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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0247.PDF
27 February 1953 245 plastic, cellulose fibre plastic, resins and foamed resins, and then dealt with construction by means of aluminium alloys, magnesium alloys and titanium. After surveying progress to date, the lecturer forecast that, in the near future, it would be possible to build economic aircraft—"probably flying-boats"—of three or four times the present size. Co-ordinating Australian Production A FOUR-MAN mission to discuss co-ordination of effort between the United Kingdom and Australia in the produc tion and development of aircraft and equipment left London Air port last Monday for Melbourne. The mission consists of three senior officers of the Ministry of Supply and one representing the Air Ministry. It is led by Mr. W. C. Puckey, Deputy Controller of Supplies (Air), and his M.o.S. colleagues are Rear Admiral G. F. Burghard, Deputy Controller, Electronics, and Mr. A. E. Woodward-Nutt, Principal Director of Research and Development (Aircraft), who was appointed to that post when the aircraft side of the Ministry was reorganized last September. The Air Ministry's representative is A. Cdre. W. H. Kyle, Director of Operational Requirements (A). Discussions will take place with Australian Government depart ments, and the mission will visit research establishments and the major firms engaged in aircraft, engine and component production. Air-Racing Send-off AIR racing received an unofficial new-season send-off last L Monday evening, when the Throttle Benders entertained colleagues and friends at Ciro's Club in London. Naturally, handi- cappers, marshals, fuel experts and so on were present among the fifty who dined and danced, and in addition there were many well- known pilots (and their wives), including Neville Duke, Pat Fillin- ham—British Air Racing Champion last year—Tom Hayhow and Hugh Kendall. Mrs. Preston, wife of Colonel R. L. Preston, cut a hug ecake appropriately decorated with pylons and a much mishandled throttle. Organizing hosts were Mr. and Mrs. Nat Somers and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bowles—assisted, we have no doubt, by Ron Paine, Fred Dunkerley and Jimmy Rush. Picking up the Bits CONSIDERABLE interest was occasioned at London Airport last Monday by a demonstration of an unusual vehicle—a magnetic sweeper. Designed by the General Electric Company for towing behind any convenient vehicle, it is operated under remote control and can handle up to four hours' continuous work ing at from 5 to 10 m.p.h. without re-charging of the batteries. The sweeping-width is 6ft, and 4ft and 8ft versions are also in mind. The height of the magnet above ground can be varied, but a 3m gap is recommended for normal use. M.C.A. and airline officials were particularly interested in the use of the sweep for dispersals and maintenance areas and for final clearing-up on the scene of an accident, although the amount of scrap metal and nails to be picked up on ordinary runways and taxi tracks is remarkable—and not a little alarming to a pilot or operator. The patented design of the machine, two of which have been con structed to date, is the work of Mr. Richard D. Amies of G.E.C. The total weight of the machine is 19 cwt, of which total the batteries represent 6 cwt. The magnet requires 90 volts D.C. and takes 17 amp. A price of £620 has been fixed provisionally. Lockheed C-130 Transport l~\NE of the most interesting American designs to be revealed ^-' since the war, the four-engined high-wing Lockheed C-130 military transport is intended to combine relatively high perfor mance in the air with small-field operating qualities. With such characteristics in mind it is to be powered with an improved ver sion of the Allison T-38 turboprop (three-blade Curtiss-Wright Turbolectric airscrews), and equipped with special tandem-wheel tricycle landing gear and large-area, high-lift flaps. In size the C-130 is in the 110,000-lb class, with span, length and height respectively 132ft, 95ft and 38ft. Unofficial figures of 25,000 lb load for 2,500 miles have been mentioned. The four T-38S will together give about 15,000 e.h.p. The squat fuselage is only 45m from the ground, but the tail is sharply upswept to accommodate a built-in loading ramp which itself serves as the rear door. In addition, the aircraft has a large forward cargo door to permit simultaneous front and rear loading. The rear door can be opened in flight to permit the dropping of troops or equipment. For front-line ground support the duties of THE LOCKHEED C-130, in model form, referred to above. Note the tandem-main-wheel tricycle landing gear. There appear to be two engines with contra-props; actually there are four separate units. BOLSTERING THE WEST: Capitaine Jacques Wolff of the French Air Force is here seen in the cockpit of his F-84G Thunderjet, which 1st Lt. R. G. Hall, U.S.A.F.'(/eft), has delivered to its new base at Rheims. During February, some 50 Thunderjets have been flown from the United States, under the M.D.A.P., to join French units. the machine over comparatively long ranges might include flying-in large items of equipment—tractors and 155 mm howitzers are instanced by the makers. Provision is also made for fitting-out as a hospital aeroplane. The C-130 may be described as a joint design by Lockheed and the U.S. Air Force, but it is quite likely also to prove of interest to civil operators. At the Lockheed factory in Burbank prototypes are under construction, and in addition a production contract has been placed for execution in Lockheed's Marietta, Georgia, factory. Against the Budworm A SERIOUS situation has been developing for some time past in New Brunswick, Canada, where it is estimated that 5,000 square miles of balsam flr and spruce forest, used for manufacturing paper and many other products, are already infected by the budworm. Last year, in "Operation Budworm," 300 square miles were experimentally sprayed with D.D.T. insecticide, and highly successful results were achieved. Now it is planned to spray a further 1,500 square miles. Seventy-five aircraft will be required, of which only about 20 are available in Canada : the remainder are to be obtained from the United States. It is stated that highly manoeuvrable biplanes with good performance will be employed, as demanded by the hilly nature of the terrain (oddly, no mention is made of helicopters). Wheeler Airlines, of Ste. Jovite, Quebec, have been given the contract for the job by Forest Protection, Ltd., a non-profit-making corporation formed by the Provincial Government and four pulp and paper companies. A million gallons of insecticide will need to be transported to five new airfields, and half of this has already been delivered. Spraying will take place in late May or early June, when the liquid will have its maximum effect against the budworm. Cost is likely to run into several million dollars, as a further 1,500- square-mile operation is planned for next year.
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