The Hindu : This day that age: dated 19th February 1952

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 19, 2002

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - This Day That Age

This day that age: dated 19th February 1952

The World's First Passenger Jet Airliner

The jet age had arrived for passenger planes too. The world's first jet airliner, capable of flying non-stop between points strung at one end of the Atlantic (or the Pacific) Ocean and the other, was on the verge of being introduced into commercial service, according to a London report. The plane was the Series Two version of the De Havilland Comet, created in sleekly beautiful design. The first version Comet was fitted with Rolls Royce Avon jet motors. The Series Two model was equipped with De Havilland Ghost motors. The new Series Two version had been put on proving flights carrying no passengers, but flying with a simulated full load, as though there were passengers, their luggage, and other parcels on board. Following the satisfactory completion of the proving flight, the Comet was expected to be put into regular commercial service flying between London and Johannesburg initially. These flights were expected to be operated from about April or May, 1952.

Forthcoming Cricket Tour of England

At a special general meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, held in Calcutta and presided over by Mr. J. C. Mukherjee. Vijay Hazare was unanimously elected to be Captain of the Indian team to tour England in the summer of 1952. Another unanimous election was that of Mr. Pankaj Gupta to go with the team as its Manager. This paper's correspondent in Calcutta said that Hemu Adhikari was likely to be named the Vice-Captain, when the rest of the members of the team were chosen on March 16, with Hazare sitting in as a co-opted member of the Selection Committee. It was also learnt that no player would be chosen for the tour unless he was available for the whole duration of it starting from May, and going on till late August. Vinoo Mankad, the left-arm spinner and valuable all-rounder, who had played a significant part in India's victory over England at Chepauk, Madras, was not likely to be chosen, since he was due to play in the Lancashire League. The Board authorised the Selection Committee to name a Vice-Captain, and also decided that during the tour, the Captain, the Vice-Captain, and the Manager, would act as the Executive Committee for the team while in Britain. The Board decided, further, that the Indian team would go by air to England in April. In London, there were comments on this decision, with wags saying that this would be the first-ever `air-borne invasion' of Britain by an official cricket team.

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This day that age: dated 19th February 1952

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