Control Line: Navy Carrier
THE WINNER of the July Mystery Plane contest was Ray Brow (Manchester, NH). Congratulations, Ray, on identifying the Bellanca XSE-2. The Mystery Plane contest will resume with the next column. My own research (and letters from readers over the past few years) has pointed out several rather unique aircraft for our event. I've saved a couple for the Mystery Plane contest, but I'll list the others this month. If any of you have any information on additional prototypes which might qualify for our event, such as the Lockheed F0-1 (that's a Navy P-38 Lightning) that was sighted at the NACA facility at Langley Field with a tail hook mounted, let me know.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
MYSTERY PLANE. This popular feature is back. This month's aircraft shouldn't be too hard; there is a strong family resemblance which tends to give away its lineage. I'll select one correct entry to receive a year's membership in the Navy Carrier Society. Send your entries directly to me at the address shown at the end of the column. Good luck. The Navy Carrier Society (NCS) is the special interest group designated by the AMA for the CL Navy Carrier events. It allows its members a voice in the operations of AMA as they concern our events. The results of NCS questionnaires on rules proposals are used by the Navy Carrier Advisory Committee and the CL Contest Board to help determine the rules by which we fly. The society is responsible for running the Carrier events at the Nats and presents the Eugene Ely Award annually to the top Nats Carrier competitor.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
THE MYSTERY PLANE in the March issue was the North American XSN2J-1, which also carried the company designator NA 142. The Navy owned two which it evaluated as intermediate trainers intended for carrier training among other activities. With most of its new service aircraft being purchased with tricycle landing gear, the Navy decided that its trainers should also be so-equipped and asked North American to produce a tricycle-gear derivative of the XSN2J-1. Thus was born the T-28 Trojan, which served long and well. This month's Mystery Plane is another aircraft which did not reach production.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS. Our United States Navy is celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Naval Aviation beginning in May and continuing throughout the year. This could be an excellent opportunity to provide Carrier flight demonstrations at Navy air shows and base open houses to let others know about our hobby and, particularly, about CL Navy Carrier flying. A good place to inquire about 75th anniversary activities would be the Public Affairs office at your nearest Navy Base or Naval Air Station. The official logo is printed in Navy blue and gold (naturally), and Navy PA offices might be able to provide one to adorn your club carrier deck. Another possible benefit is obtaining a site for a Carrier contest. The SLOW Club holds its annual contest at Anacostia Naval Air Station in Washington, DC even without a Carrier event. This could be a good time to ask about using a Navy facility near you.
Control Line: Navy Carrier
THE MYSTERY PLANE in the July issue was the Boulton Paul Sea Balliol T. Mk. 21. The Balliol design began as the P.108, a three-seat, all-purpose advanced trainer with an Armstrong-Siddeley Mamba turboprop engine. The prototype made its first flight on March 24, 1948 and was the first aircraft in the world to fly with a turboprop power plant as the only means of propulsion. The Royal Air Force production variant (Mk. 2) used a Rolls-Royce Merlin piston engine for power and deleted the extra seat. With a few equipment changes, a smaller propeller, and a tail hook the aircraft became the Mk. 21 for the Royal Navy, of which 30 were procured for the Fleet Air Arm. The winner of the May contest is Eugene Nickels, Jr. whose name was selected from among over a dozen correct entries. Congratulations, Eugene.
