oes IF c ees eral anes ean) eae pyiia yasVolume19 Number? July 1980 Wiliam Green Gordon Swanborough ‘red J Henderson ‘Bennie Punnett ‘Managing Editor Editor ‘Modelling Eattor Comibuting Arist Contbuting Photographer eee phan Poke tative, Washington Noman Polar ‘Donald Syner Ai Ecitoral Repro ‘Managing Director Publisher Financia! Director Advertising Director ‘Advertising Manager ‘Subscription Manager ‘Sheilagh Compbel! Distribution Manager Willa Streek ‘Roger Jowars Editorial Offices: The AIR INTERNATIONAL, PO Box 16, Bromiley, BR27RB Kent. ‘Subscription, Advertising and Circulation Offices: Tho AIR” INTERNATION, De Worde House, 283" Lonsdale Road, Landon SWI3 SQW. Telephone 01-878 2454 US and Canadian readers may address Subscriptions and general enquiries to AIR Inteawarional PO Box 353, White Stone, NY'11'357 for onward tans ‘sion to the UK, from where all cores ondence. is “answered and orders ‘despatched, MEMBER OF THE AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS. 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ISSN 0308-5634 CONTENTS FRONT COVER An SH 37 Viggen all-weather maritime reconnaissance and attack airraft of F17 based at Kallinge. MAJOR Boost Interceptor of European dosign yet. to Aachiave production, the JA 37, describod In Gotall, achieves Operational’ status this 14 THAILAND SEEKS ENHANCED AIR CAPABILITY In a recent int view athis [email protected] Don Muang AirBase, ACM Paniong Kantarat, C-in-C of the Royal Thai Air Force, outlines his sonics’ requirements {nthe years immediately aheod. 25 THE WELLESLEY: GEODETICS IN ACTION An account of the develop- ‘ment, production and service use ofthe first ‘of ths Series of Vickers bombers to tise the odetic constuction form conceived by frnes Walls 41 CANADIAN YELLOW BIRDS “Ag. fre suppression” isthe principal mission of the unique floct of (mostly 3nd) aeroplanes operated by tl Ontario Ministry’ of Natural Resources, 35. related here by Robert S Grant 2 AIRSCENE The monthly round-up of news and background to the news presented Under section headings for Miltary Affairs, Alrcraft and Industry Civil Affairs and new Civil and Miltary Aircraft Contracts 21 EFFICACIOUS AIR INTAKES In this final article in his “Fundamentals of Design” series, B R A Burns discusses the finer points of intake design 34 THE NEW COMMUTERLINERS Details ond illustrations of two of the newly. launched commuter transportsin the30/40-seat category — thede Haviland Dash Band the Seab- Fairchild Aino. 36 FIGHTER ATOZ Continuing the AIR InrcanarionaL encyclopaedia of the world's fighter sircraft, from the Gloster Mars X Nightjar tothe Gloster Guan. IN SOVIET SERVICE — 9 The Kamov Hormone provides the backbone of the AV: IMF's shipboard ASW force. MODEL ENTHUSIAST Modoling commonts, the latest kits reviewed and a page of colour drawings of the Saab Viggen. IN PRINT New aviation literature noted, WRENDEZVOUS WITH WREN “Advanced Technology Intruder For Sneaking Under Enemy Radar.Phd MILITARY AFFAIRS AUSTRALIA ‘The government has decided to fund design aad development of anew basic trainer fo Teplae the CT-4A Aitaner in the RAE terningshlabusromabout 186 onward, by which time the CT-4A. ill have seen only & dezade of service. Tenders ave boon invited {rom CAC; Hawet DH and the GAF for up {o 100 aircraft eprescaing& programe cost of up to AusSS0m (224 75m) in 1980 terms Soy facto within both the service apd industry would prefer to sce greater print Assigned ta sucesor fo the ageing IB 326 then to the newer CTA. In orderto augment plas for increased Indian Ocean srvellance ‘agreed in Washington ‘arler ths year by the governments of the USA, Austaia ad "New Zealand, is nteipated that one of the RAAF's two PS ‘Orion squadrons: wil be transfered. {rom Bainburgh to one of the two existing West allan bases. as a temporary medSure onstruction of the new ase at bya the northewes, for which AusS47m (C2 ind te Cet dee Atthe preset time, Orons asd to Indian Ocean survelance must over two- thirds ofthe continent elo es trol area. Tae Which wail be capable of accepting any of the RAAF frstine alreaft is ot likely to be {vallable until the mid- eighties. ‘The fight test programme ofthe fist of three FANGS being. converted for. the recon rnaissance ole at Amberley commenced in ‘Apri. The frst conversion was conducted by ‘GEnefal Dynamies at Fort Worth last year, this involving installation of Fairchild KA S6E fow-altitude panoramic eameras, F shuld KS-87C spit vertical cameras, lone) yal AN/AADS. IR line Seamer ands Catdion Electronics TV system, and the four modied icra wil cmplet. the 16 surviving F-111Cs in No 82 Strike Wing. BRAZIL. ‘The Forca Aérea Braslera now ani receiving a total of 144 examples of the bused. on the ‘ated total value of the aireraft being some ‘BisOm excluding RAD The minimally mod fied version of the AMX to be produced by EMBRAER forthe FABis now being relered toas the ABX, and Italy has agreed to fund a Proportion of Brezlian production, ‘and fent technical assistance isto be provided {o enable EMBRAER to. build almost the entire airframe indigenously in return for Brazil's one-third contribution to the esti mated £186m RAED cost of the AMX/ABX. programme. CANADA The first of eighteen Lockheed CP-140 Aurora maritime surveillance igeraNt — actualy the fourth to roll othe Burbank assembly ine — twas delivered tothe Canad ‘recs in May and all 18 Auroras are scheduled to have been taken into the CAF inventory by April of next year. The fist and second Auroras have been engaged in some 900 hours of ight test and sjstems proving which Was seeduled to be ‘completed last month (lune) — the Aurora ‘combines the avionics of the $3 Viking with P-3 Orion airframe and the third aircraft PAGE 2. AIR INTERNATIONAL/JULY 1980 has been engaged on crew taining under Tockheed ‘supervision. When the "Aurora ners CAF service later thi yar the matt Support base wil be Greenwood, Nova Scot, on Canada's East Coast, which wil eventually ose 4 ofthe array the home befor the Femaining four areal being Comox, Britsh Columba, on the West Coa DENMARK. ‘The fist of eight Westland Lynx helicopters for the Royal Danish Navy's air component ‘Soraernets Flyvetiaeneste, was banded over 1, 15 “May ater landing aboard the Danish [Navy's platform-equipped fishery protection ftigateHnidojonen moored on the Thames, in the Pool of London. The five vesicls of the Huidbjornen_ and Beskyrteren lasses rom ‘which the Dasish Lyn helicopters will operate uring deployments from their home base at Vaedse are the smallest ships for which the Westland helicopter has so far beea ordered, nd. the Lyme ill serve. primarily inthe Allantic, ithe vicinity of the Facroes and Southern Greenland, FEDERAL GERMANY fesraton of ts Westland Se Rng 2 Xi hclcpeers for teint marie ke role in the mid ‘eighties t0 enable the ‘Morinelager to. gain experience of seks helicopter operations riot to defniion of Speciation fora five-tome copter or this ‘osjonwhich | samiipated wil enerservce In the carly "nincien. The. Bundeumorin is Cuarenty examining the potntalies of the principal European antchip missles ae Sea King armament, te SISTEL Sea Kilt, siready ited to italian Sea Kings, being the frontrunner, with the BAeD Sea’ Skua and ‘Nerospatié ASIST as strong contenders FINLAND Folow-on orders arc tobe placed on behalf of aroina! Tor. ive adonal Mi M8 {ype to machines. The first Mids which serve primary’ for SAR “ska wit the IWansport squadron, of Kuftusenslaime, at Ut wore ecived by Zmavoimar d-1973 FRANCE Formation of the thd déronavae squadron to receive the Dassault Breguet Super Etendard ‘began on 21 March at Landivisiau ‘with Aelivery of the 35th production aera, and this unt, Flovile 17F 1s scheduled to achieve ‘operational status at” Hysres later this year with a complement of 12 aireraft By the time formation of Fouile 7F commenced, the two exsting Super Etendard squadrons, Movie TIF and Flotle 14F, had respecuvely accu- mulated some 4,000 and 1,630 Byanghours, the former nit having made 60 desk Tandngs Snoeit received stirs aircraft in Avgust 19 “The last of the planned total of nine Armée de (dir ugar squadrons, Esadre de Chasse 47 {mouth was commisdoned Apri tS Dialer This wit sehedled to be detached 0 Ices next month (Augus) after-an intel peried of working up ahd. wil achieve Sprains ar by he yeas end. The of EC 4)? ae equipped to cary the ‘outer nap de ae oes Aying hours have now surpassed 120, By late 1984, when the last of the ational batch of 25 ‘Transall'C.160 transports have ‘been delivered tothe Armee de dir only 40 of {heaged Nord Noratlaransports are expected to remain in the service's inventory and ths re will have been reduced 10 15 by late 1836. ‘Aporonimaely 100° Norte. are curreuly in French service the majority being with he 6 icant vies and on ofthe {tee component squdrons ofthis uni 8 (0 disband on 1 July next year, each of the (wo {enairing squadrons progressively consertin by Hight of three or four aerate tothe C160, throughout 1983 and 1984, unl they cach reach statutory strength of 12 Tran In April, the Aérospatale SA 342M. HOT: Gaze shires Service with the air component (ALAT). and by the end ‘of the year the 2 Reginent d'fecopteres de Conta wicampese ee ant-arog igh cach with 12 SA S42Ms based at Freiburg and Brisgau in Federal Germany. INDONESIA On 20 May, Indonesia's Minister of Defence, ‘General Mebammud Jusuf, announced that the Indonesian Armed Forces Air Fores (Tentara’ ‘Nasional Indonesia. —Angkatan Uda oe TST, wl hoy ee hee of ighiers, bombers and trainers. ‘Gen Jorof was referring to 16 Northrop FS ‘Tiger Ms (2 singleseat F-SEs and four two seat F-SFs), the, fist eight of which. were delivered to Indonesia, in May with the femaining eight to be delivered this month (Gly): 1¢ MeDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawks (14 A-dEs and two TA-4Fs) scheduled 10 be Selivered Later this year, and eight BAc Hawks also scheduled for delivery within the coming ‘months four Hawks arto participate nthe National Day fypast over Jakarta. on 'S October. Replacement ‘of the TNI-AU's ageing Fuj-built Beech T-34A Mentor trainers SEO of which were delivered in 1963 isto neXt year with the commencement of elven ot FFA. AS.202" Bravor from Swiverland, 20 of which have been ordered under a Swe 6m (E1-57m) contrat recently ‘warded IRAQ Aria as eid coc om eg ramen fora batch reported to he cght SO AB 212ASW antisubmarine and ent: surface eset heiopters which te intended for operations over the Persian Gull Pre- oul Anta deamon ar sk ‘ransport hel opto, which, ike the AB S12ASW halt SQ ae tbe operated by the Ig Ar JAPAN ‘On 17 April the Maritime Self-Defence Force formed its ith ASR squadron atthe Ozuki Air Base with two Sikorsky 8-62 helicopters. The MSDF. anticipates forming its Sth ASR squadron next year atthe Iwojima Air Base andi planning intheneartermot Stscurren fet of sx S635 with 6A Following completion of deliveries of Mitsu- ‘sh? Fel else air support ightes co the Sed nd’ tk squndrone of the dAir'Wing at ‘Misawa AB, the ASDF began conversion of te third planned Fl unit, the exh Squadron of he Sth Air Wing at Tsui AB, in Ape marking Commencement othe nal stage ofthe pas oat a te SUF Sabre rom he ASE inventory The wll be fa quipped with the F-1 by March of act year ‘The Defence Agency is devoting maximum ‘for to an attempt to complete the current Sefence bald Sone ea in advance of 1s 2 result of pres from the US government. On 30 Apri the | vn ens, Defence Minister, Mr Kichizo Hosoda, or attention be given by the their Fiscal 1981 budget presentations tothe following: procurement of Four dona E-2C Hawkeye AEW ara: acceleration of the C-130 Hercules procure ‘ment feasibility study; acceleration of indigen- ‘munications units; acceleration of replacement ‘ol the Base Air Defence Ground Environment by @ more modern system; an increase in at base defence capabilities; modernisation of an airfield on Iwojima for use asa taining faclity and acceleration of the replacement of current Hawk SAMs with at improved KENYA Initial BAe Hawk export deliveries were made in April when" the Rest three of 12 aircraft ‘ordered forthe Kenya Air Force were delivered by KAP plots tained by BAe at Dunsiold first Kenyan Hawk flew in December and artyned in) weapons’ ang tna i PAKISTAN Wik delves coniuing ofthe 32 Miage IMisordered forthe Pakistan Ais Forocin 197 Beamples of ssonic nose plot ates ae provided by the MIG-15bs ro et andthe BME Thendercek gh There are two basic classes of compression surfaces, external and intemal. Examples of extemal. compression ‘surfaces on intakes are the centre body cones on the Lighting and MiG-21, vertical ramps on the Phantom, Su-15 Flagon and F-18, halicones on the Mirages and F-104, horizontal weidges on the F-l4, F-15, Tornado, MiG-25 Foxbut, and any others With utably designed surfaces, the presse loss through the intake shock system can be reduced from the crippling 27 percent due toa normal shock toa value of seven oreightpercentat M=20. However the compression surfaces do themselves produce some drag, which penalises subsonic and transonic performance and, of course, weight, both of| ‘which impair transonie. acceleration, "Whether they are worthwhile depends on the emphasis on supersonic perfor: ‘mance inthe design specification Ifthe design Mach numbers Jess than about 15, a simple ptot intake is probably the best choice. Even above M= I'S if itisacceleration rather than top speed thats wanted, the addition of com pression surfaces may not be justified. intemal compression can be achieved, theoretically, by ‘means ofa convergent duct just inside the intake race, followed by subsonic deceleration in a divergent section of the duct downstream. Such an intake would have no external drag and food internal performance atthe design point, where internal Brometry is matched to the fight Mach number and engine Airflow, with the intersecting internal shocks sitting in exactly the right place, close tothe intake throat. The main drawback of this type of intake is that any variation in fight Mach fhumber or engine airflow results ina rapid deterioration in performance, usually o that ofa pitot intake with an expelled Dormal shock, This renders the intemal compression intake unsuitable, at least for combat aeroplanes which have 0 operate efficiently over a wide range of speed. External compression is much less sensitive because the intake shock system isnot reflected internally. Diverter design ‘The purpose of a diverter isto prevent the sluggish air in the boundary layer on the surfaces ahead of the intake from entering the intake, to the detriment of performance and quality of internal flow. Early examples were the “shouldered” divertes on the Vampire and the sloted diverter on the Lockheed F-60/T-33. Later transonic and supersonic designs tended to move the intakes more firmly away from the fuselage sides and the diverter surfaces behind the intake lips, to reduce thechance of turgid boundary ayer air spilling into the intakes at extreme flow conditions (eg, low speed, high incidence). Examples are the Buccaneer, Phantom, Jaguar and Tornado. Sideintakes situated under the wings orstrakes as onthe F-111 and F-18 complicate diverter design, because both fuselage and underwing boundary layers and particularly the corner region where they overlap have to be diverted. On the F-111 the intake-to-fuselage spacing had to be increased at an early stage ofits development to increase the diverter area, The F-18 diverters are carefully shaped, there being three diverter paths upwards through the strake slots, downwards, and sideways between the upper lip and the strake undersurface, ‘The F-18 also employs bleed holes on the intake splitter plate to remove the boundary layer of that surface ahead of the intake throat Intake location The natural place for the intake, with fuselage-mounted engines, iat the nose and indeed many carly et fighters (F-84, F-6, Ouragan, Mystere, MiG-15, MiG-17, Saab J 29, ete) were configured thus, A nose intake requires no diverter andis therefore simple on that account. It results in & long duet — 200d from the point of view of settling any pressure disturbances that might originate at the intake lips at high incidence and sidesip — but an overlong duct incurs a significant pressure loss due tothe “scrubbing” drag of the internal flow ‘A nose intake is not suitable with rearsmounted engines, generally favoured nowadays, buts satisfactory with centrally mounted engines as on earlier generations of fighters, named above. A nose intake widens the fuselage dimensions, adding surface area and therefore drag. A central pre-compression body in a nose intake, as on the Lightning or MiG=21, is a convenient location for a small radar, but the size is not compatible with today’s larger radar dishes. (The days of the “eyeball” fighter are gone.) Side intakes have been adopted for most of the combat aeroplanes f the sixties and’'seventies, feeing thenosefor the installation of radar and other operational equipment, but requiring a diverter to ensure a high level of ellciency. Side intakes are also subject, in general, to magnified incidence effects due to upwash around the fuselage contours and an ‘uneven distribution of incidence across the intake face fr the same reason. The upwash is strongest closest to the fuselage side, a the bottom corner, reducing upwards and outwards from that point, Thismay require careful shaping ofthe lower Tip 1 avoid separation of the captured flow at high incidence and low speed, an important consideration for both airfield performance and for combat. Incidence effects on side intakes are alleviated by a high intake location on a flat-sied fuselage, as on the Jaguar for ‘example. Other means of improving intake performance at high incidence are: “Extending the upperlip forward ofthe lower, as on the A-S Vigilante, F-14, F-1S, Tornado and MiG-28 Foxbat. The upper lip can also act as horizontal compression wedge for supersonic operation *Situating the intake under the wing (F-111) or strake (F- 18), although this complicates diverter design, as noted carer. ‘Tilting the intakes downward at high incidence, a on the FAS, ‘Other forms of variable geometry, such as variable lower ips ‘or lower surface auxiliary doors, may be considered. Sidesip effects can also be troublesome on side intakes, particulary the low on the leeward sid of the fusclage. With a Single engine, a spliter plate dividing the duct right to the engine face has been required on some designs. “Thechin intake location, pioneered by the F-86D asa means ‘of allowing a nose radar to be fitted and featured aso on the Fiat G-91, F-8 Crusader, A-7 Corsair and F-16, can give beneficial shielding from incidence effects if the fuselage is locally wider than the intake mouth; the forward fuselage surfaces can perhaps be shaped to generate a favourable pre- entry shock pattern at supersonic speed. Just asa side intake BOUNDARY CAPTURE seating $$. CTE —— MATCHING POINT (SUB. = = SONIC) CAPTURE AREA AIG MATCHES INTAKE and beastie HIGH suBsoNic SPEED EG NSO MARYS ERCINE INTAKE OPERATING ‘CONDITIONS, Se CTHROTTLED: SS _. ntaxe spiniace SQ “onDiTIOH" SA SH 74815 SAPIG 9 ASS Thee INTAKE COWL’ CAN, a _ {FORWARD) SUCTION RSG [9G AN sussomie SPEED. ‘sHock WAVE SN LOW SUPERSONIC SPEED. PITOT INTAKE WITH DE TACHED NORMAL SHOCK. SUBSONIC FLOW BEHIND. SHOCK INTO INTAKE MODERATE. SUPERSONIC SPECD WITH CENTRE BODY (PRE-COMPRES. SION) INTAKE FIRST (OBLIQUE) sHOCK DECELERATES FLOW ‘SUPERSONICALLY. COND (NORMAL) SHOCK Sees SURSONe how. INTO INTAKE: OBLIQUE SHQcK SHARP LIPS May INDUCE SEPARATION OF THECON- TURBULENCE IN THE buer. AUXILIARY DOORS ADMIT PART OF THE AIRFLOW DEMAND. | REDUCING PRIMARY INTAKE. FLOW, ‘ONVER- GENCE, ELIMINATING ‘SEPARATION. experiences magnified incidence effects, a chin intake is subject ‘to magnified sideslip effects. However sideslip is not generated deliberately in normal flight (an exception is crosswind landing), so the operating range of sideslip is usually substantially less than the range of incidence that has to be catered for. The chin location does however result in a deeper forebody, requiring more fin area to compensate and the enforced rearward location of the nosewheel may restrict PAGE 23Examples ofthe centre body supersonic external compression intake are provided by the MsG-21 (above let) and Lighning (above right) carriage of stores on the fuselage (the F-16 can carry very little under the fuselage) Wing root leading edge intakes were popular on subsonic fighters with tolerant engines. The earliest example was the ‘Vampire, followed by the Venom and Sea Vixen from the same ‘company; the Grumman Panther and Cougar were very similar, as were the Sea Hawk and the Hunter. The main drawback of this location is the small depth atthe intake face, giving @ large internal surface area at the forward part of the duct, and the rapid changes of cross-section shape and flow direction required to get from the wing into the fuselage with a circular duct to the engine face. These considerations render wing root leading edge intakes unsuitable for thin-winged supersonic designs. The only example was the Republic F-105 Thunderchief with its unique reversed local sweep, variable internal ramp intakes, a design proposed originally by Antonio Ferri of NASA. Dorsal intakes have been used on a number of research aircraft (eg, H.P. 115, Avro 707B), in the interests of expediency. Perhaps the only fighter design to have a dorsal PAGE 24 AIR INTERNATIONAL/JULY 1980 intake was the North American F-107, adevelopment ofthe F- 100 (illustrated and described in AIR INTERNATIONAL July 1978). This intake had a central vertical splitter plate with twin movable ramps as pre-compression surfaces. The main {drawback of the dorsal position is, of course, the poor quality Of the pre-entry flow in the separated wake from the forward fuselage at high angles of incidence. The future scene With the ever-widening operating envelopes of combat aircraft, and the sensitivity of modern reheated by-pass engines to flow distortion, turbulence and swirl, the task of| intake design is becoming increasingly dificult in future we are likely to se alternative forms of variable intake geometry to increase tolerance to extremes of incident low at subsonic nd transonie speeds, with perbaps more emphasis on high performance atthe lower supersonic speeds, for good deceleration, than on top Mach number level fight perfor: elon) Vertical wedge spersni external compression sie makes rated he MiG*SSBAT (ef) and 4 39 Viggen gh) The horizontal wedge internal compresion intake fist displayed bythe 45 Vien has ince been adopted by auch types the F-8Tomest, the EIS"Bagle, the: Panova” Tornado, and the’ MiG-25 Paxbat (itasraed let) though these al die realy in deal design. The F- 184° Homes dstrated below) has is notes shielded by stakes for ood characteristics at high incidence. Features of the. Hornets Errangeman ince, fpr cent prem conprestion ede, Compl tvertr pats up through ets inthe sakes, down Bind ile lated var hewmen sper ond whe mdse Sct et eon te pte plates oad 9 eae asi amber lover lps Ths roves an example of the complexity of aiatiinpe stint peftaactetesl ec The Wellesley WV Tasty, Welington, Warwick and Windsor: there isan attractive alliteration in the names of the monoplane bombers produced between 1930 and 1945 from the ‘Weybridge home of the aviation interests of Vickers Lid. By ‘no more than coincidence, the names of this distinguished quartet also alliterate with that of the company’s chief designer (structures), BN Wallis*; and through this link, the four ‘bombers had much more in common than just the first letters of their names. Not all were equally successful in their operational deployment, itis true, but all made use of the Wallis structural principles known as geodetic construction, To describe geodetics as a “breakthrough” in construction techniques for metal aircraft might be to over-emphasise its importance; certainly, the system did not become universally accepted, and the Vickers bombers were the only aireraft built and used in large numbers successfully to apply geodetic construction fully. In the early years ofthe last decade before World War Il, however, Wallis can be credited with having evolved and made available to engineers the first wholly novel ‘method of aeroplane construction since the Great War had ended. It fll to the Vickers Wellesley to prove in practice that the system worked, To understand the place of geodetics in aviation history itis necessary to realise that in 1930 most designers were stil ‘groping towards the application of streamlined shapes, and * The late Sir Barnes Wallis now best remembered or hi development of the dam-busting weapon used by No 617 Squadron n 1943 and for his later work on swing-wings. He had beon employed at an engineer by Vickers since 1913, working om airships nl the end of 1929. His “appointment as chief designe (structures) at Webride. where Rex K Berson was chief designer, aircraft, on 1 Jamuary 1930, followed the Vickers decision to close ts airship department. that wood remained as important a constructional material as metal, Stressed-skin metal structures were sill a novelty, not a ‘norm; typical structures then in use perforee had much internal bracing, within wings and fuselages, and streamlining of the fuselage was often achieved by adding formers and stringers to the outside of the basic “box”, thus reducing stil further the usefulness of the interior space Turning his mind from airships to aeroplanes, Wallis immediately became concerned with the problems of achieving streamlined shapes with better structural efficiency than before. Undoubtedly, his experience with airship design was relevant, and he concluded that it should be possible to build a streamlined form in which the loads were carried by structural members that followed geodesic lines. A geodesic is the shortest line joining two points on the surface of a spherical body (the same line being known as a great circle course in navigational parlance) and the adjective “geodetic” refers to the application of geodesy, the science of calculating geodesics, the shape in question is considered to bea tube, a geodetic line can be drawn as a spiral round the surface ofthe tube: if'a second spiral is then drawn in the other direction, a number of | points of intersection are obtained. Ifa structure is then built along the geodetic lines, with rigid joints at the intersections, shear and torsional loads are balanced out in the opposing geodesics; the result is a structure of excellent strength-to- ‘weight ratio and one that has no internal bracing whatsoever, Such was the basis of Wallis’ reasoning, confirmed by such calculations as he was able to make without the benefit of practical tess. OF course, the basic theory had to be modified Inpractice, since the shapes required were anything but regular tubes or even spheres, and cut-outs had to be provided for cockpits, ete; nevertheless, most surfaces of a streamlined PAGE 25Why do som: There are a number of rea- sons why airlines like Lufthansa, as well as many military and civilian flight training operations around the world, come to the same source for training airplanes. + Beechcraft airplanes are built for rugged service, low mainte- nance and a high degree of operational readiness whether or not they are originally built to be trainers. * Beech Aircraft builds a broad range of airplanes, many of which are ideally suited for specific BEECHCRAFT KING AIR C90 ‘BEECHCRAFT BARON ESS AFT DUCHESS, of the worlds best trainingairplanes have the same first name? training operations. + Beech has a worldwide service organization to provide the support so necessary for con- tinuous, efficient, profitable training operations. There are as many reasons for choosing a Beechcraft for training as there are individual training situations. But there is no reason more important than the Beecheraft worldwide reputation for quality. The Beechcraft tradition of Beechcraft Bonanza F33A. ‘Top Speed. 182 kts Cruise Speed. 168 kts Range—_________1,439 km Service Ceiling. Beechcraft Duchess. (Efficient twin-engine training) Top Speed, Cruise Speed Range Service Ceiling. Useful Load Seats Beechcraft Baron E55. (Muli-engine/instrument traines) “Top Speed. ‘Cruise Speed. Range. Service Ceiling Useful Load. Seats. Beechcraft King Air C90 jetprop. There are many other Beechcraft airplanes used daily in training operations around the world. The Beechcraft Skipper, Sundowner, 7:34C-1 Turbine Mentor and T44A jetprop King Air all perform remarkably well on training missions. Whatever your trainer needs may be contact your Beechcraft Distributor soon for more information. Or, if you prefer, write to: Beech Aircraft Corporation, 9799 East Central, Wichita, Kansas 67201, U.S. All inquiries will be answered promptly. EAGLE AIRCRAFT SERVICES, LTD. eavesden Aerodrome Watford WO2 7BY, England Phone: (9273) 7961 1/7 (Garston, Herts) ate: EAGLESERY (Wat) VA WU ‘Telex: (851) 261502 (VIA WU)(Above and below left) The Type 246, Vickers private venture to G-4/31, nits original form as completed inthe early summer of 1935. Ths aircraft ‘Subsequentiy became the Type 281, \ aeroplane were curved in two directions, and on any such surface a geodesic could be drawn. Putting theory into practice required an act of faith on the part both of Rex Pierson, to whom Wallis now reported, and the Vickers directors most immediately concerned with aircraft development. It says much for the clarity with which ‘Wallis himself must have argued the case for geodetics that such support was forthcoming — notably from Sir Robert McLean, chairman of Vickers Aviation. Wallis was himself in ‘no doubt about the advantages of geodetic construction: of the Wellesley, which was the first of his designs fully to exploit the principle, he wrote “this method of aeroplane construction is the most important contribution to aircraft engineering since the completion of the first successful metal aircraft. For ‘example, it permits each wing to be hollow and entirely free from any kind of obstruction — the additional space thus gained can be utilised for extra tankage or other loads, and the ‘complete structure is one of extreme lightness combined with great strength and rigidity, thus making possible a range and load carrying capacity that has hitherto been considered unattainable”. In this same note, the system was referred to as the Vickers-Wallis “Geodetic” system, an “entirely new principle” in which “all parts of the structure are formed as ‘Beodetics in the streamline shape of the fuselage, and also in the curved profile of the wings”. Biplane versus monoplane The first aeroplane for which Wallis became responsible at Weybridge was the Vickers Type 207, an unprepossessing biplane to Specification M.1/30 which incorporated. some original structural techniques that also owed something to airship practice but were not geodetic. While construction of the Type 207 proceeded, the Weybridge design team turned its attention to another requirement, outlined in Specification PAGE 28 AIR INTERNATIONAL/JULY 1980 G.4/31, fora general-purpose aeroplane for service with RAF units overseas. The specification, intended to produce an aeroplane to replace the Vickers Vincent, stressed. the importance of such features as reliability, good forward view for the pilot, short take-off and landing and load-carrying ability. ‘Circulated in June, the specification attracted Widespread interest inthe industry and was to lead eventually to orders being placed for prototypes of three designs while six others were built as private ventures. Eventually, it was one of the private venture designs that was selected for production, as the Vickers Wellesley, wherein lay @ paradox, for the Air Ministry had selected the alternative Vickers biplane design to G.4/31 as one ofits official prototypes, had listed it as the best of the types evaluated and had actualy reached the point of placing a production contract for it Aircraft design in the early ‘thirties was still at the stage where biplane and monoplane could compete, at least on paper, for the same roe; there was no concensus of opinion favouring the monoplane and traditional support for the biplane was a long time a'dying. Pierson and his project team therefore played safe by proposing both biplane and monoplane solutions for G.4/31, the biplane and_one monoplane project having a Pegasus radial engine and a fixed, trousered main undercarriage while a second monoplane project featured a Kestrel liquid-cooled inline engine. The biplane found official favour and was ordered, as Type 253, in April 1932; its fuselage employed a rudimentary form of geodetic construction but the wing was pure pre-Walls. Convinced that avery much better aeroplane could be built as monoplane, Wallis obtained permission from Viekers’ Board ‘of Directors to proceed with the design of Type 246 to meet the G.4/31 specification requirements whilst also demonstrating the advantages of geodetic construction. ‘The fuselage of Type 246in fact closely resembled that ofthe ‘Type 253 biplane, in both profile and construction. The ‘geodetic wing was of dramatically high aspect ratio (885 to 1) and a retractable underearriage was now adopted, the main legs folding inwards (under manual power) to put the wheelsin the wing roots. With the same Pegasus ITIM3 engine as used in the biplane, the Vickers monoplane came out with alower tare weight and a better performanceiin all respects while carrying @ larger payload, Bearing the manufacturer's PV marking O-9, the Type 246 prototype first flew on 19 June 1935 at Brooklands (Weybridge), 10 months after the biplane; fight testing of both aireraft was in the hands of Capt “Mutt” Summers, company chief test pilot. By the time the monoplane first flew the biplane had already been evaluated by the A&AEE at Martlesham Heath, Both prototypes appeared in the New ‘Types Park at the RAF Display at Hendon in June 1935, but testing of the Type 246 received a set-back on 23 July, when the aircraft made a crash-landing as a result of damage to one of | the undercarriage legs during retraction. Meanwhile, the evaluation of other G.4/31 designs had been completed at the AGAEE and — although considerable interest had been ‘aroused by Westland’s PV monoplane up to the time it suffered a structural failure and crashed — the Vickers 253 had been offically endorsed as the design best able to meet the fequirement and a contract for 150 had been drawn up. ‘The accident suffered by the Type 246 delayed its submission to the ASAE for official handling trials, but the results produced in the first few weeks of flight testing could not easily be ignored by the Air Ministry, and aggressive campaigning by Vickers Aviation chairman Sir Robert McLean resulted in cancellation of the order for biplanes and a decision to purchase 96 of the monoplanes instead. News of this contract reached Vickers on 10 September 1935, while the prototype was still being rebuilt; at the same time, a contract was raised for purchase of the prototype itself and a specification was drawn up (22/35) to define the production slandard, The Air Ministry had now changed its views considerably since G.4/31 had first been issued, and had ‘dropped the general-purpose and torpedo-carrying provisions from the requirement; the Vickers monoplane was now being bought as a day or night bomber to hasten the re-equipment and expansion of the RAF's bombing force both at home and Before it was lown again following ts landing accident, the prototype was modified in several respects to bringiit closer to the production standard, in aceordance with Vickers Type 281 drawings. Noticeably, sliding covers were fitted over the previously open cockpits, a broader-chord rudder was fitted and the fairing round the tailwheel was simplified. An important but les obvious change was the use of hydraulics to retract the undercarriage, and a Pegasus X engine was installed, driving a fixed-pitch Fairey-Reed metal propeller (although, when it crashed, the prototype had been using an experimental variable-pitch propeller). Radio was fitted to Service requirements, with a large aerial mast just behind the front cockpit, and windows were included inthe Fuselage sides to give light in the cabin separating the two cockpits. There would have been space in the fuselage for an internal bomb- bay, but providing a large cut-out for this purpose was considered to be undesirable in view of the geodetic construction and as an alternative to externally-mounted bombs on the wings Vickers adopted bomb panniers — one under each wing — which were fabricated by Heston Aircraft and each carried up to 1,000 Ib (454 kg) of bombs internally. Flying again by early 1936, the prototype Type 281 was now given the RAF serial number K7556, and it was first assessed at the A&AEE in March of that year, by which time it carried an armament of one 0-303-in (7,7-mm) Browning in the starboard wing and a Vickers “K” gun in the rear cockpit, By mid."thirties standards, production of the Wellesley, as the new Vickers bomber was named, was a lengthy process, well over a year elapsing from the placing ofthe contract to the first flight of a production example, which took place on 30 January 1937, at Brooklands. Evolving suitable production techniques for the geodetic structure, and completing ‘exhaustive static tests to assure the RAF that the new form of, ‘construction was acceptable, accounted for the delay; but once started, production quickly got into stride and by March 1938, Vickers had delivered all 96 originally ordered plus a second batch of 80 that had been ordered in 1936. Production aircraft were powered, as standard, by the 925 hp Pegasus XX engine driving a de Havilland Hamilton Standard three-bladed two- position propeller; the first eight were built as Vickers Type 287s, after which some strengthening of the wing structure was introduced and production continued as Type 294s. One early production Wellesley was set aside for use as.a test-bed for the Bristol Hercules HE.IS sleeve-valve engine, the installation being covered by Vickers Type 289 drawings. Into service ‘The Wellesley I entered service as a day and night bombing aeroplane with No 76 (Bomber) Squadron at RAF Finningley where the unit was formed by spliting off No 7 Squadron's “B” Flight in April 1937. Subsequent deliveries during 1937 allowed Nos 148, 35, 77 and 207 squadrons to equip on the ‘new type, in that order, at homeand then Nos 14,45 and 223 in the Middle East. The use of the Wellesley by the home-based squadrons was never regarded as more than an interim ‘measure; the original G.4/31 specification had been concerned with an aircraft for overseas use and although the Wellesley had moved some way away from the G4/31 concept, its destiny was still to operate in the Middle East and Africa, By the time war broke out, all the home-based Wellesleys had ‘been withdrawn from front-line service; overseas, No 45 had also re-equipped, passing its Wellesleys on to No 47, as described later, One early production aircraft (the fifth, after serving briefly with Nos 76and 148 squadrons, was fitted with a Pegasus XVIII to clear tropical use and the strengthened ‘Type 294 wing. It was then fitted with a Pegasus XXII and a fuel jettisoning system as part of the work undertaken by Vickers for the RAF's Long Range Development Unit, The LRDU had been formed after the success achieved with the Fairey Long-Range Monoplane (AIR_INTERNATIONAL July 1977) and was headed by We Cr 0 R Gayford, who had been pilot of the Fairey LRM in 1933 when it covered 5,341 mls (8597 km) in 57 hr 25 min to set a new World Distance Record, As Barnes Wallis had earlier pointed out, it was a characteristic of geodetic construction that much more space ‘was available for fuel than in similar-sized aircraft of more conventional construction; just how right he was can be understood when it is realised that with only slight (Above) The prototype Wellesley, after modification as the Type 281 ‘and application of the serial K73S6. (Immediately below) The fourth production Wellesey (KI716). one of the eight completed 0 Type 287, "tandard, and (bottom) the 17th production Wellesley (K7739), PAGE 29‘modification the Wellesley bomber could be expected to set a new absolute World Record for distance in a straight line whereas the Fairey Monoplane four years earlier had to be designed and built specially for the purpose and had no direct ‘operational applications, To take advantage of the Wellesley’s inherent performance, the LRDU was set up in January 1938 at Upper Heyford, and five Wellesleys from the second 4, Staboarg navigation ake 2 Wing tp ang 2 Falun covered Fis ype 44 Alton contol § Gutor ming panel main spar 8 Wing fab covering 7 Nurinium ao leding fn) machine gun 13 Gunmusae ast tube 18 Boga eduction gentox ss 17 Eaton caecor rg 18 Townond engine coming (2: capacity 25 Pils ined gunsioht 436 Insrumont rane 29 Footboard 28 Rucdor peda bs 28 Mamesttont Simp al (ath capoey 20 Forwaed hislage ‘monocoque conauction 3) Ol cooier 432 Dowaward vision bomb: 52 Aluminium alloy rear cockpit 53 Flay gunner opoator’s ockpit canopy. open 54 Compass 58 Vicker K-1vpe 008-0 (G-temm) machine gan 156 Hoste gun mounting 5 Rew eeckot canopr ak 438 Engine toe conto! fang, 146 Contrl column handweot 58 Forced landing fares 37 Windseien panels 59 onal esd in 438 Pore sting coctitcanopy 80 Fuselage atic covering over 81 Tolaecopic aerel mat 38 Gockpa side hatch 220 Wing tachment ussloge 62 Marne caress tres bullRends 83 Staboorwtoione 4 Watortank 4 Ant ealor 422 Marmnance to! container 6s hor balance 45 Conopr at elasing 8 Starboard sloutor 4 Starbowrd spit ving edge 57 Elovator am fap. 63 Finconsructon 45 aa mart 9 Rudcer horn blanco 485 Upper Tongoron join. 170 Fate covered rudser 49) Ration containers and water constuction bones 171 Radar vim 2 48 Cabin sido window pane! 72 Talnavigation ight 43 Fal och pr 13 Foran hepa itt 50 Wit spare cols 74 Por evar conatuction 51 O/F atl containe, 78 Elewaor ao PAGE 30 AIR INTERNATIONAL/JULY 1880 production batch were assigned to it, while the fifth production Mk I, as noted, served as a test-bed for some of the special features, including the Pegasus XXII installation with Which it first flew at Filton, Bristol, on 21 January 1938, Carrying a service load and 1,000 Ib (454 kg) of bombs, the Wellesley had a range of about 2,500 mls (4023 km) under typical conditions. For the record attempt, the RAF was looking for almost three times ths distance; to achieve it, not only would more fuel have to be carried and special long-range Aying techniques be used; it also would be necessary to achieve the best possible figure for air miles per gallon by reducing drag wherever possible, and one of the most important modifications was the use of an NACA-type long-chord ‘coving, combined with @ new fairing on the front fuselage to rate with the cowling, ‘The Pegasus XXII was specially adapted to run on 100- octane lead-free fuel, using a higher compression ratio than the Mk XX. A Rotol constant- ‘speed propeller replaced the DH 95 fnner wing pana mann soa 103 Frone covered ateron 104 Beodate wing pane fremawont 195 Karon ge const 19? Wing tp consrscvon 108 Pon navigeton taht 108 Prot ee 490 Aluminio ato ‘ge ining 14, Tobia ar spar booms 1 Upper ongaron £3 Bottom ongeron 3 Battery 84 Radio racks 185 Arcriven emergency or 122 Retsetableonding tying 196 rating sara winch and lamps faves 113 Bom coors a7 Protas 118 Portbomb pannier 8 Reconnaissance camera 118 Bomb sromoge fou 250-15 £83 er gunners fldng nat esi artge Soe 150 Spare ammunition ume (227-49) Bombs each side aircraft alone for some 48 hrs, LA 118 Bomb hosting winches HF Forces 118 Stal fuel ane eapecty 8 imp gal (Ta) 1118 Outer win pan! spar joint 120 Girer sour eansnaction 125 Main undoearioge ‘mounting beam tworpitch standard unit and an engine-driven vacuum pump was added for instrument actuation. The propeller was hydraulically operated off the aircraft's standard system, anda new system was fited for actuation of the undercarriage, which was beefed up for the heavier weights of the long-range aircraft. The increased weight resulted primarily from the extra fue, capacity being inercased to 1,290 Imp gal (58641) from the normal maximum of 430 Imp gal (1 9551). An RAE ME IV three-axis autopilot was fitted, to relieve the pilot of some of the rigours of flying the Re he PILOT PRESS ance: Max speed, 228 mph (367 kh) at 19,680 (6000, ‘COPYRIGHT rm, 178 map 287 kh) a sea level cruising speed, 56 per cent DRAWING Provision was made for a third occupant to be carried, but the design of the Wellesley was such that dual controls could not easily be fitted, nor wasit feasible for pilots to change position during the fight. Sperry blind-flying instruments were fitted, together with gyro-horizon and gyro-compass. ‘A three-seat layout for the Wellesley had already been studied by Vickers as Type 402*, the RAF being interested in the possibility of operating the type with a separate navigator, rather than having the second crew-man double as gunner, “Design office numbers were shared berween 7 Vickers at Weybridge and Supermarine at ‘Southampton. the latter company ng ‘mumbers 300-399 inclusive. Thus, Type "Wd is closer in time tothe ear Wellesley variants than the rmumber sugges Vickers Wellesley I Specification Powered by: One Bristol Pepanis XX air-cooled radial engine satadat 615 bp for ake off and 925 bp anf neat 10.000 (3080 m). De Haviland (Hamaiton Standard) three cele nrer es TaN in Gl m) Fas capacity 288 In in four wing tanks and provision {or 1 inp gal GED sn two susary tanks Pertorm engine power, 180 mph 290 km/h) at 15,00 (4572); time to limb to 15,000 ft (4572 m), 178 min; service cel % (7772 my: range, 1220 mils} 963 km) at 180 mph (290 kab) a 1,000 R (4372 m) with 1,000 1b (454 kg) Bombs; max ran (o¥erload take-off), 2,880 mls (4638 km) at 138 mph (213 kh) 415,000 ft (4572 tm) with 1060 Ib (481 kp) bombs. ‘Weights: Empty, 6760 lb (366k); normal take-off, 11,048 1b (SOLD Kg) sorial take-off with desert equipment, 11/360 1b (5153 kg) max take-o, 12,500 Ib (S670 kp). Dimensions: Span, 741 in(22,74):length, 39 in (11,96): high TS fe 3Yin (67 ing area 585 a (54.8 mk earriage track 171. in (3,18 mn) lbedral, 2 deg 31 min. lation: Pilot and. gunser/bomb aime in individ) ‘cockpits with interconnection; later, third crew position in fuselage between cockpits for navigator radio operak “Armament: One fixed forward-fring Browning 0303- INC) machine pun in taroard wing with 7 rounds; ope Vickers 0303-n (7,7-mm) machine pun ‘on exible mount in rear cockpit, with 600 rounds, 122 Log ann doors 123 Pominanoree 124 Retraction sige sr 128 Shock stnarbers 126 Mainwheo! wail 127 Faclage/mein sper 14128 Uassing dg nose ibs 128 Alon contol rod PAGE 31navigator and bomb-aimer. A long, glazed canopy was also developed, running from the front cockpit to the rear cockpit, and was flown on one Wellesley that was used for fuel Jettisoning experiments; there is no evidence, however, that, x1 this was ever known as the Wellesley II, either officially or by Vickers, although it is often so identified in published references, ‘The five Wellesleys for the LRDU were modified in accordance with Type 292 drawings (while Type 291 covered the development of blind-ftying instruments in the Wellesley) ‘and were delivered to the unit in the second quarter of 1938, To ‘gain experience, Sqn Ldr R Kellett, the Unit's senior pilot, led ‘ four-plane formation from Cranwell to Ismailia, Egypt, carly ‘in July; the flight was airborne for 32 hrs and covered 4,300 mis (6920 km), goingas far as the Persian Gulf before turning back to Egypt. This flight gave cause for quiet confidence in the Wellesley’s ability to exceed the record of 6,306 mis (10 148 km) claimed by the Soviet Union for a flight from Moscow to ‘San Francisco, Final plans were made in preparation for the ‘attempt later in the year, and it was decided that the journey ‘would start from Ismailia and follow a Great Circle route to Australia. A special 1,200-yd (1 097-m) take-off strip was prepared at Ismailia, to cater for the 18,400 Ib (8 346 kg) take- off weight, nearly double the aircraft's normal operating weight ‘Three Wellesleys took off from Ismailia on $ November 1938, taking 45 minutes to reach their operating altitude of 10,000 f¢ 3 050 m) and then setting course across Saudi Arabia for India, the Dutch East Indies and Australia. The fight was again led by Sgn Lar Kellett, the other two aircraft being captained by Fit Lt H A V Hogan and Fit Lt A N Combe. Winds proved to be more adverse than favourable, but all three aircraft surpassed the Soviet record before the Wellesley flown by Fit Lt Hogan was forced to land at Kupang, Timor, to refuel before continuing to Australia. The other two Wellesleys, with dwindling fuel reserves, pressed on to make landfall at Darwin, where they landed at 04.00 hrs in the morning of 7 November, ust a few minutes more than 48 hrs after leaving Egypt. Between them, the two aircraft had only 61 Imp gal (2771) of fuel remaining in their tanks, but they had flowna distance of 7,157-7 mls (11 519 km) non-stop, setting a rocord that was destined to stand for eight years. (Above left) The sdeproie drawings depict top to bottom) the prototype Wellesley nits original form (1935): the prototype afer reconstruction as the Type 281 (1936); the thre-soat Type 402 Wellesley: the LRDF Type 292 Wellesley, and the Type 289 Wellesley Hercules test-bed. The general ‘arrangement drawing below depicis the standard Wellesley Mik PAGE 32 AIR INTERNATIONAL/JULY 1980 Above) The filth pro- duction ‘Wellesley (7717) utilised asa trials aircraft’ for’ the Long Range Develop iment Unit afer brie ser ‘ee with No 148 Squad. ron."Note NACAsype faniling” and. new front Juselage fairing. (Right) One of the Welleseys (E2637) assigned 10 the RDU. This paricalar ‘machine was the Back-up ‘ieeraft and didnot por Ueipate the Units long- letance fights. By the time the Wellesleys set this record, the war clouds were gathering over Europe and the achievement of the aircraft and its vindication of Wallis’ faith in geodetic construction received relatively scant recognition. Neverthe- less, the Wellesley had already served its purpose in laying the foundations on which the Wellington was being built and would, in the war that was soon to come, flourish Operational use ‘The outbreak of World War II in September 1939 found the Wellesley still in service as front-line equipment with only three squadrons — all based in the Middle East; No 14 ‘Squadron wasat Ismailia, Egypt, while Nos 47 and 223 were in the Sudan, the former at Khartoum, the latter at Summit, Not until June 1940, with Benito Mussolini’s declaration of war ‘between Italy and the Franco-British Allies on the evening of | the 10th, did any early possibility of active participation in ‘operations face these units, During the previous month, No 14 ‘Squadron had joined the other two in the Sudan, and was now based at Port Sudan airfield, while No 47 had moved to an airfield at Erkowit (renamed Carthago in July 1940). Together, the Wellesley squadrons formed the Advanced Striking Force of Air Commodore L H Slatter’s No 203 Group. While far from being the most modern of operational types, the Wellesleys were considered suitable for active service against the Italians in East Africa; indeed, they were atleast as up to date as most ofthe equipment of the Regia Aeronautica in the area — quite apart from which they were all that was available. Inline with the Royal Air Force’s policy of taking the war to the enemy whenever possible, there was no delay in getting the Wellesleys into action. On the morning of 1 June, eight Wellesleys of No 47 Squadron were offat dawn fora raid ‘on the Eritrean capital, Asmara, This first attack met no fighter opposition, but a lucky shot from the elderly anti- aireraft guns around the city’s airfield struck one of the bombers, which was last seen trailing smoke and failed to return; it had crashed in the mountains shortly after leaving the target; No 14 Squadron was also involved in this first day’s operations, but because of troubles experienced with the underwing bomb containers, its aircraft were delayed in their take-off until late in the afternoon. ‘The Italian East African empire was large and spread across wild territory, the towns and military installations being ‘widely separated and thinly garrisoned. Even the considerable range of the Wellesley was not sufficient to reach all targets — certainly in the further reaches of Ethiopia. The No203 Group bombers were therefore made responsible primarily for taking the war to Eritrea — particularly to the main Red Sea coast basesin the Massawa area —and to Northern Ethiopia. In this task they were joined by Blenheims based in Aden, Italian territory therefore forming the “meat in the sandwich” between the two main British base areas; Southern Ethiopia ‘was left to South African forces, operating from Kenya, Both the Sudan and Aden possessed a handful of Gloster Gladiator biplane fighters for base defence at this time, but none was available for escort to the bombers. For the early ‘months of the war the Wellesleys had to rely on their altitude performance, and the Blenheims on their speed, for escaping the attentions of Italian interceptors. These attributes were frequently to prove inadequate for coping with determined ‘opposition — and determined it was indeed to prove over Eritrea. The Regia Aeronautica personnel in East Africa included some of the most experienced and professional in the whole air force, and one of the units based here, the 412* Squadriglia CT, enjoyed the benefit of having been fully re- ‘equipped with Fiat CR 42 biplane fighters which were to prove ‘most formidable opponents for the RAF. Indeed, until the arrival of Hurricanes in relatively substantial numbers during, the early months of 1941, the Regia Aeronautica was to enjoy 2 sreater degree of success for the numbers employed than probably it did on any other front. This was despite a lack of, resupply facilities and reserves which was to become an increasingly severe problem as the weeks passed continued on page 49 PAGE 33Qos nem ier nto production igus that the design is no longer a “paper aeroplane”; but in this decade ofthe derivatives it is fair to ask, “How new is new?” For the de Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-8— formerly known as the Dash X and now being marketed as the Dash 8 — the answer is that itis a sizedrivative of an established design, the Dash 7. Genesis of the Dash 8 was a direct outgrowth of de Havilland’s perception of a market for 532/36-passenger pressurised. twin-turboprop STOL-capable iwansport to fil the gap between the unpressurised_19- passenger Twin Otter and the pressurised 50-passenger Dash 7. Thus itis one of numerous designs now being studied and, in some cases, built inthe same size category, but difers from ‘most others i having better STOL performance. “The Dash isa $Can| SOm (£58m) development programme that was announced rather coyly at the Commuter Airlines Association of America convention late last October in Florida although informal briefings to airlines on the then Dash X projet had been made atthe Paris Air Show in June 1979. Public announcement of the programme came at the annual meeting of the Air Transport Association of Canada carly in November in Toronto, when DHC president John Sandford explained that cashflow from Dash 7 sales would fund the new aircraft; and early in December a conference was held at Downsview, Ontario, by DHC to. which other Canadian companies were invited to consider taking part in the programme. Late in February 1980, another pices in the DHC-8/Dash X/ Dash 8 puzzle fll nto place when it was announced that the engine chosen for the new STOL transport was the 1,700-shp Pratt & Whitney Aircraft of Canada PTTA-2R (the 1,500-shp PTTA-I having already been selected by EMBRAER for the EMB-120 Brasilia, another ofthe new projects in the same size category), in preference to the General Eletrie CT7. PWAC and DHC signed an agreement forthe supply of 200 engines for the Dash 8. Then, on 2 April, came the big surprise when the Province of Ontario placed an order worth $Candm (€3:5m) for two Dash 8s (with spares) 10 be used by the norOntair consortium of small airlines (Austin Airways, On Ai, and Air Dale) serving 20 communities in the northern pari of the province. The order was small — as is usual for Small aislines — but then the first order for the Twin Otter (over 600 sold) was for a single aeroplane for the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests! The significance of the first order for the Dash 8 is that it was placed so soon after Programme go-ahead, nd that is the first time that de Havilland has received « government order before building and flying a new commercial aeroplane. Commenting on the order, Provincial Treasurer, Frank Miller explained the twofold purpose of the purchase. “While an improved transportation network in northern Ontario is a Priority of this government", he said, “we are also aware that PAGE 34 AIRINTERNATIONAL/JULY 1980 the aerospace industry is an important sector of our economy. It is a high-technology sector generating very significant ‘export earnings. It is important that the aerospace industry ‘continues to expand in Ontario. The de Havilland expansion itself could create about 3,000 new jobs and could lead to ‘export sales in excess of $Can3,000m (£1,154m). Through this, purchase of Dash 8 aircraft, we are enhancing norOntair’s service capability and at the same time providing key incentives to our aireraft-manufacturing industry. We are pleased to be the lead customer of the Dash Sand are confident that our purchase will inaugurate a successful export ‘campaign” ‘The norOniair system now uses eight Twin Otters to feed ‘mainline catriers and the Dash 8's 32/36-passenger capacity (four-abreast, 32-in (81,3-cm) pitch) is attractive with {increasing traffic since it will relieve congestion on some of the present Twin Otter routes. Also, the new aeroplane is more fuel-efficient and will cruise about $0 per cent faster. First flight of the Dash 8 is set for mid-1983 and first delivery to norOntair for July 1984, ‘A few days after the norOntair order was announced, de Havilland’s 4,600 employees were told that a new plant might bbe built for Dash 8 production and would employ about 1,500, apart from another 1,000 jobs at the main Downsview plant which is already being expanded for increased production of | the Dash 7, Twin Otter and Buffalo, Location of the new plant hhas yet to be decided. Dash 8 described ‘When first mooted as the Dash X, the new de Havilland twin- turboprop transport showed its close relationship with the Dash 7 in that it was essentially a short-fuselage derivative with two fewer engines. However, it differed visibly in having single main wheels retracting into fuselage-side fairings instead ‘of into engine nacelles, There were two reasons for this change = the engine was of different layout, and fuselage-mounted main wheels had shorter legs and so were lighter and cheaper. Whereas the PT6 engines ofthe Dash 7 have air intakes atthe rear and exhausts at the front, the PT7 has straight-through flow with a tailpipe, leaving no room for main wheels in the nacelle if the pipe is straight. So it was rational to design a (Above) The fist released ilusration ofthe Pratt & Whitney PT7A ‘turboprop. (Below) Thrce-wew drawing of the Dash 8. simple engine installation with short naccles and straight tailpipes, and to retract the wheels into fuselage Bulg. However, service experience withthe Dash 7 has confirmed how valuable the wide-trck main wheels ae for crosswind- landing — particularly when operating onto stub runways at major airports soit was no surprise to find that the Dash 8 4s ordered into production has been designed to have side- ‘enting tailpipes to leave room inthe nacelle for evin-wheel Iain undercarriage legs. Additonal weight of the longer main-gear legs is compensated for by absence of cross Sectional and wetted-aren drags ofthe fuselage-side firings and — no less important — commonality is maintained with Standard Dash 7 fuselage strutire ‘Aerodynamicilly the Dash 8 clearly owes much tis four- engined progenitor in thatit has a high wing and "Tal with tandem-slement rudder (features originated by de Havilland with the DHC-5 Buffalo). Beeause of the new engines, the nacelles arelonger than the Dash T'sand slimmer, andthe vin tverwing stovepipe exhausts have given way to nacelle-side vents under the wings. Unlike the fuselage, the wing is completely new and, apart from having smaller are, dies from that ofthe Dash 7 in having a rectangular eentre-section {nd tapered outer panels instead of straight taper from the Toots. Aso, dihedral is incorporated on the outer panels only instead of from the rots. The fuselage is basicaly that ofthe Dash 7 with about 15 (4,57 m) taken out, but the Dash 8 has ‘different nose that slopes down more sharply. There is trageage compartment aft of the Right deck Normal crew complement will be two pilots and one fight attendant PT7 development ‘The PT7 has a specific fuel consumption of 0-503, about 15 per cent better than for the PT6, and drives the propeller at 1,200 pm. The new engine features axial compressor stages, a two- stage centrifugal compressor, two-stage compressor turbine and two-stage power turbine. Power potential is from the ‘present 1,500-shp (PT7A-1) and 1,700-shp (PTTA-2R) up to at Teast 2,500 shp. Work on a demonstrator engine started officially in July 1979; a definitive gus-generator core will run in late 1980; and a power-turbine/gearbox assembly will be on test by March 1981. The PTT has an electronic fuel-control system for ease and precision of power setting that is so {important for steep-gradient STOL approaches, and a system to monitor engine condition for maintenance. Weight isabout 800 Ib (363 kg); the engine has a diameter of 22 in (55,9 em) compared with 19 in (48,3 em) for the PT6, but the PT7 is a litle shorter. ‘Acceptance of the Dash 8 and its success in service will be helped by the progressive adoption of three-dimensional area navigation GD RNAV) and microwave landing. systems (MLS) combined with the advantages of steep-gradient (7-5 dog for STOL instead of 3.0 deg for CTOL) take-off and final approach. Thus, like the Dash 7, the new DHC STOL transport will be able to use either stub runways at major airports, via otherwise unused approach airspace, or operate easily from small, local airstrips or specially equipped STOLports. With this versatility and its pedigree of being a ourth-generation turboprop STOL design, the Dash 8 should have a very rosy future.O) DAVID W H GODFREY De Havilland Dash 8 Special omer Pant Two Prat Whine Arf CaaPT7A2R | turboprop ea raed at 700 Sp for ake mec FAR Fare Stages non requirement Performance: Max crus spec, 300 mph, 260k (453 km) a SEoOn ead) sange wai PR fos rcres afl payond, God naat es (112 kn), FAR Part 35 take fd leat, 50001 (4) mns range wth IFR reserves 1200 mat es Welt ros weight, spprox 300 13.6 Dimentone: Spun 86 0 (5 ba leeh Tn Lin 1.6m eighth at (Arm whel wack 3894 8 (7.9) LIMINARY details have now been published of the commuter airliner that was the subject of an agreement signed in Stockholm on 25 January 1980 between Saab-Scania ‘AB and Fairchild Industries Inc, The aircraft is the first to be developed on a fully collaborative basis between a European and an American company. First flight is projected for late 1982 or easly 1983, with deliveries starting early 1984, With a circular cross-section fuselage and a cabin pressurised to a differential of 70 psi (0.49 kglem:), the new commuter airliner is being designed to @ combination of fil safe and safe-lif principles and with emphasis upon simplicity of systems, operation and maintenance. The wing, carries single-sltted flaps and the tricyeleunderearriage, all members of which retract forwards A choice of engine has yet to be made, from the available new generation of power plants in the 1,500-+ shp bracket, including te jointly-developed Garrett-Volvo TPES31-14, the Pratt & Whitney PITA and the General Electric CTT. “To market the new aircraft worldwide (except in. North America) the two manufacturers are setting up a jointly- ‘owned Swedish company, with sales office in Pars, and Alan R Bley, formerly president of Fokker-VFW International, has been appointed its chief executive. Fairchild will remain responsible for marketing in the USA. 0 Sua Fahd Conner Aline Speiication Roney Pao" geen apt he 0 ‘far Pua apc S81 US a 47 women Foran Mac sed 2964 (S00 itl ate ESRD ins anh cued a aS IRR Gu Mice tang sled wt seaen pe or comer pra, ou al 20a) Mapu Opting wht emp, 400 (600k plat Grieve py 01 . ER Tao nce owt Aon toe tak esac wate ono 0k mat undng nek Sosa ny Fino San 9} ns eng, 2990.19.89 im); height, 21 ft 8 in (6,61 m); undercarriage track, 22 ft 0 in etal ele SA Go screen oe S30 ener nen a ‘cedure ayes tia Cosa} paki fle | Shares cae, Sed pn Yo al ona ‘compartment volume, 225 cu ft (6,4 m’). PAGE 35A Mars X Nightjar at RAE Farnborough in 1922. Nightjars of No 203 Su, RAB. operated b the Middle Bast during the Chana crisis. GLOSTER MARS X NIGHTJAR UK Last of the derivatives of the Nighthawk, the Mars X Nightjar ‘was developed as a single-seat shipboard fighter, and featured 4230 hp Bentley B.R.2 nine-cylinder rotary engine, a special wide-track undercarriage incorporating arrester gear and an armament of two 0303-in (7,7-mm) synchronised Vickers guns. Although intended for naval use, the 22 Mars X Nightjar fighters resulting from the conversion of Nighthawk airframes by Gloucestershire Aircraft were delivered to the RAF, the first being delivered to the AEE Martlesham on 8 May 1922. ‘The Nightjar entered service in July 1922, but was withdrawn within two years. Max speed, 120 mph (193 km/h) at sea level, 10 mph (177 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3050 m). Time to 15,000 ft (4570 m), 23 min. Empty weight, 1,765 Ib (801 kg). Loaded ‘weight, 2,165 Ib (982 kg). Span, 280 in 8,53 m). Length, 18 ft 4 in (5,59 m). Height, 90 in (2,74 m). Wing area, 270 sq ft (25,08 m2). GLOSTER GREBE UK Essentially a single-seat fighter version of the lower-powered tandem two-seat Grouse trainer, the Grebe was flown in the summer of 1923 with a 350 hp Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar Il, three prototypes being built. The production model, known as the Grebe Il, was re-engined with a 400 hp Jaguar IV and, carrying an armament of two synchronised 0:303-in (7,7-mm) Vickers guns, entered RAF service in October 1923. Of wooden construction with fabric skinning, the Grebe Il The Grebe II (below) was the fst Gloster aeroplane produced in Substantial mumbers for RAF service. eee [ | | PAGE 36 AIR INTERNATIONAL/JULY 1980 ‘The frst production Grebe I his type entering RAF service October A BE% and omtining fits epee sal mid 1928 supplanted the Sopwith Snipe, 129 production examples being built during 1923-27, a small number ofthese being completed as tandem two-seat trainers, and the type remained in first-line RAF service until replaced by the Siskin mid-1928. One two- seat and two single-seat Grebe Is built against RAF contracts Were supplied to the New Zealand government in 1928. Max speed, 162 mph (261 km/h) at sea level. Time to 20,000 f (6095 1m), 24 min. Endurance, 3 hrs. Empty weight, 1,695 Ib (769 kg). Loaded weight, 2,538 lb (1 151 kg). Span, 29 it 4 in (8,93 m). Length, 201t3in (6,17m). Height, 9 t 3in (2,82m). Wingarea, 254 sq ft (23,60 m*), GLOSTER GAMECOCK UK In July 1924, Gloucestershire Aircraft began work on an improved Grebe single-seat fighter to specification 37/23 and intended for the 398 hp Bristol Jupiter IV nine-cylinder radial engine. Of wooden construction with fabric skinning and retaining the then-standard armament of two synchronised 0303-in(7,7-mm) Vickers guns, the prototype was delivered to Martlesham on 20 February’ 1925, and in the following ‘September an initial order was placed on behalf of the RAF for 30 Gamecock Is powered by the 425 hp Jupiter VI. In the event, a further 60 Gamecock Is were built for the RAF (1925- 27), one of these (unofficially known as the Gamecock III) at ‘one time flying with a lengthened fuselage, new and enlarged fin-and-rudder assembly and narrow-chord ailerons. A developed version, the Gamecock II, with a steel-tube upper The Gamecock I (below) was essentially an improved Grebe and 90 ‘production examples were supplied tothe RAE. (Above) A Gamecock I serving with No 43 Sqn, RAF, and (below) a Gamecock I in Finnish eric, (2 a wing centre section, narrow-chord ailerons and a larger rudder, appeared in 1928, and was adopted by Finland, two pattern aireraft and a manufacturing licence being acquired, Fifteen Gamecock IIs were built for the Finnish air arm 1929- 30 by the State Aircraft Factory (Valrion Lentokonenetehdas), ‘these having the lengthened fuselage tested earlier in the UK by the so-called Gamecock I1f and being powered initially by the 420 hp Gnome-Rhéne Jupiter (IV) 9Ab or 9Ak and later by the 480 hp Jupiter (IV) 9Ag. The last Gamecock Is were withdrawn from first-line RAF service mid-1931, Gamecock Us remaining first-line Finnish equipment until 1935. The following data relate to the Gamecock I. Max speed, 145 mph (233 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3050 m). Time to 10,000 fx (3050 m), 7-6 min, Endurance, 2S hrs, Empty weight, 1,930 1b (875 kg). Loaded weight, 2,742 Ib (1.244 kg). Span, 29 ¢ 9} in (9,08 m), Length, 19 8in (5,99 m), Height, 9ft 8in (2,94m). Wingarea, 264 sq (24,52 m*), GLOSTER GORCOCK UK Gloucestershire Aircrafts first military aircraft of all-metal construction was the third prototype Gorcock single-seat fighter resulting from @ May 1924 contract for three prototypes powered by the Napier Lion 12-cylinder water- cooled engine, the first two combining a steel fuselage with ‘wooden wings and the third having an al-stel structure. The first mixed-construction Gorcock was powered by a 450 hp geared Lion IV and was flown mid-1925, the second Gorcock having a $25 hp direct-drive Lion VIL. Engine difficulties prevented their delivery until 1927, together with the all-metal third Gorcock which had a Lion IV. All three aircraft carried the standard armament of twin synchronised 0:303-in (7,7- mm) Vickers guns and were used for research and develop- ‘ment flying, no production being ordered. Although 158 b (72 kg) heavier than the mixed-construction prototypes, the all- metal prototype, to which the following data refer, was 10 mph (16 kinjh) faster. Max speed, 174 mph (280 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1525 m), Time to 15,000 ft (4 570 m), 10-5 min. Endurance, 1-8 hrs. Empty weight, 2,422 1b (1.099 kg). Loaded weight, 3,337 Ib (1 514 kg). Span, 28 ft 6 in (8,69 m). Length, 26 fin (794m). Height, 10 t2in 3,12m). Wingarea, 250 sq ft (23,22 m) (Above) The second Gorcock with adirect-drive Lion VIII engine and ‘Gamecoek-syte tall unt, GLOSTER GUAN UK The Guan single-seat high-altitude fighter was intended primarily to test the application of turbo-supercharged {engines to fighters, and three prototypes were ordered at the beginning of 1925. Of mixed construction, with metal fuselage, wooden wings and fabric skinning, and provision for the standard twin synchronised 0'303-in (7,7-mm) Vickers gun armament, the Guan bore a close farmily resemblance to the Goreock, and the first prototype was completed in June 1926 with a geared 450 hp Napier Lion IV with an exhaust-driven turbo-supercharger below the propeller shaft. The second followed early in 1927 with a direct-drive 525 hp Lion VI and turbo-supercharger mounted above the propeller shaft Difficulties with the turbo-superchargers led to cancellation of the third prototype and abandonment of the development programme. The following data relate to the second Guan, Max speed, 175 mph (282 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4570m). Time to 20,000 ft (6095 m), 12-5 min, Empty weight, 2,972 1b (1 348 kg). Loaded weight, 3,803 Ib (1.725 kg). Span, 31 ft 10 in (9,70 ‘m), Length, 22[.0in (6,70 m). Height, 10 ft in (3,12m). Wing area, 298 sq ft (27,68 m*). (Above and below) The second prototype Guan with Lion VLengine asd turborsupercharger above the propeller shaft PAGE 37HA BOOPYXKEHMM COBETCKON ABMALIMM «IN SOVIET SERVICE-9 rests onthe fantal operating pad of Resta 7 class anti-submarine cruiser engaged in a shakedown Yoyage in 1967, and shortly afterwards aboard the more radical half-deck Moskva during its first passage through the Dardanelles, the Ka-25 has provided both backbone and rib cage of the Soviet shipboard ASW helicopter foree. Assigned Somewhat whimsically the reporting name Hormone in the west and product of the experimental design bureau headed Tor a quarter-century by the late Nikolai ich Kamov, this compact, relatively unsophisticated machine originated with a specication formulated in the late “fifties for a dedicated Shipboard anti-submarine warfare helicopter seen as a key element in a major shift in Soviet naval strategy In the mid-iftcs the Soviet Union had become aware of the high priority that the United States was assigning the Polaris missile-carrying submarine programme and had digested the unpalatable fact that, within the space of relatively few years, US submarines were likely to be capable of targeting key Soviet industrial and population centres from the Arctic, Norwegian and Mediterranean seas. This threat dictated a hurried shift towards anti-submarine warfare in naval strategy and the utmost urgency being attached to the creation of a new generation of ASW weapons and sensors, and the platforms, both seaborne and airborne, from which to operate them. Paralleing a massive naval design programme embracing several categories of new and specialised ASW vessels was a programme aimed at enhancing dramatically the ASW Capabilities ofthe Naval Air Force, or Voenno-morskovo Fiota (AVME), in both shore-based and seaborne operations. For very long-range maritime surveillance, Bear [Tu-95}, obsoles- cent in its intended strategic bombing re, provided an ideal ‘irborne platform and was therefore further developed (Tu- 142}, being restored to production for its new maritime tasks; the open-ocean ASW patrol category was fulled by May [Il 38), a derivative of the commercial I-18, and the near-zone [ASW task was catered for by Mail (Be-12}, all of which made their début in AV-MF service from the early, through the mid to the ate'sixtes. Butas important as any ofthese —and from some aspeets more so — was Hormone, the first relatively efficacious ASW helicopter tobe fielded by the AV-ME. Kamov's bureau had been responsible for the first Soviet ship-based helicopter, the Ka-I5, dubbed Hen under the [ASC reporting name system, which, adopted by the AV-MF in 1954, was a relatively primitive, rudimentariy-equipped two-seater eapable of carrying a small depth charge on a rack attached to each side ofthe fuselage but possessing no ASW Sensors. Built in relatively small numbers, Hen at least provided the Soviet Navy with some experience in the Shipboard operation of helicopters, and. it was hardly Surprising that, in 1988, the Kamov team, led by chief engineer Viadimir Barshevski, should have been assigned the task of developing a specialised turbine-powered shipboard ASW helicopter, the frst of three prototypes of which, flown late in 1960, was to be shown pubily forthe first time in July 1961, during the Soviet Aviation Day flypast over Tushino Airport, Moscow. KAMOV HORMONE PAGE 38 AIR INTERNATIONAL/JULY 1980 At the time of its début over Tushino, the new Kamov helicopter was assigned the reporting name Harp. Sporting mock-ups of airto-surface missiles on outrigger pylons and aerodynamic fairngs under nose and tailboom representing sensor housings, the helicopter conformed to the formula favoured by the Kamov bureau of superimposed counterrotating three-bladed rotors and a pod-and-boom fuselage configuration. Two turboshafts — which it was subsequently to transpire were of Glushenkov design — were mounted side by side above the cabin, forward ofthe rotor driveshaft, theseengines making, with the rotors, transmission snd auxiliaries, a singe self-coniained assembly designed for rapid removal and reinstallation. It was evident that the ‘Kamov bureau had aimed at maximum internal capacity with ‘minimum external dimensions and it was to become apparent that it had suooeeded inthis endeavour admirably. Tt would seem that the decision to proceed with series production ofthe Kamov ASW helicopter was taken in 1961- 2 asitis known that deliveries of pre-series machines to the AV-ME commenced late in 1966. Externally, the series model fered lite from the prototype demonstrated at Tushino apart from more angular vertical tail surfaces, the endl ‘components, unlike thos of the prototype, being toed inward, land a revised undercarriage. It is somewhat surprising, therefore, that the new reporting name of Hormone was bestowed on the production Ka-25. While Hormone and its ASW systems were being evolved, virtually all the larger ant- submarine vessels, or BPKs (Bolshoy protivo ladochny korabl), that had! been aid down in Soviet shipyards incorporated helicopter support facilites, with fantail operating pad and a hangar tailored to Hormone, the first Soviet Navy ship to feature such being the Kresta class ant- submarine eruiser — essentially an interim design pending construction of the improved Kresia I. Pads for temporary Hormone operation or re-arming and refuelling of the helicopter were introduced on a number of destroyers. Simultaneously, a pair of Moskva-lass.half-deck anti submarine cruisers specifically for operation of Hormone were being built, these each providing’ accommodation for 18 helicopters. Th parallel with development of the shipboard ASW helicopter, the Kamoy bureau evolved a commercial flying- crane Variant, the Ka-2SK, which, flown early in 1967, and displayed publicly atthe Paris Salon deAéronautique ofthat year, diflered essentially in having a detachable gondola in place of the undernose search radar installation and intended for occupancy by one of the two crew members during positioning and unloading of externally-slung cargoes. All ASW equipment was, of cours, deleted, and brochure figures indicated @ good payload-to-AUW ratio and respectable performance, bt the Ka-2SK apparently failed to find favour 4s further development and production were not pursued. ‘Kamov's Hormone possesses no direct western equivalent. Perhaps the closest comparable helicopter in the. West is ‘Aérospatiale’s SA 330 Puma, which, having some 20 per cent less empty equipped weight and enjoying almost twice the power, understandably offers appreciably higher performance nda beter payload-10-AUW ratio. Nevertheless, despite the less than desirable power offered by its paired Giushenkov turbeshafts and taking into account the conceptual age of Hormone and the stage. reached in Soviet rotorera development by the time ofits début, the performance ofthis helicopter is competent and it cores in compactness — within PAGE 39‘an overall length of marginally more than 32 f (9,75 m) it offers a cabin of sufficient capacity to accommodate up to 12 passengers when not occupied by search equipment, and (in Hormone-A) a weapons bay beneath the cabin floor housing ASW torpedoes, nuclear depth charges, or other stores, Structurally, Hormone has a conventional all-metal semi- ‘monocoque fuselage of pod-and-boom type, the Glushenkoy turboshafis — which, in late production examples, are reportedly of GTD-3BM type each rated at 990 shp — together with the main reduction gear, cil system, fuel filters, ‘cooling system, hydraulics and powered control system, being. ‘mounted as self-contained units above the main cabin and driving two three-bladed co-axial contra-rotating rotors of Sift 8in (15,74 m) diameter, the blades featuring automatic folding. The pilot and co-pilot are seated side-by-side on the flight deck to which access is provided by large aft-sliding doors. Fither two or three systems operators are normally housed in the main cabin immediately aft of the ight deck, this measuring 1211 in (3.95 m) by 4ft 11 in (1,50 m) by 4ft {in (1,25 m), entry and egress being via an aft-sliding door the port side to the rear of the main undercarriage bracing. ‘Tip-up seats for 12 pastengers may be provided along the cabin sides, and itis believed that a squad of eight fully-armed marines may be accommodated, although there has been no ‘evidence of the use of Hormone in the assault troop-carrying, role during amphibious exercises. ‘The non-retractable four-wheel undercarriage has wo castoring forward wheels and embodies pivoted rear legs ‘enabling their larger wheels to be raised about their wishbone supports in order to adopt a position in which they offer less interference to signals from the nose-mounted radar. An inflatable pontoon, together with its inflation bottles, may be attached to each leg to cater for emergency descent on water. Search radar is housed in an undernose radome possessing a diameter of about 4ft (1,25 m), and ASW equipment includes towed MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detection) gear, dunking sonar accommodated in a compartment atthe rear of the main cabin — reputedly inoperable at night or in adverse weather and an electro-optical sensor, but equipment obviously varies from one Hormone to another, some displaying an inverted flower pot-shaped fairing, with a transparent top, above the tailboom and others having a blister fairing built into the base of the central talfin, External racks may be fitted to the fuselage sides for cylindrical fuel tanks, flare and sonobuoy dispensers, and other stores, and there have been reports of small ai-to-surface “ire-and-forget” missles being mounted ‘on outrigger pylons. ASW version is identified in the west as Hormone- hhas been exported in small numbers to Syria, and elsewhere, and has been ordered by India, but there are several other variantsin service with the AV-MF, the ‘only one so far identified by application of a suffix to the reporting name being a special electronies version referred to as Hormone-B. Used for mid-course guidance of anti-ship missiles, this variant lacks the ventral weapons bay of Hormone-A, features a larger, more spherical nose radome, has a cylindrical radome beneath the rear of the main cabin, displays various additional antennae and is fitted with data Tink equipment. Possessing an empty weight of the order of 10,5001 (4765 kg) and a maximum take-off weight of 16,S001b (7484 kg), Hormone-A has a maximum speed of approximately 130 mph (209 km/h) and a normal cruise of 120 mph (193 km/h), range ‘on standard internal fuel being some 250 miles (400 km) increasing to about 400 miles (645 km) with external auxiliary tanks. Hovering ceiling at normal loaded weight (ISA) is 1,970 ft (600 m) and service ceiling is 11,000 ft (3355 m). By the late sixties, Hormone was firmly established in AV- MF service aboard the four Kresta [class eruisers and the two Moskva class half-deck helicopter carriers, the former accommodating one Hormone and the later 18 (usually 16 of the -A version and two -Bs), From the early to mid-'seventies Hormone was progressively deployed aboard the 10 Kresta II class cruisers as they entered service, followed by a half-dozen larger Kara class cruisers, each equipped with one Hormone, and, more recently, by the still larger ASW carrier cruisers of the Kiev class (each accommodating 27 Hormone-As and three Bs), two of which have joined the Soviet Fleet with a third working up. Production of Kamov’s ASW helicopter was reportedly phased out in 1975-76, after a run of some 450 ‘machines of which upwards of 275 currently remain in the AV- MF first-line inventory. Undeniably ageing, Hormone may be expected to give place to a more sophisticated, higher- performance shipboard ASW helicopter during the mid- “eighties, and, meantime, it may be assumed that its systems and weaponry have been and are being progressively upgraded. © Configurationally unique ‘among current service hel. ‘opters in having superimposed femtrasronating rotors, the Ki Sits currently the only Soviet Shipboard ASW helicopter AVEME service. Seon above fp and immediately lef nts Hlormone-d. version. this hel pier irexceptionaty compact Jor the capacity that it offers. The lying phorograph shows ‘eux jul tanks attached the fuselage sides and. both ‘photot illustrate the inverted omer pot-tspe housing above the taboo. we shrill whine of a turbine engine shatters the early ‘morning silence of a remote Canadian northern lake. A uniformed game conservation officer steps down to the right hhand loat ofthe shiny yellow de Havilland Turbo-Beaver that has just alighted. Beckoning the occupants of a red canvas- covered canoe to the aeroplane, the officer waits patiently While the canoeists apprehensively dip their way towards the floating aircraft. Fishing licences are produced and checked — all is in order. Moments later, the STOL aircraft is gone; the fishermen are left again to enjoy their private wilderness experience Ontario, one of Canada’s 10 provinces, has a unique fleet of aeroplanes operated — on duties such as this and many others — under the supervision of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Aviation and Fire Management Branch. Formed in 1924.as the Ontario Provincial Air Service (OPAS), the frst ‘aeroplanes were 13 Curtiss HS-2L flying boats procured from the US Navy. Registered G-CAOA to G-CAON, these boats ‘were the forerunners of numerous aircraft types to serve with the “Yellow Birds" in subsequent years. For the decade of the “eighties, a mixture of de Havilland Turbo-Beavers, Otters and Twin Otters, and a pair of, Beecheraft King Air 200s are on line. The raison détre of today’s provincial fleet is “aggressive fite suppression”, but forest fires do not ravage the resplendent coniferous and deciduous forests of Ontario at all times, Consequently, personnel and aircraft meet other flying needs ofthe Ministry, including the special requirements of the numerous branches, boards and commissions that make up a complex provincial government. ‘The pilots of the Ontario Provincial Air Service, as itis still called (albeit unofficially), are some of the most highly trained and experienced bush pilots in the world. Before being accepted on staff, the applicant requires bare minimums of 1,500 total flying hours, of which S00 must be on float- ‘equipped aircraft — standards which are higher than those of any major airline in Canada including the federal carrier, Air Canada, Most “rookies” joining the Service will have 3,000- 4,000 hours accumulated by working for commercial bush operators, thus acquiring an awareness of natural conditions necessary for survival in a harsh environment. Average age for new pilots slate twenties or early thirties, while average flying time for those already on permanent staif runs to over 7,000 hours ‘Once having been accepted, a rookie reports to head- quarters at Sault Ste Marie. There, despite his previous ‘experience, he will undergo thorough flying conversion, courses, administration, theory and survival training. Pilots, are restricted to proficiency on two types only. For each type, 15 hours of lying time is compulsory. One pilot, recently hired, already had 4,000 hours on Turbo- Beavers, but no exceptions, were made — he underwent exactly the same programme, During summer fire seasons, all the float aircraft are equipped for water bombing, water being carried in the floats. Consequently, the change for most new pilots involves. learning the techniques applicable to aerial fire fighting. Water loads carried on Turbo-Beavers and single-engined Otters are 140 US gal (5301) and 220 US gal (8381) respectively. This small amount of short-term retardant must be placed on target from very low level for effectiveness. Despite hazards associated with single-engined tree top operations, the Ministry, to date, has never had a fatality attributable to water bombing, although on several occasions miscellaneous items (x, poplar trees, hydro lines, etc) have accompanied aircraft back to base, (Once training courses have been completed, pilots have not seen the last of “school”. They will be required to return to Sault Ste Marie at least twice a year for re-training and ‘upgrading. In the field, they will have at least four route and proficiency checks (two per aircraft) per year. Policy also dictates that pilots may use an aireraft for practice at any time, providing it is not on specific duty. PAGE 41‘One of the OMNAR Turbo-Beavers (C-FOEV) on skis for winter ‘operations. It cru nih) in this confieration and am operat with After arriving on base, the new pilot, complete with smart ‘uniform and gold metal wings sil bearing the original OPAS crest of 1924, may move into government-supplied housing or purchase his own. Usually he will be on a six- to nine-month {temporary contract. Ifa permanent year-round vacancy exists, hemay be offered first opportunity to fil the position. Once on “classified staf, the pilot will have a one-year probationary period Fire hazards Today's fire centre system is an interlocking network of regional and district dispatch units that provide information and data for decision making and resource allocation. It is he MNR pilots receive daily assignments, When the hazard index (ie, fire potential) of the forests is high, all other duties come to a halt, and it is “fire only” for the aircraft, much to the chagrin of other government depart ments. The Yellow Birds are considered essential in all phases Of forest fires, from detection to suppression to mop-up. The water bombing aircraft are utility machines that do far more than deliver water. Frequently, Turbo-Beavers, being light and swift, supple- ‘ment the contracted aerial detection aeroplanes to check out “smokes” (fre towers have not been in service for observation {in Ontario since 1972). Usually, locating a blaze is not difficult iff smoke is thick enough, but the problem lies in pinpointing exact locations so that ground crews can walk to the site. The Ministry of Natural Resources has “fire management” to which a plastic gridded overlay is applied. The size of the blaze, intensity, distance from water and best access, are radioed back to the nearest participating fire centre. Otters and Twin Otters are kept on Red Alert, ie, required to be airborne within minutes. The standard fire fighting ground unit is a totally mobile five-man crew and equipment. The de Havilland single Otter can legally carry such a load with the added advantage of converting immediately to a water bomber after the men are on site. Occasionally fires will be a considerable distance from shorelines, calling for a cargo drop through the belly hatch of Otters and Turbo-Beavers; sometimes fire hose is free-dropped, although current Ministry policy does not encourage this procedure Northern Ontario often has multiple blazes reported, ‘especially after thunderstorms roll through the hinterlands ‘Commonly, several water dropping aircraft will work the same fire. The Ministry usually has several heavy water bombers, eg, Cansos, Douglas A-26s or Canadair CL-215s, on contract at designated air bases. With the variances in speeds, restricted Visibiites in smoke and hazardous terrain, the danger of mid- air collisions is obvious. Such situations call for the use of “Bird Dogs” — high-flying Turbo-Beavers that serve as flying command posts to expedite an orderly flow of traffic to and NR Aviation and Fire Management Branch, and were completely cerial survey daring thes fit year of service, ¢) C-FOPI sone of the service's three Twin Otters, photographed at Sioux Lookout ‘ramps under their ow power for routine maintenance. Bel = Funder Ba’ (Photos. Robert Sr during “fre flap”. Whe ow) One ofthe unsuccessful PAGE 43from a fire. They also assist in co-ordinating movements between air attack and ground unit crews. To reduce cockpit ‘work load for the bombers, they warn of any potential hazards such as cheekos (standing dead timber — impossible to see in ‘smoke conditions). Precise judgement and absolute control are for both “Bird Dog” and bomber aireraft. After sre brought under control and normal operations resume, the Yellow Birds will continue to perform their routine non-fire duties. Winter operation The arctic-like winter climate of northern Ontario raises problems in the utilisation ofa year-round fleet of aeroplanes. Many of the Yellow Birds return to Sault Ste Marie hangars for scheduled overhauls at this time of year, but permanent air bases will have specific aircraft assigned to them. Kenora, in the northwest, has had one Turbo-Beaver and one Otter every winter for the past three years, but many bases will have their ‘complement reduced by one. ‘The turbine engine is admirably suited for cold climate. The MNR has few hangar facilities in the north; consequently aeroplanes are operated from the proverbial snow bank. Plug- ins, wing covers, tal covers and engine tents are applied every night before the aircraft is “put to bed”. In the morning, the PT6A turboprops of Turbo-Beavers or Twin Otters require little more than 10 minute warm-ups before take-off The single-engined Otter, with its huge R-340 radial engine, is another matter, however. In the pioneering days of the OPAS, it was normal procedure to drain oil onto the snow or ice where it solidified instantly; then it was picked up and plopped into a pail in which it was heated overnight in preparation for being returned warm to the engine in the ‘morning. Today’s piston bush aircraft have things somewhat sier. Besides heavy engine and wing covers, the aircraft are luted” iethe ol is injected or mixed with gasoline to prevent coagulation in gelid weather. Prior to flight, “burn-off” necessary — the engine must berun foraslong.as90 minutes to boil away theinjected gasoline. Ithe process is rushed and the pilot takes-off, the oil is discharged outside through breather tubes with obvious results, Itis hardly a pleasant task for the engineer or pilot who must sit ina cold aireraft, butt i in fact far less tedious than draining oil every night. Anyone flying over the far northern reaches of Canada’ white wilderness, with its confusing mosaic of thousands of | lakes stretching unbroken to the horizon, would certainly think that here isa pilot’s paradise. Every surface a landing field, few restrictions in length and rarely a crosswind; but in winter there are unseen hazards waiting for the unwary and the inexperienced. Beneath snow surfaces, there may be hidden slush pools. Regardless of low outside temperatures, underneath the erusty layers of snow is an insulated layer of | water that may never freeze. When an aeroplane touches down and stops, it will probably become mired instantly in cold wet snow. Much digging will be required before a take-off path on (One ofthe original OPAS Curtiss HS-2Ls a Orient Bay. Timber baulks have been positioned to allow the Liberty engine 10 be removed for PAGE 44 AIR INTERNATIONAL/JULY 1880 solid ice can be cleared. There are techniques to be used when ‘operating in slush, but every year the snow shovel, standard equipment on any bushplane, is a frequently-used tool. The wind often packs snowdrifts into solid hummocks. When an aircraft ski strikes these obstacles, it can sometimes tear off an entire landing gear leg. White-out landings during overcast are common. In airline or cloud flying, an aircraft will descend until visual contact is ‘made with the surface, then the pilot will use outside references toland, In the dreaded white-out, however, the basicapproach to a lake is visually made, then the pilot goes to the instruments, feeling his way down. In conditions of unbroken snow cover on the surface and overcast sky above; it is impossible to distinguish height above the landing surface. If the snow is soft, itis even difficult quite often to tell when the aircraft has landed. ‘The largest user ofthe Yellow Birds throughout the year is the Ontario government's Fish and Wildlife Branch. Summer or winter, they are responsible for a large proportion of fying hours spent in aerial game law enforcement or animal census, Moose survey, considered an essential part of wildlife management programmes, is an annual event in northern Ontario, Both Turbo-Beavers and Otters are used during prime survey months of January or February. Selected plots are flown low level ina search for animal tracks. Once any sign ‘of game is spotted, the aircraft will circle while its crew of ‘observers and the pilot search the forests. Almost without exception, the low-level manoeuvring associated with aerial survey results in plenty of airsickness for those observers so unfortunate as to ride as animal counters. Aerial census is not confined to moose or caribou, however. During autumn, immediately after the deciduous trees lining the watercourses have dropped their leaves, beaver population surveys are conducted. How does one count a small rodent such as a beaver from the air? Experienced conservation officers search for fresh cuttingsand new lodge construction to determine the number of live or dead beaver houses within a designated trapline area, Much care is taken in the ‘management of the beaver in Canada, for the livelihood of ‘many native trappers depends on this small creature that so attracted first European setilers to carly Canada and its prosperous fur trade. Lake surveys are scheduled during winter or summer. In the winter, biologists are transported from lake to lake — usually with Turbo-Beavers fitted with a ski/wheel combination landing gear — where water samples are removed for future analysis. In the summer, these surveys are more complicated and take farlonger, the Otter being used to airlift survey teams ‘with camping gear and equipment as well as a boat or canoe carried externally on strong tubular racks. ‘Timber surveys ‘The nature of some tasks has changed litte since the creation of the OPAS. Formed initially to assess the so called “unlimited” natural wealth of timber in the province, the Service with its Yellow Birds still plays an important réle today for the Ministry’s Timber Branch. Aerial photography is a speciality. Standard equipment on Turbo-Beavers and ‘Owersis a 1 -in (43-cm) belly-hatch to which a camera ean be ‘mounted. The pilot is required to hold his machine level, both Jaterally and longitudinally, while Timber personnel manipu- late the complicated camera equipment. After film processing, quick mosaic is constructed and any rough spots are re- flown. Most photo flights call for altitudes at or below 9,500 ft (2896 m). With photographs, timber stand volume can be ‘estimated — exactly the same work that was carried out from the nose cockpit ofthe original HS-2Ls. From the photos, the twisting contours and gravel deposits can also be recorded for construction of logging roads. Ground erews will later move into new cutting areas, well informed of the “lie of the land” ‘The heaviest timber harvesting is planned to take place in \winter months when bodies of water are frozen solid enough to support heavy vehicular traffic. Almost weekly, snowshoe equipped Timber Branch men and women are flown to the ‘woodlots, dropped off and picked up later at day’s end. This way the commercial logging companies are monitored closely to prevent overharvesting. Scattered throughout northern Ontario. are numerous Indian settlements peopled by Cree and Ojibway natives. ‘There are still many communities in which outdoor toilets and tipisare part ofa normal way of life. Usually, these settlements are quiet places, but occasionally violence erupts and crimes are committed. When such isthe case, it is hardly practical to fly an entire village of witnesses to southern courts. Judges, complete with attorneys, court reporters and policemen are therefore flown in, usually by a single or Twin Otter. Justice is ‘meted out quickly — and perhaps more fairly in consequence while the Yellow Bird sits waiting tied to a dock or parked ‘on the ice. The distances are long, and sometimes necessitate extra fuel stops being made in an area where, because of the transportation problem, fuel is tremendously expensive, but this is being alleviated by establishment of fuel caches for ‘exclusive use by MNR aeroplanes. ‘Keeping in touch with the native people isa time consuming and necessary task for representatives of the provincial government. In the south, highways nd secondary roads form 4 fine network of land transportation, but in the hinterlands, roads are few and poor and do little more than scratch the surface of vast wilderness areas. Ministry of Natural Resources aircraft, by virtue of their STOL ability, are able to provide excellent’ transportation to almost any location. Airstrips are being constructed in the north, but even so it will bbe many years before fast floatplanes become obsolete When Canada’s north country was first being conquered by the aeroplane, mercy flights created great headlines. Any follower of Canadian aviation history will know of dramatic ‘emergency aerial voyages into bush country. The story of Wop May and his dramatic flight 600 mls (966 km) north of Edmonton, Alberta, in mid-winter with a life-saving load of guards, bracings, tyre treads, all truly os Complete as one could wish. Completeness extends to the interior of the cockpit, which has virtually every notable feature reproduced and all can be seen through the very clear tanopy — there are instruments and other features moulded integrally with the fuselage shells, in addition to all the separate items, prodiicing one ofthe best cockpit interiors we hhave seen in 1/48th scale Being a fighter-bomber, this variant of the ‘Mosquito has a sold nose, the cone being separate from the fuselage and embodying holes for the battery of20-mm cannon, which, too, forms separate part. The propellers have separate blades, spinners and backplates, while the exhaust clusters and flame shilds are also separately formed. Apart from theeannon, the FB Mk VI carried a quartet of 0303.n (7.7- ‘mm) machine guns, and eight rockets could be mounted beneath the wings, these being Jncluded in the it, ab are also a pai of S005 (@27-kg) bombs for underwing mounting as alternative ordnance to the rockets and Supplementing the two similar bombs which ‘were carried by the internal bomb-bay. Apart from the cockpit canopy, the transparencies are forthe gunsigh, the wingtip navigation lights and the landing lights. ‘The accompanying decal shet is accurate in register and colour, and offers markings for {wo different machines, one from No 143 Sadi, from the Banff Strike Wing, early "forty five, and the other from No 418 Sadn, RCAF, based at Middle Wallop in August 'orty-our, each scheme being detailed by a four-view rawing. Included in Airis Series 7, this isa superb kit doing full justice 10 a superb sicra A little Freneh vampirism De Havilland's Vampire was the second jet ‘ype to enter production for the RAF rng long and eventful career it was 10 ce serve with a wide variety of foreign air Forces, yeti has rarely attracted kit manuface turers asa subject, and the Vampire FB Mk 5, numerically the most common ofthe species, now appears for only the second time in any scale in an excellent 1/72nd seale rendering by Heller. ‘Mouldedn silver pasticand including three transparencies, this kit has total of 43 parts Which assemble precisely to make a most attractive model, The interior of the eockpi fmbodies all of the detail that one can ‘reasonably expect to find in so small a model, the underearriage i very finely formed and, in ct, there isa highly commendable delicacy about the moulding of the entre model. The taibooms are each formed in two halves, linked by the tailplane and joining up with the wings at their trailing edges, and the wings themselves mate neatly with the fuselage pod so that alignment is simple to. achieve ‘Awtention to fine detail is evidenced by such ltems as the mass balances on the elevator, Separate oleo calipers on the undercarriage Jegs, and separate air intakes forthe turbojet ‘The instrument panel is engraved and the surface detailing on all parts is very fine, this including interiors of doors. France's Armée de Air acquired a total of 67 Vampire FB Mk $5 and naturally one of these is featured by the decal sheet, this being an aircraft of EC 1/4 Lafayette in 1951, which is accompanied by markings for an aireraft of No 112 Sadn, RAF, operating with the 2nd TAF. The accompanying instruction leaflet and drawings are commendably clear. The UK, retail price of this kit is 95p, and Heller's Vampire FB Mk $s oon to be followed by a FFrench-built derivative, the Mistral Cent-cinquante and deux-cents-six France's Heller company i steadily widening the spectrum of kits in what is termed the “general aviation” category. and is gradually expanding its range of 1/S0th scale light aireraft and helicopters, the two latest ad> ditions being the Cessna 150 Commuter and the Bell 206 JetRanger. The Cessna 150 series of light monoplanes was in production for almost 20 years and manufactured in pro- digious numbers, yet it has never proved a popular subject with kit manufacturers and it IS refreshing, therefore, 10 see it finally receiving the acolade of very fine kit, while the JetRanger, which s receiving rather more attention from the Kit industry, is also PAGE 48 AIR INTERNATIONAL/JULY 1980 welcome, although both kits are somewhat pricey in the UK, withthe former at £290 and, the latter at £10. "The Cessna 130kitcomprises 4S parts which include six transparencies the remainder being ‘moulded in flawless white plastic with «nice Satin fish and fine surface detailing. The cabin interior ia delight, both to build and to behold, having a comfortably furnished appearance, and the undercarriage is elicatly formed, with the wheels revolving within the spats. The outer wing panels, each in upper and lower panels, are joined atthe entre by ‘panel forming the cabin roof and embodying {ho oval windows, and the wrap-around front and rear windows are very clear and display 3c inferior to advantage. A separate spinner altaches to the propeler which can then be ‘mate up into a subassembly with the nose fection of the engine cowling. Here, in eidentally, a small improvement ean be made by fitting short lengths of plastic dowel inside the cowling to represent the eylinders ofthe engine where visible through the ar intakes, "The decal sheet supplied with this kit must be one ofthe simplest and smallest ever issued, for it consists of just the black registration letters F-WZDR twice, The trim colour has to beapplied by the modeller over the basic white, ‘large drawing illustrating the design. This kit is expensive perhaps, but the quality is undoubtedly there. "The Bell 206 JetRanger is today probably the bestknown and most widely used of all small commercial helicopters, most European, examples having been builtin Italy by Agusta Heller's kt of this chopper isin every way as 00d as that of the Cessna 150 and is moulded In the same kind of plastic with its pleasant finish — 44 white ‘and seven. transparent component parts in this ease. The cabin, interior is again very well furnished, and the rotor head assembly and skid-ype under- carriage are most realistic. The main rotor consists of eight separate parts, The assembly fof this well-planned model presents 0 problems, and the colour scheme selected — black and white with grey rotor blades — of the Swedish Police is not too dificult to reproduce. The decal shet is little more extensive than that accompanying the Cessna Kit, offering rousin white and an ornate blue and-yellow badge for application to each side Of the Foselage, ps the registration SE-HPD. For the sides ofthe tilboor, A welcome old-timer The BE2c, one of the most widely used of Allied observation aircraft of WW I, is so obvious a subject fr a plastic kit that it seems almost ineredble that no major kit manufac turer has yet ventured to produce it leaving it toone of the more adventurous ofthe vacuum- formed kit producers, Formaplane, to fil the sap. Because of the delicacy of construction and fragility of appearance of these early warplanes, it has always been our contention that they are more suited to 1/48th scale than to 1/72nd, but the vac-forming process has enabled Formaplane to achieve, in the smaller scale, satisfying lightness to the components, the wings and tal surfaces being formed a¢ single thicknesses of plastic. This method is ‘fective but renders the fixing of the centre Section and interplane struts a delicate and patience-consuming task. Presumably in deference to the need to maintain a neat underside tothe singlesurface BH donee vars . “ bao of the World oy Bi ~ Airports of the World JOHN STROUD Airports of the World is the first attempt to record in one place the main features of the world's airports together with details of their histories and development. This work covers in detail the 216 airports known to have handled more than one million passengers annually in 1975-77; gives the essential facts for a further 202 which handled more than a quarter of a million but less than @ million, and for 25 Soviet and seven Chinese airports for, which passenger figures are not available; and, in an appendix, brief details of 45 international. airports handling between 100,000 and 250,000 passengers annually. This total of 435 airports covers 117 countries. Runway layouts are shown for 170 of the airports and there are some 250 photographs. £19-95 Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War RENE J. FRANCILLON This comprehensive analysis of the Japanese aircraft industry has now been revised and incorporates newly available information. There are 452 photographs and 93 3eview drawings. £1250 The British Bomber since 1914 The third revised edition of this standard work records the design and development of over 560 different types over a period of sixty-five years. Over 300 photographs and 103 S.view drawings. £850 write for a complete list of books in print to PUTNAM 9 Bow Street, London WC2E 7AL NEW! THE JET AGE: 40 Years of det Aviation Edited by WALTER S. BOYNE and DONALD S. LOPEZ Issued on the 40th anniversary of jet propulsion, this series of essays was given as lectures at a sposium held last September at the National ir and Space Museum. The principal articles are ‘written by the participants and inventors themselves — Whittle, von Ohain, Yeager, Halaby —and provide a flavour not obtainable in articles van by second or thd band aes Both civilian and military history of jet propulsion are covered. “tis difficult to imagine anyone bein disappointed by the rich material in this volume; at its soft cover price it constitutes a real bargain — AIR INTERNATIONAL 190 pages, 200 b & w illus. Cloth ISBN 087474 248 x £1095, Paper ISBN 0 87484 247 1 £495 Smithsonian Institution Press 3 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8LU Telephone: 01-240 0856 ¥ Thisisfor you The Royal Air Forces Association—a worldwide organisation offering welfare and social services to serving and mafiersan jhousing are 2 a a eae” 5, Association on behalf of on Sea, while the for at Sussexdown, in Sussexe On the social side, RAFA Clubs, _—; many with comprehensive recreational o enjoy the frier ip and pleasure which were, and are,so mucha part of mene noose RAFA hasto offer. If you are” not yet one of them you are invited to apply for membership details to the Secretary-General, Central ‘Headquarters, 43 Grove Park Road, London W4 3RU_ PAGE vROYAL AIR FORCE YEARBOOK 1980 Interested in the Royal Air Force? Inits aircraft? ... its history?... its squadrons?... Its all in the new 1980 ROYAL AIR FORCE YEARBOOK! CONTENTS THE RAF LOOKS AHEAD John Fricker examines the re-equipment plans of the Royal Air Force as itenters a new decade wing panel, the representation ofthe ribs on the top surface has been made very fine indeed tnd anything more than one coat of paint will fobicure them! Very narrow strips of 600-in thick plastic sheet, brushed into place with Tiguid ‘cement, will give more prominent impression of the ‘ribs. The instructions accompanying the kit recommend thatthe ib Tines be lightly scored on the undersides ofthe ‘wings and tailplane The engraved details on the fuselage mouldings are well done Ta the usual Formaplane style, the parts are neatly grouped on one sheet of plastic, and ‘very component is there, although some of the smaller items, prineipally the struts are pethaps beter formed from sheet of from ip, The Kit includes lengths of two different

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