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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 1813.PDF
FLIGHT, 3 November 1949 577 The scene at Castel Benito, where theComet was refuelled and its crew wel- comed by B.O.A.C. and the R.A.F. Benito. The flight plan was based on cruising speed at fixed r.p.m.; on the return journey a spot check showed that the 501 miles between Tunis and Mar- seilles were covered in one hour pre- cisely. The distance between London Air- port and Castel Benito is 1,490 miles, and it was flown at an average speed of about 440 m.p.h., the touch-down taking place at 0956 hr. At the Libyan airfield, there awaited kerosene for the Comet and breakfast for its crew. At 1204 hr, the return flight began. With slight assistance from the wind, this was made in slightly less time than the outgoing journey, the speed working out at 456 m.p.h. The Comet began a fairly abrupt let-down over the English Channel, crossed the coast at Hastings and flew over London at 5,000ft. It touched down at London Airport at 1519 hr—eight hours, forty-six minutes after departure. The significant flight had proved completely uneventful. RUSSIA'S ARMED FORCES THAT the twice-yearly parades of the Soviet Armed Forcesin the Red Square should be " taken with a pinch of salt" was one of the views expressed by Major-General RichardHilton, D.S.O., M.C., D.F.C., former military attache in Moscow, in a lecture, "The Soviet Armed Forces," before theRoyal United Service Institution on October 26th. On this occasion the chair was taken by Field-Marshal The Earl Wavell,P.C., G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., C.M.G., M.C. The lecturer indicated the extent of Soviet security measuresby his references to dictaphones being found in walls, constant "shadowing," and a law which allows Soviet citizens to con-verse with foreigners only in the line of duty. The Ministry of Armed Forces, he said, is located in Moscow, and here staffofficers of all three Services work together to direct policy and issue orders. A large school of thought favours continuanceof the extremely close co-operation observed during the war between the Soviet Air Force and Army, when the Air Forcewas almost totally a tactical weapon for the land war. General Hilton recalled a conversation with Soviet officers in the RedArmy Museum while inspecting a picture of heavy bombers attacking Berlin by night. These officers actually believed that Russian aircraft were the first to bomb the German capital and that most of the damage had been inflicted by them. The Long-Range Group which operated during the war years re- presented a small proportion of the total Soviet air strength and was not a strategic weapon, being intended for long-range attacks on military communications and similar objectives. Headed by Stalin's son, there was now a strong movement to establish a strategic bomber force, and recent parades had in- cluded "quite large numbers" of he"avy bombers. General Hilton went on to refer to Dosad, formerly the Osoa- viakhim, an air league responsible for instilling air-mindedness into Russian youth through a system of light-aircraft clubs all over the Union. Except in the very remotest villages, very large numbers of boys and girls are given elementary instruc- tion as pilots. The use to which this vast reserve of pilot strength could be put was a matter for conjecture, but the lecturer would not put it past the Russians to employ it in some manner which involved a very heavy casualty-rate. TURBINE TUITION A CORRESPONDENCE course in gas-turbine and jet-pro-pulsion theory and design has been included in the curri-culum of the Modern School of Engineering Sciences, 16, Broadway, London, S.W.i. Aspects covered include eco- nomics and applications; working cycles ; fundamental thermo- dynamics ; theory of the basic cycle; heat-exchange, reheat and intercooling; general method of cycle analysis; design of components; fuels and combustion systems; and metallurgy. FAIREY SENIOR APPOINTMENTS 'TWO senior appoint- •*• ments within its organization are an- nounced by the Fairey Aviation Co., Ltd.: Mr. R. T. Outen has been appointed deputy chair- man, whilst Mr." G. W. Hall, A . F . R . Ae . S . , M.S.A.E., has been ap- pointed to the Board and will be in charge of the research and armament- development division. Mr. Outen, who has been a director of the com- pany for nearly seven years, holds a number of other important directorships and is Master of the City Solicitors Company. Mr. Halljias had a dis- tinguished career in technical aviation. He was apprenticed to Fairey Aviation in 1925-27, took a special one-year couTse at the Royal College of Science, and served as experimental engi- neer with Rolls-Royce (1928-32), after which he rejoinedFaireys. It was during 1946, when he was in charge of the research section, that the "Stooge" guided missile was pro-duced. An experienced pilot, Mr. Hall was one of the original members of the London Aeroplane Club, and during the wartook a special pilot's course with the A.T.A. Mr. G. W. Hall (left) and Mr. R. T. Outen. FORTHCOMING EVENTS Nov. 3. R.Ae.S. Graduates : " Hydraulic Analogy of Compressible Flow," by H. Ritter, B.Sc. (Eng.). Nov. 7. R.Ae.S. (Derby) ; " Structural and Mechanical Testing of Aircraft," by J. C. King, M.Sc, A.F.R.Ae.S. Nov. 8. R.Ae.S. Section Lecture : " Resonance in Aerodynamics," by R. A. Shaw, M.A., F.R.Ae.S. Nov. 9. R.Ae.S. (Weybridge) : "The Brabazon I," F. H. Pollicut, F.R.Ae.S. Nov. 15. R.Ae.S. Graduates : " Visualization of Airflow at High Speeds," by A. D. Young, A.F.R.Ae.S. Nov. 16. R.Ae.S. (Brough) : " Stiffness and Strength," by Prof. A. R. Collar, M.A., D.Sc, F.R.Ae.S. Nov. 18. Institute of Navigation : " Navigation in High-Speed Flight," by Wing Cdr. E. Anderson. Nov. 19. British Interplanetary Society : Symposium. " Medical Problems of Space Travel." Nov. 19. Colleges of Automobile and Aeronautical Engineering: Annual Reunion Dinner. Nov. 20. Society of Model Aeronautical Engineers: Annual General Meeting. Nov 22 R.Ae.S. Section Lecture : " Engine-driven Gearboxes," by G. W Bubb, A.F.R.Ae.S. Nov. 22. R.Ae.S. (Belfast) : Lecturettes and Films. Nov. 23. R.Ae.S. (Reading) : " British Airships.' by Lord Ventry. Nov. 23. R.Ae.S. (Luton) : Brains Trust. Nov. 24 R.Ae.S. ; "Aerodynamic Cleanness," by E. J. Richards, M.A., F.R.Ae.S. (at Bristol). Nov. 26. Helicopter Association ; " Aero-elastic problems of Rotary Systems," by Prof. A. R. Collar. M.A., D.Sc., F.R.Ae.S. Nov. 29. Society of Instrument Technology : " Instrumentation on the Martin Open-hearth Furnace." by G. Russon and P. Rodicq. Nov 30. R.Ae.S. (Weybridge) : " Radar and Aircraft," by B. W. Hodlin. B.Sc. Dec. I. R.Ae.S. : "The Weight Aspect in Aircraft Design." by t. W. Rosenthal, A.F.R.Ae.S.
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