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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0603.PDF
and AIRCRAFT ENGINEER First Aeronautical Weekly in the World Founded 1909 No. 2416 Vol. 67. FRIDAY, 13 MAY 1955 EDITOR MAURICE A. SMITH, D.F.C. and Bar ASSOCIATE EDITOR H. F. KING. M.B.E. TECHNICAL EDITOR W. T. GUNSTON ART EDITOR JOHN YOXALL Editorial, Advertising and Publishing Offices: DORSET HOUSE, STAMFORD STREET, LONDON, S.E.1. Telegrams, Flightpres, Sedist, London. Telephone, Waterloo 3333 (60 lines). Branch Offices: COVENTRY . 8-10, Corporation Street. Telegrams, Autocar, Coventry. Telephone, Coventry S210. BIRMINGHAM, 2 King Edward House, New Street. Telegrams, Autopress, Birmingham, Telephone, Midland 7191 (7 lines). MANCHESTER, 3 260, Deansgate. Telegrams, Iliffe, Manchester. Telephone, Rlackfriars 4412 (3 lints). Deansgate 3595 (2 lines). GLASGOW, C.2. 26b, Renfield Street. Telegrams, Iliffe, Glasgow. Telephone, Central 1265 (2 lines). SUBSCRIPTION RATES Home and Overseas: Twelve months £4 10s. U.S.A. and Canada, $14.00. IN THIS ISSUE : The Week's News - - 604 More Thoughts on Jet Lift .... 609 Routine Atlantic Crossing 611 The World's Air Forces 615 1955 Military Aircraft Data 635 National Aircraft Insignia 643 The World's Air Forces (contd.) 639 Concerning this Issue ... THE times are fraught with fear and bedevilled by mistrust. Man's highestaccomplishments are everywhere perverted towards his own destruction, and theterms air power and world suicide have become well-nigh synonymous. All this, alas, is beyond equivocation. But though "air power" may, in its broadest sense, have a reek of evil, there remains with "air force" a connotation of nobility, service and the finer qualities of manhood. There endure also the idea of an international chivalry, the inspiration of tradition, and the wholesome appeal of Service heraldry and arms. In no institution more than in the messes of an air force are there to be found physical and mental standards of a higher order, a stauncher loyalty, a livelier sense of humour, a healthier zest for adventure, a calmer contemplation of perils or a higher resolution to prevail over them. There is, too, that characteristic and laudable preoccupation with "shop"; one's own and the other man's equipment, methods and procedures, the newest technical developments and the finer points of tactics—all these are matters for regular and lively discussion. If the present issue of Flight then, should call for a dedication, it is to the men of the world's air forces that this should rightly be addressed. They themselves are among our most diligent readers; and, though some part of what is written and depicted in these pages may to them be commonplace, the scope of our review is such that something new—even surprising—will surely come to their notice. Our concern has not been with the great powers alone. Though the declared peace- time commitments of, for example, the Mexican Air Force may be more benevolent than militant, we nevertheless accord that Service a place with the awesome atom- forces, for the work of rescue and deliverance now falls increasingly to the lot of national air arms. By the same token, the humble Harvard is here, brushing wings with the mightiest jet bombers. The Spitfire, too, holds a place, along with collision- course intercepters; and even a Blenheim appears for Finland, though fifteen years of war and work have passed since it last saw Bristol. True, we might have sacrificed the Austers of the Arab Legion Air Force to the multi-jet Molochs of Russia and America; but for once, at least, might is not identified with right. The mass and menace of the great air fleets is, we consider, duly expressed by grim facts concerning their strength and dispositions. Interpretation of these facts, and action upon them, are matters for personal and political consciences, and we have refrained from super- imposing any commentary or criticism which might be considered to lie beyond our province. We have, however, seen fit to reproduce a contribution from NATO, dealing in the plainest terms with the defence of an ideological, as much as a geographical, frontier. a ... and its Significance <*; P On technical trends we ourselves may speak with equal directness. First we recog- nize the incomparable achievement represented by America's strategic bombing force, consistently and intensively exercised over vast distances, with the far-ranging aid of flight refuelling. We note America's insistence on day and night defence, with collision- course rocket armament soon to be superseded by air-to-air guided weapons; and we acclaim the manner in which the M.A.T.S. organization handles its vast logistic prob- lems. Then we applaud the pioneer work of the American Forces in applying the helicopter to many forms of land, sea and air warfare. By Russian technical advances —especially by her fast jet bombers and the turbojets which have made them possible— we are much impressed, and we acknowledge the ingenuity and courage of the French in applying new techniques to fighters. Canada, Australia and Sweden we congratulate on having developed machines for their particular requirements. As for our own nation, we contemplate with equanimity the progressive re-equip- ment of a Service which has never been the least among the world's air forces, and one to which so many others now acknowledge their indebtedness.
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