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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 0705.PDF
NO 2672 VOLUME 77 Editor-in-Chief MAURICE A. SMITH DPC III DAY 27 MAY I960 AIRCRAFT, SPACECRAFT, MISSILES Oflttal Onan of th« Royil A«ro Cluk Fint Aeronautical WMkly in Hi* World Founded 1909 Editor H . F. KING MBE Technical Editor W. T. O U NSTON Production Editor ROY CASEY IN THIS IS8UE From All Quarters 706 Short-field Day at Shoreham 708 Helicopters of the World 711 Commercial Helicopters—When? 719 Helicopter Powerplants 724 Straight and Level 731 Missiles and Spaceflight 732 Sport and Business 734 Flight System Survey 735 Correspondence 736 Air Commerce 737 Service Aviation 742 ' Ilifle & Sons Ltd, Dorset House, Stam-ford Street, London SE1; telephone Waterloo 3333. Telegrams FlightpresSedist London. Annual subscriptions: Home £4 15s. Overseas £5. Canadaand USA J15.00. Second Class Mail privileges authorized at New York, NY. Branch Offices Coventry: 8-10 Corpora-tion Street; telephone Coventry 25210. Birmingham: King Edward House, NewStreet, 2; telephone Midland 7191. Man- chester: 260 Deansgate, 3; telephoneBlackfriars 4412 or Deansgate 3595. Glasgow: 26B Kenfleld Street, C2;telephone Central 1285. New York, NY: Thomas Skinner & Co(Publishers) Ltd, 111 Broadway 6; telephone Digby 9-1197. © Iliffe & Sons Ltd, 1960. Permissionto reproduce illustrations and letterpress can be granted only under written agree-ment. Brief extracts or comments may be made with due acknowledgement. Pause for ThoughtI N the pause between the Government's decision to cancel Blue Streak as a missile, and the decision whether or not to continue its development as a space booster, there is much need for thought. The questions are endless, the problems immense. Lord Hailsham's statement of the present position was that "We are under- taking close discussions with the industries and scientists concerned before we make up our mind." What this in fact means is that the Ministry of Aviation is discussing costs with de Havilland, Rolls-Royce and Sperry; the Royal Society's space-research committee is advising on the scientific advantages to be gained; the Government's Steering Group on Space Research is considering rather wider aspects of the subject, including effects on the industry generally; the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy, from its own rather loftier position, is weighing space projects against the demands of other branches of science; and departments such as the GPO and Air Ministry have doubtless expressed their own views on applied satellites for long-distance communications, meteorology and navigation. Side- effects concerning employment, and the stimulation of research and development in ancillary industries, are presumably also being considered. And finally, the Minister for Science will endeavour to make an overall recommendation to the Cabinet, who have to take the ultimate decision. There is little point in repeating here the many arguments for a space research programme which have been canvassed in recent months, although it is fair to comment that most of these arguments have been mere parrot-like repetitions of particular campaigns sponsored by particular groups. While these statements are perfectly valid as facts or opinions—essential inputs of information to the main problem—they are not valid in themselves as statements of the complete picture or as solutions to the problem. Few people now doubt what can be done, and few now doubt the eventual benefits; but the all-important factor is that of motive. The Danger of Prestige For this country to embark on practical space efforts, the international co-opera- tion hinted at earlier this month by Mr Sandys is not merely advisable. It is essential. A comment made by Lord Rea in another context, but which is exactly appropriate here, concerned the divergence of opinion between "those who see this country in the continuing historic role of a great individual and insular sovereignty, and those who, less romantically but more realistically, see that the present world and the future world can exist only on reciprocity and on the considerable abandonment of old barriers, and of old exclusions, and of old prides and vanities and prejudices, and prestige. The dream of this country continuing to enjoy the sort of position which it enjoyed in the last century is a nostalgic dream and, therefore, a very dangerous one." International co-operation rather than national prestige should be the first aim. The second main point at this time concerns the seriousness of the forthcoming decision. May the members of the Government ignore the impatient proddings of political opponents (and supporters), industry groups and space enthusiasts (and opponents) who are demanding an immediate answer. May they take all the time, and advice, that they need to come to a balanced decision on this. The result must be a logical philosophy embracing science, defence, commerce and industry. This is one of the most difficult national problems of our time, and we cannot afford to make a mistake.
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