FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1960
1960 - 0065.PDF
FLIGHT, 15 January 1960 65 SWEDISH MAIDEN: First flight of the J35C Draken (see news-item below) was made on December 30 by Saab test pilot K. E. Fernberg Tyne Certificated IT was announced last week by Rolls-Royce Ltd that the AirRegistration Board have given full normal-category approval for civil operation to the Tyne RTy. 1 Mk 506, and RTy. 11 Mk 512The respective ratings are 4,985 e.h.p. average (4,320 s.h.p. plus 1,2101b guaranteed minimum) and 5,545 e.h.p. average (4,850s.h.p. plus 1,2351b guaranteed minimum). Production Tynes are now being delivered to Vickers for instal-lation in Vanguards of BEA and TCA. ARB approval follows a combined UK/US type-test completed last June. So far ll,500hrhave been logged on the bench and 6,500 in the air. Tynes are also specified for the Canadair 44, Short Britannic 3, FaireyRotodyne, Breguet 1150 and Transall C.160. Sir George Edwards Honoured DESCRIBED in the citation as "internationally known as one ofthe world's foremost aircraft designers and aircraft industry administrators," Sir George Edwards, managing director ofVickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd, has been awarded the DanielGuggenheim Medal for 1959. He is to receive it at the annual aeronauticsmeeting of the Society of Auto- motive Engineers in New York onApril 7. The medal, given annually "fornotable achievements in the advance- ment of aeronautics," is one of themost coveted honours in the aviation world. The citation announcing itsaward to Sir George speaks of "a lifetime devoted to the design ofmilitary and commercial aircraft, cul- minating in the successful introduc-tion into world-wide commercial service of the first turbine-powered propeller-driven aircraft." Sir George joined Vickers-Armstrongs at Weybridge in 1935and was appointed chief designer in 1945. Under his leadership Weybridge has produced a long line of successful aircraft, includ-ing the Valiant and the best-selling Viscount, and is now busy with the Vanguard, VC10 and TSR.2. Franco/USA Engine Agreement TWO of the world's leading engine manufacturers, the Frenchnationalized SNECMA group and the Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Division of United Aircraft Corp, have joined forces in a "far-reaching licensing and stock-acquisition arrangement." Under the terms of the contract United Aircraft will acquire a 10 per centinterest in SNECMA and will be represented on that company's board of directors; in return SNECMA are licensed to manufac-ture and sell all versions of the JT3C, JT3D, JT4A, JTF10A and JT12A, together with all Pratt and Whitney piston enginesand their spares. Draken for Two LIKE most modern supersonic single-seaters, the Saab-35Draken has now been produced with two seats for conversion training. Designated J35C by the Swedish Air Force, it differsfrom the current J35A fighter in having a new forward fuselage with tandem cockpits each provided with a Saab ejection seatand a complete set of controls. Normally the rear seat will be occupied by an instructor whose vision is improved by beingseated at a higher level. A single large clamshell covers both cockpits. As in the Gnat Trainer the instructor is protected by aseparate windscreen following jettisoning of the canopy. Most of the additional space occupied by the second cockpithas been made available by simplification and re-location of various items of equipment. Performance is only very slightlyaffected, the powerplant remaining an SFA-built Avon with after- burner. Series production is now in hand and deliveries to acentralized type-training school will begin this year. At the latter establishment the Swedish Air Force will instruct pupils inDraken handling under all operational conditions using J35Cs in conjunction with a Curtiss-Wright simulator. FAA Criticize Decca IN the System Survey page of this issue (p. 84) is a note onadvance statements issued by the US Federal Aviation Agency from an as yet unpublished report on American Decca Navigatortrials. Since that particular page went to press further information has become available; it now appears that the statements referredto a series of flights made with the FAA Convair C-131 equipped with a Decca Mk 10 receiver. The FAA alleges that during 22 per cent of the flights the Deccacontrols were "relatively cumbersome" to manipulate and that the Flight Log pen was subject to deviations which resulted inincorrect navigational information. The Convair was flown, pre- sumably repeatedly, over four "carefully selected routes whichpresented most of the navigational problems normally encoun- tered." On 61 per cent of these, says the statement, "pilotsreported failure of the equipment to provide the necessary naviga- tion intelligence to use the system continuously as a primaryinstrument flight navigation aid." Decca, it is said, did not fulfil requirements of an aircraft steering device because pilots wereunable to maintain a constant heading or change to a new course without the aid of other instruments. Without more detailed knowledge of the test conditions it isdifficult to assess the validity of the criticisms; and many of them in any case appear to be based on the difference between theeasily read bearing information derived from VOR and more comprehensive positional information presented on the FlightLog. Whatever the performance achieved, such statements are unspecific and their publication in this way is unscientific if notalso unethical. IN BRIEF As we go to press we learn of two new Westland helicopters. TheWessex 2 will have two D.H. Gnome engines for increased "hot and high" performance; the prototype should fly this year. The Wiltshire,also to fly this year, will be an anglicized Sikorsky S-61 with twin Gazelles. A letter of intent for three Westland Westminsters has been placed bythe Sardinian airline Linee Aer£e Sarde. There are expectations that the final contract will be placed later this month. LAS intends to operate40/45-seat helicopters over routes between Sardinia, Corsica, the French Riviera, the Italian mainland and Tunis. The Monte Carlo Rally is being covered by our associated journalThe Autocar in three special issues. Today's (January 15) describes preparations, with details of routes, cars and drivers; the January 22and 31 issues will contain full reports respectively of the opening stages and the entire event. de Havilland Aircraft Proprietary Ltd were due to take over theGovernment Aero-engine Factory at Lidcombe, Sydney, on January 12. The Australian Minister of Supply, Allen Hulme, said the companywould operate the factory as independent contractors and carry out defence as well as commercial work. Intercepters of the Royal Danish Air Force, including American-builtaircraft, are to be fitted with Martin-Baker ejection seats. A spokesman said last week that British equipment had been chosen "because it wasconsidered the most effective available." He added that it was hoped that all RDAF fighters except obsolescent types would be so fitted "inthe course of the next year." The agreement between the French and German Governments todevelop the Transall C.160 military transport (Flight, November 20, 1959, page 613) has now been signed. Powered by two Rolls-RoyceTynes, the aircraft may later be fitted with a boundarv-layer control system (like the C-130B) energized by Bristol Siddeley Orpheus. Firstflight is scheduled for May or June 1962 and military service for 1965. Kelvin & Hughes Ltd announce an agreement with the Curtiss-Wright Corporation for exclusive reciprocal rights for the manufacture and sale of equipment for non-destructive testing. The British firm willrepresent both signatories in the UK, the Commonwealth (except Canada) and Europe; Curtiss-Wright will represent both on the NorthAmerican continent. Lockheed Aircraft Corporation has acquired what is described as "animportant interest" in the Italian concern Aeronautica Macchi. A ioint statement said that ownership of a substantial portion of Macchi stockwould provide Lockheed with a strong base in the European Common Market, of which Italy is one of six member countries. Later it wasannounced that the Lockheed LA-60 Utility Wagon light transport will be built by Macchi under licence,
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
