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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0089.PDF
January 23 1953 87 The Boscombe Dinner T^HE dinner to the British aircraft constructors which is given A each year at Boscombe Down by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment—it was held on January 16th this year—was, as usual, a most convivial occasion and many a laugh, cheer or groan greeted the remarks of the speakers. The Air Commodore Commanding, A. Cdre. A. H. Wheeler, proposed "The Guests," and some extracts from his excellent speech and from those of other speakers will be printed next week. Sir Frederick Handley Page responded for the guests, and was followed by Sir Harry Garner and Mr. Hugh Burroughes. "The Aircraft Industry" was proposed by the Controller of Sup plies (Air), Air Marshal Sir John Boothman, and Mr. George Edwards replied. "BEAbus" Design-Studies AS we close for press we have received confirmation of a forth-• right statement made by Peter Masefield, the chief executive of British European Airways, on the future of British commercial helicopters. He said that we must either make up our minds to develop large helicopters or else leave it entirely to our friends across the Atlantic. B.E.A. put out a specification for a 40-45-seat "BEAbus" in August, 19515 and the design-studies received in reply were originally due to be submitted in the third week of December. This deadline was extended by one month, and five separate entries should have been in the hands of the Ministry of Supply at the beginning of this week. The companies concerned are, almost certainly, Westland, Bristol, Fairey, Saunders-Roe and Percival. Of the configurations chosen, Westland favour a conventional design with single main and tail rotors; Bristols, a machine similar to the Type 173, but enlarged; Saunders-Roe are believed to favour more than one main rotor; and Percivals a single main rotor with tip-jet drive. The Fairey entry, of Rotodyne type, is described in this issue; its speed—according to reports—is 200 m.p.h. All the designs submitted feature small stub wings, a feature which appears to be essential to any commercially com petitive transport helicopter. The design-studies will be assessed by the M.o.S. and B.E.A. and later, as a result, a final specification may be issued by the M.o.S. for which tenders will be invited. Obviously, it is most important that a development contract be awarded as soon as possible. M.o.S. Senior Appointments ON February 23rd Sir Harry M. Garner, K.B.E., C.B., M.A., F.R.Ae.S., Chief Scientist, Ministry of Supply, will retire from public service. He will be succeeded by Dr. 0. H. Wans- borough-Jones, C.B., O.B.E., M.A., Ph.D., who has been Principal Director of Scientific Research (Defence) in the Ministry since January, 1951. It is now learned that the new P.D.S.R. (Defence) will be Dr. Walter Cawood, B.Sc, Ph.D., now Deputy Director (Equipment) at the R.A.E. Farnborough. Dr. Cawood joined the Air Ministry in 1937, since when he has been with M.A.P. and the R.A.F. (1939-45)3 Director, Guided Weapons, M.o.S. (1945- 47); and Deputy Director, Weapons, R.A.E. (1947-49). It is also announced that the Minister has appointed Mr. L. H. Robinson to be a deputy secre tary, M.o.S.; since 1948 Mr. Robinson has been in charge of the Ministry's Engineering In dustries Division. (Right) Dr. 0. H. Wansborough- Jones; (below, first portrait) Dr. Walter Cawood; (befow, second portrait) Sir Harry M. Garner. ."' East German Air Force FROM Berlin a Daily Telegraph correspondent reports that basic flying training of 1,350 pilots for the new East German Air Force was begun six months ago^and recently completed. Fifty Yak-18 trainers, of the type described in Flight of January 16th, were engaged in the programme, and there were three squadrons, situated at Cottbus, Camenz and Bautzen. Though these units were commanded by an ex-Luftwaffe pilot— Capt. Kurt Bitterlich—flying instruction was given exclusively by Russian Air Force officers. Elaborate precautions are said to have been taken to prevent pilots from taking their aircraft over to the West. Hitherto the Russians have been devoting much more effort to the training of flak units than to flying squadrons; but the East German Air Force, which is still officially described as "People's Air Police," is stated to be between 5,000 and 6,000 men. The first aircraft target range for German trainees was recently completed at Bautzen. Something to Celebrate A WORTHY celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of H. M. Hobson, Ltd., took place in the fine modern Civic Hall at Wolverhampton on Thursday, January 15th. (It will be recalled that an article on the development and work of the company appeared in Flight of January 16th.) Speakers at this anniversary dinner, for nearly 500 guests and employees, included Sir Frederick Handley Page, who proposed "The Company" in a long and amusing speech touching on many matters. He referred to the great variety of the firm's products, and spoke warmly of its executives. Not unexpectedly he referred to a certain crescent- wing aircraft, and on the subject of work and training he said that "what you get for nothing is precisely what you pay for it." The response was by Hobson's chairman, Mr. Stanley W. Hughes, who was loudly cheered. He talked of the fifty years which had passed since, with knees knocking, he awaited the verdict on his application for a job as a junior clerk; and he paid a tribute to the employees, including more than 150 who had been with the company for over fifteen years. Three of them, Messrs. Jones, Bradley and Terrington, had served for 45, 41 and 40 years respectively. The chairman then turned to his second toast, "The Guests," and Mr. E. C. Bowyer, director of the S.B.A.C.—making, we understand, his maiden speech on such an occasion—responded admirably; in particular, he referred to Major T. P. Searight as "one of the nicest people it is possible to meet" (Major Searight was formerly H. M. Hobson's chairman, and is still a member of the board). Mr. Bowyer also paid tribute to the present chairman's work on the Group 3 Committee of the S.B.A.C., which is con cerned with the 300 accessory companies in the British aircraft industry. He apologized for the unavoidable absence of Mr. Hugh Burroughes, this year's president of the S.B.A.C. and, incidentally, a director of H. M. Hobson, Ltd. A second response to the toast was made by Mr. G. H. Dowty, president of the Royal Aeronautical Society. Short Brothers' New Directors THE board of Short Brothers and Harland, Ltd., announces the appointment of Mr. Rowland E. Harvey and Mr. David Keith-Lucas, B.A., M.I.Mech.E., F.R.Ae.S., as directors, with effect from January 16th. The appointments are announced as being made "with the consent of the Minister of Supply," for the Government has a controlling interest in the company. Mr. Harvey, who is 47 years of age, is general manager of Short Brothers' factories and establishments in Northern Ireland. He was educated at Palmers College, Grays, Essex, and before joining the firm as chief production engineer in 1943 he was chief planning engineer with the Pressed Steel Co., Ltd. Mr. Keith-Lucas, who is 41, was educated at Gresham's School, Hoi*, and Cambridge University. He joined Short Brothers in 1940 and was appointed chief designer nine years later. The company's latest aircraft—the "adjustable-sweepback" S.B./5, which first flew on December 2nd—is one of his designs. Mr. Rowland E. Harvey. Mr. D. Keith-Lucas.
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