Air Pictorial 1957-02
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WAR BOOTY EGYPTIAN MiG-15 was spotted on marshland by an Israeli pilot flying a Piper PA-18 Super Cub over northern Sinai. The above exclusive photograph, taken by the I.D.F./A.F., shows the undamaged MiG-15 resting on flat-bottomed boats on the 5-ft.-deep Sirbon salt lake prior to shipment via El Arish to Haifa on board S.S. Rimon. The MiG-15 pilot had been outmanoeuvred by a lone I.D.F./A.F. pilot flying a Mystere IVA.
French Air Force Invaders which are becoming increasingly common these days, originate, like this example ex-44-35953, at U.S. storage depots. Many more are yet to come and the numbers carried are evidently the "last three" of the original U.S.A.F. serial.
New blue-and-white markings of the United Nations replace the familiar Maple Leaf insigne of the R.C.A.F. on this C-119F (22133) of No. 436 Squadron Air Transport Command.
Air Charter's Skymaster G-AOFW, reported at London Airport during the month, is normally employed on the Southend to Cyprus trooping run along with confreres G-ANYB and G-AOXK.
DUTCH MASTER. First of three fine air-to-air studies by Sergeant Kraak of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (via G. H. Kamphuis of 's-Gravenhage, Holland) shows a Fokker-built Hawker Hunter F. Mk. 4 of the Leeuwarden A.F.B. Last August four of these Hunters led by
Major Folmer won the first annual air force aerobatic competition held at Scesterberg A.F.B.
Martin B-57 modified for testing Boeing Bomarc missile components. Nose measures 17 ft. and simulates that of Bomarc.
First of three prototypes of the Stroukoff YC-134a for U.S.A.F. Note extra end plate fins, multi-wheel main undercarriage and different shaped fin. Boundary layer control is fitted.
SUPERSONIC RAMJET. The Leduc 022, France's supersonic ramjet-development aircraft, made its first flight on 26th December. The Atar turbojet accelerates the 022 to the speed at which the ramjet can be started.
The one and only Wiweko WEL-1 monoplane. the first Indonesian-designed aeroplane.
ONE OF THE SKYBIRDS' team of four Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks from the Volkel A.F.B. which was narrowly beaten to first place in the aerobatic contest by the Hunters. This F-84F bears the serial 52-7191 / F-140 on the fin . A quartet of F-84G Thunderjets called "The Red Noses" also participated .
S-JET TORNADO E.T.B. This photograph indicates that for the first time the reconnaissance version of the North American B-45 Tornado is being used as a jet-engine test-bed. This JRB-45C-NA (BE-017; U.S.A.F. 48-017) is on loan to Pratt & Whitney for testing the massive J75 twin-spool turbojet - which with reheat is estimated to be in the 21,000 lb . s.t. class. The J75 powers the Lockheed U-2, Republic F-105 Thunderchief, North American F-107, and the production Martin P6M-1 SeaMaster. The pod-mounted J75 retracts into the bomb bay when not in operation. This is the first photograph to illustrate the rear fuselage air brakes.
TORNADO E.T.B. A JB-45C-NA is used at the U.S.A.F. Flight Test Centre, Edwards A.F.B., California, for flight evaluation of jet engines. In this case the B-45C-NA mounts a Pratt & Whitney J57 under the bomb bay. B-45Cs have also been used to flight test the Westinghouse J40, General Electric J47 and J73, and the Allison J71 turbojets - all in similar pod mountings.
CONVAIR'S XB-58 Hustler, the world's first supersonic medium bomber, is essentially a carrier vehicle, all war loads being carried in a detachable pod which is attached to the underside or the fuselage.
Handley Page W.10, G-EBMM of Imperial Airways.
FANAERO-CHILE CHINCOL. The Chincol is the first Chilean-designed aeroplane to go into mass-production, a contract for fifty having been placed last year by the Chilean air force.
The tandem-seat, fully aerobatic, primary trainer Chincol has classic lines and falls into the same category as the de Havilland D.H.C 1 Chipmunk. Unlike the Chipmunk the Chincol is of mixed wood and metal construction and has 60 per cent greater power by utilising a 215-h.p. Continental O-470-11 air-cooled flat-six engine. The all-up weight is some 300 lb. greater and the increased power does not give a better all-round performance except in service ceiling. In this respect the Chincol matches the Chipmunk's 15,800 ft. with 17,716 ft. Part of the additional a.u.w. results from increased fuel tankage which gives the Chincol 404 miles to the Chipmunk's 280 miles.
The prototype Chincol, first flown on 14th December 1955, was constructed by hand at the "El Bosque" military base in Santiago. The truncated Fanaero-Chile stems from the full title of Fabrica Nacional de Aeronaves (National Aircraft Factory).
A Chilean wood called Manio is used for the cantilever wing and parts of the welded-steel fuselage . Although not so equipped on the prototype, the production Chincol will have split flaps. The undercarriage is fixed. One of the important features of this Chilean trainer is the generous cockpit canopy which permits excellent all-round vision.
Many thanks to R. D. B. Archer of California, U.S.A., for these photographs of F-86 Sabres in Colombian and South African Air Forces markings.
The new Vickers Viscount 800
KAMOV KA-15. One of the remarkable features of Soviet post-war aeronautical design has been the rapid development of certain categories of rotary wing aircraft. Each year the Soviet Aviation Day celebrations at Tushino aerodrome near Moscow witness an increasing accent on the helicopter. The grass field is only suitable for light aircraft and it must be admitted that the helicopter provides a spectacle in utility unequalled by other types which require plenty of room for take-off and manoeuvre .
The newest Russian rotary wing type to make its appearance is the Kamov Ka-15, the prototype of which is finished in dark green with the white-outlined five-pointed Red Star on the twin fins and on the fuselage behind the generous cabin transparencies .
Although a casual glance at the Kamov Ka-15 suggests that it might well be a Russian adaptation of the American Gyrodyne G.C.A.2C six-seater (one 450-h.p. Pratt & Whitney R-985-B4 radial) the known development history proves otherwise.
Ing. Nikolai I. Kamov has been chief of a helicopter design bureau for some years - specialising in co-axial, counter-rotating blade assemblies . His assistant, Ing. Vladimir Barchevskii wrote an account last year, extracts of which have recently been published in our contemporary aviation magazine, Paris - in the marathon series "L'Aviation Sovietique" by Jacques Marmain.
Ing . Barchevskii states that Kamov started to design one-man helicopters in 1946. The first example appeared in I947 - the Ka-8 being a simple open framework platform supported by twin flotation bags and with the co-axial rotor head (two sets of three blades each) being driven by a 27-h.p. M-76 two-cylinder motor cycle engine. A single outrigged tail surface provided lateral control. This type has hitherto been incorrectly labelled the K-17 and presumed to have been powered by a 17-h.p. Aubier-Dunne engine. From the 1948 experiments was evolved the Ka-10 Irkutianin, still with a single fin but powered by a 55-h.p. AI-4G. At the 1952 Tushino Display was shown the same type but fitted with twin outrigged tail surfaces. This is called the Ka-10M . The Ka-10M has a maximum speed of 72 m.p.h. and a maximum duration of two hours. Loaded weight is 827 lb. and rotor diameter 20 ft. 1 in.
Thus the new Ka-15 is seen to be a logical step forward . No data has yet been released but the cabin appears to seat four or five persons. The powerplant may be the same as the production series of MiI' Mi-1, and Mi-3 (N.A.T.O.: "Hare"), namely, the 575-h.p. AI-26V (V-Vertolet-rotary wing aircraft) piston radial. Despite the absence of a tail rotor - unnecessary with co-axial rotor assemblies - the Ka-15 has a tail-supporting skid.
Оба Х-2 были потеряны в катастрофах. Самолет 46-674 стал единственным, прошедшим летные испытания. Капитан М. Апт погиб при катапультировании, ему не удалось выбраться из аварийно-спасательной капсулы.
BEFORE THE LAST FLIGHT. This is one of the last photographs obtained before the remarkable Bell X-2 (46-674) was totally destroyed on 27th September 1956. killing its U.S.A.F. test pilot. Note the wool tufts along the fuselage used to record air flow variations during varying flight attitudes.
SHORT S.C.1. One of the fascinations for the student of aeronautical design is the diversity of approaches to the development of the theme. The V.T.O.L. (Vertical Take-off and Landing) project entrusted by the Ministry of Supply to Short Brothers and Harland Ltd . of Belfast, N. Ireland, is an excellent example of this observation.
At the present time no one can be absolutely certain that the form of V.T.O.L. as conceived by Short Brothers will take its place as accepted design practice or whether it will give ground to the Jet Flap. The Jet Flap was first conceived by Dr. B. Stratford in 1952 at the National Gas Turbine Establishment at Pyestock .
The Short S.C.1 owes its origin to the pioneering work undertaken by Rolls-Royce with the Nene-powered "Flying Bedstead", officially described as the Thrust Measuring Rig. But unlike the Rolls-Royce T.M.R. the Short S.C.I gives the appearance of being a "conventional" delta wing aircraft . A closer examination of the accompanying provisional three-view will indicate some of the unconventional attributes of the S.C.1.
At this early date no data has been made available for publication but the adoption of a small, lightweight ejector seat of the type installed in the Folland Gnat jet fighter has been mentioned.
Revealed for the first time, too, is the existence of the Rolls-Royce RB.10B turbojet which may be related to the RB.93 Soar of 1952. The Soar is an axial turbojet developing some 1,810-Ib. s.t. with the low power/weight ratio of 6.77:1.
The Short S.C.1 is said to have five RB.10Bs - four amidships for V.T.O.L. and a fifth in the conventional tail position. There are four additional outlets, fore and aft and under each wingtip to permit lateral and longitudinal control during critical slow-speed manoeuvring. Examination of the single photograph released on 18th December indicates that the nosewheel-type undercarriage is non-retracting.
Many months may pass before the Short S.C.1 is permitted anything more than tentative ground cushion hovering. Controlled free flight is obviously intended and sufficient wing area is provided to allow for gliding flight . There is so much new territory to be explored and the advances may be slow because the concept is revolutionary. One thing is certain . Without adequate silencing it is unlikely that commercial developments of this theme will be popular with the residents and neighbours of our airports .
The sensational arrival at Croydon of the Cierva C.30A, G-AHTZ, recalls that although a civil machine pre-war, its previous identity has been lost through the passage of time. Impressed as HM581, it has been made serviceable by cannibalising C.30A, G-ACUU, which by coincidence was impressed as HM580. G-AHTZ has a current certificate of airworthiness valid till next June.
With port Rotol four-blade airscrew feathered, this unusually long-nosed (radar) Vickers Valetta (WJ465) comes in to land.
Ultra low-pressure , barrel-shaped "Terra-Tires" devised by The Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, are experimentally fitted to this Convair-Stinson Voyager (N9270K).
Extra windows, white top decking and French Army Air Force markings have been added to this Breguet Br.761-S Deux-Ponts, believed to be ex-F-WASK . The central fin shape differs from that of the Air France Br.763 Provences.
Hitherto unpublished, a U.S.A.F./M.A.T.S.' TB-25N-30-NC pilot checkout trainer. Note the M.A.T.S. insigne in front of the fuselage "buzz number", BD-864 (U.S.A.F. serial O-48:6864) .
Armed variant of the final production B-25J, sporting the insignie of the Air Forces of the United States of Venezuela.
New version of the SAAB J 32 Lansen - the J 32B has been designed for all-weather and night interception duties. Main differences between the 32A and 32B are the larger afterburner outlet and the new camouflage.
Lockheed Altair
FIAT-BUILT SABRE (F-86K) is one of four from the Soesterberg A.F.B. which took part in the aerobatic competition mentioned above. Fiat is delivering 76 to Holland, 80 to Belgium, 50 to Italy, 226 to West Germany and 126 to France. Serial above fin flash is 54-1278. Armament (two gun ports on intake just visible) consists of four 20-mm. cannon .
Not "invasion stripes", but black-and-white identification stripes for Norwegian Army anti-aircraft gunners to observe when this A/S Sorfly-Kjevik-based - Miles M.65 Gemini tows flak banner targets . The missing registration letter is "H" - LN-TAH was built at Woodley in 1947 (c/n. 6528, G-AKKA).
Douglas C-124 Globemaster with a Pratt & Whitney T-57 turboprop installed in the nose. Clam-shell loading doors were removed and nose structure strengthened.
Trecker Aircraft Corp. (formerly Royal Aircraft Corpn. of Milwaukee, Wis.) is now marketing a modified version of the P-136L amphibian under the name Royal Gull Super 200.
LETOV L-8 (TOM-8). A smart-looking basic trainer is the Czechoslovak Letov L.8 which made its debut on 26th April last year. The Letov L.8 is also known as the TOM-8 after the bureau design chief Ing. Karel Tomas.
The Czech air force plans to replace the standard piston-engine basic trainer (the Letov-built C.2B - the Czech version of the wartime Arado Ar 96B) with the Letov L.8.
Ing. Tomas has designed the L.8 round the six-cylinder, horizontally opposed, piston, 235-h .p. M-208-C which is also known as the Praga Doris C. The Doris C is a development of the 220-h.p. (3,000 r.p.m .) Doris B flat-six . The two-blade metal airscrew (V.421) has variable pitch and the hub is covered by a pointed metal spinner. A curious feature of the powerplant is the engine cowling with a triple entry intake - the centre one being the carburettor air intake.
Of all-metal construction the Letov L.8 has a cantilever wing with split metal flaps, which like the nosewheel-type retractable undercarriage, is electrically operated by way of a 1,500-watt generator situated in the fuselage.
The Letov L.8 is fully aerobatic and is equipped for night flying and instrument training . Light bombs can be mounted under each wing. Gunnery instruction is also catered for.
The prototype Letov L.8 is finished in light grey and has the Czech air force markings on the wings and the fin/rudder. On each side of the rear fuselage is the large serial number "K-01" painted in black.
Pan American Airways "Hi-Per DC-3" Clipper climbs steeply away on its two 1.450-h.p. Pratt & Whitney R-2000-D5 engines.
Found in the scrap dump of Paul Mantz in California, VP-AAM is a D.H.60M Metal Moth with a difference. Licence-built at Lowell, Massachusetts in 1929, c/n. 118, its true registration was NC.917M . The Gold Coast markings are patently fictitious as only five such registrations have been allotted to date, the most recent, VP-AAE, to Chrislea Super Ace (c /n. 109) ex-G-AKVA .