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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 2687.PDF
782 FLIGHT International, 15 November 196? BALZAC IN THE HOVER... Mach 2.0 VTOL tighter in being, and even in service, before the British project flies. Bigand is prepared to press on as quickly as possible with transi tion after the present inspection and modifications are completed. It has been established so far that the Balzac is clear of the ground cushion at 15 to 20ft and a minimum height for the forward transi tion is thought to be 10m (32ft). But Bigand sees no reason why the transition back towards the hover should be made at up to 3,000ft, followed by a steep, slow approach to vertical landing. A level transition could be completed in as little jas 1,000m (3,280ft) of forward flight. Because the transition is very brief, the additional fuel used will be relatively small: Bigand said that the designer had to choose between the penalties of requiring a three-kilometre runway or losing 50 miles in range. The second alternative was obviously preferable from the military point of view. The fuel penalty was also further reduced by not having to taxi out to a runway before taking off. Bigand has lifted off in a 15kt cross-wi id without difficulty. Higher components are hardly worth consider ing because the aircraft can easily be turned nearer to the wind before lift-off. Total Balzac flight time to date is 40min. If all goes well during the next three months, France will have a VTOL aircraft which has reached Mach 2.0 (the Balzac was the first Dassault airframe to achieve this speed) and given actual experience of the stabiliza- tion and control system for the operational fighter. The lead over other competitors is commanding and the commercial prospects dazzling. It is hardly surprising that the pace is so fast and that the programme is being exposed to this unprecedented degree of publicity. Twenty-one Years of Gas Turbine Collaboration This unusual photograph was token at a dinner to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the formation of the Gas Turbine Collaboration Committee. The committee, which exists to co-ordinate technical knowledge between the Government, the Services and the Industry, held its first meeting on November I, 1941, under the chairmanship of Sir Harold (then Dr) Roxbee Cox. To mark the anniversary the founder-members of the committee, and all the past chairmen, dined with present members, and the.highly appropriate venue was the exhibition hall at Bristol Siddeley Engines' Leavesden, Herts, works. Suspended from the ceiling are one of the de Havilland D.H.88 Comets of 1934 and a model of the D.H.92 Albatross of circa (937; flanking the walls are the world-renowned Gipsy engines and former D.H. turbojets and rocket motors At left, from foreground D. G. Tobin; S. F. Smith, Rolls-Royce; P. A. Hufton (RAE); G. M. Lewis, Bristol Siddeley; R. P. Probert. NGTE: Prof J. H. Horlock, University of Liverpool; Air Cdre F. R. Banks, Hawker Siddeley (past chairman); Dr D. M. Smith, Associated Electrical Industries; H. Constant, Air Ministry; W. H. Lindsey, Bristol Siddeley; Air Cdre Sir Frank Whittle; Sir Arnold Hall, Bristol Siddeley; Sir Harold Roxbee Cox (past chairman); H. Buckingham, Bristol Siddeley; R. H. Weir, NGTE (past chairman); Capt M. Luby, High Duty Alloys (past chairman); J. F. Alcock, Rieardo & Co; J. P. Herriot, Rolls-Royce; F. M. Owner; Fl Lt W. E. P. Johnson; W. G. Carter; J. Grierson, de Havilland Aircraft; F. H. Carey, Dowty Equipment; I. M.'Davidson, NGTE. At right, from foreground D. H. Ballantyne, Rolls-Royce; i. R. Forshaw, MoA; O. N. Lawrence, Lucis Gas Turbine Equipment; Prof A. D. S Carter, Royal Military College of Science; K. B. Chamberlain, Bristol Siddeley; Prof A. H. Lefebvre, Dept of Propulsion, College of Aeronautics; Prof A. D. Baxter, Bristol Siddeley; J. E. P. Dunning, RPE; Dr J. S. Clarke, Joseph Lucas; Dr E. S. Moult, Bristol Siddeley; P. Lloyd, MoA (chairman); Dr S. G. Hooker, Bristol Siddeley; M. B. Morgan, MoA; Dr E. Warlow-Davies, Bristol Siddeley; Gp Capt G. E. Watt, Rolls-Royce (past chairman); Dr J. W. Drinkwater, NGTE; W. F. Shaylor, Bristol Siddeley; F. J. W. Hedgcock; R. H. Schlotel, MoA; M. A. Nedham, Bristol Siddeley; L. Haworth, Rolls-Royce; E. B. Carter, MoA; J. E. Scott, Bristol Siddeley; R.S.Wilkins, MoA. Abbreviationi: RAE, Royal Aircraft Establishment; MoA, Ministry of Aviation; NGTE, National Gas Turbine Establish ment; RPE, Rocket Propulsion Establish ment.
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