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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0385.PDF
FLIGHT, 393 30 March 1961 ELEGANT EXECUTIVE: On March 21 a Grum- man Gulfstream (two Rolls-Royce Dart turbo- props) arrived in this country to begin a three- month demonstration tour of Britain, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As reported on page 413, the Gulfstream will parti- cipate in the Paris Show asking for an airways crossing; it subsequently entered Green Twotwo miles west of Great Orme's Head. Conditions could not have been less radar-like, with strato-cumulus at about 10,000ft; andbetween London and Lichfield at least three aircraft were seen passing Canopus in opposite directions. The Britannia was flyingat about 14,000ft, comfortably within the airway; the service which it was taking Press representatives to visit is designed for civil andmilitary jets flying above airways in what are now known as upper air routes. At Bishops Court, which comprises the RAF aerodrome (on acare-and-maintenance basis and little used for flying) and the radar station at Killard Point, the Air Office Commanding UK airtraffic service, Air Cdre H. J. Hickey, stressed that the fact that Bishops Court was an RAF station was "co-incidental"; its functionwas that of an ATC radar unit: as such, it was one of the positive steps being taken to continue the development of air traffic controlover the UK. Air Cdre Hickey explained that because existing airways had imposed restrictions on military traffic, the RAF haddeveloped a system of radar stations, making available a number of radar frequencies. In the summer of 1959, extended trials wereheld at Bishops Court; these were changed to experimental trials towards the end of the summer last year. He stressed that the serviceis still under development, requirements for ATC varying in different parts of the United Kingdom. On Killard Point there is long-range, short-range and height- finding equipment; 30 frequencies are in use and there is a 50-line switchboard for landline communications. The upper air range is 180 miles, the range of the secondary search radar is 120 miles; the height-finders can operate respectively up to 200 and 120 miles. The commanding officer at Bishops Court, Wg Cdr W. H. Pope, said that the unit had been on the air to everyone who called them. From the date since the unit began operations in July 1959, to the end of December last year, 10,000 aircraft (4,000 civil and 6,000 military) have been provided with radar service in the upper airspace. Current rate is about 500 civil and 300 military per month. More details of the Bishops Court radar unit will be given in next week's issue. Hawker Siddeley Aviation Posts TWO appointments have been announced by Hawker SiddeleyAviation. Mr G. C. I. Gardiner, CBE, MiMechE, FRAes, is to join the board as technical director (guided weapons). He will be responsiblefor co-ordinating activities in the guided weapon and space fields. The company have also announced the appointment of MrE. F. T. Jenkins, Bcom, as contracts manager (military). He will be directly responsible to the chief executive, Mr J. T. Lidbury. Calibre and Learning WITH the future of the university air squadrons at present underconsideration by the Air Council, there was a subdued air of optimism at the Southampton UAS annual dinner, held at RAFThorney Island last Friday. Certainly if two of the principal guests, Air Marshal Sir Richard Atcherley and Prof E. J. Richards, couldhave their way there would seem to be no doubt about the UAS future. Sir Richard stressed how much the RAF had benefited inthe past from the embodiment of "intellect and individuality" in famous scientists like Sir Henry Tizard and Prof Lindemann;many| of its famous leaders had come from the universities; and Lord Trenchard, who started a university scheme, had " no doubtabout it." Prof Richards, many of whose students in the Depart- ment of Aeronautics and Astronautics are members of the UAStechnical flight, paid tribute to the squadron as being among the largest in the country though belonging to one of the smallestuniversities. Sqn Ldr A. A. Pearce, the commanding officer, said that withofficial assurances that there would always be a need for manned aircraft the aim of the squadron had been restated. This revisedaim "placed a greater emphasis on the attraction of men of good calibre and learning into the Royal Air Force." He paid tributeto Prof Richards, whose students were "among the most active on the squadron," and to Air Marshal Atcherley, whose achievements"form a short history of the Royal Air Force." It was pointed out as a matter for pride by Acting Pit Off M. Z. Webber that theSchneider Trophy course where in 1929 Sir Richard achieved 329 m.p.h. is now part of the Southampton UAS flying area. IN BRIEF The Australian Minister of Supply. Mr A. S. Hulme, announcedrecently that Britain had bought 30 more Jindivik target drones from Australia. This brought Britain's total order for Jindiviks to 130. Air Cdre B. P. Young, CBE, has become Assistant Chief of Staff(Intelligence) at Allied Air Forces Central Europe headquarters. He was formerly Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations and Intelligence) atAllied Forces Central Europe. A 180-strong research group is to arrive in Australia in April tocontinue tests of the upper atmosphere started last November. Operating from the RAAF base at East Sale, Victoria, the group will use LockheedU-2s and take air samples at altitudes of up to 70.000ft. After a 22-month test programme, in which 2,000 nights were madewithout an accident, the Northrop T-38 Talon supersonic trainer (two GE J85-5 engines) entered service with the USAF Air Training Com-mand on March 17. Impressions of flying in the T-38 were published in Flight for March 17. British Aircraft Corporation's tactical corps-support missile BlueWater will be seen in public for the first time either at the Paris Saion (May 26 to June 4) or at a special showing in Britain beforehand.Blue Water mock-ups will be demonstrated on their transporter/ launcher by a team from the Royal Artillery. A "Ladies' Forum" is being held by the London Society of Air-Britain on Wednesday, April 5. Members of the panel will include Mrs Elizabeth Overbury, official instructor to the WJAC; Miss MaryGoldring of The Economist; Mrs Gaby Schreiber, design consultant; and Mrs Sarwar Moheyeddan, in charge of PIA passenger relations atLAP. The president-elect, Mr S. B. Oliver, chief test pilot of Hunting Aircraft, will be present and the meeting is to be held at the HolbornCentral Library, 38 Theobalds Road, London, WC1. A French Notam has announced that, from April 1 to October 31,aircraft not fitted with radio equipment for air-ground communications will not be allowed to land at Le Touquet. The Australian Federal Government intends to buy at least 40 heli-copters for the Australian Navy and Army (who together will receive most of the equipment ordered) and the RAAF. The Earl of Bective has had to relinquish his appointment as salesmanager of Lancashire Aircraft Co Ltd, following the death of his father (the fifth Marquis of Headfort) and his succession to the familyestates in Ireland. The Indian Defence Minister, Mr V. K. Krishna Menon. said in NewDelhi recently that the first Indian-built supersonic aircraft, the Hindu- stan HF-24 Mk 1, has been undergoing "satisfactory" preliminarytrials. Designed by Dr Kurt Tank, the HF-24 is a single-seat fighter powered by two Bristol Siddeley Orpheus BOr.12 turbojets withafterburners. A resolution empowering the Northern Ireland Government to lendShort Brothers & Harland up to £5m for the development of the Belfast freighter [Flight, March 16] was recently approved in the NorthernIreland House of Commons. The Minister of Finance, Capt T. O'Neill, said that the company had every confidence in the aircraft and wereplanning to manufacture not fewer than 30. At the dinner of the Coachmakers and Coach Harness MakersCompany at the Mansion House last week, the Lord Mayor (Sir Bernard Waley-Cohen) and the Lady Mayoress were welcomed by theMaster, Sir Reginald Verdon Smith. In his speech Col G. A. Norris said that the Coachmakers Company had quickly moved from coach-making to adopt the motor industry and then the aircraft industry, and were now considering makers of spacecraft.
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