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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 1756.PDF
920 FLIGHT, 14 December 1956 LOW DUMP by the Edgar Percival E. P. 9 of the Manawatu Aerial Topdressing Co. of Palmerston North, New Zealand, shows the machine's load-jettison ability in striking fashion. HERE AND THERE Preparation for "Vanguard" ON December 8 the first test rocket of theearth satellite programme was fired from the U.S.A.F. missile test centre at CapeCanaveral, Florida. According to a Defense Department announcement, it attained aspeed of 4,000 m.p.h. and an altitude of 125 miles before ending its flight in the Atlanticabout 180 miles from its launching base. The rocket—a Martin Viking—was fired totest instruments and gather data. Talking the Same Language THE U.S.A.F. is recruiting British civilianair traffic control officers for duty at its bases in the United Kingdom. Forty-fourex-R.A.F. and F.A.A. men are being engaged, and half this total has alreadybeen enrolled through the Air Ministry. They are now taking a course with theU.S. Military Air Transport Service at Fairford, and when ready for service willoperate alongside American controllers. Maximum pay will be £1,250. U.S.-Canada Traffic Radar THE U.S. Civil Aeronautics Administra-tion and the Canadian Department of Transport have jointly been undertakingmoves towards eventual complete traffic- control radar coverage of the NorthAmerican Continent. Orders totalling over $13m have been placed for equipment,installation of which will begin next year. Raytheon is principal contractor. Hunter Pilot "Fired" THE Air Ministry last week-end releasedthe story of a remarkable escape by an R.A.F. pilot, who survived involuntaryejection from his Hunter whilst making dummy attacks on a Canberra at more than42,000ft. The pilot, F/L. Roy Watson, said that he heard the seat cartridges fireand found himself shot out through the canopy. Temporarily stunned (his helmetsaved him from serious injury, though a moment later it was torn off, together withhis oxygen mask) he fell to 10,000ft, when the automatic release operated, freeing himfrom the seat before deployment of his parachute. He injured an ankle on land-ing. The previous official highest ejection in this country was at 40,000ft by S/L.J. S. Fifield, in a Martin-Baker seat, but with the full protection of face-blind andoxygen. Aeronautical Specialization THE Canadian Aeronautical Institute isto establish specialist sections—as distinct from its territorial branches—for membersinterested in particular branches of the service, e.g., aerodynamics, structures,inspection, rocketry. R.34 Memorial A PROPOSAL that the Air League of the British Empire should erect an R.34 memorial at East Fortune Hospital, East Lothian, has been approved by the South-Eastern Regional Hospital Board. It was from East Fortune that the airship left in1919 to make the first double crossing of the Atlantic by air. The League hasalready obtained permission for the erec- tion of a memorial at London Airport(Flight, July 13). Mild and Britannia ON November 28 the new Britannia Innon the Patchway Estate, Bristol, close to the Filton works of Bristol Aircraft, Ltd.,was opened by Mr. Peter Masefield, man- aging director of Bristol Aircraft. Its signdepicts an airborne Britannia. Santos-Dumont Stamps FIVE new air-mail stamps have beenissued by Brazil to mark the 50th anni- versary of the first official aeroplane flightsin Europe, made in France by die Brazilian pioneer airman Alberto Santos-Dumont.The design for all five values depicts his "14 bis" in flight. Single or Return? ON December 15 the first of a series offour discussions on astronautics, under the overall title of Ticket to the Moon, is to begiven in the B.B.C. Light Programme. In the opening broadcast A. V. Cleaver,F.R.Ae.S., chief engineer (rockets), de Havilland Engine Co., Ltd., will discussthe question "How do we go?" with Peter Scott. Redundancy Reported IN a written Parliamentary answer lastweek Mr. Iain Macleod, the Minister of Labour, said that 1,796 workers in the air-craft industry had become redundant this year and that "some short-time working"was likely. He gave the following regional breakdown of the 1,796 total: London andSouth-East, 1,265; Eastern, 18; Southern, 322; South-Western, 70; Midlands, 41;Scotland, 80. Spotters' Album A SET of 24 coloured cards depicting andbriefly describing current types of jet air- craft of all nationalities has been producedfor R. L. Jones and Co., Ltd., of Mansfield, Notts, makers of Sunecta glucose drink.A card is included with each bottle and an album is available for the whole series.The drawings, by R. Ward, are accurate representations. HILL-COUNTRY APPROACH to land by the Auster Agricola, also operating on topdressing work in New Zealand. Superphosphate supply and loader are waiting at the end of the field.
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