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Aviation History
1968
1968 - 0001.PDF
Official Organ of the Royal Aero Club First Aeronautical Weekly in the World Founded in 1909 THURSDAY 4 JANUARY 1968 Number 3069 Volume 93 Editor J. M. RAMSDEN Air Transport Editor H. A. TAYLOR Production Editor ROY CASEY Editorial Director MAURICE A. SMITH DFC Managing Director H. N. PRIAULX MBE In this issue World News Air Transport Sport and Business Piper Cherokee Arrow in the Air Industry International Special feature: Aero Engines 1968 Letters p Defence I Spaceflight . Straight and Level 2 5 1 3 1 4 1 8 19 3 1 33 35 38 Space for Britain The year 1968 promises to be another eventful one in space. Next Sunday, January 7, the Americans intend to launch their last Surveyor to explore the Moon's surface and ten days later to fly their lunar module for the first time. Both activities represent further steps forward in the Apollo programme, which is proceeding despite cutbacks in other aspects of US space exploration. The Russians are possibly also moving towards a Moon flight. No one ever really knows what they are up to until they have done it. In 1967 they launched 61 Cosmos satellites, and two of these (the term "Cosmos" covers almost any type of space activity) met and docked in orbit. If they launch as many spacecraft in 1968 it is not inconceiv- able that one of them, powered by the type of carrier rockets Russia has been assiduously developing, may be boosted into a Moon orbit with a man aboard. France, meanwhile, has been building up her own space programme in a proudly Gallic way: she has her own launcher and satellites, has initiated a project to put up navigation satellites over the Atlantic, and is co-operating with the USSR and West Germany on communications satellites. Whether France is really interested in ELDO any more is arguable. If she had been, French ingenuity would surely have seen to it that the second stage of the Europa launcher worked as unfailingly as the first stage has done. Britain, despite the fact that "technology" is one of the catchwords of the present Government, has little to show in. this field of advanced technology, because she has no national space programme. Despite proved ability to make launchers and satellites, despite the recom- mendations of a Parliamentary Estimates Committee and the National Industrial Space Committee, nothing has been done about future planning apart from an official nod of approval for the Black Arrow project. Yet an imaginative space programme—like France's navigation satellites, which will bring in a substantial commercial return—would inspire enthusiasm and support. Its cost need not be large, but its benefits would be substantial. Is France to take the European lead in this branch of aerospace technology? Iliffe Transport Publications Ltd, DorsetHouse, Stamford Street, London SE1; telephone 01-928 3333. Telegrams/Telex: Flight Iliffepres, 25137 London. Annual subscriptions: Home £6. Over-seas £6 for one year; £12 for three years. Canada and USA $18 for one year;$36 for three years. Change of address- please note that four weeks' notice isrequired, together with the return of a wrapper bearing the old address. SecondClass Mail privileges authorised at New York, NY. Branch Offices: Coventry, 8-10 Corpora-tion Street; telephone Coventry 25210. Birmingham, 401 Lynton House, WalsallRoad, Birmingham 22b; telephone 021 BIRchfield 4838. Manchester, 260 Deans-gate, Manchester 3; telephone Blackfriars 4412 or Deansgate 3595. Glasgow, 123Hope Street, Glasgow C2; telephone Central 1265-6. Bristol, 11 Marsh Street,Bristol 1; telephone Bristol 21491-2. New York, NY: Thomas Skinner & Co(Publishers) Ltd, 300 East 42nd Street, New York 10017. USA; telephone 867-3900. © Iliffe Transport Publications Ltd1968. Permission to reproduce illustra- tions and letterpress can be granted onlyunder written agreement. Brief extracts or comments may be made with dueacknowledgement. Now or Never? In the face of the warning from the Board of Trade at the time of its directive to the ATLB to refuse parts of the independents' North Atlantic and other route applications, British United have decided to withdraw their remaining requests (see page 5). British Eagle and Cale- donian are going ahead. Mr J. P. W. Mallalieu, Minister of State, BoT, said that operators "will no doubt bear in mind the possibility that the work of the Edwards Committee may lead to significant changes in existing policies." He also said that the Licensing Act "must continue until such time as Parliament decides otherwise." Whatever the mean- ing of these statements, they would surely not deter BUA. There must be other reasons. Eagle and Caledonian would argue that now is the time for the independents to press and highlight their claims for new opportunities. More British participation on the North Atlantic is essential if the British share of traffic is not to decline further. In November the US Civil Aeronautics Board announced a new investigation into the need for more US services to Europe from points other than New York, and—taking the initiative—asked for applications. A total of 19 carriers, six of them non-scheduled, applied. Why should Britain hold back?
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