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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 2330.PDF
FLIGHT, 27 August 1954 259 Ground Radar for L.A.P. THE present system of directing aircraft on the ground at London Airport is based on visual sjipervision from the control tower coupled with R/T. position^feporting by aircraft. This system, say the Ministry of Tra*f?sport and Civil Aviation, will have to be augmented if th&^lncreasing traffic at L.A.P. is to flow smoothly in bad wpeffner. Accordingly, the new central control tower is to be equipped with an A.S.M.I. (airfield surface movement indicatoj^fTor this purpose, the M.T.C.A. have chosen the Decca Milhjrfetric Radar, "because of its good general picture quality with'lSnarp delineation of runways and taxiways and its high discrimination." DC-7s for South Africa AN order for three Douglas DC-7s, at a cost of £700,000 each, ••was announced by South African Airways on Monday. Intended for use between Johannesburg and London, the new aircraft will be delivered early in 1956. Farnborough Forecast THE news, released last week, that the English Electric P.l supersonic intercepter will not be allowed to appear at the Society of British Aircraft Constructors' Display (September 7th-12th) was dismal indeed. There will, nevertheless, be the Super- marine 525—another fighter with a terrific performance—and the fascinating Folland Midge, together with advanced versions of established types. As we go to press, the picture—first of aircraft (including flying test-beds) and then of engines—presents itself as follows: — Armstrong Whitworth.—A Meteor N.F.14, a Hunter F.2 and a Sea Hawk make up this year's "A.W." contingent. All will fly. Armstrong Siddeley.—The reheat-Sapphjfe Canberra may be joined by a second Canberra with a Viper on one wing-tip. Auster.—The A.O.P.9 and a version of the Aiglet Trainer, with Gipsy Major 10, will both be there. Blackburn and General.—The Beverley will be at home to visi tors in the static park, but will* hot take the air this year. A model will be a reminder that ,*wo Folland Gnats can be carried. Boulton Paul.—A Balliol T.2—registered G-ANSF—has been acquired by the company for demonstration purposes and will fly. Bristol.—The largest aircraft to fly will be the Britannia—first of the production-type Mk 100s. On the 9th—the "civil" day—it may be joined by a Silver City Mk 32 Freighter. Bristol-operated flying test-beds—both to be flown—will be the Ambassador with Proteus 705s and the Olympus-Canberra. The company's heli copter activities will be typified by the Type 173 Mk 2 (without stub wings this year) and a Sycamore Mk 4. In the static park will be one of the new Sycamore Mk 14s for the R.A.F. de Havilland.—In the flying display will be a Comet 2, Comet 3, Heron 2 (executive), Beaver 2, and D.H.I 10. Statically displayed will be a Dove 6 (executive), Chipmunk, Venom N.F.3, Venom/ F.B.4, Sea Venom N.F.21, and Vampire Trainer. English Electric.—The P.l supersonic fighter having been barred from appearing, English Electric will be represented by examples of the Canberra B.6, P.R.7 and B.8. Fairey.—The F.D.I delta-wing research aircraft and Gannet T.2 trainer will give individual displays, and a Gannet A.S.I will fly in a "circus." Additionally it is hoped to have a second A.S.I and a Firefly 8 in the static park. Folland.—The Midge light fighter prototype will be flying (in a delightful manner, from all accounts), and in the static exhibition will be a fully equipped Midge front fuselage, a working model of the Gnat's "flying" tailplane, a demonstration panel of a special rocket release system, and comparisons between the equipment and fire power of the Gnat and a "standard fighter." Gloster.—For the first time since the war no Meteor will take part in the flying display, though the P.V. 7/8 two-seater will be statically shown. In the air Glosters will be very strongly repre sented by five Javelin FAW.l delta-wing all-weather fighters. Handley Page.—It is hoped that the second prototype Victor will put in an appearance; but, either way, H.P.s are likely to have plenty to say and show concerning their Dakota replacement. Hawker.—There are hopes that something new will be forth coming from the Kingston works by way of Dunsfold. In any case, there will be a production-type Hunter Jp.l. Hunting Percival.—A highlight this year will be the Jet Provost trainer, supported by a standard Provost T.l, an armed Provost T.53, and a Pembroke. Napier.—Having been flying with oneTJristol Hercules and one Napier Eland turboprop, the Vickeri Varsity operated by D. Napier and Son is now being fitted .with two Elands and will fly at Farnborough with these units, if ready in time. A. V. Roe.—The Vulcan prototype VX770, with four Arm strong Siddeley Sapphires, will demonstrate. Though the first Shackleton M.R.3 wUl not bejleady for exhibition, an M.R.2 will be available for inspection m the static park. Rolls-Royce.—At least _ifce turbojet test-bed will be coming down from Hucknall. Saunders-Roe.—The Skeeter helicopter will be flying. Scottish Aviation.—^though it had been intended to show the Twin Pioneer, the fijSSt example will not be completed in time, due to the fact that if is being built to a large extent on production tooling. A Pioneer^ will keep the Scottish flag flying. Short and Harl£nd.—Shorts are represented this year by three types—the Searafw A.S.I and Sherpa, which will fly, and the S.B.5, which wjffl not. Vickers-Armjstrongs.—The Valiant B.2 bomber and the second Viscount for Trans Australia Airlines will be flown, and there will be a Viscourjf in the static park. Vickers-S^permarine.—In addition to a production-type Swift F.4 there ^ill be the twin-Avon Type 525 Naval fighter. WestlaMd.—A Westland Whirlwind (S-55) helicopter will be there in/Naval colours and fitted with an Alvis Leonides Major engine./ On the Westland stand will be the cabin structure of an S-55 fjftted with passenger seats and cabin furnishings to B.E.A. requirements for the London Airport-South Bank service. Afois.—In addition to a standard Leonides or Leonides heli copter power-plant, there will be a Leonides Major and a similar type of engine developed for helicopter work. J Armstrong Siddeley.—The Sapphire to be shown will be an ASSa6; additionally there will be a Double Mamba, a Viper 101, a Mamba and a Snarler. Blackburn and General (Engine Division).—Four Turbomeca units (two redesigned to meet British requirements) will be on view, together with a Bombardier. Bristol.—The company's engine division will be showing an Olympus, a Proteus 705, and a Centaurus 661. de Havilland Engine Co. will show a Gipsy Queen 30 Mk 2 (Heron engine) and a Super Sprite rocket pack. Napier.—The Oryx gas generator will be making its first appear ance. Additionally there will be an Eland and a Nomad. Rolls-Royce.—Having by far the best power/weight ratio of any turbojet developed to date, the new Soar will be a major attraction. A late-mark Avon will be there, together with a Dart 510. THE SOAR: OUTSTANDING NEW ROLLS-ROYCE TURBOJET pHE great Rolls-Royce organization has this week been per mitted to reveal the existence of a completely new axial- now turbojet, which has been, and remains, under intensive development. In conformity with^dMr'jptfncy of naming Rolls- Royce gas turbines after British rivers, the new unit is known as the Soar, after the river of that name in Leicestershire. Very little can yet be said about this engine, but much can be surmised. The dominating fact which fairly leaps from the brief table of data (p. 260) is that uWSoar develops more power per pound of weight and more thrust per unit of frontal area than any other turbojet for wbiCn figures have been published. Generally speaking, the larger the engine the better will be the thrust/frontal area; again/If an engine is merely an expendable unit for missiles it isy&irly easy to achieve a very high value for thrust/weight. "Jfie Soar is not a large engine, and neither is it necessarily a .^hort-life unit, yet—as our diagram shows— it sets completely hew standards in output from a given compass. It is an axialrflow turbojet, apparently with an annu'ar com bustion chamber. Installation in an airframe should be very simple, owing tOstLe clean exterior and grouping of service lines This particular Soar is shown without its intake, h is evidently a basically simple engine, and seems to be made largely of sheet rather than of heavy castings. Pipes and suspension lie along the top.
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