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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 0576.PDF
554 FLIGHT International, 18 April J96J WORLD NEWS Spey -25 Preliminary details of the latest com mercial version of the Spey turbofan have now been released by Rolls-Royce Ltd, The Spey RB. 163-25, Government support for which was announced last November, incorporates a fifth stage added at the rear of the fan (1-p compressor), which in creases mass flow and pressure ratio. Together with numerous detail improve ments, this increases the thrust to an initial rating of 11,0001b and a final rating of 11,4001b. Engine weight is 2,3121b. The Spey -25 is specified for the Trident IE and IF and the BAC One-Eleven. By April 11 Speys had logged 9,134 hours' running. Sud SA.330 Sud-Aviation announce that at the forthcoming Paris Show (Le Bourget, June 6-16) a mock-up will be on view of the SA.330. Previously known as the Alouette IV, it is a military helicopter powered by two Turbomeca Bastan 7 engines each rated at 1,300 s.h.p.; it will carry 12 troops and their equipment or 1,300kg (2,8701b) of cargo and have a gross weight of up to 13,2001b. It could be in use by 1967. Support for Short Bros Saying that "Shorts have much to be thankful for at this Eastertide" the company chairman, Mr C. E. Wrangham, issued a statement to employees on April 9 com menting on a letter written by the Home Secretary, Mr Henry Brooke, who is the Minister with special responsibility for Northern Ireland affairs, to the MP for Belfast East, Mr Stanley McMaster. In this, Mr Brooke had referred to press reports of his visit to Belfast and affirmed that he announced nothing beyond what had previously been said about the Short design team by the Minister of Aviation. Mr Brooke added that it was not possible to promise permanent continuance of work for the design team as it existed at present, though this did not mean that the team was going to vanish overnight. He reiterated that he was able to make two positive announcements during his visit: that all was clear for signing of VC10 sub-contracts; and that the UK government was going to find an extra £2£m to enable work to be done at Short Bros which would otherwise be done in England. Mr Wrangham said that the Home Secretary's letter had "cleared up mis understandings," and that the Minister of Aviation had given him similar assurances. The firm had long recognized the severe competition facing their design team but would continue to fight for further design work. Mr Wrangham's message concluded: "Here are some things we know. £10m has been granted to complete existing contracts. A large VC10 sub-contract is now in our hands. An AW.681 sub-contract has been promised us to follow. The Minister of Aviation has publicly stated that our aircraft production force can be maintained at a satisfactory level at least until 1970. Lord Mountbatten has kindled yet further interest in Seacat overseas." Belfast VC10 Production The additional cost of giving Short Bros & Harland work on the 11 VClOs for the RAF will be about £2.8m, mainly due to duplication of tooling. It would be carried on Air Vote 7 as part of the produc tion cost of the aircraft. This was stated by the Minister of Aviation, Mr Julian Amery, in a Parliamentary written answer on April 5. The Minister said that the total cost of the programme, including the divi sion of work between Weybridge and Bel fast, would be over £30m. Short Bros are to be responsible for the front and rear parts of the fuselage. Australian Gnat Trainers? Air Marshal Sir Richard Atcherley, sales director of Folland Aircraft, arrived in Syd ney recently for a ten-day visit to Australia during which he said he would study RAAF training methods and talk with Air Force authorities. Sir Richard was reported as saying: "We think the Gnat is the perfect aircraft to replace the Vampire as the RAAF advanced jet trainer." It had the most modern navigation equipment and instrumentation and was half the cost of the Northrop Talon, its main competitor. Sir Richard said that if the Australian Government ordered any Gnat Trainers these would probably be assembed in Australia. Extensive re-tooling would not be necessary as the aircraft were of relatively straightforward construction. RAAF "Can't Wait for TSR.2" According to the Australian Minister for Air, Mr David Fairbairn, the RAAF needs to replace the Canberra within two years, and—unlike the RAF—is not pre pared to wait for the TSR.2. Although this decision may not be final, it appears to leave the RAAF with no option but to buy the North American A-5 Vigilante. McDonnell F-4 Phantom or Dassault Mirage IV. All these aircraft are of an earlier generation than the TSR.2. (See "V-bombers for the RAAF," page 588a.) USAF Open Day The United States Air Force are holding an "open day" on Saturday, May 11, at three of their bases in the United Kingdom These are RAF Bentwaters (81st Tactical Fighter Wing); South and West Ruislip (HQ 3rd Air Force and 7500 Air Base Group): and Prestwick (67th Air Rescue Sqn). There will be a full flying display at Bent- waters, where F-101 Voodoos are based. For Laminar Research As described in our issue dated June 8, 1961, page 805, Northrop have converted a pair of Douglas 6-66 aircraft to serve as laminar-flow research machines. Redesignated X-21, they have a wing 50 per cent larger than previously, without flaps but incorporating thousands of precise slits through which the boundary layer is sucked by pumping units in underwing fairings. The engines are GE J79s, hung on the rear fuselage. First flight is scheduled for April 21
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