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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 0131.PDF
15 January 1954 months. The mark of Shackleton concerned is not revealed, but rumours have connected the designation Shackleton M.R.3 with a nosewheel development of the present M.R.2. Merchant Air Navy? [" AST week a brief statement reached us, in the following terms: -•—' "The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Mr. A. Lennox-Boyd, on Thursday, January 7th, received a deputation, headed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Guy Garrod, chairman of the Air League of the British Empire, and which included representa tives of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators of the British Empire and of the British Air Line Pilots' Association, and dis cussed questions concerning the recognition and status of the Merchant Air Service, and particularly the inclusion of its representatives on public ceremonial occasions." The thought behind this announcement goes back for a long time, but the approach to the Air Ministry was made only a few months ago by the Air League, with the support of G.A.P.A.N. and B.A.L.P.A. In much the same way as the Merchant Navy is related in peace and war to the Royal Navy, the Merchant Air Service—a uniformed and disciplined organization—is related to the Royal Air Force. Most of our readers will recall the gallant part played by the aircrews from the Merchant Air Service in the evacuation of France, Greece and Crete, of the supplying of British Armies in the desert, and the provisioning of Malta. This contribution by Merchant airmen was recognized at the end of the war in the Air Council's victory message to B.O.A.C. The message recorded that "Their achievements have become a part of history and a foundation of a glorious tradition for the British Mercantile Marine of the Air." Today, Transport Command of the R.A.F. is a relatively small organization, and it is clear that in the event of another war the three Services would lean very heavily upon the crews of the Merchant Air Service for air trooping, supplies and communica tions. Until official recognition is accorded to the Service and its title, thus bringing it in line with the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleet, there is no way in which it can be officially represented on important public occasions. It will be recalled that at the time of Her Majesty's departure on her world tour she adopted the title, first assumed by her father, King George VI, of "Master of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleet." Senior M.o.S. Officials at Rotax ON Tuesday, January 5th, Mr. A. R. W. Low, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, visited the main Rotax factory at Willesden and the company's new plant at Hemel Hempstead, Herts. It is his policy to undertake such visits throughout the industry and he believes he has been to every contracting factory at least once during his two years in office. On this occasion he was accompanied by Mr. L. J. Dunnett, Deputy Secretary; Mr. L. R. Beesley, Director of Engine Produc tion; Mr. B. D. Davies, Director of Aircraft Equipment Produc tion; and his private secretary, Mr. G. M. P. Myers. The party were escorted on their tour by Mr. A. B. Waring, chairman of Joseph Lucas (Industries), Ltd. The inspection began at the Hemel Hempstead factory, which is a completely new building now nearing completion. As each portion of the plant was erected it was put into production, the tools being installed in their final places so that, as the operating floor area grows, no rearrangement will be required. Production beean here in the late summer of 1952 and all 270,000 sq ft will shortly be in use on super-priority work. The afternoon was spent at Willesden, both in the production shops and at the Rotax laboratories. The diversity of the company's products, including turbo- starters, electric equipment of every kmd for all types of aircraft, and a growing range of electronic gear, provided many topics for discussion (picture, page 62). 59 LC0K.ING AHEAD : Sir Thomas Sopwith, C.B.E., chairman of the Hawker Siddeley Group, whose recent observations on British research and other topics of high importance have occasioned lively comment and are the subject of the lead ing article in this issue. Rolls-Royce Agreements THE recent agreement between Rolls-Royce, Westinghouse and a Swedish company for interchange of information has aroused some interest in Italy. The Italian journal Alata hints that the scheme is so attractive that other European companies may seek to take advantage of it; Hispano Suiza (France) and the Sulzer and Brown Boveri concerns (Switzerland) are mentioned. The basic agreement, valid for ten years, apparently allows a company to join the scheme by payment of a fixed sum; there after it may produce under licence, or design new engines as desired, making full use of Rolls-Royce knowledge and ex perience. The British company then receives a royalty on all engines produced by the foreign firm, whatever their origin. The agreement may also apply to marine and industrial turbines and to engines (e.g., by-pass types) of ^((mpletely new conception. Catching Them Young ON January 7th the Royal Aeronautical Society held a lecture for young people, and thus revived an old custom which fell into disuse some 20 years ago. It took place in the lecture hall of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and was given by Pro fessor Sir Leonard Bairstow, C.B.E., F.R.S., F.R.Ae S., the dis tinguished aeronautical scientist and a former chairman of the R.Ae.S., who gave a lecture in the same series 30 years ago. The talk—given to about 100 enthusiasts between about 10 and 16 years af age—was en tided It's Fun Finding Out in Flying, and ranged over a variety of subjects illustrated by a series of lantern slides. These presented some of the more outstanding types of British aircraft, and the instruments of research, such as wind tunnels, which had played a large part in bringing them into existence. Also in the programme was a film, lent by Handley Page, Ltd., showing the behaviour of airflows in contact with bodies of various shapes, and the changes brought about by the use of slots and suction devices. In the unavoidable absence of Sir William Farren, president of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the chair was taken by Mr. Peter Masefield (vice-president of the Society), who expressed the hope that these lectures would once again become a regular feature of the Society's programme. >v ;7;fi?*v;/:.;v SONIC TRAINER : As mentioned on page 65, an early North-American F-86F Sabre has been fitted up as a tandem trainer, with full dual control. At present strictly a one-off job, this is probably the only dual-control machine in the world able to exceed Mach 1. Styled TF-86F, it carries two 0.50in guns.
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