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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 1362.PDF
2o July t Comet Statistics P; reply to a parliamentary question by Mr. G. Ward con-cerning the de Havilland Comet variants fitted with Ghostand Avon turbojets, Mr. G. R. Strauss, the Minister of Supply, quoted the following figures supplied by the de Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd.: j, (a) Still-air range with capacity payload allowing (or fuel reserves (b) Capacity paylaad (HS-ieacer) 2 (a) Maximum still-air range with full tanks (7,050 imperial gallons) allowing for fuel reserve (b) Corresponding payload (There is, of course, no intention of operating in this way.) 3. Block-to-block speed (allowing for take-off, climb, cruise and descent) over a stage of 1,500 miles 4, Estimated direet operating cost per capacity ton mile Comet 1 (Ghost) 2,030 statute miles 14,000 Ib 2,960 statute miles 2,200 Ib 411 m.p.h. 13.5d Comet 2 (Avon) 2,610 statute miles 14,000 Ib 3,700 statute miles 2,200 Ib •M4 m.p.h. 13.1d In reply to a previous question by Mr. Ward the Minister had stated that the estimated cost of the development of the Comet to be borne by his department, excluding engines, was about £ij million. If the estimated sales of production aircraft were achieved, it was expected to recover the whole, or a substantial part, of this expenditure. New Designations SECURITY "de-gfading" of certain types of aircraft andengines was recently announced. Thus the Napier Nomad NNm3 composite power plant, comprising a piston-engine anda gas turbine, is now officially authorised to be illustrated and dis- played. It is hoped to publish photographs of this unusuallyinteresting all-British development before the S.B.A.C. display, I where an example will be on view. The official designation of the Naval communications versionI of the Percival Prince is given as Sea Prince C.2. ; New glider designations are Kirby Cadet T.3 and Eton T.i.I The former applies to a tandem-seat, dual-control development i of the Cadet 2, manufactured by Slingsby Sailplanes, Ltd. It isi used by the A.T.C. for elementary instruction and quite a number are being shipped abroad. The Eton T.i, made by Elliots of New-bury, Ltd., is a primary training glider which has been in produc- tion for about three years as the Primary Eton. Shell Managing Directorship •COLLOWING the retirement of Sir George Legh-Jones as a^•managing director, Mr. F. J. Stephens has been appointed a managing director of The Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co., Ltd., andof the Shell Petroleum Co., Ltd. He is also made a delegate j member of the board of N. V. de Bataafsche Petroleum Maats-chappij, The Hague. These three concerns are the three principal operating companies of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group. Theappointments are effective from July nth. "FELLOWSHIP OF THE AIR" QN page 70 of this issue B. J. Hurren writes of av fascinating task on which he has been engaged for many months past—the compilation of an official history of the Royal Aero Club from its inception (as the Aero Club of the United Kingdom) 50 years aqo. It is now possible to announce that this notable work is due to appear early in September, coincident with the 50th anniversary of the Club's foundation. The publishers will be fliffe and Sons, Ltd., and the format selected is a handsome one: there will be over 230 lOin. x 7£in. pages—with the text on laid paper and 90 photographs on art paper—in cloth binding with jacket. The price is to be 30s., or 30s. 9d. by post from the publishers. More about the contents of the book will appear in Flight in due course and the Royal Aero Club will shortly be sending full particulars to members of a special "Club Edition." We can promise that the work is far more than a mere factual history: as its title—quoted above—suggests, it is equally the story of British aviation during these epic 50 years, for the Club has been indissolubly bound up with the adventures, fortunes, hopes and fears of its members, who, then as now, have included the leaders of the aeronautical industry and almost all the great pilots. SERVING THE MARINES: First operational unit to be equipped with the Douglas F3D-I Skynight, a two-seater, deck-landing night fighter, is Marine Squadron VA1F(N) 542, shore-based in California. Depicted is a Skynight of Ms unit flying at 18,000ft. Visitor From Martin \f R. RICHARD W. DARROW, director of public relations to -"-'- the Glenn L. Martin Company, has been visiting England to discuss with the English Electric Company advertising questions connected with the building of the Canberra jet bomber in America. It would hardly have been surprising if these dis- cussions had disclosed some conflict of ideas but when, in London last week, we met Mr. Darrow and the English Electric officials with whom he has been conferring, we were quickly reassured in this regard. On the same occasion Mr. Darrow screened a colour film illustrative of Martin products which might well be taken as a model by any British company contemplating something similar. Included were some intimate and sometimes dramatic glimpses of the U.S. Navy's Viking research rocket, the Gorgon ramjet pilotless aircraft, Mercator composite-powered patrol bomber, Martin flying-boat, XB-51 three-jet bomber, and Canberra. That W/C. Beamont had made an impression with his demon- strations at Baltimore we were already aware; but it was a warming experience to see the Martin employees so captivated by his flying and by the altogether exceptional capabilities of the Canberra. Military Transports to Come TO those in the aircraft industry and the Services who anxiouslyawait news of orders for new military transport aircraft the questions and answers on the subject heard recently in the House must have been something of a disappointment, although there was given a faint hope of action in the near future. In answer to an enquiry by Mr. C. I. Orr-Ewing regarding the jet-engined transport envisaged as the successor to the Hastings, Mr. Arthur Henderson said that "the aircraft which will take the place of the Hastings will be used for long-range operations and will not be required to operate in and out of small emergency airstrips." (Two days previously, when asked by A. Cdrc. Harvey if the four-jet transport aircraft mentioned earner as being under consideration by the Secretary of State for Air were Comets, Mr. Strauss, the Minister of Supply, had said he would require notice of the question.) Mr. Orr-Ewing also asked for an assurance that "we are pro- ceeding with the development of suitable aircraft both from the Airspeed factory and from the Blackburn and General Aircraft factory," and Mr. Profumo asked what types of transport aircraft were to be supplied to the R.A.F. for carrying and parachuting vehicles and heavy military equipment and stores. Mr. Henderson said that it was intended to acquire for the R.A.F. types of transport aircraft capable of such duties, but he stated "quite frankly and at once" that no orders had been placed for aircraft of the type to which members referred. A discussion of the meaning of "under active consideration" used in connection with the placing of orders for transport aircraft followed. Question- ing members had finally to be content with a statement that a paper dealing with one of the aircraft discussed was to be con- sidered by the Air Council at its meeting very shortly. Until the Air Council, representing the Service side as well as the political side, had come to a decision, orders could not be placed for any aircraft. Good Stewardship THOUGH he is nowhere referred to in any material in thisissue devoted to the Royal Aero Club, tribute must be paid to Mr. A. F. O'Connor, the house secretary. In 1938 the total takings of the club were £6,000. Mr. O'Connor joined after the war, since which time business has improved so briskly that in 1950 takings reached £76,000 for the year.
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