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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0440.PDF
438 FLIGHT, 3 April 1953 THE INDUSTRY Central-control Welding A NUMBER of manufacturers in this country—including, we are **• informed, the Gloster Aircraft Co., Ltd.—are using the oxy- acetylene welding equipment developed by the German firm of Frama-Autogen, Frankfurt. Intended for large-scale installations, it makes use of a central constant-pressure regulator that ensures correct gas pressures and mixtures for each torch in use, indepen dently of the ideas of individual operators. This independent control for maximum flame efficiency is claimed to effect gas savings of as much as 10 per cent for acetylene and 30 per cent for oxygen. Also, safety is considerably increased by the fact that the gas cylinders and regulators are remote from the work-stations. The Frama system was used before and during the war by all the major German aircraft constructors, and it has recently been installed in the Ford factory at Cologne. The sole agency in Great Britain and Eire is held by Airco, Ltd., Eagle House, 109 Jermyn Street, London, W.i. High-temperature Coating Alloy THE heads of poppet valves in aircraft engines are subject to as severe a combination of stress, corrosion and high-temperature as any mechanical part. Failures are sometimes brought about either by excessive temperature or by lead oxybromide attack— particularly in modern conditions of high cylinder-pressure and leaded fuels. During the past few years, Rolls-Royce have introduced a new valve-head coating alloy which has not only permitted valve- overhaul periods of 1,000 hours but has also greatly reduced the proportion of valves withdrawn from service during overhauls. The new alloy is known as C.26 and its manufacturing and mar keting rights have been acquired by Deloro Stellite Ltd., of Shirley, Birmingham. It has a nickel base containing chromium, aluminium, molybdenum and other minor elements. Although hard (average D.P.N, varies between 420 and 350 between 600 and 800 deg C) valves in C.26 do not become brittle and are also claimed to be free from radial cracking. It is further claimed that oxydation resistance remains excellent up to 1,250 deg C. English Electric's Year ADDRESSING shareholders at the annual general meeting of - the English Electric Co., Ltd., held on March 19th, Sir George H. Nelson, F.C.G.I., M.I.Mech.E., M.I.E.E., the chair man and managing director, included in his speech a review of achievement with the Canberra; he also spoke of progress by the associated companies of the group, notably Napier and Marconi. "The super-priority Canberra," he said, "although no more important to the defence and economic life of our country than our normal products, appeals to the imagination and spirit of adventure of the whole country. We are proud of all concerned in the design and production of this machine, which, as you know, made the double crossing of the Atlantic in under eight hours' flying time, and holds the Blue Riband of the air for ihe west to east flight in 3 hours 25 minutes, at an average speed of 6D6 m.p.h." Sir George went on to congratulate A.V-M. Boyle on his new appointment as A.O.C,-in-C. Fighter Command, and spoke appreciatively of his leadership of the Canberra goodwill tour of South America. He also congratulated the crew of the Canberra which flew to Australia in 22 hours. There had been happy relations with the other firms building Canberras in this country, with such licensees overseas as the Australian Government and the Glenn Martin Company of America, and with Rolls-Royce, Ltd., in respect of the Avon engines. Of Napier's work in the aeronautical field, Sir George said : "The progress of development of the Nomad compound aero engine, of which the weight per b.p. is down to 1.14 lb, gives great economy in fuel, which promises well for its future success by reducing the costs of operation of air transport. We have also developed a propeller turbine engine, the Napier Eland, with a take-off power equivalent to 3,000 h.p., with an outstandingly good power/weight ratio, embodying the successful results of the company's intensive research and development of axial com pressors." The chairman had dealt in considerable detail with Marconi activities in his report at that company's general meeting earlier the same day. He had given a long list of civil and military aircraft on which Marconi equipment was used, and had said that among the airlines which had placed orders with the company were B.O.A.C., B.E.A., C.P.A., Air France and U.A.T. He had also referred to the C.A.A. trials of the Marconi V.O.R. equipment (an account of which appeared in Flight last week). Finally, at the English Electric meeting, Sir George made a reference to guided-weapon activities, in these terms: "I am now able to reveal that, under pressure from the responsible Govern ment and authorities at the time, your company entered into important commitments to design and produce guided weapons at this earlv stage in the creation of this new and vital defence industry. It was felt by the Government that we had research and development teams in the three essential fields, namely, in aerodynamics—with our Canberra—in the English Electric Com pany; in thermo-dynamics in our engine construction at Napiers; and in electronics at Marconi's. We have created a powerful design and development team and are setting up an advanced trials unit in Australia." A "Sound" Barrier OCCUPATIONAL dermatitis has frequently cost industry many valuable working hours, and much research has been devoted to controlling this scourge. A recent demonstration by Innoxa Laboratories, Eden Street, London, N.W.i, showed the insulating properties of their range of barrier creams, evolved after a long period of research. Two series of creams are available, namely, the BW range which is water-repellent and gives protec tion against acids, alkalis and other irritants soluble in water; and the BD range of water-soluble creams for protection against various specified types of irritants found in oils, paints, tars, sol vents, petrols, etc. Some most convincing experiments were carried out at the demonstration, including the removal in a few seconds of a thick deposit of tar, by immersion in warm water, and the steeping of a hand, previously cream-protected, in a solution of hydrochloric acid. It is stated by the company that the cost of protection of this kind is approximately 27^d per worker per week. IN BRIEF T ITANINE Ltd., the aircraft-finish manufacturers, have announced a profit of £40,097 (subject to taxation amounting to £27,050) for the year ended December 31st, 1952. The annual general meeting will be held at Colindale on April 13th. * * * From Precision Components (Barnet), Ltd., comes a leaflet describing their "Kabi" two-, three- and four-way terminal blocks and 12-way connector strips for electrical installations. A second leaflet deals with bench-assembly trays, available in straight and curved types and two sizes. * * • The R.F.D. Co., Ltd., of Catteshall Lane, Godalming, Surrey, announce the appointment of Mr. C. H. Latimer-Needham, M.Sc.Eng.(Lond.), Dipl.Eng.(Lond.), F.R.Ae.S., M.S.A.E., as chief executive of their aeronautical and engineering divisions. Mr. Latimer-Needham retains his connections with Flight Re fuelling, Ltd., as a consultant. * * * Standard Telephones and Cables, Ltd., point out that the reference to their products installed in the Viscount, as given in a list supplied by the aircraft manufacturers and printed on page 362 of our March 20th issue, was not truly representative. The correct items of radio equipment were given on page 374 of the same issue. * * * From Flexible Drives (Gilmans), Ltd., 195 High Street, Smethwick, Staffs, come details of their new "Flexmaster" multi- speed flexible-drive grinding and drilling machine. Duties include drilling, brushing, sanding, grinding and riffling; the machine, which has an A.C. motor, is adaptable for floor, bench or suspended mounting. * * * Illustrating the many protective and decorative uses of alu minium paint, the photographs in a new brochure issued by the British Aluminium Co., Ltd., Norfolk House, St. James's Square, London, S.W.i, range in variety from a picture of the Palace Pier at Brighton to one of a Handley Page Hastings. Very full information on the characteristics and use of the various grades of aluminium paste and paint is included. * * * In his report at the sixteenth annual general meeting of R. B. Pullin and Co., the instrument specialists, Mr. R. B, Pullin, O.B.E. (chairman), said that the company's factories at Brentford, Acton and High Wycombe were full to capacity, and that there were more orders on the books than ever before. He reported a profit of £89,265 (last year, £67,165), and said that the increased volume of work had made it necessary to seek additional capital: application had been made to the Capital Issues Committee for consent to issue a further £150,000.
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