The aircraft depicted above is referred to as the Type 152, and rumour has it that this machine will be built for the East German airline. It may also be offered for export. Developed from the post-war Type 150 designed in Russia by Professor B. C. Baade, who is now head of development research in Eastern Germany, the Type 152 has had the engines doubled up, a new transport fuselage built and the tailplane lowered from the upper fin to the fuselage . Precise figures are not available for the 152, but the 150 was supposed to span 82 ft., with a length of 103 ft ., and with an all-up weight of about 110,000 lb., and payload of 11,000 lb., fly at 620 m.p.h. on 22,000-lb. total thrust . It seems unlikely that the speed and payload figures given are complementary.

Several readers have reported spotting this all-white Handley Page Victor, the first production model serialled XA921. The second prototype is now finished blue overall. Unconfirmed reports state that Valiants, now in service with Bomber Command, will be painted a glossy white overall.

First photograph showing the modified Avro 707a, flying with compound sweep on the leading edge of the wing. This machine was used to test the qualities of the Avro Vulcan's new wing which also has a modified leading edge. This particular 707 is now in Australia and is being used for boundary layer research.

Cessna's Model 620, claimed to be the world 's first four-engine, pressurised executive transport, made its first flight on 11th August. Powered by four GSO-526-A Continental engines, each developing 320 h.p., the 620 will cruise at 235 m.p.h. and have a maximum speed of 269 m.p.h. Other details are: Span 55 ft., length 41 ft. 6 in ., and height 16 ft. 6 in.

Prototype of the Pasotti F.9 Sparviero (Sparrowhawk) made its first flight on July 27th. A four-seater, the F.9. was designed by S. Frati and developed from the twin-engined F.6 Airone. It is powered by a 240-h.p. Hirth engine, but later versions will have the 260-h.p. Lycoming.

The XL-14 Maya, built by the Philippine Institute of Science and Technology, has been flying for some three years. It was built in order to test local materials and investigate the possibilities of aircraft construction in the Philippine Republic . Power is provided by a 100h.p. Lycoming O-235-2 driving a two-bladed wooden airscrew. Top speed is 115 m.p.h. and range 300 miles. Service ceiling is 12,500 ft.

Last year a Gloster Meteor Mk. 8 (YZ517) was modified as a flying test-bed for the Armstrong Siddeley Screamer rocket engine. The Screamer and liquid-oxygen tank are mounted in a streamlined nacelle under the belly of the Meteor, while the water and fuel (wide-cut gasoline) are carried in separate compartments in a specially designed main tank (polished metal section on photograph shows its position) in the fuselage. The exhaust cone and combustion chamber are directed ten degrees downwards from the longitudinal axis of the aircraft and to guard against overheating, particularly during ground running of the Screamer, a stainless steel heat shield is fitted just behind the engine's exhaust.

News of an interesting ultra-light comes from R. A. Wakeham of Victoria, Australia. The aircraft is named Air Tourer and was designed by H. Millicer, chief aerodynamacist of the Government Aircraft Factory. The Air Tourer, which is expected to fly sometime this year, won the Royal Aero Club design competition for an ultra-light aircraft held in 1953.