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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 1617.PDF
FLIGHT, 9 November 1961 721 Belvederes in Service AT Odiham last Monday the RAF showed off the first of theiroperational Westland Belvedere squadrons, No 66. This is com- manded at present by Sqn Ldr J. R. Dowling, formerly CO of theBelvedere Trials Unit, from which the squadron has been formed. Coming at present under 38 Group, which is commanded byAVM P. G. Wykeham and whose headquarters are at Odiham. No 66 is due to go out to the Far East next year. Two moreBelvedere squadrons, Nos 72 and 26, are being formed; one is destined for service in Aden and the other will be UK-based. Witha load-carrying capacity of 5,OOO-5,5OOlb and ability to lift up to 28 troops, these machines form a useful addition to RAF capabilityin tactical-support operations. The aircraft being used by 66 Sqn, which has six, differ in certainrespects from the pre-production Belvederes evaluated by the Trials Unit. They have powered controls, metal rotor blades, aslightly modified tail unit and low-pressure tyres. The Napier Gazelle 101s are unchanged. Each Belvedere operated by 66 Sqn carries two pilots and acrewman who is also a technician, responsible for maintenance away from base. The pilots converted to Belvederes generally havehad previous helicopter operational experience; their 20 hours' conversion flying includes basic experience on type, and tacticalapplication. In a demonstration on Monday a Belvedere landed 18 RAFRegiment troops, then with two others lifted a Land-Rover and trailer, two one-ton containers and four 1,0001b netted loads. AMexe bridge weighing 4,2501b (just under two tons) was trans- ported and deposited for a simulated river crossing. Wanted: New Projects A FORTHRIGHT plea for more long-term support for the aircraftindustry was made by Sir Roy Dobson, managing director of the Hawker Siddeley Group, at Boscombe Down last Fridaywhen representatives of the industry were entertained to dinner by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment.Stressing that some companies' financial commitments were far bigger than they should be asked to carry without support; thatforeign countries might ask for five, six or ten years' credit; and that the lead the British industry had established couldn't be main-tained without assistance, Sir Roy suggested that the Govern- ment should be persuaded to tell the industry what it wantedseven or more years ahead. Without new projects the industry was not going to be able to keep up its annual £150m worth of exports.Earlier, Sir George Edwards had sounded a similar theme, counterpointed with some sharp aphorisms. The managingdirector of British Aircraft Corporation said that he and Sir Roy had in common "some fairly majestic burdens"; emphasized thatBritain couldn't do without an aircraft industry—whatever the politicians might say; summarized the occasion's "nostalgicatmosphere of aeroplanes and chaps who make and fly them"; AIRBORNE AVIAN: Since March this year the Canadian Avian 2/180 gyroplane has completed over 200 flights from Waterloo-Wellington Airport, near Kitchener, Ontario. Flight testing continues, with certi- fication expected next year and reminded his hearers that the last time it was held (1958) wasthe year after the 1957 Defence White Paper. Sir George said he hoped all those present who were not in theaircraft industry would feel sorry for Sir George Gardner, Con- troller of Aircraft at the MoA, who was to propose a toast to it.But the Controller stuck to the safe ground of historical remin- iscence, going back to Sir George Cayley and the Wright Brothers.In a brief forward look, he said he considered there was a long future for manned aircraft, and a tremendous chance "for us inthe industry at this time." Air Cdre J. F. Roulston, AOC and Commandant, said in hisopening remarks that they were delighted to have so many of their contacts—including famous designers and test pilots—as guests.One famous figure who could not be present. Sir Frederick Handley Page, had nevertheless armed him with a typical "HP" aphorism—that "though there might be a lot of other aeroplane builders about there were not many who could speak about as many good aero-planes as he could." Though Boscombe Down's functions had changed over the years its aim was still, said the Commandant, toprovide the Services with "the best at the earliest." IN BRIEF A memorial service for the late Lady Cobham, wife of Sir Alan Cobham, was held at St Stephen's Church, Bournemouth, last Saturday. This year's annual reunion of the Air Public Relations Associationwill be held at the Royal Air Force Club, Piccadilly. London Wl, on November 16. We regret to learn of the death, at La Jolla. Calif, of Mr HarryWoodhead, who was president of Consolidated Vultee Aircraft from 1942 to 1948 and general manager of Douglas Aircraft in 1948-50.Mr Woodhead was born in Britain in 1890 and moved to America as a young man. A symposium on crack propagation, sponsored by the Collegs ofAeronautics and the Royal Aeronautical Society, was held at the Col- lege of Aeronautics, Cranfield. from September 26 to 28. It was openedby Air Marshal Sir Owen Jones, RAeS president, and an introductory review of fundamental thought on the subject was given by Prof A. H.Cottrell of Cambridge University. A new attempt on the Sydney-to-London solo speed record is to bemade next April by Ron Flockhart, flying a Merlin-powered, Australian- built Mustang. The attempt is stated to have the backing of the RoyalAero Club, many firms in the British aviation industry, and the Aus- tralian authorities. Mr Flockhart made a similar attempt last March,but engine trouble caused its abandonment at Rome. Rotax Ltd announce the appointment of Mr R. H. Woodall, MIEE,FRAes, as an assistant general manager with specific responsibility for sales and engineering. Technical director since 1949. Mr Woodall hasbeen closely associated during the last 30 years with major electrical developments in the aircraft industry, and he was awarded the RoyalAeronautical Society's Taylor Gold Medal in 1956. Mr J. H. Rea, BSC, AFRAes, now appointed to the board as technical director, joinedLucas in 1929 and transferred to Rotax in 1939, being responsible for the development of rotating machines and later becoming known asa prominent member of their technical sales team. He has been chief engineer since 1952. Col R. L. Preston has relinquished the chairmanship of the historicalgroup of the Royal Aeronautical Society and has been succeeded by Mr J. L. Nayler. The society's librarian, Mr Frank Smith, is at themoment undertaking secretarial duties for the group. Bristol Siddeley exhibits at the Indian Industries Fair, which opensin New Delhi on November 14, will include the Pegasus lift/thrust ducted fan engine, Orpheus and Viper turbojets and the Thor ramjet.Among other British exhibitors will be Normalair Ltd, whose display will feature their range of cabin air-conditioning, pressurization andoxygen breathing apparatus. We record with regret that AVM F. H. McNamara, vc, CB, CBE, diedlast week at the age of 67. He won the Victoria Cross—the first gained by a member of the Australian Flying Corps—in March 1917 inPalestine when he landed behind enemy lines under Turkish fire to rescue a fellow-pilot. During the last war, one of his appointments wasthat of AOC RAAF overseas headquarters in London; then he became AOC British Forces. Aden. Canadair Ltd have signed an agreement with Microcell Ltd, a subsi-diary of BTR Industries, under which the Canadian company will have the right to manufacture Microcell aircraft passenger seats in Canadaand America and to sell them in all parts of the world except Britain. Under the same agreement Microcell have given Canadair productiondetails of a new seat stressed for 16g, forward or aft facing, specified for CL-44s and CL-28s of the RCAF. Microcell also retain rights toproduce this type of seat. Sperry Gyroscope Co, Brentford, Middx, are supplying fullymanoeuvrable aircraft attitude and heading reference systems for the Dassault Mirage IIICs for the RAAF. They were among overseassuppliers mentioned in Canberra last week by the Australian Minister for Air, Senator Harrie Wade. The Sperry system consists of twin gyroplatforms with Rotorace suspension gyros, an electronic pack and controller flux-valve unit. Value of the order may be estimated at about£500,000. Other firms named by Sen Wade included Computing Devices of Canada (position and homing indicator system) and the French CSFCompany (fire control system).
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