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Aviation History
1973
1973 - 0074.PDF
46 WORLD NEWS FLIGHT International, 11 January 1973 to be so equipped, and its contribution to Nato may well be a flexible and local strengthening of the ground- based Nadge early warning system. It is possible that last year's order for Nimrods and the proposal to fly a very advanced and comprehensive set of equipment in a major test pro gramme may represent a Government decision to retain expertise in this area, a decision which would capitalise on the large sums of money which Britain has already spent on AEW projects. The Procurement Executive has already examined American pro posals based on the Boeing Awacs (airborne warning and control system) design, while the Grumman Hawkeye system, in a much smaller airframe, could be a very attractive proposition. The American radars are based on shallow scanners mounted in large circular fairings. Installation of Ameri can avionics in a British airframe could be a very difficult and expensive job. The British system, as seen in the impression, uses a nose mounted radar. To provide the necessary 360° coverage a duplicate, aft-facing radar would presumably be needed, such as is understood to have been em ployed in the NAST 6166 design. Shawnee stops flying The Florida third-level operator Shawnee Airlines has suspended all operations and its fleet of six Beech 99s and three Twin Otters is to be offered for sale. The carrier had an extensive network of ^scheduled routes in Florida but its president claims that it has been forced out of business by the increasing number of trunk car riers who have introduced inter- Flown by Don Cameron and Teddy Hall, the World's first hot-air airship made its first public flight on January 7 during a charity race at Newbury, Berks. Inflated, it is 100ft long and 60ft in diameter. A VW engine provides forward drive. The builders, Cameron Balloons and Littlewood Engineering, anticipate considerable export potential for the balloon mediate stops in the state. It is not in tended to wind up the company imme diately and talks will be held with the state authorities to see whether a degree of support can be given to a replanned network to suit community needs. Ten years of Spey The 2,000th subsonic Spey was de livered last month from the Rolls- Royce Derby Engine Division. Total Spey deliveries are approaching 3,400; in addition to the 2,000 subsonic en gines despatched from Derby, there have been substantial deliveries of supersonic Speys for British Phantoms and of TF41s—jointly produced with the Detroit Diesel Allison Division of General Motors—for A-7s. Sales of Spey engines and spares to date have been worth over £440 million to Rolls-Royce. Exports account for nearly one half of this total. AIAA urges US Government action A new publication of the Aerospace Industries Association of America, entitled "The National Technology Program—Utilisation of Industry," makes important recommendations. It follows a message to Congress from President Nixon on the signifi cance of science and technology to national progress and examines the problem of how government and industry can effectively utilise their resources. The association, which represents the industry that is the largest single manufacturing employer in the United States, points out that the planned expenditure by the federal govern ment on research and development during the 1973 financial year is $300 million (£128 million) less than for 1967. Expenditure on R&D has reduced to 6-7 per cent of the total federal budget compared with a peak of 12-6 per cent, reached in the 1965 financial year. The report points out that imports of high-technology pro ducts are increasing at a greater rate than the export of such products. At a time when the A300B, Concorde and Mercure all receive government assistance, the association believes there is a need for closer partnership between government and industry. The report makes a number of recom mendations, which in many ways These three trials aeroplanes, pictured re cently, are on the Royal Aircraft Establish ment's retirement list. The Beverley, thought to be the last airworthy example of its type, has already completed its flying career at RAE and is up for disposal. The RAF Museum, which already has an example, is a possible buyer of another to provide spare parts. RAF Finningley is also understood to be interested. It began its working life at Farnborough, straight from the production line, and never entered service with the RAF. One of the two Shackletons (the MR.4) is to cease flying next month, while the air frame life of the other the MR.3, with tailwheel and tail radome) has been extended until next year echo those urged by Europe's aero space industry, and suggests: • A long-range national strategy for technology should be formulated. • A national programme to identify major domestic problems could be solved through technology. • A national goal of maintaining a positive trade balance should be estab lished and aggressively pursued. • All Government procurement prin ciples, policies, regulations and prac tices should be aimed to support national resources—in short, buy American. Peace talks resume The decision by President Nixon on December 30 to restrict the bomb ing of North Vietnam and Hanoi's agreement to resume peace talks came after last week's Defence pages had closed for press. The bombing pause will last "as long as serious negotiations are under way." Dr Henry Kissinger was due to meet Mr Le Due Tho in Paris on January 8 and the fighting has reverted to bombing below the 20th parallel and efforts to preserve and extend territorial advan tage through limited action on the ground. Flight next week will contain the first analysis of the 1972 airline safety record. Details will be in cluded of all known accidents involving fatalities which occurred during scheduled and non-scheduled public transport flights and for the first time fatal accidents to minor operators' aircraft and those in volving fatalities on training and freight flights will be included.
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