December 12, 1955

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SAFETY

Nose Gear Difficulty Seen as Probable Cause of Nwa Crash

This report is a revision of the Board’s original accident investigation report released September 15, 1952. In accordance with the Board’s policy of keeping accident investigations open for consideration of new evidence, continuing study was carried out by the Bureau of Safety Investigation subsequent to release of the original report.

MANAGEMENT

Allison Moves to Boost Its Airline Sales

Indianapolis — Strong performance and maintenance guarantees, an active technical development program and top-level corporation backing are bolstering the commercial turboprop engine and propeller sales drive of the Allison division of General Motors Corp.

By Robert Hotz9 min

AVIONICS

North American Gears for Avionics Drive

Downey, Calif.—The established avionics industry, already concerned about airframe manufacturers’ inroads into the avionics field, can look forward to even more aggressive competition from North American Aviation. This is the most significant implication of NAA’s recent move to combine its Electro-Mechanical Engineering and its E-M Manufacturing Departments into a single integrated, semi-autonomous unit—the Autonetics Division (AW Nov. 28, p. 15).

By Philip J. Klass7 min

Letters

Noiseless Saucers? The recent USAF announcement that Avro has a contract to build what looks like a “flying saucer” (AW, Oct. 31, 1955, p. 14) overlooked one very interesting aspect of this aircraft, related to the Coanda effect on which its operation is based.

EQUIPMENT

Stratos to Make Compact, Rotary Positive-displacement Compressor

Bayshore, L. I., N. Y.—A rotary, positive-displacement compressor lighter and smaller than comparable machines now in production will be manufactured by the Stratos Division of Fairchild Engine and Airplane Corp. for use as airborne freon refrigeration systems.

By George L. Christian6 min

EQUIPMENT

Also on the Market

Explosion-proof panelboards with dust-tight construction function either as load centers or panelboards, provide circuit protection on wiring systems up to 120 v. All terminal blocks arc located in the upper housing which is available in two sizes.

AVIONICS

New Avionic Products

Semiconductors Fused-junction transistors, germanium NPN Types HA5001, HA5002 and HA5003, are medium-power, high-gain, low-noise units which reportedly exhibit negligible “alpha crowding effect,” making them suitable for use in high-current, medium-power amplifiers.

MANAGEMENT

Washington Roundup

Tipton to Head ATA? Stuart G. Tipton, general counsel of the Air Transport Assn., is expected to be named president of ATA Dec. 15 following the abrupt resignation of Harold “Pete” Pearson after less than six months in office. Twice previously mentioned for the top ATA post, Tipton, for the first time, is an active candidate to head the trade association of scheduled airlines.

By Washington staff5 min

December 51955

MID-DECEMBER1955

December 12, 1955

December 12, 1955