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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 2323.PDF
256 FLIGHT, 20 August 195; THE INDUSTRY For Brighter Aircraft S MARTNESS in the exterior appearance of aircraft is nowa days insisted upon by most operators, both civil and military. Well-polished surfaces reflect—almost literally—the efficiency of the owners and, to a greater or lesser extent dependent upon the type of aircraft, have a beneficial effect upon aerodynamic per formance. To achieve real efficiency, a polish must meet two conflicting requirements: (a) it must remove dirt, corrosion and oxydization and (b) it must do so with the absolute minimum of abrasive effect and must contain no chemical which is corrosive or other wise damaging. A preparation which appears well able to meet these requirements is "Jove Wadpol" combined aircraft cleaner and polish, approved to M.o.S. specification D.T.D. 900/4258, and manufactured by Valay Industries, Ltd., 186 Campden Hill Road, London, W.8. It takes the form of an impregnated wad ding with which the surface is lightly rubbed, the moist film then being polished off with a soft dry cloth. Each piece of wadding used in this way can be repeatedly used until worn out. A complementary preparation by/the same firm is "Jove Aero- wax" (type CX3 liquid wax) which, applied either by spray-gun or cloth, provides a high-gloss protective coating over the newly polished surface. The liquid ifi of a kind which, unlike some waxes, can be applied evenly over considerable areas without difficulty; and it may be washed down, by normal methods, with out harm to the film. The makers state that, though the present D.T.D. approval applies only to "Wadpol".,hsed on metal surfaces, both this mate rial and "Aerowax" are also effective on a wide variety of aircraft painted finishes, including the modern high-speed finish. The principal claim made for both products is that they give a smooth, highly durable finisb/with the implicit advantage that this will stand up to a great deal of weathering—incidentally, in extremes of temperature. The nature of /*Wadpol" makes it unspillable, but for those who prefer a liquid cleaner a third preparation, "Jove Aeropol" combined cleanjfr and polish, is available. We understand that in the comparatively short time in which these compounds have been on the market they have gained con siderable popularity. The makers state that "Wadpol" has been the standard polish for metal surfaces in the R.A.F. since the be ginning of last year and that it has been used for a considerably longer period on the Vikings of the Royal Flight. The R.A.F. is also using-"Aerowax" on helicopter rotor blades. Other air forces have adoj&ted the polish, and a large proportion of the company's turnovenis, in fact, for dollar currency. In addition, several manu facturers and nearly a dozen airline operators, including B.O.A.C. and B.E.A., are using one or more of the three preparations. Hand Calculator T^E have recently received brief details of the Curta calculating * * machine, illustrated here. It is an unusually neat and portable instrument, and it can be held and operated by one hand. Two basic types are available: range, which weighs 8 oz, and range, weighing 12 oz. Both Model 1, with an eleven-figure Model 2, with a fifteen-figure types are 3iin high. With these machines, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, squaring, cubing and the extraction of cube roots are possible, with a range of values and a speed of operation claimed to be competitive with that of desk machines of very much greater size and weight. The Cura machines are silent in operation, and are made of high-quality rust proof steel. They are pro vided with tens transmission and visible dials throughout, together with a reversing lever and provision for split clearance of the product register. In England these machines are marketed by "London Office Machines, Terminal House, Grosvenor Street, London, S.W.I. A Curta calculator, of the pattern described above. The overall height is 3j/n. Thermal Control in France AN agreement was recently signed between the Speed Develop- **- ment Co., Ltd. (Thermal Control Co., Ltd.), and Souriau et Cie, 9-13 Rue General Gallieni, Billancourt (Seine), France, for the latter concern to manufacture Thermal Control fire-detectors and pressure switches under licence. This arrangement covers the rights for both France and French possessions. Previously, Thermal Control (whose H.Q. in this country is at Marine Works, Sackville Road, Hove, Sussex) had been repre sented in France by Soci£te World Market et Cie, 19 Rue du 4 Septembre, Paris (2e). Under the new agreement Societe World Market will instead act as representatives in France and French possessions for Souriau et Cie. This 10-way spanner is a product of the Leytonstonejig and Tool company, and it is retailed at 18s 9d. The platidJagjid.jgjHpsslide along each side; three standards are available—Whitworth, S.A.E. and Metric. IN BRIEF Senior appointments notified by Normalair, Ltd., include those of Cdr. F. W. N. Bassett, R:N. (Retd.), director and commercial manager, who becomes commercial director; Mr. D. C. Collins, a director, now appointed works director; and Mr. W. Oppen- heimer, F.C.A., formerly financial adviser, who becomes finance director. * * * The Saunders Valve Co., Ltd„>state that they have appointed Simmonds Aerocessories Ine^Tarrytown, New York, as their main licensees for the^feJcfth American continent; and that Sim monds Aerocessorjptf*of Canada, Ltd., Montreal, are appointed their special licensees and agents for Canada. * * * New tyre-testing equipment has recently been supplied by Heenan and Froude, Ltd., of Worcester, to the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., at Fort Dunlop, Bipningham. Like others supplied in the past, the new machine has been built to Dunlop design; bascially it consists o£<flo0in steel drum capable of being motored at speeds up to 4J&*i.p.m. while the tyre under test is pressed into contact with it. Motoring power at full speed is 100 bh.p., and tyres of from 39in to 54in diameter can be accommodated. * * * In the current issue (No. 27) of Wiggin Nickel Alloys is a short illustrated article on the production, on Omes machines, of Nimonic 80A blades for the Wright J65 gas turbine by the elec trical upsetting procejar^ln the same issue is an article on the Saunders-Roe 45 IB-thrust pulse-jet, in which Nimonic 75 is extensively used. * * * A brochure entitled The Application of Light Alloys to En gineering, published by Head7 Wrightson Aluminium, Ltd., of Teesdale Ironworks, ThaWiahy-on-Tees, has a novel, attractively embossed, front covej*w 16-gauge aluminium sheet supplied by the British Aluminium Co., Ltd. * * * Recent appointments in Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd., aircraft division include those of Mr. A. W. E. Houghton as assistant gen eral manager (experimental), and of Mr. A. H. C. Greenwood, A.R.Ae.S., as assistant general manager (service). Mr. J. Ander son's appointment as commercial manager continues. At the wey- bridge Works, Mr. R. Edmonds, M.B.E., becomes manager, won s administration; Mr. T. C. Parker, M.B.E., works superintendent Mr. L. R. Webb, works manager; Mr. P. D. Imlach, production manager; and Mr. J. E. Armitage, F.C.W.A., commercial man ager. At the Supermarine Works, Mr. N. Sims is appoints commercial manager. * * * New directors have been appointed to the boards of Austinl::e, Ltd., and Sumo Pumps, Ltd., the two English subsidiaries pi Stone-Chance, Ltd., the new company incorporated on May 2 ~h 1954, and itself a subsidiary of .£ "Stone and Co. (Holdings), L-• The Austinlite directors are now Mr. John Raymond, F. W. G. Beaumont, Mr.L. B. H. Hallett and Mr. N. A. V- • Stacey, and the directors of Sumo Pumps are Mr. John Ray"10,1' Mr. T. O. Orr, Mr? F. W. G. Beaumont, Mr. L. B. H. Hall. and Mr. N. A. W. Stacey. All except Mr. John Raymond are n directors appointed from the management of the companies.
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