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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 0316.PDF
149 WINDSCREEN WIPER: Co-pilot John Cook deans the windscreen of a Cessna 172 as, with Robert Timm, the aircraft was engaged in breaking the world's endurance record by remaining airborne for more than 50 days. The two men hope to stay aloft, around Las Vegas, for 60 days DEFLECTED SLIPSTREAM: The Ryan Vertiplane VTO research aircraft in company with a Hiller helicopter during its first "conventional" test flight at Moftatt Field. California, recently. The Vertiplane utilizes the deflected slipstream principle and is being developed for the U.S. Army Anglo-American Swallow? IN a written reply in the House of Commons last week, Mr.Aubrey Jones, Minister of Supply, stated that negotiations with Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) and the United States Government were expected soon to lead to "a joint research pro- gramme on the Swallow project principle" involving some Government finance. The Swallow project concerns polymorphic (variable-shape) aircraft, with wings which can be swept back at a very acute angle for cruising flight at high supersonic speed yet brought forward again to provide a high lift coefficient for landing. For more than five years such designs have been investigated by Dr. Barnes Wallis, chief of aeronautical research and development of Vickers- Armstrongs at Weybridge. Some £1.5m of public money was spent on it during 1956-7, but Ministry of Supply support was withdrawn in May last year when it was stated that no "immediate military application" could be foreseen. It now appears likely that, notwithstanding opposition in Washington to further mutual assistance programmes, a joint Anglo-American research effort may be initiated, with financial backing from both governments. Mr. Jones added that "it is too early to predict the kind of aircraft which might be able to make use of the Swallow principle." IN BRIEF Twelve Fokker Friendships, to be delivered during 1960, have beenordered by the Royai Netherlands Air Force at a total cost of over Fls. 30m (about £3in). Nine are to be equipped as troop transports. * * * All four engines of the S.A.S. DC-7C in whicb Mr. Mikoyan wasflying from New York to Copenhagen are being returned to Sweden for examination. After failure of the supercharger in the starboard outer thepilot received a fire warning on the port outer and made an emergency landing at Argentia, Newfoundland. The engines are Wright Turbo-Compounds. * * * Development of a new liquid-fuel rocket engine and control system"with the flexibility and control needed for manned interplanetary flights and landings on the Moon" was announced by the U.S. Navylast week. A 10,000 lb-thrust version of the engine has been ground- tested at the U.S. Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, California,and the control system is reported to be capable of controlling a rocket of up to one million pounds thrust.* * * The 5 1b atomic generator recently demonstrated at the White Housein Washington is expected to have an immediate application as a power source for equipment carried by artificial Earth satellites. Knownformally as a radio-isotope fuelled thermo-electric generator, the device was said to represent a "significant breakthrough" in producing electricpower from heat. * * * An official history of the Air League of the British Empire is beingprepared, for publication early in April, to commemorate the League's (olden lubilee. Anyone who nas any relevant material which might beincluded—documents, anecdotes, photographs, etc.—is asked to com- municate with Mr. Gavin Cochrane, c/o the Secretary-General, AirLeague of the British Empire, 19 Park Lane, London, W.I. * * * Aircraft in Agriculture is the subject of a paper to be presented atnext month's National Power Farming Conference by Mr. R. C. Amsdcn of the Fison organization's research station at Chcsterford Park, Essex. The conference, organized by Flight's associated journalsPractical Power Farming and Farmer and Stockbreeder, will take place at Harrogate on Februaiy 10, 11 and 12. * * * A memorial service for the late Louis Massey Hilton, D.F.C, A.F.C.,A.F.R.Ae.S., is to be held today (Friday, January 30) at St. Clement Danes, Strand, London, W.C.2.* * * The veteran Swedish pilot Goesta Andree, who in 1929 made a soloflight from Stockholm to Cape Town and back, was killed last week in an accident to a Meteor in which he was flying.* * * Mr. J. B. Wake has been appointed industrial sales manager ofde Havilland Propellers Ltd. with responsibility to the sales director, Mr. C. R. Burgess. Mr. Waite, who for six years had been aero salesmanager to D. Napier & Son, joined de Havilland Propellers in December 1957 as technical sales liaison officer, guided weapons. * * * In what was described as "the longest non-stop flight within thecontinental United States," a U.S.A.F. Thunderchief piloted by Capt. Billy White flew last week from Eielson A.F.B., Alaska, to overheadEglin A.F.B., Florida—a distance of 3,850 miles—in 5 hr 27 min at an average speed of 700 m.p.h. > • . .. , * * * .•-•••-;, •:•••• It was announced by Pratt & Whitney Aircraft on January 25 thatthe JT-12 rurboiet has been selected to power the four-engined version of the Lockheed Jets tar. Lockheed are in production with airframesat Marietta, Georgia, for JT-I2 deliveries in October 1960. Jetstars are already flying with twin Wright TJ-37 (Bristol Orpheus) engines. * * * Saab are to begin licence-production of the Alouette helicopter inthe spring, with the first aircraft due for completion in July. The initial batch of 15 will be assembled mainly from French components.The first two of eight Alouettes ordered for the Royal Swedish Navy were handed over shortly before Christmas; the Royal Swedish AirForce has so far ordered two. • , NAPIER BOARD ap- pointments detailed opposite are those of deft to right) Viscount Caldecote, Sir John Paget, Mr. A. J. Penn and Sir Archibald Hope
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