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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 1324.PDF
152 FLIGHT International, 2 August l%i WORLD E W S BAC-221 British Aircraft Corporation report that good progress is being made with the com plete rebuild of one of the two Fairey FD.2 research aircraft, under MoA contract. The work is being done at Filton, and the modified aircraft, designated BAC-22J, will be employed by the RAE in flight research into a slender-delta SST configur ation at subsonic, transonic and supersonic speed. The Rolls-Royce Avon RA.28R engine is being retained, but the ogee- planform wing is completely new, as are the flying controls and undercarriage. The new wing requires the insertion of an additional 6ft section into the fuselage, which also increases the fuel capacity to extend the range. An autostabilization system isbeing installed, and major changes are being made to the electric, hydraulic and other systems. When the aerodynamic and dynamic instrumentation has been installed the 221 is expected to fly in the late summer of 1963. D.H. 125 Prospects Simultaneously with the appearance of the de Havilland D.H. 125 for taxying trials on July 23 came reports that most of the initial production batch of 30 aircraft have been sold or earmarked. Though confir mation of these reports is still awaited, there is little doubt of their accuracy. An RAF order for 25 D.H. 125s to be used in com munications, navigation and other training roles is expected shortly, in addition to reported civil sales in Germany and England. Bristol Siddeley Engines are to take early delivery of their 125 and will use it in its design rdle as an executive aircraft, with the added intention of doing intensive engine proving. Whitehall Deputations The new Minister of Aviation, Mr Julian Amery, met deputations from Rolls-Royce and Whitworth Gloster Aircraft last week. Convenors from Rolls-Royce factories at Derby, Hucknall and Crewe expressed their fears and uncertainty about the com pany's present situation, as shown by pro duction orders, and anxiety about future prospects, as shown by the present level of development work. The MoA stated that Mr Amery "gave a sympathetic hearing but pointed out the impossibility of guaran teeing any specific level of employment." He assured them that Rolls-Royce had been from the beginning one of the five chosen Gothic delta High-speed aerodynamic test vehicle for the proposed BAC, or BAC/Sud, supersonic airliner will be the BAC-221, derived from the Fairey FD.2 Secretaries of State Mr Hugh Froser, the new Air Minister (left), and Mr Julian Ridsdale, new Under-Secretary of State for Air. Their appointments were announced in the recent Government changes groups to whom future major Government projects would be awarded. A shop stewards' deputation from the Coventry factories of Whitworth Gloster expressed concern at the prospect of redundancies in the Coventry area and urged that additional orders should be placed for Argosies. The Minister's reply was that very large Government expendi ture on military aircraft development and production was expected to continue, as well as financial support for the development of transports. But the defence programme was inevitably complex and contained some uncertainties; there was also increasing competition in the civil market, which made it difficult to foresee the future. The indus try's labour force had to be related to demand and the Minister could not order aircraft which the Services did not require. In the previous week, there had been three deputations from Northern Ireland, to press the claim for more orders for the Short Belfast. One was led by Lord Brookeborough, the Prime Minister, who with three of his chief parliamentary colleagues went to see the new Home Secretary, Mr Henry Brooke; another, of MPs, led by Mrs Patricia McLaughlin, also saw the Home Secretary; and a 34- man delegation visited the House of Com mons to lobby MPs. Plessey Resignations Three directors of the Plessey Co Ltd resigned last week after a disagreement on policy, and the appointment of two nev. directors was announced—Mr Harold Watkinson, Minister of Defence until the recent Government changes, and Field Marshal Lord Harding. The directors who resigned are Mr B. G. W. Attwood,
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