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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 0674.PDF
674 FLIGHT, 20 May 196i FROM ALL QUARTERS Heaviest Yet TIMELY and spectacular in what has become the Soviet tradition,the launching into orbit on May 15 of a 4,540kg (10,0101b) arti- ficial Earth satellite by Russia was stated to have as its purpose thetesting of "all the equipment for a manned journey into space." The satellite included a 2§-ton cabin, containing a dummy man";and an instrument compartment (equipment other than that in the cabin was said to weigh li tons). The initial orbit of the satellite, officially designated a "space-ship," was from 312 to 369km altitude (193-230 miles), with an orbital period of 91.2min. It was reported that all instrumentson board were working normally, and that the equipment was maintaining "normal living conditions" inside the cabin. According to Prof Vladimir Dobronrayov, the cabin contains"all the necessary equipment to give information on human physical processes during the flight"—information which is beingtelemetered to Earth. After all the "necessary information" had been received, a command radio signal would separate the cabinfrom the remainder of the satellite, and the cabin would re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and would burn up. The professor saidthat the main purpose of the satellite was to test the design of the cabin, and that the spaceship would be guided "to someextent." Vickers Start Hovercraft Business LAST Tuesday SR-N1, the Saunders-Roe Hovercraft, was demon-strated between Nine Elms Wharf and Westminster Bridge on the River Thames. Watching were MPs and directors of NationalResearch Development Corporation and Hovercraft Developments Ltd. The SR-N1 appeared to achieve nearly 50kt. The previous day HDL and Vickers announced that "Negotia-tions are almost concluded between Vickers and Hovercraft Development Ltd for the production by Vickers of Hovercraft."One will be about four to five tons—a fast hovercraft launch— and the other will be in the range of 15 to 25 tons. "This will bea vehicle suitable for operation, say, as a car and passenger ferry." The work is centred at the former Supermarine works at SouthMarston. U-2 Round-up FROM the many thousands of words written in the Soviet andWestern Press during the past week about the Lockheed U-2 shot down near Sverdlovsk on May 1 it is possible to glean oneor two pieces of new information. The Soviet Premier himself has quoted the height at which the aircraft was destroyed as66,000ft. Certain other Soviet sources have said 68,000ft. The military paper Red Star has published an account of the intercep-tion, noting that "the radar locked tightly on the target . . ." and claiming a direct hit. According to one journal the missile war-head exploded under the rear of the target, the pilot, Francis Powers, being shielded from most of the blast and fragments bythe engine [J75]. He is said to have baled out at 40,000ft. According to the Los Angeles Times Lockheed's CaliforniaDivision delivered 25 U-2s, at least six of which have been lost. Since 1956 Lockheed have operated ten under contract to NASA GUINEA PIG: The first Bristol 188 airframe being loaded on a trailer for its journey to RAE Farnborough, where it will be used for structural testing. In the background is the second airframej which will be com- pleted for the flight-research programme due to begin this year (Powers is a Lockheed employee). Meanwhile, the government:of Norway and Pakistan have announced that U-2s will be deniec facilities in their territory, the Japanese opposition has called fortheir expulsion and other nations have either issued a rash of contradictions about their complicity or have maintained silenceSilent is the British Government; and the Air Ministry have nor so far commented on the death of Sqn Ldr Christopher Walker(Flight, July 18,1958) who according to a newspaper report was one of four RAF officers "posted to the US two years ago for spy-planetraining." de Havilland Plans " IN the address of the chairman (Sir Aubrey Burke) of de Havil-land Holdings for the year ended September 30 last, the point is made that over 90 per cent in value of all classes of stockholdersaccepted the take-over offer of the Hawker Siddeley Group. By the middle of April 1960, 48 Comets had been sold and 30delivered; more contracts for Comets are expected and it is hoped to dovetail their production into the D.H.121 programme. Morethan one version of the latter is being planned to "satisfy the whole world market in the short and short/medium ranges." Productionof Doves (512 sold) and Herons (139) continues, and Sea Vixen production "should keep our capacity occupied until about 1963,and further orders are anticipated." Gyron Juniors are going into full production for the Blackburn NA.39, as are the Gnometurboshaft engines for the RAF Whirlwinds. The development of a more advanced air-to-air missile than Firestreak is proceed-ing well; the company await Government policy on space before they can assess the future of the Blue Streak programme. Bristol Jubilee Report PRESENTING the Bristol Aeroplane Company's 50th Reportand Accounts—in this context the "50th" is a matter for justifiable pride—the chairman (W. R. Verdon Smith) remarks that therehave been "great changes both in our corporate structure and in the range of our aviation interests." Among facts he records are that 19 Britannias were deliveredduring last year and that no more will be laid down beyond the total of 83 to which Bristol Aircraft have long been committed;that progress with the Type 188 supersonic research aircraft is limited by the maximum rate of expenditure imposed as a termof the contract; and that Bristol Aircraft recently submitted a supersonic-airliner feasibility study to the MoA and hope for the"opportunity to design and manufacture the world's first long- range [our italics] supersonic airliner." Mr Verdon Smith also says that the Bristol/Ferranti Blood-hound has always been close to its original schedule; the specified performance has been exceeded, "valuable developments not antici-pated" have been added to it, and the development of longer range and greater defensive power is proceeding according to plan. Inthe helicopter field, Sycamore production ceased last year after 178 had been delivered; and technical difficulties with the Bristol192 Belvedere were overcome by the end of 1959 and production is proceeding well. Of engines, he remarks that good progress isbeing made with the advanced Bristol Siddeley Olympus selected for the TSR.2; and that the BE.53 turbofan for VTOL applicationsran on the test-bed last autumn for flight trials later this year. GNOME-WASP: First seen at the SBAC Show last September, the West I and (Saunders-Roe) Wasp, powered by a de Havilland Gnome H.I000, flew from Eastleigh for 45min on May 3 in the hands of test pilot Ken Reed. This close-up shows the neat engine installation
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