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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0098.PDF
98 FLIGHT FROM ALL QUARTERS METALSOME STEED: The most intimateportrait to date of Rolls-Royce's twin-NeneV.T.O. test-bedstead (Capt. R. T. Shepherdup), subject of a news item below. Operation SnowdropW HAT was probably the largest R.A.F. and Naval operationever organized to deal with a civil emergency took place last week, after the north of Scotland had received the full fury ofthe mid-month blizzard. Many communities had been isolated for several days; supplies of food and cattle fodder were runningout; and at times telephone and power lines were out of action. As soon as the gravity of the situation was realized the twoServices combined with police and other civil authorities to stage what was appropriately called Operation Snowdrop. Under thedirection of Cdr. D. G. Parker, R.N., and the Chief Constable of Caithness, a rescue co-ordination centre was established at Wick,and the light fleet carrier Glory, 13,190 tons, hurriedly dispatched from the Clyde to Loch Erribol, served as a base for six Naval heli-copters, S-51s and S-55s. In the first few days these machines took some 3,300 lb of food to isolated villages and crofts andbrought several sick people to hospital. Meanwhile, Sea Hawks from Lossiemouth carried out sweeps over the stricken area, look-ing for appeals for help in the form of letters imprinted in the snow—"F" for food, "C" for cattle fodder and "D" for doctor.They pinpointed seven such signals. Two more helicopters also left Lossiemouth to join those already at Wick. (Pictures, p. 102.) R.A.F. relief operations were centred at Kinloss, whenceNeptunes, Ansons, Oxfords and Varsities flew out to drop supplies to those who signalled for them. By January 20th the situation was well under control. Gloryheld enough food "to feed a city for a month"; all calls for help had been answered and the airlift programme for the following dayswas in hand. Relief flights continued at high pressure, the number of sorties and the quantities of supplies dropped being increased.Helicopters proved their versatility in such operations as carrying a shepherd over the snowdrifts to two of his sheep and then bring-ing all three straight back to the homestead. B.E.A. aircraft on scheduled services turned aside to circle small islands and lookfor distress signals. On board Glory, meanwhile, bread was still being baked and food parcels made up for helicopter delivery,and stocks of tinned food and cigarettes, given by the United States Care Organization in Glasgow, were flown to Kinloss. AnEnglish cigarette manufacturer also contributed 6,000 cigarettes. Offers of help began to arrive from abroad, particularly Norwayand Sweden. The situation, however, was well in hand; a thaw set in onJanuary 21st and conditions began to improve steadily; but Naval helicopters from Wick and R.A.F. aircraft from Kinloss kept uptheir supply delivery flights, particularly dropping bales of fodder and the ingredients of pig food. The aircraft carrier Glory leftLoch Erribol to return to Glasgow on January 22nd, her task being complete. Captain Cameron of B.RA.'s helicopter unitset out for Wick in an S-55 to assist in relief operations, but by the week-end the number of sorties had begun to decrease exceptfor the dropping of food for animals still out in deep snow. A small force of helicopters, however, was kept standing by forrescue work should serious flooding occur as the snows melted. The Rolls-Royce V.T.O. RELEASED towards the end of this week was a filmshowing development flying in progress with the Rolls-Royce vertical take-off vehicle, powered by two Rolls-Royce Neneturbojets. On the same occasion it was specifically stated that techniques are being developed in Britain to enable aircraft totake off vertically from the normal horizontal position, as distinct from the vertical position associated with currentAmerican experiments. It was also disclosed that the weight of the V.T.O. vehicle is about 3^ tons and that the special controlsystem was developed by the R.A.E., Farnborough. Rolls-Royce remark that a great deal of development workremains to be done—for example, the problems of heat, noise, safety and the design of the most efficient engines and airframehave all to be tackled. The spotting fraternity will note with sorrow the absence ofany form of identification marking. This is explained by the fact that, as there is virtually nowhere to place it, special dispensationwas obtained for the machine to perform anonymously. _ >- Recognition Contest Winners FIFTY-NINE teams—including entries from the U.S. Armyand the Royal Netherlands Air Force Recognition School— took part in last Saturday's All-England Contest organized bythe Aircraft Recognition Society and held at the Royal Institution in London. For the second year in succession the premier award,the Silver Hurricane trophy, was won by Post C/4, Group 5 (St. Albans), Royal Observer Corps. Their team members were Obs.D. S. Skeggs (captain), Obs. N. Price, and Obs. P. Wallace, who secured 87 marks out of a possible 105. Plymouth Aircraft Recog-nition Society, with 85 points, were the runners-up. The Handley
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