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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0035.PDF
i FLIGHT International, 4 January 1962 Products Aluminium Development Successful joint development of a modified type of alu minium reduction cell utilizing refractory hard metals as essential elements was announced recently by the British Alu minium Co Ltd and Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp, Oakland, Cal. Cells with these new cathode materials offer the first basic alteration, it is stated, to the electrolytic reduction process, on which the world's aluminium industry has been founded, since it was invented 75 years ago. The development is considered to be of major commercial significance because it can substantially reduce production cost per pound of aluminium and also permit expansion of the capacity of existing facili ties with relatively small capital expenditure. Both British Aluminium and Kaiser Aluminum are currently using the develop ment in certain of their reduction facilities. They plan to continue making refinements in its application to its existing cells, in order to ensure the successful adaptation of the development—which was invented by British Aluminium research staff in the . early 1950s—to all types of reduction cells. Starting the Jets Thermoid jet starter hose, manufactured by King Aircraft Corporation, used extensively by leading airlines and throughout the United States, is now generally available in the United Kingdom. This hose is made of new materials and components, since it was found that conventional materials were impracticable owing to the extreme temp eratures and tough conditions encountered. Extruded silicone rubber is used for the liner to provide a smooth seamless tube which will withstand high temperatures yet remain flexible. An outer reinforcement of seamless interwoven Dacron is used for strength and resistance to heat, fungus and mildew. This cover is permanently bonded to the liner with a layer of silicone rubber, providing strength, dimensional stability and flexiblity. For mechanical resistance and protection against dragging over rough surfaces, a loosely fitted scuffer jacket of open-mesh Dacron and spiralled natural rubber is employed. The hose is guaran teed for one year or 4,500 starts. King Aircraft Corporation are at Cameron Street, Hillington, Glasgow SW2 (Halfway 4571/3). Electro-Hydraulic Metal Forming In the past many of the most hard-to-form metal sheets—including titanium, niobium, col- umbium, stainless steel, tungsten and beryl lium alloys—have required the use of chemical explosives in order to form them into complex shapes. US General Electric have developed a new method which can be made compatible with any existing production line, and operates in a simple repetitive fashion with very high accuracy. The work-piece, die and an electrode assembly are submerged in a tank of water. The discharge of a large capacitor bank releases energy in an electric arc which almost instantaneously converts the water to plasma, producing a Shockwave which forms the part in a few millionths of a second. The standard range of equipment operates at 20kV, with a discharge of 12,500 to 50,000 joules. The largest work- piece so far formed has been 20in wide and ^in thick, but larger sections are being investigated. Aural Protection An important addition to the range of Amplivox ear-defenders referred to in our airport ground equipment review (December 14) is the new Type 16400 headband set. Based on the Canadian Safe-T ear muff, it incorporates a pair of rigid-wall, high-impact plastic shells filled with sound-damping material. The shells have fully articulated mounting on the headband, and fluid-filled rim cushions make close but comfortable contact with the ears and face. The headband has quick Amplivox Type 16400 ear-defenders, referred to in the news-item above adjustment by means of a simple slide lock; it also has a replaceable soft cover, and the high-impact earshells are quickly detach able. Noise attenuation is about 40-45db. Incidentally, the noise attenuation of the company's Sonex ear defenders, referred to in the above-mentioned review, should have been quoted as 15-30db. Company News DH Board Changes Two board changes have been announced by the de Havilland Aircraft Co Ltd, becoming effective from the beginning of this year. Dr G. H. Hough, PhD, BSC, has been made a director. He joined de Havilland Propellers in 1951 to work on missile guidance and fuzing systems and became chief engineer (guided weapons) in 1959 being made chief execu tive (engineering) in February last year, shortly after the propeller and aircraft companies were integrated. Mr G. C. I. Gardiner, CBE, FRAes, MiMechE, technical director (missiles), Haw ker Siddeley Aviation, has retired from the de Havilland Aircraft board to devote more of his time to work with the HSA of which he has been a director since March last year. HP Merger Uncertainty No satisfactory offer that would open the way for merging with any other company has yet been received by Handley Page Ltd. This was stated at the company's recent meeting 35 by Mr G. C. D. Russell, assistant managing director. Presiding in the absence through illness of the chairman. Sir Frederick Handley Page, Mr Russell was asked if there were any truth in reports that the Government were withholding an order for 45 Heralds until Handley Page merged with some other company. He commented: "It is very difficult to say one way or the other. I don't know that the Government has made up its mind as regards require ments for aircraft." BAC Posts New appointments have been announced recently in three of the British Aircraft Corporation subsidiary companies —Bristol Aircraft, English Electric Aviation and Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft). Mr G. E. Knight, commercial manager of British Aircraft Corporation, relinquishes his position as commercial director of Bristol Aircraft but retains his seat on the board. Mr F. D. Crowe, BSC, AFRAes, chief engineer (aircraft division) of English Electric Aviation, has been made a special director. In Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Mr J. Ferguson Smith, FCA, deputy general manager, has been appointed to the board as commercial director; Mr J. A. Pull, engineering manager, has also been ap pointed to the board, as works director; Mr T. C. Parker, MBE, general works manager, has been made a special director: Mr J. E. Armitage, FCWA, recently appointed comp troller of British Aircraft Corporation, has relinquished his position of commercial director but remains on the board; and Mr A. H. C. Greenwood, AFRAes, MIAS, AFCA, relinquishes the position of sales and service director but remains on the board. He is manager, aircraft sales and service, of British Aircraft Corporation. Blackburn Retirement Formerly commer cial sales manager, Mr J. J. Gadd has recently retired from the Blackburn Engine Co. He was one of the original members of the former Cirrus Co, moving to Brough as sales and service manager of what was then the Cirrus engine section when Cirrus were taken over by Blackburn. He was presented with a cheque by Air Cdre F. R. Banks and was guest of honour at a dinner at the Royal Station Hotel, Hull. A portrait of the chairman of Castrol Ltd, Mr Leslie W. Farrow, CBE, who has held the office for over 18 years, was unveiled recently at Castrol House, London, by Mr Leonard M. Broadway, deputy chair man and managing director. Aircraft-Marine Appointments Mr E. J. Blythe, BSc(Tech), AMIEE, has been appointed chief product engineer of Air craft-Marine Products (Gt Britain) Ltd. He has held posts with Ferranti Ltd, Standard Telephones & Cables Ltd and the M.O. Valve Co, and for the past ten years has been concerned with the development and production of transmitting valves. Another Aircraft-Marine appointment con nected with the company's research and development programme is that of Mr A. Fawlke, DFH, GIEE, GiMechE, who is now in charge of the laboratories.
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