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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 1836.PDF
and AIRCRAFT ENGINEER First Aeronautical Weekly in the World Founded 1909 No. 2180. Vol. LVI1I. THURSDAY, 5 OCTOBER, 1950 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR G. GEOFFREY SMITH, M.B.E. EDITOR MAURICE A. SMITH, D.F.C. ASSISTANT EDITOR H. F. KING, M.B.E. TECHNICAL EDITOR C. B. BAILEY-WATSON, B.A. ART EDITOR JOHN YOXALL Editorial, Advertising and Publishing Offices : DORSET HOUSE, STAMFORD STREET, LONDON, S.E.I. Telegrams : Flightpres, Sedist, London. Telephone : Waterloo 3333 (60 lines). Branch Offices : COVENTRY BIO, Corporation Street. Telegrams : Autocar, Coventry. Telephone : Coventry 5210. BIRMINGHAM, 2. King Edward House, New Street. Telegrams : Autopress, Birmingham. Telephone: Midland 7191 (7 lines . MANCHESTER, 3. 260, Deansgate. Telegrams : Iliffe, Manchester. Telephone : Blackfriars 4412 (3 lines). Deansgate 3595 (2 lines). GLASGOW, C.2. 26b, Renfield Street. Telegrams : Hiffe, Glasgow. Telephone : Central 4857. SUBSCRIPTION RATES H&me and Overseas : Twelve months a Is. Od. Six months, £1 10s. 6d. U.S.A. and Canada, 810.00. BY AIR : To any country in Europe (except Poland). Twelve months, £5 Is. Od. Six months, £2 10s. 6d. Canada and U.S.A. Six months, $16. In this issue: Short Flight-test Development 374 News in Views - - - 377 Fighter Armament • • 379 Science avid War - - - 382 Nations and Airways 384 This Year's Models • 389 Looking Seaward TO British eyes one of the most gratifying manifestations at this year's S.B.A.C.Display was the healthy-looking family of ten prototype and production-typeaircraft marked "Royal Navy." Three of these—the Fairey Firefly, Hawker Sea Fury and Percival Sea Prince—are established in service ; the Firefly and Sea Fury, in fact, already have a lengthy and honourable career behind them. Though not yet operational, three other types—tjie Hawker Sea Hawk, Supermarine Attacker and Westland Wyvern—are on order; but the remaining four (Blackburn Y.B.I, Fairey 17, Short S.B.3 and Supermarine Seagull) are as yet unadopted. This is the view presented, as it were, through the shop window. Later and yet more potent types than those displayed are doubtless concealed under the counter; but it is the common run of goods in everyday use which is our immediate concern. To-day, the Navy's "bread-and-butter" fighters are still piston-engined Sea- riTes, Sea Furies and Sea Hornets, supported by a mere handful of jet-propelled Sea Vampires; so the news that Attackers are already coming off the production line is indeed welcome. Though the pleasing prospect of Sea Hawk squadrons is more remote, the Naval fighter situation in general cannot be said to be perilously insecure. Regrettably, the same is not true of the specialized strike and anti-sub- marine classes wrhich, it must be remembered, might be called upon to bear the brunt of future battles. The present situation is that carrier-borne strike duties fall mainly to the lot of Firebrands and Barracudas, though dive-bombing and rocket attacks can, of course, be undertaken as a" secondary role by the piston-engined fighters earlier named. For torpedo-bombing operations the introduction of the Wyvern is—happily—immi- nent, but a lengthy period must ensue during which anti-submarine duties will devolve mainly upon Fairey Fireflies. Even in its present form the Firefly is a valuable anti-submarine weapon, and further development will emphasize the " sub "-hunting and killing proclivities inherent in the design ; nevertheless, this stalwart Fairev can hardly rival such specialized machines as the " 17" by the same makers, the Blackburn Y.A.5 and Y.B.i, or the Short S.B.3. This being so, orders for one or more of the new breed of deck-landing anti-submarine aircraft are urgentiy awaited. While it is recognized that testing and development must occupy a period of some months, protracted indecision in respect of these aircraft must inevitably unbalance our Naval air arm to danger-point. This Issue of "Flight 99 When our issues of September 7th and 14th appeared in somewhat abridged form we expressed the hope that the cause of the shortcomings—a labour dispute affecting a section of the London Printing industry—would soon be settled. With the appearance of the two succeeding issues it seemed that our hope had been realized. Last week, however, the trouble broke out anew, with the result that the present issue has had to be produced under severe difficulties, which are inevitably reflected in its size and in the space devoted to regular features. No promises can be made as to the immediate future, for the circumstances lie beyond our control; we can only express our intention of continuing to make every effort to give our readers at least the essential news of happenings and developments in world aviation.
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