Speaking at the Liverpool Luncheon Club, the engineer and surveyor of that city, Mr. H. T. Hough, made a number of observations regarding the possibilities of future helicopter operations and his city's plans to be prepared for such developments. He said: "The Liverpool City Council has long been aware of the advantages of helicopters and has for some time given careful consideration to the possibility of providing landing stations which will be ready for use as soon as safe and economical machines are available." On the subject of municipal landing stations Mr. Hough continued: "One of the chief advantages of the helicopter is that, like a bus, it can stop anywhere there are simple landing facilities. Liverpool has in mind several surface landing sites in its long term plan, and in addition has approved in principle a roof-top landing site over a bus station and multi- storey car park."
Canada's "Saucer"
On arrival at Southampton on December 2nd, Mr. C. D. Howe, Canadian Minister of Trade Commerce and Defence Production, told reporters that Canadian scientists had worked for twelve months on a "flying saucer" project. Mr. Howe also disclosed that the aircraft was oval-shaped, "with exhaust pipes not unlike the drawings which have appeared in magazines."
Pleasant Afternoon
A Meteor pilot of No. 604 Squadron, R.Aux.A.F., had a lucky escape after baling out at 20,000ft over the Thames Estuary when his aircraft got into a spin (from which, reportedly, it would not recover) near Southend last Sunday. The pilot - P/O Brian Cross - used his ejector seat successfully, then found himself with a torn parachute. Although the parachute collapsed three times during the decent, Cross suffered nothing worse than a suspected fractured ankle when he alighted in four feet of water.
Monty on NATO
In speeches at Los Angeles, Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery asserted that the dominant factor of a future war would be air power. "Air power is indivisible," said Lord Montgomery, adding, "if you split it into compartments you merely pull it to pieces and destroy its flexibility. If we lose the war in the air we lose the whole war and lose it quickly." The time would come, said Lord Montgomery, when the seas would be controlled from the air. Aircraft would also make big naval surface craft obsolete.
Source: Flight International