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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 0890.PDF
FLIGHT, 1 July i960 FROM ALL QUARTERS TSR.2 Reappraised AT present the British Aircraft Corporation's TSR.2 is the onlynew supersonic military aeroplane under development in the British Commonwealth. It is, therefore, a matter for regret—though by no means unexpected—that the Treasury is reported to have asked the Chiefs of Staff and Minister of Defence to re-evaluate it and ascertain whether its roles could not be fulfilled by a cheaper aircraft developed to a much earlier time-scale. It may be recalled that the original Air Ministry requirementfor a "Canberra-replacement" multi-purpose tactical aeroplane was drawn up more than two years ago as OR.339. The require-ment was finalized only after protracted discussion; and a further display of eloquence by those who wanted the aircraft (the RAF)and those who felt it would be very nice if it could be dispensed with (the Treasury) delayed progress until the project was allowedto go ahead on January 1 last year Flight January 9, 1959, page 54). The contract for the development of the TSR.2 aircraft wasplaced with Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) who were to share the work "on a 50-50 basis" with English Electric Aviation. Both firmsare now members of the new corporation; progress has been generally satisfactory, and actual construction of the first TSR.2is due to stan shortly. Throughout the life of the project there have been many whohave believed that the Blackburn NA.39 could do almost as good a job; and the Treasury have at last become so concerned at therising estimated cost of putting TSR.2 into squadron service that they have succeeded in having the whole case re-opened. TheTSR.2 will be a large and capacious aeroplane, capable of carry- ing everything needed to fulfil all kinds of tactical missions. Itsfield performance could be superior to that of the NA.39, and its maximum speed approximately twice as great. On the other handit will be at least twice as expensive. It may be that the Treasury will force the conclusion that the programme is not worth themoney. It might be reasoned, of course, that it could have been shown that the new monoplane fighters of 1936 were not, in theirday, worth while. One thing at least seems clear: no major British weapon systemis in future going to be allowed to proceed from inception to operation without becoming the centre of a hornet's nest of con-troversy. This is already the case with all British guided weapons, and TSR.2 can hardly expect to be an exception. SBAC Council, 1960-1961 THE council of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors haselected Sir George Dowty as its president for 1960-61, with the Hon George Nelson as vice-president. Sir Aubrey Burke, whowas president in 1958-60, becomes deputy president. Sir Frederick Handley Page is re-elected treasurer. Sir George is founder, chairman and managing director of theDowty Group. The Hon George Nelson, managing director of the English Electric Co, chairman of English Electric Aviationand deputy chairman of D. Napier and Son, was last May elected a deputy chairman of the recently formed British AircraftCorporation. Sir Aubrey Burke is chairman and managing director of the de Havilland Aircraft Co and of de Havilland Holdings, chairman of the de Havilland Engine Co Ltd, anddeputy managing director of the Hawker Siddeley Group. Sir ^Frederick Handley Page is, of course, chairman and managingdirector of Handley Page Ltd. In addition to the above, the SBAC council for 1960-61 con-sists of 29 members and four associate members, as follows: — J. J. Parkcs, Alvis; H. M. Woodhams, AWA; J. A. R. Kay, AWA(Guided Weapons Division); F. Bates, Auster; A. F. Jopling, Blackburn; J. D. North, Boulton Paul; C. F. Uwins, Bristol; Sir Reginald VerdonSmith, Bristol Siddeley; H. T. Chapman, Bristol Siddeley; H. Bucking- ham, de Havilland Engines; H. G. Sturgeon, de Havilland Propellers;Viscount Caldecote, English Electric (Aircraft Division); D. C. Collins, Fairey; H. Burroughes, Gloster; G. C. D. Russell, Handley Page; J. T.Lidbury, Hawker; W. A. Summers, Hunting; H. Sammons, Napier; Sir Roy Dobson, Avro; Sir William Farren, Avro (Weapons Research Divi-sion); W. T. Gill, Rolls-Royce; J. D. Pearson, Rolls-Royce; D. L. Hollis Williams, Saunders-Roe; B. Boxall, Scottish Aviation; Rear Admiral SirMatthew Slattery, Short Bros; R. P. H. Yapp, Vickers-Armstrongs (Supermarine); T. Gammon, Vickers-Armstrongs (Weybridge); E. C.Wheeldon, Westland; W. Oppenheimer, Westland (Bristol Division). Associate members: Materials Group, W. Hackett, Jnr, and H. G.Herrington; Equipment Group, T. Simpson and T. C. L. Westbrook. S. G. Brown Ltd: £775,000 AS had been forecast in Flight (June 17), there was Oppositioncriticism when the sale of S. G. Brown Ltd to D.H. Holdings Ltd was discussed in the Commons on June 22, though it did notamount to a censure motion. Mr Frederick Lee (Lab, Newton) asked if there had been offers from a large number of British firms,and why they had been turned down "for a combination that includes the American Bosch Arma Corporation"? The CivilLord of the Admiralty, Mr C. I. Orr-Ewing, said that other offers were received but this was the best; de Havilland would retain a51 per cent controlling interest in the company. He refused to disclose the selling price, but under Opposition pressure said hewould approach the buyers "and see if they have any objection." Last Friday, in a written Parliamentary answer, Mr Orr-Ewingsaid that the price to be paid—in cash on June 30—was £775,000. This included repayment of Admiralty loans amounting to£215,000. The purchasers would also assume responsibility for a bank overdraft outstanding at £440,000. The Rolls-Royce Year IN his annual statement at the annual general meeting of Rolls-Royce Ltd on July 19, Lord Kindersley, the chairman, spoke of the contribution of the aircraft and engine industries to the coun-try's export programme. "At the risk of repetition," he said, "it must be stressed that the record figures of exports for these indus-tries for 1959—£156 million compared with £154 million in 1958 —are the result of decisions taken and development work donemany years ago. It has always been our belief that Government policy must recognize the vital importance of continuity ofdevelopment by giving suppon to companies which are prepared to make a substantial contribution from their own resources. It ison this basis that our company has continued with programmes of development which have absorbed a substantial portion of ourprofits." Among other points from Lord Kindersley's statement wereremarks on the improved version of Conway to be Used in the Vickers VC10; on the R.B.141, which began test-bed running latein 1959 ("we hope to see this new family of engines secure for us a satisfactory share in future jet-transpon business"); and onprogress with the Tyne. Of the company's high-altitude test facility the chairman saidthat it had enabled Avon anti-icing tests to satisfy the ARB to be SEVENTEEN MONTHS after the go-ahead in January J959, the Avro 748 made its maiden flight — lasting IVihr from Woodford — on June 24 in the hands of Jimmy Harrison, Avro's chief test pilot. The type is due to be in service with the UK indepen- dents Skyways and BKS next summer. TheSeries2 version has been ordered by Aden Airways. A full description of the 74S appeared in "Flight" for'_ June 3, pages 757-764
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