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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 0519.PDF
FLIGHT, 26 February 1954 AIRCRAFT INTELLIGENCE NEW FROM NORTH AMERICA: Referred to on this page are the Convair T-29D crew-trainer (top) and the Canadair Sabre F.S. A point of interest seen in the Sabre line-up is the adoption of the new twin-finned drop tank, as used on the FJ-2 Fury. All Sabre Ss are fitted with the slatless "6-3" wing, with a small fence. Great Britain English Electric Canberra. America's Aviation Week asserts that "Canberra pro duction is scheduled to phase out by 1956 with the exception of a new stub-wing ver sion powered by two 10,000 lb-thrust RA.14 turbojets. This will be used for long-range night intrusion." Canada Canadair Sabre 5. Originally known as the F-86EO, the Sabre F.5 is the produc tion variant powered with the Avro Orenda turbojet, which has now completely super seded the J47-powered machine at Mon treal. The new engine is only slightly larger than the J47, but provides about 1,500 lb more thrust, with a total of about 7,200 lb. All Sabre F-86Es now serving with the R.C.A.F. air division in Europe are being progressively replaced with Sabre 5s, as fast as the latter can be delivered. First ferry flights across the North Atlantic have now started. So far, about 600 Canadair Sabres have flown the Atlantic, of which 370 were R.A.F. machines flown by R.A.F. Transport Command pilots (.Flight, November 20th, 237 1953). The J47-powered Sabres are being transferred to other NATO countries together with stocks of J47 turbojets. Some of the first Sabre 5s are illustrated on the left. United States Convair T-29D. Unlike earlier T-29s (crew-training variants of the CV 240/340) the T-29D has only six windows along the side of the cabin—not eleven. This is because the whole rear end of the fuselage is filled with the new U.S.A.F. "K- bombing" system, which is the standard radar bombsight in service with B-36s, B-50s and B-47s. The associated radome can be seen under the forward fuselage in the photograph on this page. Earlier T-29s had numerous astrodomes, but the "D" has two periscopic sextants. The forward fuselage is fitted to train four navigation /bombing students. Steady pro gress is being made with the XT-29E, which will be a turboprop research aircraft with a pair of Allison T56s, of 3,750 h.p. each. Just coming into production is the C-131 Samaritan casualty-evacuation trans port, which will replace U.S.A.F. C-54Ms. Convair FY-l. This is Convair's first fighter design for the Navy, and it is a highly unconventional vertical take-off experimental aircraft powered by an Allison T40-A double turboprop driving contra-rotating airscrews. The slim fuse lage, about 30ft Ions;, stands vertically on four tail fins. Stubby delta wings are fitted, and the pilot is housed in a swivelling cockpit so that he remains in an upright sitting position irrespective of aircraft attitude. At the moment, rocket boosters are needed for take-off, but when the more powerful Allison T54 is available (two T56s = 7,500 h.p.) rockets will be dis carded. Lockheed are working on similar designs, all of which are experimental air craft intended to prove the feasibility of vertical take-off fighters for shipboard use. Sikorsky 5-52. Fair numbers of this four-seat helicopter have now been delivered for civilian use and to the U.S.A.F. and U.S. Marine Corps. It resembles a smaller, cleaned-up S-51. The latest development is an experimental variant with a four-blade metal rotor driven by a Turbomeca Artouste 2 shaft-drive gas tur bine. The new French-built power unit is mounted at the top of the fuselage direaly beneath the rotor head. Total tethered and free-flight time now exceeds 20 hr. ENGLISH ELECTRIC CANBERRA PR.7 (Two Rollt-Royca Avon RA.7) .Span 63ft 11in Length 66ft 9in (approx.) 1 -AP^
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