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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 1279.PDF
f LIGHT International, 18 July 1963 Letters The Editor of "Flight International" is not necessarily in agreement with the views expressed by correspondents in these columns. Names and addresses of writers, not for publication in detail, must in all cases accompany letters. Brief letters will have a better chance of early publication. "Distorted" Statistics SIR,—Discussing world air safety in a recent issue (May 30) you described a Government White Paper in the following words:— "The White Paper's comparisons were not as compre hensive as they might have been, because they did not take into account these accidents—the very accidents which had in large measure given rise to the concern which prompted publication of the White Paper." Who inspires these White Papers that wash whiter than white? We are accustomed to distorted statistics from the world of commerce (the comparison between mean and median averages is a common example), but we are entitled to some measure of integrity from administrative sources. In my own working habitat, the engineering workshop floor, a Lloyds' inspection ticket on a job now seems to carry more weight and provoke more worry than one bearing the label of the AID. Without having an interest in either party, I suspect that the main difference is reflected in an attitude of really caring about the job as distinct from just "going thfough the motions." I understand that the US Government called in a private O&M company to reorganize the Pentagon. It is too much to expect such selfless curiosity from our own bureaucrats, but perhaps Lloyds could be persuaded to open a depart ment to vouch for statistical analyses and surveys (volun tarily submitted, of course) in much the same way as the consumer advice groups now operating in this country. Until some such standard is set—and met—I advise your readers to treat all statistical reports with suspicion. Brentwood, Essex D. F. BOWDEN Rapide Arithmetic SIR,—At a risk of laceration by the threatened Editorial axe, I would like to record my agreement with Mr Jackson's belief that the total number of Rapides produced was 728. I cannot recall making any public utterance to the contrary. I would, however, plead disagreement with Mr Jackson's sums—on the basis that it is unsafe to differentiate between Hatfield-built Rapides and Dominies—but I agree with his addition! A third party, in the person of your printer, has introduced a note of dissent into the cancelled Dominies, which were actually TX326 onwards. To be precise, they were TX326 to 330, TX336 to 339, and TX361. London NW3 D. K. FOX Porte Baby and Dr Vogt SIR,—I must admit I missed the Porte Baby flying-boat referred to in Mr H. F. Cowley's letter (June 20) in my own collection! This Baby may well be the first ever to have mixed engines. I did, however, find two more—a 1926 Austrian Avis BGVI with one 230 h.p. engine in the nose and two 100 h.p. engines on the lower wings (types not specified), and a 1926 Caudron C61 bis which had one 180 h.p. Hispano-Suiza engine in the nose and two 260 h.p. Salmson water-cooled radials between the wings. This brings me to Hugh W. Cowin's letter (same issue) regarding the Blohm and Voss P-194.01, one of Dr Vogt's famous asymmetrical creations, which may have been in spired by the 1914/18 Gotha VI, probably the first asymimtri- cal aeroplane ever built. Mr Cowin may be interested in 107 another of Dr Vogt's efforts, the Blohm und Voss BV.P-163 wherein the pilot was installed on. the tip of the port wing with a remote-controlled nacelle of cannon and machine guns on the tip of the starboard wing. The engine was described as a 3,800 h.p. Daimler-Benz engine. Finally, the BV 170 had three 1,600 h.p. BMW radials, two on each wing tip and one in the centre. The pilot and observer sat just in front of the tailplane and fin, only the rudders being on the streamlined ends of the wing engines. I have yet to find out whether any prototypes were built but the silhouettes are rather convincing. Birmingham 14 MAURICE AUSTIN Unsuppressed VC10? SIR,—If London Airport residents think they've got trouble with noise they should have tried watching Wimbledon or the Test on the telly with the VC10 stooging round all afternoon. It wasn't so much telly reception as jelly reception. Woking, Surrey COPIA VERBORUM Tandem-engine Arrangement SIR,—Recent Press reports on the Cessna Skymaster push- pull aeroplane stress the originality of the idea. May I point out that a Warren-Young patent speci fication, dated 1937 (No 508022), mentions this layout. Also, in 1944, an article written by me and published in Flight (May 18, 1944) includes an illustration of my proto type design of 1936. This was a two-seater light aeroplane with a Bristol Cherub engine at the front of the fuselage and another Cherub at the rear end. This arrangement is partic ularly suited to the Warren-Young type of aeroplane, for the centre of lift is not far forward of the mid-fuselage point and the engines conveniently balance therefore, the rear engine requiring no propeller-shaft extension. The push-pull layout was also proposed by Dr Dornier in 1937 and the arrangement was used in the Do 335, which commenced its flight trials in 1943. Torcross, S Devon NORMAN HALL-WARREN [The tandem-engine arrangement is, of course, far older than Mr Hall-Warren suggests. The Short Tandem Twin biplane, for example, appeared in 1911.—Ed] Pro-Blackbushe Teenager SIR,—Although I am only 15, I am a keen private flying enthusiast and would like to take this opportunity of saying how much I welcomed the news that Blackbushe Airport had been saved, and will not fall into desolation and dilap idation like so many other aerodomes in the past few years. Surely this is the first step in encourpging private flying in the United Kingdom, to have plenty of aerodromes where aircraft can be hangared cheaply, and in general "where birds of a feather can flock together." Sandown, IoW G. L. OWENS FORTHCOMING EVENTS July 20 Royal Naval Air Station, Brawdy: Open day. July 21 Tiger Club: Air display, Rochester. July 24 Kronfeld Club: "The Aircraft Recognition Society," by E.G. A. Wilton. July 27 Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrase: Open day. July 27- London Gliding Club: Regional Competitions, Aug 5 Dunstable. July 31 Kronfeld Club: Film, "Salute to Flight." Aug 2-5 National Air Races and Lockheed Trophy Competition, Baginton Airport, Coventry. Aug 5 Fair Oaks: parachuting competition. Aug 5-11 International parachuting competition, Spa. Aug 7 Kronfeld Club: Aviation colour slides by John Blake. Aug 10 Royal Naval Air Station, Lee-on-Solent: Open day. Aug 14 Kronfeld Club: Film, "Target for Today." Aug 18 Tiger Club: Air display, Shoreham. Aug 21 Kronfeld Club: "Bomber Command during the Hitler Regime," by Vivian Varcoe.
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