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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0639.PDF
FLIGHT, 25 May 1956 639 THE CT-10 GUIDED TARGET . . , search for the aircraft. The resulting aerial bearing is used tore-sight the binoculars when the aircraft emerges from cloud again. Once the target has been located and centred in the view-finder, the observer re-couples his instrument with the aerial. The "pilot" is actually inside the control van and does not seethe aircraft at all. He has in front of him the P.P.I, display, a starting box and the flying-control switch. In addition to a master switch and warning light the startingbox has five push-buttons, communicating through a multi-core cable that is carried to the aircraft by a simple tubular "gallows"and a quick-release plug. The starting sequence is simple: fuel, tank pressurized from the air bottle; light, current to the igniterplug; compressed air, external starting supply into combustion chamber; air and light, full airflow and fuel to light engine; fire,ignition of the booster rockets for take-off. The flight control is a universally-mounted stick-type switch, with four movements, left turn, right turn, climb, dive. Aseparate push-button transmits the land signal. The pilot is pro- vided with fuel-consumption curves for climb, turn and levelflight, from which a detailed flight plan can be prepared, so as to make best use of the available endurance. This S.N.C.A.N. flight tracking and control system is excep-tionally simple. It includes only well-known I.F.F. and V.H.F. radio units and its electrical and mechanical principles are basicand well-understood. For the type of target it has to control and the ranges and heights involved, the tracking system costsless than one-tenth of the conventional search and lock-on radar. S.N.C.A.N. confidently claims that it is the only simple andinexpensive system of target tracking in the world. The pulsejet aircraft is not made from special materials andhas been designed, with its autopilot controls, for economic mass production. The trailer launching ramp, generator trailer, controlvan and compressor and equipment lorry are also simple and relatively inexpensive. GLIDING IN POLAND THE impressive record of gliding activity in Poland is reflected inthe fact that no fewer than 18 Polish pilots now hold the F.A.I. "Gold C" badge with three diamonds—a greater total than in anyother country. Since the production of sailplanes and gliders was resumed after the war, in 1947, a notable expansion in bothnumbers and variety of types has taken place. The basis for this production is the Bielsk Experimental GlidingEstablishment, which produced its first prototype of a competition glider, the Sep (vulture), in 1946. This did well in the inter-national trials in Switzerland of that year, and was in the immediate post-war years the standard machine used by Polish gliding clubs. The following year the Bielsk workshops produced the trainingglider known as the Mucha (fly), which is still in general use. In 1949 came the Jastrzab (hawk), specially designed for aerobatics,which was followed by an experimental laminated-wing glider named the Osa (wasp). The best-known Polish glider, the Jaskolka (swallow) was con-structed in 1951. This type has since proved itself both in alti- tude and high-speed flying, and has been exported in considerablequantities. Another successful machine is the two-seater Bocian (stork) which is used both for competition flying and for training.Polish pilots usually begin their training on the ABC single-seater, or on the Czapla (heron) two-seater. Experimental work at the moment is concentrated on taillessgliders. One such, called the Nietoperz (bat) has recently been produced at Bielsk, where work is now in progress on anothertailless model, the Wampir (vampire). The majority of these machines, apart from the experimental ones, are mass-produced, and can thus be supplied to the numerousgliding clubs in the country at a reasonable cost. Gliding is an extremely popular sport today in Poland, particularly since train-ing can be obtained free of charge in the local flying clubs, which are government-supported. Among recent international records set up by Polish pilots arethose of Jerzy Wojnarz (95 km/hr), Jerzy Popiel (541 km two- seater goal flight), and Maksymiliana Czmielowna (50 km/hrover 200 km triangular course). One of the most notable of recent achievements is that of Henryk Zydorczak who, in August last year,covered the 300 km triangular course (recently laid down by the F.A.I, as compulsory in future international championships) at anaverage speed of 51 km/hr, flying a Bocian. Women pilots have won many distinctions in Polish gliding; perhaps the best knownis Wanda Szemplinska, who at 24 has eight years of gliding experi- ence and holds the Polish altitude record (6,950 m) and an inter-national speed record for a 300 km triangular course (76 km/hr). For the forthcoming world championships at St. Yan, it isreported that the Polish team will consist of two Jaskolka L single- seaters and one Bocian Z two-seater, both types having been speci-ally developed for the contests from the original aircraft of those names mentioned above. During practice flying for the cham-pionships carried out last month, E. Makula achieved the third diamond to his "Gold C" badge with a 550 km cross-countryin a Jaskolka, and A. Brzoza flew over 450 km in a Bocian. A recent first flight was that of a new intermediate gliderdesignated the SZD-15 Sroka, while another type in this class, the SZD-16 Gil, is nearing completion. NO FIRE WITHOUT SMOKE : A B-57 START-UP This dramatic night intruders (English ic picture shows the simultaneous starting of the Wright J65 turbojets (Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire licence) in four Martin B-57B ers (English Electric Canberra licence) at the Laon, France, base of the U.S.A.F.'s 38th Bomb Wing. The murk is a product of a slow-burning constituent in the starter cartridges.
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