FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0464.PDF
462 FLIGHT International, 29 March 1%; WORLD E W S Variable Geometry During the past week much has been said on the subject of variable-geometry aircraft. This has been triggered-off by the March 22 announce ment by Mr Peter Thorneycroft, Minister of Aviation, that he is placing a design- study contract for such an aircraft with British Aircraft Corporation (as noted in both our leading article and our report of the debate on the aircraft industry, page 489). Aircraft with wings which can change their shape in flight have been studied for 50 years, but most of the modern research is based on the work of Dr Barnes Wallis's team at Weybridge between 1945 and 1960 (Flight, January 8, 1960). Although a study contract was placed with Vickers for a deck- landing naval aircraft (about which nothing more has been heard), the British Govern ment has never regarded polymorphic air craft—or laminar-flow aircraft, for that matter—as worthy of much support. Dr Wallis was instructed to turn over the results of his research to what is now the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the latter has since spent a considerable sum—the unofficial estimate is £200m—on polymorphic studies, with particular emphasis on M3 civil airliners. Renewed British interest is due to the fact that only with variable geometry can maximum efficiency be realized throughout a variety of civil and military missions. The commercial airliner is still hamstrung by the sonic-bang problem, which is now seen as a serious handicap to economics, even in transatlantic operation. Time will show whether or not the growing Super Caravelle design-team under M Servanty will be able to adhere to the fixed ogival shape. Of greater consequence is the fact that the polymorphic aeroplane can beat all fixed- geometry designs in a range of strike, reconnaissance, ASW, missile-platform and military-transport roles. The Minister of Aviation is calling for multi-mission aircraft, and such flexibility demands variable geometry. Both BAC (who have the present study contract) and Hawker Siddeley Aviation have done extensive research into this field. At last, the chief customer appears to be interested. Happy Helicopter Partnership: Sikorsky Aircraft Division of United Aircraft have recently entered upon their 16th year of helicopter-construction licensing agree ments with Westland Aircraft. The association began early in 1947, when the British firm were licensed to build the S-51, which they designated the Dragonfly. Mr E. C. Wheeldon, Westland deputy chairman and managing director, says of this long period of co-operation: "We have derived and continue to derive strength from our technical association with Sikorsky, which is a source of pride and great help to us. Since signing our first agreement with them in January 1947 Westland has built several hundred heli copters under licence from Sikorsky." In a tribute to the British company Mr Lee S. Johnson, Sikorsky general manager, says: "A high degree of co-operation and support has developed between the two companies. The skill with which the Westland organization has integrated the basic Sikorsky designs into their own production and sales picture has often been praised by Sikorsky people." S-61s for the USAF On March 26 Sikor sky Aircraft announced that the US Na\\ are to loan the Air Force three S-61 twin- turbine helicopters to operate a shuttle service between Otis AFB and Texas towers in the Atlantic. In a recent demon stration one S-61 made a round trip with 20 crewmen and 7001b of survival gear to a tower 150 miles off-shore, landing in a high wind. Allison T63 Progress Allison Division of General Motors have completed three consecutive 50hr preliminary flight rating tests on the YT63-5 inverted- exhaust version of the Model 250 turbo- shaft. Last month Allison were awarded a $3.31m contract for further development of the -5 for the US Army LOH (light observation helicopter) programme. The company are currently shipping six ground- test engines shared equally between the A Belfast Takes Shape—an impressively large shape—at the Belfast works of Short Brothers & Harland. Below, a one- tenth-scale mock-up of the aircraft is studied by Mr R. A. Butler, the Home Secretary, during a visit which he paid to the works on March 23. On the left is Mr C. £. Wrangham, the chairman, and on the right Mr H. G. Conway, joint managing director. The Belfast is due to fly early next year
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
