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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 1065.PDF
10 August 1956 211 NEW-STYLE FARMER'S BOY is the Edgar Perciyal EP.9 agricultural aircraft, now sporting a smart green-and-cream colour scheme. This "Flight" photograph of the agile newcomer (being flown by the designer, Edgar Perciyal) was taken only last week. One of the principal new developments by the Societe Turbo-meca is a shaft-drive engine named Bastin. It is reported to weigh 606 lb dry and to deliver 750 e.h.p. Production is beingundertaken jointly by Turbomeca and Hispano-Suiza under the terms of their recent agreement for mutual co-operation. TwoBastins will power the forthcoming S.N.C.A.N. colonial aircraft, which will, however, fly in prototype form with a pair of 600-h.p.S.N.E.C-M.A. 12S piston engines. Further information is now available regarding the SpanishI.N.I.-11 which was exclusively described in our issue of May 11, 1956. It is confirmed that the configuration is that of a multi-stage axial compressor, an annular combustion system and a single-stage turbine. As we reported at that time, the prototypeI.N.I.-11P is a rough and very heavy job, weighing 1,653 lb for a rated thrust of 3,306 lb. The corresponding figures for the pro-duction engine are expected to be 992 lb and 4,409 lb, and the dimensions are given as: diameter, 29.5in and length 118in. Itis likely that the production engine will be series-produced in Spain by Hispano-Suiza. Harmon Trophy for Cunningham AMONG the recipients of the Harmon Trophy, whose nameswere announced last weekend, is G/C. John Cunningham, de Havilland's chief test pilot. The award is made in recognition ofhis "outstanding contributions to the development of commercial jet-propelled air transportation," particularly in respect of hisround-the-world flight, in 56 hours' flying time, in the Comet 3. Other recipients are Mme. Jacqueline Auriol, for her 715.35m.p.h. in a Mystere 4, and Lt-Cdr. Charles Mills, U.S.N., for flying achievements during ice-formation research.The awards were founded in 1926 by Col. Harmon, a pioneer American balloonist and aeroplane pilot. British Models Win GREAT BRITAIN won the international power-driven modelchampionships at Cranwell last Monday, with 2,598 points. The U.S.A. was second with 2,458 and Holland third with 2,355.Sixteen countries competed. The individual winner was Mr. Ronald Draper, of Coventry. Folland Gnat Lost /"\NE of the two prototype Folland Gnats (Bristol Orpheus)^-' was destroyed on July 31, fortunately with only slight injury to the firm's chief test pilot, S/L. A. E. Tennant. The aircraft was being put through equivalent-speed tests at5,000ft when Tennant suddenly found himself without control. He tried various remedial measures with throttle and tail-trim,and by lowering the undercarriage, and told his base, Chilbolton, that he would endeavour to get into Boscombe Down; but after several minutes, by which time he was down to less than 1,000ft,it was apparent that nothing could save the situation; Tennant used his Folland ejector seat, with complete success. It is under-stood that, although the wreck caught fire, useful evidence of the cause of the accident remained. The Panacea? "pVERYONE agrees that aviation's biggest single problem is air-*—' traffic control, and the fact that the world's military and civil aeroplanes are quickly "running out of sky." It is agreed, too,that local action—helpful though it may be—will not solve the long-term, world-wide problem. Something has to be done on thegrand, international scale. This was the problem which the Inter- national Civil Aviation Organization had most at heart at theirCaracas conference (witness the formation of the special "task force"), and which the International Air Transport Associationdeliberated at length at San Remo (there will, it is to be hoped, be no wastage or duplication of effort between the two organizations). We noted with interest, therefore, Notam 545 issued by theMinistry of Transport and Civil Aviation on August 2. It stated: "(1) In accordance with the United Kingdom policy on shortrange navigation aids, it is proposed to take advantage of the high accuracy of the Decca Navigation System to introduce proceduresin the London Flight Information Region which will expedite traffic by employing reduced separation standards. These pro-cedures will be brought into effect on 12th August, 1956. (2) The procedures will only apply to aircraft fitted with the Decca FlightLog, and reduced separation standards will only be applied be- tween such aircraft. . . ." This involves no startling change of policy: the merits of Deccaare well enough appreciated in this country. But there is a feeling now gaining strength in other countries, including, we believe,the U.S.A.—that the long-term answer to the safe use of con- gested airspace might well be found in this British equipment. NEW BOEING WORK at Seattle concerns the company's supersonic tunnel and the first KC-135A tanker. The Boeing "Flying Boom" refuelling installation of the latter is depicted en the right. The two 38 ft spheres which store air for the tunnel are shown above being filled with some 3m factory-rejected tin cans, which act as a heat sink. Tin cans are also used by some firms to Mil fuselages on pressure-test, as a safety measure.
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