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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 0997.PDF
Three conversions for executive duties (see letter from Denis M. Powell): upper left, modified Douglas B-23 Dragon owned by Standard Oil; lower, 1935 Boeing 247D (N.18E, ex-NC.13340 of U.A.L), owned by Richard Uricho. Jnr.; above, a smart Lockheed Vega, N.13W5, owner unknown. 993 FLIGHT,27 December 1957 CORRESPONDENCE . . . and one 80 h.p. Sopwith biplane; two Sopwith Tabloids were dailyexpected to arrive from England." What, then, does one assume that last-mentioned 80 h.p. Sopwithto have been? However, Samson later records: — "On September 22 the long-expected attack was made on theZeppelin sheds. Four aeroplanes started out from Antwerp, flown by Major Gerrard, Lieutenant Collet, Lieutenant Marix and Lieutenant Spenser Grey (sic), the latter carrying Lieutenant Newton Clare as passenger."Readers may place whatever construction they wish upon the statements that a fourth aeroplane participated and that SpenserGrey carried a passenger. It would be possible to connect them and to add the photograph of the modified Tweenie for goodmeasure. The fact that that is a form of guesswork which I personally dislike does not diminish the possibility that it may becorrect; but, lacking absolute confirmation that the Tweenie was still in use after the outbreak of war, I have always hesitated tocall it a war-time type. (Doubtless the fourth machine was merely borrowed from the Dunkerque Flight of Samson's unit—theAntwerp Flight was specifically intended to bomb the airship sheds.)I shall be very surprised if proof can be found that production of the Sopwith Sociable, or Tweenie, was undertaken. I think thatthe production aircraft which Mr. Brooks has in mind must have been the "Spinning Jenny" two-seaters: two dozen were built,powered by the 100 h.p. Monosoupape, but the Spinning Jenny was a tandem two-seater. Its span, however, was 36ft—exactlythe value quoted by Mr. Brooks. Birmingham, 32. J. M. BRUCE. Veteran Executive Aircraft (CONGRATULATIONS to Flight on its really excellent^ enlarged "special" (October 11) containing a comprehensive review on the leading European and North American types ofbusiness/executive transports. Regarding the section devoted to the leading U.S.A. types(pages 586-595), it is perhaps logical that the world's richest country today produces the world's biggest selection of aero-planes in these categories. Nevertheless, the most remarkable thing about business/executive/private flying in America nowa-days is the relatively large numbers of World War 2 (and even a substantial number of pre-1939) types in service; and this inspite of the relatively expensive conversion and operating costs compared with the highly efficient and more economic aeroplanesof these categories (except the DC-3!) produced in the past five to ten years. On page 595 you briefly describe certain classes of conversionson the C-47/DC-3, Lodestar, Ventura, and Douglas Invader by the well-known Wold organization. I would suggest thatthese four types represent less than half of the impressive total of former bomber/transports of the 1939-45 war which havesurvived and which, following some of the most amazing con- version jobs by several highly enterprising specialist firms, aregiving fast, reliable and all-round excellent service to their current owners. For example, on the current American civil register, and flyingas executive transports, are eight Douglas A-20 Bostons, 44 Douglas B-26 Invaders, 14 Douglas B-18 Digbys (U.S.A.F. nameBolos) plus 19 Douglas B-23 Dragons. Of 162 Curtiss C-46 Commandos currently flying in the U.S., three are furnished asluxurious "flying offices" for presidents and vice-presidents of their owners. At least one Convair PBY-5A Catalina is fitted outas a super-luxury "flying yacht," and I believe this particular Catalina transitted Prestwick Airport early this year. Thereare 11 North American B-25 Mitchells, including Mr. Paul Mantz's celebrated and extremely colourful "Cinemascope fly-ing laboratory" (which visited Nairobi recently with the president of 20th-century Fox aboard). Martin Aircraft are representedby six B-26 Marauders with an equal number of M-202s disposed of several years ago by Northwest Airlines.Among the less-publicized amphibians nowadays, there are considerable numbers of Grumman G-21s, G-44s and G-73s;and there are at least 50 of the G-73 Mallards, last of the line in this manufacturer's notable achievements in this field. Astrange Grumman Avenger conversion is one of the type fitted with a cabin to take four passengers! Even more remarkableare about 40 French-built G-44 Widgeons imported from France last year, about half of which are now flying the U.S., havingbeen re-built to U.S. standards, including the fitting of Lycoming 270 h.p. or Continental 220 h.p. powerplants. Other amphibiansinclude 650 Republic Seabees still active, and finally half-a- dozen old-time Sikorskys (three S-39s and three S-43s) still goingstrong after more than two decades! Surviving veterans of the 1932-39 era include six LockheedVegas and one Lockheed Orion, plus several Model 10s and 12s Electras, eight Boeing 247Ds, one B-307 Stratoliner, two DC-2s,14 Luscombe Phantoms and 28 Noorduyn Norsemen, plus the huge total of 768 Waco biplanes (all models), about a third ofwhich possess current C.s of A. This list, I may add, is far from complete. In closing, perhaps I may remark that Flight's "specials"published on regular occasions every year provide regular readers (and irregular ones, too) with most valuable records of informa-tion on the many specialized subjects they cover in world aviation, both civil and military. I subscribe to several of theforeign aviation journals; but I must say that, whilst Flight may sometimes be equalled, it is certainly never surpassed. Nairobi, East Africa. DENNIS M. POWELL. ICBM a Misnomer ? T^HE term "intercontinental ballistic missile" is frequently used-*• to describe the latest rockets. Can any reader explain the relevancy of the word ballistic? Surely all missiles obey the lawsof ballistics. The word missile is ill-chosen, too, for whilst all rockets (when their fuel is expended) are missiles, all missiles arenot necessarily rockets. As for intercontinental, this may mean any distance between a few feet and 12,000 miles. What is wrong with "long-range rocket" which explains exactlywhat it is? London, W.14. M. A. SANDYS. [If a missile has wings it need not follow a ballistic trajectory.The word "missile" is preferable to "rocket," because the winged, non-ballistic, intercontinental weapons are not rocket propelled.Examples of these are the SM-62 Snark and the SM-64 Navaho. Intercontinental range is defined as 4,000 to 5,500 miles.—Ed.] FORTHCOMING EVENTS Dec. Jan. 31. Kronfeld Club: New Year's Party. 1. Kronfeld Club: "Radio Observation of Russian Satellites," by G. Whitfield. 2. R.Ae.S.: Young People's Lecture, by A. W. Bedford, A.F.C., A.R.Ae.S. 4. British Interplanetary Society: "High Altitude Research During the International Geophysical Year," by Dr. R. F. L. Bo yd. Kronfeld Club: "On the Yorkshire Gliding Club," with films by J. C. Riddell. Helicopter Association: "Boost Systems for Helicopter Gas Turbines," by A. W. Morley, Ph.D., A.F.R Ae.S. R.Ae.S.: Main Lecture at Leicester: "Rolls-Royce Engines," by A. A. Lombard. F.R.Ae.S. R.Ae.S. Lectures (to Jan. 15):— Jan. 7, London Airport, "Airline Operational Flying," by CaDt. W. Baillie. Jan. 8. Bristol, "Fail Safe Structures." by N. F. Harpur; Southampton, Annual General Meeting and Film Show; Weybridge, "rains Trust, Jan. 14, Boscombe Down, "Aircraft Control," by Prof. G. A. Whitfield; Cambridge, Lecture by W/C. Lewis. Jan. 15, Leicester, Main Lecture (see above). Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. 8. 10. 15.
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