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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 0228.PDF
228 FLIGHT, 19 February FROM ALL QUARTERS Government "Injection" INCREASED Governmental support for promising civil aircraftprojects and aero-engines, and a possible contribution towards the initial costs of launching a new type, were among decisionsannounced by the Minister of Aviation, Duncan Sandys, in-'a Parliamentary statement last Monday. He said that in suitablecases, to enable earlier delivery dates to be offered, the Goyern- meat might take a share in the risks involved in producing alimited number of aircraft beyond those for which firm orders had been received. It might be prepared to contribute towardsthe cost of providing a new type of civil aircraft and introducing it into regular service, with suitable arrangements for the Govern-ment to participate in the proceeds from sales. Mr Sandys said he could not give any idea of the amount of money it was intendedto inject into the aircraft industry. Making his statement in reply to questions, the Minister saidhe appreciated the prompt manner in which the aircraft industry had responded to his suggestions for creating stronger units bythe amalgamation of suitable firms. The initial process of re-grouping was now virtually completed, though much remainedto be done by the new groups to consolidate their resources. Mr Sandys commented that the sharp reduction in Governmentorders for military aircraft, representing such a large part of the industry's business, had made it urgently necessary to expandsales of civil types at home and overseas. The Government had been considering ways of helping manufacturers adjust them-selves to this changed situation. A substantial programme of aeronautical research was to be maintained for the present; orderswere to be concentrated on the five major groups ("except where specialized requirements of public policy make it necessary todo otherwise"); and the Government would "seek to harmonize" the characteristics of military and civil types of transport aircraft.A fuller account, and commentary, will appear next week. The New Air Transport Board BY the time these words appear the Minister of Aviation shouldhave presented to Parliament the Civil Aviation Bill. This will include, amongst other things, the long-awaited proposals for thenew Air Transport Board. The proposed new legislation was given a first reading on Monday, February 15, having been dis-cussed with representatives of the corporations and the Independents last week. Channel Ports and the Hovercraft SPECULATION about long-term developments of the Hover-craft principle is a subject on which Dennis Hennessey, chairman of Hovercraft Development Ltd and deputy managing directorof the National Research Development Corporation, has rarely allowed himself to be drawn. But during a visit to Folkestonelast week, where he went to examine a possible cross-Channel Hovercraft loading site with Cdr L. A. Sweny, one of hisco-directors, he made some broad assumptions. The cross-Channel machine he visualized would be of 1,000 tons VENTRAL FIN as now fitted experimentally to BOAC's second Boeing 707 is one of the modifications necessary to meet the ARB's hand- ling requirements ("Flight," February 5). Although ARB validation of BOAC's 707-436 is still awaited, the -420 series has just been cert- ificated by the FAA at the following weights; Max taxi, 312,0001b; max take-off, 3U ,0001b; max landing, 207j000lb laden weight, 320ft long with a 120ft beam and capable of a speedof up to lOOkt. It would probably be powered by ten large gas turbines driving fans and would be able to clear 12ft waves. The site that the party examined was on the foreshore westof British Railways' harbour pier. Mr Hennessey said that the site he had seen would necessarily involve a great deal of civilengineering, and he hazarded that a company operating a Hover- craft ferry across the English Channel would require about £20mcapital to cover the cost of two craft and terminal facilities. So far no organization has announced its intention of developingsuch a Hovercraft or setting up an operating company, although a decision on the construction of smaller precursors to the1,000-ton vehicle may soon be made. Studies on ground-effect machines also continue in the UnitedStates. The Office of Naval Research has awarded Ryan a contract to analyze the structural criteria of a variety of air-cushionriders. The structures to be studied will range in overall dimen- sions from 20ft to several hundred feet. Air Traffic Award FOR "dieir foresight in die formation of the UK Air TrafficControl Service," the RAF has been awarded the Hunt Trophy for 1959 by the Guild of Air Traffic Control Officers. Takingthe form of a silver salver, it was presented by the Master of the Guild, K. I. Pearson, senior controller at Farnborough airfield,to Air Cdre H. J. Hickey, AOC the Traffic Control Service, at a dinner in the House of Commons last Saturday evening. Thetrophy, which was presented to the Guild by Capt V. A. M. Hunt, Director of Control and Navigation (Development andPlanning) at the MoA, is awarded annually for the most out- standing contribution to air traffic control. CAS on the Future IN one of his first public speeches since becoming Chief of theAir Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Thomas Pike spoke at London University Air Squadron annual dinner last Friday about theRAF's assets and its prospects for the 1960s, with "a considerable future for manned aircraft" as his underlying theme. OurV-bombers (not all of them yet in service) were "the finest in the world"; rockets were with us and here to stay, but they didnot have the mobility and versatility of bombers. The Lightning would be in service next year; the TSR.2, now in an advancedstage of development, was to be introduced in a few years' time. Sir Thomas spoke of the increasing importance of transport air-craft as the threat of global war receded, and said the RAF considered there was "a long future" for strategic transports.There would be five times as many helicopters, with ten times the carrying capacity. The aim was to take the Army to a strategiccentre, and put them into wherever they wanted to go. Both STOL andVTOL types of aircraft had "a tremendously importantmilitary future." .. Boscombe's Farewell to "The Boss" SOMEBODY had the happy idea, seven years ago, that repre-sentatives of aircraft firms at Boscombe Down should get together socially with the RAF and Ministry staff there. This year'smeeting, at the congenial White Hart Hotel in Salisbury on Wednesday last week, had all the ingredients proper to suchoccasions: an attendance of 103 (the biggest ever); a buffet supper, so that no one was debarred physically from perambulating fora non-stop gossip with old friends (or enemies, but with swords sheathed for the evening); good aeronautical talk ranging from theRFC and airships and flying boats to Blue Steel and variable geometry and VTOL; and the special accent, tfiough in a slightlysaddened key, of a presentation to Air Cdre A. E. Clouston on the last occasion he will attend such a function as Air Officer Com-manding the A & AEE. This part of the proceedings was admirably introduced byR. E. Pearce of Bristol Siddeley, who stressed the value of such gatherings, when aircraft firm representatives met people who inthe course of business were "names at the end of telephones or on pieces of paper." He went on to speak of Air Cdre Clouston sdeparture from the Establishment at the end of March, though not (he thought) on account of old age. On previous occasions theAOC had "taken the mickey out of us"; now it was their turn to take the mickey out of him. Perhaps he was going into thebrewery business, or even into aviation? But there was no doubt (despite the banter) of the esteem and affection in which theboss" is held, and it was marked tangibly by the presentation to him of a model of die D.H. Comet—not the post-war turbojetbut the pre-war propeller type in which he made his record f.ig&B —by E. Vousden of Fairey, the senior representative present. Naturally Air Cdre Clouston had his quip in return: tne
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