FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1956
1956 - 1767.PDF
14 December 1956 931 More R.A.F. Britannias A N order last week from the Ministry of Supply for**• three more Bristol Britannias for the Royal Air Force brought to ten the number of these transportsordered during that week alone. A few days earlier Northeast Airlines in the United States had finallysigned their contract for five, with an option on two more, and Hunting Clan had signed for two, with anoption on another. At the time of writing the total number of Britannias sold stands at 65. The latest machines for the R.A.F. willbe Britannia 253s, similar to the ten pre- viously ordered for Transport Command.These aircraft have large freight doors and are equipped to carry either troops orbulky freight. A further three Series 252s were ordered some time ago by the M.o.S.for use on trooping work by British independent operators. Already B.O.A.C's 102s have been en-gaged on trooping between England and the Mediterranean. Though these have asmaller fuselage than the 250 series, they showed that they could carry twice as manytroops on each flight as present R.A.F. transports—and save 35 per cent of theflying time. The 250 will be able to carry as many as 120 men over 3,000 miles non-stop. It was stated in Parliament recently that"two battalions of the Parachute Regiment and Brigade headquarters were moved toCyprus by 52 aircraft in 40 hours. A similar move for the same number of troops in40 hours could be done with five Britannias." These two views of a part-sectioned model— incidentally a beautifully engineered and finished one—give an idea of the accommoda- tion offered by the Britannia 250 series in a military transport role. B-52 EJECTION SEAT ORDER THE Weber Aircraft Company of Burbank, California, hasreceived a further contract for over $lm worth of ejection seats for the B-52. The first were ordered in 1951 and the latestincorporate several improvements, particularly designed to increase comfort for large men. More adjustment travel is alsoincorporated. The B-52's pilot, co-pilot and electronic counter- measures operator have Weber upward ejection seats and thetail gunner has a Weber fixed seat. Navigators eject downwards. GERMAN APPRAISAL NEXT month a West German delegation is to visit the UnitedStates to make an appraisal of some American aircraft and, after its return, a final selection of intercepters for the German Air Force, whether American, Canadian or British types, will be made. This news was given when, at Bonn on December 4, theMinister of Defence, Herr Strauss, spoke to the Press about West Germany's rearmament programme. He said that it was intendedto spend at least £25Om abroad within the next three years. Regarding aircraft, all the main requirements for the tactical airforce, which are to be complete by 1958-59, would be met under the U.S. aid programme.The second phase of air rearmament would be the building up of a "home air defence" force which, while co-operating withNATO, would be regarded by many as the Luftwaffe. For this, according to General Kammhuber (who accompanied theMinister), Germany requires intercepters capable of Mach 2 and able to use runways not more than 1,100 yd in length."Excellent British aircraft flying at Mach 2 are being developed," said the General, "and Canadian aircraft available by1960 will be at least as good as the present British ones. PIASECKI EXPANSION HPE Piasecki Aircraft Corporation, Philadelphia, has recently•*• extended its facilities by acquiring the 330-acre site, plant and other physical assets of the aircraft division of the Bellanca Cor-poration at New Castle, Delaware. Negotiations have taken two months and the price involved is $1,325,000 (about £473,141). Mr. Frank N. Piasecki, president of the Piasecki Corporation,said that this addition of the New Castle plant, fully equipped with aircraft manufacturing machinery in four brick buildings and highbay hangars, would add 258,000 sq ft to the company's present facilities. The newly acquired site includes a 3,500ft runway.Piasecki Aircraft is at present engaged on 12 contracts for the U.S. Army and Navy, including a v.t.o. design for the latter. Thecompany has no connection with Venol Aircraft, which is the present title of Mr. Piasecki's original enterprise. FOR LOVERS OF SAIL ALL lovers of the sea, and particularly those interested in theL sailing of large or small craft, will find something to their taste in the Yachting World Annual 1957. This contains moregeneral reading than ever before, with articles by experts in every aspect of yachting and sailing. Adlard Coles describes one of hisfavourite cruising grounds; Dudley Pope writes on the great Sail Training-ship Race; Ian Proctor, an authority on dinghies,discusses developments in the small-boat world. In addition to articles by these and many other expert writers, there is a designsection which contains plans, photographs and descriptions of more than fifty yachts of all types. Yachting World Annual 1957—which would make an excel-lent Christmas gift for yachtsmen or sea-loving landlubbers— is published by Yachting World, Dorset House, Stamford Street,London, S.E.I, at 35s (by post, 36s 5d).
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
