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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 1789.PDF
FLIGHT TheBritannia's freight lift can lift 8,000 Ib a height of lift 6in in 3 min, and 12,000 Ib in a greater time Another point of departure from the airliner—and that mostreadily discernible from a superficial inspection—is the incorpora- tion of a large forward door for admitting bulky freight. In theairliner the standard passenger-door size is 70 X 31 in; in contrast the forward freight door of the 253 measures 73 X93in, and it canadmit a wide range of heavy military loads, including most Ser- vice vehicles. It is opened upwards by a self-contained electro-hydraulic system. In order to facilitate elevation of large indivisible loads to thelift 6in-high door sill, and stowage at the appropriate point on the floor, Short's design team have evolved a complete load-hand-ling system tailored to the aircraft. The freight lift takes the form of a platform 14ft X 12ft, upon which loads up to 12,000 lb inweight may be raised by an electrically operated cable system. The lift can be dismantled in some ten minutes (the largest por-tion then weighing under 250 lb) and stowed aboard the aircraft. Normally it would be housed in the forward compartment, beingthe last item on and first off. Stowed, it measures 19ft X 5ft X 4ft. Associated with the lift is a roller conveyor system extendingfrom the start of the lift platform to the rear of the aircraft freight floor. Both internal and external conveyors are suppliedin 4ft lengths, each portion being secured to the standard seat rails or platform planking; the section immediately inside thefreight door employs ball casters to enable long crates to be angled readily. In general, large pieces of cargo will be mounted onstandard pallets to facilitate handling and lashing. Short's pallet measures 8ft X 7ft and has a maximum capacity of 5,000 lb. It isconstructed from a sandwich of aluminium foil and glasscloth. In order to meet Air Ministry requirements an entirely newflight deck has been developed. As depicted in an accompanying diagram, the crew positions conform to the latest R.A.F. recom-mendations; the navigator's station is equipped up to full A.P.970 standard and the flight engineer's station is greatly improved.Considerable revision has been undertaken to the cabin-air system. In the airliner fresh air is percolated into the cabinthrough the porous cloth of the interior trim. In the Britannia 253 the interior is finished in sheets of heavy Fromoplas plastic up toa height of 4ft 6in in order to provide protection against scuffing and impact from sharp cargo. Accordingly, special perforatedducts are incorporated to feed the fresh air, together with risers of a new pattern.Standard seat in the 253 is a new 9g triple or double unit of Short's own design. The two standard all-passenger configura-tions seat 110 and 115 passengers, at a pitch of 36in. When not in use all the seats may be folded and stowed beneath the floor ofthe aircraft. In the ambulance role the aircraft can accommodate a total of 53 stretcher cases, together with seats for six attendants.Portable oxygen and iron lung equipment may be carried, and all these items, together with the stretcher posts, may be similarlystowed in the underfloor freight holds. Minor alterations have been effected to improve the efficiencyof the powerplants. The engine is the Proteus 255. This is essen- tially a military version of the Proteus 765, and has a similarpower rating. Compared with the engines in airline service the chief differences are the incorporation of "rabbit warren" intakes,water injection to offset loss of power at hot or high airfields, and the universal employment of de Havilland propellers with solidDuralumin blades. Total procurement of the 253 amounts to twenty aircraft. Thefirst, bearing the serial number XL635, flew for the first time on December 29. Several 253s have now flown and the machine iswell advanced in its trials, both at Queen's Island and Boscombe Down. The first unit to employ the Britannia is No. 99 Sqn,based at Lyneham, Wilts. When fully equipped its ability to conduct heavy trucking activities on a global scale will be un-rivalled in the Western world by any other squadron outside the legendary MATS. On the production line at Queen's Island the R.A.F. machines are rendered obvious by the cavernous freight opening in the forward fuselage
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