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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 0720.PDF
448 FLIGHT CIVIL AVIATION . . . drawn up by representatives of U.S. manufacturers last year.For the feederliner, the original specification included a minimum payload of 5,250 lb, seating capacity for 24 passengers,provision for turboprops to replace piston engines, a range of 350 miles and a cruising speed of 275 m.p.h. The sub-committeehas agreed that the size chosen in this specification was about right but considers that special attention should be paid to theproblem of converting the aircraft readily for mail and cargo use when passenger load-factors are found to be low. It has decided,also, that the aircraft should be capable of operating from a 2,800 ft single-runway airfield, instead of the 3,300 ft runwayproposed in the previous specification. For the prototype cargo aircraft the committee decided that thespeed range previously envisaged was too low and that a block speed of approximately 300 m.p.h. was called for. The feasibilityof changing the cargo aircraft to operate from a 5,000 ft instead of a 4,000 ft runway was suggested, to eliminate any possibility ofhandicapping the design. The sub-committee agreed also that the smaller of the twoproposed cargo prototypes should have a gross weight of 30,000 lb and a range of 2,000 miles with reserves. A further meeting isbeing held this month. GERMAN AVIATION THE Allied High Commission in Western Germany recentlyopened investigations into the possibility of allowing Germans to control their own civil airlines once again. Two plans are underconsideration. The first would involve an immediate programme under which they would be trained to take over full control as soonas possible of the airports now used by international operators. The second suggestion concerns a long-range plan to suspendall Allied supervision and allow Germany a return to international air traffic for the first time in 13 years. It is estimated that it willtakf from five to six months to train the Germans to run their own airports which, although at present manned by local personnel,are still controlled by the High Commission. If such a preliminary step were taken it is possible that after a few years the world mayyet see a re-birth of something like the old German Lufthansa, which was disbanded in 1938. In the more immediate future, probably, the Germans can beexpected to continue the High Commission contracts with U.S. and European airlines now serving German airports. Moreover,it is believed that the difficulties of obtaining the necessary equip- ment, now that the major producer-nations are re-arming, wouldpreclude the formation of any national airline capable of competing with companies already operating in Germany. BREVITIES THE seventh annual general meeting of I.A.T.A., which is beingheld this year in Britain, will actually take place in the historic hall of Westminster School. In place of the traditional AnnualPaper, a full day has been set aside for I.A.T.A. delegates to visit the S.B.A.C. show at Farnborough. It is also announced that theIsraeli national airline, El Al, and the Yugoslav operator, J.A.T., have joined the Association, whose membership now comprisessome 65 airlines from 45 countries. * * * To cater for tourist-traffic expected during the summer months,Yugoslavia will shortly inaugurate four new services, linking her most important cities. Plans are also reported for a new servicebetween Belgrade and Frankfurt. * * * Earmarked for delivery in 1952 are three Douglas DC-6A all- cargo transports which American Airlines have ordered from the manufacturers. The company's present freighter fleet of 13 are all DC-4S. The DC-6 has a maximum payload of 30,000 lb and a range of 3,300 miles. Led by Mr. S. L. Hof, Director of the Department of Tele- communications and Air Traffic Control in the Netherlands, an I.C.A.O. technical mission left for Teheran on April 16th to aid Iran in the development of her civil aviation programme; three of the members are British. The despatch of this mission marked the start of a technical assistance programme which is expected to provide aid to some 15 countries this year. * * * An A.N.A. Bristol Freighter was recently fitted with speciallydeveloped "double-decker stalls" to carry 102 stud sheep on an 800-mile journey from Hobart, Tasmania, to Parkes, New SouthWales. The company's Freighters have also been busily engaged in the carriage of wool from Tasmania to the mainland and at theconclusion of the recent sales flew over 1,000,000 lb of wool to Melbourne for distribution. The Freighter's payload is 11,000 lb of wool on each flight. * * * The chairman of Auckland's International Airport Committee,Sir Keith Park, indicated recently in New Zealand that if present plans to build a suitable airport at Auckland were finalized, land-planes may soon be replacing the flying-boats now used on the trans-Tasman run. What is believed to be the largest aviation-fuel contract ever negotiated by an airline was recently signed between United Air Lines and the Standard Oil Company of California. The order, for more than £25,000 worth of fuel, will meet the company's require- ments for three years. The amount represents a rise of 75 per cent over the previous three-year period—an increase which is due to extension of routes and the addition of a further 50 aircraft to United's existing fleet of 131 machines. * * * During March, for the fourth month in succession, great increaseshave been noticed in the amount of traffic carried on the Corpora- tion's dollar-earning New York to Nassau route. Last month thetotal was 44 per cent, more than in February on the 23 nights which were scheduled in each direction. Since its inauguration lastNovember this route has proved to be one of the Corporation's best revenue-earners. * * * Three recipients of I.C.A.O. Technical Assistance Fellowships recently arrived in the United Kingdom for courses of training. Two are from the Civil Aviation Department in Baghdad and one from Helsinki. Five Ethiopian pilots who were also granted Fellowships will shortly arrive in this country to train for commer- cial pilots' licences with A.S.T., Ltd., at Hamble. * * * The M.C.A. has published a useful little booklet entitled Aviation Law for Applicants for the Private Pilot's Licence (M.C. A.P. 85—H.M. Stationery Office, price is.) which completely covers the syllabus required for this licence. All the essential information, collated from the mass of legislation which today tends to con- found the private pilot, are presented in this booklet in easily understandable form. * * * Capt. P. G. Taylor and the crew of the Catalina flying boat,Frigate Bird II, now returning from Chile to Australia after cross- ing the South Pacific, had to swim ashore at Mangareva (GambierIslands) to find petrol which had been left beneath the coconut palms by a French Government schooner. It was then floated outto the boat by native canoes. A number of ideal aircraft bases have been noticed on the return flight, which is being made by wayof the Tuamatu or Low Archipelago in French Oceania. On arrival in Chile, Capt. Taylor was awarded the Chilean Order ofMerit. NEWS of the 1951 AIR RACES WITH arrangements for most of the leading events now wellunder way, this summer promises one of the most interesting racing programmes ever to be organized. As already announced,the Festival of Britain National Air Races (for the King's Cup, the Kemsley, Norton Griffiths and Grosvenor Challenge Trophies,the R.Ae.C. Jubilee Trophy, and the S.B.A.C. and Air League Challenge Cups) are to take place on Saturday, June 23rd, overcourses based on Hatfield. The routeing of the 35-mile short circuit is shown in the first map on page 449. For the information of competitors practising over the coursebeforehand, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has pointed out that, above 1,500ft a.s.L, the section of the course between Luton,Hatfield and Great Wood lies in the controlled airspace of Amber Airway II; pilots are therefore asked to exercise extreme cautionon this account. Also, the last leg of the short circuit at Hatfield passes over the centre of Panshanger airfield, where intensiveR.A.F.V.R. training takes place; pilots should keep a keen look- out in this area and are requested not to fly over Panshanger atless than 1,500ft above airfield level should they be unable to maintain flight under V.F.R. Prices of admission for the National Air Races have now beenpublished. They vary from £2 for a private car and its occupants
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