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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 0555.PDF
276 FLIGHT, 20 February 1959 THE INDUSTRY Room at the Top EN Sir Frederick Handley Page spoke at the recent prize-giving to engineer and trade apprentices of Handley Page (Reading) Ltd. he firmly disposed of the idea that the only workopen to an out-of-indentures apprentice was at the bench or on the factory floor. "There is always room in higher supervisionand management for the man who knows his job," said Sir Frederick. "If the apprentice has made use of the know-ledge available to him he will be able to qualify for the splendid opportunities that exist for well-trained personnel." Sir Frederick commented that last year's standard of achieve-ment, both at the factory and at the technical college, was very high; and one engineering apprentice, L. Keys, had won a Statescholarship to study at the College of Aeronautics—the first Woodley apprentice to receive such an award. When he presented the prizes the Hon. P. F. Remnant, M.P.for Wokingham, praised the apprentices for rejecting the attrac- tion of an initially well-paid job in favour of a sound training.Echoing Sir Frederick's theme, he added: "There is always security and room at the top for those who have become skilledcraftsmen in their own sphere and are prepared to be loyal." Lightweight Airline Headsets TN both turboprop and turbojet airliners the wearing of oxygen-*• masks by one of the pilots thoughout the cruising portion of a passenger-carrying flight is mandatory. This has in turn led to thedesign of special civil headset and oxygen mask equipment de- signed to provide the standards of comfort and efficiency whichcivil crews rightly demand. Military equipment, designed to very different requirements, is not sufficiently light or comfortable andis in any case intended to afford a measure of crash-protection and pressure breathing not required in civil operations. After some hours' continuous wear an inefficient headset cancause acute discomfort. To avoid this objection Airmed Ltd., of Harlow, Essex, designed the Strat-O-Set headset (with rigidtoggle-frame attachment for an oxygen mask), users of which now include B.O.A.C. Britannia pilots. In the stand-byposition the mask hangs on a toggle frame anchored to the head- set by quick-release attachments at the earphone mountings. Theforward tension when the mask is snapped into position is taken by a light cloth strap connecting the earphones round the back ofthe head. Further development work has since led to a new toggle framesystem, oxygen mask and headset which are lighter and more comfortable, and these have been given the designation Airlite.The rigid frame has been replaced by chain links terminating at the mask in a snap-over linkage by which the mask can be quicklyclamped to the face. Designated type S.P.2, the mask itself is specially light and so designed that sizing is eliminated. It may beused with Types A20 or Mk 17 pressure demand regulators, pro- viding automatic pressure-breathing at cabin altitudes above30,000ft. (For regulators such as the A12 the S.P.3 series masks are available.) Spring-loaded quick-attachment points for thetoggles are provided on the earphone mountings. The mask can be left suspended on its chains to rest on the chest and the head canbe turned without swinging the mask at the same time. From the stand-by position the mask may be put on (and with one hand) inabout 2 sec, or in 8 sec if it is stowed conveniently nearby. The Airlite headset itself is formed by an arch of spring wireholding a very light headphone in a sliding clamp at each end. Airlite headset worn with Airmed S.P.2 oxygen mask and with boom microphone; on the right the mosk is seen in the "rest" position After the H.P. (Reading) prizegiving: Sir Frederick Handley Page (second from right) talks with (left to right) L Keys, the Hon. P. F. Remnant and A. Davies (see first news-item) Glycerine-filled pads surround the phones, providing a close,comfortable fit. A minimum noise attenuation of 10 db under external noise levels of 97 to 100 db is claimed. A foamed plasticpad with a sealed surface and artificial leather cover bearing a user's name-plate forms a rest for the top of the head. The fully adjustable boom-mounted microphone is arranged toswivel through 270 deg so that it may be worn on either side of the head. The P.V.C.-covered tinsel wiring conforms to officialrequirements and is fully screened. Customer requirements for different jacks, microphone impedances and other characteristicscan easily be accommodated. The headset alone weighs 15 oz. Also available are the headset without oxygen mask or withoutboom microphone; and there is also a version for use in ground establishments. Airmed inform us that they are now supplying the headset/maskfor the Comet 4 fleets of B.O.A.C. and Aerolineas Argentinas and for Armstrong Whitworth Argosy crews; orders for several otherfleets are in negotiation. ' IN BRIEF Vice-Admiral. Sir John Eaton, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.(Ret.), has joined Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd. as chief of administration at the company's research and develop- ment laboratories at Great Baddow, Essex. In this capacity he will be responsible for all administrative matters to the chief of research, Dr. E. Eastwood, Ph.D., M.Sc, M.I.E.E. * * * Mr. E. W. Webb, A.M.I.E.E., has joined Smart and Brown(Machine Tools) Ltd. as sales manager of the aircraft and elec- trical division. He was formerly sales manager of the aviationdivision of Elliott Brothers (London) Ltd. * * * Rist's Wires and Cables Ltd., Lower Milehouse Lane, New-castle, Staffs, have printed a display card bearing samples of their range of aircraft cables and coloured alternatively royal blue orprimrose yellow. * * *.'•,• BTR Industries Ltd. have announced the appointment ofMr. E. R. Fuller as marketing manager for Plastidry fire, agricul- tural and multi-purpose hose. He was formerly with the GeneralFire Appliance Co. Ltd., being responsible for chlorobromome- thane fire-fighting equipment. .-..,- ' . • * *.'".•'* •' . ' "•" •" • In 48 well-illustrated pages, Information Bulletin No. 24 of theAluminium Development Association (33 Grqsvenor Street, London, W.I) deals with the theory and practice of bendingaluminium and its alloys. Much of the contents should be of value to aircraft production engineers.* * * We regret to record that Mr. J. V. Glen, who had been with the B.T.H. aero equipment sales staff at Coventry since 1936 and formed the department now known as technical sales, died recently at the age of 74. After reaching the normal retiring age he had been retained by the company as consultant and personal assistant to the sales manager. * * * Cossor Radar and Electronics Ltd., one of the Cossor group ofcompanies, have now moved from Highbury and are operating from three factories at Harlow New Town in Essex. Onefactory on the Eastern industrial estate now houses certain speciai process laboratories and workshops, while another is a manu-facturing unit for large-batch production of small electronic equipments. The company's only major unit now outside Harlovis the service department, which remains at West Norwood; and there is a London office at Cossor House, Highbury Grove, N.5.
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