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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 1258.PDF
346 FLIGHT ACCESSORY DEVELOPMENTS . . . inexpensive design to meet the require-ments of civilian gliding clubs. A new harness and lightweight flyingoverall is suitable for both static and moving crew members of an aircraft, anda new automatic parachute release Type BR/E is a purely mechanical instrumentdesigned for reliability and simplicity in operation and maintenance. It can bestowed internally or externally. Kelvin and Hughes (Aviation), Ltd.The most important development, and one which was achieved by the joint efforts ofa number of companies, together with the M.o.S., R.A.E. and Institute of AviationMedicine, is the Kelvin Hughes flight data system. It is, in effect, a brand newflight-instrument panel incorporating new presentations and functions designed forinstallation in jet fighters and other advanced aircraft. The system was fullydescribed in Flight, August 16, 1957; its main feature is the linear—as opposed todial—presentation of information obtained from an air data computer. Other new products from this concerninclude a new audio incidence system, developed in collaboration with the M.o.S.from the airspeed sensing unit. By measur- ing the ratio between pressure sensed atthe wing under-surface and total pitot head pressure, and transforming these into audiosignals fed via the intercom to the pilot's earphones, the audio incidence system tellsthe pilot when his aircraft is in the correct approach condition. An alternative visualindicator with a scale marked degrees of angle of attack can be provided. The pres-sure senser and sound generator are housed together in a rectangular pressure-tightcase weighing about 4| lb. The company has also developed thegyro-magnetic compass system Mk 5, designed specially for operation in con-junction with the S. G. Brown, Ltd., master reference gyro and the flight datasystem. It can also be supplied as a separate unit with its own 3fin dial.Indicator, amplifier and detector together weigh approximately 16 lb, plus cables. Joseph Lucas (G.T.E.), Ltd. Therange of products manufactured by this major ancillary supplier includes fuelsystem and hydraulic equipment, combus- tion and other general engineering equip-ment. Under the last heading comes an air-operated hoist which, because it maybe driven by tapped compressor air, is particularly suitable for gas turbine heli-copters. It requires a maximum airflow of 0.066 lb/sec at 35 lb/sq in suppliedfrom an external source and can lift up to 330 lb. It has a vertical hook travel of100ft, a typical hoisting speed of 3ft/sec with a load of 220 lb, and weighs 24.5 lb. Lucas air-oDerated helicopter hoist. Lucas combined control unit. A remotely controlled shearing device canpart the cable in an emergency, and a manual crank is provided. A feature ofthis equipment is that helicopter turbine air can be ducted around the unit to pre-vent ice formation. Among the combustion equipmentmanufactured by Lucas is a fully variable propulsion nozzle of the "finger" type.Variations in nozzle area with reheat and with flight Mach number are controlledindependently by means of rollers run- ning in profiled slots in the fingers. Theserollers are controlled by unison rings to which axial movement is given by screwjacks or by pneumatic means. To assist in combustion-chamber design,the company has developed a flow-visual- ization rig in which water is pumpedthrough a transparent model of the com- bustion chamber to simulate the airflow.Globules of polystyrene or air bubbles and a beam of light are used to illustrate theflow pattern in the various sections. Martin-Baker Aircraft Co., Ltd. Thiscompany have two types of ejection seats in production; the standard service Mark 4used by the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and the airforces of foreign countries, andthe Mark 5 which is supplied to the Grum- man Aircraft Engineering Corporation. Itis installed in the U.S. Navy Cougar. Both seats employ the patented barostaticallycontrolled release mechanism, time-fired drogue gun and duplex drogue arrange-ment. After ejection the seat is under pre- cise and timed control; first the droguegun fires, extracting the leading controller drogue, which brings back the seat intoa horizontal position and then tows the main drogue out of its stowage. Thisstreams the parachute and lifts the occu- pant from the seat. The firm are also responsible for explo-sive hood jettisoning equipment fitted to the Javelin, Hunter, Victor, Vulcan, FiatG.91 and other new service aircraft. Normalair, Ltd. During the year thiscompany has put into production three new stainless-steel liquid-oxygen con-verters which are lighter than existing converters of comparable capacity. Theyhave a working pressure of 300 Ib/sq in, compared to 70 lb/sq in of existing equip-ment, and can therefore be used for recharging storage cylinders of portableoxygen sets. In addition, Normalair are offering anew range of butterfly valves, consisting of a standard valve assembly in elevenbore sizes and either electric or pneumatic actuators. Standard mounting flanges allow interchangeability of valve assembliesand actuators. Shut-off, pressure control, flow control, pressure relief and tempera-ture control valves, and differential pres- sure regulators, can be made up. Afeature of these units is low torque at or very near the closed position. All unitscan be supplied in aluminium alloy or stainless steel. Palmer Tyre, Ltd. An achievement ofconsiderable merit by this company has been to develop a flexible hose unit topass the Ministry of Supply's difficult D.T.D.3954 specification. Thanks tointensive development in special test rigs devised by Palmer, this the Silvoflex Type200 high pressure hose did in May this year. It is now used extensively in thefuel control systems of many aircraft and guided missiles. Other developments are pressure reduc-ing valves and equipment for the non- destructive testing of aircraft componentson site. This includes comprehensive mobile X-ray, Gamma-ray, fluorescent andmagnetic facilities. Palmer Silvoflex hose fitting. Plannair, Ltd. A new development isa six-inch diameter single-stage axial flow blower powered by air either tapped fromthe engine or supplied by auxiliary aircraft compressors. It has been designed prim-arily for use in jet aircraft operating at high altitudes, and can be used for a variety ofheating and cooling functions, although it is primarily intended to supply cooling airto electric and electronic apparatus. The new model (still in prototype form) differsfrom existing blowers—which operate sub- ject to the load demand of the aircraft'selectrical circuit—and gives greater control over mass air flow at varying altitudes. Thedesign is also a radical departure from normal practice; the power unit consists ofturbine blades and nozzles arranged around the periphery of the impeller. Plannair have also developed a single-stage axial flow blower (which is coupled to a Rotol-designed gearbox) for Fairey'sRotodyne. These units serve the triple function of cooling oil, engine bay andelectrical equipment, and one is installed in each engine nacelle, where it is drivenby the engine. Other axial flow blowers range in size Martin-Baker Mk 5 ejection seat.
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