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Aviation History
1974
1974 - 0285.PDF
FLIGHT International. 28 February 1974 255 SENSOR Both BAC and Rolls-Royce Bristol believe that getting Concorde into service is now an absolute priority, and that the time has come to stop talking about modifications in the quest for the last 5 per cent of performance. The engine manufac turers are keen to get on with the Mk 622 Olympus, with higher thrust and lower noise, but they insist that the priority is to see what price the market will pay for halved journey times, to test public reactions to noise, and to raise the sales tempo. The earliest date for passenger service of the first (A model) Concorde is now likely to be April 1, 1976. Snecma is giving priority to dis cussions with its US suppliers of stainless-steel honeycomb material for the Concorde TRA nozzles and reversers. The discussions turn on manufacturing standards and price and delivery guarantees. Technical quality standards are satisfactory, and there is no question of the pro gramme being held up, but the schedule is tight. The fourth ship- set is now on acceptance at the manufacturer's Santa Barbara fac tory. The turbine-blade fix of the Turbo Union RB.199 involves stricter manufacturing tolerances in posi tioning the blade-cooling holes and, following what was found to be a quite separate problem, slight opening up of the turbine shrouds to cure a blade vibration. The fixes are now being demonstrated on test. The problem was "non-cata strophic", one engine being de liberately run for 20 hours with a missing blade. The RB.199 schedule is not the pacing factor in the first flight of the prototype MRCA. Particularly impressive have been the way the engine has been meeting the original performance specification, including thrust response to throttle slam, and the compatibility of the Anglo German-Italian Turbo Union team in what is considered to be the most advanced combat engine outside the USA. Air France and British Airways re quire three Concordes each to sup port the opening of passenger ser vices, which is still planned to be simultaneous. Rolls-Royce Bristol and Pratt & Whitney could qualify the Pegasus 15 with front-nozzle plenum- chamber burning (PCB) for AV-16A supersonic capability within 3!2 years from godhead. This could come before midsummer. Hawker Siddeley and Beechcraft discussions on US marketing strategy for the HS.125 are proceed ing, and agreement is expected shortly. About a third of the 45 aircraft ordered by Beechcraft have been delivered, and marketing is being strengthened in the light of changing fuel and environmental circumstances. British Airways European Division is saving 7 per cent of its fuel con sumption by reducing cruising Mach number (from -84 to -8 on the Trident), by taxying in on two engines, by stripping upper wing surfaces of their red paint (which saves 1 per cent), and by more efficient flight-planning. The latter is having a marked effect on re- motivating pilots, who have felt that their contribution to the industry has been diminishing. Pressures on West Germany to drop MRCA in favour of a US aircraft deal will have until about mid-April to take effect. There is likely to be far less opportunity for a change of mind when the next stage— which will take MRCA well into production—gets under way. Belgian participation in the Alpha Jet programme has not yet been decided in detail by the Govern ments concerned, but it will be of great importance if the Mirage F.l is also ordered by Belgium. million for engine parts and £55 million for repaired and overhauled engines. The United States was the industry's best customer, taking £162 million- worth of products. Order books are fuller than ever and prospects look good, according to the society, as long as the present fuel problems and the industrial situation do not deterio rate. Japanese launch No 5 Japan's fifth satellite, Tansei 2, was successfully placed in Earth orbit on February 16, according to Tokyo University's Institute of Space and Aeronautical Science. It had been delayed 48hr by high winds from its originally planned date. The satellite was launched by a 20m, three-stage Mu-3C vehicle from the Ouchinoura space centre at the southern tip of Kyushu. The main purpose of the flight was to test a second-stage steer ing system, and the satellite carries no scientific equipment. M53 progress Snecma is pushing ahead with test ing of the M53, a preliminary pro duction contract for which was signed at the end of January (see photograph, page 171, Flight for February 7). Three experimental and eight flight-rated engines are now involved in the programme and more than l,800hr running has been ac cumulated. The Caravelle flying test bed has been up to its operational ceiling of 40,000ft with the engine and relights have been performed at various altitudes. Subsonic and super sonic running in the altitude chamber at Saclay is now geared to obtaining supersonic clearance for the M53, which is due to fly in the Mirage F.l before the end of the year. Argosy conversions Fourteen Argosy military freighters are to be converted by Hawker Siddeley for navigator, air-electronics operator and flight engineer training. RAF plans for the conversion have been known for some time, and it is expected that further aircraft will be involved later. Design work on the Argosies is being done at Hawker Siddeley Aviation, Manchester, and the aircraft will be modified at the company's Bitteswell plant, where they were assembled originally. The major modifications will include a dual nose window, where instructor and pupil can operate in a prone position, and fitting out with consoles and desks for the navigators. The rear-loading capability will be retained, although there will be minor internal modifications and updating of some equipment. The Ministry of Defence says that although major servicing of the Argosies, (about 30 of which are understood to have been in storage at RAF Kemble) will be needed, no re- sparring will be necessary. The Argosy has the same wing as the Shackleton, many of which were re- sparred. The first aircraft, which is a proof installation, is already at Bitteswell and the other aircraft will follow on the line after being returned to the manufacturers by the RAF. The first aircraft should be delivered to the RAF in early 1975, and the MoD expects the programme to be com pleted in about 18 months. S. G. Brown Communications has won a £350,000 contract to supply Six Ninety Series communications control equipment for the Argosies; II units will be fitted in each aircraft. "Flight" appointment Andy Hofton has been appointed Assistant Editor (Technical) and will take over responsibility for the Air Transport pages of Flight. He is a graduate of Bristol University and subsequently gained an MSc in air craft design at the Cranfield Institute of Technology. He joined the staff of Flight in June 1972 from Hawker Siddeley Hatfield. "Flight" next week The March 7 issue of Flight will include, in addition to our normal features, the annual Light Aircraft Directory. There will also be a report from Seattle on Boeing's current status and intentions.
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