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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 0276.PDF
U6 FLIGHT FROM ALL QUARTERS... capable of operating at speeds just below ar>d higher than the speed of sound, and available at all times for use by the industry. The firms concerned are: Blackburn, Boulton Paul, Bristol, Fairey, Folland Aircraft, Handley Page, Hawker Siddeley Group, Rolls-Royce, Saunders-Roe, Vickers-Armstrongs and Westland Aircraft. The registered offices of the new company are at the S.B.A.C.'s headquarters at 32, Savile Row, London, W.i. (Regent 5215.) Vampire Night Fighter Performance IT is now permissible to disclose performance figures for the D.H.113 Vampire Night Fighter (R.A.F. designation N.F.10). The power unit is a Goblin 3 and full A.I. radar and other navigational aids are specified. The makers claim that, as the • four 20 mm guns are fuselage-mounted, greater accuracy of aim is afforded than with a wing installation; it is also possible to continue firing with one gun inoperative without detriment to stability. The operational ceiling is 40,000ft and is reached in 16.3 min. With 100-gal drop tanks the corresponding figure is 34,000ft, reached in 17.5 min. Maximum level speed is 467 kt (537 m.p.h.) at sea level, and 452 kt (519 m.p.h.) at 45,000ft. At a Mach number of 0.7 at 40,000ft the radius of steady turn is 1.95 nautical miles and at the same speed and height a minimum radius of turn of 0.5 nautical miles is possible. At lower altitudes these figures are, of course, considerably improved. With allowance for take-off, climb, 10 min combat and descent, the patrol duration, with drop tanks, is 2.7 hr at 30,000ft, or 145 hr without them; at 40,000ft the figure is 1.2 hr without drop tanks. Without external equipment the limiting Mach number at 40,000ft is 0.815; with drop tanks, 0.755. The Maharajah of Jodhpur IT is with regret that Flight learns of the death, in a flying accident, of the 28-year-old Maharajah of Jodhpur, one of India's most air-minded princes. The Maharajah—who was flying as a passenger at the time—was a keen and experienced pilot who had done a great deal to further the cause of aviation in India. Much of his enthusiasm was undoubtedly inherited from his famous father, A. V/M. Maharajah Sir Umad Singhji, G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., K.C.V.O., who was the first Indian prince to become a well-known pilot and who was primarily responsible for ordering the construction of the fine modern airport at Jodhpur. Trouble Area AMONQ the anti-British manifestations in Egypt last week ' was the holding of four B.O.A.C. aircraft at Farouk Airport, Cairo (Sir Miles Thomas was among 120 passengers detained for eight hours), and the Corporation wisely decided to re-route all aircraft which normally call at the airport. Beirut, therefore, is being used as a diversionary refuelling point for all B.O.A.C. aircraft flying on services to and from Pakistan, India, Ceylon, Australia, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The Hermes services to Nairobi are being re-routed via Tripoli. A Comet which left London last Saturday on a route familiarization flight to Johannes burg in preparation for the opening of regular services in May also called at Beirut instead of Cairo. Operators of other nationalities made no diversions, but T.W.A. discontinued night arrivals at Farouk. Meanwhile, B.O.A.C. was planning last week-end to send two Yorks to Cyprus, with spare crews, in order to assist in the evacuation of the wives and families of the Corporation's employees in Egypt should the situation demand it. A number of women employees had already been moved from Cairo. Test Pilots' Pay T^HE Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal has awarded Ministry -•- of Supply test pilots a new scale of salaries. The official statement says that, after consideration of statements and sub missions, and of the fact that no superannuation provision is made for M.o.S. test pilots, a new salary-scale is awarded, to be retrospective from October 1st, 1950. The new rates are:— Chief test pilot ... ... ... ... ... £3,20x3 Test pilots .- £2,4O0-£2,9O0 Navigators, flight engineers and radio officers ... £i,300-£i,550 The award affects 13 M.o.S. aircrew, namely, the chief test pilot of the civil aircraft test section at Boscombe Down, Mr. (G/C. Ret.) "Bruin" Purvis, and with him "Doc" Stuart and R. J. Taylor, and three other pilots in the armament, structural and mechanical engineering, instrument, and radio flights at Farnborough. In addition to these pilots there are three flight engineers, two radio officers and one navigator. It has been felt for some time past that test pilots' pay and provisions in the form of superannuation and insurance have been inadequate. The new scale is discussed in our leading article in this issue. R.A.F.A. Ball in Switzerland ST. MORITZ, the winter-sports centre, will be the setting for the "Wings Ball," to be held at the Palace Hotel on Saturday, February 9th. The Ball is being held under the patronage of the British Minister to Switzerland, Mr. Patrick Scrivener, K.C.M.G., and is being organized by the Royal Air Forces Association's Continental Committee, whose address is 12, Rond-Point des Champs Elysees, Paris 8. First R.N.Z.A.F. Hastings Delivered EST Wednesday, January 30th, the Rt. Hon. S. G. Holland, C.H., prime minister of New Zealand, was due to officiate at the handing-over ceremony of the first Handley Page Hastings C.3, one of four ordered for the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The aircraft will be fully furnished as a trooper, and is expected to take off. on its delivery flight over the normal Transport Command route on or about February 12th. The crew of five, of No. 24 Commonwealth Squadron, will be captained by F/L. C. L. Seigert, D.F.C., R.N.Z.A.F., and some 25 recruits will be carried, including W.R.N.Z.A.F. personnel. The second and third aircraft are expected to follow at approximately 14-day intervals; one will carry freight and the other more recruits. The fourth machine will not be complete until later in the year. Reference has already been made to the differences between the Hastings C.2 and C.3, chief among which is the fitting of Hercules 737s in place of the 106s of the Mk 2s. The 737s have single-stage blowers which give them better take-off and climb performance and higher speed (about 18 m.p.h. up to 6,250ft) at low levels. Their weak-mixture ceiling is 18,600ft. The two- stage Hercules 106s in the C. Mk 2, however, give it a w.m. cruising ceiling of 26,700ft. The I.C.A.N. take-off figure for the C.3 at sea level and 80,000 lb a.u.w. is 1,335 yd to clear 50ft. The R.N.Z.A.F. were not impressed with the radio equipment of the Hastings as specified by the R.A.F., and it is understood that the new Marconi equipment to N.Z. specification as fitted in the C.3S is considered to be a great improvement. The radio operator's and navigator's stations have been slightly modified to accommodate the new installation. INTERNATIONAL VISIT: A party from the N.A.T.O. Standardization Committee recently visited the Glos'.er airfield at Moreton Valence and saw the G.A.S. Left to right in this group are:— Col. G. Grimal; Mr. F. W. Johnson, M.o.S.; Mr, F. Sanders, project-designer; Mr. R. W. Walker, chief designer; Mr. W. Yardley, R.T.O.; Ing.-en-Chef R. J. F. Pommeret; A. Cdre. G. Hayes; G/C. Stovell, R.C.A.F.; Col. H. G. Mont gomery, U.S.A.F.; Ing.-en-Chef J. G. A. Etesse; Lt. Col. Mont- ravel; Mr. Eric S. Greenwood, technical sales manager; W/C. J. W. Monk; Cmdt. Carpentier; Mr. G. Key, design office.
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