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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1271.PDF
25 September 195 3 427 siderable training schedule into the time remaining. One of the main objects, say the makers, will be to observe fuel consumption and performance in detail; a number of full-load take-offs and landings will be made, and the results gained will be a guide to the take-off performance in the warmer, thinner air at Karachi and toe Cocos Islands. During these nights, also, various "domestic" details will be examined, such as the best way to feed the crew, who will be wearing oxygen masks for much of the race-flight. The Valiant will fly m three stages, London-Karachi (4,192 miles), Karachi-Cocos (3,255) and Cocos-Christchurch (4,929)—12,376 Ac m aiH- The RAF- Canberras are to make a five-stage flight. Of the Viscount's prospects in the Transport Handicap, Vickers admit that in a world-spanning race of this kind their entry of an aircraft designed for medium-stage work cannot hope to receive the handicap allowance necessary to give it victory. Never theless, they expect it to give a good account of itself' and to demonstrate turboprop reliability. Full arrangements have been made for spectators; of these we shall publish particulars, including admission prices, etc., in a race-guide—giving full details of entries in next week's issue. Promotions in Vicker's Management COME months ago, as we recorded at the time, Vickers- •*•* Armstrongs, Ltd., divided their business into aircraft, engi neering and shipbuilding divisions. Mr. P. H. Muirhead, C.B.E., was appointed managing director of the engineering division, and Mr. G. H. Houlden, M.B.E., appointed to a similar post in the shipbuilding division. The reorganization has now been taken a stage further by the appointment of Mr. G. R. Edwards, C.B.E., B.Sc, F.R.Ae.S., A.M.I.Struct.E., as managing director of the air craft division; he was formerly chief engineer of the division which comprises the Weybridge and the Supermarine Works. It is also announced, Mr. T. Gammon, O.B.E., M.I.Mech.E., now takes over the office of general manager of that division. Sir James Reid Young, C.A., F.C.I.S., is chairman of the com pany, and Major-General C. A. L. Dunphie, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., deputy chairman and managing director. On December 1st two changes will be made within the engi neering division. Mr. W. D. Opher, M.I.Mech.E., will become general manager of the Elswick, Scotswood, Wakefield and Chertsey Works; and Mr. J. R. Kelly will be appointed general manager of the Crayford and Dartford Works, and will be in charge of the Whitehead Torpedo Works, in place of Mr. Opher. Fokker's Brazilian Agreement T MPORTANT developments in the Brazilian aircraft industry •*• are foreshadowed by an announcement from the Fokker Air craft Company that an initial contract has been signed between the Ministerio da Aeronautica and Fokker I.A. to build under licence in Brazil 100 S-ll Instructors; 50 of the S-12 tricycle version, and 50 S-14 jet Mach-Trainers. In this connection, a new company, Fokker Industria Aeronautica S.A., was estab lished in May this year, 50 per cent of the ownership being in the hands of the Dutch company and 50 in those of a Brazilian group. The state-owned factory Fabrica de Galeao, near Rio de Janeiro, is being made available for a five-year period by the Brazilian Government, and the majority of the existing personnel will be merged into the new company. Technical and administra tive management will be provided by the Dutch. It is also possible that an order will be placed for the F-27 Friendship, a Fokker twin-turboprop airliner designed to replace the DC-3. Conference in Canada I T is not generally appreciated that Avro Canada is the largest single member of the vast Hawker Siddeley Group, with over 12,000 employees on the payroll. Further, it is the only member currently mass-producing both aircraft and engines. For many months rumours have been rife concerning a project of quite revolutionary character said to be under consideration by Avro Canada at their plant at Malton, Ontario, near Toronto. Many linked this project with the term "flying saucer," and only last week the New York Times said that "senior U.S. Government Defence scientists" were conferring with the designers of "a disc shaped 'plane which could reach 1,500 m.ph. after a vertical take off." These visitors, it seems, were shown a 40ft model of an aircraft in which "the jet engine would revolve round a pilot seated in a plastic bubble." At least it is clear that Avro Canada really are proposing some thing very advance a—something which warrants a conference at which these "revolutionary aeronautical projects''—as the Hawker Siddeley Group put it—will be discussed by fifteen top directors and designers of the Group, members of the Canadian Government, selected representatives of the R.C.A.F., and leaders of the Canadian aircraft industry. The Group's senior representatives, whose names are listed below, will leave this country next month. Before reaching Canada, on the week-end of October 10th, they expect to hold discussions in New York and Washington with the U.S.A.F. and U.S.N., under the auspices of the British Joint Services Mission. Commenting on these developments, the leader of the team, Sir Frank S. Spriggs, K.B.E., said earlier this week: "This is the first time that our design council has met outside Great Britain and it is significant that the first meeting is being held in Canada, whose emergence as a primary air power has taken place so rapidly in the immediate post-war years. In addition, we are to have the opportunity of discussing forward planning with the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy." Further comment came from Crawford Gordon, Jr., president of Avro Canada. In Toronto he said: "Wc look upon this visit to Canada as a clear sign of Canada's coming-of-age as a designer and manufacturer of aircraft. Such a visit could not have been considered a few years ago. We have projects under way that are as advanced, perhaps more advanced, than anything we know of in the Western World." The following will take part in these discussions: Sir Frank Spencer Spriggs, K.B.E., Hon. F.R.Ae.S., managing director, Hawker Siddeley Group, Ltd., chairman of design council. Sir Roy Dobson, C.B.E., J.P., F.R.Ae.S., managing director, A. V. Roe and Co., Ltd., director, Hawker Siddeley Group, Ltd. Sir Sydney Camm, C.B.E., F.R.Ae.S., director and chief designer, Hawker Air craft Company. Mr. Wilfred G. Carter, C.B.E., A.F.R.Ae.S., technical director, Gloster Aircraft Company, Ltd. Mr. Stuart Davies, B.Sc. (Eng.), F.R.Ae.S., chief designer, A. V. Roe and Co., Ltd. Mr. John Lloyd, F.R.Ae.S., technical director, Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, Ltd. Mr. William H. Lindsey, M.A., F.R.Ae.S., director and chief engineer, Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Ltd. Dr. L. W. J. Newman, B.Sc., A.R.C.S., D.I.C., Ph.D., AF.R.Ae.S., chief engineer, armaments division, Sir W. G. Armstrong Whirworth Aircraft, Ltd. Sir William Scott Farren, C.B., M.B.E., M.A., F.R.S., M.I.Mech.E., F.R.Ae.S., technical director, A. V. Roe and Co., Ltd. Mr. W. P. Saxton, M.B.E., director and general manager, Armstrong Siddeley Motors, Ltd. Mr. Henry R. Watson, B.Sc.(Eng.), A.F.R.Ae.S., chief designer (aircraft), Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Ltd. Mr. Reginald Jones, M.Sc, chief metallurgist, High Duty Alloys, Ltd. Mr. Richard W. Walker, F.R.Ae.S., chief designer, Gloster Aircraft Co., Ltd. Mr. Crawford Gordon, Jr., O.B.E., president and general manager, A. V. Roe, Canada, Ltd. Mr. James C. Floyd, A.F.R.Ae.S., M.I.A.S., chief design engineer (transports), A. V. Roe, Canada, Ltd. Australia and Guided-Weapon Costs T"HE Ministry of Supply recently announced arrangements by -*- which the cost of euided-missile development in Australia— a subject that has lately been arousing some concern in the Commonwealth—will be more equitably shared by the two Governments. Following are extracts from the text of the announcement, which was issued as a result of meetings between Mr. Menzies, Mr. Duncan Sandys, and other officials: — "Up to the present the Australian Government have borne the cost of all industrial work carried out by private firms in Australia in connection with the testing of guided weapons on the Woomera range, The United Kingdom Government has agreed that in future it will bear the cost of any such work which may be done to its order. The Australian Government, on the other hand, have agreed to take over a greater financial responsibility for certain equipment ordered by them for the Woomera range. "The effect of these changes on the respective financial liabilities of the two Governments will depend on the amount and nature of the work being done and will therefore tend to vary from year to year. "Finally, the Ministers agreed that this vital defence project should, as hitherto, be pursued in a spirit of partnership, and that it should continue to be accorded high priority by both Governments." From October 1st, about 80,000 square miles of South Australia will be sealed off—as far as is practicable—in preparation for the forthcoming series of atomic and other tests. In recent months there has been much ill-feeling in Australia engendered by the heavy burden in taxation imposed by the range and by the manner in which Australians have—it was felt—been shouldered aside so that the range area could be kept exclusively British. Such impressions are, of course, wholly false. Such an undertaking can only be a joint effort, and it is to be noted that, for the first time, many missiles wholly, or mostly, made in Australia will soon be fired at Woomera. Faireys are the com pany concerned, and they have turned out many supersonic test vehicles with the aid of their sub-contractors at Salisbury. Another fact likely to please the Australian public is the inclu sion of members of their civil defence organizations as observers, or even participants, in the tests. According to the Melbourne Herald, extensive experiments would be undertaken to determine the strengm of radio-activity remaining in wrecked buildings, vehicles, and other structures. Another series of tests will, in the opinion of the Sydney Sunday Herald, be directed towards a study of the effect of heat, blast and atomic radiation on a number of new metal alloys and plastics. The report, quoting "reliable London sources" said mat, if the tests were successful, the materials might be used in the construction of British bombers to combat atomic blast.
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