Two members of the Grumman "cat" family of U.S. Navy fighters fly with dive brakes extended. Left is the F9F-6 Cougar; right is the former F9F-9 Tiger, which has now been re-designated the F11F.

The Boeing YC-97J, one of two Stratofreighters which will serve as test beds for the new Pratt & Whitney T34 turboprop engine is shown on its maiden flight from Boeing FIeld on 19th April, 1955

Production model for the U.S.N. of the private venture Model L-245 jet trainer is known as the T2V-1. The wingtip tank at the top belongs to a standard TV-2 (T-33A in the U.S.A.F.).

The first of the Blackburn Beverley Transports on order for R.A.F. transport Command. A contract for considerably more than twenty-four has been placed.

CURTISS SC-1 SEAHAWK. Designed to supersede the Kingfisher as a fleet spotter particularly for the Pacific theatre, the Curtiss SC-1 Seahawk flew for the first time in February 1944, and was in use by the U.S. Navy late in the same year. Powered by a Wright R-1820 radial and armed with two .5-in. machine guns, the SC-1 had a span of 41 ft.; length 36 ft. 5in.; and a top speed of 313 m.p.h . at 28,600 ft.

ROCKET-CARRYING LIBERATOR. Among the interesting weapons experimentals of the last war was the Liberator GR.5 with rocket sponsons just forward of the bomb-bay. The machine depicted is FL927/G with two separate ASV installations and an under-wing Leigh light. The Liberator's rockets were intended for use against surfaced submarines, the A.A. fire of which at one time prevented aircraft getting near enough for the kill. Parallel experiments were those with various 57-mm. gun installations.

R.W.D.8. An attractive but little-known, pre-war Polish parasol staggered-wing monoplane, the Polish R.W.D.8 two-seat elementary trainer first appeared in 1932. It was also built under licence in Estonia and Yugoslavia. Originally powered by a Czech 110-h.p. Waiter Junior 4-1 in-line, the two delivered to Aviron Ltd., Israel (VQ-PAG and VQ-APK) were fitted with the more powerful 130-h.p. DH. Gipsy Major in-line. The Aviron colour scheme was silver with blue on cowl, forward fuselage, struts and lettering.
The following figures relate to the Walter-engined version: span 36 ft. ; length 26 ft. 3 in .; height 7 ft. 6 in.; empty weight 616 lb.; loaded weight 1,659 lb.; max. speed 105 m.p.h.; cruising 87 m.p.h.;
endurance 3 hours .

The first of the Lockheed L-1049G Super-Constellations on order for the re-born German airline Lufthansa. Registration is D-ALAK.

Все топливо на борту Auster AOP.Mk 9 размещалось в мягком баке в корневой части правого крыла.
Production Auster A.O.P. Mk.9s are now reaching R.A.F. squadrons. This is the first prototype.

VICKERS VAGABOND. A light tandem two-seat biplane, the Vickers Vagabond was built to compete in the Lympne light aeroplane trials. As Vickers were very busy at the time (1923), and factory space was at a premium, they sub-contracted the construction of the Vagabond to Avro's at Hamble - the machine being finished off and covered at Weybridge. The engine was a Blackburn three-cylinder radial, although the Cherub or a similar unit could also be fitted . Span was 28 ft., length 21 ft. 10 in.; height 9 ft. 5 in.; wing area 224 sq. ft. ; gross weight 887 lb .; and speed range 33-77 m.p.h.

THE Transcendental Model 1-G Convertiplane is now being flight-tested in the Г.S. It has rotors mounted on nacelles at the wingtips, which tilt forward after take-off to propel the Convertiplane as an ordinary fixed-wing aircraft. The manufacturers say that the Model 1-G recently flew with the rotor assemblies tilted forward 35 degrees, a new mark in convertiplane development and a big step towards the goal of 84 degrees full forward tilt necessary to convert the aircraft from helicopter to aeroplane while in flight. The makers also report that the Model 1-G has flown without vibration at 3,500 ft., and has reached a speed of 115 m.p.h. as a helicopter.
The Model 1-G is powered by a 160h.p. Lycoming piston engine. Wing span is 21 ft.; rotor diameters 17 ft.

HUNTER TRAINER. A two-seat (side-by-side) trainer version of the Hawker Hunter has been announced. It is due to fly soon. This drawing reveals that two cannon are fitted externally on the fuselage, and that the usual Hunter air brake has been removed. The overall
length is at 48 ft. 10! ins., 3 ft. It ins. longer than the fighter version.