Supersonic Aircraft—Promise and Problems

Abstract

The 1,157th lecture to be given before the Society, “Supersonic Aircraft—Promise and Problems” by M. B. Morgan, Esq., C.B., M.A., F.R.Ae.S., Scientific Adviser to the Air Ministry, was given on 17th March 1960, at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Mr. Peter G. Masefield, M.A., F.R.Ae.S., Hon.F.l.A.S., M.Inst.T., President of the Society, presided. Opening the meeting Mr. Masefield said he thought this would be one of the most interesting and stimulating lectures of the session. The subject of the supersonic aeroplane had been freely discussed in the United States and probably in Russia also. In this country they had been more reticent so he hoped they would have a really good discussion after this lecture. One significant point was that people no longer wondered whether a supersonic transport could, or should, be built but only whether it should cruise at a Mach number of 2 and be made in light alloy, or whether it should be around Mach 3 and be made of steel or more exotic materials. That sooner or later—and many believed sooner—transports would fly at supersonic speeds at 70,000 ft. was taken for granted.

Mr. Morgan was well known to them all. Born in Wales, he was educated at Rutlish, Merton and St. Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he took the Mechanical Sciences Tripos and won the John Bernard Seely Prize in Aeronautics in 1934. In fact, he and Mr. Morgan used to enjoy the Cam together and Mr. Morgan looked little different today than he had in those days. Mr. Morgan was apprenticed to Mather and Piatt Ltd. and also spent a short time at Vickers, Weybridge before joining the R.A.E., Farnborough in 1935. Since then he had specialised in aerodynamics, flight research and development, stability and control and, he had taken his Pilot's Licence in 1944. He was Head of the Aero Flight Section of the R.A.E. from 1946-1948, Head of the Guided Weapons Department from 1948-1953 and Deputy Director of the Establishment from 1954 until 1959. He had then been appointed to his present position of Scientific Adviser to the Air Ministry and had also been Chairman of what had come to be known as “STAC”–Supersonic Transport Aircraft Committee. He felt that they could have no better person than Mr. Morgan to talk on the Supersonic Transport.