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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 0342.PDF
152 FLIGHT SATELLITE ROCKETS . . . fluid. Boiling of the liquid by the trapped solar energy would serve to operate a small turbo-generator. It remains to be seen how lightly such units can be constructed, but it appears unlikely that solar regenerators can be used in the smallest types of satellite rocket. It might be pointed out, however, that power would need to be sufficient to work the instruments only for certain limited periods and that the energy available from the generator could be stored between the time of closing down and opening up of each transmission. The introduction of equipment of this nature will immediately introduce uncertainties into the mind of anyone who has had dealings with automatic instrumentation, even of the most modest kind. The consternation that would be caused, for example, by the premature burning-out of a radio valve (not, we think, a rare source of trouble in electronic equipment!) can be imagined, and to the authority responsible for the satellite vehicle the valve- manufacturer's six months' guarantee will be small consolation. Nevertheless, it is remarkable to what extent automatic radio devices have been developed, as may be judged from the multiple- channel telemetering systems used in the American high-altitude research programme. One final illustration, however, may be given. A self-contained automatic weather station, which transmits weather data by radio has recently been developed by the United States Bureau of Standards. The device, designed in the shape of a bomb, can be parachuted from aircraft on to inaccessible territory. The impact NEW light on the Russian Mig-15 jet fighter and on various aspects of modern air warfare has been shed by General Hoyt S. Vandenberg in an interview with our American contemporary Aviation Age. The General declared that the Mig had a slight advantage over the F-86 in rate of climb at all altitudes, but that the American fighter was superior in range. At heights up to 25,000ft the F-86 had an equivalent speed, could out-dive the Mig-15, and appeared to handle better; at greater heights, however, the Mig was some what faster and, being lighter, had a higher service ceiling. General Vandenberg summarized hij views by saying that the two machines were "roughly in the same general area of technical development". Replying to questions put to him, the General remarked that Soviet Russia had long been air-minded and that, with the help of ex-patriated German designers and production experts, had made brilliant progress. The numbers and quality of Russian-built jet aircraft in Korea left little doubt that, at least in the category of the jet intercepter, they had solved many of the important problems of design and production. In other categories, notably long-range bombers, known designs appeared to have lagged behind those of America. However, the Russians were putting a vast effort behind their long-range bomber force. The General continued: "At a time when we were disarming after World War II, it is apparent that the Russians were putting forth their best efforts. As a result, they have the jump on us; but I am confident that American pro duction eventually can overcome this advantage." The Russians, said General Vandenberg, were known to have fighter prototypes superior to the Mig-15, but these had not appeared in numbers. In general, the workmanship and pro duction techniques indicated by captured Mig-15 parts were of a high order. Information concerning these techniques had been made available to the U.S. aircraft industry. The engine of the Mig was of greater thrust than that of the F-86 now in combat but America had units of far higher thrust in production and develop ment—as, it must be assumed, the Russians had also. The General thought that the American pilots had been coping adequately with the Mig in air-to-air combat. "We have investigated", he said, "the advantages of greater angle of sweep, delta wings, and straight wings on special research airplanes. The knowledge thus gained is being reflected in the design of aircraft now flying and in develop ment." The representative of Aviation Age stated that the Mig is equipped with 23 and 37 mm cannon, and wondered why America was continuing with the 0.5m machine-gun. To this the General replied that weight was an effective instrument in fighters. "When you add large-calibre armament to an aircraft," he said, "the number of rounds that you can fire is strictly limited. This required increased accuracy, which is difficult at high speeds. To date, our 50-calibre machine gun has proved superior to the Russian- of landing ignites a small explosive charge which disengages the parachute and prevents the station being pulled along the ground. Either immediately, or following a pre-set dormancy-period, another explosive charge causes the station to rise into an upright operating position by means of six spring-loaded legs. A third explosive charge extends a telescopic vertical antenna to a height of 20 feet; all these actions are controlled by an electric clock. The station is then ready for automatic transmission at intervals predetermined by the built-in timing mechanism. The develop ment model has an output of the order of 5 watts and, operating on a frequency in the neighbourhood of 5 megacycles, it has performed reliably over land ranges of more than 160 km (100 miles). The dry batteries used provided power for transmission of weather reports at three-hourly intervals for more than 15 days. These are some of the problems (and prospects) involved in the development of Minimum Satellite Rockets of a kind which are already being considered by the United States Military Establish ment in the Earth Satellite Vehicle Programme (ref. 5). References (r) K. W. Gatland, A. E. Dixon and A. M. Kunesch: Initial Objectives in Astronautics, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, July 1950, p. I55~r78- (2) K. W. Gatland, A. E. Dixon and A. M. Kunesch: Symposium on the Orbital Rocket, Jour. B.I.S., May 1951, P- 97-123. (3) D. F. Lawden: The Ascent of Satellite Vehicles. To appear shortly in the Journal of the B.I.S. (4) F. J. Malina and M. Summerfield: The Problem of Escape from the Earth by Rocket, Journal of the Aeronautical Sciences, August 1947. (5) J- V. Forrestal: First Annual Report to U.S. Congress on th* National Military Establishment, December 1948. installed cannon of the Mig-15. However, we are not satisfied and we are continuing to experiment with better weapons". Concerning strategy and tactics, General Vandenberg said that the basis developed in World War II still held, though the greater speed and height possible with jet engines had changed the application of that basis materially. On the subject of interdiction, he said that "Operation Strangle" was undertaken with the prime objective of preventing the enemy from getting enough supplies through to the front to conduct a sustained offensive and, in the process, to impose a relendess attrition on his rail and highway tra-isport. In more than four and a half months, during which "Strangle" had represented the major U.N. military effort, the enemy's rail transportation system in North Korea had been shattered and he had lost, at the rate of about 7,000 per month, trucks with which he tried to make good his loss of rail trans portation. In the judgment of the senior commanders of all services in the Far East, including General Ridgway himself, the operation had been highly successful. It was known, said General Vandenberg, that "the Communists had good radar and lots of it. Thus far enemy night operations had been sporadic, but his capabilities in this direction appeared to be increasing. The question of "freezing" designs such as the F-84 and F-86 in order to speed production then arose, and General Vandenberg said that freezing was possible to a limited extent in World War II because the piston-engine had been in existence for a long time and countless improvements had already been incorporated. Un fortunately, the turbojet was in its infancy, and more changes had to be made than during World War II to ensure sufficient speed, altitude and rate of climb. The question as to whether guided missiles would completely supersede inhabited aircraft on the distant side of the sonic barrier was as yet entirely theoretical. The U.S.A.F. was committed to the fullest possible development and use of guided missiles in all areas where they could be profitably substituted for piloted air craft. Meanwhile, automatic equipment was being developed to enable the pilot to cope with problems arising mainly from high speeds, high altitudes and the complexities of all-weather opera tion. "Nothing has been invented," averred the General, "or is in sight today that will entirely replace the human hand and brain in combat." On the subject of Russian bombers, the General said that the Russians had displayed a bomber larger than the B-29 but smaller than the B-36. It could have a radius of action extending from Soviet bases deep into the United States. Finally, in discussing air power, he remarked that the joint Chiefs of Staff and Secretary of Defence had recommended that the U.S.A.F. be built up to a strength of 143 wings, consisting of 126 combat and 17 troop carrier wings. With this decision he agreed. VANDENBERG SPEAKS HIS MIND U.S.A.F. Chief of Staff Talks of the Mig-15 and Other Problems
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