FLIGHT AND AIRCRAFT ENGINEER

(June 8^th 1951)

The magazine published for the serious aero enthusiast and the official organ of the Royal Aero Club.  Packed with technical and specification data and well illustrated with photographs and drawings throughout.

Front cover:

Advert:  Blackburn & General Aircraft Ltd. – The First Name In Naval Aircraft

In this issue:

“Theseus” Comes Home – Welcoming Ceremony At Portsmouth And Presentation Of Boyd Trophy By Lord Fraser  (A 2-page illustrated account of HMS Theseus arriving back home from to Portsmouth after operations in Korea)

From All Quarters  (Airframe structures in plastics, Engineering aspects of aviation, The new minister of civil aviation, A 665 mph “routine”, Solo over the North Pole, Large aircraft – small scale)

Honouring The Jet Pioneers  (A 2-page illustrated account of the Hawker Siddeley Commemorative Dinner marking ten years of turbine history)

Here And There  (Royal Salute, Eager for Beavers, For the interested and envious, Death of a pioneer, For “forceps” read “pliers”. Helicopter fighters, Encouraging ingenuity, Jet royalties, Tourist-fuel rebate, Pursuit ship, Magnesium control, Supersonic wallops, Ambitions achieved, Distinction for airline pilot, Comfort for quadrupeds, De-icing for all, Courses at Harwell, In brief.  Includes  photographs of a KLM DC-4 Freighter, a salvo of 16 Mighty Mouse air-to-air rockets leaving a North American F-86D and a pair of F-86A Sabres carrying out an emergency starting in Korea)

Exercise Ombrelle, Part II: With RAF Units In Holland And Germany – The Closing Phase  (A 3-page illustrated account which includes a number of photographs of Vampire 5s)

Presentation Of The King’s Colour – Pictures Of The Notable Ceremony Of May 26^th: Princess Elizabeth Deputises For The King  (A double-page photo-montage)

The Superb “660” – A Flight Impression (A double-page photographic impression of the Vickers 660 [Valiant] jet bomber)

In The Way Of The Vikings – Part II: Impressions Of S.A.S. In Action  (A 4-page illustrated account)

More Than Meets The Eye – Knowledge And Craftmanship In The Specialised Production Of Aircraft Tubing Assemblies  (A 2-page illustrated report)

Two Week-End Events – Displays At Rearsby And Fair Oaks  (Includes photographs of the Auster Aiglet Trainer and the Auster Model S)

Civil Aviation News  (B.E.A.’s aircraft problems, Transfer of Yorks, BEA helicopter service starts, BEA four-engined services to Nice, IAL news, Air mail shortcomings, The Hong Kong Skymasters, Fares up, down and steady, Expediting egress, Brevities plus a photograph of a Comper Swift)

Service Aviation – Royal Air Force And Naval Aviation News  (N.S. aircrews, Elaborate electronics, Carrier movements, Shackletons at Kinloss, BAFO small arms contest – results, More jets in Lorea, G Class recall, Canadian coastal squadron here, Scottish ROC exercise, RAFA conference plus a lovely photograph of a Percival P.56 Provost in flight)

plus more including adverts for Boulton Paul High Fidelity Power Controls, the R.A.F., Graviner Airborne Fire Protection Equipment, the Westland S.55 Helicopter, Shell and BP Aviation Service, the Fairey 17 [Gannet], Napier Aero Engines, Shorts Sealand Amphibian, the Alvis Leonides – Bristol 173, De Havilland Fighters, Terry’s Springs & Presswork, Castrol, Rolls-Royce Jet Aero Engines, Vandervell Products Limited, Rotol Limited, Timken Tapered Roller Bearings and the Bristol Olympus

The cover of this magazine exhibits only light knocks and marks to the edges and corners (see photograph).  The staples are rusty, but sound and continue to hold all the pages securely.  All pages are present, free from tears, creases and significant marks other than some age-related discolouration to the page edges normally seen on newsprint from this era and the original owner’s name written in pencil at the top of the front cover page.  The magazine is in very good overall condition especially considering its age.