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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 0367.PDF
The Queen bidding a smiling farewell to the CO of RAAF Fairbairn, Canberra, Gp Capt W. K. Bolitho, during Her Majesty's visit to Australia. The Duke of Edinburgh is saying goodbye to the Prime Minister, Mr R. G. Menzies, and the Governor-General's daughter, the Hon Catherine Sidney It is clear from conversations with RAF pilots that they are very pleased with the Gnome power units installed in the West- land Whirlwind Mk 10. This compact engine, which has been so well received and which has established such a sound reputation in little more than a year from its introduction into service, is a turboshaft unit producing 1,050 s.h.p. and weighing only 3001b. The lightness of the engine, its small dimensions, low fuel consumption and the additional power it gives the Mk 10 are factors of particular significance to the pilot of a search and rescue helicopter, for they place at his disposal speed with which to reach the scene of disaster and endurance to carry out his task without the need to refuel frequently. Now, the rescue helicopter can remain airborne for as long as 2Jhr and return to base with fuel in reserve. Additional power for less weight enables the pilot to lift more people than he could with his piston machine, or carry more supplies. The engine's ability to start easily in sub-zero temperatures has also been appreciated by the RAF. Fit Lt Ward's Award THE GEOFFREY DE HAVILLAND TROPHY. awarded annually by the Royal Aero Club to the British pilot achieving the highest FLIGHT International, 7 March 1963 speed in a race or official record attempt, has gone for 1962 to Fit Lt John Ward, captain of the 101 Sqn Vulcan which on March 30, 1962, flew from London to Aden in the record time of 6hr 13min 59.4sec at an average speed of 589.4 m.p.h. (Flight International, November 8, 1962). Royal ADC THE APPOINTMENT of Gp Capt the Hon P. B. R. Vanneck, OBE, AFC, MA, RAUXAF, as Aide-de-Camp to the Queen, from Febru ary 25, was announced in the London Gazette last week. Gp Capt Vanneck has been Inspector, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, since July last year. RAF Regiment Parachutists PARACHUTE WINGS were presented to 25 officers and airmen of the RAF Parachute Regiment—the first members of the regi ment to receive them—by the AOC-in-C Transport Command, Air Chief Marshal Sir Edmund Hudleston, in a ceremony at RAF Colerne on February 26. This station is the headquarters of No 2 (Field) Sqn, which began its conversion to a parachute squadron last year. The new badge for RAF parachutists, worn on the right sleeve 107 Sqn History AN ATTEMPT IS BEING MADE to write, within the next three months, a complete history of 107 Sqn, and anyone who has "anything of interest in the way of information" is asked to get in touch with the Officer i/c Squadron History. No 107 Squadron, RAF Feltwell, Norfolk. There is in particular a dearth of infor mation on commanding officers and unit locations since the squadron was formed in the First World War, and little is known of 107's activities in the 1936-39 period. 350A THE RAAF CHTEF OF THE AIR STAFF, AIR Marshal Sir Valston Hancock, has been flying his own Canberra on a tour of bases in South-East Asia. He is believed to be the first RAAF CAS to fly his own aircraft out of Australia. RAF CHIVENOR is to receive the freedom of Barnstaple. THIS YEAR'S RAFA CONFERENCE is being held in Belgium, at the Kursaal, Ostend. on Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26. WG CDR F. w. BARNES is to take over com mand of 75 Sqn, first RAAF squadron to be equipped with Dassault Mirages, at William- town next Monday, March 11. The squadron is at present equipped with Sabres. NO 85 SQN, the highest-scoring (278) night- fighter squadron in the Second World War, was disbanded on February 28 at West Raynham, when there was a final flypast by the squadron's Javelins FAW.9s. THE AIR MINISTRY are to finance the university- air squadrons for at least another three years, at an annual cost of more than £lm. THE RAF BENEVOLENT FUND last year re ceived £1,780—compared with £1,700 in 1961—in small foreign coinage placed in boxes by travellers at British airports. THE NEW TRANSIT HOTEL at RAF Lyneham. known as the Route Hotel, had nearly 25,000 overnight visitors—members of the Services and their families—during 1962, the first full year of its existence. NO 1104 MARINE CRAFT UNIT, based at Bridlington, Yorks. has won the RAF Coastal Command Marine Craft Efficiency Trophy for 1962. Runner-up—for the second successive year—was the Marine Craft Section at RAF North Front, Gibraltar. CLOSURE OF RAF BRIDGNORTH (referred to on this page for February 7) has been brought about by the recently announced reduction in recruiting for RAF ground trades. No 7 School of Recruit Training will not, however, cease to exist but will continue its reduced task at RAF Innsworth. Glos. Naval and Parliamentary tribute to the manufacturers of Sarbe equipment, Burndept Ltd: Left to right. Sub Lt R. M. Gravestock and Lt G. Dobbie, rescued after ejecting from their Sea Vixen into the Gulf of Aden; Lts R. H. Burn and D. H. Ross, picked up in the China Sea after Sea Vixen ejection; and Mr John Cronin, MP, who survived ditching of a Whirlwind from HMS "Hermes," toast Mrs Dorothy Clarke (left) and Mrs Margaret Scolding— who worked on the equipment—in tankards presented by the firm Bomber Command tribute to the Mexican Air Force: presentation by AVM B. K. Burnett, AOC No 3 Group, of a Bomber Command plaque to General Fierro, Chief of Staff of the Mexican Air Force during the recentgoodwill visit by Victors of No 139 Sqn (this page, January 24) to Mexico City, made at the instigation of the Mexican Air Force and the Minister of Foreign Affairs
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