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Aviation History
1966
1966 - 0653.PDF
396 FLIGHT International, ,0 Mgrch AND EARTHLY POWER . .. APUs. Meanwhile, the long-haul group continues to provide its own ground power. The operators' attitude towards pier servicing-points is, presumably, that they are useful as long as their aircraft are directed to adjacent stands, but that they cannot afford to dispense with their own mobile equip- ment, in case an aircraft is sent to a stand hundreds of yards from the nearest static power source. The problem of ground power in the maintenance areas is less complex, because choice of equipment rests entirely with the operator. A well-equipped airline will probably install mains power points around the aprons and in the hangars to feed motor/alternator and transformer /rectifier units; and will use diesel or electrically powered air starters, or air bottle trolleys for jet engine starting. How will the market develop during the next five years? GPUs may gradually disappear from short- and medium-haul departure aprons as more operators equip with aircraft carrv' APUs. The trend in the long-haul areas of major airports m turn towards static, diesel or electrically driven alternators H compressors situated beneath the piers. Similar equinm will be required for maintenance areas. The demand f mobile diesel GPUs and air starters should continue indefinite?1 for route-stop servicing, and for maintenance areas in counf less airports serving smaller communities and undevelon H countries. Military ground power is a story that would fill anoth chapter. The requirements of complex electronic equipment coupled with the need for dispersal and air mobility, sustain a worldwide demand for large numbers of both heavy-dutv and lightweight ground support units. The review which follows—extended this year to include components as well as complete units—and the concluding tables, cover representative products of 50 British manufac- turers. The wide choice of equipment available should meet any known aircraft ground power need. G c s MAKERS' PRODUCTS REVIEWED AEC Ltd, Southall, Middx (Southall 2424) Six-cylinder vertical, water-cooled, 11.3 litre direct-injection engines from AEC's range or automotive diesels, developing 200 b.h.p. normally aspirated and 250 b.h.p. turbocharged, are installed as prime movers in various electrical-output GPUs from Auto Diesels, Houchin and Murex. Air-Log Ltd, North Lane, Aldershot, Hants (Aldershot 24411) Weighing 2001b, Air-Log's 5kVA, 400 c.p.s. lightweight generating set comprises a two-stroke petrol-driven alternator and a control box fitted with an automatic voltage regulator and two circuit breakers. Both assemblies are resiliently mounted in a tubular aluminium frame measuring 30in by 18in by 25in. Aircraft Ground Equipment Ltd, Blackswarth Road, Bristol 5 (Bristol 51912) Specialists in design and construction of aircraft servicing equipment to customers' specifications, AGE have developed a number of mobile and static, diesel and electric motor- driven GPUs. Outputs include 28V and dual-voltage d.c, and 400 cycles a.c. Associated Electrical Industries Ltd, Aircraft Equipment Group, Coventry, Warwicks (Coventry 24181) AEI's Land-Rover-mounted, kerosene-fired steam generator is designed as an alternative means of "air starting" gas turbines. Air blower and fuel and water pumps are driven from a power take-off, and the operation of a single lever raises full steam output in 5sec from idling. Carrying sufficient fuel and water for 30 engine starts, the unit will start a Conway or Olympus in 25sec. Atlas Copco (Great Britain) Ltd, Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hemp- stead, Herts (Hemel Hempstead 3181) The Air Partner's Twin- Air rotary screw compressor supplies a constant flow of warm, oil-free air for engine starting and other ground services, and pressure and flow regulation is completely automatic. Compressor t.b.o. is normally about 10,000hr. Air Partners are in worldwide use, and BOAC have acquired a number for use at stations abroad. Auto Diesels Ltd, Braby House, Smithfield Street, London EC1 (Central 2388) Auto Diesels' export achievements include the sale of 90 per cent of their GPU output to overseas airlines. China, Jordan and New Zealand are among recent customers for electric- output units, and diesel air starters have been sold to Austria and the Middle East. The STAD A/250 automatically controlled, com- pressor-bleed, gas turbine air-starter vehicle—the only unit of its kind currently on the market—is the latest product in the com- pany's wide range of ground starting and servicing equipment designed to meet virtually every aircraft demand. Aviation Traders (Engineering) Ltd, Southend Airport, Essex (Southend-on-Sea 49471) Self-propelled, trailer and static versions of their 60kVA GPU have been produced by Aviation Traders for BUA. Aviquipo of Britain Ltd, Paramount House, 75 Uxbridge Road, London W5 (Ealing 8051) Aviquipo are United Kingdom distribu- tors for American GPU and air-starter manufacturers. Bell's Asbestos & Engineering Ltd, Bestobell Works, Slough, Bucks (Slough 23921) This company's products include standard 3in, positive-locking, quick release couplings for air-starter hose, fitted with self-closing butterfly valves; and lightweight, rubber-proofed nylon and Terylene flexible hose for cabin-conditioning air. Bowler & Sidney Ltd, Braby House, Smithfield Street, London EC1 (Central 2388) Bowler & Sidney, welding generator specialists and associates of Auto Diesels in the Braby of Britain Group, design and manufacture generators and alternators for Auto Diesels GPUs. Bristol Siddeley Engines Ltd, Small Engine Division, Leavesden, Herts (Garston 4000) Although large numbers of Palouste GPUs have been supplied to the Services, auxiliary powerplant production effort is now concentrated on Artoustes for the Trident, VC10 C.Mkl and Belfast. The Artouste airborne APU provides compres- sor bleed air for starting and ground conditioning, plus 100 s.h.p. through the gearbox to drive an alternator—and an hydraulic pump if required. The company's future policy is to adapt existing helicopter power units for airborne APU application, by adding a compressor to a standard engine. • Continued overW Left, Auto Diesels' air starter in tow behind a Manchester Airport Agencies Land-Rover. Servicing the KIM DCS is an Auto Dew Model GPU 7 Below, AEI steam generator, on Land-Rover chassis, for jet starting
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