New plane for KLM's West Indies Branch. To PH-CGC Jacob Maris later in 1954. Modification kit installed circa 1955 but not redesignated by the Dutch as a CV-440. Back to West Indies as PJ-CVC in 1963. Operated by ALM between 1964 and 1970. Later operated by Avensa and Rutaca, Tecnofly and Aeroejecutivos in Venezuela. Retired early in the 21th century, broken up by 2006. Photo from: Convair / San Diego Air & Space Museum

Ship 5, the second Bell HSL-1 production aircraft, is seen 'hovering over Hicks Field, Fort Worth, with Bell pilots Joseph Dunne and William Quinlan at the controls, before 700-mile flight to Eglin Field, Florida, for extensive climatic tests.' Elsewhere we found this flight took place in January 1954. Note the dorsal fin, fitted to a couple of early airframes. Photo from: Bell

'First photograph released of the Fairey Jet Gyrodyne helicopter, which has completed successfully its initial flight tests at White Waltham Aerodrome, near Maidenhead, Berkshire.' This was the extensively rebuilt second FB-1 Gyrodyne. The serial XD759 was also assigned to a Sabre and was changed to XJ389 for the Jet Gyrodyne, which is preserved in the small Museum of Berkshire Aviation in Reading. Photo from: Fairey

Fairey Aviation's final assembly hangar at Ringway in early 1954 with Venom FB.1's and Vampire T.11's in view. Nearest is WR294 with c/n 12215 chalked on its nose. Beyond is c/n 12210 which became RAF WK493.