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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 1065.PDF
and :i :., •' AIRCRAFT ENGINEER First Aeronautical Weekly in the World Founded 1909 No. 2428 Vol. 68. FRIDAY, 5 AUGUST 1955 EDITOR MAURICE A. SMITH, D.F.C. 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, Scdist, London. Telephore, Waterloo 3333 (60 lines). Branch Offices: COVENTRY 8-10, Corporation Street. Telegrcms, Autocar, Coventry. Telephone, Coventry 5210. BIRMINGHAM, 2 King Edward House, New Street. Telegrams, Autopress, Birmingham, Telephone. Midland 7191 (7 lints). MANCHESTER, 3 260, Deansgate. Telegrams, tliffe, Manchester. Telephone, Blsckfriars 4412 (3 lines). Oeansgate 3595 (2 lines). GLASGOW, C.2. ' „/'"_' 26b, Renfield Street. ; Telegrams, ttiffe, 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 : Marine Salvage by Helicopter - 181 Super Sprite - - - - 183 Napier Oryx ... - 189 National Gliding - - 19-4 They Rise to Conquer - 198 In Memory of MF and MF/DF 199 The Veteran Stratoliners 202 ~ The Form for Farnborough IN crew-rooms, messes, bars and board-rooms a single topic of seasonal speculationis evoked: Will it be a good Farnborough?; or, more specifically, What's new?We ourselves tip it as a greater show than ever, with novelty not only in abundance but in variety. Certainly the study of form (which, among those of our calling, is as much a duty as a hobby) encourages us to bet on two shiny new, and complementary trans- ports—the Handley Page Herald and Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer. A likely starter in the fastest field of all is Fairey's supersonic Delta 2; and whereas on the previous occasion Hawker Aircraft had the hybrid "Hunter variant" present (for a few split seconds), it should not be imprudent to expect a thoroughbred Hunter F.6, not to mention the side-by-side Hunter Trainer. From English Electric and Folland the P.I and Gnat are near-certainties; from Vickers-Supermarine we are emboldened to hope for that dark horse the N.I 13 or something akin to it; and we should be acutely disap- pointed not to make some acquaintanceship, however distant, with the Gyron and Conway turbojets (perhaps, too, with some new liquid rockets). If a 1955 helicopter is in the running we should expect the Fairey ultra light; and as Avro Canada CF-lOOs are in the country, should not the type come in for a place, however tardily? To shout the odds a month or so before the event would be as impolitic as it would be undignified. But we are tempted. Encouragement for Aerobatics ONE of those pleasant little ceremonies for which the aviation world has so longbeen justly noted took place at Londonderry House last week; on this occasion itwas the handing-over, for Royal Aero Club keeping, of the trophy which has been presented for the new international aerobatic competition. Lord Brabazon received the trophy from Mr. J. B. Emmott, director of the British Lockheed organiza- tion, sponsors of the competition, and incidentally remarked that it was "one of the first bits of modern art he had been able to understand." Details of the entries and regu- lations will be found on page 179. Sixteen entrants, representing six countries, have indicated their intention of com- peting next month at Coventry, where the first annual contest is to take place. What makes this competition different and refreshing is that the spirit associated with the sport of aviation many years ago, but now largely lost, may be recaptured. It will be the skill of the pilot and not the performance of the aircraft which will count. It has been suggested that not since the earliest Schneider days has this been true of an international flying contest. Excepting engineless flight—and the national gliding contests have, of course, just taken place at Lasham in Hampshire—this is probably correct. Among the entries received are included machines as widely different in type as the Gloster Meteor and the Auster Aiglet. The judges will certainly have a difficult though fascinating job deciding between skills demonstrated in a very large area of sky and others almost in their laps. With the added attraction of substantial cash prizes—and there is no reason to be coy, or to pretend that financial reward is not important, particularly in view of the very considerable cost involved in competing—the 16 entries of this first year may be sub- stantially increased in number on subsequent occasions. The British sporting flying movement badly needed a boost in the form of a competition of this kind. This remark implies no reflection upon anyone concerned with the organization of races and displays, and the difficulties of post-war private pilots are too well known to need further discussion here. . ,.,,,.• • . At a time when so much of flying has become a serious and involved undertakmg with the accent on paper work and slide rules rather than manipulative skill, and when only the most enthusiastic pilots can find the time, money and opportunity to fly for pleasure, we welcome the initiative of the organizers and sponsors of this attractive contest and wish them and the competitors every success.
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