THE AEROPLANE

(December 14^th 1945)

Front cover:

Advert:  GKN Aerotight Nut

In this issue:

German Aeronautical Research  (Editorial)

Matters Of Moment  (Air speed record confirmed, The war record of the Lancaster, Electrical exhibition at Farnborough, New coast to coast record, Airport built in eight weeks, A film of the DH Mosquito, The first and last Beaufighters, Flying bombs for the US army, New ROC Commandant, A new civil aviation company, Fuel rationing for civil flying.  Includes photographs of a Bristol 163 Buckingham C.1, the prototype Beaufighter and the last Beaufighter T.F. Mk. X)

Vampire Deck Landing Trials  (An excellent 2-page article of the Sea Vampire trials on HMS Ocean.  Includes several photographs of the Vampires parked, taking-off and landing)

The Gipsy Engines For Post-War Flying  (A review of the new series of engines:  Gipsy Major 31 and 51, Gipsy Queen 31, 51 and 71)

A Sale Of Rare Birds  (An interesting onepage plus article describing a number of light aircraft pressed into service with the RAF during the war and now being sold off.  This article includes small photographs of a DH 60G Gipsy Moth, Miss Jean Batten’s 1935 Vega Gull, a General Aircraft Cygnet, an Airspeed Courier, an LVG C.VI and a Sopwith Triplane)

The P-82 Twin Mustang  (A short ¾ page review of this aircraft which includes a large photograph of the aircraft flying besides a P.51E Mustang)

The Hawker Tempest II  (An excellent full-page photograph of the aircraft banking away from the camera – advertisement)

Buckingham And Brigand – Details Of Two New Bristol Military Aircraft  (A superb 5-page page review of these two lesser-known Bristol aircraftof the Second World War and immediate post-war period.  Evolution, Armament and equipment, Courier transport conversion.  In addition to the usual technical details and specification and performance information this article includes a lovely photograph of the Brigand and three photographs of the Buckingham which includes one of the aircraft under construction.  This article culminates in an excellent double-page cutaway drawing of the Brigand T.F. Mk. I with 58 key points identified)

The Story Of A Greater Achievement – III  (The third instalment of an article surveying the record of Air Transport Auxiliary during the war years.  Difficulties overcome, No haloes for ATA, Our gallant allies, 1944-45, plus a photograph of ferry pilots entering an Anson)

Slip-Wing Experiments  (An interesting experiment carried out on a Mark I Hurricane in 1941.  This one-page article includes the only photograph of the slip-wing Hurricane in flight, albeit poor quality, plus two further photographs – one of the aircraft on the ground and the other a more detailed photograph of the slip-wing strut arrangement)

Air Transport  (British Air Line Pilots’ Association, Aircraft factory sites, A suggestion for test flights, A visit to Scandinavia, Accident comparisons, Parliamentary answers, In brief.  Includes 3 small photographs of a Ju 52 on floats, a Fokker F.XII and a Focke-Wulf Condor)

News Of The Week  (Brief snippets plus small photographs of the Curtiss XP-40K Warhawk, the XP-40Q Warhawk and the Curtiss XF14C-1 Naval fighter)

The Royal Air Force  (R.N. [Air Branch] and Royal Air Force Awards.  Includes a lovely photograph of a Beech Traveller of the Royal Navy and a Messerschmitt Me 210

News From Industry  (The Mallock-Armstrong “Nosonic” ear defender, A one-piece lock nut, A Miles Aircraft announcement)

Adverts include:  the Pioneer Parachute Company Inc., the Cirrus Engine – Miles Messenger, the Lockheed Constellation, Lodge Plugs, Desoutter, the Fairey Aviation Company Ltd., Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Limited – Whitley Bomber, the Avro Lancastrian, the De Havilland Gipsy Series Engines, the Bristol Centaurus, the Airspeed Ambassador, the Tipsy Aircraft Co. Ltd., Dagenite Aircraft Batteries and the Bristol Brigand.

The cover does exhibit some bumps and knocks to the edges (see photograph), and light rubbing to the spine and looseness around the staples.  All pages are present however the staples, which at this time were prone to rusting, were removed to prevent staining which has resulted in the pages being loose.  The pages are free from tears, creases, and significant marks other than some typical light age-related discolouration to the edges.  The magazine remains in good / very good overall condition considering its age.