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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0077.PDF
16 January 1953 75 this year, a transonic wind tunnel, to be followed at the end of the year by one of the largest supersonic tunnels in the country sponsored by private enterprise. At A. V. Roe Canada production of the C.F.100 all-weather long-range fighter was increasing steadily. This aircraft, fitted with gas turbines made by the same company, was in R.C.A.F service, and recently a new and improved version flew at super sonic speed for the first time. Turning to engines, Mr. Sopwith said that Armstrong Siddeley Motors were engaged on two super-priority engines, the Sapphire and the Double Mamba. The power of the Sapphire had steadily increased, and it was still the most powerful type-tested jet engine in the world. It was being made for the Javelin, Hunter and Handley Page H.P.80, and was being built under licence by two American companies. The Double Mamba was in production for the Navy's latest anti-submarine aircraft. The companies concerned were keeping faithfully to the schedules laid down by the M.o.S. In Canada, also, engine production was well up to schedule—in this case of the Orenda turbojet. After referring to "other engines, including rocket motors, under development for future aircraft applications," Mr. Sopwith made guarded reference to activities in the guided-weapons field, saying that steady progress had been made and that management and technical teams had gone to Australia with a view to extending activities to that continent. He went on to say that High Duty Alloys, Ltd., were continuing to work at pressure on the production of high-strength aluminium forgings, stampings and extrusions, and that a new 12,500-ton press would shortly be in operation at the Redditch works. The company had also increased the capacity of some of its factories for the production of compressor and turbine blades. Turning to the progress of Air Training, Ltd., Mr. Sopwith said that a large sum had been spent on re-equipping the aircraft fleet, so that the school was now the first in Europe to be able to train ab initio students to a standard which would fit them for immediate employment with airlines. He then went on to speak of A.S.T.'s venture into the field of general education: as we have already reported, the company is to establish in Pakistan two schools, of public-school type, which will prepare boys not only for the R.P.A.F., but for the Army, Navy, or Civil Service. The aircraft division of Air Service Training had had another successful year and was undertaking a great deal of work for other companies in the Hawker Siddeley Group. Reverting to aircraft and engine production, the chairman discussed overseas trade possibilities, saying that during the past year the group had exported its products to France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark and Iraq, and there was every prospect that, once R.A.F. needs had been met, many of the present super- priority products could be exported to NATO countries. Earlier in his speech, the chairman had commented on the financial report and accounts, which had been previously circu lated. He said that high taxation made it increasingly difficult for industry to finance current trading. In cases of companies with Government contracts, the absurd position often arose where one Government department demanded heavy tax payments whilst another found it difficult to finance stock and work-in-progress, thus throwing an additional burden on the contractor. Trading profits of the company and its subsidiaries for the year ended July 31st, 1952, after deducting reserve for increased replacement-cost of fixed assets, amounted to £5,184,522, as compared with £4,216,835 for the previous year. Taxation, based on the preceding year's profits, was estimated at £3,768,563. "The super-priority Avro Vulcan," said Hawker Siddeley's chairman, "is the first delta-wing bomber—and, we believe, the most efficient bomber— in the world. The design is quite revolutionary ..." After including profits of prior years, less taxation, the balance of profit was £2,051,478. A sum of £500,000 had again been transferred to contingency reserves and the amounts carried forward on the profit-and-loss accounts of the subsidiaries had been increased by £1,119,983. Of this £406,954 related to A. V. Roe Canada, Ltd. The resultant balance of profit of Hawker Siddeley Group, Ltd., was £431,495, which covered the dividends and increased its carry-forward by £73,322. Mr. Sopwith concluded his report by making "a brief reference to a topic that has been in the news recently—the Labour Party's threat to nationalize the aircraft industry at some future date." He said:— "There are three things that have brought the industry to its present peak of achievement: courage, enterprise and enthusiasm. Let me assure you—and I say this most solemnly—that there is one thing which would wreck this virile, progressive industry surely and completely. That one thing is nationalization. "Nationalization inevitably means mediocrity. And mediocrity means the downfall of the British aircraft industry, the downfall of Britain as a first-class air power." BIG-FAMILY TREE: HOW THE HAWKER-SIDDELEY INTERESTS ARE INTEGRATED Aircraft Interests Hawker Aircraft, Ltd. Hawker Aircraft (Blackpool). Ltd. Gloster Aircraft Co., Ltd. Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, Ltd. A. V. Roe & Co., Ltd. A. V. Roe Canada, Ltd. Air Service Training, Ltd. A.T.S. Co., Ltd. Aircraft Hydraulic Appliances, Ltd. (Port/y owned; 60% interest) Parent Company Hawker Siddeley Group, Ltd. Holding Company Armstrong Siddeley Development Co., Ltd. Motor Vehicle and Compression-ignition Engine Interests Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Ltd. Leyland Motors (Canada), Ltd. (Associated company, 50 % interest) Self-Changing Gears, Ltd. (Associated company: 33% interest) Housing Interests Hawksley Constructions Brockworth Building Co., Ltd. A. W. Hawksley, Ltd. Group Management Council Group Design Council Chief Inspectors Committee Production Advisory Panel General Engineering and Miscellaneous Interests Templewood Engineering Co., Ltd. Northern Steel Scaffolding and Engineering Co., Ltd. Norstel Scaffolding and Hire, Ltd. Hawker Siddeley Transport, Ltd. Aero Engine Interests Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Ltd. Brockworth Engineering Co., Ltd. A. V. Roe Canada, Ltd. Light Alloy Interests High Duty Alloys, Ltd. Aluminium Wire and Cable Co., Ltd. (Associated company: 33^% interest)
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