FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0307.PDF
FLIGHT, 16 March 1956 303 CORRESPONDENCE The Editor of "Flight" does not hold himself responsible for the views expressed by correspondents in these columns; the names and addresses of the writers, not necessarily for publication, must in all cases accompany letters. Tarmac "Right-away" HTHE photograph published on page 200 of your issue dated•*• February 17th and showing the departure of the East German Lufthansa-Aeroflot 11-12 is of interest from two points of view.First, one wonders why the publicized 11-14 DDR-ABA was not used for the service. The second point concerns the gentleman with the flags. Itseems that it is common practice for flagmen to signal away aircraft in the U.S.S.R. In Stig Wennerstrom's Roda Vingar there appearsan old photograph of an Aeroflot Stal 3 running-up against the chocks; a man stands in front and to port holding up a flag in hisleft hand while he has a second lowered flag in his right hand. As the chocks are in position it would seem that the raised flag isred or at least means stop, while the man in your picture has the right hand raised and the aircraft appears to have started taxi-ing.At Tempelhof before the war aircraft were cleared to taxi by a man holding aloft a stick surmounted by a small disc, as shownin the accompanying photograph of a Lufthansa Junkers Jul60. In a publicity booklet published by the German Railways beforethe war there was a drawing of a train in a station with, in the distance, a man holding up a similar disc, and in the text itmentioned a signal given by the official on duty with his electric torch. Maybe the Tempelhof signal was illuminated, and I liketo think that the Soviet flagmen are perhaps floodlit at night. London, W.14. JOHN STROUD. The Lightning AgainT HE Lightning N65485 was not the first to be seen over Britainfor several years as alleged by Mr. Bagley [February 24th]. This same aircraft landed at Prestwick Airport on May 3rd,1954, and left for the Continent two days later. I have a photo- graph in my possession which was taken during that visit. Thisparticular machine appeared to have a modified nose, on which the "Stars and Stripes" were painted. Colour scheme was orangeoverall, with markings in blue. P. JAQUES. Monmouth, Mon.[Other correspondents confirm the date quoted.—Ed.] Clouded CanberraR EFERENCE your recent accounts of the visit of No. 9Squadron, Bomber Command, to Africa, I am forwarding the enclosed photograph as possibly being of interest to readers.It was taken by a friend of mine, Captain T. King, and coincided with a moment when the aircraft was visibly enveloped in anapparent fog. This phenomenon appeared only at certain points along the cliffs at Accra while the aircraft were travelling at veryhigh speeds. I would also be grateful for a concise explanation of the reasons for this happening. Accra, West Africa. G. B. REYNOLDS. [Reduction in pressure around a fast-moving body can, undersuitable conditions of humidity and temperature, cause moisture to condense; in the example depicted the condensation is transient.The photograph—which has been left untouched—clearly illus- trates the elliptical lift distribution.—Ed.] Oddly suggestive of the popular conception of a "flying saucer"— the vapour-shrouded Canberra mentioned above by Mr. Reynolds. . ..- I '.. - nil,,, riMiiiiiiiiMf-iiiMlaiiiitt.ttriiflii^^ The pre-war Templehof photograph referred to by Mr. Stroud in column 1. The aircraft is a Lufthansa Junkers Jul60. Labour Switch? TN view of the short-time working in the motor industry, would•*- it not be possible to revert to the war-time procedure of this industry producing sub-assemblies and complete aero-engines—inthis instance, however, for civil needs? I appreciate that the cost of re-tooling would be considerable,but if the outcome was, say, a third Viscount production line then this cost would be more than justified. To put skilled men on short time seems a shocking waste ofmanpower when their services could be put to good use in a not dis-similar industry. Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol. -: •-. R. O. LYON. For the Record T REFER to your issue of January 27th, pages 114 and 118, in•*• particular the remarks concerning Harewood Airport. Firstly, Kingsford Smith did not land there in 1928, as it was then non-existent. He made his first touch-down in New Zealand at Sockburn Aerodrome (now known as R.N.Z.A.F. Station Wigram),some four to five miles from Harewood, which incidentally, should be referred to as Christchurch Airport. I witnessed the arrival of "Smithy" after that memorable flight,which is still marked by a concrete slab, suitably inscribed, set in the ground at the point where he touched down. Sunbury-on-Thames, Middx. Krwi. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. FORTHCOMING EVENTS 16. British Gliding Association: Annual Ball. 17. British Gliding Association: Annual General Meeting. 17. British Interplanetary Society: "Space Ship Construction," by A. M. Kunesch. 17. British Interplanetary Society (Manchester): "Aerodynamic Drag," by R. J. Boor. R.Ae.S.: Section Lecture: "Experiments on Flow Over Swept Back Wings," by P. T. Fink, B.E., A.F.R.Ae.S. R.Ae.S.: First Ch:hadwick Memorial Lecture: "The Life andWork of Roy Chadwick," by H. Rogerson, M.B.E., F.R.Ae.S. (Main lecture, in Manchester.) Mar. 21. Institute of Navigation: "Developments of the Decca Navi- gator System"—papers by Capt. B. Wright/ G. Hawker and J. G. Adam. Mar. 21. Kronfeld Club: Film Show. Mar. 22. R.Ae.C: Film Show. Mar. 24. British Interplanetary Society (Bristol): "Mars," by P. Moore, F.R.Ae.S. Mar. 27. R.Ae.C.: Annual General Meeting. Mar. 27. R.Ae.S.: Section Lecture: "Aircraft in Pest Control Agri- culture," by J. E. Harper. Mar. 28. R.Ae.S.: Graduates' and Students' Section: "Artificial Space Satellites," by A. V. Cleaver. Mar. 28. British Interplanetary Society: "Space-ship Engineering," by P. H. Tanner, B.Sc. Mar. 28. British Institution of Radio Engineers: "Problems of Secondary Surveillance Radar," by K. E. Harris. Apr. 5. R.Ae.S.: "Problems Associated with Production and Use of Modern Light Alloys," by G. Forrest, B.Sc.(Eng.), A..R.Ae.S. (at Belfast). Sept. 3-9. S.B.A.C. Flying Display and Exhibition, Farnborough. (Public days, 7th, 8th, 9th.) R.Ae.S. Branch Fixtures (to March 22nd):— Mar. 16, Birmingham, "Wheel and Brake Development and Testing," by P. W. Dryland. Mar. 19, Halton, "Aerial Surveys," by H. G. Dawe. Mar. 20, Belfast, "Radio Aids to Navigation," by H. H. Capes. Mar. 21, Chester, "Fuels and Lubricants for Jet Engines," by K. C. Hunt; Gloucester, lecture; Manchester, main lecture (see above); Preston, "Advantages and Disadvantages of Swept Wings," by Dr. D. Kuche- mann; Reading and District, "Maintenance Aspects of Viscount Opera- tion," by E. R. Major. Mar. 22, Isie of Wight, "Development of Gas Turbine Engines," by Dr. S. G. Hooker.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
