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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 0672.PDF
FLIGHT FROM ALL QUARTERS Avon Comets For Brazil IAST Monday, April 9th, de Havilland's commercial salesJ manager, Mr. Frank Lloyd, and public relations manager, Mr. Martin Sharp, returned to this country from South America with authority to announce that Panair do Brazil is negotiating a contract for the purchase of three Series II Comets with Rolls- Royce Avon axial turbojets. These aircraft will be suitable for the company's long stages between Lima and Rio de Janeiro and from Rio, across the Atlantic to Europe and the Middle East, as at present operated with Constellations. For 2,500-mile stages the payload of the 48-passenger Comet Series II will be 14,000 lb. Delivery is to be in time for services to commence in 1954, by which time, it is hoped, radio facilities will have been improved on the Brazilian company's routes. It is noteworthy that Pan American holds 48 per cent of the stock of Panair do Brazil. The first experimental Series II Avon Comet is now under construction and is expected to fly late this year. B.O.A.C.'s interest in the Series II has been mentioned but no indication of plans to order such aircraft have been announced. Sir Miles Thomas leaves London tomorrow to inspect the Caribbean and South American routes with the possibility of using Comets on the Bermuda-Bahamas routes also in mind. Transatlantic Luxury K.L.M. is the latest of the major international operators tointroduce a special luxury service on the highly competitive transatlantic route. The company announced in London on April 8th that an all-sleeper service to be known as "The Cosmopolitan," would be introduced with effect from May 26th. A small number of Constellations are being specially converted to a 30-seater layout, using lounge chairs convertible to full- length beds. A nominal surcharge is being made for the extra comforts, which include a seven-course dinner and a wide choice of spirits and liqueurs. Prestwick Limitations AT a meeting of the Scottish Advisory Council in Edinburgh- on April 7th, the chairman of B.O.A.C., Sir Miles Thomas, said that the Corporation proposed to increase the weekly fre- quency of its transatlantic services from 12 to 18 on May 1st. He pointed out, however, that there were very serious runway limi- tations at Prestwick which were causing the Corporation great concern. The present main runway had an uneven surface, was usually out of wind and was too short for Stratocruiser operation. Sir Miles pointed out that, on a yearly basis, Stratocruisers have to overfly Prestwick on ten per cent of the occasions, while in September and October last year the figure was 30 per cent. "Long-term requirements," he said, "will demand the provision of a new long runway orientated in the direction of the prevailing wind. Should Prestwick again be called upon to fulfil the role it played in the last war, an improved runway system would be essential for the larger aircraft likely to be used." New R.Ae>S. President THE Royal Aeronautical Society announces that Major FrankB. Halford, C.B.E., F.R.Ae.S., has been nominated president for 1951-52; he will take office on May 10th at the annual meeting of the Society. Major Halford, chair- man and technical director of the de Havilland Engine Company* is one of the leading British air- craft-engine designers. In the course of a long career—dating from 1912, when he became a flying instructor at Brooklands— he has been successively respon- sible for the early Cirrus, the Napier Rapier, Dagger and Sabre, and the D.H. Gipsy, Goblin and Ghost. He also de- signed a ij-h'tre six-cylinder racing-car engine to run at 6,000 r.p.m. and won many races at Brooklands in his own Halford car powered by this unit. He first joined the de Havilland enterprise in 1927, and is to-day also a member of the de Havilland Aircraft Company's board. Major F. B. Halford Spain-Mexico Airlines Dispute AIR services between Spain and Mexico have been suspended• following the cancellation of landing rights by both nations. The Mexican Government has refused to renew landing rights for the Spanish airline, Iberia, because of General Franco's alleged "restrictions on the commercial freedom" of Aerovias Guest, Mexico's transatlantic operator. The dispute arose because Spain would not allow the Mexican company to convert Spanish cur- rency into dollars. "Anglo" Into "Esso" TT was announced last week by the board of directors of the •*- Anglo-American Oil Company, Ltd., that the name of the company is changed to Esso Petroleum Co., Ltd., as from April 6th. This step, it is stated, has been taken to give fuller recognition to the close association which has developed in the public mind between the name of the company and its well-known Esso pro- ducts and trade-mark. The change also brings the company into line with its affiliated organizations throughout the world. Since its foundation in 1888 the company has made many contri- butions to the progress of the oil industry. One instance is the Esso refinery—the largest in Europe—at present be- ing built at Fawley, near Southampton. When completed, later this year, it will pro- duce over six million tons of petroleum pro- ducts annually. The SEA BIRD : Most unusual in every respect is this latest study of the Saun ders-Roe S.R. A/I je propelled fighter flyini, boat prototype, powerec with two Metropolitot- Vickers Beryls and pilot? by Mr. Geoffrey Tyso A new flight-test p' gramme for this, ' third "A.I" has recen- been initiated. Top spe' is over 500 m.p.h
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