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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 0577.PDF
278 FROM ALL QUARTERS R.A.F. Intentions TN fifty-nine crisp paragraphs forming his memorandum* on the-•• Air Estimates for 1959-60 the Secretary of State for Air, Mr. George Ward, makes some noteworthy disclosures aboutRA.F. intentions not touched upon in the necessarily wider con- text of the defence plan "progress report" (Flight, February 13). Thus, referring to Bomber Command, the Minister says that"a number of V-bombers" will be assigned to SACEUR in the tactical role. These squadrons will replace Canberras, theCanberra B.6s at present so assigned eventually replacing the B.2s in the Middle East. Initially, the V-bombers assigned toNATO will be Valiants; and, like the Canberras, they are to be based in this country. The build-up of Bomber Command withVictors and Vulcans continues, and the V-force has now reached a high pitch of efficiency. Six minutes is the standard time fromthe signal to crews in the crew-room to take-off, and readiness is being further improved. Making next a reference to Fighter Command and its comingequipment with Lightnings, the memorandum states that these aircraft are to be fitted for flight refuelling to improve the Com-mand's capacity for overseas reinforcement. During 1959-60, a number of Javelin squadrons will be re-equipped with Mk 8aircraft, while Mk 7s already in service are to be modified for reheat. More Bloodhound sites are to become operational. The earner marks of Shackleton in Coastal Command are beingmodernized to the equivalent of M.R.3 standard. Transport Com- mand is to receive "shortly" the first of its twenty Britannia 253s,after completion of clearance trials at Boscombe Down. A con- tract is being let for the development of the TSR.2—"a versatileaircraft"—to operate in NATO and overseas commands. In Germany, the headquarters of the 2nd Allied Tactical AirForce is to have a fully international staff and the R.A.F. element has been re-named Royal Air Force, Germany; re-equipmentof the F.A.W. squadrons with Javelins is to be completed in 1959-60. In the Arabian Peninsula, where trials of G/A aircraftwere conducted last year, Hunters are to replace Venoms. The memorandum gives some heartening news on the accidentrate, which in 1958 (for both turbojet and piston-engined air- craft) was the lowest ever recorded. But it is rather gloomy onrecruitment, pointing out that this has "fallen appreciably short of requirements" in the professional branches and for direct-commission aircrew. It emphasizes that the redundancy scheme has been largely completed; there will be no more redundanciesof officer aircrew of squadron leader rank or below. It stresses the continued requirement for aircrew. The net total of Air Estimates for 1959-60 is £490,800,000(allowing for the receipt of £2,000,000 from the Federal German Government), compared with a net provision for 1958-59 of£467,050,000, allowing for an estimated receipt of £7,500,000 from Germany. The 1959-60 budget for aircraft and stores—£213,850,000—shows an increase of £17,050,000, principally because of increased expenditure on guided missiles. FLIGHT, 27 February Guided-Missile NavyR EFERENCE is made to the Royal Navy's guided missuedestroyers and to a new aircraft carrier—Hermes—in the First Lord of the Admiralty's explanatory statement! on the NavyEstimates for 1959-60. Lord Selkirk says that two of the four destroyers on order are about to be laid down, and a third willbe laid down later this year; Hermes is to start her trials by the end of 1959. Another carrier Bulwark, is being air-conditionedto enable her to operate with her commando "in the most exacting tropical conditions." Three aircraft carriers will be fully opera-tional throughout the year, being provided from Victorious, Centaur, Albion and from Ark Royal when she finishes her refit.The First Lord refers to the equipment of more F.A.A. squad- rons with Scimitars and says that Sea Vixens (to be fitted withFirestreak) are expected to come into Fleet service within a year. NA.39 development is "proceeding satisfactorily." The A.S.squadrons will be equipped with Wessex helicopters in addition to the Whirlwinds already in use; and, as is well known, theGannet AEW.3 is to replace Skyraiders. Navaids: British Statement A STATEMENT issued last week by the representatives of **• the United Kingdom airlines attending the I.C.A.O. meeting at Montreal was in the following terms: — "I.A.T.A. and the United States and United Kingdom delegations arein complete agreement that VOR should be retained as an I.C.A.O. standard aid. The disagreement is whether Decca or DMET shouldbecome supplementary standards at this time. "All United Kingdom I.A.T.A. members disagree with the Associa-tion's advocacy of DMET as a standard. There is virtually no civil operating experience with this system to date. There are no I.A.T.A.statistics on Decca reliability. In the course of more than 350,000 hr of operating experience United Kingdom operators have found that thereliability of earlier versions of Decca equipment ranges between 90 and 97 per cent. Results from the new Mk 10 equipment are expected tobe markedly better. One operator, Silver City Airways, has achieved serviceability figures for 1958 of 98.4 per cent, and of 99.25 per cent inJanuary 1959. They have approximately 26,000 hours' experience with Decca Mk 9 over three years, involving approximately 75,000 flights todate. "B.O.A.C. and B.E.A. support for Decca results from considerableexperience in operating turbojet and turboprop aircraft in high-density areas. B.O.A.C. have also had more operational experience with DME(on 200 megacycles) than the rest of the world's airlines put together." A.W.A. Directorships ~ CHANGES in the Board of Sir W. G. Armstrong WhitworthAircraft Ltd. were announced last week. Mr. H. M. Wood- hams was elected chairman and he also retains his position asmanaging director. Mr. F. Martin, Mr. J. T. Lidbury, Mr. J. A. R. Kay and Mr. S. D. Davies were elected to the Board; andMr. E. D. Keen and Mr. C. Bayly were appointed executive directors. Examining the Swallow A JOINT Anglo-U.S. research programme on the Swallowvariable-geometry concept was announced by the Minister of Supply, Mr. Aubrey Jones, last Monday. Replying to Parlia-mentary questions by Mr. Roy Mason (Lab., Barnsley) and Mr. Geoffrey de Freitas (Lab., Lincoln), he said that a series oftests and engineering studies would be undertaken—partly at *Cmnd. 673, H.M. Stationery Office, price 2s. \Cmnd. 674, H.M. Stationery Office, price Is 6d. MIGHTIER YET: The Handley Page Victor B.2, which first flew at Radlett on February 20 (pilot, F/L. J. W. Allam). The new Victor has four Rolls-Royce Conway RCo.lls of 17,250 Ib thrust each; enlarged intakes; increased span; and retractable scoops near the fin taking in ram-air for two turbo-alternators which provide high-altitude emer- gency power. Emergency power for low altitudes comes from a Blackburn Artouste in the starboard wing-root; this provides air to start the starboard Conways, which in turn deliver air to the port units li
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