This Year’s Farnborough A Rocket Display

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28371, 2 September 1957, Page 11

This Year’s Farn borough A Rocket Display

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 31. The “rocket” Farnborough will open on Monday. Fourteen missiles will be on view when the air show opens with what is claimed to be the largest collection of missiles ever seen. Much 'of the last 10 years’ topsecret work on guided weapons has come to fruition and many details revealed in the last year. For the first time, a substantial part of the exhibition will be devotdd to these robot weapons. Two anti-aircraft missiles, the Bristol Bloodhound" and the English Electric Thunderbird, will be seen on their launchers.

Two fighter-borne missiles, the Fairey Fireflash and the de Havilland Firestreak, will be peen on aircraft and in the static exhibition. A missile designed to be fired from the heaving decks of ships, the Armstrong-Whitworth Seaslug, will also be on view. Last Fighter

Since the last Farnborough display, Britain’s new defence plan has halted the development of manned fighters for the Royal Air Force. It is, therefore, probable that the crowds will be seeing Britain’s last fighter, the 1000 mile-an-hour English Electric P-1. Two versions will be flown—the. P-1A and P-18. The P r lß is the version that has been ordered for the R.A.F. It recently exceeded the world speed record of 1132 miles an hour, and is designed to reach 1500 miles an hour. , It will fly with its armament of two Firestreak missiles, which home to the target by following the heat from the enemy aircraft engines.

The official holder of the World speed record, the Fairey Delta 2 research aircraft, will show its paces.

To complete the 1000 mile-an-hour group, the rocket-powered Saunders-Roe SR-53 is expected to make its public debut. A Kite of climb of nearly 10 miles a minute and a top speed of more

than 1500 miles an hour is claimed for the SR-53, the first British aircraft to use a “mixed” powerplant of rocket and jet. Record-Making Rockets Another Canberra test bed will carry Napier double Scorpion rockets. This is a machine that last Wednesday set up an absolute height record for aeroplanes of 70,000 feet, subject to confirmation.

Six of the aircraft taking part have never been seen at Farnborough. Apart from the P-1B and the SR-53, these are the Westland Wessex turbine-powered helicopter, Aviation Traders’ Accountant, an “Executive” transport powered by two turbines, the Miles M-100 student jet-trainer, and the HDM-105 light transport. The R.A.F. is again making a big contribution. More than 50 Bomber Command Valiants ana Canberras will use Farnborougn as a target for exercises.

The pattern of vapour trails from such a large force should make a striking spectacle if the weather is suitable. Simultaneously, but at a lower level, three four-jet V bombers— Victor, Vulcan and Valiant—will fly past followed by 27 Hunters and 27 Javelins of Fighter Command.

The Royal Navy will taKe part for the first time with Gannets, Seahawks and Whirlwind helicopters which will perform what is described as a “square dance” on public days only. Delegates from about 120 countries are expected and it is thought that last year’s total of 6500 overseas visitors will be equalled. No representatives from Iron Curtain countries have been invited this year in accordance with the Society of British 'Aircraft Constructors* policy of regarding Farnborough as primarily a shop window inviting only those countries with whom the industry is allowed to do business.

Last year’s visit by Russians was exceptional and at the specific request of the Government.