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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 0326.PDF
326 FROM ALL QUARTERS RAF Thor Completion SIXTIETH and last of the Thors required to equip presentRAF sites in Britain was leaving the Douglas plant at Santa Monica, Calif, last Tuesday morning in a Globemaster of the 40thAir Transport Squadron. Flying via Dover, Delaware, where a crew-change was scheduled, the aircraft was due in England—atLuffenham, Lakenheath or Driffield—on Thursday. On board, by invitation of the USAF, was Kenneth Owen ofFlight, who will describe this missile-delivery flight—typical of many made by MATS—in a forthcoming issue. (In today's issue,pages 339-342: "Thor in Service." RAF Assistance at Agadir " ''''"":""~~ """"'" " AIRCRAFT of the Royal Air Force have been assisting reliefwork at Agadir by carrying in supplies and evacuating casualties from the earthquake-devastated town. Shackletons of No 224 Sqn,based at Gibraltar, have flown-in lar^e quantities of blankets, medical supplies, rations and chemicals and the squadron has madea gift of 10,000 cigarettes to survivors. Its aircraft have also brought out survivors to Marseilles, Rabat, Casablanca andGibraltar. A Beverley from RAF Dishforth took to Agadir five tons of plague-prevention chemicals from Mulhouse in easternFrance. Exports: A Good Start JANUARY export figures were the largest ever recorded by theBritish aircraft industry during the first month of a year. The ratal, £13,310,502, was made up as follows: aircraft and parts,£6,616,002; aero engines, £6,084,977; electrical equipment, £299,443; aeronautical instruments, £247,296; and tyres, £62,784.Leading buyers of aircraft and parts were Switzerland (£1,712,155), Argentina (£1,101,327) and India (£565,329); andleading buyers of aero engines and parts—published by the Board of Trade for the first time—were the US (£1,266,995),France (£710,801) and India (£675,999). . ••., Longest-Distance Exercise BRITANNIAS of RAF Transport Command are being used forthe first time on a large scale in a strategic airlift in Exercise "Star- light," the joint Army-RAF enterprise being undertaken in NorthAfrica this month. The largest exercise of its kind ever held out- side the UK, with about 4,000 troops and 130 vehicles beingmoved by air, this is also the first occasion on which No 38 Group of Transport Command has taken part in one of these mobilityexercises. AVM Peter Wykeham, the AOC, was at a press conference inthe Ministry of Defence last Monday to describe the air aspects of Starlight, the strategic lift for which was due to begin yesterday(March 10). The build-up had begun last month when Whirl- winds, Pioneers and Twin Pioneers were flown out to North Africaand groundcrews, administrative staff, stores and equipment posi- tioned. AVM Wykeham said that the fighting troops would beflown out in nine Britannias, 16 Hastings and 16 Beverleys, making respectively 29, 26 and nine sorties. Two Comets would also beengaged, on special duties. The AOC explained that El Adem was to form the strategicbase for the exercise, and Tmimi, 50 miles north-west, the airhead. The Beverleys would be flying into this desert strip, familiar tothose who participated in the Western Desert campaigns of the last war. From the airhead the fighting troops would be suppliedby the Twin Pioneers, Pioneers, Whirlwinds and Alouettes. Simu- lated fighter activity was being provided by aircraft from HMSAlbion, and Fighter Command were sending out a small strike force of Hunters. Maj-Gen R. G. S. Hobbs, who with AVM Wykeham is jointdirector of the exercise, explained that Starlight would have three phases—the airlift from the UK, the lift from El Adem to Tmimiand operations west of Tmimi (March 21-27). Lt-Gen Sir Nigel Poett, as commander of the Strategic Reserve, has overall responsi-bility for the exercise with the AOC-in-C Transport Command, Air Marshal Sir Denis Barnett. LOX BOX: At the Normal ah Works recently, James C. McDonald, UK representative of Republic Aviation, received the final batch of liquid-oxygen converters to complete current contracts. These con- venors are installed in the F-84 Thunderstreaks used by NATO air forces. In the picture Mr McDonald is taking over the last unit from Normolair foreman C. Millman FLIGHT, 11 March I960 France's Supersonic Bomber THE Mirage IV two-seat supersonic bomber, built by MarcelDassault and powered with two SNECMA Atar 9 turbojets, has completed its constructor's trials. On its 53rd flight it was ferriedto the Flight Test Centre at Istres, on which occasion it sustained Ml.9 for eighteen minutes. The pilot was Rene Bigand. Cessna-Holste Co-operation A MINORITY interest in the French aircraft firm Avions MaxHolste is being acquired by the Cessna Aircraft Co. The latter's president, Dwane L. Wallace, said recently that final arrangementswere not yet completed but all necessary approvals for the trans- action had been given by the French Government. More Atlantic Facts THE latest announcement concerning the Breguet Atlantic mari-time reconnaissance and anti-submarine aircraft for NATO air forces quotes a cruising speed (presumably maximum cruise) of600km/hr (373 m.p.h.). It is also stated that the submissions by 26 companies—representing eight countries—were narroweddown to proposals by Breguet, Nord and Avro. Nord was eliminated and on December 31 last the Breguet was chosen.A "direction committee" has been planned which will represent the countries concerned in building the aircraft (France, Holland,Germany and Belgium). A technical consulting committee has also been set up, and this is open to all countries. Thus, GreatBritain and Canada will be able to watch the development. The 2N Crusader ALTHOUGH Chance Vought's F8U-3 Crusader never came tofruition, the basic Crusader has been steadily improved. Finest of all the derivatives is the F8U-2N, which will be the first super-sonic all-weather intercepter in US Navy service. The first 2N flew for 84min on February 16, three days ahead of schedule. Although superficially similar to the F8U-2, the new versionincorporates a new search and tracking radar of greater power; increased internal tankage (early Crusaders have flown for nearly4hr without refuelling); a revised Vought autopilot; a Pratt and Whitney J57-P-20 engine of increased thrust; provision for firing"advanced missiles now under development" in addition to Side- winder; "hard-harness" wiring, all looms being packaged inglass-fibre ducts; and revised instrumentation and interior and exterior lighting systems. Contracts for the 2N total $100m, andwill keep production going through next year. Canadair at Work r> , r, FEW Western manufacturers have three entirely different aircraftin the flight-test stage. One such firm is Canadair, and the follow- ing notes summarize present progress. CL-44. Powered by four Rolls-Royce Tyne 512s, the FortyFour has flown 50hr in 30 flights since mid-November. Tests have included stalls, trim-control, manoeuvring, stability, measuredtake-offs and initial systems checking. Training of RCAF CL-44 pilots has started. Canadair 540. Powered by two Napier Eland 504s, the firstproduction 540 has flown 30hr in 20 flights since January 7. The 40hr test programme (7hr normal plus 33hr special testing tomilitary specifications) is near completion. Items included are take-offs at up to 57,5001b, autopilot behaviour, electrical loadsand fuel dumping. CL-41. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney JT12, this aircraft hasflown 24hr in 26 flights since January 13. Completed tests include general handling and stalls, spins, and dives up to M0.7, sufficientto give a flight-envelope suitable for demonstration purposes.
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