May 27, 1957

View Full Issue Table of Contents

SAFETY

Rapid Descent Caused Viscount to Lose Propeller, Board Finds

A Trans-Canada Air Lines Viscount, CF-TGR, lost No. 4 propeller and a portion of the forward part of the No. 4 engine about 1353,1 July 9, 1956, while in flight near Flat Rock, Michigan. One propeller blade passed through the fuselage, killing one and injuring 5 of the 31 passengers.

AIR TRANSPORT

Boac Will Order 35 Vickers Turbojets

London—British Overseas Airways Corp. will order 35 Vickers mediumrange jet airliners, dampening prospects for two other British civil jet design proposals. BOAC’s order for the new four-jet Vickers VC-10 is valued at $190 million including initial spares.

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Low Lead Time, Lightness Mark J79

Evendale, Ohio—General Electric’s Mach 2-plus J79 turbojet, which provides considerably more than 15,000 lb. of thrust with afterburning at a total engine weight of less than 3,200 lb., took only 3½ years to develop. It embodies a previously unused mechanical principle in its compressor —the variable stator—which GE credits with great weight reduction while allowing high compression ratios and efficient operation over the whole operating range of the engine.

By J. S. Butz7 min

FINANCIAL

Usaf Contracts

Following is a list of unclassified contracts for $25,000 and over as released by Air Force Contracting Offices: WARNER ROBINS AMA, USAF, Robins AFB, Ga. Curtiss-Wright Corp., Caldwell, N. J., repair and/or modification of propeller assys and spare blades, models C 634S-C and C 735S-A, (two contracts), $597,300 and $369,110.

EQUIPMENT

Supersonic Escape Capsule Completed

Denver—Supersonic escape capsule prototype has been completed by Stanley Aviation under a contract with USAF’s Wright Air Development Center. Although designed specifically for Convair’s F-102A delta wing fighter, the capsule can be adapted to a number of Air Force or Navy supersonic fighters, according to the company.

By George Christian6 min

AVIONICS

Autopilot Error in Big Jets Plagued Boeing Engineers

Los Angeles—Unique problem of providing an autopilot for KC-135, B-52 and B-47 multi-jet aircraft necessitated an extensive program with the B-47, a Boeing Airplane Co. engineer told Radio and Technical Commission for Aeronautics and Institute of Radio Engineers members at their recent symposium here.

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING

Open Cycle Takes Nuclear Engine Lead

New York—USAF has put half of the $200 million left of its aircraft nuclear propulsion funding for next year into General Electric’s open cycle X211 project, handled by GE’s Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Department, Evendale, Ohio. Pratt & Whitney has had its share cut due to complications, probably heat transfer, met in its closed cycle nuclear engine project, designated J91.

By Robert Cushman5 min

May 201957

June 31957

May 27, 1957

May 27, 1957

Data Gives Estimate for Winged Missile Performance

By K. D. Wood16 min