DUKE’S VISIT TO AIRFIELD

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27047, 23 May 1953, Page 2

DUKE’S VISIT TO AIRFIELD

New Supersonic Plane Demonstrated (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, May 21. The Duke of Edinburgh, who lately learned to fly, saw Britain’* supersonic fighter, the Avon-engined Hawker Hunter, flown about 870 miles an hour at a height of between 20 and 30 feet by the test pilot, Neville Duke when he visited Dunsfold Airfield and unveiled the first Hawker Hunter to come off the production line. Squadron Leader Duke first caused a double supersonic “bang” by diving about 40,000 feet. He then flew low over the runway before climbing steeply and disappearing into the clouds at 5000 feet within a matter of seconds.

While at Dunsfold the Duke inspected a Tomtit, built in 1929. a Hart day bomber (1932), a Hurricane (1937) a Tempest (1943), a Seafury (1C45) a Seahawk (1951). and the Plos—an experimental aircraft from which the Hunter was developed. Frank Murphy, of Wellington, the chief production, test pilot, flew a Seahawk, a jet aircraft now in service with the Royal’Navy, to show the Duke its paces. He also flew slowly over the airfield with the flaps down and the hook trailing as though coming into land on an aircraft-carrier ?u? re i.L up i tl ? e Duke had a chat with the New Zealander, and was 10 h » " hit «

Earlier m the day, Murphv had made a supersonic flight in the Sapphire Hunter—the latest edition of the »st’h e e rn X With ** R ' A F - by