate with maximum safety and efficiency. The problems of control and landing in poor visibility were, he said, still largely unsolved and were, of course, aggravated by jet types, the operational flexibility of which, in this regard, was somewhat limited. Jet air- craft had also brought new difficulties to the instrument man. in that the limit of human performance was being reached, chiefly in terms of speed of response, and this emphasized the demand for greater automaticity. In navi- gation, increases in aircraft speed, range and height brought additional problems, not least of which was study of the upper air conditions. The need for first-class accommoda- tion and facilities for the furtberance of the Department's work had been recognized, and the new laboratories were the result. G.E.C. PROGRESS ALTHOUGH enormous organizations and financial•^ resources devoted to research are not uncommon in the United States, there can be very few undertakings vicomparable magnitude in Great Britain. Among the fev that do exist, however, that of the General Electric Company must assuredly be included. Undex the leadership of the late Sir Clifford Paterson,O.B^E., D.Sc, F.R.S., the research department wa- started in 1919; today, the laboratories—at WenrfbleyMiddlesex*—cover a floor space of .approximately .200,or*> sq ft, and employ a* staff of 1,372, including'36 leading
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