THEENGINEER ta.nkdesignwhichin onewayor other doesno industrialexperience fromwhichto draw notclashwithotheraspects.Theresultofforthe designof the tank.Hence,develop-these clashes is that, the final design can neverment facilitiesspecifically forfighting equip-bebetter thanacompromise,andany corn- ment must be maintained and utilisedvigor-promiseleadstodifferencesofopinion.Ifouslyif wearet okeepintheforefrontin it isrememberedthat thereisnoparallelinsuohmattersand to give the designerseven industrytotherelativelyhighspeedyeta reasonable chance of meeting the accelerated veryheavilytrackedarmouredfightingdemandswhichwar,orthefearofwar, vehicle,it willbeappreciatedthatthereisinevitablybring. Aeronautics1945 Ill No.I Military Aircraft HADhostilities a.littlelongerthan theydid,wewouldundoubtedlyhave seentheintroductiononalargescaleby all thebelligera.ntsofsomestrikingdevelop-mentsinthedesignofmilitaryaircraft, notablya.rapidlyincreasingemploymentof jetpropulsion forboth bombers and fighters. uncertainty followingthe iutroductiou of the atomicbomb.Theworldisa.tasolemn momentinit::;history.If,unhappily,the effortsnowbeing made to restrictoroutlaw theuse . ofthatterriblemissileshouldfail, theconsequencesforhumanitywilldire. Incidentally,thewholefutureofmilitary aircraft design will be greatly affected.With a.singlelight aircraftabletocarryasmuch JAN .4,1946 evolution,andyethesitatingtocommit itselflestthecomingoftheatomicbomb shouldrenderallimprovementsobsolete before they canbebrought fully into service. The yearmay be said to bechieflynotable asmarking. thefulfilmentof theprolonged effortst oapplythejetpropulsionsystem successfullytomilitaryaircraft.Inthis countrychiefpublicinterestwasfocussed on theGloater"Meteor "and thedeHa. vil-la.nd "Va.mpire"jet-propelled fighters. Other firms,notablytheBristolCompany,are, however, known to be well advanced with the development of similaraircraftTheGloster ' ' Meteor "IVonNovember7tha.tHerne Baysetupanewworldspeedrecordby travelling at an average of 606 mp.h.on four, runsoverthet rialcourl:!e.Thepreviow; internationallyrecognit;edrecordwal'>460 m.p.h. ,a.ndwa.sheldbyGenna.ny.Th