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Aviation History
1969
1969 - 2514.PDF
156 WORLD NEWS for the most meritorious annual achieve ment in British aviation. The league has also announced new appointments following its a.g.m. on July 22. Sir Archibald Hope, a former chairman, has been elected a vice-presi dent and three new council members have been elected: Captain George Baldwin, former Director of Naval Air Warfare at the MoD; Sir William Hildred, former director-general of 1ATA; and Mr Alan Yates, director of the Further Education Staff College and well known as a glider pilot. More Australian MB.326s Like the RAAF, the Royal Australian Navy is going to have Macchi MB.326Hs for training. This was announced by the Federal Government in Canberra on July 9. Ten MB.326Hs are to be built under licence in Australia, at an esti mated cost of £3.8 million, and they will replace the Australian Fleet Air Arm's Vampires and Sea Venoms. Developed T53 Variant A higher-rated version of the Avco Lycoming T53 Series gas turbine is ex pected to receive FAA certification by the end of October. Rated at 1,800 h.p. and designated T5319A, it is a growth version of the T53-L-13 now in produc tion. Improved performance is achieved with only a 24lb weight increase, result ing in a power-to-weight ratio of 3.20. The T5319A has an output reduction gear capable of transmitting the full 1,800 s.h.p. External configuration is identical with that of the L-13, making the new engine fully capable of being fitted retrospectively. The 28 per cent increase in shaft horsepower was accom plished primarily by a small increase in airflow and an increase in turbine inlet temperature. Fuel consumption at take off is 0.568, and it is expected that the TBO will exceed 2,000hr. A second new version, using current T53-L-13 reduc tion gear and flat-rated at 1,500 s.h.p., is also available, designated T5317A. CSE, HP and the Jetstream Last Thursday, July 24, Handley Page Ltd and CSE Aviation Ltd issued a joint statement to the effect that CSE, who are HP Jetstream distributors in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, would re linquish their sole rights to re-sell these aircraft; they would, however, continue as sub-contractors for the furnishing and avionic installation. The statement added that this decision would not affect the arrangements under which Lord Water- park, CSE sales director, was available as a director of Handley Page to assist in Jetstream marketing in the immediate future. Further reference to these develop ments appears on page 174 of our Cran- field Show report in this issue. More Beagle Dealers It was announced on the opening day of the Flight Cranfield Show that Tru man Aviation Ltd, Beagle distributors, of Nottingham, had appointed three new FLIGHT International, 31 July 1969 dealers: Executive Air at Coventry Air port, Blackpool and Fylde Aero Club at Blackpool Airport, and Michael Gill Aviation Ltd at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Airport. More Beagle news appears in the show report on pages 173-180 of this issue. Nearly 90 Pups have already been sold in Britain this year. Washington Defence Post Mr W. H. Stephens, CB, MSC, who was until recently technical director and assistant secretary-general of the Euro pean Launcher Development Organisa tion in Paris, has been appointed Head of Defence Research and Development Staff. Washington, in succession to Dr W. B. Littler, CB, MSC, PhD. It is expected that Mr Stephens will take up his new appointment during next month. Silicon Competition The British monthly journal Design Engineering is running a £750 competi tion to find new uses for silicon nitride, a ceramic material which, with unique high-temperature and shock-resistant properties, is thought by many engineers to have three times the industrial importance of carbon fibre. For example, turbine blades fabricated of silicon nitride could operate at white heat, allowing greatly improved thermo dynamic efficiency. Entries, in the form of technical papers, are being solicited from industry and government, and should be sub mitted to the journal before the closing date, which is August 10. The competi tion has the support of NRDC. Parliament For seven years RAF Bomber Command has provided the British nuclear deter rent force. From the entry of its Vulcans and Victors into service, in 1955 and 1956 respectively, it has consistently improved its techniques both in airborne times and in flight refuelling. From the early 1960s onwards the scrambling time of detach ments of four V-bombers has been well under the four minutes' warning of missile attack provided by BMEWS (ballistic missile early warning system). Flighit refuelling was first perfected with Valiants as tankers, subsequently suc ceeded by Victors. Following the cancel lation of the American Skybolt, the Victors and Vulcans have used the British guided stand-off nuclear weapon Blue Steel. On June 30 this year this nuclear deterrent role was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Royal Navy; and in the House of Lords last week the Earl of Cork and Orrery asked whether the Government had sent any message of gratitude to the officers and men of the V-force on relinquishing their responsi bility. He was told by the Lord Privy Seal, Lord Shackleton, that the Chief of the Air Staff had sent a congratulatory signal to Strike Command, as Bomber Command is now known, and that the Secretary of State for Defence had paid a similar tribute "in another place" on July 3. The Earl said he was grateful for this answer, which he was certain would meet with approval, and asked if Lord Shackleton would consider | giving the message a higher degree of publicity. The latter agreed that there was merit in this suggestion and said he would circu late it in the Official Report, adding: "I have seen something of the V-bomber crews. They were the most extraordinarily dedicated and efficient body of men, and no praise can be too high for then- devotion to duty." The message from the CAS, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Grandy, to HQ Strike Command, put on Parliamentary record, was as follows;— "For AOC-in-C from CAS. As you know, the last White Paper announced that this year the Royal Air Force will transfer to the Royal Navy the responsi bility of providing Britain's contribution to the strategic nuclear deterrent. 1 think it appropriate to remember that this task has meant maintaining, at all times throughout seven years, the highest state of readiness which the Royal Air Force has known in peacetime. The way in which QRA [quick-reaction alert] has been performed and the reaction of the force to the operational demands of our plans and those of Saceur has been an unsurpassed demonstration of profes sional skill, dedication and tenacity. "The long hours of arduous duty in cockpits, crew rooms, dispersal, hangars and operation rooms have brought the reward of knowing that a vital task has been successfully completed. I send my congratulations to you and all under your command who have been connected with this very heavy responsibility over the years. "But when QRA by the medium- bomber force ends, it does not presage a general relaxation in our readiness for operations. The future roles of the force will call for the same determination as you have shown in the past and the main tenance of high generation rates. When you set about your new and continuing tasks you can look with justifiable pride upon your past achievements and from them find inspiration for the future."
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