4 weekly reports (Nos.261 262 263 264) and one monthly report

Aircraft at Bitteswell: Canberra WD.933 (AS.Sa.115/119). Lancastrian VM.733 (AS.Sa.99/100). Meteor WA.820 (AS.Sa.105/108). Blackburn WB.797 (DM.209). Wyvern VW.868. Wyvern VR.747 (ASP.244). Dakota KJ.839 (ASZ.166/167). Lancaster SW.342 (AS.V.5). Other aircraft: Sapphire aircraft: Javelin WT.827 Boscombe down for gunnery trials. Later at Moreton vallance. Hunter WB.202 awaiting completion of airframe inspection before installation of Sa.128.This engine which was in difficulty with handling trouble at the end of last month was finally cleared on the test bed and despached to Hawker. Sa.118 was run on the test bed on return from Hawker, but the blow out and handling trouble experienced in the aircraft could not be repeated. Alternator drive shaft seal failures have continued to occur on the Victor WB.771. Modified seals with reduced interferenece were fitted but one failed again after five-and-a-half hours running. Double Mamba aircraft (Gannet): WN.340 after return from carrier trials last month crried out some intensive flying at Ford RNASD before returning to the carrier to take part in intensive deck landing trials. WN.339 which has now been repaired following a taxiing accident was held in reserve for the carrier rials but was not reqired. VR.546 is at Farnborough for auto pilot tests but some vibration trouble has bewen experienced and is being investigated. Pythom aircraft (Wyvern): Following the dcision to ground all single disc turbine engines, all aircraft have now been fitted with twin discs. Further carrier trials were carried out during the month by VZ.777 and VZ.774. A further case of low power at take-off which could not be adjusted without affecting the idling setting was reported on the engine of VZ.777 (ASP.278). Mamba aircraft: Following the inspection of Seamew XA.209, the engine rpm at idling were erratic and it was found that the flow control filter had become blocked