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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 0891.PDF
FLIGHT, 1 July 1960 3 NEW BLOOD: The first four-seater in the new Auster range, in this case a D.6 with a 160 h.p. Lycoming engine. It was flown to Norway recently by Ranald Porteous, Auster sales director. Future D.6s will have the 180 h.p. Lycoming and constant-speed propeller completed in a week, whereas flight-test methods would haveneeded six months. Following the Short SC.l's success, other countries interestedin VTOL development were now considering projects using Rolls- Royce engines.Speaking of collaboration with foreign firms, Lord Kindersley said, "The interest of NATO countries in aircraft designed to usethe Tyne engine has led to arrangements for the manufacture of this engine on a co-operative basis which will enable us to con-tinue the happy associations which we have had with both Hispano Suiza in France and Fabrique Nationale in Belgium. InGermany negotiations which were proceeding with Maschinen- fabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg A.G. have since resulted in the signingof an agreement for technical collaboration. In India licence arrangements have been concluded for the manufacture of Dartengines." The chairman concluded his review of the work of the com-pany's Aero Engine Division with a reference to Blue Streak. "Its cancellation," he said, "is naturally disappointing because yourcompany had taken the initiative in arranging for technical col- laboration with North American Aviation on the design anddevelopment of the powerplant. Although the project had not reached the stage of occupying any substantial part of our manu-facturing resources, it represented an important part of our future programme and must inevitably involve some rearrangement inour forward planning." Financial results announced in the directors' report at the meet-ing showed a gross trading revenue for the year ended December 31,1959 of £97,533.321 (1958, £92,277,918), represent-ing a profit after taxes of £2,634,854 (£2,233,482). Increase in revenue stemmed mainly from oil-engine sales. SR-N2 Hovercraft HOVERCRAFT collaboration is being continued between Hover-craft Development Ltd, a subsidiary of the NRDC, and Westland Aircraft Ltd (Saunders-Roe Division) under an agreementannounced last week. Construction of the SR-N2, already under way at Cowes, will be continued as a joint venture.In the announcement, it was stated that Westland, in addition to continuing their research programme on the SR-N1 withHovercraft Development Ltd, had for some time—and as a private venture—been engaged on the design and testing of models of anadvanced Hovercraft designated SR-N2. This is described as "a multi-engined 25-ton craft, designed for a wide range of opera-tional tasks. It has a design speed of 70kt and will carry up to 68 passengers."Technical details are withheld, pending finalization of the design. It is certain, however, that motive power will be providedby a number of free-turbine engines—four Blackburn A. 129 Nimbus are a likely possibility—arranged as a package at decklevel. Gearboxes and shafts will take the power to a pair of fans to provide lift in the Cockerell manner and to a pair of variable-pitch propellers which will be capable of pivoting in azimuth to simplify manoeuvring in confined spaces. It is expected that the SR-N2 will be operational by the autumn,of next year, and those concerned in its development confidently expect that by that time someone will be ready to operate it com-mercially. Such operations would probably be in comparatively sheltered waters such as the Solent and around the Western Islesof Scotland. This SR-N2 announcement, only a year and a week after theSR-N1 first flew, marks the beginning of a Hovercraft develop- ment industry in the UK. Vickers-Armstrongs (South Marston)Ltd are developing a 4-5 ton utility craft and a 15-25 ton transDort (to be available in two years, or a little later than the new Saromachine). Denny Bros are working on a vehicle for commercial use and Britten-Norman's Cushioncraft was described last week. Soviet Record Claims RUSSIA claims to have set up a new speed record of 2 091km/hr(1,298 m.p.h.) over a 100km (62 miles) closed circuit. In a recent broadcast, Moscow radio said that this was set up on Mav 28by Boris Adrianov in "a sinele-seater turbojet aircraft," the flight lasting for 2min 52.5sec. The broadcast added that "the SovietUnion holds both absolute world speed records," the other (over a distance of 15-25km) having been set up by Col G. Mossolovon October 31 last year, when he averaged 1,493 m.o.h. on two runs in an E-66. [An American record of 2,455.25km/hr(1,525| m.p.h.) over a 15-25km course, set up by Joseph William Rogers in a Convair F-106 on December 15 last year, has not sofar been confirmed by the FAI.l The Soviet Union has also claimed two new helicopter records, CUSHIONCRAFT DESIGNERS John Britten (left) and Desmond Norman, whose promising air-cushion vehicle was the subject of a cut-away drawing and description in our last week's issue for distance and speed, Moscow radio reporting that on June 18the woman pilot Tatyana Russiayan covered a 500km (311 miles) closed circuit course non-stop in an Mi-1 at an average speed of142.642km/hr (88.9 m.p.h.). Made along the Tushino - Kaluga - Vyazma - Tushino route, the flight lasted 3hr 31min 42sec. Croydon—a* Postscript LAST week (page 857), we remarked on the meagre attentionpaid to civil aviation in Croydon's millenary celebrations. Some amends were made on the final day (last Saturday) of the exhibi-tion at the airport, when hitherto abortive negotiations with the Ministry of Aviation at last bore fruit and an aerial farewellceremony took place. During the afternoon a total of over 20 aircraft from the Surreyand Kent, Vendair and Redhill Clubs flew past, dipping wings in salute as they neared the terminal buildings and hangars. Finally,from an Auster of Vendair—piloted by Trevor Prytherch—a wreath was dropped in the centre of the field. It was inscribed"A salute to all the air pioneers who flew to and from Croydon Airport—they thrilled the world." IN BRIEF George Tilghman Richards, MBE, a founder member of the RAeS,died on June 22 in his 76th year. An engineer, he took part in developing the Cedric Lee annular monoplane at Shoreham in 1913. An addition to the list of Birthday Honours noted on page 863 lastweek is the name of Mr Raymond Smith, who is Rolls-Royce (aero) representative in Venezuela; he is appointed CBE. It is reported from Paris that a Franco-Israeli agreement had beenreached for the delivery of Dassault Mirage Ills to the Israeli Air Force. According to informed sources, the agreement (concluded several weeksago) provided for a first delivery of 26 aircraft and an option on a further 14. Since "Forthcoming Events" on page 30 went to press the cancella-tion of the Derby and Lanes Gliding Club's meeting at Carnphill (July 24-August 1) has been announced; but during the same period—though beginning on July 23—the Coventry G.C. is holding a Midland regional competition week at Edge Hill. The Octave Chanute Award, given annually "for a notable contribu-tion made by a pilot to the aeronautical sciences," was being presented yesterday (June 30) to Joseph J. Tymczyszyn at the national summermeeting of the IAS. Mr Tymczvszynj a senior engineering test pilot and flight test engineer with the FAA, is flight test co-ordinator for theDouglas DC-8 certification programme. Today's (July 1) issue of our associated journal The Autocar is aspecial number containing a full report of the Le Mans 24-Hour Race. Another topical special issue from Associated Iliffe Press is AmateurPhotographer Holiday Number, appearing next Wednesday, July 6.
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