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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 0494.PDF
20 February 1959 239 FINAL ASSEMBLY at Folland Aircraft's Hamble works, showing Gnat Mk Is. In the foreground are coupled front and centre fuselages, as received from the dispersal plant at Southampton Airport. From the far end Gnats are sent to Chilholton for test. A total of 59 Gnat Is are on order, from the M.o.S., India, Finland and Yugoslavia. Fourteen Gnat Trainers are being built,on a pre-production contract, for the R.A.F. Omnipresident CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV was used by the Royal AeronauticalSociety to relay Sir Arnold Hall's address to 480 guests at his presidential reception last Friday. Six screens, each about 8ftabove floor level, were set up in the Society's headquarters at Hamilton Place, London, W.I—three in the library, two in thecouncil room and one in the committee room. As a result, the guests could all see and hear the president—who broadcast fromthe committee room—in reasonable comfort. Sir Arnold referred to the contributions the Society had made,and was continuing to make, towards the advance of aeronautical science and technology. He spoke of its membership of 10,550,with branches both in the U.K. and overseas; of the influence of the Society's publications; and of its links with aeronautical bodiesabroad. Traffic Control Officers Meet AT the fifth annual general meeting of the Guild of Air Traffic<*• Control Officers in London last Saturday the retiring Master, Mr. W. C. Woodruff, installed his successor, Mr. K. I. Pearson,who is senior air traffic control officer at R.A.E. Farnborough. Mr. G. L. Chambers was re-elected as clerk and Mr. G. C. Burchas treasurer. The meeting was followed by a dinner at the Dorchester, at which the guest of honour was Air Marshal SirGeoffrey Tuttle. Capt. V. A. M. Hunt presented a new trophy for "the most outstanding contribution to air traffic controlduring the preceding year." First winners are the M.T.C.A. School of Air Traffic Control, with Southend A.T.C. as closerunner s-up. Neville Spriggs Leaves Hawker TT is learned that Mr. A. Neville Spriggs, O.B.E., M.I.P.E.,*- managing director of Hawker Aircraft Ltd., has relinquished his appointment with the company after 44 years' service (hejoined Sopwith as an apprentice in 1915). It has been announced that his retirement is due to a complete reorganization of aviationcompanies within Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd., the statement continuing: "... as a result of which it was decided that therewas no position open to him commensurate with his rank." London's Second Heliport T TNTIL as recently as a few months ago London was in the*•' invidious position of being one of the few major European capital cities without a central heliport site. Next week, if apublic inquiry gives approval to proposals put forward by Rotorports Ltd., Britain's capital will find itself the proudpossessor of two sites within three miles of each other. The Rotorports site is a disused wharf on the Thames south KNIGHTED at Buckingham Palace on February 10 was Mr. Aubrey F. Burke, deputy chairman and managing director of the de Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd. Sir Aubrey is seen after the ceremony with Lady Burke and their son Kevin. Sir Aubrey is also chairman of the de Havilland Engine Co. Ltd., and deputy chairman of de Havilland Holdings Ltd., the parent de Havilland company. He is managing director of the recently formed Aircraft Manufacturing Co. Ltd. NEW REAR ASPECT of the Saab Draken supersonic tighter-attack aircraft (Rolls-Royce Avon) shown in this picture of the 3SA version. The fuselage is longer and retractable dual tailwheels replace a bumper bank close to Vauxhall Bridge and adjacent to British Railways'Nine Elms goods depot. The directors are confident that this is one of the three possible sites favoured by the London CountyCouncil, the other two being situated to the north of King's Cross station and to the east of the Tower of London. Unlike the T-shaped landing platform favoured by Westlandat their nearly completed Battersea heliport, the Rotorports design is based on an almost rectangular platform measuring some150ft X 120ft. This platform will be raised above ground-level as a precaution against flooding and will extend well out over thewater and some way on to the actual site. Rotorports do not plan to operate air services under their ownname. In the immediate future they intend to develop the market for business travel, using either a Westland Widgeon or a Bell47J under the colours of an associated company, Executair. Look- ing farther ahead, it is hoped that the advent of suitably economicaircraft will permit the operation by Executair of scheduled passenger services. IN BRIEF An increase in funds has been provided by the Government for thedevelopment of the Short SCI. This was stated in Parliament last week by the Minister of Supply, Mr. Aubrey Jones. * * * Mr. H. E. Drew has been appointed Director of Electronics Produc- tion (Air) at the Ministry of Supply in succession to Mr. R. E. Sainsbury. * * * Mr. Peter Masefield, managing director of Bristol Aircraft Ltd.,Mr. Percy Hunting, chairman of the Hunting Group, and Mr. Hugh Actor, a director of The Times and a qualified helicopter pilot, havebeen appointed members of the council of the Air League. Sir Miles Thomas, chairman of Monsanto Chemicals Ltd. and a former memberof the council, has accepted an invitation to become a vice-president. * * * Miles Electronics announce that they have been awarded the con-tract for the design and manufacture of a simulator for the Blackburn NA.39. The company have recently completed a simulator for the flightrefilling of V-bombers, and a Sea Vixen simulator is in progress. * * * At the Royal Festival Hall, London, last Saturday, three of the fourmembers of The Small World balloon crew gave a well-attended lecture on their transatlantic flight. The provincial lecture tour announced lastweek has been postponed. * * * Today's (February 20) issue of our associated journal The Autocar isa special "Choosing Your Car" number, giving all the information and guidance necessary to ensure that the vehicle bought is right in perform-ance, economy and convenience. The price of the issue is Is as usual.
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