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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 2059.PDF
Four of the year's most interesting military types : the combined speed and grace of the Canberra jet bomber (top left) are rivalled bythe Hawker P.I052 opposite ; the Supermarine 510 (lower left) and the D.H.I 13 are neat developments of earlier types. The 510 is for high-speed research, while the 113 is a two-seat, nocturnal version of the Vampire day fighter. Among bombers, the English Electric Canberra captured immediate attention. In a few months this first British jet bomber showed the hallmarks of a winning design, its high all-round performance and fighter-like agility being accompanied by the possibilities of great versatility. Work proceeded on other, heavier jet-bomber designs, but of these nothing may be said. Pending Service usage of the new-era bombers, Lincolns and Lancasters faithfully remain in interim employment. The replacement of Beau- fighters by Brigand light bombers was a welcome, if tardy, step. A complete newcomer in the rarer, piston-engined category was the formidable Avro Shackleton, seen to possess, among other notable features, a massive bomb-bay, four Griffons driving contraprops, extensive radar and par- ticularly heavy armament, although the rear turret will not be retained in service. The Shackleton should provide "Coastal" with a roomy and enduring patrol bomber. The R.A.F., apparently, is not prepared to undertake extensive turboprop development and (according to the results of current trials) the Athena or Balliol advanced Another Vampire development is the Ghost-powered Venom, shownat the foot of the page. The Fairey 17 and the Blackburn Y.A.5 (top) were brand-new 1949 types for anti-submarine duties. trainer will go into service in Merlin-powered guise. Although the decision to use the earlier power unit was doubtless dictated by sheer economic necessity, the Mamba and Dart turboprops installed in the Mk I version of each of these attractive trainers would eventually have offered many operational advantages. Limited development of the Athena I and Balliol I continued. Experience gained in large-scale operation of the Prentice basic trainer was embodied in the specification for a Prentice replacement, to which Handley Page (Reading), Ltd., and Percival Aircraft are building prototypes. Both aircraft will be Cheetah-powered. Another trainer in the news was the handy D.H. Chipmunk, now in full production for the R.A.F.V.R. Operational and advanced, training under- went changes in equipment, a fact borne out by the suc- cessful introduction of tw"o-seat Meteor 7s for instrument flying practice with fighter squadrons, and jet conversion at advanced flying schools. Well equipped for the new role of crew-training, the Vickers Varsity was further evi- dence of the trend. R.A.F. communications work was taken over by the Devon, trim Service version of the re- nowned Dove, while Naval Aviation adopted the Prince feederliner for this task. Naval Princes are also to be used as crew-trainers. Specialized Naval types in production included the Sea Fury T. 20 high-speed trainer, and the Short Sturgeon 2 target-tower. The versatile Supermarine Seagull amphibian, to which a third fin has been added, was demonstrated as a useful Sea Otter replacement, although orders have not yet been announced. The Eagle-engined Westland Wyvern, in company with the Sea Hawk, successfully com- pleted deck-landing trials during the year, and the Farn- borough performance of the production-type Wyvern, powered by a Python turboprop, left no doubt that this speedy, powerful strike fighter would be a great asset to Naval strike squadrons. Another turboprop, the promising Double Mamba, is installed in the new Fairey 17 anti- submarine aircraft. Likewise, a 1949 newcomer, the Black- burn YA5, is designed for similar duties and will eventually take a turboprop, although it temporarily has a Griffon. Investigation of new aerodynamic forms and power-units continued steadily throughout the year. Designed solely for exploration of delta-wing characteristics, the Avro 707 was the most interesting of new research aircraft. The unfortunate crash of the first example has, however, by no means caused cessation of the delta-wing research pro- gramme. Less in the limelight, machines such as the DH. 108 and the numerous "test-beds" nevertheless con- tinued to sow the seeds of even greater achievements. [Continued on page 828)
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