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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0634.PDF
644 FLIGHT, 11 May 961 (Left) An engineer tesn the rocking cockpit simulator r,)0(je by Shorts precision engint»rinp deportment for RAE. (see /jrst /tern). At right are the hyd-auijc controls for theelectro-hydrnulic servo system SYSTEM SURVEY Simulating the Rough Stuff THE precision engineering division of Short Brothers and HarlandLtd at Belfast have completed a "rocking cockpit" simulator for RAE Bedford to allow simulation of handling characteristics inadverse conditions during high-speed flight. A strong framework supports a moving beam on which is mounted the cockpit, weighing7001b with the pilot. Hydraulic rams can move the beam in roll and pitch while a third ram relieves the pitch servo of overhangingloads. Roll freedom is 15 to either side and maximum rate of roll is45°/sec. In pitch, the beam can be tilted 10° down or 20" up at a maximum rate of 25c/sec. Special damping devices at the travellimits prevent damage to the structure in case of rapid full deflec- tions. The hydraulic servos are electrically controlled and aspecially built analogue computer will supply demands correspond- ing to cross-winds, gusts and turbulence at various airspeeds.The pilot will be accommodated in a special cockpit unit to be provided by RAE and fitted after the simulator is installed atBedford. He will have full controls and instrumentation and will be able to handle the simulator in difficult flying conditions. Automatic Carrier Landing FIRST operational installation of the Bell Aerosystems automaticcarrier landing system will be on the new nuclear-powered US Navy carrier Enterprise. When this installation has been evaluated,nine other carriers will be fitted between late 1962 and 1964. They are Constellation, Kitty Hawk, Independence, Ranger, Saratoga,Forrestal, Roosevelt, Coral Sea and Midway. The Bell system employs tracking radar and a computer to detect the position of theaircraft relative to a pre-selected approach path and a VHF data link transmitting control demands to the autopilot. The humanpilot may have to control the throttles, but allowance is made for movements of the carrier's deck. Contribution to Polaris DYNAMIC analysis equipment originally designed by SolartronElectronic Group Ltd, has been re-engineered to meet US Services specifications by Solartron Inc, in California, and now forms part ofthe standard Nortronics Dattico Mk III, which performs auto- matic check-out for Polaris missiles. Solartron Inc was formed in 1956 to sell British Solartron equip-ment in the US and one successful item was the transfer function analyser. It was in 1960 that Solartron Inc began manufacture ofspecial equipment, based on the transfer function analyser, for use with Polaris. Score Series Test Equipment THE Autotest division of Elliott Brothers (London) Ltd has de-signed electrical test equipment in unit form for use on production lines. Made up from Score units, the equipment can be bought in its basic form and expanded by stages to make up a comprehensivecircuit testing facility. The basic unit is the Score 1 switching unit, with which continuity on up to 200 outlets may be tested. A pre-setversion will also show a fault if continuity resistance exceeds a given value; and either numerical or printed indications showwhich line is faulty. Two Score 1 units will cover 400 lines or random testing between any two lines. Score 2 is an insulation checker in which current may be appliedfor 0.1 sec or any desired test time, either between line and earth or between one line and any or all other lines. Score 3 is a resistancechecker with various values and tolerances and is appropriately used with the Score 4 programmer. Either patchboard or magnetictape programme may be used according to the type of testing carried out. A writing unit with press-button keys is incorporated inthe magnetic tape unit. The last Score unit is the No 5 capacitance and inductance checker for testing effective impedance in circuits.no leakage tests being applied. Autotest have developed an entirely new relay which is to be incorporated in Score and allfuture automatic test equipment. Radio for Western Australia ONE of the most powerful radio stations in the world is to bebuilt at Tolgarno, near North-West Cape, about 1,000 miles north of Perth. The radio, which will be American, will be able to com-municate with submerged submarines and with aircraft almost anywhere in the world and will possibly be supplied with power by asmall nuclear reactor. The project would cost several million dollars. Zenith Portable for Navigation THROUGH their United Kingdom agents, United Mercantile CoLtd, of Sovereign House, Queen Street, London Wl, Zenith Radio Corp are now marketing in Britain the Navigator transistorportable radio with which bearings can be taken on broadcast and MF navigation transmitters. Covering the 550-1,600kc/s and150-400kc/s bands, the Navigator has eight transistors and will run for some 300 hr on small torch batteries. It weighs 51b and has a"nav" setting which eliminates automatic volume control and gives sharp nulls for taking bearings. The ferrite rod aerial is within thecontainer, and there is a small rotating bearing dial on top of the case. Price of the Navigator in Britain is £69 6s lid. At Kelvin Hughes' Rark- ingside factory, RCAF specialist radio and navigation officers on tour in Britain inspect air data computers for the Smiths flight con- trol and instrument system for the DH Trident. This is the first published view of these components
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