Atlas and Snark General Nathan Twining, U.S.A.F Chief of Staff, has officially told reporters in Washington that work on Atlas – an inter-continental ballistic missile, against which there is no known defence – is "just getting going." The missile is reputed to have a range of 5,000 miles and to have an accuracy-radius of 20 miles. General Twining has also officially disclosed that Snark, a long-range pilotless bomber, has already been tested. This weapon, too, is believed to have a range of about 5,000 miles, though at a subsonic speed, and is reputed to use a celestial navigation system. Siam Shows the Way Siam's police are already making most Western police forces look distinctly out of date: they have just ordered four Hiller 12-B helicopters to supplement their fleet of 11, used for traffic and law enforcement, border control and to transport officials. Altogether, the Siamese Government departments operate 20 Hillers. Rocket Future One of the world's leading rocket engineers, Mr. A. V. Cleaver, F.R.Ee.S., delivered a notable lecture on February 23rd before the Royal United Service Institution. The lecturer's treatment covered the technique of propulsion, the past, the present, the future, and implications of the system. The lecturer said that the achievement of space flight could hardly fail to be an immensely broadening experience for the whole of humanity. In these days of film and television, its impact would not be felt only by the select band of pioneers who first savoured its adventure. One could easily imagine the world gazing in awe and wonderment at its television screens. Russia's Il-14 Last week a new variant of the Il-12, officially designated Il-14, arrived at London Airport. It was a Russian Air Force V.I.P. aircraft which had come to Moscow via Berlin. On the last stage of the journey it carried two R.A.F. navigators whose duty it was to assist the Russian crew in Western control and navigation procedures. The arrival at London Airport was somewhat complicated by the fact that the Russian crew spoke no English, while the G.C.A. controllers who were trying to talk the aircraft down spoke no Russian. The process of translation, which had to take place in the aircraft, caused delay in following instructions which led to two over-shoots before a successful landing was accomplished.
Source: Flight International
