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Aviation History
1958
1958 - 0414.PDF
430 FLIGHT, 28 March 1958 Correspondence The Editor of "Flight" is not necessarily in agreement with theviews expressed by correspondents in these columns; the names and addresses of the writers, not for publication in detail, mustin all cases accompany letters. The BritanniaM AY I make one or two comments upon your timely leadingarticle (March 14), "Britannia at the Crossroads"? Whilst it is broadly correct to relate as you do the 400 redundancies atBristol with further production of this machine, we are not in fact dealing with a figure of 400 but rather of 600, with thepossibility of more. The most serious aspect, I suggest (it having been alreadymade public), is the fact that some 200 draughtsmen and tech- nicians are to be dismissed from Bristol's London design office.Thus, your suggestion for a major modification to the Britannia, to produce as you put it "a convertible par excellence" wouldpresumably need to be put in hand without delay before the design potential is further reduced. In any event, one would think that the Government's almostcontemptuous cancellation of any further development of the Orion engine when it was already revealing itself as a unit ofremarkable efficiency and economy, was a clear indication that they are not interested in the maximum development of this finemachine. Finally, one must comment on B.O.A.C.'s attitude towards theirBritannia profits. This is surely a case of "Is my face red!" After all, the Corporation in its own subtle way joined in thepopular sport of a few months ago—"baiting the Britannia." You will recall that the immediate reaction of the Corporationto the crash of the Prototype 301 machine last autumn was to announce that this would mean a further delay in the introduc-tion of Britannias on Atlantic service. Was it not strange, therefore, that a very prompt about-face took place as soon as El Al reaffirmed,despite the accident, their faith in this aircraft and stated that their own Atlantic service would commence as planned? So, sir, didB.O.A.C.'s—though not with comparable frequency, as you say. Bournemouth, Hants. F. E. G. Jargonisation MAY I, through the medium of your columns, protest againstthe insidious invasion of our vocabulary by pseudo-scientific words? I have been at long last goaded into writing you this letter bya technical report on one of our most modern (and therefore most "scientific"?) aircraft which produced, firstly, the ghastly word"patternation" in discussing fuel-burner characteristics, and added "permittivity" for good measure but for no translatable meaning. I have myself been given written flight instructions which toldme of the "upUftment" of catering stores and of the "downset- ment" of passengers. Certain of the catering stores were, of course,liable to "spillage," but I never did find out whether a failure to downset the passengers would have caused them "frettage." Apparently, no longer can we be allowed to say "yes" or "no";it must be "affirmative" or "negative." We often don't "climb"; we "ascend"; and how much quicker, more accurate and more pom-pous it is to say "at this time" rather than use that silly, nursery-day word "now"! So, sir, will you please at this time give me handage in battlementagainst the usage of such a patternation of verbiage? Liphook, Hants. L. B. GREENSTED. Aviation Book ClubsT HE letter from "Literary Agent" (Correspondence, February21) on the subject of aviation book clubs was much appreciated for the facts it contained. The most significant fact was the minimum economic circula-tion of 3,000 which must also, I presume, have applied to the original Aviation Book Club. In the interim, probably the majorchange in book-reading habits has been the introduction of the paper-back which, although not universally popular, representsstiff competition. One wonders, however, with the co-operation that the publishers appear willing to extend, whether it would notbe feasible to produce ABC editions in advance of cheaper pub- lications. It seems logical on the face of it to publish editionsin descending order of retail price. Nevertheless, with the paper-back competition in mind anddiscounting any increased interest since the 1930s, a membership of 3,000 is still an appreciable target. But does not "LiteraryAgent" himself suggest a solution in his mention of the American Air Power Book Club editions at over twenty-six shillings each? Fokker M.9 or K.I (see letter from Mr. H. A. Somberg). With suitable advertising I would imagine that 3,000 subscribersto a British club could be enrolled in the United States alone with the rate of exchange so much in our favour. Dollar lolly, too!This to me is the major problem—one of economics and poten- tial business. I remain unconvinced that demand for the classicsis insufficient to warrant reprints or that the paper-back excludes the best-seller. Surely the original Club faced similar, if notgreater, problems? I would like to feel that this project to revive the Aviation Book •Club will be actively supported by the proposed Aeronautical History Society. Records, after all, are the basis of historicalresearch and I hope that the Society will not only publish books of its own but will also encourage many who have played a part inthe history of flying to commit their memories to paper. With regard to this Society I note that at the time of writing no one haspublicly thanked the Kronfeld Club for their generous offer of accommodation; such a pleasant contrast to Mr. Cain's attitude.May I now suggest, nay, make an earnest plea, that a Bruce, a "Beltane" or an Andrews takes the next step of organizing a meet* :ing to tackle the spade work—and that Flight will grant him a little space? Windsor, Berks. C. JOHN BARRON. German World War I RaritiesH AVING read in your "Correspondence" the items on "GermaflWorld War I Rarities" I send you herewith a picture of the 1915 Fokker M.9 (military designation, K.I) which had a pusher-tractor tandem engine arrangement and two fuselages, in each of which an observer was seated. The M.9 was powered with two80 h.p. Oberursel rotary engines. Only one prototype, as far as.. I know, was built. H. A. SOMBERG, Amsterdam. N.V. Koninklijke Nederlandse Vliegtuigenf abriek Fokker. TN his letter published on March 7 Mr. Smith refers to an-•- aeroplane being known as the Fokker G-l. But I believe he commits a mistake, for the Fokker G-l Le Faucheur was builtin the thirties. I believe Fokker K-l would be nearer to the mark. The pilot was placed in the central nacelle. A gunner was placedin each fuselage. Rotterdam. . G. J. DE BRUIN. Mar. 27-28 April AprilApril 5 1011 April 14-17 April April 15 15 April 16-25 April April 21 25 FORTHCOMING EVENTS Institution of Electrical Engineers: Radio and Telecom-munications Section: Convention on Radio Aids to Aero- nautical and Marine Navigation British Interplanetary Society: "Problems of HandlingLarge Missiles," by F. R. F. Taylor. R.Ae.S.: Main Lecture: "Guided Weapons," by R. Cockburn.Helicopter Association: "Powered Lift Systems," by Charles H. Zimmerman.15th Radio and Electronic Component Exhibition, Grosvenor House and Park Lane House, London.British Institution of Radio Engineers: "Factors in the Design of Airborne Doppler Navigation Equipment," byE. G. Walker. R.Ae.S.: Section Lecture: "The Problems of Vertical Take-off," by Dr. C. T. Hewson. Instruments, Electronics and Automation Exhibition,Olympia, London. Women's Engineering Society: "Philosophy of GuidedMissile Design," by W/C. P. M. Chettle. Institute of Navigation: "Use of Simulators for TrainingNavigators to Use Radar Equipment." R.Ae.S. Branch Fixtures (to April 30):— April 1, Beteombe Down, ''Aircraft Accident Investigation," byE. L. Ripley; Luton, "Arctic and Tropical Trials," by R. K. Cushing. April 2. Brough. "The Beverley in Service," by G/C. F. C. Griffiths;Christchurch, "Casting Light Alloys," by Mr. Eode; Weybn'dge, "The Future of Nuclear Propulsion." by Rear-Admiral Sir Edward Rebbeck.April 3, Isle of Wight, "Contour Etching," by A. W. Sheppard; Reading, Brains Trust. April 7, Derby, "The Tyne Turbo-PropellerEngine," by D. McLean. April 9, Chester, "Air-to-Air Photography," by Russell Adams; Glasgow, A.G.M. and Film Show; Swindon, 'Historyof the Supermarine Works," by A. N. Clifton. April 10, Cheltenham, A.G.M. and Film Show; Yeovil, A.G.M. and Film Show. April 11, Haf-fleld, Annual Dinner. April 14, Halton, "Aircraft Photography," by John Yoxall. April 16, Brough, A.G.M.; Christchurch, Joint Meetingwith Institution of Mechanical Engineers: Lecture by G. W. H. Gardner; London Airport, "Titanium," by H. W. Shaw; Preston, A.G.M. andFilm Show. April 18, Birmingham, "Reduxed Aircraft Structures." April 21, Halton, Film Night and Committee Meeting. April 23, Christ-church, A.G.M. and Film Show; Hatfield, Discussion Evening; Leicester, A.G.M. and Film Show. April 30, Heading, A.G.M. and Film Show;Weybridge, A.G.M.
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