FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0680.PDF
678 WORLD The N-156 Wins The US Department of Defense announced on April 25 that the winner of the competition for a new fighter/ bomber for nations militarily aligned with the US is the Northrop N-156 Freedom Fighter. Its principal rival was a simplified version of the Lockheed F-104, which had the official backing of the US Air Force (Flight International, March 29). The US Government has long been aware of the low military effectiveness and crippling maintenance costs of the many hundreds of older jet fighters in service with the members of NATO and SEATO—and possibly other certain countries considered reliable allies. The majority of these aircraft are variants of the F-84 and F-86. Fully described in Flight for January 8, 1960, the N-156 is a product of the Norair Division of Northrop Corporation, which has fully developed the type during exten sive flying with three prototypes. Engines are two General Electric J85-5 turbojets, of 3,8501b thrust with reheat. During development flying one N-156 landed within 1,300ft on a grass field near Pensacola and then took off within 2,500ft with maximum fuel. Equipment may include any of five radar fire-control systems, although one may not be provided in the production aircraft unless the recipient is known to have the ability to service and operate such equipment. Up to 5,2001b of external stores may be carried, and level speed exceeds M2. Cost of each production N-156 is described as "about $600,000 or less," and it will be borne partially or wholly by the US Government. The aircraft will be supplied through the Military Assistance Program; the actual recipients, and the number of aircraft involved, have not yet been divulged. 1963 Paris Salon The next Paris Show— 25 th in the series of these biennial inter national occasions—is being held at Le Bourget between June 6 and 16 next year. Sir Frederick's Successor Following the death of Sir Frederick Handley Page, the directors of Handley Page Ltd have elected Mr G. C. D. Russell, AFRACS, to be managing director and chairman of the board. Mr Russell joined the company in 1919 as an engineering apprentice and has since held a number of technical and administrative posts; during the war he was personal assistant to Sir Frederick. Afterwards he FLIGHT International, 3 May l%-> NEWS Mr G. C. D. Russell, appointed chairman and managing director of Handley Page Ltd (news-item on this page) became secretary of the company and in 1953 was appointed assistant managing director. It is also announced that Mr J. H. S. Green, ACA, company secretary, has been appointed a director. Mr Green, who joined Handley Page early in 1951 as assistant accountant, became chief accountant in 1952 and secretary in 1953. A Shackleton Replacement ? Publication of an unofficial story entitled "Britain will use jets in anti-sub patrol" in the Daily Express of April 26 prompts us to comment on the future equipment of RAF Coastal Command. During the past five years other nations have introduced entirely new ASVV patrol aircraft, and the Lockheed P3V-1 Orion and Breguet 1150 Atlantic are shortly to enter service. At one time a British air craft company (A. V. Roe) were a partner in the Atlantic programme, but had to with draw owing to the decision of the UK Government to "soldier on" with the Shackleton. Such a choice might have appeared lamentable; but in fact today's Shackletons are excellent aircraft in most respects, and in NATO exercises have frequently done better than aircraft of later design. But by 1970 a new aeroplane will have to be provided. What is wanted is something able to fly at the highest possible speed- something over M2 would be very accept able—to a search area or to a contact established by another aircraft or ship, effect a certain contact and kill, while yet having the ability to search at low altitude Royal Visitor to Vickers-Armstrongs' Weybridge works last week to see the VCIO was Princess Margaret, who was accompanied by her husband. Lord Snowdon. Here Her Royal Highness is seen near the aircraft with test pilots Jock Bryce (left) and Brian Trubshaw
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
