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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 0258.PDF
Landing on a rolling deck being simulated by Westland test pilot John Morton in a Wasp (see "Rolling at Bedford," below). The platform can be moved into the hangar for "mock-up" tests SERVICE AVIATION Air Force, Naval and Army Flying News First RAAF Mirage Squadron NO 75 SQN, based at Williamtown, NSW, is to be the first RAAF squadron to equip with the Dassault Mirage IIIC. It is expected to receive the first of the new aircraft either late this year or early in 1964. Washington Air Attache AVM 1. G. ESPL1N, CB, OBE, DFC, MA, BEC, is to be Commander, British Defence Staff, Washington, and Air Attache, Washington, from March 11, He has previously been Director of Operational Requirements (A) at the Air Ministry. An Australian, AVM Esplin came to England as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford and joined the RAFVR shortly before the outbreak of war, in which he served on night-fighter squadrons and commanded the radar development unit at Drem, where tactics for using Serrate airborne interception equipment were developed. Rolling at Bedford A BITTER EAST-SOUTH-EAST WIND gUSted at up to 30kt across Bedford airfield, whose vast snowy flatness looked like a setting for Scott of the Antarctic. Projecting from the Naval Air Department hangar was a short length of railway line and at the end of this, mounted on four wheels, a 24ft square platform rocked as if cradled in the deep. On it a white circle had been marked and within this Westland Wasp XS476, flown by Fairey division test pilot John Morton with A. P. H. Bamford as flight test observer, made seven landings with the platform rolling to an angle of 4°. This was a demonstration staged by RAE Bedford on Wednesday of last week to show what they have been doing on the problem of landing and handling small helicopters on small ships like frigates, of whose anti- 246 FLIGHT International, 14 February 1963 submarine capability they form an integral part. Cdr A. J. R. Pegler, senior Naval officer in charge of Naval helicopter development at Bedford, said that this rolling platform had been developed "three or five years ago" and was capable of being rolled to 15°. The Wasp's wide-track four-wheel under carriage touches down on an anti-skid surface formed from carborundum particles bonded into durable paint. It is intended to work up the roll angle to the point at which—as Cdr Pegler put it—"it is difficult to go further." Alternative methods of securing a helicopter on a rolling deck are by the use of suction pads or the "harpoon and grid" method used by the French. Helicopters are due to go into service with Tribal and Leander class vessels and GM destroyers, and there is a requirement for operating them from assault craft and stores replenishment ships. So far, these trials have been carried out by experienced test pilots. Before Wasps go into operational service as torpedo-carrying helicopters, naval pilots will have to learn rolling-deck landing techniques. 510 Sqn Standard THE 510 (CITY OF GLOUCESTER) SQN, RAUXAF, standard awarded prior to the squadron's disbandment in 1957 has now been woven and awaits presentation. In order that as many former members as possible may participate in the presentation ceremony, those interested are asked to communicate as soon as possible with the last RAuxAF adjutant of the squadron, Mr E. Frank Skuse, "Severnside," King's Road, Cleve- don, Somerset (Clevedon 2815). After ex-members have contacted him it will be possible to discuss details and arrange the presentation. THE ROYAL AIR FORCE REGIMENT Celebrated its 21st anniversary on February 1. It was formed on February 1, 1942, for the defence of airfields in the United Kingdom. CDT N. HARCOCK, of Bournemouth School CCF "B" team, carried off two major awards—the Bristol Britannia and Air Pictorial Trophies—at the recent All- England Aircraft Recognition Competition (Flight International, January 24). He was the highest-scoring competitor, with 32pt. Standard for 83 NO 83 SQN, which is currently commanded by Wg Cdr J. A. G. Slessor, son of Marshal of the RAF Sir John Slessor, and numbered among its previous commanders Marshal of the RAF Sir Dermot Boyle, the former CAS, is to receive its standard from the Queen on June 10, during Her Majesty's visit to Scampton with the Duke of Edin burgh. During the Second World War the squadron, equipped successively with Hamp- dens, Manchesters and Lancasters, carried out 5,117 operational sorties. No 83 was the first squadron to receive Vulcan B. 1 s and the first to re-equip with B.2s. Henlow visitors to Rolls-Royce Ltd: members of No 21 Technical Officer (Graduate) Mechanical Course at the RAF Technical College at the Rolls- Royce Aero-Engine Division, Derby. The party washed by Fit Lt G. K. Young (third from left), an instructor in the Mechanical Engineering Wing
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