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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 1722.PDF
FLIGHT, 14 September 1930 AIRCRAFT AT THE SHOW . . . time as recently as August 23rd, "Mike" Lithgow handled it in the same uncompromising manner as its predecessor. The most obvious innovation is the nosewheel undercarriage, but, having regard to the marked tail-down attitude assumed at take-off and landing, the retractable twin tailwheel has been retained. To accommodate the main undercar- riage the wing plan-form has been revised. The nose of the fuselage has been extended (the over- all length is now 42ft llin - over lift greater than the wing span), and the rear fuselage has been distended to receive an afterburner. Intake fora has also been the subject of revision. At present the armament of four 20-mm guns is dis- posed in the wings, Attacker style, but the pro- duction aircraft will have fuselage-mounted arma- ment. At 295 sq ft the wing area is 22 sq ft greater than that of the 510. Vickera-Supermarine Seagull. This record-breaking amphibian was exhibited with two under-wing air/sea rescue packs, derrick, drogue and RATOG units fit- ted above the wheel wells. Westland Wyvern T.F.2. Carrying a "tinfish" in addition to 16 rocket projectiles, this Python- powered strike fighter achieved rolls and other manoeuvres with the grace and ease of a much ligh- ter and smaller machine: as the makers point out, although the span of 44ft is little more than that of the Hurricane, the Wyvern is much heavier and more massive. Retailed information is still with- held, but it may be remarked that the track of the Dowty tailwheel undercarriage is 14ft 5in and the wheelbase 23ft 8in. In addition to the Youngman three-position flaps there are split flaps (used for landing) between the Youngman flaps and the ailerons, outboard of the wing hinge. The dorsal fin has now been eliminated. Demonstrators were Messrs. Penrose and Colvin. RESEARCH AIRCRAFT Avro 707B. On Wednesday afternoon the word went round that the Avro 707B delta-wing research air- craft had just aade its first hops at Boscombe Down - one lasting for 15 seconds. Delivery to Farnborough was quickly authorized, and when the scheduled flying display had concluded thebeautiful blue projectile was spotted far distant, under the threatening clouds. At this time theBrabazon was being re-positioned and, after a run across the airfield at a few hundred feet, W/C.Falk was obliged to orbit until the mammoth had been coaxed into its resting place for the night.The patience of all onlookers was ebbing fast (not due to any shortcomings on the part of the Braba-zon' s handling crew, but for consideration for the 707's fuel supply) when the runway wa3 clearedat last and the delta skimmed in low and fast in the stiff cross-wind for a perfect toucn-aown.Instantly two objects fell away and there waa a moment of alarm until - quite unexpectedly -a tail parachute blossomed and the dainty little machine ran itself to a standstill. As it tax-ied in it could be seen that not only is the nose appreciably longer than on the former 707, butthat the tail unit has been re-designed. As formerly, the power unit is a Rolls-Royce Derwent. Avro Ashton. A top speed of over 400 m.p.h. isannounced for this brand-new, high-altitude re- search aircraft, first of six to be built for theM. of S. Mr. Orrell presented the Ashton in attitudes which disclosed its somewhat "Jetliner-esque" lines. Four paired Rolls-Royce Nenes are installed, and at 40,000ft the cabin altitude is8,000ft. Avro Prqteus-Iincoln. Mr. Walter Sibb flew thisengine-development aircraft with verve, unaided by the inboard Merlins. Flight Refuelling. Mr. Pat Horo'idge, who gavea seouence-to-sequence commentary from the Meteor, - and Capt. Marks, in charge of the Lincoln tanker, ;provided a Flight Refuelling demonstration of exceptional interest and real technical value. Gloster Avon-Meteor. Mr. Heyworth's presenta-tion of this auper-powered Hucknall test-bed was nothing short of sensational. From slow, levelflight the Meteor reared up on its tail and absen- ted itself at an angle as near the vertical asmade no difference. The nose, incidentally, must always be pulled up sharply immediately the wheelsare off the runway on a full-power take-off; other- wise the "wheels up" speed is exceeded. .— ---- Gloster Sapphire-Meteor. Zurakowski's demonstr-IOi ,ation of this Sapphire development aircraft dif- fered essentially from Heyworth's in that he didnot, so to speak, sit the machine on its jets at such low speeds; but his performance certainlyjustified the publicity which marked the Meteor- Sapphire union shortly before the Display. Vickers-ArmstrongB lay—Viscount. Aa might besupposed, some 12,5001b of Tay-thrust applied to a clean Vi3count airframe is productive of high •speed and quite uncommercial rates of climb. .•---»' Mr. Bryce left no doubts on this score. . 7, CIVIL AIRCRAFT .~ ' "I'.rlZ"'": ' * V''.' Airspeed Ambassador. Mr. Erring ton flew a produc-tion Ambassador in the "heavy circus", a brief presentation of eight aircraft which opened theflying programme. This year, the Ambassador's performance was limited to a graceful fly-pastwith both Centaurus power plants turning quietly, but one recalled the outstanding single-enginedcapabilities previously demonstrated. Vhite, red and silver B.E.A. finish enhanced the appearanceof this slim 49-passenger airliner, due to enter , service next year. Armstrong Mhitworth Apollo. Since its first pub*lie flight at Famborough last year the prototype ^ Apollo has acquired an extended dorsal fin, andnow looks particularly smart in a silver, cream and green colour-scheme. Mr. Franklin again donstrated a commendably short take-off and, flying past, lively performance with only two Mambas inaction. The Apollo is offered as a 24-40-passenger airliner, a civil or military freighter, or an am-bulance. Maximum weight is 45,000 lb and the still-air range is 1,200 miles. Normal cruising(:speed is quoted as 240kt. ., - , -• • "•»•;. Auster Aiglet. Newest in the Auster lightweightrange, the Aiglet was outstandingly demonstrated by Mr. Ranald Porteousj with loops, spins and stall-turns this sprightly three-seater almost rivalled the spectacle afforded by the high-speed jets onshow. A speed-range of 28-126 m.p.h. and a take- off run of 135 yd» will ensure the popularity ofthe Aiglet for private, training and agricultural purposes. The price (with reconditioned GipsyMajor I of 130 h.p.) is only £1,150. Auster Autocar. Likewise Gipsy-Major-powered, andcomfortably fitted for pilot and three passengers, the Autocar attracted private-fliers inspecting the Static park. •,/•:• :.-.;-..•>•; :V •:-:;-.-^_-•:;::- ''-..*,'•:• :',••••• Auster J.5. This third Auster was displayed incrop-dusting or -spraying guise, with hopper and external venturi. Seats are provided for pilot ;,and operator. Bristol 171 Mk. 5. The agility of this new Leon-ides-powered variant of the Sycamore was perfectly demonstrated by Mr. Swiss. A cruising speed ofwell over 100 m.p.h. is claimed for this five-seat helicopter, which is to be tested by B.E.A.; anumber of 171s have also been ordered by the Mini-' stry of Supply. Development has reached a finalstage and the 171 is now in limited production.
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