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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 0637.PDF
14 March 1952 CATTLE FERRY: The more orthodox method of loading cattle by gang-plank, which Silver City Airways have now rejected in favourlof [entry over the lorry tailboard. The right-hand photograph shows the head-to-tail "sardine" arrangement of stowing the cattle (see opposite page). FROM ALL QUARTERS Flying-boats at Westminster 'T'HE recent Brancker Memorial Lecture by Air Chief Marshal -*- Sir Frederick Bowhill was the subject of a Commons question of March 5th. Mr. G. P. Stevens asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if his attention had been called to the lecture, which deplored the declining use of flying-boats, and if he would make a statement on the future use of flying-boats in this country. Replying, Mr. J. S. Maclay, said that the Airways Corporations' future plans were based wholly on landplane operations, but two private companies registered in this country had acquired some of the flying-boats formerly operated by B.O.A.C. In answer to a further question, he added that there were some decisions made in respect of flying-boats in the days of the former Government and that he was examining these decisions very carefully indeed because it was open to argument whether they were right. Helicopters also received some attention. Mr. Beswick said that for both military and civil purposes helicopters tended to be the machines of the future: would the Minister see whether he could arrange with the Air Ministry for more research into these matters and for the development to be speeded up ? Mr. Maclay replied that a lot of work was proceeding on helicopters, adding "we are all most anxious to see them develop as quickly as possible." In answer to a question, Mr. Ward, Under-Secretary of State for Air, said he did not consider the television mast now being erected at Wenvoe (Glamorganshire) was dangerous to aircraft. Neat Power Unit for France's Trainers President Truman's Defence Budget PROVIDING an illuminating comparison with corresponding -*- British figures (quoted in Flight last week), the following extracts from the budget now before Congress show appropriations generally similar to those of 1951-2; the most significant increase is for guided missiles. 1951-52 U.S. AIR FORCE:— dollars Aircraft procurement 11,348,949,001 130,887,287 16,279,274 74,227,000 116,052,000 3,851,406,507 51,079,000 33,852,000 10,938,000 29,203,000 60,946,000 I95*-S3 dollars 10,706,348,000 300,000,000 3,766,000 74,071,000 110,381,000 3,323,880,000 37,397,000 152,800,000 6,455,000 18,368,000 36,657,000 The Societe des Moteurs Potez, who are reported to have received large orders for engines for trainers, have recently undertaken the re-equip ment of a large section of the Lorraine factory at Argenteuil. One of the first Potez units to be put into production there will be the type 6.D-00A six-in-line, seen above. Principal data : take-off output, 240 h.p. at 2,530 r.p.m.; normal output (s.l.) 230 h.p. at 2,500 r.p.m.; bore, 4.875m; stroke, 4.73/'n; overall length, 62/n; max. height, 27in; width, 20m; dry weight, 485 lb. Guided missiles Industrial mobilization ... Aircraft research Missile research ... U.S. NAVY:— Aircraft procurement Ordnance for new aircraft Guided missiles and drones Technical training equipment Aircraft modernization U.S. ARMY:— Aircraft procurement P.P.S. to U.S. of S. MR. ANTHONY BARBER, who has been appointed Parlia mentary Private Secretary to the new Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. George Ward), is M.P. for Doncaster. Seconded to the R.A.F. from the Army in 1940, he served as a pilot, and on special duties with Coastal Command, with the rank of flight lieutenant. Then in 1942, he was taken prisoner, and the notable part which he played in the escapes from Stalag Luft III earned him a mention in despatches. Like many other P.O.W.s, F/L. Barber devoted part of his time in captivity (most of the remainder was spent in planning escapes) to studying for a peace-time career, in this case the law. Repatri ated, and released from the R.A.F. in 1945, he took an honours degree at Oriel College, Oxford, in politics, economics and philo sophy, and was called to the Bar in 1948. He won his Doncaster seat in a straight fight with the Labour candidate at the last election. Doubts about Deltas IN an article "Wing Shape of the Future", published in the Australian journal Aircraft, Mr. H. K. Millicer, Dipl.Ing., M.Sc, A.F.R.Ae.S., who is aerodynamic design engineer in charge of the Aerodynamic and Initial Projects Office at the Government Aircraft Factories, Australia, says that "essentially the delta wing is only a high-speed (M=i.2 to 1.4) short-range proposition." Among the disadvantages of the delta wing Mr. Millicer lists the need for a great deal of engine thrust to maintain a reasonably flat approach angle, remarking that this feature precludes any engine-off landing at low speeds. There is nothing, he says, that could be done to improve the bad features at the present stage of aerodynamic development unless one returns again to external surfaces such as large fins, high-mounted tailplancs, boundary- layer fences, wing-tip slots, or boundary-layer suction equipment.
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