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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 1698.PDF
734 FLIGHT OTHER WEEK-END EVENTS . . . and Jean Weller, a 21 year-old member of the same flight, gave a gliding demonstration—she qualified for her "C" Certificate about a month ago. Included among the flying events were an instructor-pupil act in two Chipmunks by Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Hale, instructors of No. 1 R.F.S., Panshanger; formation-flying by three Chipmunks of No. 6 R.F.S., Sywell; and an aerobatic display by F/L. H. A. Hirst, flight commander of No. 206 A.F.S., Oakington, in a Meteor. S/L. Neville Duke delighted the crowds with his demonstration of the Hawker Tomtit of 1928. A model aircraft competition was won by Barbara Dobbs of No. 1 Westminster Flight, who was awarded a silver cake stand and, in addition, a framed photograph presented by Flight. Panshanger Under a Cloud BOTH the London Aeroplane Club and the Vintage Aeroplane Club seem to have been particularly unlucky with the weather this season, and the "At Home" which they staged at Panshanger last Saturday, June 14th, suffered a fate similar to that of their FROM ALL More R.A.F. Pilots for Korea THERE will be general satisfaction—not least in the R.A.F. itself—that more pilots of that Service will be posted for duty in Korea under an expansion of the exchange-posting scheme between the R.A.F., Commonwealth Air Forces and the United States Air Force. The officially declared object of this move is "to create a nucleus of R.A.F. fighter pilots with first-hand combat experience against the types of fighter aircraft now being used by the Communist forces in Korea." The pilots are to be selected from Fighter Command and from the 2nd Tactical Air Force in Germany. An unspecified number of Fighter Command pilots are now concluding a con version training course on F-86 Sabres in the U.S.A. prior to posting to U.S.A.F. squadrons in Korea. From the 2nd Tactical Air Force another six pilots have been chosen for duty with No. 77 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, which, equipped with Gloster Meteor 8s, has been relegated to the ground-attack role. These pilots will shortly be leaving England. Additionally, other pilots from T.A.F. squadrons are to be posted to F-84 Thunderjet units which, like the Meteor squadron, are engaged on ground-attack duties in Korea. These pilots will likewise undergo con version training in America. It is planned that the British pilots will complete an opera tional tour lasting between six and nine months before being replaced by other pilots of the R.A.F. A Douglas Jet Transport? REPORTS from America indicate that the Douglas Aircraft Corporation will very soon announce its design for a jet trans port, presumably to be designated DC-8. Of the rumoured U.S. jet-airliner projects, the Douglas is possibly nearest to construction, and the beginning of work on the prototype may coincide with the PRINCES . . .: Production of Percival Sea Princes (two Alvis Leonides) batch already delivered to the Navy, who install their own radar and preceding events this year. However, despite the low cloud-base and poor visibility quite a number of visitors arrived by 3 p.m. and some 23 aircraft were neatly parked outside the hangars. Among them were the Hillson Praga, G-AEUT, now owned by Mr. V. H. Hallam; Puss Moth G-AAZP, also under new ownership; Hornet Moth G-AEET, which has recently been rebuilt by a member of the London Aeroplane Club and now sports a smart red coat; the Swedish Embassy Saab Safir, a resident of Panshanger; and a very handsome Tiger Moth, G-AMCM, which Mr. H. Skinner flew over from the R.A.E. Aero Club at Farnborough. The weather necessitated the cancellation of the major part of the programme, although towards the end of the afternoon there was a bombing competition. It was doubtful whether this was in fact a competition or just a chance for one and all to get airborne; but everyone seemed to enjoy it. The time-of-arrival competition was won by Mr. P. J. Colbourne, who, it seems, is doing very well at this type of thing. Despite the unkind turn of the weather, interest was maintained by a static display and other entertaining sidelights which Mr. D. H. MacBeath and his team of helpers had made possible. QUARTERS announcement of its existence. At a reported all-up weight of 145,000 lb, the aircraft should have a capacity for 85-90 passengers. Its power-units—to be installed in "pods" and not buried in the wings—are likely to be four axial-flow turbo jets of some 10,000 lb thrust per unit; the choice of power-plant probably lies between the Pratt and Whitney J-57 and the Wright-built Sapphire. Wings will be swept back some 35 deg, and a cruising speed of over 500 m.p.h. is specified. More positive information is expected within the next few days. Meanwhile, it is interesting to recall comments made by Douglas on the question of financing construction of an American jet-transport prototype; the company's president said recently that he wanted no Government assistance, because of the attendant limitations, controls and influences. Our correspondent in America discusses these matters on page 755. Skyrocket's 79,000ft Plus LATE last summer the United States Navy officially announced in New York that a Douglas Skyrocket research aircraft had exceeded the world's absolute altitude record of 72,394ft, established by Capts. Orvil Anderson and Albert Stevens in a balloon in 1935. The machine had been launched from a Super fortress flying at 35,000ft, and although it was reported that a speed of about 1,000 m.p.h. was achieved on the climb, no figure for height was divulged. Last week—on June 10th—the American National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics made a more definite announcement —to the effect that the Skyrocket, piloted by Major "Bill" Bridgeman, had reached a height of "better than 79,000ft." Thus, John Cunningham's official heavier-than-air record of 59,446ft, in a special De Havilland Ghost-Vampire on March 23rd, 1948, has probably been exceeded by at least 20,000ft. now attaining a very satisfactory rate. Those depicted are part of the '.rtain other equipment—four noses in the line have been transformed.
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