NEW PLANE TESTED
U.K. Use For Research (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BRISTOL. April 14 Britain’s 2000 m.p.h. stainless steel research plane, the Bristol TlBB, made its maiden flfflgfhit from Filton Airport today. Powered by two De Havill®nd Gyron Junior engines, the TlBB will be the fastest aircraft of conventional type in the world. It will be used to examine the problems posed by the heat barrier at 2000 miles an hour—three to four times the speed of sound, depending on height. Its stainless steel skin will take temperatures up to 500 degrees centigrade. The aircraft, piloted by Mr Godfrey Auty, the Bristol Aircraft Company’s chief test pilot, landed after 22 minutes.
The TlBB is refrigerated to protect the pilot and instruments.
At three times the speed of sound, even in the deep cold of the upper atmosphere, the plane will be subject to temperatures of up to 2§o degrees centigrade. Special transparent materials have been developed for the cockpit—ordinary glass would break under the conditions of heating, cooling and pressure. The average speed of the aircraft on. its maiden flight was 380 miles an hour. The test pilot said later that the flight was “extremely successful.’’
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CI, Issue 29799, 16 April 1962, Page 15
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193NEW PLANE TESTED Press, Volume CI, Issue 29799, 16 April 1962, Page 15
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