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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1657.PDF
FLIGHT, 18 December 1953 HOT-AIR WHIRLER: The S.O.1220 Djinn is a machine of which France can be justly proud. Powered by a Turbomeca Palouste, it is the first really successful tip-drive helicopter. On the left is Djinn No. Of, while the other two photographs show No. 02, with a small tailplane; all three photographs show different ducts leading the hot air to the rotor. Extensive trials have been undertaken from the truck (part visible in the right-hand picture) which can carry a Djinn, crew and spares, and act as an alighting platform. AIRCRAFT INTELLIGENCE Great Britain Fairey Firefly. In a letter from Australia, a reader who visited Farnborough com ments on, among other things, the red-and-yellow Firefly 7 which landed there just after the flying display on one day of the S.B.A.C. Show; he wonders if there was any special significance in these colours. It may be remembered that red and yellow are the colours for pilotless targets (as seen on the M.L. U-120D target), a fact which possibly suggests that there is a new Firefly mark for this purpose. Hawker Sea Hawk. Although the standard Sea Hawk is the F.l (not FB.l) it can, in fact, carry a heavy offensive load of bombs and rockets. It is replacing not only the Attacker but also the well-liked Sea Fury, both of which were classed as fighter /bombers. Several years ago the decision was taken to fit jettisonable fuel tanks to the Sea Hawk but, even today, no standard installation is in use. The first conception was a pair of tip tanks, which can readily be fitted to a "plank" wing. But the usual tank now fitted is attached to pylons only just outboard of the main landing gear. The Sea Hawk's range is already good, for the bifurcated jet outlets permit the provision of a tank in the rear fuselage. Canada M.R. Britannia. The recent announce ment by Bristols regarding licence-pro duction by Canadair of a maritime-recon naissance Britannia development for the R.C.A.F did not, of course, say anything about the type of aircraft visualized. But a number of points can be raised unoffi cially. For one thing, it is possible that the Proteus turboprops, efficient as they are, may be replaced by compound piston engines such as the Nomad or Wright Turbo-Compound, in order to provide greater endurance at low level. Very ex tensive radar will certainly be required and it was stated by Dr. A. E. Russell, the designer of the Britannia, that there might be provision for an external offensive load, such as three torpedoes. Whatever form it takes, it should be a very fine aircraft. United States Grumman Cougar. Subject of this week's drawing below, the Cougar is in large- scale service with the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy. The F9F-6 is powered by a development of the Rolls-Royce Tay; the F9F-7 has a late-model Allison J33 and the F9F-8 can have either engine. Both engines give about 8,000 lb thrust with afterburner and water injection. The -P sub-type (below) is unarmed and has a typical three-camera installation in the nose. The F9F-8 is a stripped-down air-superiority version, claimed to be super sonic in level flight. The Cougar is proving a good machine, but is still suffering from tail-actuator trouble. Lockheed XF-104. In a recent lecture, Mr. Kelly Johnson of Lockheeds stated his reasons for preferring the straight-wing, conventional-tail layout for fast fighters. It should be remembered (although he did not refer to the fact) that Lockheed have almost finished the prototype XF-104 fighter which is just such an aircraft. It is a supersonic lightweight fighter, employ ing a razor-thin, straight wing, with a slight anhedral angle. Although much bigger and heavier than the British Gnat the XF-104 is lighter than the Sabre and is an attempt at obtaining high performance by cutting down on non-essentials. Martin B-61 Matador. Although the Air Force Daily, published in London by the U.S.A.F., avers that squadrons of B-61 tactical pilotless bombers will be sent to this country next spring, this is denied by the U.S.A.F. in Washington. The B-61 is an all-swept, subsonic weapon powered by an Allison J33 centrifugal jet, with rocket- assisted take-off from a ramp. The range is about 300 miles. A notable feature is the integral construction of the airframe. Hundreds have been delivered, many being stored disassembled in crates.
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