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Aviation History
1967
1967 - 0111.PDF
filGHT (nternotiona/, 76 January 1967 been doing, we are particularly glad to welcome these new responsibilities and assets. They will strengthen M in tech's hand by the power over technological development which a massive procure- ment programme confers. They will increase the contribution to progress that it can make by adding to its R and D resources a group of very advanced research establishments, 'centres of excellence' in their own provinces, some of them very large. They will enrich the services it can provide to firms in civil industry." Sew Technology is intended to publi- cise the work of the Ministry, and to reach in particular "senior people in industry, commerce and finance, in the worlds of engineering, science and educa- tion." It is obtainable free on application to the Central Office of Information, Hercules Road, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1. Biggin Hill's Future As part of its prolonged deliberations on whether or not to buy Biggin Hill airfield, Bromley Council has now com- missioned two firms of consultants, at a cost of £2,500, to study the economic potential and other aspects of the pro- perty. The consultants are Alan Stratford and Associates, and Norman and Daw- barn, and they are due to report by the end of May. In response to further enquiries by Flight, the Board of Trade Southern Division has again confirmed its resolve that the airfield should remain as a base for general aviation in the south-east of 109 London. Leases of sites on the airfield, it says, are at present granted only for aviation purposes, but this practice will not necessarily continue when the future ownership has been determined—though any general light-industry development would be subject to local-authority approval. The BoT has very greatly increased its rents for property on the airfield. BS Swedish Link Senior representatives of the advanced propulsion research group of Bristol Siddeley Engines visited Sweden last week to mark the tenth anniversary of the firm's collaborative agreement with the Swedish ramjet company, Svenska Flygmotor. This agreement, first signed with the Swedish Air Board in 1956, has led to the interchange of ramjet informa- tion between the two companies. The work has included development of the Thor ramjet powering the Bristol/ Ferranti Bloodhound missile now in service in Sweden, and the interchange has covered the entire field of ramjet engineering. "Frontiers of Power" Last week Bristol Siddeley Engines showed for the first time their new film which, in colour and with a quietly persuasive commentary, stresses the technical resources and experience built into the British aero engine industry. Within the necessary time limitation (22min) a film of this kind obviously cannot cover more than an outline of the complex technologies that are Aerobatic helicopter Lockheed- California's Model 286 rigid-rotor helicopter has become, it is believed, the first rotating- wing aircraft to perform loops and barrel rolls. Flown by Lockheed test pilot Samuel Mason, the five-seat Model 286 demonstrated its remarkable manceuvrability during last week's Helicopter Association convention at Palm Springs, Calif required for success—but Frontiers of Power does so well and convincingly. Clearly, too, such a film has to be produced so as to be effective for a chosen audience. In this case its targets are primarily the politicians and Civil Servants who control the destinies of the British aviation industry, rather than technicians or the general public— though, with a different commentary, the film could have wide interest. SENSOR Britain is not likely to get design control of the AFVG in return for French design control of the Jaguar. Britain's negotiators have always in- sisted on this point but have now conceded it in the face of French (and in particular Dassault) resistance. But it is equally unlikely that Dassault will get design control. The contractors are being asked to put up proposals for a joint design authority. Problems will arise if the space interests of BAC and Hawker Siddeley are included in the forthcoming merger —and the likelihood is that they will. The two groups have information- exchange agreements with competing US companies, HSD with TRW Systems and BAC with Hughes Aircraft. All such agreements may have to be re-negotiated. The Air Safety Group, a committee of private citizens and experts anxious to get action in a number of safety areas which it considers are being neglected, will soon be issuing its first report. It will be a detailed statement on the JP. I (kerosene) versus JP.4 (gasoline) controversy to date. It is expected to come out strongly against the con- tinuing use of JP.4 by a number of major airlines, even since its use was discontinued by both PAA and TWA. Disappointment over the likely timetable for the Boeing SST has led Canadian Pacific Air Lines (which has delivery positions for three) to re- examine the BAC Sud Concorde. Canadian Pacific Air Lines' de- cision on an order for a short-haul jet is now believed to be in favour of the Boeing 737, with a requirement for about six aircraft. BEA is proposing the Orpheus instead of the RB. 162 as the auxiliary booster jet for the Trident 3B. Three Handley Page Jetstreams are now recognisable on the Radlett production line. The programme is on schedule and the first flight is due in the third week of May to enable the Jetstream to complete lOhr of flying, in time to appear at the Paris Salon. RAF Argosies of 215 Sqn, based at RAF Changi, Singapore, are to assume responsibility for the parachute supply and support of forces combating Communist forces on both sides of the Malaysia/Thailand border. The large US military build-up in Thailand, involving F-4s and B-52s, has been largely unpublicised to date, though it is now the subject of Congressional unease in Washington. Some elements of the British Far East Command are forecasting a substantial British com- mitment in Thailand within a year or so. Prospects of a One-Eleven sale to New Zealand NAC are looking more promising. The airline wants four aircraft initially, increasing to about nine. Caledonian is negotiating to lease its 707-320Cs to Flying Tiger from July 1967 to May 1968. Because of the civil engine production hold-up caused by the Vietnam war it is unlikely that Boeing will deliver the 707s to Cale- donian before next July—too late for the bulk of the season's traffic. Details of major new financial backing for Caledonian are to be announced this week. The RAF is interested in the Army's WG. 13 only as a trainer. Plans for Gatwick's second runway and the associated developments will be published soon. It is planned to extend the maintenance area on the south side of the airport westwards beyond the village of Lowfield and to establish cargo and general aviation areas to the north of the new runway which will be north of and parallel to the existing one.
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