FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0174.PDF
FLIGHT, 6 Febru Hi" HI n !«• |jg • :r- r» - ;i!i,,,i II fa "vv^r^. Hilt- HOUSING FOR COMETS THERE was once a tendency to believe that the design and construction of really imposing aircraft hangars was an exclusively American achievement. Since the war, however, progress in this country has been very marked. Flight readers are already familiar with the great Brabazon hangar at Filton, and those under construction for B.E.A. and B.O.A.C. at London Airport; and now comes de Havilland's glittering new flight hangar at Hatfield. Aluminium alloy has been used throughout, giving a structure-weight claimed to be only one-seventh that of comparable steelwork. This economy has permitted a large degree of prefabrication, and the main structure was erected by eighteen men in thirteen weeks, using two five-ton hand-operated cranes and very little scaffolding. A further advantage of the alloy is that no painting is required; the bright surface gives a high daylight-factor inside the hangar. Total clear floor space is 330ft by 200ft, and each of the shorter sides consists of Esavian folding doors 45ft high. The whole structure weighs only 395 tons, of which 200 are aluminium, 125 bitumenised roof decking, and 28 wired glazing. Main contractors for the work are Structural and Mechanical Development Engineers, Ltd., Slough, and the architects were James M. Monro and Son. Gilbert Ash, Ltd., laid the foundation; Carter-Horseley (Engineers), Ltd., were the erectors; Southern Forge, Ltd., and T. I. Aluminium, Ltd., supplied the structural sections and the British Aluminium Co., Ltd., the corrugated sheeting. Other contributors included William Briggs and Sons, Ltd. (roofing), East woods Specialists, Ltd. (insulation), Helliwells, Ltd. (glazing) and the Warwick Production Co., Ltd. (apron flashings)—i.e., roof-and-wall waterproof jointings. II StUtm \ u "V~^w 1 if i A [y^» (Top) The great size and almost Well- sian appearance of the new hangar is well illustrated in this photograph, taken on December 31st. The structure on the side is to be a brick-built annexe. (Above) Close-up of the base of one of the portal frames, which are prefabricated in the S.M.D. works at Slough. (Left) Workmen are seen raising one of the 12 roof girders into position. These girders are constructed in two parts and joined on the ground before erection. •v.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
