London—Christchurch In 3.2 Hours

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30287, 13 November 1963, Page 17

London —Christchurch In 3.2 Hours

(N .Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, November 12. Active research for a Mach 5—3750-miles-an-hour—aircraft is under way in Britain. Such a speed would be necessary to fly non-stop to the Antipodes, Dr Barnes Wallis said yesterday.

Dr. Wallis, who developed the Dambuster bomb, said Britain’s unique geographical position would ultimately give her command of the air as effective as that won in the past on sea. When Britain had an aircraft capable of flying to Australia non-stop she would then benefit from her position of air centrality, he said. Dr. Wallis, who was addressing leading engineers and designers at the opening of an engineering exhibition in London, is engaged on research and development for manned flight at speeds of more than five times the speed of sound. He said he was confident that aim would ultimately be reached TFX Purchase Dr. Wallis quoted a speech by the Australian Prime Minister (whom he did not name’, who said that for most of the world's advances in social and political matters and in science and en-

gineering one need not look far beyond Britain. “A pity he didn’t apply those words to the TSR2 and the TFX,” commented Dr. Wallis. “It would be perfectly safe to say that the TFX had its genesis in this country." Dr. Wallis is now head aircraft designer for Vickers Armstrong Service Machines Current problems and the main lines along which the Royal Air Force should develop in the next decade and beyond were reviewed at the first conference between the new Chief of Air Staff, New Zealander Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Elworthy, and Royal Air Force command-ers-in-chief, says "The Times” aeronautical correspondent Important new aircraft are under development for bomber, fighter and transport commands. The V-bomber force will be reinforced by the muchdiscussed TSR2 supersonic, tactical, strike, reconnais-

sance aircraft and strategic bomber. Although its initial lowaltitude flight testing will be done in Australia’s empty spaces. R.A.F. crew training will need to be conducted nearer home. It will not be possible over Britain, because of the noise and sonic boom nuisance it would present. Fighter Command is soon to receive a new version of the Lightning supersonic allweather interceptor, Mark 111, which has the advanced Redtop air-to-air missile. Further ahead, the command’s Hunter will be replaced by the Hawker P 1154 supersonic vertical take-off and landing strike fighter to be developed jointly for the R.A.F. and the Royal Navy. Transport Command, already reinforced by Comet IV’s and Britannias, would have 10 100-ton Short Belfast turbo-prop aircraft and 11 Vickers VCIO rear-engined jet transports. The first Belfast is expected to fly before the end of the year. Delivery is almost completed of 56 Whitworth Gloster Argosy tactical transports now deployed in Britain, Aden, and the Far East. Thirty military freighter versions of the Avro 748 twin turboprop transport were in course of production, and Transport Command is also to have the AW6BI short take-off and landing tactical transport to replace Hastings and Beverley pistoned-en-gined types.