50 years ago: 18 May 1956

Flight 18.5.1956

Valiant lost

Last Friday a Valiant from the R.A.E., Farnborough, suffered what is reported to have been a control malfunction over the Isle of Wight and crashed in a built-up area at Southwick, Sussex. Of the crew of four one, the co-pilot, ejected and landed in some allotments. He was reported to have been still in his ejector seat, but alive. The three remaining crew-members lost their lives. The survivor was F/L. G. C. D. Preece; the others were S/L. K. Orman, F/L. K. E. P. Evans and Mr. A. Knight an M.o.S. technician.

Trump Card?

Howard Hughes has filed an application with the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board for permission to manufacture jet airliners incorporating “vital new developments.” It is claimed that his new project will be far superior in range to jet airliners now on the market, and the Trans World Airlines, of which Mr. Hughes is a majority stock-holder, is to buy 25 of them.

A Reader Writes

Many will feel it was a great pity that the M.T.C.A. did not feel able to allow the British public to inspect the three Tu-104s recently at London Airport. Those of us who know the mercurial and hot-headed British temperament, however, applauded such an undoubtedly wise decision – after all some unspeakable cad might have left a drawing-pin on one of the pilot’s seats, or a picture of Uncle Joe behind those intriguing curtains leading to the navigator’s position.

East German First

East Germany has completed the first Il-14 now being “mass-produced” under licence in Dresden. It bears the stirring name Third Party Conference.

Bees Defiant

A Viscount delivered to Central African Airways at Salisbury, Rhodesia, last week-end suffered from the attention of a swarm of bees, which took possession of one of the port nacelles. The Rolls-Royce Darts were run up to full revolutions in an attempt to remove them, and the aircraft taken up to 17,000ft, but neither manoeuvre succeeded. Asphyxiating the bees would have meant dismantling part of the wing in order to remove their bodies. At the time of writing they are still in possession.