In the Comet's Trail
Page 47
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NOT the least of the problems associated with the operation of high-speed aircraft like the de Havilland Comet, is the need to ensure that means for rapid refuelling are available at each landing place. Now that the Comets are in service with British Overseas Airways Corporation on the London-Johannesburg route, and are shortly to go into service on a LondonFar East route, the fuel-supply concerns have had to introduce new refuelling vehicles capable of meeting the requirements of these turbine-powered aircraft.
To meet the needs of the Comet at Singapore and Bangkok, the Shell Aviation Service is putting into operation a new type of fuelling vehicle in the design of which the capabilities of the local road system have had to be considered. Basically, the tenders are Thornycroft Sturdy Star petrol-engined tractors with a wheelbase of 13 ft. 6 ins., fitted with a turntable.
These tow elliptical-tank semi-trailers built by Thompson Bros. (Bilston), Ltd., which was also responsible for the production of the pumping unit and the split transmission power take-off developed in conjunction with Shell engineers. Initially, the tank units will have a capacity of 1,800 gallons of avia!ion turbine fuel when used in Singapore. and of 1,500 gallons for use in Bangkok. Later, it is expected that the capacity of the tanks will be increased to 2,400 gallons.
In operation, the tanks are filled at a supply point and towed to the airfield by a conventional short-wheelbase tractor unit, known as a " bridging " tractor. There the tanks are unhitched
and coupled to the Thornycroft tractors; the complete outfit is known as the Thornet refueller.
The Thornet outfit operates only on the airfield. A 200 g.p.m. pumping unit is mounted on the chassis of the Thornet tractor, immediately behind the cab. When the tanks have been emptied,
they are removed for refuelling from the supply depot by the bridging tractors.
For a normal refuelling operation at Singapore or Bangkok, the Thornet units may be called upon to deliver up to 3,000 gallons of fuel to the Comet.
This should occupy two Thornets for less than 10 mins. If a Comet should require complete replenishment of its tanks, amounting to 6,000 gallons, additional, tank units could be brought up by the bridging tractors. Two Thornet outfits couldthen fully replenish the Comet in under 30 mins.