MARVELS OF AVIATION

Chronicle (Levin), 12 September 1947, Page 5

MARVELS OF AVIATION

British Planes That Travel At Sonic Speeds R'eceived Thursday, 9.45 p.m. LONDON, Sept. 11. "'Don^t 1'ook at tlie noise. ' He's a long way ahead of that," a comnrentator- told 6DO0; people from 4'5 nations a-t E-adl'ett airfield 'in Hertf ord'shire durihg an- exhibiCion by the speed reeord maker Kfeteor Fo|ir. The aireraft had fiashed across the airfield at over 600 miles- hotirly and was now tiirning some 20- miles away. Fast though it was, tlie new Viekers Armstrong ' ''Attacker which showed its paces a few m-inutes l'ater, seemed even faster. "He's abont three miles ahead of'the noise," said' the commentator as the Attaeker, like a wi-nged' sil'ver bull'et, whined aronnd the airfield. These two jet aircraft "stole" theflying section o'f the Society of British- Aircraft Construetors' annual display. The Attacker was partieularly watehed since details of its performance are not yet published. Its habit of appearing well before it is keard, indicates. that it_is travelling at or in the region of the speed of sound. In addition to these tvTo aircraft, 40 other types took off and shot up the airfield while announcers commented in three languages upon their pei'formanees. "Badlett", as the S.B.A.C. display was called for short, is the shop window of British aviation. It is claimed as the greatest air show in the world yet it is one that is- reserved for the comparatively few. They are representatives of civil aviation firms, navies, armies' and Air Forces from all over the world, and a few ■speeially in-vited guests, and they are given a wealth of information about an industry lvhieh is stated to be worth £20,000,000 in trade to Britain this year. The display lasts three days.- Before the aircraft are flown they are lined up for inspection. They range from thc giant Tudor Seven "which can earry 40 and 60 passengers, and the 40-sea-ter Tlermes Four to1 small types of merchant aircraft, helicopters and dimunitive gliders. Military aircraft form a large proportion. Another section of the display is in a huge tent where nearly 200 firms show everything from a nut to jet engines' with transparent coverings whi'ch reveal their mechanieal perfection. There are also working models of jet engines, retraetable undercarriages and the "gouge" method of d'oeking flyingboats. The most spectacular part of the display, of course, is the actuaf fiying with sleek gleaming aireraft showing their paees like racehorses, and eommentators giving the liames of the pilots as though they Yvere jockeys. There is novelty in these demonstrations as well as sheer speed and aerobatics. There isv the Lincoln bomber which flew a few feet over the ground with both inncr motors cut and the Solent flyingboat which arrived from the coast with the two starboavd motors temporarily switehed off. There is the Bristol freighter which disgorged a three-ton truck within a couple of minutes of landing. Among 27 types not previously seen at Radlett was the Miles experimental merchant aircraft with part of its body a sealed container filled with goods. When the aircraft land'ed this container was remored en bloc, allowing the pilot to take off again within a few moments for another load. Another "novelty" which was for inspection only and which was eyed dubiously by several Air Force .pilots, was Britain's first radio controlled rocket projectile. About eight feet lpng with short clipped wings, it has a speed of over 500 miles hourly and a range of seven miles. It can be exploded when sufficiently close to the target. A demonstrator showed the pilots how it is controlled— by manipulating the ordinary " joy stick" attached to a wireless set. It has smoke flares in each wing tip. You can writ'e your name in the sky with it. It was designed' to beat the Japanese suicide bombers but" — and here the demonstrator sounded rather regretful — '''the war ended ^ too soon. However, it is the shape of things to come," he said. "ITumpft ! " grunted oue: pilot. '■'Fancy having a thing like that weaving aronnd on your tail. ^They ouglit to call it the pilot 's bightmare."