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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0590.PDF
600 FLIGHT, 4 May 19 CORRESPONDENCE . . . Australia's First Airliner IN your issue of March 16, Mr Lincoln A. Ward of Inverell,NSW, draws attention to the fact that the Drover is notAustralia's first and only airliner. He is perfectly correct in saying that the first Australian-designed and -built airliner was the Lascoter.However, he is wide of the mark in saying that this makes the Drover Australia's second airliner and the only Australian-builtmulti-engined airliner. In actual fact, the Drover is Australia's fifth of local design andconstruction and the fourth multi-engined one. Shortly after the appearance of the Lascoter in 1930, W. S. Shackleton was respon-sible for the first multi-engined Australian airliner, the Lasconder, a tri-motor. In 1934 the Codock high-wing monoplane with twinNapier Javelin engines was designed by L. J. (now Sir Lawrence) Wackett, drawn by T. W. Air—lately in charge of Blue Streakactivities for de Havilland—and built by Cockatoo Docks in Sydney. In 1936 the Tugan Aircraft Co at Mascot put into production theL.J.W.7 Gannet, again designed by L. J. Wackett and fitted with twin Gipsy 6 engines. Both these types were using the familiarFokker plywood-covered box-spar wooden wing and a welded- steel type fabric-covered fuselage. About a dozen Gannets werebuilt and this type was, in fact, operated for some years by Butler Air Transport on routes which included Sydney-Broken Hill. Several other Australian airliner designs have been promoted;but to the best of my belief these five, including the Drover, were the only ones which actually went into service. Melbourne Cl, Australia JOHN L. WATKINSDirector of Engineering, Trans-Australia Airlines "Shores of Tripoli"U SAFE is the main source of my aircraft interest, mainly inspired by the proximity of RAF station Wethersfield. So it was with interest that I read the article about the USAFE Weapons Center at Wheelus AFB, published in Flight for April 20. FORTHCOMING EVENTS May 4 RAeS: Annual General Meeting. May 5 RAeS Man-powered Aircraft Group: a.g.m. May 5 RAeS Rotorcraft Section: "The Helicopter—the first of the VTOL Aircraft." by Raoul Hafner. RAeS Historical Group: Discussion Evening. RAeS: "Structural Weight Estimations for Novel Configura- tions," by M. E. Burc. RAeS Graduates' and Students' Section: "Aeroflot," by G. A. Yarotski. Institute of Navigation: "Airborne Weather Radar," by Capt R. C. Alabaster and P. L. Stride. British Gliding Association: National Championships, Lasham. Institute of Navigation (in conjunction with French and German Institutes): Convention on "The Avoidance of Collision at Sea and in the Air by Land- or Shore-based Aids," Dusseldorf. RAeS Astronautics and Guided Flight Section: "The Agena Satellite and Discoverer Programme," by R. Smelt. RAFA Display, Hucknall, Notts. Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences: National Telemetering Conference, Chicago. RAeS Rotorcraft Section: "Development of Stabilizing Equip- ment for Helicopters," by P. D. MacMahon. RN Air Station Lee-on-Solent At Home. RN Air Station Yeovilton At Home. Tenth Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, USAF, Open Day, RAF Alconbury. June 17 RAeS Rotorcraft Section: Helicopter Rally and Garden Party, Dunsborough Park, Ripley, Surrey. May May May May 8 9 10 12 May 13-22 Mayl6-I8 May 18 May 22 May22-24 June June June June 2 15 17 17 However, I must disagree with the caption to the second pictureon page 534. This referred to a "C-130 of the 322nd Air Division," behind which stood a C-124 of MATS. It would appear to be thatthe aircraft in the foreground was, in fact, a C-133A, also of MATS, actually hailing from a Logistics Wing based at Dover AFB.Surely no C-130A ever had such a square-cut fin, and a "thimble" radome? It is general practice, also, with the C-130, to have thelast three digits of the serial in approximately 4ft high figures on the nose, behind the cockpit, and not the last four digits enclosedin a rectangle, under the cockpit, as depicted. Halstead, Essex K. RAYNER [It was a C-133A.—Ed.] THE INDUSTRY Folland FutureW E of Follands have had a few knocks in the past two or threeyears, but we hope by each that we have learnt something. Our present position is stronger than it has ever been before."Thus Mr D. G. Brade, director and general manager of Folland Aircraft Ltd, at the company's recent distribution of apprenticeprizes at Hamble. He went on to say: "We have an intensive pro- gramme of work on contracts for both military and civil aircraft....We feel certain that our present orders for the Gnat Trainer and the Avro 748 wings are by no means the last. In fact we are confidentof considerable additions to both contracts." Both Mr Brade and the education officer, Mr F. C. Kirkpatrick,were anxious to dispel doubts about the future. The latter said that without Folland support the National Certificate courses inaeronautical engineering at Southampton University and Technical College might well have come to a halt. Fortunately, he said, therecent recession in the aircraft industry in the Southampton area had now passed. "We are now looking forward to an expansionprogramme unique in some respects ... to which I cannot refer at the present time." Air Marshal Sir Richard Atcherley, sales director, and MichaelCurran, outstanding apprentice of the year, replied to Mr Brade's speech. Silicones in Hydraulics AT £1.000 for a 40gal drum it is now possible to obtain ahydraulic fluid with an operating temperature range betweenat least -52C and +250 C. A chlorophenyl silicone known as DP 47, the fluid is manufactured in Great Britain by the NobelDivision of Imperial Chemical Industries under the trade name Silcodyne H. Another fluid, Silcodyne M, consists of Silcodyne Hwith an oxidation inhibitor providing additional load-carrying capacity. DP 47—the result of several years' work by ICI and by theSilicone Products Department of GEC of America—has already been specified for one new British aircraft, although this is not thesupersonic Bristol 188. It has been used in the US in GE hydraulic constant-speed drives, but no complete hydraulic system has yetbeen flown. A "low-flam" fluid, Silcodyne H undergoes variation of viscositywith temperature from 2.848 centistokes at -54 C to 65cS at 38aC and 2cS at 370 C. The fluid does not decompose below 316"C and therate of breakdown is then linear with temperature, the breakdown products being volatile. This temperature is much higher thanwith most other hydraulic fluids, although bulk modulus is low at lower temperatures. As a result, systems designed for Silcodyne Hwill be heavier, but the low rate of viscosity change and lower line-losses should improve system-characteristics. The fluid isstated to be almost completely non-toxic. Careful system-design is required. As carbon dioxide dissolvesin the fluid and destroys its lubricity, it is recommended that nitrogen be used for pressurization, although in the US air has beenused successfully when separated from the fluid by a membrane. Foaming is a problem, and provision for de-aeration in the tank isnecessary. Special seals will be required, since elastomers are not satisfactory over the wide working temperature range for which thefluid is designed. Viton A seals must be used above 90 C, but fall short at low temperatures; ICI recommend the use of metal seals(possibly including metallic O-rings) and chamfered piston rings. Care must also be taken over piping, since normal screw-typecouplings will leak at high temperatures. DP 47 is not compatible with copper (or for that matter with steels which cannot becarbur-ized or nitrided) and the use of welded stainless-steel pipe is recom- mended. Failing this, pipes should be machine-flared. Specialthought must be given to corrosion protection, since it may never be possible to make DP 47 corrosion-inhibited. IN BRIEF Mr T. Morrison, who joined the Solartron organization in 1954 as atechnical sales engineer, has been appointed group field sales manager, Solartron Electronic Group Ltd. RCA Gt Britain Ltd announce that their type AVQ-9A radar alti-meter has received MoA approval. It had previously received American FAA certification. Rumbold & Co Ltd, seating specialists, recently delivered 61 seats—doubles (371b) and triples (521b)—to an important airline 27 days from the date when the order was received. They received a letter of apprecia-tion from their clients for "an outstanding achievement." Mr D. J. Flunder, general purchasing manager of the Dunlop Groupfor the past two years, is to become general manager of the chemical products division in Birmingham. He succeeds Mr N. G. Bassett Smith,who is to become general manager of the Danlop Footwear Co. Gp Capt W. G. G. Duncan Smith, DSO, DFC, has been appointedaviation sales manager of the Triplex Safety Glass Co Ltd. He retired from the RAF last December after 22 years' service, which duringWorld War II included Fighter Command, Malta and Desert Air Forw; operations. One of his post-war appointments was that of person :1staff officer to Air Marshal Sir Basil Embry as AOC-in-C Fighter Command; and he commanded the Scottish Wing of the RAuxAF. The News of the World Organization Ltd have agreed to purchase tiewhole of the issued share capital of Vactric (Control Equipment) L:i and Vactric (Precision Tools) Ltd from the receiver of Vactric Ln ,which is in liquidation. New boards are being formed with Sir William Carr as chairman, the present managing director, Mr T. W. Robertcontinuing in that capacity. Management of the two companies remains the same.
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