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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1091.PDF
NEW DEPARTURE for Saunders-Roe is the development of pulsejets, as described in the accompanying paragraph. unit; right is the 4S-lb type, to be shown at Farnborough. Seen running (left) is the 120-lb Saunders-Roe Pulsejets TN London on August 25th Saunders-Roe, Ltd., exhibited for -•- the first time a 451b-thrust pulsejet developed by their Heli copter Division. On the same occasion it was announced that a 1201b-thrust unit is already running at Eastleigh Airport Southampton. The company state that, having considered various forms of propulsive units for helicopters, they decided that the pulsejet was die most promising. It could also be used as a take-off unit for sailplanes and for guided missile.-. The 45-lb unit operates at a frequency of 120 c.p.s., but this may be varied, according to chamber design, to a figure of over 200 c.p.s. or as low as 46 c.p.s., as on the German V.l. Other data for the 45-lb unit are length, 47.5 in; max. diameter, 5.5in; weight, 15.5 lb. Sir Archibald Rowlands VX/'HEN, but eight months ago, we announced the retirement TT of Sir Archibald Rowlands, G.C.B., M.B.E., from the post of Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, we little thought it would so soon be our melancholy duty to record his deadi: Only 60 years of age, he passed away suddenly, as a result of cerebral hasmorrhage, at his Henley - on - Thames home on Tuesday of last week, August 18th. That for this short period he had less direct contact with die aircraft industry will in no way lessen the sense of loss that his death causes, for he had made, and maintained, very many warm friendships. He had been a Permanent Civil Servant from die age of 28; previously to that he had served with distinction in the 1914-18 war as a captain in the Army Cyclist Corps, being mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military M.B.E. In the inter-war years he held a succession of increasingly responsible posts in the War Office, and in 1936 he was made Adviser on Military Finance to the Indian Government. He returned in 1939 to become Deputy Under-Secretary of State in the Air Ministry, and it was in 1940 that he assumed the duties for which by many old friends he will be best remem bered—as Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Pro duction, under the Beaverbrook regime. Of those remarkable days it is recorded that he would return to his office at 9 p.m. and work until 3 a.m., then be at his desk again by 9 a.m.— and this day after day. From the end of 1943 until 1947 he was temporarily lost to aviation, being employed in various senior posts concerned with administration in India; when he returned, it was as Permanent Secretary of his old Ministry, now the Ministry of Supply. It was largely through Sir Archibald's unique ability to com bine tenacity of purpose, sound judgment and a warm friendly personal approach that relations between the Ministry and the aircraft industry were of the happiest kind. He was a man of decision and unlimited capacity for hard work, yet his manner was seldom austere; he was, in the modern idiom, "good value at a party." And, as we said in Flight at the time of his retirement, quoting the words of one of his colleagues, "He never hid himself behind red-tape defences, believing always in informal personal contacts; and he was a man of the highest integrity, whose promises could always be relied upon for fulfilment." Sir Archibald Rowlands. R.Ae.S. Medals and Awards O N September 14th, when the Wilbur Wright Memorial Lec ture is read at the Royal Institution (by Prof. N. J. Hoff, F.R.Ae.S., I.Ae.S., whose subject will be "Structures"), the R.Ae.S. medals and prizes will be awarded, as is the custom on this occasion. Names of recipients are announced by the Society as follows:— The Society's Gold Medal (the highest honour which the Society can confer for work of an outstanding nature in aeronautics).—E. F. Relf, for his outstanding contribution to aeronautical science over a period of many years. The Society's Silver Medal (for work of an outstanding nature in aeronautics).—H. Grinsted, for his outstanding work in aeronautical engineering. The Society's Bronze Medal (for work leading to an advance in aero nautics).—L. Boddington, for his work on the development of Naval aircraft. British Gold Medal for Aeronautics (for outstanding practical achieve ment leading to advancement in aeronautics).—R. E. Bishop, for his outstanding contribution to aircraft design. British Silver Medal for Aeronautics (for practical achievement leading to advancement in aeronautics).—J. E. Gordon, fcr his excellent work in the sphere of aircraft structural plastics. Wakefield Gold Medal (awarded to the designer or inventor of any apparatus tending towards safety in flying).—F. W. Meredith, for his work in the design of automatic pilots and aircraft instruments. Simms Gold Medal (for the most valuable R.Ae.S. paper on any subject allied to aeronautics).—Major P. L. Teed, for his paper on "Fatigue of Aircraft Materials with Special Reference to Micro-Structure." George Taylor (of Australia) Gold Medal (for the most valuable R.Ae.S. paper on aircraft design, manufacture or operation).—G/C. E. A. Whitely, for his paper on "The Spacing of Aircraft under High-Density Approach Conditions." A number of other awards have also been made, and will be presented on some other suitable occasion to be decided by the R.Ae.S. Low-cost Airfield Radar AT Blackbushe Airport last Monday, Decca Radar, Ltd., demonstrated a new airfield radar known as the Type 424. The equipment is capable of fulfilling the functions of airfield surveillance, G.C.A. and local approach control. It appears to be equally suited for both civil and military applications and is both simple and compact. For a relatively low cost—£5,000— it can provide the small civil airport with G.C.A. facilities adequate for any traffic that could be expected, and the military airfield with a practical landing aid which would accommodate a high density of fighter landings. The designers of the Type 424, in fact, have sought to produce a cheap, simple radar approach-aid which nevertheless achieves results comparable with those of larger and vastly more costly and complex counterparts. A detailed description of the equipment and of its capabilities will appear in a future issue. C. L. W. Trusk WE regret to have to record the death of Mr. C. L. W. Trusk, A.F.C., on August 18th, in hospital at Aylesbury, after a brief illness. Claude Trusk, who was 54 years of age, had been chief test pilot to Airwork, Ltd., since 1944. His con nection with the company dated from early 1938; previous to that he had served with the R.A.F. in 1918-19 and again from 1924 to 1937. His successive posts thereafter included : navigation (flying) instructor, Shoreham and Cheltenham, 1938-39; manager and chief navigation (flying and ground) instructor and test pilot, No. 6 A.O.N.S., Staverton, 1940-41; manager, No. 21 E.F.T.S., Booker, and No. 1 A.O.S., Wigtown, 1941-42; maintenance manager, No. 6 A.O.N.S., 1942; and manager, No. 21 E.F.T.S., Denham, 1942-45. During the latter part of the last-named appointment he also became chief test pilot.
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