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Aviation History
1958
1958 - 0489.PDF
SCIMULATOR: A fortnight ago we illustrated a tank-like trolley being used tor testing the steam catapults of H.M.S. "Victorious." Now comes the fearsome vehicle shown above, an 18-ton, 37tt-span Scimitar —of sorts—destined for launching, at up to 140 m.p.h., against arrester gear and other deck equipment. The tests will be at R.A.E. Bedford. last year, opening his parachute at about 2,000ft. During 1956,Capt. Milburn Apt, U.S.A.F., separated his escape capsule from an X-2 at about 45,000ft over California, but failed to save himselfby baling out of the capsule before it struck the ground. S/L. Fifield, Martin-Baker test pilot, made a successful test ejectionfrom a Meteor at 41,000ft and a Hunter pilot was unintentionally but safely ejected at 42,000ft. The U.S.A.F. was planning to makeparachute descents from a balloon at heights up to 90,000ft, but had not yet reached this level last year.) The Scorpion Canberra pilot and navigator were wearing thestandard British high-altitude clothing, including g-suit, partial- pressure jerkin and partial-pressure helmet. No clothing was tornoff by air blast and the automatic devices—including the M.L. seat-harness releases and Irvin barometric releases Type A Mk 3—worked correctly. The seats separated immediately after ejection and parachutes opened at about 10,000ft. Both men suffered someeffects from intense cold and rapid descent. Army Evaluate EP.9 AN accompanying photograph illustrates the manner in which• the Edgar Percival EP.9 can be equipped to carry two stretcher cases and an attendant or walking case in a rearward-facing dis-patcher's seat. In this role, space is available for blood-transfusion and portable oxygen equipment in the upper part of the cabin.The aircraft illustrated is XM 819, one of a pair of EP.9s which are at present being evaluated by the British Army. Both XM 819 and its companion XM 797 are painted in standardArmy camouflage and have an interior upholstered in grey with red trim. Both aircraft were due to be delivered to the A. andA.E.E., Boscombe Down, by the middle of this month. They have been equipped for operation in various roles to suit the Army'srequirements for maximum versatility. Full night-flying equip- TROIS AVIONS, CENT L/75. Three inuckuuin fiever/eys .<=<.e..;;> ire* a 100-bed field hospital to the U.S.A.F. base at Dreux, in France, for a NATO demonstration. The whole hospital, complete with operating theatre, was set up—part of the installation, complete with "casualties," is shown in this photograph—in less than one hour. ment is fitted, together with H.F. and V.H.F. radio. Bulky freight,can be transported and air-dropping can be conducted, either from the port door aperture or from the rear access door when the latteris removed. In addition, up to 500 lb can be slung and air-dropped from each of the two under-wing racks. For passenger transport,the EP.9 can seat six, and it is also likely to be used for parachute training, photographic and dual-control training roles. The air-craft itself was fully described in our issue of December 30, 1955. KC-135's 10,000-mile Flight A U.S.A.F. Boeing KC-135 landed at Lajes, Azores, on April 8after flying non-stop from Tokyo—a distance of 10,233 miles —in 18 hr 48 min at an average speed of 550 m.p.h. It failedto reach its declared objective, Madrid (a further 1,200 miles), because expected tail winds did not materialize; but the flight wasthe longest without refuelling ever made by a turbojet aircraft and en route it beat the ten-year-old record for a flight from Tokyo toWashington (6,769 miles) by more than 17 hours, passing over the American capital after 13 hr 47 min. The KC-135, which had acrew of seven, was commanded by Brig-Gen. William E. Eubank, Jr., commander of the 93rd Bomb Wing, S.A.C., at Castle A.F.B. Helicopter Airline Tests Decca TTNDER a contract from the Airways Modernization Board,*-' New York Airways are to evaluate Decca Navigator Mk 10 receivers which will be fitted in all the Vertol 44 helicoptersshortly to be delivered to them. The Mk 10 ground stations are already being set up and will be operated by the American Deccalicensee, Pacific Division of Bendix Aviation Corp. Also to be fitted are Bendix sonic altimeters which are capable of giving heightindications accurate to within a few inches up to several hundred feet above terrain. STAPLE FORD SOLDIER: Two Edgar Percival EP.9s are being evaluated by the Army, as noted in a news-item above. One of them (right) is seen equipped for casualty evacuation. An Army order may be placed. SHROUDED FOR SECURITY, and with its wings and nose removed, Blackburn's new NA.39 strike aircraft for the Royal Navy starts its road journey from the maker's plant at Brough to R.A.E. Bedford, where flight trials will soon begin. Powered by two D.H. Cyron Juniors, it clearly has a T-tail; additional details must await its unshrouding and subsequent appearance in the air.
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