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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 0924.PDF
922 FLIGHT International, 14 June 1%~> WORLD NEWS Saturday's Big Display Special arrangements are being made to obviate traffic congestion this Saturday (June 16) on roads to RAF Upavon, Wilts, where big crowds are expected at the 50 Years of Military Aviation commemorative display. The ninety-minute flying pro gramme starts at 2.45 p.m., but the airfield gates will open at 1 o'clock. The Duke of Edinburgh is to unveil a plaque commemorating 50 years of military aviation, on the new Transport Command headquarters being built at Upavon. After wards the Duke, who is arriving by heli copter at 11.30 a.m., will attend the display. Two Sycamore helicopters of 38 Group, Transport Command, are being used to assist Wiltshire police in controlling the flow of vehicles, and the following approach routes are suggested: from the north and north-east, via Marlborough and Burbage, the A342-A338 crossroads and Everleigh; from Andover, through Everleigh; from the south-east (the Wallops) via the A342-A338 intersection; from the south (Salisbury and Amesbury) turning right for Everleigh at Fittleton; from the south-west and west, via Larkhill and Durrington; and from the north-west, through Devizes. Roads will be signposted up to 30 miles out. USAF Buy F-104Gs Although Lockheed Aircraft have suc ceeded in making the F-104G "Super Starfighter" standard equipment with seven countries, none has been purchased by the US Air Force. But the company now announce the purchase by the USAF of $90m-worth, for shipment under the Mutual Aid Programme to "•friendly nations." This deal is curious, for the USAF promotion of the aircraft for this purpose was last month rejected by the Department of Defense, who have chosen the Northrop F-5A (N-156 Freedom Fighter), as reported in our May 3 issue. April Aircraft Exports Exports by the British aircraft industry during April amounted to £13,415,142, compared with £11,286,048 in April 1961. Engine sales—£7,210,282—made up the bulk of this year's April figure; sales of aircraft and parts amounted to £5,424,563. Biggest buyer of aircraft was Egypt, spending £2,457,863; Canada was the largest engine customer, spending £1,275,271. Exports from January to April totalled £41,226,526. B-52H Flies 11,420 miles The FA I will be asked to homologate a new record distance for a closed circuit without refuelling. On June 7 a Boeing B-52H (eight Pratt & Whitney TF33 fan engines) landed at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, after covering 11,420 miles in 22hr 38min. Road Rules for ACVs Considering the Road Traffic Bill last week, the House of Commons Standing Committee passed a clause which will make air cushion vehicles subject to the usual road rules. Mr John Hay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport, said: "We are faced with a situation that some types of hover vehicles are now being developed, and indeed are in use, and in certain circumstan ces can be put on the public roads. This clause is purely a stop-gap provision. What we have in mind is that hover vehicles— vehicles designed to be supported on a cushion of air—shall be considered as motor vehicles whether or not adapted for use on the roads. Then we shall be able to apply to them normal road traffic rules." After alluding to ACVs being used on building sites and, by the Army, for removal of casualties, Mr Hay added: "Even those ingenious do-it-yourself enthusiasts are able to buy hover scooters in kit form.'' The Ministry would see how these vehicles developed and whether any specialized type of legislation was necessary for them. Aeronutronic ACV The experimental air-cushion vehicle being built by the Ford Motor Company's Aeronutronic Division has lifted what is believed to be the heaviest load yet raised by an American-built craft of this type. A private venture by the company, the vehicle had a gross weight of 7,0001b when it rose in a tethered test recently. Of this weight 3,0001b represented disposable load. consisting of 2,0001b of sand, the crew, fuel and test equipment. The vehicle rides on a cushion of air produced by 14 fans and ducts, seven on each side. It is designed to travel two to three feet above the surface carrying a one- ton payload, at 40-50 m.p.h. for distances of up to 100 miles. Its purpose is to investigate operational problems of off-road travel and to demonstrate the utility of the "fully skirted" principle employed. The flexibility of the skirt will permit the craft to move over obstructions such as rocks and bushes. Propulsion, control and braking are obtained by venting cushion air through control vanes located around the periphery. ACV Cargo-carriers? Cargo-carrying air-cushion vehicles may be in general use within a few years, the Liverpool conference of the International Cargo Handling Co-ordination Association was told last week. Mr S. Turner, personal assistant to the general manager of the Port of London, said that any consideration of the ships of the future must inevitably cover these craft and hydrofoil vessels. ACVs which depended for forward propulsion on water-borne propellers, or were of side- wall construction, might have to be handled Drakens in Britain Eight Saab brakens of the Royal Swedish Air Force last week made a training visit to RAF Coltishall. The Station Commander, Gp Capt L A. Malms, is seen welcoming Wg Cdr T. C. W. Persson, CO of F.I3 Sqn (left) and three of his pilots; and the group in the second picture consists of (I tor) Gp Capt Malins; Col Dahl, Swedish Air Attache; Air Cdre F. D. S. Scott-Maiden; and Air Cdre N-Mvon Arbin, OC of the Norrkoping Wing
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