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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 1480.PDF
21 Mav 1954 647 Boeing Stratocruiser (B.O.A.C.). Bristol Britannia 100 prototype. Canadair Argonaut (B.O.A.C.). BREGUET PROVENCE • Since March last year the appellation "Breguet" has been appearing regularly in the Air France timetables for domestic and North African routes. It refers to the mighty 76-3 Deux Ponts, or—to use the name favoured by its operator—Provence. And occasionally, when traffic is at a peak, the Breguet puts in an appearance on the London-Paris route, for its two decks can carry up to 107 passengers—more than twice as many as the normal load for British and French airliners connecting their respective capital cities. Large folding doors give access to the lower part of the rear fuselage, and both decks can be used for freight. Normally, however, the top storey is fitted with 59 permanent tourist-class seats, the 48 second-class seats on the lower deck being quickly removable. The volume of the lower cabin—2,285 cu ft—is such that the entire payload of 16 tons can, if necessary, be carried in this compartment. Notwithstanding its great bulk, the Pro vence cruises at over 220 m.p.h. on the power of four Double Wasp CA18s. Deux-Ponts (four R-2800 CA18, total 9,600 h.p.).—Span, 141ft; length 94ft llin; take-off weight, 110,231 lb; wing loading, 42 lb/sq ft; take-off distance, 5,550ft; passenger capacity, 107; typical performance, 223 m.p.h. for 870 miles at 8,000ft with 24,250 lb payload. BRISTOL BRITANNIA • There are firm or provisional orders for a total of 41 Britannias by two named airlines— BO AC and Qantas. In addition, it has been announced that seven other operators have entered negotiations for 51 more of these long-range turboprop airliners. Remembering the excel lent competition offered by kss advanced but better-known machines, such as the DC-7 and the Super Constellation, this can be regarded as a promising start for a completely new air frame /power-unit combination. The prototype Britannia first flew in September 1952 and subsequent progress has been good. The first production Britannia 100 for B.O.A.C. will emerge shortly from the Filton assembly hall and it is hoped that, after development flying and crew training, a fleet of nine or ten will be ready for service next year. These will be Britannia Mk 100s; later versions for B.O.A.C. and other airlines will be "stretched" by 10ft 3in. An idea of the Britannia's performance on a typical B.O.A.C. route was given by an analysis published by Bristol's last December. This showed that the lengthened Mk 300 could carry a full capacity payload of 104 tourist passengers plus baggage from London to Tokyo in 31 hours elapsed time, cover ing this 9,928-mile route in five stages. The long-range version, for which figures are quoted below, will have a still-air range of no less than 6,200 miles on its full tankage of 8,300 gallons, carry ing a 16,000 lb payload. The precise date of the Britannia's introduction to revenue service depends upon the time taken in obtaining a Certificate of Airworthiness. The original target date of June 1955 may be put back by some three months by the loss, last February, of the second prototype Britannia which forced-landed after a fire had developed in one engine nacelle during a test flight. Britannia 300 (four Proteus 755, total 16,600 e.h.p.).—Span, 140ft; length, 124ft 3in; take-off weight 165,000 lb; wing loading, 80.4 lb/sq ft; take-off distance, 5,500ft; passenger capacity, 58-92; cruising speed, 345-395 m.p.h.; still-air range with capacity payload ,'30,000 lb), 4,500
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