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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 1579.PDF
696 FLIGHT, 28 October 1955 CIVIL AVIATION ... LOCKHEED AND THE L.1649 P Lockheed last week came a progress report and per- •*• formance details of the L.1649 Super Constellation. Targetdate for the first flight is October, 1956; a scale metal mock-up of the complete fuselage has been built, and work has started on themachining of the spars of the completely new 150 ft-span wing which will give the new Super Constellation the widest span ofany airliner in service. Aspect ratio is 12:1, and wing fuel capacity is increased to 9,600 U.S. gal, 50 per cent more than thestandard L.1049's wing. It is reported that the Lockheed engineer- ing department have now issued more than 20,000 of a prospective30,000 tool orders—evidence of the amount of new design work involved—and that of these 5,000 have been completed in a"crash program" which is stated to be adhering closely to schedule. In the production department 2,300 orders have been completedout of a total of 38,000. Wind-tunnel tests (see photograph) have been completed at speeds up to 570 m.p.h. The L.1649 fuselage is divided into four separate passenger com-partments with seating arrangements varying from 46 (inter- continental "siesta" layout), 58-62 first-class, and 93 tourist.Normal crew for overland operation is five, with provision for up to eleven for over-water flights. The four Wright Turbo-Com-pound engines deliver 3,400 b.h.p. each for take-off, and cruising power at 22,600ft is 1,810 b.h.p. The choice of Hamilton Standardor Curtiss 16ft lOin, three-blade airscrews is offered. Provision is made for the installation of collision-warning radar, either R.C.A.C-band or Bendix X-band, increasing normal fuselage length by some 2jft. Dimensions: Length, 113.58ft; height, 24.75ft; span, 150ft; wing area, 1,850 sq ft. Weights: Max. aross, 156,000 Ib; max. landing, 123,000 Ib; max. zero fuel, 116,000 Ib; empty, 85,553 Ib. Performance: Take-off to 50ft at 156,000 Ib, 6,500ft; landing at 123,000 Ib. 3,600ft; max. rate of climb (rated power, 156,000 Ib), 1,080 ft/min; stalling speed (max. landing weight and flaps), 101 m.p.h.; max. cruising speed, 350 m.p.h.; max. range (no reserves), 7,000 miles; service ceiling, 25,300ft. SOUTHEND FACILITIES ENLARGED AT Southend Airport on October 18th, Mr. John Profumo, M.P.,- deputizing for the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, officially opened the extended terminal building and the new car-handling unit. Describing the increase in flying activity which had made necessary this expansion of facilities, Mr. Profumopointed out that the number of fare-paying passengers using the airoort had increased from less than 9,000 in 1953 to 16.000 in1954, while the total up to the end of August this year was 29,000. A large number of scheduled international services, operated bvthe independent companies, were using Southend, and the borough was leading the country in the use of its municipal airport. Hecongratulated the airport committee in its initiative in encouraging this expansion. Thanking Mr. Profumo, Councillor Fred H. Woods (chairmanof the airport committee) traced the recent development of the airport, and explained that the expansion of facilities for passengers,vehicles and freight had been found necessary sooner than had been expected. However, "We do not want to emulate LondonAirport," Mr. Woods continued. What was wanted was to main- tain the comfortable, friendly atmosphere already associated withSouthend Airport, and the new terminal building had been designed to that end. The airport committee had realized that the provision of hardrunways was the next step, for the grass surface had certainly taken The increased wing-span (150ft) of the new Lockheed L.1649 Super Constellation is apparent from this picture of ths wind-tunnel model. a beating this year. As an indication of the council's enthusiasmfor such progress, Mr. Woods mentioned that work on the new runways had begun on'y 48 hr after approval had been received.Located next to the control tower, the new terminal building is pleasingly simple in design. In the main hall are the counters ofthe resident operators, agents and the Automobile Association; other facilities include a restaurant, cocktail bar, lounge, andCustoms and immigration units. From all public areas of the building there is an excellent view of the aerodrome. The newcar-handling unit, adjacent to the terminal, is designed for the Customs clearance of six cars at a time. The runway constructionwork in progress at present should be completed early next year, and will result in two hard runways (06/24 of 5,270ft and 15/33 of3,700ft), together with taxi tracks and a marshalling area. BREVITIES TN order that the Middle East interests of B.O.A.C. should be-* grouped in one holding company, Associated British Airlines (Middle East) Ltd., has been formed. The companies concernedare Middle East Airlines, Ltd., Aden Airways, Ltd., Gulf Aviation Co., Ltd., British International Air Lines, Ltd. and Arab Airways(Jerusalem), Ltd. On October 17th, the advanced-training division of the Nether-lands Government Civil Flying School, together with the school's technical department, moved from Gilze-Rijen to Eelde Airport. * * * Lockheed Aircraft Corporation sales during the first ninemonths of 1955 amounted to nearly £122 million—the largest backlog in the firm's history. During the same period new trans-ports and spares totalling nearly £40 million were delivered. Airlines using Lockheed transports now amount to 31. * * * A B.E.A. Viscount en route from London to Glasgow onOctober 19th was inadvertently landed at R.A.F. Abbotsinch instead of at Renfrew. The main runways of the two airfields arein line; cloud base was 900ft and the aircraft was making an I.L.S. approach. The pilot, whose name has not been disclosed, has beenreprimanded. * * * An independent operator is reported to have placed beforethe Hull Corporation plans for a trans-Humber helicopter ferry service linking Hull with Grimsby and Scunthorpe. The pro-posed service would be operated with a nine-seater (presumably a Westland Whirlwind) and it is believed that financial supportis being sought from the municipalities concerned. * * * Record loads are reported on the Canadian Pacific trans-arctic service between Vancouver and Schiphol. The airline is said to have received 1,000 advanced bookings before theinauguration of the service in July. Since then not one of the DC-6Bs has flown with more than four empty seats. Followingthe success of the service the Canadian Pacific sales organization has been expanded and new offices have been opened in NewYork, Los Angeles and Buenos Aires. This design is now appearing on the nose of B.O.A.C.'s Stratocruisers. It is part of the Corporation's crest, and shows the winged lion in a shield, surmounted by the astral crown.
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