Failure of metals through fatigue is familiar to everyone, but it remains an ever-present problem for the metallurgist as each new alloy brings a variation in physical properties, and because the fundamentals are imperfectly understood. Moreover, the vibrations in an aircraft structure which are responsible for fatigue emanate from a number of sources, and cannot as yet be precisely measured or estimated. The convincing Mr. Honey of Nevil Shute's No Highway indicated some of the parameters and gave far-from-fictitious information about fatigue problems; but whether his nuclear thesis will prove to have a factual basis has yet to be seen.
Russian News
Russian air activity over Germany is intensifying after some slackening. A fortnight ago groups of Mig-15s and jet bombers were observed over Berlin; some of the Migs are reported to have wings of slightly longer span with rounded tips. Another report mentions a new twin-jet machine with the power units under the wing, close to the fuselage. Wing and tail surfaces are straight. In Hungary, large powered gliders have been observed.
Smart Work
Capt. William B. Smart, the pilot of a U.S. Marine Corps fighter-bomber - probably a Corsair - in Korea, was engaged on cutting communist railway-lines. With his aircraft hit by anti-aircraft fire, he baled out, only to be captured by enemy troops. An air-rescue squadron was called up and Smart's captors were subjected to strafing attacks; they quickly ran for cover and Capt. Smart was hauled into a helicopter and brought home unscathed.
Short Circuits
With the not-very-explicit name of "nacelle-tester" a new device developed by the Bogue Electric Manufacturing Co., of New Jersey, is said to be capable of checking 200 aircraft electric circuits in, it is claimed, less than ten seconds. Hand-testing the same circuits would take several hours.
Source: Flight International
