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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 1769.PDF
859 FIRST VICTOR in R.A.F. service is the resplendent B.I (serial number XA931), shown at upper left taxying in at Gaydon after delivery on November 28. Seen (right) on that occasion are, I. to r.: G/C. F. R. Bird (who has just taken over command of R.A.F. Station Gaydon); G/C. B. P. Young (former commanding officer of Gaydon); S/L. A. W. Ringer (captain); S/L. K. W. Rogers (co-pilot); S/L. P. J. Evans (navigator); F/L. J. E. Walton (bomb aimer); and F/L. H. D. Glendinning (air electronics officer). The Victor had flown from Radlett. Bank was its 873rd orbit on Saturday, November 30, after whichit was located by U.S. tracking stations up to orbit 879. While the presumed end of the rocket's existence was linked with reportsof peculiar sights in the sky above Hamburg, Berne, Los Angeles, Cowbridge (Glamorgan) and Douglas (Isle of Man), official Mos-cow sources said that the rocket was still in orbit. From the U.S.A. where, as we go to press, it is expected that thefirst U.S. test satellite (picture, page 888) will be launched in a matter of days, it is reported that the U.S.A.F. Cambridge ResearchCenter has projects for three 1,000 lb satellites. These are intended for orbits at heights of the order of 4,000 miles, and are said to beconcerned respectively with geophysical measurements, solar physics, and "cosmic radiation and nearby planetary bodies." MULTIPLE MUFFLERS, developed by Boeing for the 707, seen fitted on two of the Pratt and Whitney JS7 turbojets of the prototype. Sound- suppressor development is being paralleled by work on reverse thrust. at low supersonic speeds, but at speeds in excess of Mach 2."Summing up, Mr. Nelson said that a central agency to handle research, development and provisioning was lacking and thefinancing of civil aircraft on a basis similar to other competitors in a world market was uncertain. Spritely Voodooism FIRST PICTURE of the new-series Rolls-Royce Conway (see page 860). S/L. Duke and FieldsF ROM the Hunting-Clan group of companies comes news thatS/L. Neville Duke is now associated in an advisory capacity with Field Aircraft Services, Ltd., and Fieldair, Ltd. He will beconcerned mainly with ferrying operations and Service liaison. From the same source comes an interesting sidelight on thepart which the ancillary industry plays in helping to raise British aviation exports to their present high levels. Field Aircraft Serviceshave calculated that over the past four years the value of their export work represents £646 per employee. The Next Aircraft Generation TAST week, in the House of Commons, the Parliamentary and*-' Scientific Committee met to discuss problems of aircraft research and development. Among the speakers was Sir WilliamFarren, technical director of A. y. Roe, Dr. A. E. Russell, a director and chief designer of Bristol Aircraft, and Mr. H. G.Nelson, managing director of English Electric. Sir William Farren, declaring that "we are only at the startof what we can do in aeronautics," said that unless the resources for research that have been built up in Government establishmentsand industry during the past twenty years were used to the full "we should advance so slowly that we should be left behind by allour competitors." Dr. Russell saw a danger that, unless substantial support wasforthcoming to undertake the development of civil aircraft, our resources might be insufficient in quality and technical experience.Looking a few years ahead, he continued, the way was by no means clear, but an extensive investigation was proceeding, withall the major aircraft firms and the two airline corporations col- laborating with the national research establishments. "In theevent of a breakthrough it could be that a solution is offered not U.S.A.F. McDonnell Voodoos flew from Los Angeles to-*- New York on November 27 in times claimed to be faster than the record of 3 hr 23 min set up last July 16 by Maj. John Glennin a U.S. Navy Crusader at an average speed of 723.5 m.p.h. The first Voodoo is reported to have completed the flight in3 hr 13 min, the second in 3 hr 10 min, the third in 3 hr 7 min 57.9 sec and the fourth—"with a supersonic burst of speed acrossthe airfield," according to one report—in 3 hr 5 min 39.2 sec. Two of the Voodoos then landed, but the other two returned toLos Angeles. The first completed the round trip in 7 hr 12 min 18 sec and the second in 6 hr 42 min 6.7 sec.The Voodoos, which flew most of the time at 40,000ft, came down to 35,000ft for refuelling by Boeing KC-135s. Russian Atomic Aircraft Plans T AST Sunday a 165-page book, entitled Application of Atomic-"-* Motors in Aviation, was published by the Russian Defence Ministry. Giving much information on Soviet plans for atomicaircraft, it claims that atomic fuel will shortly be available in quantity in Russia and that time will show the accuracy of Westernestimates of 1959-1960 for the first flight of an atomic aircraft. Two hypothetical atomic aircraft are illustrated. One is a largeconvertiplane, "capable of carrying an expedition from Moscow to the Antarctic in one day," with two propellers on its sweptwing and one at the tail, all three rotatable to provide either lift or thrust. The other is an atomic carrier aircraft to lift a 20-tonrocket to 12.5 miles. At this height the carrier would accelerate to 1,240 m.pJi. and launch the rocket. The first stage of the rocket,using 9,900 lb of lox and hydrogen in 34 sec, would lift the assembly to 21.5 miles and then return to earth by parachute.The second stage, propelled by an atomic liquid rocket, would then rise to 183 miles and establish an orbit at 17,550 m.p.h. Lecture Notifications A REVISED date and place for Mr. Handel Davies's lecture•**• The Weapons System Concept is notified by R.Ae.S. Southampton Branch as we go to press; the paper will be given at8 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, in the Institute of Education Lecture Theatre, Southampton University. As already noted, thesame lecture before the Boscombe Down Branch has been post- poned until Tuesday, December 17.Another lecture notification is from the Radar Association, to whom Mr. L. H. Bedford, of English Electric, will speak on SomeAspects of Guided Missiles on Wednesday, December 11 (Anatomy Theatre, University College, Gower Street, London,W.C.I.).
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