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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 1581.PDF
345 THE FARNBOROUGH STORY... nose, which might benefit the air flow into the elephant- ear ducts for the Rolls-Royce Nene 2 turbojet. '•.'•,.. WBSTLAND WYVERN T.F.2.—The performance to be expected from a compact, though relatively heavy, single- seater, fitted with the world's most powerful production- type turboprop, was fully realized by the Wyvern T.F.2 in charge of Mr. Graves. A foretaste of the capabilities of the Wyvern had been afforded by earlier displays, where the Mk. 1, with Rolls-Royce Eagle 24-cylinder piston en- gine, had flown; but the installation of the 4,000 e.h.p. Python in the new variant has conferred a notably im- proved performance, derived not only from the increased power but from decreased drag. Airborne from a rapid take-off, the Wyvern upward- rolled easily, flew inverted, and, in extremely tight turns within the airfield perimeter, scored the sky with, wing-tip trails. Points noted in the viewing park, and on a large model, were the faired bifurcated jet pipes, emerging on each side of the fuselage below the cockpit and slightly aft of the pilot's seat, the thin 44ft laminar-flow wings which are folded to an overall width of 18ft, and the neat arrester- hook stowage. A fascinating spectacle during starting was the Rotol eight-blade contra-rotating airscrew. The Wyvern taxied out with wings folded ; then, under hydraulic power, the main outer planes descended slowly into place, to be followed very rapidly by the tip portions. Bombers ENGLISH ELECTRIC CANBERRA B.I.—W/C. Beamont's introductory performance in our first jet bomber was his- toric. The initial climb, with the Avons roaring and rumbling far into the distance, would not have shamed a Meteor; then the beautiful medium bomber bore down fast along the runway and rolled away (one roll in each direc- tion), its blue shape seeming, chameleon-like, to change its hue against the varicoloured clouds. A second run culminated in a perfect roll-off. Beamont's show on Tuesday was well advanced when three or more objects were seen to detach themselves from the Canberra and fall swiftly; they proved to be portions of the automatic observer, torn from their mountings when the bomb doors were opened to reduce speed. No struc- tural harm resulted, and Beamont immediately entered a series of extremely tight, slow turns. On Wednesday, with wheels and flaps extended, he rocked the machine by its ailerons at impressively low speed. A new aircraft has .never been more convincingly demonstrated. With /awning bomb-bay and two Griffons at rest, the AvroShackleton is introduced by its demonstrator, Mr. Baker. Invisible to onlookers, but scrutinizing test instrumentsbehind the pilot's position, was Mr. Walker, an observer, for whom both envy and concern were felt as Beamont gotinto his aerobatic stride. AVRO SHACKLETON G.R.I.—The largest aircraft on show (span 120ft), the Shackleton long-range maritime reconnais- sance aircraft, is a specialist type which called for the most skilful demonstration technique. Mr. Baker succeeded in making a memorable event of what might easily have been a very ordinary display; this he achieved by the simple expedient of flying all-out at really low level, so that the size of the Shackleton could be truly appreciated and the armament positions disclosed. His run-in with two Griffons out of action and their de Havilland contraprops, with six blades apiece, at rest, was a sight to remember. The bomb bay, extending from the radome to a point well aft of the trailing edge, was agape, revealing its excep- tional capacity. Those familiar with anti-submarine war- fare appreciated especially the turning ability of the Shackleton. The English Electric Canberra ascends arrow-Ilk* during Beamont'i memorable performance.
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