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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 1782.PDF
THIRD DIMENSION of the VC.10 has now been created by a full scale engineering mock-up of the aircraft at Vickers' Weybridge factory. Thirty-five have been ordered by BO.A.C. for delivery in 1963-64 AT THE RACES: Ron Paine banks his Hawk Speed Six around the Baginton pylon during practice for the King's Cup race, which was won on July 11 by A. J. Spiller in a Proctor 3. Other National Air Race winners included S. F. Jours (Kemsley Trophy), Capt. N. Baldwick (Osram Cup) and D. Hartas (D.H. Trophy) "Flight" photograph his party would establish one. The Minister of Supply counteredby saying that it had become a victim of its own success and was over-large for present and prospective demand. He quoted ordersfor the Viscount, Britannia, Comet, Vanguard, VC.10 and D.H.121 and said that sales for all of them—except the Viscount—weretoo small. Contraction of the industry was progressing; Mr. Jones instanced the recent Westland-Saunders-Roe merger. The Minister also said he was considering where detailed designwork could be placed for a supersonic civil aircraft able to fly at twice the speed of sound. He concluded by saying that Govern-ment support should not be aimed at "shoring-up" the aircraft industry but reinforcing it at its points of strength. Preserving Veteran Aircraft AN Historical Group has been formed by the Royal Aeronautical- Society and a register of historic aircraft inaugurated. The Group's aim will be the collection, accurate interpretation andpreservation of relevant information' and material; it will also co-ordinate and foster the efforts of individuals both inside andoutside the Society who, over the years, have undertaken work and research into the history of aeronautics. The register has been initiated to help to save for posterity theaircraft which it details, listed in two categories—-(A) some 120 British and foreign machines of major historic importance, and(B) names and details, where known, of another 67 aircraft— mainly from the inter-war years—of historic interest. Five years ago the Society acquired the Nash Collection ofveteran aircraft to prevent its being sent overseas; and during the past year, in association with the Society of Licensed AircraftEngineers, an historic aircraft maintenance group has been formed to take care of the Nash Collection. During recent months the Society has received a number ofaircraft pans, engines and equipment of historic interest which are being preserved until a national aeronautical collection can beestablished. There are financial difficulties in the way of this project; but meanwhile the formation of an historic group andinauguration of a register are steps in the right direction. Further reference to the register will be made in an early issue of Flight. Developments in France AFTER making its first flight on June 17, during the Paris' Salon, the Dassault Mirage IV bomber appeared in the flying display on June 20 and exceeded M=1.9 on its 14th flight. SixMirage Ills are now flying, two of them having Cyrano radar, conical camber and slot fences. On June 19 the third Mirage III,flown by Gerard Muselli, raised the 100 km closed-circuit record to 1,785 km/hr (1,109 m.p.h.), reaching a maximum speed of1,273 m.p.h. during the attempt. The two-seat Mirage IIIB made its maiden flight from Le Bourget after spending the Salonweek on the Dassault stand in the exhibition hall. The Com- munaute' test programme continues well and the aircraft has flown from Bordeaux to Melun at 4,000ft at 215 kt on 80 per cent poweragainst 15-20 kt headwinds. Testing of the Sud SA.32OO Frelon continues after its firstflight on June 10. The Turbom&a Turmo IIIB engine, three of which power the Frelon, has been type-tested at 812 s.h.p. fortake-off and 720 s.h.p. maximum continuous. Sud have received an order for 70 more Sikorsky S-58s to be built under licence atMarignane. The company has also entered an international design competition for a crane helicopter to lift from 8 to 12 long tons.Several proposals have been submitted in conjunction with the Italian company Agusta. German firms are also interested. Breguet have prepared a pressurized, 50-seat version of theIntegral having a cylindrical fuselage and lateral access doors. Design of the Type 1150 (Neptune-replacement) is now complete. The SNECMA C.450 Coleoptere crashed and burnt at Melun-Villaroche on July 25 when control was lost at about 250ft during the transition from vertical to horizontal flight. The pilot, AugusteMorel, ejected successfully. IN BRIEF Two new Russian height records have been submitted to the F.A.I.On July 13 V. P. Smimov flew an "RB" aircraft to a height of 20,300 m (66,601ft) with a load of one metric ton. Next day Maj. V. S. Ilyushinflew a "T-431" to the remarkable height of 28,760 m (94,356ft). Neither type of aircraft has previously been mentioned officially, but the T-431is said to be a Sukhoi delta. Air Chief Marshal Sir Claude Pelly has been appointed Member(designate) for Weapons, U.K. Atomic Energy Authority, and will take up his new post later this year. Sir Claude, who is retiring from theR.A.F., has been Controller of Aircraft, M.o.S., since 1956. A. Cdre. F. R. Banks, until recently a director of the Bristol Aero-plane Co. Ltd. and Bristol Siddeley Engines Ltd., has joined the Board of the Blackburn Group Ltd. He will also become a director of twoof the companies within the group, Blackburn Aircraft Ltd. and Black- burn Engines Ltd. Prior to joining Bristol he was with the AssociatedEthyl Co. and from 1952 to 1953 was Principal Director of Engine Research and Development (on loan from the company) at the M.o.S. Owing to "a difference in opinion over matters of policy" Mr.Crawford Gordon resigned as president and general manager of A V. Roe Canada on July 2. Pending the appointment of a successorhis duties are being undertaken by Sir Roy Dobson. Also resigned are J. L. Plant (from the presidency of Avro Aircraft) and F. T. Smye(executive vice-president); Mr. Smye has been succeeded by H. R. Smith. In the House of Commons on June 17 the Minister of Defence statedof the Saunders-Roe Hovercraft "I am very interested in the project. I am going to look at it very shortly and ... it is being watched veryclosely^'; of the possible procurement of the American Genie nuclear- tipped air-to-air missile for the R.A.F., "we are considering this pro-position but no decision has yet been reached"; and of solid rocket- propellants of high specific impulse, "negotiations are going on betweenthe American firm concerned and the British firm concerned for the further development and production of that fuel here." FREEDOM FIGHTER: So called is the Nor air N-156F (twin G.E. J85) pictured here during its first flight on July 30. Flown by Lew Nelson, Norair's chief engineer- ing test pilot, it ex- ceeded M 1 within 40 minutes of first becom- ing airborne
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