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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 1274.PDF
550 FLIGHT FROM ALL QUARTERS HISTORIC MOMENT: The first production D.H. Comet (G-ALYP, flagship of the B.O.A.C. fleet) leaves London Airport on the inaugural service to Johannesburg. The journey began at 3 p.m. (local time) on May 2nd and ended less than 24 hours later. The departure is des cribed on the page opposite. Trans-Australian Viscounts CONFIRMATION is now to hand of the report quoted in Flight last week that the State-owned Trans-Australia Air lines have placed an order for Vickers Viscounts. The number is, however, six and not five, as previously announced, and the value of the order is approximately £ii million. It is intended that deliveries shall start in 1954. Thus, to Australia falls the distinction of being the first country outside Europe to equip with turboprop aircraft. Vickers-Arm strongs, Ltd., point out that the distances between the principal Australian cities are such as to make possible valuable economies in operating costs as well as improving passenger comfort and speeding up schedules. The Australian decision now brings the total number of Vis counts on order to 42: B.E.A. are to have 20 (and possibly an additional quantity), Air France 12, and Aer Lingus 4. The first production machine is due for delivery to B.E.A. in October this year. Sabre Paces Hunter THREE of America's most distinguished test pilots have been visiting this country on a "familiarization" mission to fly our finest military aircraft. Heading the party was General Albert Boyd, senior test pilot of the U.S.A.F. and for many years chief test pilot at Wright Field. He is now vice-chief of the Wright Air Development Centre and his log book contains every recent type of U.S.A.F. aircraft and many foreign machines as well, including the Marcel Dassault Mystere. With him were Lt. Col. Richard Johnson, a fighter test pilot and holder of the world's speed record "Flight" photograph of 670.981 m.p.h. (this he established in a Sabre as long ago as September 15th, 1948) and Col. Fred Ascani, a bomber test pilot and chief of the Bomber Flight Test Section. Observed by General Jack Wood, the U.S. Air Attache, and by other officials from the American Embassy, the visiting pilots flew from Dunsfold in pairs—one in the Hawker Hunter, a second in an F-86. Radio contact was maintained and the Hunter was paced by the American fighter. Each pilot took a turn at the controls of each aircraft and a joint report will be submitted to the American authorities. The chief test pilots from all the companies of the Hawker Siddeley Group attended a dinner given by the Group for the visitors. Before returning home the American pilots also flew the D.H.110. Encouraging Ultra-Lights AS a result of the great interest being shown in the R.Ae.C. • light aeroplane design competition, it has been decided, with the support of the Kemsley Flying Trust, to extend the scope of the competition to include two further designs—for a single-seat racing aeroplane and for a single-seat aerobatic machine. First, second and third prizes of £100, £50 and £25 will be awarded for winning designs in all three sub-divisions of the competition. In the specification for the racing aircraft, a take-off weight of less than 1,102 lb is stipulated, whereas the aerobatic design must not exceed 700 lb. Use of British power-plants is compulsory. Designers requiring further particulars of the competition should apply immediately to the Secretary-General, the Royal Aero Club, 119 Piccadilly, London, W. 1. Those who have already entered the NEW WORLD LOOKS TO OLD: Left, at Glosters to see the G.A.5 are (I. to r.): A. Cdre. M. Costello (Canadian Joint Staff Commission); E. W. Shambrook, F.C.I.S. (director and secretary); W. G. Carter, C.S.E., F.R.Ae.S. (technical director); P. G. Crabbe, F.R.Ae.S., M.I.P.E. (newly appointed managing director); R. W. Walker, F.R.Ae.S. (chief designer); W. A. Waterton, A.F.C. and bar (chief test pilot); Air Marshal W. A. Curtis (Chief of Air Staff, R.C.A.F.); R. V. Atkinson (director); Eric Greenwood, O.B.E., A.F.R.Ae.S. (technical sales manager); S/L. J. T. MacKinnon, Staff Officer to Air Marshal Curtis. Right, on the Hawker occasion described on this page ("Sabre Paces Hunter") are seen General Albert Boyd (dark glasses, dark overalls); Lt. Col. Richard Johnson (white overalls, facing camera), S/L. Neville Duke (extreme left), and Mr. Neville Spriggs (side face).
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