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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0141.PDF
FLIGHT, 4 February 1955 TRADEWIND TURBOPROPS . . steel, and are separated from the rest of the nacelle and the wing bymetal-foil insulated blankets. The top of this compartment is formed by two large doors,which are hinged on one side to provide boat-hatch access. Insulated blankets are also applied over the tailpipes and partsof the hot end of the engine. The plenum chamber induction system provides the maximumamount of water separation. It has been found that up to 30 per cent of the free water in the induction air can be removedmechanically by the appropriate treatment of the walls and floor of the plenum chamber. The only icing protection required isthat around the leading edge of the duct lip itself. The compressor bell-mouths are fitted with pneumaticallyactuated shut-off doors. These doors, and the fairings used with them, are thermally anti-iced by resistance-wire rubber blankets.These shut-off doors are provided not only to reduce the drag of a shut-down power section, but also to reduce the airflowthrough the plenum chamber in the event of a fire. The Allison T40s also provide heat for anti-icing the wings andtail of the aircraft. Exhaust gas (not exhaust-heated air) is 141 extracted by flush scoops installed in each of the engine tailpipes,and the gas is then fed directly to the various stainless-steel leading edges of the airframe.Nearly half the fuel of the original XP5Y was carried in the wing, the remainder being in cells under the floor in the hull.Although the wing plan-form of the Tradewind is substantially the same as that used with the original XP5Y, the rear spar of theTradewind is located at 58 per cent chord, 18 per cent farther aft than that of the earlier aircraft. As a result, the production air-craft has been enabled to carry all its fuel in integral tanks in the wing, in spite of the fact that the total tankage is 50 percent greater than that carried by the XP5Y. The power installation described is in production and in servicewith the U.S. Navy, and represents the only gas turbine installa- tion at present in service with a maritime-based aircraft. Thereis no doubt that the work done by Convair and Allison in this field will stand them in good stead in the future. Final reference may, in passing, be made to the Martin P6MSeaMaster, which is a large—and very fast—patrol and mine- laying flying boat powered by four afterburning Allison J71turbojets. The prototype of this aircraft, which is roughly the same size as the Tradewind (150,000 lb all-up weight) should flynext spring. It was illustrated in our issue of January 14th. THE TV FILM: VICTORY IN EUROPE THOUGH the fact is difficult to believe, The Cold Dawn—Episode 12 of the B.B.C. Television film War in the Air- concluded the story of war in Europe without a single referenceto German jet development, to her rocket fighters or to her numerous and potentially important airborne missiles underurgent development. These and many other important factors regarding control and operational tactics were omitted, butprecious time was frittered away with scenes of snow-covered fir trees, W.A.A.F.S at a sing-song, a barrel organ, Belsen, and theVolksstrum digging trenches. Why not shots of the Volksjaeger under construction? The film was presented in the form of a series of reports fromwar correspondents, the first of which concerned air strikes against shipping off the Norwegian coast. Mosquitos and Beaufighterswere shown taking off for a typical raid, the long journey and arduous weather conditions being stressed. Camera-gun shots,depicting vividly the fire-power of the "Beaus," showed several ships being well and truly shot up; but no profit-and-loss accountswere given for these operations, and the final destruction by air attack of the Tirpitz (the Allied respect for which was such thatno fewer than four capital ships were held permanently in reserve in case she should attempt a foray) was not mentioned.General Rundstedt's counter-offensive in the Ardennes was briefly covered in the film. Lancasters were shown bombingthrough cloud under radar guidance; but the results achieved, although implied, were not detailed. Next came the "last fling" of the Luftwaffe, the great raid onAllied airfields in Holland and Belgium on New Year's Day, 1945. Aircraft seen included Ju 87s, Me 110s and He Ills, and camera-gun shots showed one or two Allied aircraft being strafed. Allied losses were given as "200 destroyed or damaged" when they were nearer 300, and the German loss described as "disastrous"—butthe actual figure of 364 was not given. The work of Bomber Command in tactical army support opera-tions was dien covered. A typical raid was described by extracts from the wartime despatch of a Daily Express reporter. Eventhough the war was all but won these raids were no joy-ride— "the 'whizzo show' era had gone forever, and shots were includedof German heavy A.A. guns firing at formations of Lancasters making a daylight raid. Air-to-air shots showed several 22,000 lb "Grand Slam" bombsbeing released from Lancasters, but the weight of these bombs, or their specific targets, was not mentioned—yet another curiousomission in a film presuming to tell the story of air power. The concentrated attacks by the U.S.A.A.F. on German oilinstallations were covered next. Although "short of spares, crews and fuel," the Luftwaffe could still muster some 1,500 serviceablefighters, and the sequence included numerous camera-gun shots of attacks on Fortresses and Liberators. The accurate shootingand the close range to which the German fighters closed was apparent. Counter-attacks by Mustangs were shown, camera-gunshots of which included the pilot baling out of a stricken Fw 190. On March 24th, 1945, came the crossing of the Rhine. Airdrops from Dakotas were shown and two Hadrian gliders, landing, were seen to tilt right up on their noses. Shots included Typhoonsmaking yet more rocket attacks, and a sequence taken on the ground gave the impression that some soldiers were moving up intoposition at the very moment rockets were striking uncomfortably close. Concluding sequences showed several wrecked German aircraftand an aerial view of a severely bombed airfield, looking very much like the crater-pocked surface of the moon. M.F.A. CANADA'S LARGEST: THE M. R. BRITANNIA IN MOCK-UP FORM In this view of a mock-up of the Canadair CL-28—as the Canadian-built maritime-reconnaissance version of the Bristol B.itannia is to be designated—the weapons-bay doors are seen, aft of the rear spar. Inspecting the plywood structure are Thomas A. Harvie, project engi- neer- Everett B Schaefer, assistant chief engineer; and James M. Schaifer, chief design engineer. Wright Turbo-Compounds may be fitted.
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