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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1032.PDF
186 FLIGHT FROM ALL QUARTERS THE CUSTER CCW-5 (two Continental SO-470B) makes its maiden flight at Oxnard, Calif., in the hands of Walter J. Davidson. The pusher is said to have taken off in under 100ft and to have landed at under 40 m.p.h. Waterloo—L.A.P. Helicopters PLANS are reported to be well advanced for an experimental helicopter service beween London Airport and the South Bank at Waterloo. The service may be operated by four-seat Bristol 171s of B.E.A. The problem of power-failure over built-up areas, which cannot be fully overcome until multi-engined helicopters are in service, would in this case be solved by the use of a route following the Thames. Floats would be fitted to the helicopters, enabling them to alight on the river in an emergency. Such an operation would yield valuable data on city-centre heli copter operations, and, in view of the excessive time taken by surface transport linking the airport with Waterloo Air Terminal, there should be no lack of passengers willing to pay the fare for a "taxi" service of this kind. The idea of using floating platforms on the Thames as landing-places for rotating-wing aircraft was put forward as long ago as 1937 by W/C "Reggie" Brie, who is chief of B.E.A.'s helicopter unit at Garwick. Noise from the Air THE B.B.C.'s television cameras visited R.A.F. Station Biggin Hill during a recent feature devoted to the problem of low flying aircraft. The programme opened with a squadron of Meteors making hedge-clipping runs across the aerodrome and so spectacular were the atmospherics visible around the aircraft that they must have diverted many viewers' attention from the main theme—the thunderous noise. Thvee people, a farmer, doctor and teacher, who had written to the Air Ministry on the subject, were invited to represent the public and they put forward their views well and emphatically. A short film was shown, illustrating the obviously very disturbing effect that low-flying aircraft have on grazing cattle. Viewers were informed that this is serious only during calving or lambing time and that even then relatively few cases of actual loss or injury have been reported. The fanner's solution was simple, if impracticable— train pilots overseas. The doctor explained that the continual noise of aircraft flying over his hospital made normal conversation with patients impossible and stethoscopic examinations difficult, created trouble in his operating theatre, and had a harmful effect upon the nerves of those convalescing. The headmaster (who had chosen the site of his school for quietness) bitterly objected to "air monsters more terrifying than Frankenstein's trespassing above." Not only did they unsettle his pupils, they were a real danger: he cited the case where a low-flying aircraft crashed and killed several students in a games field. "If an accident occurred at my school," he asked, "would low flying then be banned? If so, why not do so now?" A. Cdre. D. G. Morris, C.B.E., D.S.O., D.F.C., Sector Com mander, answered admirably for the R.A.F. The Air Ministry, he said, were very concerned with the problem and fully sympa thized with the people affected. Consequently the areas used for low flying were very carefully selected and such flying restricted as much as possible. But it was an important part of a pilot's training; it was difficult to master and much practice was required. Film sequences were then shown illustrating the different appearance of the ground from medium and low heights and illus trated the difficulty of navigation when flying low. The air commodore explained that low flying was necessary in war in order to achieve tactical surprise and to provide some immunity from anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters. Next, sequences were shown of a wartime low-level attack against a large electrical factory; of rocket and cannon attacks against trains and troop concentrations during the invasion of Normandy; and of the famous Mosquito attack on Amiens prison to release French Maquis patriots on the eve of their execution. If we could do that during the war, explained A. Cdre. Morris, it was obvious that the R.A.F. must be able to mount a defence against similar attacks on this country. Most of the practice for such a defence must of necessity be done over Britain; it was not possible to reproduce the right conditions either in Canada or on the Continent. The public should remember that the elaborate ground organization, including units such as the Anti-aircraft command and the Royal Observer Corps, needed practice, too. Jordan Survey Contract "l^ALUED at some £90,000, a contract for the photography and » mapping of 85 per cent of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has been placed with Hunting Aerosurveys, Ltd. The contract was awarded by the country's Ministry of Economy and the Special Services Division of the Economic Development Fund, which is part of the U.S. Technical Assistance Programme (Point IV). The work, which is already begun, is divided into two parts: high-level small-scale photography and mapping of 30,000 sq miles, and medium-scale photography and mapping of a separate area of 4,300 sq miles. The first task will provide a topographic map for future planning and development, particularly for road and railway location; the second will assist the development of an area containing mineral deposits. One expedition, using Dove G-AMYO and headed by Capt. F. C. Brown, is already working from Amman. Another, under the command of Capt. L. Haines, was due to set off this week in Dakota G-AMYW, which is specially equipped for high-level survey. The work of mapping, which will be carried out in Hunting's London laboratories, will take about two years to complete. PHOTO SHIP: Claimed as the fastest aircraft of the aforementioned denomi nation is the Boeing RB-47E, sister ship of the B-47 medium bomber. The redesigned nose and bulged bomb doors will not be missed (we trust) by diligent spotters.
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