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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0886.PDF
Crusader's Panoply The Chance Vought Crusader all-weather fighter, as the above picture suggests, is being tested for its capability to take on the additional role of attack. Added to its arma ment of four 20mm guns are these alternative bomb loads: 12 x 2501b, 4 x 5001b, 2 x 1,0001b, or 2 x 2,0001b. Other possible wing loads are two Bullpup A or B guided missiles, or 24 Zuni air-to- ground rockets plus the normal complement of four Sidewinders or eight Zunis on fuselage pylons WORLD NEWS . . . Last of the Desoutter Brothers Rene Louis Desoutter, whose death we reported briefly last week, was the last of the Desoutter brothers, although he chose not to join his other brothers in the firm of that name. Among the dwindling band whose memories go back to the early days at Hendon he will probably be remembered as an instructor at the British Caudron school. He must surely have been a very kindly and patient instructor, for the "quiet and unassuming" disposition which was remarked on by a writer in Flight nearly fifty years ago remained with him to the end of his life. Kindliness and a boyish sense of fun were his other outstanding and endearing personal characteristics. Rene Desoutter learned to fly at the Bleriot school in 1913, and received Aviator's Certificate No 485 from the Royal Aero Club, dated May 19, 1913. After a year at the Bleriot school as an assistant instructor he joined the Caudron (ex-Ewen) school as an instructor. Following the out break of the 1914-18 war the British Caudron Co was kept very busy building aeroplanes, and Desoutter was the test pilot. In that post he became one of the earliest of twin-engine pilots, with respon sibility for the maiden flight and subse quent test-flying of the first British-built Twin Caudron biplane (two 100 h.p. Anzanis). Having flown land-based monoplanes and biplanes of from 35 up to 200 horse power, Rene Desoutter turned his attention to floatplanes, beginning with the Sunbeam- engined Sage-Short seaplane. After that he test-flew many of the Sage-Short seaplanes and in 1916 he reached an altitude of some 14,000ft with passenger and full war-load. That feat was reported in Flight as "a world altitude record" and, whether or not it was officially observed and homologated, it was a very substantial achievement. It was on another Sage biplane—an ambitious project with an enclosed cabin—that Rene had a remarkable escape when the rudder post of the machine failed at an altitude of 1,000ft. With the rudder hindering instead of aiding directional control, Rene's forced landing ended in a collision with a tree. Perhaps his only consolation was to have the designer of the machine on board as a passenger. During the war period he was kept busy for he was able to establish himself as a free-lance test-pilot, advertising his services in Flight as "Admiralty approved" and "Holder of the world's seaplane height record." His services were much in demand. There are on record many tributes to his technical knowledge and flying competence (the right combination of qualities in a test pilot), but when that war was over the market for his services dried up and he abandoned aviation as a career. Rene Desoutter leaves a widow, Lilian, and a daughter, Gillian. D.M.D. Mig-21s for India? Reports continue to stream out of India concerning the desire of the Indian Govern ment to purchase the best supersonic fighter to match the early F-104s supplied to the Pakistan Air Force. On May 30 the Lower House in New Delhi gave "overwhelming support" to the suggestion that a Soviet offer of selling enough Mig-21s to equip an operational unit should be accepted. On the following day Mr Krishna Menon, Defence Minister, described is "groundless" fears that secrets of Canberras, Hunters and other aircraft might fall into Soviet hands when Russian aircraft were delivered. He also gave a strong hint that !,is Govern ment will not accept a new Bristol Siddeley offer regarding the BOr.l2R engine for the HF-24; he said Soviet collaboration in developing an engine for this aircraft was "readily forthcoming." Alexander Kartveli Retires Russian-born Alexander Kartveli, who has been vice-president, research and development, of Republic Aviation Corpo- 884 FLIGHT International, 7 June l%y ration since 1956, retired on June 1 but js continuing as consultant to the company He is one of its original members, having joined in 1931 when it was known as Seversky Aircraft Corporation (the name was changed in 1939). Aircraft developed by Kartveli and his design team have included the P-47, F-84, and F-105D. He went to the US in 1927, after working in the French aircraft industry. Two years later he joined the Fokker Aircraft Co and in 1931 became assistant chief engineer of Seversky Aircraft Corporation, pursuing his conviction that all-metal aeroplanes would be the aircraft of the future. Repub lic's president, Mr. Mundy I. Peale, has said of him: "Sacha Kartveli is one of the true aeronautical geniuses and Republic can ill afford to lose his creative talents." Hovercraft Show their Paces Featured in the BBC "Panorama" tele vision programme last week were four of the six Hovercraft now being developed in Britain—the Vickers VA-1 and VA-3 and Westland (Saunders-Roe) SR.N1 and SR.N2. They were seen speeding across the waters of the Solent, and the VA-3 came on to the beach to land Mr Richard Dimbleby. Mr Dennis Hennessey, chairman of Hover craft Development Ltd, said in an interview that he foresaw a rapid development of these craft in the next few years. "Hiss-2s" for Japan Sikorsky announce that the Japanese Defence Agency will buy 23 HSS-2 twin- turbine helicopters for use in the ASW role. The Japanese Navy will receive 11 between February 1964 and November 1966, and a second batch of 12 before March 196ii. Mitsubishi may undertake manufacture of airframes; the T58 engine is already being made by Ishikawajima-Harima. Assisting Polish Ex-Airmen Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh P. Lloyd is making this week's Good Cause appeal in the BBC Home Service next Sunday (June 10), on behalf of the Polish Air Force Association Benevolent Fund. Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane Largest and most powerful helicopter outside Russia, the S-64 was to make its first public demonstration on June 6, having flown for the first time at the Sikorsky plant at Stratford, Conn, on May 9. Developed with company money to meet a wide range of commercial and military requirements, the S-64 can lift a 20,0001b load of almost any shape or size. A picture and further details appear on page 907, in our annual review of the world's VTOL aircraft. Cranfield Open Day The College of Aeronautics is holding an Open Day on Saturday, June 30. On the preceding day the College will be open to invited guests only; applications for an invitation may be addressed to the Registrar, The College of Aeronautics, Cranfield, Bletchley, Bucks.
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