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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 0239.PDF
FLIGOr\\8 February 1951 is&v Latest Sabnts: The F-86D (left) all-weckher intercepier and the F-93, which is powered with an American-built Toy turbojet, the J-48. produced under lic*c«£e at Montreal by Canadair, the R.C.A.F. The fimTSaftadjan-built came off the assembly-line last August. Une Sabre is being test-flown at Muroc with a powerful Canadian turbojet, the Avro Canada Orenda, which may be installed in later examples of the 100 Sabres ordered from Canadair by the R.C.A.F. (this figure may, of course, have been increased within recent weeks). . Replying to a question in the House of Commons last week, the Air Minister, Mr. Henderson, revealed that "No decision has been made to ecfuip the R.A.F. with the F-86 Sabre, though a proposal of this kind is under examination." Here was the first official expression on a subject which had been discussed publicly for several weeks, the presence of two Sabres at the R.A.F. Central Fighter Establishment adding weight to the rumours. Although it is not our purpose here to comment on Britain's lack of a Sabre- counterpart in production (the industry could certainly have built such an aircraft in quantity if the decision to do so had been taken soon enough), one point seems to require qualification. Should the R.A.F. decide that Sabres were a necessary part of our air defence, their purchase from America would presumably be a temporary expedient, pending the delivery of faster British fighters. Whether or not America (bearing in "mind the demands of her own defences) would be able to supply Sabres during that interim period is another matter. NORTH AMERICAN F-86A SABRE General Electric J-47A turbojet (5,2001b max static thrust) Span 37ft lin Length t 6in Height ... 14ft Gross wing area ... :... 274 sq ft Gross weight 13,7151b Max. speed ... Over 650 m.p.h. . Service ceiling . • ... Over 40,000ft Tactical radius ... ... ... ... 535 miles Normal cruising range 1,250 miles w/c D. S. K. CROSBIEW E regret to record that W/C. Dudley S. K. Crosbie, O.B.E., R.A.F.(Ret.), died-at Olney, Bucks, on January 29th. He was manager of the de Havilland branch in India—located at Karachi—from its formation in 1929 until it was closed shortly after the partition of the country. In carrying out his duties he conscientiously served the interests of military and civil flying, particularly in the safe and satisfactory operation of school Moths, Tiger Moths and, subsequently, Chipmunk^. FILMS ABOUT STEEL ON Thursday evening, February 1st, the famous steel-makingcompany, Thomas Firth and John Brown, Ltd., entertained an audience of about 200 guests who saw the first showing of a new film, Sound Steel, produced by the Firth-Brown Research Laboratories. The film was absorbingly interesting, not only by virtue of the awe inspired by the sight of 30-ton ladles of molten metal and monstrous masses being forged under 6,000- ton hydraulic presses, but also because of the emphasis placed on the most rigid control of quality. Another film, River of Steel, produced by the British Iron and Steel Federation, was also shown. The two films complemented one another very well, for River of Steel is an animated cartoon designed for lay audiences and explaining the basic processes of" steel-making and the ubiquity of steel in everyday tffe, whereas Sound Steel is a film better suited to audiences with some knowledge of the subject-matter. Copies of Sound Steel are available for loan to learned societies, technical schools and so forth, by application to Thomas Firth and John Brown, Ltd., Atlas Works, Sheffield. WILLIAMSONS REOPEN A FACTORY SPEAKING at the 45th annual dinner of the WilliamsonManufacturing Co., Ltd., held in London last Friday even- ing, Mr. Colin Williamson (chairman) referred to the reopening of the firm's war-time factory at Reading. Mr. J. E. Odle, assistant managing director—who had just returned from America, where he had attended the American Photogrammetric Society's congress at the invitation of the Canadian Government—remarked on how highly regarded were Williamson designs in the* United States. He had also called in at Toronto and "found the Canadian company flourishing." This was the 45th annual dinner, but the concern is in its 63rd year. In addition to air cameras and other photogram- metric apparatus, Williamsons produce micro-film units and photo-finish cameras. PRISING THE OYSTER "British Test Pilots," by Geoffrey Dorman. Forbes Robertson, Ltd., 143, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4. 166 pp. Illustrated. 8s 6d.F EW British test pilots match up with Hollywood's Techni- colored portrayal of their profession; still fewer would wish to do so. On the contrary, like most people with a story worth telling, they seldom talk about their own experiences, harrowing or otherwise. It is, therefore, to Geoffrey Dorman's credit that he has persuaded 36 of our leading test pilots to say enough about themselves to fill a book; though one shudders at the thought of the hangovers it must have cost him! It is a pity that Mr. Dorman has tried to colour his narrative with so much Service slang, which may excite younjjjfr readers, but will certainly leave the older ones mentally writhing. Apart from that, British Test Pilots offers an interesting biographical background against which to view the day-to-day achievements of the handful of extremely skilful and gallant men on whom the " safety, honour and welfare " of our aviation business so largely depend. In his foreword the author gives generous credit to John Yoxall, who in the past has contributed a number of test-pilot biographies to Flight. " I thought they were the most interest- ing aviation articles I had ever read," he says. " I was extremely disappointed when John concluded his series. As I was most anxious to go on reading about the current series of test pilots, the only solution seemed to be to write about them myself. And this I have now done with John Yoxall's blessing." J. W. R. T. [Incidentally, Mr, Dorman has written to us to point out that in his book he has inadvertently given the year of John Cun- ningham's birth as 1912 instead of 1917. "I know that most D.H. products appear ahead of schedule," he says, "but this was merely careless proof-reading on my part."—ED.]
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