FLYING AT TREMENDOUS SPEEDS

Chronicle (Levin), 7 September 1946, Page 5

FLYING AT TREMENDOUS SPEEDS

Received Fridav, 7 p.m. LOXDQN, Sept. 0. The Air Ministry last Februarv can cellecl a contract for a plane designeu to flv at 1000 miles an liour at 3(5,00011.. which it would reach in OOsec. This is stated by MiLes Aircraft Ltul, which h-as produced plans for a threi vears' research company. It savs tht-

first test fligiit could have takou placv a few months after tlie Ministry can celled the contract. Tlie plane vas a "winged bullet' 33/t. long with a wing span of 27tt. biconvex wings, and a moving tan jilane. The power plaiit comprised : — ( 1 ) a jet engine; (2) a turbine; (.'!) t diict into which the fuel js injectcd anu burncd for further acceleration, givmg the equivalent of 17,000 horse-puwer. "Other avennos oi' research ara txung explored," was -the Ministry 01 Suppiy's oflicial explanation for ttu caiicellation of Ihe contract for the plane, according to Ihe Dailv Jlerald> air correspondent. These, "other avenues" include a spectacular rockei drive.n radio conlrolled aircraft vvhicii will probably be flown this year, giving Britain tlie first. practical secrets 01 fiupprsonic flig-ht. The corresponderil quoten Sir Ben Lockspeiser, (lirector general of Seienl i fic Air Research, as saying: "We just have not Ihe heart to ask test pilots to flv these niodeis iiotil we know precisely vvhat happens .it, stipersonic speeds. -So we shall make (lieiu radio eontrolle.d. "