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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0519.PDF
THE BACK PORCH: In animated discussion with A.V-M. H. N. Thornton (back to aircraft) General Milch (hatless) is seen by the rear entrance to the Blackburn Beverley on the occasion of its recent visit to Germany (see paragraph on page 548). TUG DE LUXE: First flight of the Martin B-57E target tug, being developed to provide air-to-air and ground-to-air firing practice. Another recent first flight was that of the RB-57D, with Pratt and Whitney J57 two-spool turbo jets. spend so much time on the actual operations of the company andwas able to devote more attention to planning for the future." In 1951, the French Government made Mr. Rentschler anofficer of the Legion of Honour for his "contribution to the pro- gress of aeronautical science." Trinity College of Hartford, Con-necticut, conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws as the man "who helped America to gain air supremacy and keep itwhen jet propulsion revolutionized air power." Celebrating 1,132 m.p.h. /"1UESTS at a luncheon at Claridge's Hotel, London, on April^ 26th felt privileged to share in the celebration of the recent establishment of a new world speed record by Peter Twiss in theFairey F.D.2. The Duke of Edinburgh headed a guest list which included many of the leading figures in civil and military aviationand the aircraft industry. There were only two formal speeches: the toast of the Faireycompany, by Mr. Maudling, M.P., Minister of Supply, and the response by Sir Richard Fairey. Mr. Maudling introduced hisobservations with a reference to more than 40 years of Fairey history during which there had been no diminution of thespirit of enterprise that had marked the company's foundation. He said that this was the second Fairey celebration he hadattended: the other had been for the first "kill" [of a target air- craft] by a British guided weapon. Mentioning that the F.D.2 was "one of Her Majesty's air-craft", Mr. Maudling congratulated the pilot and the teams con- cerned in the record. Russia and the United States, he continued,might have aircraft as fast as, or faster than, the F.D.2; but the question was, could they achieve the speed with the controlrequired under record conditions? Adding that he believed the F.D.2 "still had a bit in hand", the Minister concluded by sayingthat the country must get the best out of the facilities it had, particularly its brains. Replying, Sir Richard Fairey recorded his company's pleasureat the presence of the Duke of Edinburgh and thanked the Minister for his tributes. It would be false modesty, he said,to pretend that he was not proud and elated that the company he had founded 41 years ago had produced the first aircraft tosurpass 1,000 m.p.h. under record conditions. It was the fourth time that Fairey aircraft had broken world records and, headded, it would not be the last. Such a record was, of course, a team effort, and Peter Twiss was a great pilot. After referring to the F.D.2 as "A hurtling missile travellingat nearly 20 miles per rrinute at 38,000ft through a narrow ribbon of air," Sir Richard went on to congratulate Mr. RobertLickley (the chief engineer, who directed the F.D.2 design effort) as "a great engineer" and Mr. Geoffrey Hall (assistant managingdirector, and the record-team captain) as the man who had pro- vided the leadership and drive behind the effort. He also paida tribute to Lord Hives, chairman of Rolls-Royce—who was present at the luncheon with several other members of his com-pany—for the "one little engine" which had provided the power; the R.A.E. and the timekeepers who were responsiblefor the recording; and Fighter Command, who had vectored the flight. All these received from Sir Richard their share of thepraise and credit, and finally he thanked the Ministry of Supply for their support and help—especially in having ordered themachine in the first place! The luncheon concluded with the showing of a short but dramatic colour film, taken by the company, of the preparations and flights of the F.D.2 during the period of successful attempton the record. Guests were particularly impressed by the rapid acceleration of the aircraft on take-off and the steep climb fromthe Boscombe Down runway. The contrail left by the machine on its runs, essential for tracking and camera observations, wasseen with exceptional clarity. No tail parachute was found necessary on any of the landings. Before his departure, the Duke of Edinburgh accepted fromSir Richard Fairey a handsome silver model of the F.D.2. Air Race Entries ENTRY lists for this year's National Air Races have beenannounced by the Royal Aero Club and are given below. As previously reported in Flight, the four class-races will eachconsist of three rounds. Two rounds of each race will be flown „ at the Whit Monday meeting at Yeadon. and the final rounds will'be contested at Baginton on Saturday, July 21st. Aircraft have been allocated to the respective races by theRoyal Aero Club, and the first 15 British pilots in the British Air Racing Championship table will compete in the King's Cup raceat the Baeinton meeting. Most interesting newcomer to this season's racing is the long-awaited Somers-Kendall S.K.I, to beflown by Nat Somers, last year's air racing champion. The full list of pilots and aircraft is as follows: S.B.A.C Cup.—J. N. Somers (Somers-Kendall S.K.I), F. Dunkerley(Sparrowjet), R. R. Paine (Hawk Speed Six), S/L. J. Rush (Falcon Six), G. C. Marler (Falcon Six), A. S. K. Paine (Proctor 1), E. Crabtree(Proctor 3), W/C. R. H. Mclntosh (Proctor 3). Osratn Cup.—P. Blamire (Gemini la), E. Crabtree (Gemini 3),T. G. Knox (Proctor 3), E. N. Husbands (Proctor 1), A. Barker (Proctor 3), J. N. Somers (Chipmunk), J. R. Johnston (Hawk Trainer 3),J. E. G. Appleyard (Chilton D.W.la). Kemsley Trophy.—A. J. Spiller (Messenger 2a), Miss A. Windle(Whirnev Straight), W. P. Bowles (Monarch), J. H. Denyer (Tijjer Moth), J. M. Donald (Tiger Moth), B. J. Snook (Tiger Moth), S/L.D. P. Boulnois (Tiger Moth), J. G. Lovegrove (Tiger Moth). Goodvear Trophy.—C. Gregory (Tay'.oreraft Plus D), M. J. Marshall(Tiger Moth), W. H. Bailey (Moth Minor Coupe), D. F. Oei'yy (Comper Swift), Hon. P. Vanneck (Tiger Moth), N. D. Norman (Tiger Moth),F/O. A. G. Oldham (Tieer Moth), N. H. Jones (Tieer Moth). Reserves: C. G. Wheatley (Globe Swift), H. B. lies (Miles M. 18/2). Swansea Rally A VERY successful Franco-British week in Swansea concludedlast Fridav evening with an "air ball" in the Brangwyn Hall, followed on Saturday by a flying rally. Both functions wereattended by Fr^n~h private pilots, including M. and Mme. Kilian Hennessy of Cognac fame, who arrived in a Macchi 320; M.Mouza, Mme Dormois and M. Cornu, who came from Joigny in two Mini-tabs; and M. Le Fage in a Piper Pacer.Held at Fairwood Common airfield, the rally was opened by the mavor of Swansea, Councillor P. Morris, who announced thattrie airfield was finally to be developed as Swansea's civil airport by Cambran Airways, Ltd., who have approval for a servicebetween Haverfordwest, Swansea, Cardiff and London. Flying included an arrival competition, won by Mr. F. Griffithsin an Auster, and a spot-landing contest, won by Mr. J. S. Eynon of Swansea in the Mosscraft. The concours d'eleeance was wonby M. Le Fage with the Pacer. Two Auster 6s of No. 663 A.O.P. Sqn., R.Aux.A.F., contributed enterprisingly to a windy butcheerful afternoon's sport.
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