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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 0295.PDF
S FLIGHT, g February 1950 THE SURVEY PRINCE . . . An extra seat is provided for another passenger such as a geologist or a crew member under training; all four positions are fitted with oxygen and intercommunication points. To reduce fatigue due to sustained precision-flying the Prince is equipped with the Smith's S.E.P.i electric autopilot and the Hughes' G.3 gyro- magnetic compass. The observer's position is in the clear-vision nose, which affords a wide, unobstructed view ahead and to a point below which is approximately 10 degrees aft of the vertical. Side panels also give an extended view so that a complete panorama towards which the aircraft is heading can be obtained. The navigator's position is equipped with a periscopic aiming-sight, the master unit for the G.3 compass, and an inching unit which permits altera- tions of course in azimuth while the autopilot is in control. Also within easy reach are the intervalometer and camera controls, together with the normal instruments for speed, altitude and temperature indication. The operator's seat is adjustable to pro- vide a maximum of comfort in which- :.'-•V .'•;/:. ever sighting position he may adopt. The camera/radio-operator's position is in the main cabin on the starboard side just aft of the entrance to the pilot's compartment. Radio (which may be installed to the customer's requirements) is housed in universal racking. This compartment is also fitted with controls for regulating Flight " photograph. This interior view of the Survey Prince shows the vertical-pStotography hatches, with a Williamson Eagle IX camera in one of them. The crew^stations seen are those for the radio operator (forward) and the extra member. the flow of hot air to the camera positions and for operating the camera doors. The 24-volt power supply for the cameras and other electrical services throughout the air- craft is maintained by two 1,500-watt engine-driven generators in conjunction with 40 amp/hr storage batteries situated at the rear of the camera compartment. In external appearance the Survey version differs from the first Princes mainly in the considerably lengthened transparent nose; it also incorporates the new windscreen which, designed to provide better visibility in rain, is to be fitted to all future Princes. Indeed, the forward fuselage of the production versions has a much more pleasing appearance than the somewhat stubby frontal aspect of the original model. Range and duration are, of course, of paramount im- portance in a survey aircraft, and the tankage of the Survey version has accordingly been increased to 226 gallons, giving a range of approximately 1,300 miles in still air at 155 m.p.h. The aircraft will climb to over 23,000 ft with full load and can maintain height on either engine at 12,000 ft. At a ceremony at Luton Airport on January 31, the first Survey Prince was officially handed over to Hunting Aero- Surveys, Ltd. It was due to embark the same day, after customs clearance at Bovingdon, on an expedition to photo- graph some thousands of square miles of southern Persia for the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. Very poor weather, however, prevented its departure and under greying skies and in murky visibility the best that could be achieved was a short tractor-powered journey to the apron, where the aircraft was photographed with Capt. J. Saffery (Hunting's chief survey pilot and expedition manager) and the crew. The following figures for typical survey sorties in rela- tion to the performance of the Prince give an indication of the suitability of the aircraft for the purpose. The fourth column assumes a payload increase equivalent to one extra crew-member. 1 " Flight " photograph. The crew of the Survey Prince at LutonVairport before de- parture for Sharjah, Persia. Left to right: -!L, Saffery (chief pilot and expedition manager), J. D. L Symming'Eo'll (iiavT- Kator-photographer), J. W. F. D. Angers (radio operator) and E. C. Goodson (engineer). Base-to-area mileage Fuel load (gall.) Transit Time over area ... Reserve Totals 300 226 hr 3.50 2.10 1.00 7.00 miles 600 350 150 1,100 200 226 hr 2.40 3.30 .50 7.00 miles 400 560 130 1,090 100 226 hr 1.30 5.00 .30 7.00 miles 200 800 80 1.080 100 200 hr 1.30 4.00 .30 6.00 mile; 200 640 to 920
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