Evening star., 1961-02-15
ON WINGS
How Fast to Mach 3?
By CHARLES YARBRoUGH

"OW OSG ~ VHON
One Of Britain's more eau
tious aircraft magnateS agrees
that England should build a
supersonic transport, but he
does bring up a provocative
question.
Either this country must
design and build them or our
airlines will be compelled to
buy and operate foreign built
aircraft" Sir Percy Hunting,
chairman Of the Hunting
Group, said recently. Not to
pursue the supersonic transport
would be to break with tradi-
ton"
His poser: 1.-The amount of
Mach 3 (three times the speed
Of sound time by the worlds
test pilots at present is meas
ured in minutes rather than
hours-this speed attained and
held for few soaring moments.
Yet this is to be the speed that
structures would soak in for
two or more hours"
Sir Percy said he advocates
q more cautious approach to
recommend Mach 2 project
as a sensible undertaking" for
Britain and warned against at
temptS to bring about a Mach
3 airliner too quickly.
Economists, the industry and
most certainly the airlines in
the United States feel that the
gradual move from today's
near-sonic transport. through a
Mach 2 version and then the
Mach 3 production, would be
more of a financial burden
than the airlines could absorb.
The Bethesda based Aircraft
Owners and Pilots Association,
caustic critic of E. r. QueSada's
two years as head of the Fed
eral Aviation Agency, is out
with an editorial in its official
publication, The Pilot, offering
the new administrator "best
wishes"
Written as an open letter to
N. E. Halaby, the editorial
says: I'VE can't say we envy
you the difficult task you have
just undertaken as FAA ad-
ministrator. The first objective
Of us all must be to start work.
ing toward common goal to-
gether."
The letter went on: 1--WE as
sure you here and now that
AOPA has no preconceived
ideas about you or your ad-
ministration. We offer you our
cooperation and our facilities
and best efforts to help our
members better understand
your philosophy and the poll
cies to be pursued by your ad-
ministration. We have never
sought special favors, nor will
we now. We urge you to be
equally frank and fortnight
with U.S."
East Coast Flying Service,
Inc, operator Of the Martins
burg, w. Va, airport, flight
training, service and air char
ter facilities, has been named
to sell and service Cessna's full
line of aircraft.
S. Ross Lipscomb, East Coast
president, said the arrange
ment with Cessna covers Mary
land, Virginia, Delaware and
parts Of West Virginia, Penn
sylvania and New Jersey.
They've scheduled a fly-in to
display the complete Cessna
line April 8.
If snow doesn't interfere
again. ]. B. Hartranft, jr.,
president of the AOPA, is to
receive the Washington Air
Derby Associations annual.
award at the Hotel Burlington
tomorrow night.
The trophy, in recognition
of Mr.. Hartranft's efforts to
brings about the new Mont
gomery County Airpark, is on
permanent display at the
Smithsonian.
Changing its Man of the
Month" award to Award for
Achievement" the National
Aviation Club will honor Vice
Admiral w. F. RabOrn for his
Polaris work with reception
scheduled for 6 pm, February
"a. American Airlines took
delivery Monday on the first
Of its Boeing 7O7 AstrOjets (fan
engine) and will start regular
service New York to Los An
geles, New York Chicago and
Chicago-Mexico City March IL.
-. The Weather ureau is now
operating closed-circuit televi-
sion at Idlewild to provide
weather briefings for interna-
tional flights. Mystery
1ry,-itor EorIa CkonIov Gordnnr