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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 0874.PDF
II May 1951 547 r Gemini, G-AFLT, will be competing, with the Editor, W/C. M. A. Smith, at the controls. Five aircraft are entered for the Grosvenor Cup, which will be awarded for the highest speed attained by any one of the five— which are within a certain weight category—during the King's Cup, while other "concurrent" classes, with the number of entries attracted, are for the Norton-Griffiths Trophy (6) and Kemsley Trophy (7). The R.Ae.C, Jubilee Trophy has attracted five entries (the Hurricane, Sea Fury, Spitfire 22, Vampire N.F.10 and Venom 1); in the Air League Cup there are three (Hurricane, Sea Fury and Spitfire 22) and the S.B.A.C. Cup contest will be a two-man affair between John Cunningham (Vampire N.F.10) and John Derry (Venom 1). The meeting takes place at Hatfield on June 23rd. Inquest on S/L. T. S. Wade AT the inquest on S/L. T. S. Wade at Lewes, Sussex, on- Friday, May 4th, the cause of the accident and the pilot's death was not established. The body of the pilot, still strapped in his seat, was found 850yd from the main wreckage of the air- craft, which crashed in a field at Ringmer. The M.C.A. investiga- tion officer, Mr. J. H. Lett, told the coroner that the ejector seat appeared to have operated normally, and there was no evidence that any other part of the aircraft had become detached in flight. An examination by the manufacturers had failed to reveal any evidence of mechanical failure or defect to which the accident could be attributed. The coroner suggested that something might have gone wrong which caused the pilot to decide to operate the seat mechanism and that that took place perfectly normally. Then something happened immediately afterwards, possibly a blow knocking him unconscious, thereby preventing him from opera- ting his parachute. Mr. Lett said that that would be possible. Test Pilots' Risks: Commons Questions ON April 30th a number of questions were asked in the Houseregarding aircraft ejector seats. Mr. P. B. Lucas, for example, asked the Minister of Supply whether the Hawker P.1081 experi- mental aircraft in which S/L. Wade lost his life was equipped with a Martin-Baker ejector seat, or what make of seat was fitted; and whether the Martin-Baker ejector seat would in future become a standard fitment in all single-seat, high-speed experimental aircraft. He also asked whether the Minister would issue instructions for all such existing aircraft at present equipped with ejector seats of another make to be modified at once to take those of Martin-Baker design. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton asked what type of ejector seat was used in the Hawker P.1081; whether this type of seat was standard equipment in Service air- craft; and how many live drops had been completed. In answer Mr. G. R. Strauss said that the experimental Hawker P.1081 aircraft was fitted with an ejector seat made by M. L. Aviation, Ltd., and preliminary indications were that the seat functioned properly. Two makes of ejector seat, this and the one by Martin-Baker, Ltd., had been approved for use in Service air- craft and it would be undesirable to have a monopoly of either of them. Live test ejections from aircraft were not called for by the M.o.S., and he was not aware of any having been made with the M.L. seat. Mr. Lucas then asked the Minister if he was satisfied that the same measure of safety was afforded by the M.L. seat as by the Martin-Baker seat in view of the fact that no live drops had been effected by the M.L. seat, and Mr. Strauss replied that no live drop was called for before the device was accepted. He had no reason at the moment to doubt that the M.L. ejector was as good as the other one. In answer to another question Mr. Strauss went on to say that both types of seat had been approved, and had been considered by technicians concerned to be reliable. Preliminary investiga- tions had shown that on this occasion the seat did function properly. _ A. Cdre. Harvey asked if, in view of the high fatality rate among civilian test pilots, the Minister would go into this matter in rather more detail and have proper tests carried out on both seats to establish which was the better, so as to give the test pilots the best equipment available. Mr. Strauss replied that the advice given to him was that both seats were equally good. Attention was next turned to insurance for test pilots, and Mr. Lucas asked the Minister of Supply what arrangements were niade for the insurance of the lives of his Department's test pilots; in what sums were such lives insured; and upon whom rested responsibility for the payment of premiums. Mr. Strauss said that test pilots employed by his Department were covered by the National Insurance Industrial Injuries scheme. Payments under this scheme might by supplemented by awards made by the Treasury under the Civil Service Injury Warrants, which made special provision for flying accidents. Mr. Lucas asked whether he was satisfied that these meagre Mr. G. E. Sugden (/eft) has been appointed assistant general manager ofSperry's aeronautical department. Mr. T. D. M. Robertson (right), has joined Scottish Aviation, Ltd. Both appointments are referred to below. provisions were really satisfactory, in view of the hazardousnature of the flying that these test pilots daily undertook, and Mr. Strauss said that that was a difficult question to answer. Aclaim put forward for increased pay by these pilots was now being considered by the Treasury and his Department. Sperry Appointment APPOINTED as assistant general manager of the aeronautical *"*- department of the Sperry Gyroscope Co., Ltd., is Mr. George E. Sugden, who joined the company in 1947. He was formerly technical assistant to the aeronautical manager. During the war Mr. Sugden was engaged on radar work, first at an Air Ministry establishment and later with the R.A.F. Before joining Sperrys he was on the staff of the M.O. Valve Co. T. D. M. Robertson Goes NorthF ROM Scottish Aviation, Ltd., Prestwick, comes the announce- ment that Mr. T. D. M. Robertson has joined the board of directors and has been appointed general manager of the aircraft manufacture and design side of the business. Mr. Robertson was, until recently, a director and general manager of Hawker Aircraft, Ltd. He had joined the Kingston firm 17 years previously as an accountant. Scottish Aviation, Ltd.—one of the few representatives of the aircraft industry north of the Border—are, of course, well known as the makers of the Prestwick Pioneer and, latterly, for their con- version contract on the B.E.A. Dakotas, now re-appearing as Pionairs. The firm has an extensive repair and sub-contract organization. Boulton Paul Directorships OWING to pressure of other business, Mr. R. G. Simpson hasresigned from the board of directors of Boulton Paul Air- craft, Ltd., and Mr. J. D. North has been elected chairman in his stead. Mr. North will continue as managing director. nayMay May May May May May May May May June June June June June June June June June June June July June June June June June July 12-14.13-14. 14. 19. 19. 20. 20. 26. 26. 31- 3. 2-4. 2. 3. 8-10. 8-15. 9. 9-10. 10. 15-18. 15- 1. 23. 24. 24. 27-28. 30- t. FORTHCOMING EVENTS Aero-Club de France: Champagne Rally. 5.M.A.E. International Model Competitions. S.S.A.F.A.: Air Display, Hucknall, Notts. Derby Aero Club: "At Home" and Flying Display. Helicopter Association: Annual General Meeting. Kent Coast Flying Club: "At Home" (sponsored by A.B.A.C.). Veteran Car and Aircraft Rally, Old Warden Airfield, Biggleswade. Newcastle-on-Tyne Air Display. Wolverhampton Aero Club: "At Home" (sponsored by A.B.A.C.) and Goodyear Trophy Race. Iranian International Rally. Yorkshire Aeroplane Club: International Rally. Auster Flying Club: Rally, Rearsby. Auster-Ragosine Homing Trophy, Rearsby. Air Circuit of Sicily. Spanish International Rally. Rally and Race, Fairwood Common Aerodrome, Swansea. Royal Air Forces Association: Annual Conference, Torquay. Lancashire Aero Club: "At Home" (sponsored by A.B.A.C.). Royal Danish Aero Club: International Rally. Paris Aero Show. R.Ae.C.: Festival of Britain National Air Races, Hatfield. International Rally, Pisa, Italy. Northern Heights Model Flying Club: Gala Day, Hawker Airfield, Langley. Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences: Annual Summer Meeting. Los Angeles. Cognac International Rally, France.
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