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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1205.PDF
THE CURTAIN RISES . . . livery and bears the inscription "Bristol Rotocoach Type 173 " As yet, the interior is unfurnished, but one feature likely to be retained by passenger versions in B.E.A. service is the large "scissor-action" door on the left-hand side of the rear fuselage which embodies passenger steps. Navigation lights are fitted to the additional fins, and the trailing edge of the main vertical surface is temporarily biased to starboard. Both the 173 and the 171 cockpits have a new type of L-shaped collective-pitch lever, centrally mounted for operation by the pilot's "inside" hand de Havilland Comet.—Both B.O.A.C. and the manufac turers are anxious that initial flight testing of the Comet 2 should proceed as rapidly as possible, and at the time of going to press it was thought unlikely that the first production aircraft would be able to make even a fleeting appearance at Farnborough On Wednesday and Thursday, however, Air France were expected to contribute for static display one of their recently delivered Series lAs. The popularity of the Comet is forcefully shown in the exhibition tent by a set of models bearing the liverv of everv operator to have ordered the type. Of outstanding interest is a large model of the Comet 3 in 60-seat luxury form—the first seen in public. Most of the prototype Comet 3's components have now been completed, and assembly is well advanced at Hatfield; the model shows the aircraft in its final form, with auxiliary fuel tanks, new leading-edge designed to preserve the present low-speed handling qualities at increased all-up weight, jet-pipes which extend beyond the trailing edge, revised intakes and apparently unchanged tail configuration. de Havilland Dove.—The static park contains two examples of the Dove, which is probably the enly civil aeroplane shown at the 1946 S.B.A.C. Show and still occupying a firm place in the market. One, G-AMZN, is a Series 6 executive version, fitted with six seats and finished in silver, white and maroon. The other Dove, G-ALFT, is a Series 1 radar calibration machine loaned by the M.C.A. and carrying a comprehensive radio installation fitted by Helliwells, Ltd. Wind-driven generators and additional aerials are features particular to the M.C.A. Dove. de Havilland Heron.—Shown for the first time at Farn borough is the Series 2 Heron with retractable undercarriage, which takes part in the flying programme. The aircraft seen (G-AMTS) is an executive transport with eight seats and folding tables; finishing touches to the neat grey-and-fawn interior were completed just in time for the show. In the static park is a Series 1 Heron for Garuda Indonesian Airways, wearing an attractive red-and-white colour scheme and registered PK-GHC. The type can accommodate up to 17 passengers, but in this case has ten seats and an extra-large freight compartment in the after fuselage. Although the first Herons were delivered only last year it can now be said that every customer has since increased his order; the "retractable" version—designed for slightly longer stage-lengths— is beginning to sell, and an important contract will probably be announced in the very near future. Fairey Rotodyne.—Of the Rotodyne, displayed in model form, the manufacturers claim that this will be the first rotating wing aircraft to offer a direct challenge to the DC-3. The model, finished in B.E.A. colours, shows a 38-seat layout, although it is intended that this twin-Eland "aerotorplane" could carry as many as 50 passengers or, in car-ferry form, three medium-sized cars and 12 passengers. Handley Page H.P.97.—A model in the exhibition tent shows that Handley Page's "intercontinental jetliner" will make use of the successful crescent wing already tried with the Victor. The T-type tail unit also resembles that of the Victor, but the bulky double-deck, figure-eight-section fuselage permits ready distinc tion between the two. No fewer than 25 square windows are shown on the upper deck, with a further six "downstairs." A spiral staircase will connect the two decks of the H.P.97, which is designed to carry 150 tourist or 96 first-class passengers over extremely long ranges at speeds approaching 600 m.p.h. Handley Page H.P.R.3.—The capacious fuselage of Handley Page's projected Dakota replacement, the four-engined H.P.R.3, is portrayed by several models in the static exhibition. The largest is cut away to show rearward-facing seats for 36 passengers; also displayed are Perspex fuselages containing, respectively, freight, 24 passengers plus freight, 36 passengers and—a high- density version with closely pitched seats—44 passengers. The power-plant selected for this aircraft is the Alvis Leonides Major, two of which, it was announced during the show, will shortly be installed in a Marathon test-bed. Percival Prince V.—The improved capacity of this civil The Gloster Meteor 7.7 (top) is rolled on take-off by Geoff Worral. Below it are the D.H. 110, with Fowler flaps, landing-gear and air brakes down; the practical Short Seamew A.S.1; and, getting away smartly, the lurid Boulton Paul P.111A.
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