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Aviation History
2004
2004-02 - 0046.PDF
Straight & Level roger.bacon@flightinternational.com Bigfoot sighting Seattle radio station (airing programme about the "launch" of the Boeing 7E7 and the recent Megaplanes board shake-up): "And just to clarify that earlier reports of an apparent 'Sasquatch' sighting near the city were false. It wasn't a 'Bigfoot' folks, just a 'Hairy' Stonecipher." Marshal plan Birdseed Airways director to amused hacks at annual press lunch bash: "You may have noticed it has taken longer than usual to get everyone sat down for lunch. Unfortunately we are still waiting for the US authorities to approve the guest list. We would also be grateful if you would refrain from gathering in groups around the toilets. Meanwhile, you may like to note we have been flying our own 'sky marshal' very successfully for the past 21 years but unfortunately he is stepping down in a few months." Birdseed Boeing 737-200 on very short finals Telling it like it is (From a report on the JSF in last week's highly reputable Defense WeekJ "The STOVL, at least on paper in the design process, has gained weight faster than a sedentary-job worker on a diet of fries, burgers and beers." Sensational discovery After all these centuries of wondering and waiting, it seems mankind finally has an answer. We are not alone. Budgie News's own special space correspondent Tel E Scoop reports from a fast food restaurant nowhere near Pasadena, California. "This stunning image, transmitted only a few hours earlier, appears to offer incontravertible proof that life exists on Mars. However, mission controllers are working frantically to re-establish contact with the expedition rover after the picture was suddenly lost moments ago. They are also puzzled by a new text message which appears to say: 'Send money or your rover is toast'." Meanwhile, over to European space expert Jodrell Blank, who is standing by a telephone box in Milton Keynes where an unexpected message has just been received from the heroically lost British-built Bungle 2 lander. 'We can just about decipher the text. It says: "I am just going out for a while...I may be some time." YEARS AGO Do you know the way to San Jose?....oh ..what a giveaway AIRCRAFT ENGINEER FLIGHT 22.01.1954 Proving the Beverley Recent intensive flight trials of the prototype Blackburn Beverley Military transports (four Bristol Centaurus) included the first tests at maxi mum weight. At the controls was the company's chief test pilot, Tim Wood, and on the first take-off at gross weight he had the Beverley off in a dis tance only slightly longer than the E[ ^\ estimated figure, reducing the run on subsequent flights. Later on the same day No. 4 engine - the most critical - was cut at take-off, and the Beverley climbed away on three to a height of 5,000ft., where No. 3 was cut. Flight on the remaining two Centaurus is described as "satisfactory" and even at maximum weight height was maintained. As the Beverley is a military prototype no spe cific figures can be quoted, but it is disclosed that a height above the estimated ceiling has been achieved. In a light wind, and using the Dunlop Maxaret wheel brakes, the Beverley used less than half the 1,400-yd runway at Brough for landing and could, of course, have further reduced its run by use of the braking airscrews. Despite wet grass and mud near the dispersal area no trouble was experienced during ground manoeuvres. Second YF-102 Flies The U.S.A.F. announces that the second Convair YF-102 supsersonic delta-wing all-weather fighter, powered with a Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet, has completed its initial flight. The first example was flown on October 24th last year but was written off in a wheels-up landing following power failure at take-off. The second machine was completed on December 14th and production models are now being assembled at San Diego, California. The F-102 will be fully automatic in operation, the pilot acting as a monitor. Proposed armament is the Hughes Falcon missile. Rescues by Helicopter Swiss and American helicopters played a promi nent part in the rescue operations in Austria after the village of Blons was engulfed by avalanches. Swiss Army Hillers carried out the first air recon naissances and made contact with survivors; they then carried many of the injured to safety at Ludesch, where rescue headquarters were estab lished. American S-55s of the 48th Air Rescue Squadron brought medical aid and two snow dogs to the area and joined the Swiss Hillers. None of the helicopters could be fully used until conditions had improved sufficiently for engine vibrations not to cause danger of further avalanches. 44 20-26 JANUARY 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fliqhtinternational.com
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