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The past fifty years have produced a remarkable growth and improvement in aircraft size and performance which in turn has resulted in benefits to users, operators and aircrew. However, on the debit side, the servicing and maintenance of these aircraft has produced a proportionate deterioration in the working environment of engineers engaged in this activity.

Zinc‐Containing Duralumins: Earlier Restricted Use The zinc‐containing duralumins have been around for quite a long time now. However, it is only within the past two decades or so that they have played a major role in aircraft construction, their design use having been restricted by certain aircraft companies because of occasional unpredictable service performance. Accepting the fact that some of the earlier, high strength, aluminium‐zinc alloys had a marked susceptibility to stress corrosion, and that some structural failures were directly attributed to this, it is now an established fact that some real and concrete progress has been achieved in reducing this susceptibility and the status of the modern variants of these alloys, when used for aircraft design purposes, is no longer a question of doubt. The informative article “New High Strength Aluminium Alloy”, by H. A. Holl published in Aircraft Engineering, January 1975, records significant progress in this direction. It covers the successful, sponsored development of 7010, high strength, aluminium‐zinc alloy, by the British Ministry of Defence.

Rolls‐Royce has completed a successful series of tests on a Pegasus vectored‐thrust engine fitted with Plenum Chamber Burning (PCB) at a new open‐air facility within the Ministry of Defence test establishment at Shoeburyness, Essex.

IT IS TO BE hoped that by the time these words are being read the dispute over the Electricians' Union and the TUC will have been solved; and, we hope, with satisfaction to both parties.

EVERY so often a new “in” word comes into fashion and everybody seems to use it whether it fits or not. Words like “situation”, “productivity” and “management”. Words like “y'know” or “Oh yeah?”. Usually they are started by comedians or pop singers. For a while they drive us mad. Then, gratefully, they fall into disuetude. They are quickly forgotten.

OUR leading article last month was headed “Automation or Extinction”. We were told, not directly (for whether through shyness or lack of conviction we know not, they never got in touch with us themselves) the TUC found no favour in it. Apparently while they don't mind us advocating shorter hours so that everybody who wants to can have at least a share in the employment that is available, they object to our underlining the fact that while Union chiefs wanted prices of their goods to be cut (in this case, steel; but the principle applies to everything) they neglected to say how this could be done.

BRITISH industry and commerce as a whole is recovering confidence despite continued stagnation in the manufacturing sector, forecasts a survey for the next quarter published by Manpower, the international work contractors.

IN the run‐up period to the close of the year 1981 a White Paper on training was issued by the Government. In it was a sentence that could be called astonishing these days when academic ability is reckoned so highly. It said bluntly “Access to skilled work, or training to higher levels, should depend not on the form and structure of previous training but on proven ability”.

Some individuals are strongly motivated by personal pride in their achievements. A school teacher, for example, may feel a special glow of satisfaction when, through his or her coaching, a star pupil wins an important scholarship. This pleasure may, in fact, be great enough to erase any resentment which may have been aroused through inadequate pay or employment conditions. It may, indeed, give rise to new energy in the day‐to‐day chore of teaching less gifted students, in the hope that other successes may be achieved.

LESS than three weeks after Sir Geoffrey Howe presented his Budget to a packed House of Commons and a population fearful of what he might demand from them it becomes evident that it was a help (as well as a pointer) to better things to come.