Those Unidentified Flying Objects
"Ninety per cent imagination, with the remainder unexplainable." This is the verdict of General Twining, U.S.A.F. Chief of staff, on reports of what are popularly and generically known as flying saucers. His view, in our own estimation, is an eminently sound and balanced one.
The Chief of Staff went on to say - he was speaking at Amarillo, Texas, last week - that America's best brains are working on the problem. "We just don't know about that ten per cent," he said. "If they are from Mars and there is a people and a world that far ahead of us, I don't think we even have to worry about it."
Testing the Comet 1
There has never been any aeronautical investigation like that now being conducted on five de Havilland Comet 1s. All the resources of the constructer, the operator, the M.o.S., the M.T.C.A. and the A.R.B. are being applied to a most searching examination of this aircraft type, in order to clear up the mystery of three disasters, and then to render the Comet 1s suitable for resumption of services and finally clear the way for operations with Series 2 and 3 Comets.
Boeing Setback
Last Saturday, Boeing's new Stratoliner jet-transport prototype suffered a most disappointing occurrence. The aircraft was rolling gently along a runway at Renton, with engines idling and flaps at the take-off setting, when the port main undercarriage leg tore away from its mounting. The aircraft heeled over on to the two port jet pods, the offending leg pushing its way through the wing and rear bogie wheels severely damaging the inner flap section.
Aquila to Capri
On Friday last an Aquila Airways flying boat - Solent G-ANAJ City of Funchal - made a proving flight over the company's Southampton-Capri route. Forty passengers were given a foretaste of the luxurious service, to be inaugurated on June 3rd, which provides the Mediterranean island with its first-ever air link. The Solent flew direct to Capri, completing the 1,200-mile journey in six hours. Scheduled services will call at Marseilles for a luncheon break, as on Sunday's return. Fares for the service are £66 12s return (Southampton-Capri), £30 12s (Southampton-Marseilles).
Source: Flight International
