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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0216.PDF
216 FLIGHT, 17 February 196i CORRESPONDENCE... which are, as is well known, easier to manage than piston engines (thusrendering comparisons with the DC-6 invalid), and which had already proved entirely satisfactory for two-crew operation in the Viscount series. In more than 2,500 hours of flying the Argosy in many parts of theworld the safety of two-crew operation has been amply proved. This flying has involved extensive route-proving over Europe and the MiddleEast, visiting 29 different airfields operating full civil procedures. On these flights the two-man crews (test pilots initially unfamiliar withoperating aircraft in and out of congested airfields) achieved a regu- larity which earned the congratulations of the national airline corporations. While still advocating ihe 80,0001b weight rule as a "yardstick/' theFEIA letter, in our submission, lays particular emphasis on the only true yardstick—cockpit work-load. This is the yardstick on which theArgosy cockpit design was based, and the result is an aircraft which can safely and efficiently be operated by a crew of two—a result withwhich the ARB (which has granted us full and unrestricted certificates) and the FAA (which has granted us a Type Certificate based on a flightmanual stipulating a minimum crew of two pilots) agree. However, although we arc convinced of the safety and efficiency oftwo-crew operation, it is not a point over which we, as manufacturers, are prepared to cavil. If an operator desires it, or regulations demandit, a three-crew flight deck is available—having been designed and mocked-up in parallel with the two-crew layout. Finally, FEIA's comment about the sales of the Argosy beinginfluenced by the number of crew is based on a Flight statement, which is the magazine's own assessment of the situation. Obviously, fromthe operator's point of view, two-crew is more economical than three- crew operation; but we can prove that the economics of the aircraftare extremely attractive irrespective of the number of crew members. Flying Rivets "V^OUR reader ("Straight and Level," January 27) is right.A Unpleasant facts can be most irritating. These particular facts were pointed out for the benefit of the sensitively underprivileged, who, though not able to realize the harm noise does them mentally and physically, are yet capable, through long experience of watch- ing westerns on TV, of understanding the effect of a bullet! Most other countries are beginning to appreciate that noise must be outlawed. The final report of the New York inquiry into noise and its effects reads : — ". . . there is sufficient conclusive evidence to prove that excessivenoise is a menace to both physical and mental health. . . . Noise abate- ment should be considered as 'preventive medicine' rather than merelythe elimination of an annoying nuisance." Unfortunately those who suffer from noise are the same folk who are responsible for all that is good in civilization, and because of their intelligence and sensitivity they are loth to protest a; vigorously as they are entitled to do. It hardly seems fair that millions should suffer for the sake o< the few, and in any case it would take less time for passenger. to travel from Central London to the coast than it does to th; present airport. Employees would enjoy the fresh sea air; and. for those who wish to remain, ample work would be available iu the new industries which would immediately spring up in th: space which would become available. I feel quite sure many of your readers secretly agree with the logic of our arguments, although for obvious reasons they ar<. unable to say so. But if any have sufficient courage to write, I should be pleased to hear from them. 6 Old Bond Street, London Wl JOHN CONNELL, Hon Secretary, Noise Abatement Society Disappearing LandmarkI HAVE read with interest Capt M. Somerton-Rayner's letter on the airship hangar built for the R.101 at Karachi Airport ("Disappearing Landmark," January 13). While it is true to say that the hangar was never used by the unfortunate R.101, I have recollections of one or two uses to which it was put. No 36 Squadron, RAP, stowed a complete squadron of Hawker Horsley aircraft in one corner when en route for Singapore in the early 1930s. No mean aircraft this either. The maintenance crews who helped to service competitors in the London - Melbourne Air Race in October 1934 may well remember several hot sleepless nights under its roof and as a landmark I think I can say it was the goal of achievement for many of the inhabitants of the RAF Drigh Road Depot on their evening exercise walks, some three or four miles distant along the Malir Road. I believe the hangar could be seen up to 15 miles away across the flat surrounding desert scrub. Thank you, Capt Somerton-Rayner, for reviving many old memories. Bath, Som A. M. BROWN (ex-RAF Karachi Aircraft Depot) Smith-Barry Anecdotes WantedI AM preparing a short biography of Robert Smith-Barry, the founder of the Gosport system of flying instruction, and would be grateful for any anecdotes about him that your readers might care to send me. The Savage Club, London SW1 F. D. TREDREY THE INDUSTRY Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd announce the acquisition from SheffieldTwistdrill & Steel Co Ltd of the whole of the issue share capital of Accurate Screw Threads Ltd, Hednesford, Staffs. Mr John Creek has been appointed deputy managing director ofFibreglass Ltd in addition to his present appointment as sales director. He joined the company in May 1952 as general sales manager and wasmade sales director in 1954. Mr H. E. C. de Chassiron, managing director of D. Napier and Son Ltd, address- ing the company's apprentices at the recent presentation of indentures and awards at Acton Town Hall. Guest speaker was Mr Geoffrey Dyson, chief national coach of the A A A, and the prize for the best trade apprentice went to R. E. H. Hitchinson Following changes and new appointments, the board of Siebe Gormanand Co Ltd (acquired by the Fairey Co last September) is now as follows: Mr C. C. Vinson, chairman; Mr R. W. G. Davis, managingdirector; Dr L. Levy; Mr L. S. Dawkins and Mr M. H. W. Wells. Smiths Aviation Division state that Kelvin-Kollsman cabin pressurecontrol systems are being fitted in five D.H. Comet 4Cs for RAF Trans- port Command. Similar equipment has already been specified for D.H.Tridents of BEA and for the Short Belfast being built for the RAF. The system is based on the KS-69 cabin pressure control systemdeveloped by Kelvin's American associates, Kollsman Instrument Cor- poration, Elmhurst, New York. Control of cabin pressure is achievedby three series-connected, capsule-type monitor elements which convert pressure into electric signals. A motor-operated discharge valve tripmechanism and altitude switch are included in the system for abnormal or emergency conditions. Total weight of components forming the basicsystem is approximately 26jlb. CIBA (A.R.L.) Ltd, Duxford, Cambs, have issued the first of a newseries of data sheets on Aeroweb aluminium honeycomb core materials for lightweight structures. Titled Production Information Sheet No 1,this gives the maximum allowable pressures for bonding various types of Aeroweb core between skins. Goodmans Industries Ltd have established three main agencies inthe United Kingdom to handle their vibration test equipment on a sales and service basis. For the Midland area the agents are Hawnt & Co Ltd,59 Moor Street, Birmingham 4; for Northern England, Farnell Instru- ments Ltd, Light Industrial Estate, York Road, Wetherby, Yorks; andfor Scotland, A. R. Bolton & Co Ltd, Bankhead Drive, Sighthill, Edinburgh 11. Four foam tenders were recently delivered to Hungary after beingdriven across Europe. The operation was a joint effort by the three manufacturers principally concerned—Pyrene, Thornycroft and Rolls-Royce—and followed a demonstration of fire-fighting equipment in 1959 arranged by the Pyrene agents in Hungary. One of the applicationsof the vehicles, built on a Thornycroft 4x4 chassis, powered by Rolls- Royce B.81 Mk 50F/1 engines, is for airfield emergencies. Hydex, the low-twist nylon cloth coated with p.v.c. which was referredto in our Furnishing and Finishing issue of January 27 is manufactured by I.C.I. (Hyde) Ltd and supplied to John Cox & Son Ltd. New managing director of Microcell Ltd and chairman of Palmer Aero Products Ltd: Mr C. G. Erlam, whose appointment to these posts has been announced by the controlling com- pany, BTR Industries Ltd. The chairman of Microcell is Dr W. D. Scotf and Mr J. J. Molins becomes assistant managing director. BTR have also announced the appointment of Mr P. L. Watson and Mr J. A. Hemingway to the board of Palmer Aero Products
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