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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 1054.PDF
144 FLIGHT CORRESPONDENCE The Editor of "Flight" is not necessarily in agreement with the views expressed by correspondents in these columns; the names and addresses of the writers, not for publication in detail, must in all cases accompany letters. Why Jackaroo?R EADING C. M. Lambert's interesting article on flying the• Thruxton Jackaroo (Flight, July 12), I fell to wondering why the aircraft should have been so named. The dictionary—definingjackaroo as "a young man living as an apprentice on a sheep station, or otherwise acquainting himself with colonial life"—doesn't helpmuch. Is there perhaps some special significance in the name, known only to the Wiltshire School of Flying?Teddington, Middx. ROBERT GREEN. Modern Approach RadarI CAN assure your correspondent Mr. F. H. Taylor that I amwell aware of the existence of the excellent S.T. & C. precision approach radars at Thurleigh, and also, I believe, at Defford,Zurich, Amsterdam, and in service with the Royal Canadian Navy in Nova Scotia. I did not mention this equipment in my previousletter as I was under the impression that production ceased after these five units were manufactured. If I have been misinformed I hope that Standard Telephonesand Cables (and Mr. Taylor) will forgive me for this omission. New Barnet, Herts. J. M. WILDE. Historic Hangars CURELY the first hangar erected for civil flying was at Kill Devil^ Hills near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, by Wilbur and Orville Wright. They housed their famed biplane there in the autumn of1903 ready for flying trials on December 14 and 17. There cannot be one of earlier vintage, and their aircraft was used for civilian use,since there was no military aviation with heavier-than-air aircraft. It will interest your readers to know that during a visit to KillDevil Hills on June 15 I saw this hangar and the Wright brothers' adjoining workshop and sleeping quarters. They have been recon-structed with great fidelity to the originals and the workshop filled with replicas of the brothers' books, tools, kitchen utensils,beds, furniture, etc. This was in fact done on a suggestion of mine laid before theKill Devil Hills Memorial Society during my visit there in the summer of 1953 when they were seeking ideas for the GoldenJubilee for December 1953. I was informed that it was all com- pleted ready for that memorable commemoration. Saltdean, Sussex. WILLIAM COURTENAY. Airliner Crew ComplementsW E welcome the publication by Flight of Mr. George Petty'sarticle, "The Future of the Flight Engineer" [July 5], and subscribe in full to the clear exposition for the need for specializedengineer officers' services within existing crew complements, and in particular within crew complements for aircraft of the future. This Association has, over the years, given considerable atten-tion to the maintenance of the highest safety standards in aircraft operations, and has continued to expound to statutory authoritiesthe views of its membership in this connection. In 1954, discussions took place with the Air Registration Boardand, as a result of considerable technical research, the Association suggested that the Board could well accept the American principle,namely, that aircraft in excess of 80,000 lb all-up weight should have a flight engineer's station.The all-up weight factor was rejected by the Board, who pro- posed a formula which would allow manufacturers, operators andthe A.R.B. to predetermine C. of A. requirements at an early design-stage. The Association produced a formula, and this wassubmitted for the consideration of the Board. They rejected it on the grounds that there would be marginalcases arising, although the Board agreed that there was much to commend it; they maintained that the real answer was for theirown staff to make up its mind earlier, and that this would be done in the future.Arising out of the dispute over engineers in Britannia 100 air- craft, it is the Association's opinion that had the A.R.B. acceptedthe formula the dispute would not have arisen; secondly, the infer- ence to be gained (from our previous remarks) is that the questionof the issue of C. of A. minimum crew requirements for specific types of aircraft is always subject to delay. This is emphasized bythe report of the Court of Inquiry, which also levels criticism in the direction of the A.R.B. in this regard.The Association has contended that more adequate considera- tion to crew-complement requirements should be given by theappropriate authorities at the blueprint stage of aircraft design. Transport aircraft are now larger and faster and are required tofly at higher altitudes, through more complex traffic patterns and through all vagaries of the weather on a tight commercial schedule.To ensure the safe transit of upwards of 100 passengers a wide total unduplicated knowledge must be available on the flight deck.This has led in the past to the introduction into the crew of the specialist flight engineer and the specialist navigator, both of whomrelieve pilots of a proportion of the complexities, thus helping to ensure that an all-important essential in all forms of transport isobserved, namely, a vigilant look-out. The Association does not desire to impede technological pro-gress, but it considers that the need for specialization amongst aircrew members is in no way reduced, as automatic devices havenot yet assumed (and show no signs of assuming) the knowledge and work undertaken by the specialist crew member.Considerable importance is attached, arising out of recent official reports, to work-load, and in particular to pilots' work-load.Emphasis has been given to the need for greater vigilance on the part of pilots, and it is a fact that the air is now becoming con-gested. The subject of congestion and collision alone warrants serious study. The Association must, therefore, reiterate its belief that in orderto achieve safety standards satisfactory to the fare-paying pas- sengers upon whom civil aviation depends, greater emphasis mustbe shown and a wider view taken by those concerned with civil aviation on the all-important subject of crew complementrequirements. As previously stated, the Association is in complete accord withthe fundamental principles expounded in the article in question. Whereas in the case submitted by Mr. Petty some preference hasbeen shown to the economics evolving from the carriage of the flight engineer, there is also a corresponding case which can besubmitted, based essentially on safety standards in operation. London, E.I. J. G. K. GREGORY,Secretary, Air Section, the Merchant Navy and Air Line Officers Association. Maltese Cross N page 888, June 28, you caption a picture as a Shackletoncrossing the entrance to the Grand Harbour in Malta. Actually it was crossing the entrance to Sliema Creek (Marsamxett Harbouris the local name). The Grand Harbour is the other side of Valetta, shown in the foreground. Incidentally, "Takali" airfield is locallyspelt Ta-Qali. London, S.W.5. GEOFFREY DORMAN. "101 Nights"T O reach members of Bomber Command past and present,especially members of 101 Squadron, may I beg some correspondence space? Many R.A.F. personnel have sought signed copies of my novel101 Nights, set on 101 Squadron during the war. Copies cannot be bought direct from the publisher (Cassell), but to readersdesiring it I will gladly arrange for them to get a signed copy if they will write to me c/o Australia House, London, W.C.2. London, W.C.2. RAY QLUS, JulyJuly 26.27- Aug. 5 Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. Sept. 7 5-10. 18 18-25. 23-25. 24-25. 31. 2-8. 2-13. 5. 9-15. 14-15. 15.Sept. 19-22. Sept. 21. FORTHCOMING EVENTS R.N.A.S. Culdrose, Cornwall: At Home. National Gliding Championships, Lasham. Air-Britain: "Vickers Transports, 1920-1960," by P. W. Brooks, and Film Show. Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences: National Naval Aviation Meeting, San Diego, Cal. Swiss Aero Club: International Balloon Meeting, Bale. Aeronautical Union of Jugoslavia: International Parachute Contest, Tivat-Boka, Kotorska. Sporting Flying Club: International Rally, Copenhagen. Puy Aero Club: International Rally, Le Puy. R.N.A.S. Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire: At Home. S.B.A.C. Show, Farnborough. Sixth Anglo-American Conference, Great Britain. Helicopter Association of Great Britain: Annual Dinner, Dorchester Hotel. Battle of Britain Week. Popular Flying Association: Rally, Sywell. R.Ae.S. Garden Party, Wisley. Austrian Aero Club: Innsbruck and Salzburg International Air Rally, Innsbruck. R.N.A.S. Abbotsinch, Paisley: At Home.
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