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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 1517.PDF
834 FLIGHT International, 21 May I9t4 WORLD E W S XB-70A Rolled Out North American Aviation Inc and the US Air Force rolled out the first of the two XB-70A research aircraft on May 11. As is now well known, severe manufacturing difficulties were encountered in this pro- gramme, and for at least 15 months the factor determining the roll-out date has been whether or not the stainless-steel wing structure could be welded together and joined to the fuselage without leaving pin- hole leaks through which the fuel could escape. Static testing under simulated flight conditions had shown that achieving a fuel-tight wing was impossible without fundamental developments in welding over distances of the order of 100ft at a time. This first aircraft still cannot accommo- date fuel in the tanks immediately above the powerplants, where the environmental conditions are at present regarded as too severe for complete integrity, and this re- stricts the range to less than 6,000 miles. But, with its sister-ship, the 550,0001b canard XB-70 will be able to carry many tons of instrumentation and fly for several hours at Mach 3 (2,000 m.p.h.)—more than the YF-12 can do. Presumably its research programme will be managed by USAF Systems Command, but details have yet to be made public. Although the third aircraft originally scheduled for flight status is not at present being funded, the programme for two flight aircraft and one static-test machine has already cost a reported $1,300,000,000 (about £464,000,000). With the outer part of the wings spread (they folded down for Mach 3 cruise) the span is 105ft; overall length is 184ft. Engines are six General Electric J93-3 reheat turbojets (described in this journal last September 26), each rated at more than 30,0001b static thrust. First flight is expected "about 90 days from roll out." Air League Honours Lord Douglas Lord Douglas of Kirtleside, chairman of British European Airways for 15 years until his retirement last March, was presented in London last week with the Air League's Founder's Medal in recogni- tion of 50 years' service to military and civil aviation. Making the presentation, Air Chief Marshal Sir Francis Fogarty, chairman of the League, said that Lord Douglas had created a transport organiza- tion "second to none." Fairey's £527,781 in Heathrow Suit Another, and possibly the last, milestone was passed on May 13 on what seems the endless course of the longest lawsuit in British aviation. The Fairey Company was awarded £527,781 of its claimfor £1,813,221 against the Ministry of Aviation for the loss of its Great West Aerodrome, which was incorporated years ago into what is now London (Heathrow) Airport. The MoA had proposed £235,227 compensation. The Lands Tribunal awarded Fairey £320,570 in respect of the freehold lands and buildings which were requisitioned during the war, when the plans for what was to be London's major post-war airport were drawn up. A further £157,211 was awarded in respect of rental for the lands and build- ings for the period from November 1943, when the 240-acre aerodrome was requis- itioned, to June 1960, when agreement was reached on a compulsory purchase order for the property. But Fairey claimed a further £1,087,803 in respect of "disturbance," stating that they intended to make the Great West Aero- drome the centre of their activities. Its loss, the company described as a "major disaster," which had affected their develop- ment and profitability. The Lands Tri- bunal awarded them nothing on this claim but in its 25,000-word judgment (the longest in Lands Tribunal history) made an alter- native award of £100,000 under this heading "if wrong on a point of law." This "point of law" may be contested by the MoA, which has until June 1 to lodge an appeal. Mr Amery for Australia Today, May 21, the Minister of Aviation, Mr Julian Amery, is due to leave London for Australia, which he is visiting during the Parliamentary recess. During his 14-day stay he will inspect facilities at the Woomera range. In recent weeks an MoA team has been in Australia investigating the possi- bility of TSR.2 flight development being done there and it is likely that Mr Amery's visit will result in a definite agreement. Woman Pilot's World Solo Mrs Joan Merriam Smith completed her round-the-world solo flight in a Piper Apache on May 12, landing at Oakland, California, the place from which she had taken off on March 17. Her route was similar to that attempted by Amelia Ear- hart in 1937. For the last 100 miles Mrs Smith was escorted by Coast Guard aircraft after she had reported trouble in one of the Apache's engines. Beagle Pointers Beagle Aircraft had delivered 266 aircraft since the group's formation in 1960, of which 162 had been exported, said the chairman of the parent Pressed Steel Co, Mr Alex Abel-Smith, in his report to share- holders circulated last week. All basic development costs on machines in current production, including the B.206—early deliveries of which are soon to begin to the Valkyrie This radioed picture was taken at Palmdale, California, during the relatively quiet roll-out on May 11 of the first North American XB-70A. The white-painted giant bears the US Air Force serial number 62-0001 news-item above)
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