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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0532.PDF
530 Flight International photograph The new Douglas Tugmaster Type N.S.6 tractor described below INDUSTRY International... Products New Tugmaster Illustrated above is a new addition to the range of aircraft tractors made by F. L. Douglas (Equipment) Ltd, of Cheltenham. Known as the Tug master Type N.S.6 Mk 3, it is a smaller version of the Tugmaster D.C.7Q, which has for some time past been in heavy- duty service in many parts of the world. The new model is designed for handling aircraft of up to about 200,0001b loaded weight, so the photograph of a Boeing 707 on tow is not strictly typical of its normal duties; nevertheless, state the makers, it could handle such an aircraft in an emer gency. Such capability, they add, is unusual in tractors of comparable size, horsepower, and drawbar pull. Powerplant is a six-cylinder Perkins 6B305 diesel engine (max 87 b.h.p. at 2,100 r.p.m.), and the tractor has two-pedal control, torque converter and automatic transmission. Weight is 7£ tons, and ballast may be added to increase this by a ton. Performance figures are: 1st gear: speed 1-7.6 m.p.h., tractive effort 11,8001b to 4,1001b; 2nd gear: speed 5.9 to 16.5 m.p.h., tractive effort 5,4001b to 2,4501b. Two smaller models of the N.S.6, the Mk 1 (5 tons) and the Mk 2 (6£ tons), are also available. There is, too, a Mk 4 version, in which the driver is seated towards the rear instead of forward. The cost of this particular machine is from £2,230, accord ing to equipment; the whole NS.6 range is, in fact, a modestly priced one: one model costs only £1,766. Bloodhound System Computer It is not generally appreciated that the Bloodhound surface-to-air missile system includes an Argus digital computer, a product of Ferranti Ltd, who are better known in this context as the supplier of the complete semi- active homing guidance system. Fully described in the January-March 1960 issue of our associated journal Data Processing, the Argus is a fully transistorized computer designed especially for control applications with particular emphasis on reliability. Already "several dozen" Argus computers have been ordered for defence systems, and important export sales have been achieved with the adoption of Bloodhound by Sweden and Switzerland. Vortex Technology Douglas Aircraft announce the formation of Vortec Products Co to develop, manufacture and market a variety of products employing the principles of fluid dynamics. The new concern's name is derived from vortex technology, which is common to the products under develop ment. These include an aircraft arrester gear which uses hydrodynamic braking, and a combination arrester-launcher. Checking Trident Powerplants Racal digi tal counting equipment is being used during ground and flight testing of the D.H. Trident. A Racal SA.509 jet engine speed FLIGHT International, 5 April 1962 tachometer is installed on the flight deck, for calibration of standard engine tacho- generator systems. Described as "a highly accurate electronic rev counter enabling jet engine r.p.m. to be determined during a few seconds' run-up time, with an accuracy of ± 0.02 per cent, the SA.509 is similar to equipment already supplied by Racal to BOAC, TCA and Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft). Punched-card Reader A leaflet from Servo Consultants Ltd, of 10 Bouverie Place, London W2, describes a new form of hand- operated reader for a series of punched cards for process control or any other application demanding periodical altera tions effected by changed switching se quences. Standard cards are produced with 207 or 414 digits in a long-life material such as l/32in Tufnol, and each card results in one particular operating cycle. The leaflet briefly describes employment of the reader in conjunction with a pipe- winding machine by Bristol Aeroplane Plastics Ltd. Aiding Mobility The engine trolley illus trated below—carrying a Bristol Siddeley Stentor rocket motor, powerplant of Blue Steel—is fitted with wheels typical of the kind in which Autoset (Production) Ltd, 70-79 Stour Street, Birmingham 18, are specialists. The steerable bogie seen on it is one of Autoset's latest developments. The twin lOin X 5in pneumatic-tyred, taper-roller- bearing wheels have a combined dynamic capacity of lOcwt, and the operating handle automatically applies Ferodo-lined 5in internal-expanding brakes in each wheel when raised or lowered. The rear of the trolley is mounted on 16in X 4in pneu matic-tyred wheels. Though this simple configuration was specified by the particular customer Autoset could supply an arrange ment with Ackerman steering if required. The trolley chassis in this instance was This engine-trolley, carrying a Stentor rocket motor, is equipped with a new steerable, automatically braked wheel unit by Autoset (Production) Ltd, as described above
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