Newsdesk

Iran Air Still a Goer:

Iran Air, the national airline of Iran, has taken delivery within a month of two more Boeing 747s, bringing its fleet of big airliners to a total of seven. The two airplanes were a 747 SP (Special Performance) airliner delivered in mid-July and a 747-1008 delivered in early August.

Iran Air now has four 747 SPs, which are used on its long-range routes. The 747- 1008, a version of the 747 that can be used on short, medium and long-range routes, is the first of its kind delivered to Iran Air. The airline also operates two 747-200B Combis, capable of carrying passengers and cargo on the main deck.

Boeing 747 deliveries now total 385 to 56 airlines.

Cheap fares – more passengers:

In what may be a surprise to the government but hardly surprising to anyone who actually pays for an air ticket – figures released from Canberra confirm that there has been a dramatic increase in travel into and out of Australia since cheaper fares were introduced earlier this year. The number of short-term visitors to Australia increased by 30 per cent in May and by 61 per cent in June over the same period in 1978.

Another indicator of potential interest from overseas people visiting Australia is that for April the number of visa applications issued in West Germany increased by 113 per cent and 66 per cent in the UK. During May the number of visas issued to US residents visiting Australia rose 44 per cent over the same month last year.

1978/79 Domestic notch moderate growth

Dept of Transport figures released covering the 1978/79 financial year show that the domestic airlines carried 10,783,000 passengers, a growth of 4.5 per cent over the previous year. Air freight carried during 78/79 totalled 127,460 tonnes, up 5. 4 per cent on 77/78. Mail scored the largest rise with 13,123 tonnes being transported for an increase of 16 per cent overall. Despite the increase in the carriage of passengers and freight, hours flown were down by around 0. 2 per cent to 278,757 hours reflecting a higher operating efficiency overall.

Pan American Refurbish 747s

PanAm are to invest $US163m over three years to update and life-extend 29 of their early model Boeing 747-100 aircraft. Included in the refurbishment program will be engine modifications and airframe changes designed to reduce fuel consumption by at least two per cent. While that may not sound a significant amount it will result in around seven million litres of fuel saved per year.

Weight reduction improvements will come in the form of a new anti-corrosion floor and various other cabin mods including new galleys, this will extend the range by around 200nm from 4700nm to 4900 while carrying a greater number of passengers. The current standard passenger configuration is 30 first class and 375 economies to 29 first class and 405 economies. The program will be completed in early 1983.

Hawker de Havilland win lucrative contract

Sydney-based Hawker de Havilland has won, against stiff international competition, a $A30m contract to build wing rib sections for the Boeing 757 twin-jet. The contract, signed in early August, covers wing rib sections initially for 300 Boeing 757 aircraft and utilises advanced technology five-axis milling machines not before used in Australia. The introduction of such technically advanced equipment now provides Australia the opportunity to compete directly for similar lucrative offset work from overseas aircraft manufacturers who are largely having difficulty in finding sufficient technicians and engineering personnel to keep pace with the flood of airliner orders of recent years.

Another factor in Australia’s favour is that our per-hour labour rates are now more than compatible with those of Europe providing us with the opportunity to become involved with a number of British Aerospace and Airbus Industrie projects. Melbourne-based Government Aircraft Factories will be the principal sub-contractor to Hawker de Havilland on the 757 wing rib project.

US Carriers Growth Continues Despite DC-10 Groundings

Despite the loss of 135 DC-10 airliners, the US domestic network showed a gain of nine per cent in seats flown and a 10 per cent gain in passenger loadings during June. Generally speaking, the carriers that relied largely on non-DC-10 fleets fared best with Eastern being a case in point. Eastern use largely Tristar, Airbus, 727 and DC-9 aircraft and consequently posted a record load factor of 73. 7 per cent for June. TWA, another nonDC-10 carrier, showed a 26 per cent gain In domestic and a 19. 2 per cent gain in international traffic for the month of June with domestic load factors of 70. 2 per cent and 75. 2 per cent on international routes.

Conversely, American Airlines who not only operate a large number of DC-10 aircraft but were at the centre of the grounding storm fared relatively well owing to a large backup fleet of 747, 727 and 707 jets. American topped a load factor of 76.7 per cent despite the fact that it had lost more than 20 per cent of its available seats. One of the hardest hit carriers was Continental who virtually had their newly-launched Australasian services scuttled in the first weeks of operation. Continental lost 20 per cent of its worldwide seating capacity overnight and lost virtually all of it’s non-domestic capabilities. Up to that time Continental had been enjoying high load factors on its Australasian services.

MCD Figures Up:

McDonnell Douglas Corporation earned $US98,307,097 after taxes on sales of $US2,636,175,528 in the first six months of 1979.

In the first half of 1978, net earnings were $US 74,626,973 on sales of $US1,960,569,883.

Second quarter sales were made up of 37 per cent commercial and 63 per cent government business. The Corporation’s firm backlog on June 30, 1979, was a record $US6,458,393,000 compared with $US5,298,287,000 a year earlier. This backlog, of which 54 per cent is commercial and 46 per cent is government business, excludes government orders not yet funded to the Corporation, orders being negotiated as continuations to authorised programs, and commercial orders subject to contingencies.

McDonnell Douglas employment on June 30 was 76,028, compared with 64,776 on the same date In 1978.

As of June 30, McDonnell Douglas had firm orders for 342 commercial DC-10s and conditional orders and options for 51 others, bringing the overall total to 393 aircraft of which 281 had been delivered. The grounding of the DC-10 has created uncertainty and has caused cancellation, at least for the present, of a few conditional firm orders.

Six airlines and the US Navy placed firm orders for a total of 23 DC-9s in the second quarter, compared with 12 DC-9 orders a year earlier.

Nine of last quarter’s firm orders were for the new DC-9 Super 80, the largest, quietest and most fuel-efficient member of the DC-9 line.

Ten DC-9s were delivered In the second quarter, compared with two In the second quarter last year. McDonnell Douglas has begun offering a second version of the DC-9 Super 80 with the more powerful Pratt and Whitney JT8D-217 engine, which offers excellent performance from high, hot airports and increases the Super 80’s range and payload while also meeting new and stringent noise regulations.

As of June 30, 1979, McDonnell Douglas had firm orders for 1028 DC-9s and conditional orders and options for 29 others, bringing the overall total to 1057 aircraft of which 911 had been delivered.

Stretched Challenger:

Canadair, who really backed a sales winner with their Challenger Jet, has decided to develop a stretched version to be known as the Challenger E. The new aircraft will be 105 inches longer and will be powered by GE CF34 turbofans of 86501b thrust as against the Avco-Lycoming ALF502L engines of 75001b thrust on the standard aircraft. The new version is being quoted at $US8.5m a copy in 1980 dollars and will have a maximum range of 4600 nautical miles.

Boeing Likely to Drop 777:

Though a formal decision to postpone the development of the long-range 777 trijets has not been made, Boeing looks set to stretch the 747 and 7 6 7 as alternative development programmes. Airline interest in the 219-seat 777 has been fairly mild by Boeing standards and the company does not wish to commit itself to a small-market airliner. Alternative programs to stretch the 767 to provide accommodation for 260 passengers would give Boeing a viable competitor to the A300B Airbus, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and the Lockheed L-1011 Tristar.

Another project would be a British Airways Instigated stretch of the 747 so as to enable that aircraft to carry up to 600 people. If the 777 program went ahead it would jeopardise the development of both these potential projects.

Sign of the Times

Ten years ago who would have envisaged the situation where an airline would be forced to actually charter a tanker to ensure supply of aviation fuel, in order to maintain its services? Yet, in August this was the case as PanAm hired sufficient space on board a Mobil tanker to ship 7. 3 million litres of jet fuel from Iran to New Zealand. This shipment is sufficient to satisfy the needs of the carrier for about ten months and will ensure that PanAm flights transiting or originating at Auckland will not be delayed owing to lack of fuel. Security of this type does not come cheaply as it Is reliably reported that PanAm was forced to pay almost double the normal rates to secure the fuel.

Records All Round:

United Airlines have recently taken delivery of the 1500th Boeing 727 trijet to emerge from that company’s Seattle plant. Delivery of the aircraft sets a number of new records. Firstly, United is the largest purchaser of 727 jets in history with 201 having been integrated into its fleet over the past decade and a half. United is also the world’s largest civil carrier and was the first airline to operate the 727 with that particular aircraft still going strong in United service with over 18 million miles and one and a half million passengers logged to date.

New Peking Connection

In what will surely become a high-volume air route, the government of the People’s Republic of China have recently signed an agreement with the government of Singapore to establish air rights between Singapore and Peking. SIA will use their Boeing 707 and 727 aircraft while CAAC, the official Chinese air carrier, will use either Trident or Boeing 707 jets.

British Aerospace Trading Profit:

British Aerospace has published its Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended December 31, 1978.

Covering the first full year of British Aerospace as a single trading organisation, the accounts show a sales turnover for 1978 of £894 million, an increase from £860 million in the previous year. Of the sale turnover some £487 million or 55 per cent was for export.

At the end of 1978, the forward order book had reached £2951 m1ll1on, of which 69 per cent was for export, an increase of more than £650 million during the year.

In 1978 British Aerospace financed, entirely by internally generated funds, an increase of £28 stg million In fixed assets and £56 million in work in progress. The Chairman reports that it is the intention of British Aerospace over the next five years to generate from its own resources about half of the substantial investment required to finance newly started projects,

Cfm/GE Win Big Engine Retrofit Orders:

The battle for the lucrative engine retrofit program has been well and truly won by General Electric and CFM of France with their CFM-56 engine. Fighting against Pratt & Whitney with the JT8D-209 (as used on the DC-9 Super 80) GE and Co won after securing orders from United Airlines and Flying Tiger. Due to the restrictive marketing nature of the project the choice made by the first two airlines would guarantee success for that manufacturer in later retrofit orders.

The total number of stretched DC-8 Series 60 aircraft still in operation and potential retrofit aircraft number 240. With the stringent noise reduction legislation becoming effective during the mid-80s all current slim-bodied jets like the 707 and DC-8 will have to be re-engined with new quieter turbofans. The popularity of the Serles 60 DC-8 is at an all-time high while privately McDonnell Douglas regret the day they closed off production in favour of their DC-10 wide body in the early 70s.

Votes of Confidence Swell A300 Orders

Three airlines – Air France, Singapore Airlines and Indian Airlines – have demonstrated their confidence in the A300 twin-jet airliner by significantly increasing their future orders.

Air France, the first operator of the European-built wide-body has decided to add 33 more aircraft to its fleet which, with existing A300s in service and on option, will lift the total Air France Airbus numbers to 50 by 1990 The airline has signed firm orders for 11 new A300s and also options for 22 more, The options include both 250-passenger A300s and the smaller, 210-passenger A310.

Immediately after the big Air France order was announced, Singapore Airlines also announced a big increase in Its A300 equipment program.

The successful Southeast Asia carrier, which was about to sign six firm orders and two options, raised its order to eight aircraft with four more options for a total of 12 planes.

Deliveries will begin in early 1981 and spread out to 1985 All the five ASEAN airlines have now ordered the A300 for regional services. One of these, Malaysia’s MAS, will operate, i’ts A300 to Perth, early next year.

Meanwhile, India’s domestic and regional flag carrier Indian Airlines placed a firm order for the purchase of two more A300s, its seventh and eighth aircraft, converting two of its three options into firm orders. The airline has also taken fresh options on two further A300s, bringing the total order with Airbus Industrie to eight firm orders plus three options.

Indian Airlines now achieves an over 80 per cent average passenger load factor on its A300 network, and 1s is experiencing a domestic air traffic growth rate of 22 per cent per annum. The growing A300 fleet will meet the ever-increasing demand for more seats while offering traditional A300 economics and comfort.

Ressurected Gulfstream

Remember the fine-looking Gulfstream I? Well, owing to the US commuter boom Gulfstream American are studying the feasibility of placing a revised version of this airliner back into production. Plans call for an 84/90 inch fuselage stretch to allow capacity for 32 passengers. Power would be supplied by two RR Dart turboprops of just under 2000eshp though Gulfstream would study their options using US-made engines.

The expected selling price would be $3. 5m with deliveries being made within two years of a project go-ahead.

Stretched Tristar

Lockheed have announced that their Dash 300 L1011 Tristar will be configured tentatively at 330 to 375 seats. The Dash 300 is intended primarily for transcontinental operations and has attracted strong interest from American Airlines, Delta and Eastern. A long-range version would follow in due course.

Meanwhile, Lockheed is hoping to increase the current model Tristar production rate from two to three aircraft per month in an effort to speed up deliveries.

Future Trends

The International Civil Aviation Organisation has released details of an in-depth study to access airline trends for the 1980s. ICOA estimates that in 1988 alone almost one billion passengers will travel by Air which is about 72 per cent up on the 1978 figures. In the next nine years, ICOA estimates that 2750 new airliners will be purchased for an estimated $70 to $85 billion while $180 billion will be spent on fuel.

Meanwhile, US carriers experienced a mammoth 20 per cent growth in the first quarter of 1979 as against the same quarter last year. Total passengers carried in 1979 could exceed 300 million while airlines now account for 85 per cent of passenger travel between US capital cities and 95 per cent of overseas travel. It was also revealed that for each cent increase In the cost of jet fuel, the US airlines would face a fuel bill of $100m.

The 1979 price increases in fuel could add $1 billion to US airline operating accounts this year.

Supersaver in Service

The DASH 500 Tristar, already dubbed the “Supersaver” by British Airways because of its advanced fuel economy features, replaces the earlier Tristar-1 on the route from London to Bahrain and Abu Dhabi on the Persian Gulf.

Mr Ken Wilkinson, Engineering Director of British Airways, said the airline’s order fleet of six Tristar-500 would save £stg1 m1ll1on on fuel bills when they were all in service and each averaging 4200 hours flying a year.

“At today’s fuel prices,” said Mr Wilkinson, “we estimate that every one per cent improvement in fuel consumption on the Tristar-500 is worth some 30,000 pounds sterling a year for each aircraft. As fuel costs rise this discount is provided by Tristar’s design and equipment refinements become even more important. ”

Indonesia Buys Three Super Hercules:

Indonesia has purchased three Lockheed L-100-30 Super Hercules transports for its transmigration airlift program, The Value of the contract, signed in Jakarta, Is In excess of $US40 million. Included in the package are spares, training and technical support.

Delivered in July, August and September of this year, the aircraft will be operated by Pelita Air Service to airlift families from Indonesia’s heavily overcrowded Interior of Java to new homes on Sumatra and other islands where fertile lands are ripe for cultivation.

Up to now, the transmigration protection has been carried out by ships on lengthy Journeys that are difficult for villagers and their families. With the Hercules, the move will be cut to a matter of hours and the families moved in air-conditioned comfort.

A commercial derivative of the C-130, the L-100-30 is 15ft longer than the standard Hercules and can carry 128 people and their personal belongings.

The aircraft is noted for its ability to operate into and out of short, unpaved strips.

A Lockheed demonstrator aircraft carried out a series of 13 two-a-day demonstration flights for the Indonesian government In mid-1978, in which entire families and their belongings – 1300 people in all – were transported in airliner comfort, complete with lunch, from Jakarta to new homes at Padang and Jambl on Sumatra, some 600 miles away. The airlift was considered a great success.

Air Canada Orders Dash 500 Tristar:

Air Canada has ordered six of Lockheed’s long-range L-1011-500 Tristar transports. The value of the six aircraft was placed at nearly $US261 million, Including spares.

Also as a part of the agreement are optional orders for nine more of the TriJets.

The new aircraft will join a fleet of 10 L-1011S already operating on Air Canada routes.

The primary use of the aircraft is expected to be on Air Canada’s long-haul, Transatlantic routes connecting Canada to Europe. The long-range capability of the L-1011-500 will allow it to be employed on such routes as Vancouver to Frankfurt, non-stop.

Fokker Friendship Flies On:

The Fokker F27 Friendship – one of the world’s most enduring, reliable and popular aircraft – is nearing the 700 mark in International sales and the makers believe they can sell 1000.

Already the best-selling commercial turboprop aircraft produced, the Friendship continues to attract orders from old and new customers.

A recent surge of new orders and the latest market research has given FokkerVFW enough confidence to plan for a continuation of F27 production “for another decade or so”, according to an announcement by the company.

Preparations are being made for a significant increase in production over the next few years to meet the demand for the F27.

The F27 Friendship first went into service in 1958 and Friendships have been flying in Australia since 1959. After two decades of operation, It remains the mainstay of such carriers as East-West Airlines and Ansett Airlines of New South Wales, of Air New Zealand’s domestic service and of Air Niugini.

Meanwhile, a major new market has opened up for Fokker-VFW’s F27 with changes in the regulations affecting commuter airline operations in the United States. Maximum seating capacity for commuter airlines has been Increased to 56 and maximum payload capacity has been raised to 18,000lb, This means that the Fokker F27, with seating for 40 to 56 passengers and a payload capacity of 13,5001b has become a leading candidate to fill the equipment needs of this huge market. Since FokkerVFW has put a big effort into a modernisation program, the F27 Friendship is offered as a state-of-the-art airliner, both in systems and in interior layout.

The first penetration of the US market has already been realised. California-based Swift Aire, the fifth largest American commuter airline in revenue passenger miles, has ordered three F27 Mk600 Friendships.

Although many F27s built under licence by Fairchild were sold in the US during the 60s, this is the first time Fokker-VFW has made a direct Friendship sale in that country. Swift Aire plans to introduce the new aircraft on its two main California routes early in 1980.

They will augment services now provided on its coastal and central valley routes between Los Angeles and San Francisco and Los Angeles and Sacramento.

This order is only one of several which during the first few months of this year, have already boosted sales of the F27 beyond the 1978 total.

Sales now exceed 700 to 152 operators in 62 countries.

More Local Boeings:

In keeping with their policy of steering clear of a widebody decision the two domestic carriers Ansett and TAA have each ordered two additional Boeing 727-200 aircraft for delivery in January and September 1980. Since August 1958, when the 707 became operational with PanAm, Boeing has produced just over 4000 jet airliners.

Near Misses on Increase

One unfortunate growth area of Australian aviation is that of near misses. Near miss figures for 1978 showed a hefty increase with 123 recorded Incidents as against only 53 in 1977. More than 40 per cent of these incidents occurred in the Sydney Flight lnformation Region. Figures for 1976 and 1975 Indicated 67 incidents while 1974 recorded 82 near misses.

Standby Expansion

Almost one year after the Initial introduction of the Standby fares scheme the DOT has approved large-scale expansion of the system.

Ansett and TAA have been attracting several thousand additional air travellers to their respective flights each week while research has shown that the majority of these new passengers formerly belonged to a group that largely preferred tram and coach travel to flying. The new standby fares provide discounts ranging from 20 per cent to 30 per cent (the most common discount) and operate on such potentially lucrative sectors as Sydney/Coolangatta, Brisbane/Cairns, Cairns/Mt Isa, Adelaide/Darwin and Sydney and Melbourne to Canberra. The new fares, which became effective on August 1 are:

Qantas Aims to Expand Air Cargo Capacity

Apart from having Rolls-Royce RB211 engines, Qantas’ 19th Boeing 747 – a freight/passenger combo – due to be delivered late this year is a significant pointer to the emphasis the airline is placing on gaining a share of the potential air freight gold mine that has yet to be tapped in this region. In 1978 Qantas flew out some 15,000 tonnes of goods and brought in 18,000 tonnes on return flights.

The total amount air freighted out of Australia in 1972, for instance, was 18,200 tonnes as against 38,000 tonnes in 1978 With the gradual introduction of 747 CombI aircraft Qantas hoped to be able to expand their freight market appreciably. This is hardly surprising when it is learnt that currently, air freight produces around 15 per cent of total Qantas turnover ($100m) which is more than double the receipts grossed from First Class travellers

Sixth African Carrier Buys 7471

Cameroon Airlines has announced the purchase of its first 747 from the Boeing Commercial Airplane Company.

The 747 will be a Combi version powered by Pratt and Whitney JT9D-7Q engines. The plane is to be delivered in April 1981 Cameroon Airlines is the sixth African country whose airline has ordered a 747.

The 747 Comb[ allows Cameroon Airlines the option of flying all passengers (totalling 439 seats) or flying passengers with six or 12-pallet cargo combinations (303 or 225 passengers respectively). This allows Cameroon Airlines maximum flexibility for changing market conditions. Qantas operates one Combi 747 with a second being delivered later this year.

The purchase brings total orders of 747s at early August to 490 aircraft, of which 380 have been delivered.

Braniff Buys Fourth 747SP:

Braniff International today announced the purchase of a Boeing 747SP for delivery in September 1980. The ultra-long-range version of the 747, together with buyer-furnished equipment and spares, is valued at about $US55. 5 million.

Braniff currently operates six 400-passenger 747s. Its 747SPs will seat 300 each. The SPs will all be equipped with Pratt and Whitney JT9D-7J engines with 50,000lb of thrust capability The 747SP Is the only widebody aircraft capable of flying the nonstop Los Angeles/Hong Kong route for which Braniff has applied or of operating Braniff’s new nonstop route to Bahrain from Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston.

On July 3 Braniff opened its first trans-Pacific flights from Los Angeles and Honolulu to Guam and Hong Kong. Nonstop Los Angeles-Seoul 747 flights will begin in September with service to Singapore beginning in October

Shorts to Develop Additional Commuter Aircraft:

Belfast-based Short Brothers Limited have announced that they intend to concentrate on advanced design commuter aircraft in the 30 to 50-seat regime. Whether this indicates a “stretched” 330 or an entirely new design is not known except that the design emphasis will be on fuel efficiency and low noise values.

Nomad Looking Good:

As the decade comes to a close it looks as if the GAF Nomad is just getting ready to take off as a marketing success. The appointment of Hughes Aviation Services to handle distribution In the United States is a major breakthrough as this firm is renowned for its aggressive marketing philosophy in the competitive North American market. With the international shortage of avgas and consequent increase in price of this type of fuel the Nomad, which uses the more plentiful and substantially cheaper avtur is becoming cheaper than the piston-engined opposition in overall fuel costs.

Bae unveils advanced supersonic

The results of a recently completed study by British Aerospace, Aerospatiale and McDonnell Douglas were quietly unveiled at the Paris Air Show. The design features an aircraft in the 230-seat regime with a cruise speed of just under Mach 2, thereby eliminating much of the expensive titanium used on the Concorde The proposed SST grosses at just over 700,000lb and would feature a 50 percent longer fuselage than Concorde and a range of around 5000 miles. Propulsion would be supplied by four engines in the 60/65,000lb thrust class utilising the proven Olympus core and would be mounted in separate nacelles rather than grouped in the current SST fashion. Leading edge slats and wing canard provide a reduction in take-off noise which BAe insist will be fully compatible with FAR-36 requirements. It is anticipated that development could be initiated around 1990 with the SST becoming operational by year 2000.

Embraer Looks to the Future:

Embraer, Brazil’s highly successful aircraft manufacturer is planning to stay well ahead of the opposition with a 30 to 38 seat pressurised commuter aircraft capable of cruising at 280kt at 25,000ft. Power will most probably be supplied by the new Pratt & Whitney ADS604, a follow-on engine to the famous PT6 family in the 1600eshp category. Embraer claims that their protected Commuter will have sufficient fuel for either one 500nm leg or for three 100nm stages without refuelling.

More a300s for Thai International:

Thai International Airways, which was Airbus Industrie’s first South East Asian customer, has placed a new order with the European manufacturer which will increase the size of its A300 fleet to ten, The carrier has also increased its number of options from two to four.

Thai International started scheduled A300 operations on the regional South-East Asian and Orient network at the end of 1977.

Airbus Industrie’s order book in early August stands at 359 (227 firm orders plus 132 options) from 28 customer frames. Of these orders, 252 are for the A300 (175 firm orders plus 77 options) and 107 for the A310 (52 firm orders plus 55 options).

Combi Version of Airbus Launched

Dutch charter airline, Martinair Holland, has placed orders for two convertible versions of the Airbus, which launches the combined freighter and passenger derivative of the European twin-engined wide-body family.

The type selected is the A310-200, which in its charter configuration will carry 250 passengers. Converted to an all-fighter aircraft, it can lift 38 tonnes of cargo over a maximum range of 5000km.

Because of the Identical fuselage dimensions of the Airbus family, the freighter version can also be offered in the bigger A300 version.

Propfan Under Review:

If ongoing tests by the US government and Lockheed prove successful propellers will be quietly making a faster and more efficient whirl into the future with the Prop-Fan.

“By using the Prop-Fan, we could fly propeller-driven aircraft at the same speeds as the turbofan passenger planes that most people fly today,” says Charles Milleran advanced technology sales representative for the Lockheed-Georgia Company.

“And we can save a tremendous amount of fuel doing it. ” Under research contracts with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Lockheed-Georgia Company is proceeding with studies and testing of the Prop-Fan’s fuel efficiency and reduced noise capability.

“Through our studies, we have found a 20 to 30 per cent reduction of fuel consumed as compared with the turbofan,” said MIiier.

“One of our contracts with them (NASA) is to study how quiet a cargo aeroplane would be which uses these new propellers,” says Miller. “We are optimistic that they may be so quiet that these aeroplanes will be good around-the-clock neighbours to those living near airports ” “Most airfreight could be carried by propeller-powered aircraft and we see a tremendous possibility for our cargo planes,” he said. “We are working hard on this with NASA. ” Unlike conventional propeller aircraft, the Prop-Fan or advanced turboprop aircraft would be powered by reduced diameter eight- to 10-bladed propellers A very thin swept-back blade allows the engine to turn at high speeds while minimising compress1b11ity and noise problems encountered with conventional propellers.

The amount of fuel burned would be reduced with a resultant reduction in direct operating costs.

The Prop-Fan research project Is part of NASA’s broadly based Aircraft Energy Efficiency program for future aircraft applications. NASA is carrying out its proJect m partnership with United Technology’s Hamilton Standard division and all three of the nation’s largest civil airframes are compared.

“Prop-Fan aircraft could cruise at about Mach O 8 (approximately 580mph) and that’s where jets are today,” Miller says.

“This (the Prop-Fan aircraft} will be so quiet that its noise level will be substantially lower than federal regulations required for jet-propelled aircraft. ” NASA intends to conduct a flight test program using the experimental Prop-Fan propeller and an air-turbine drive system mounted on top of a Lockheed-Georgia built JetStar aircraft.

The NASA-Lockheed tests – slated for May 1980 – will provide the first in-depth evaluation of the reduced noise capability of the Prop-Fan •

Airbus Seeks Aust Contractors

Airbus Industrie has sent: a team to Australia to look at the possibilities of Australian aircraft manufacturers supplying parts for both the A300 and A310.

While Airbus has had a long association with Australian industry, designed mainly to develop opportunities to offset purchases of aircraft by Australian airlines with work in Australian factories, the present visit takes the association a step closer.

The surge in A300/310 orders and the major developmental work involved in the A310 together with a new engine for the two aircraft, means that the European aircraft industry capacity has been stretched.

Accordingly, the Australian industry Is being assessed as a contributor of assemblies for the Airbus programs in advance of any move by Australian airlines to place orders for the aircraft.

The initial investment involves the potential manufacture of wing components for the A310 in this country. Although Australian factories are heavily involved in the production of wing components for American airliners, the wing for the A31o involves major technological advances including the milling from a solid stock of big components This process, using computer-controlled big milling machines, is a technology the Australian Government wants to see developed in Australia.

Another consideration has been the design and production of the new wing pylon necessary for the new Rolls-Royce engine, which is to be adapted for the Airbus family. Techniques used here include the use of automated five-axis machine toots.

The Australian Government has established this technology as a priority one for Australia, notably to support the acquisition of the new tactical tighter force (TFF).

Pylon contracts would allow this technology to be put into use in Australia ahead of any TFF work.

A spokesman for Airbus Industrie said the visit raised not only the opportunity for contracts worth many millions of dollars for high-technology Australian industries but also a significant upgrading of industry nationally.

The Airbus team has visited Hawker de Havilland in Sydney, Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation and the Government Aircraft Factories in Melbourne and the Departments of Productivity and Defence in Canberra.

The visit marks a milestone in the development of the Australian aircraft industry which, because it has potential production capacity available and a high level of skills capable of further development, is being courted by major world aircraft manufacturers who are facing an increasingly tight production position both in Europe and the United States.

Engine Manufacturers Race to Develop New Commuter Power Plants:

The unprecedented boom in commuter aircraft has led four of the largest power plant manufacturers in the world to develop new turboprops in the 1400 to 1800shp range. Pratt & Whitney has the 1700shp ADS-604 on the bench while Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca races ahead with the RTM-321 designed to develop between 1500 and 1800shp. General Electric’s CT7-2 rated at 1400shp would be ready by 1983 while Garrett A1Research has also announced a new turboprop in the 1600 to 1800shp range.

McDonnell Douglas Financially Secure Despite DC-10 Problems:

Rumours that McDonnell Douglas would suffer irreversible financial setbacks owing to the Chicago DC-10 crash are largely unfounded. Current production of the DC-10 Is booked solid till mid-1981 despite two planned increases in monthly aircraft output leading up to that period. There are more than 40 airlines throughout the world operating the DC-10 and it is unlikely that they would in the short term opt for a replacement type particularly as both Boeing and Lockheed have no delivery slots available till 1982 at the earliest on their respective wide-bodies. McDonnell Douglas will in due course press ahead with the development of their stretched Ten which will be capable of carrying a maximum of 390 passengers. It is known that this long-range high-capacity trlJet is of interest to Air New Zealand who require an aircraft of greater capacity than their current Series 30 DC- 10s.

Air Canada Places Big Order for New 767 Twinjets:

Air Canada has ordered 12 Boeing 767 new generation twinjet airliners for its North American services and has taken options on an additional 18. Deliveries will begin in October 1982. Air Canada said the price of each 767 would vary according to delivery date but the average in-service price will be $US39. 9 million each. million each. Air Canada said the range capability of the 767 would allow the airliners to fly non- stop from Montreal to Vancouver or Los Angeles, or Toronto to Trinidad in the Caribbean. This fulfilled the stipulation made when the airline invited proposals that the acceptable aircraft should have an operating range capable of covering the longest of Air _ Canada’s North American routes – 2900 statute miles (4660km).

The new Air Canada 767s will be powered· by Pratt and Whitney JT9D-7R4 engines each producing 48,000 pounds maximum rated thrust.

The Air Canada 767 order is the second to be placed by a Canadian airline. Earlier, Pacific Western Airlines, a regional carrier with head offices in Calgary, Alberta, signed for four of the new twinjets.

The 767 program got underway a year ago when United Airlines, the largest United States carrier, ordered 30 Boeing 767s.

Along with the Canadian orders, and orders for 30 by American Airlines and 20 by Delta Air Lines, the total of announced orders now stands at 96.

 Shorts Pod the Big Engines:

SHORTS, the Belfast-based aerospace company, expects to ship the 500th Rolls-Royce RB. 211 engine pods set next months, representing a major milestone In the multim1lhon pound contract for engine pods which was placed initially with the company by Rolls-Royce when the RB. 211 was first selected to power the Lockheed L. 1011 Tristar.

SHORTS, who are the largest engine podding specialists outside the United States, have developed considerable expertise in the design and production of pods for the latest generation of big fan engines and have been involved with the Rolls-Royce RB. 211 engine since Its inception. In addition to its application on the Lockheed Tristar, the SHORTS-podded RB. 211s also power a number of Boeing 747 turbo Jetliners and, following the selection of the RB. 211-535 engine to power the new Boeing 757, SHORTS has again been selected to produce the engine pods for that program.

A further valuable podding contract was awarded to the company at the end of last year when SHORTS was selected to design and manufacture the engine pods for the Avco Lycoming 502 engine which will power the new four-engined British Aerospace 146 feeder Jet which is due to make its first flight in late 1980.

The company regards Its engine podding and other aerostructure work, which includes production of the complete wings for the Fokker F. 28, of all landing gear doors (14 doors per aircraft set) for the Boeing 747 and the production of a number of flight components for the Lockheed L. 1011 Trlstar, as a major part of its strategy to maintain an involvement m a broad base of aerospace programs

New Hercules Planned:

As an example of the growth and adaptability inherent in the versatile Lockheed PropJet – already delivered in some 40 versions to 44 nations around the world – Lockheed is working closely with scheduled cargo operators to design a super-stretched Hercules airfreighter that will couple fuel-efficient turboprop engines with a cargo compartment sufficient to provide h high profitability in scheduled feeder freighter operations as well as on direct short and medium-haul routes. Lockheed states that this would be the only short to medium-range cargo transport with these capabilities. In addition to being fully compatible with the long-haul widebody Jets in a hub-and-spoke system, the proposed aircraft would have sufficient range and payload to be a profitable airfreight In its own right.

General Aviation

Us GA Sales Skyrocket

The US General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) report that GA sales for the first six months of 1979 have already topped the one billion dollar mark. This represents massive growth as during 1975 total sales barely reached this figure for the entire calendar year. Turnover is up 29. 7 per cent over the same period in 1978 with a growing interest in high-value turbofan and turboprop-powered executive aircraft. GAMA foresees an increasing interest in the use of gas turbines in place of avgas consuming piston types for all applications requiring twin-engined aircraft

Diesel Aircraft Engines Under Study:

Teledyne Continental has developed two lightweight two-cycle supercharged diesel aircraft engines suitable for GA applications. Initial calculations are that the new engines would reduce fuel consumption by around 33 per cent or more and would use the more readily available and substantially cheaper distillate in preference to regular aviation gasoline.

One engine delivers 400hp from a six-cylinder radial of 4571b dry weight, the smaller unit, a four-cylinder radial of 3571b would produce 200hp. It is believed that overall production costs of diesel engines as against regular units would result in a 20 per cent increase in production costs.

Training Fees Lowered:

As the cost of avgas increases and the availability declines more and more aero clubs and flying training centres are preparing to introduce dedicated ab initio trainers such as the Piper Tomahawk and Cessna 152 in place of the more commonly used four-place 160/180hp aircraft. The result of this trend to specialise has enabled two clubs – the Royal Aero Club of NSW and the Gold Coast Aero Club – to actually reduce per-hour training fees by between eight and 10 per cent. Both these clubs have recently re-equipped their training fleets with the Piper Tomahawk with the result that the Gold Coast Aero Club now charges only $42 instead of the former $48 per hour for flying instruction. A benefit to members is that Club member private hire has also dropped from $36 to $30 per hour despite the recent 60 per cent hike in avgas charges.

Gulfstream to Specialise

Gulfstream American have announced that they are ceasing production of their range of light piston aircraft in favour of turboprop aircraft. Gulfstream is progressing with the propjet Hustler project and will further expand its jet aircraft refurbishment program. Gulfstream American purchased the production rights to build the single-engine Cheetah and Tiger and twin-engined Cougar aircraft in 1978 from Grumman American. The Company advises that full product support and spares will always be available to current Gulfstream operators.

The Company has also abandoned plans to purchase production rights and equipment to launch a stretched version of the ill-fated VFW-614 airliner.

Piper’s New Star

Piper’s latest front-runner is the ex-Ted Smith Aerostar range of high-flying twins. The Aerostar range has always enjoyed a good, if low profile, image in Australia. With the professional marketing and sales backing of Anset: General Aviation the Aerostar range will certainly reach new heights. A complete in-depth air test of the Aerostar is scheduled for a coming issue of AAOR.

Hustler Engine Change:

The propulsion for the Gulfstream American Hustler has been changed from the PT6A-41 turboprop to the Garrett AiResearch TPE331-10 flat-rated engine. The second engine on the Hustler will remain as the tail-mounted P&W JT15D-1 turbofan.

Stretched King Air:

Beechcraft is currently investigating the feasibility of stretching the King Air Super 200 some 15 feet to produce a 19-seat commuter airliner.

Commuter services are in a state of unprecedented boom in the US at present and this situation is seen as generally increasing as the fuel availability for private cars dwindles In the coming year. Many people who would have driven 100 or 200 kilometres in their car are now looking to commuter air services as a viable alternative. The proposed aircraft would be called the Beech 1900 Airliner and would be powered by two 10O0hp PT6A-65 turboprops which would allow it to carry a full payload of 41001b at 10,000ft at 266kts over a range with reserves of around 580 statute miles. The estimated price is said to be in the $14m regime and if the project gets the go-ahead first delivery should be made no later than 1983.

Cessna Reports Record Sales:

Wichita, Kansas – The highest monthly sales dollar volume in its history in June helped Cessna Aircraft Company establish new records In both sales and earnings for the third quarter and nine-month period ended June 30.

Nine-month sales of $681 million were up 24% from the $549 million reported a year ago. After-tax earnings for the same period Increased 51% to $36 million, from the $24 million recorded in the first three quarters of fiscal 1978. Earnings per share advanced to $2. 04 on 17,697,455 shares outstanding, versus $1. 38 and 17,343,366 shares last year.

Sales of $267 million in the third quarter increased 25%, yielding a 37% increase In earnings to $15 million ($0. 85 per share), versus sales of $214 million and earnings of $11 million ($0. 64 per share) a year ago.

Cessna Chairman and President, Russ Meyer, pointed to the delivery of 37 Citation business jets in the third quarter, 15 in June alone, as a contributing factor in the company’s sales and earnings improvement.

Advanced Westwind Under Development:

Israel Aircraft Industries has recently announced that full-scale development of an advanced aircraft in the Westwind series is underway. The development program is targeted for certification and deliveries in the 1982-83 time frame.

Gabriel Gidor, President of Israel Aircraft industries declared that funding for development was recently approved by the Board of Directors of IAI, manufacturers of the highly successful Westwind I and Its predecessor in the Westwind line. The approval was based on preliminary concept and feasibility studies, including wind tunnel evaluations, which showed that the planned aircraft would more than meet its designed objectives.

Basic concepts for the design include intercontinental range and long-range cruise speed in the match. 8 envelopes, and highly economical operation.

Flight Test Program Exceeds 1000 Hours:

The Cheyenne Ill engineering test program has exceeded the 1000-hour mark.

The program calls for delivery of the first PA-42 sometime in December. Wind tunnel testing is complete and the Cheyenne Ill’s performance and handling characteristics are extremely satisfactory. The Cheyenne Ill is expected to have a significant impact In the marketplace. US Certification 1s are expected in December.

The Cheyenne III was originally announced at the NBAA convention in 1977.

Subsequently, it was decided to increase fuselage length to provide more passenger comfort The fuselage was lengthened three feet.

Citation Sells:

Production of Cessna’s Citation II is sold out into mid-1981. Coupled with sales of Citation I, Cessna expects to set business jet sales records in 1979 A third member of the fleet, the all-new Citation III, began test flights in May, giving Cessna a full range of turbine-powered business aircraft from turbo-props to the three different models of the fanjet Citations.

Beech Aircraft Earnings:

Beech Aircraft Corporation today reported that sales and earnings for the third quarter of its 1979 fiscal year were the highest for any single quarter in the company’s 47-year history, and announced an 8. 7% increase in its annual cash dividend rate. Total consolidated sales for the three record months were $114,863,338 $1 ended 57,591 reported June,717, up 30, for 1196. 9% 79same, reached over a quarter the military a year ago.

Hot Sioux:

An English company, Heliwork, based at Thruxton Aerodrome have gained certification for the world’s first turbine-powered Bell 47 Sioux conversion.

Heliwork uses the 420hp Allison 250-C20B turbine which is de-rated at only 51% torque for continuous operation and 63% for takeoff, It is claimed that this degree of flat rating results in virtually tripling engine life. Cost of the total conversion is Just under $100,000 which transforms the Sioux Into the basic Jetranger class in terms of outright performance.

Schofields Better Than Ever:

The weekend of November 10 and 11 will again see the Schofields Air Show in full display. Schofield Flying Club have played host to Australia’s biggest GA air pageant for a number of years now and the 1979 Show, weather permitting, will be their biggest display yet held The Air Show will again feature a full spectrum of aerobatics, light aircraft flight demonstrations, model aircraft flying and several RAN and RAAF static displays.

AADR will be represented with our own static display and we look forward to meeting some of our readers at the ’79 Schofields.

Radar for Pipers:

The American RCA company has developed a banana peel-style weather radar for late-model Piper aircraft. Situated in the leading edge of the wing the radar has range settings of 15, 30, 60 and 90 nautical miles with a 90-degree scan angle. The RCA units sell for around $7000 and feature cyclic contour, range mode alphanumerics, four-level digit indicator and 14V internal power. Fitment of the radar within the wing leading edge obviates the need for a pod-mounted unit thereby not sacrificing airspeed or fuel economy.

Military

Mig-23 Revealed?

Sources within Egypt have reported that there is a strong possibility that US test pilots have flown the Egyptian MiG-23. Since the formal signing of the Egyptian/Israeli peace treaty, there has been a new level of cooperation between Egyptian and American Intelligence services which Included a full evaluation of the complete range of Soviet-supplied aircraft in’ the EAF inventory.

Puma to Be Assembled in Indonesia:

P T Nurtanio and Aerospatiale have signed an agreement covering the licence assembly of the twin-engine Puma helicopter in Indonesia. The agreement also gives Nurtanio exclusive sales rights for Indonesia and non-exclusive rights to South-East Asia. Indonesia has already purchased 30 Pumas, and the first locally assembled aircraft will be ready in mid-1981.

Anti-submarine Weapon:

The RAAF and the RAN have completed successful operational trials of the Australian-designed and built Barra antisubmarine sonobuoy.

The Minister for Defence, Mr D. J. Killen, said that the trials confirmed earlier development trials’ results and performance predictions, demonstrating that Barra’s detection and location performance was far superior to that of passive directional sonobuoys produced in other countries.

Air Force personnel involved in the trials said Barra had exceeded their expectations.

Mr Killen said the trials had been carried out off Jervis Bay, NSW, using an Orion antisubmarine aircraft of the RAAF, and an Oberon class submarine. This class of submarine was one of the quietest (and therefore one of the most difficult to detect) in service in the world’s navies.

The Barra buoy is released from a cylinder about a metre long and 12cm in diameter, packed with intricate equipment.

It is dropped Into the sea from special chutes In an anti-submarine aircraft and listens for the noise of a submarine through very sensitive headphones. The information received by the buoy is relayed back to the aircraft by radio and is processed by a specially designed computer, providing an accurate data fix on a detected submarine and a classification of Its type.

The UK has developed the airborne computer, known as the AQS9 01 sonics processor, In collaboration with Australia.

The Barra buoy was developed from a research project called Nangana which was completed in the early 1970s by the Defence Research Centre at Salisbury, South Australia (then known as the Weapons Research Establishment, and part of the Department of Supply).

Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd has been awarded a contract to co-ordinate marketing of the Australian-designed and built Barra sonobuoy. Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation also will provide marketing support to the Department on specific aspects of the project.

The Barra sonobuoy had proved In recent trials that its detection and location performance was superior to that of other sonobuoys presently available overseas and that the buoy had a good potential for export sales to approved countries.

The UK had ordered buoys valued at about $8 million for its Nimrod antisubmarine aircraft, and further orders were expected. the RAAF would commence using Barra sonobuoys after the installation of the AQS901 sonics processor In its newly acquired Orion P3C aircraft.

The ability to detect over greater ranges than other sonobuoys enabled fewer, or even a single Barra buoy, to cover the same sea area; alternatively, the same number of buoys would enable coverage of a larger area. This, combined with long operational life and a high probability of accurate location, offered a significant improvement in maritime patrol aircraft effectiveness.

Government Promoting Design Study:

The Australian Government has announced that it will provide $340,000 to support an exploratory design study to be conducted by CAC, GAF and Hawker De Havilland into the local production of a replacement alrcraft/s for the CT-4 and Macchi MB-326H aircraft. The design team will also examine the possibility of local industry becoming Involved with the design and production of replacement aircraft in collaboration with an overseas manufacturer. The move is seen by industry as a major step forward In developing a locally designed and built replacement for aircraft types that could also be successfully exported.

Better Radar for F-16:

USAF Tactical Air Command has indicated that It would very much like to see an upgrade of the radar capability of the F-16. In a sweeping review of possible air combat scenarios of the eighties involving the new family of highly capable Soviet warplanes, TAC has recommended an upgrading of the current Westinghouse unit or fitment of the Hughes APG-65, the radar used In the F-18A Hornet.

The Hughes radar weighs 90Ib more than the standard Westinghouse unit and would require more internal space than is currently provided in the F-16 nose. Westinghouse, on the other hand, has confirmed that they are able to significantly upgrade the current F-16 radar in all modes if given sufficient funding from USAF to carry out the required R&D. Either way, with the growth of Soviet offensive airpower It is a fair bet that not only will the F-16 acquire a more capable radar but will also feature radar-guided AAMs·as part of an overall upgrading of capabilities in the early eighties.

Maverick Spot On:

Hughes has released Information that Indicates that their air-to-ground Maverick missile has achieved an 88% accuracy record. Fired my anger in Vietnam and the Middle East, and my operational training, a total of 498 firings have resulted in 438 direct hits upon the designated target.

Revitalised Viking:

Lockheed’s mini-sub hunter, the S-3A Viking could see production again as a carrier-based tanker and high-priority cargo carrier. United States Navy is currently preparing its RFP for these two roles to replace the Grumman Greyhound (a cargo version of the Hawkeye) and the Douglas Skywarrior tanker conversion. The Viking variant is a leading contender for both roles which the USN will make a final decision on in 1980.

Raaf Tests Laser Capability:

The RAAF in June and July carried out trials at Woomera to test the carriage and release of laser-guided bombs by RAAF Mirage aircraft. The trials were followed by ground testing at the Aircraft Research and Development Unit (ARDU) based at RAAF Edinburgh, South Australia. The modular guidance kits were supplied at no cost by Texas Instruments who are currently the sole manufacturers of laser-guided equipment for general-purpose bombs. Standard Mk82 500Ib general-purpose bombs manufactured by the Dept of Productivity were used for the trials. Texas Instruments recognised the RAAF as one of the few Mirage operators with sufficient expertise and facilities to undertake the trials. The test would ultimately provide the RAAF with the potential capability to mount air strikes against laser-designated targets, a capability not presently available in the RAAF Meanwhile, the F-16 has completed a series of flight tests using the Pave Penny pod-mounted laser guidance system at the Edwards AFB Test Centre, California. Pave Penny is also used on the A-7D and A-10 attack aircraft and is a passive receiver designed to detect and track a target illuminated by a ground or airborne-based laser designator.

Update for F-15 Radar:

From May next year Hughes will be supplying high-speed digital programmable signal processors as an update to the APG-63 radar. The modification will result in the radar being able to track four targets simultaneously out to ranges of 100nm and Is only one of a number of updates planned for the F-15 Eagle through the eighties.

Strategic Air Command Look to Executive Jets:

USAF is investigating the possibility of employing off-the-shelf executive Jets for aircrew training of its B-52 wings. With the cost of operating these ageing aircraft growing higher each month SAC have instigated a study to examine the possibilities of crews flying up to 50% of their 300-hour annual average in small executive Jets, Four aircraft – Learjet 35, Sabrelmer 65A, C1tatIon II, and Falcon 10 – are currently short-listed with this list being reduced to two aircraft by November this year Request For Proposals will then be issued to the two finalists and SAC crews will commence their type evaluations to decide the practability of such a concept. If successful the program will open the door for many similar projects involving smaller relatively inexpensive aircraft in place of front-line aircraft e

Inspection of Raaf Canberras

Canberra aircraft of the RAAF were withdrawn from service temporarily for inspection for airworthiness Indications of possible cracks in lugs which attach the wings to the fuselage were found in two aircraft at Amberley, Old, An inspection of the 21 Canberras in RAAF service was completed within a fortnight The British-designed Canberra was the world’s first jet bomber It made its maiden flight on May 13, 1949, and set new world records for speed, height and range.

In Australia, 48 Canberras were built for the RAAF at the Government Aircraft Factories, in Melbourne. The first was delivered to the RAAF m 1953 Canberras served with the RAAF’s No 2 Squadron in Vietnam for several years.

At present, the RAAF has 21 Canberras in service Thirteen are used by No. 2 Squadron at Amberley for photographic reconnaissance and target-towing, three are used for research at the Aircraft Research and Development Unit at RAAF Edinburgh, SA, and five are in storage at Amberley.

Fuel-Saving Test Flight Set at Dryden

The first flight of a modified Air Force Jet cargo/tanker that could provide significant fuel savings – a joint NASA/Air Force program – has taken place at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif Winglets, 2. 7-meter (9-foot) long airfoil sections, attached to the wingtips of a KC- 135, are expected to improve the overall performance of the aircraft In cruise flight by approximately 8 per cent.

According to studies conducted by the Air Force. Flight Dynamics Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, KC-135s, retrofitted with winglets, could provide performance improvements resulting in annual savings of 257,400 litres (68,000 gallons) of gasoline per aircraft, or 170 million litres (45 million gallons) for the entire fleet (based upon 1975 utilization rates).

The winglet concept was developed in the wind tunnels of NASA’s Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA, by Dr Richard T. Whitcomb, who also conceived the supercritical wing, another fuel-saving design.

The winglets are 0. 6m (2ft) wide at the tip and 1 am (6ft) wide at the base and weigh about 98 kilograms (215 pounds) each. They are designed to convert a. portion of the normal drag that is produced by the wingtip vortices into lift which increases the overall performance of the aircraft.

It Is possible to vary the incidence and cant angle of the winglets in between research flights to determine their effectiveness at varying positions Prior to installation of the winglets, a series of baseline flights were flown by NASA Dryden. Data from the flights without winglets and with winglets installed will be compared to measure the winglet effectiveness

First Combat:

Both the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and the IAI Kfir C2 were used In combat for the first time in late June when the Israeli Air Force fought an air battle over southern Lebanon with Syrian MiG- 21s. The F-15s were flying top cover for the Kfirs, which were tasked with attacking PLO guerilla strongholds in the Litani River region of southern Lebanon, and were backed up with AWACS support from IAF Grumman E-2C Hawkeye aircraft. It is also the first time the E-2C has teamed with the F-15 in an actual combat situation. IAF sources Indicate that the E-2C picked up the Syrian MiG fighters as they commenced their takeoff roll north of Damascus, and from that moment on the F-15 Eagles were vectored onto interception headings by voice command from the E-2C which was safely orbiting over Northern Israel. The ensuing dogfight pitted six F-15s and four Kfirs against eight MIGs.

IAF sources claim that six MiGs were destroyed and a seventh damaged. Five of the MiG-21 aircraft were downed by Israeli-made Shafrir IA missiles fired by the F-15 while the sixth kill was claimed by a Kfir relying on its 30mm cannon. More than anything else, the action highlighted the benefits of having airborne AWACS support for modern combat aircraft

ISRAELI RADAR FOR F-16:

General Dynamic F-16 fighters destined for Israel’s Heyl Ha Avir are to be equipped with ELTA 2021B radar units in place of the standard US-made Westinghouse equipment. ELTA, a specialised electronics division of Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI), claim the compact 20216 has full mono pulse operation, better air-to-ground resolution and can track 16 targets while scanning. The radar has been flight-tested in both Kfir and Phantom aircraft and will be installed In the F-16 next year when that aircraft is introduced into the IAF inventory.

Us Navy Aircraft Losses

The US Navy lost fourteen aircraft in 1978 according to information given in the Naval Review.

Among the losses were two F-14 Tomcats, one E-2 Hawkeye, one S-3A Viking and three P-3 Orion aircraft. It is not known what circumstances led to the loss of three Orion aircraft which also claimed the lives of twenty crew members.

The Last Phantom

As you read these words the last McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom has left the assembly line. This particular aircraft, an F-4E destined for South Korea, represents aircraft unit number 5177 in what will go down in history as one of the most successful combat aircraft ever built. In USAF Tactical Air Command service the Phantom is progressively being replaced by the F-15 and F-16.

AV88 Interest:

USAF has announced that if the McDonnell Douglas AV88 Harrier can be given full night and all-weather capabilities it will be considered as a candidate for the enhanced tactical fighter program. USAF has also requested that an Air Force test pilot be assigned to the AV88 development program to evaluate the aircraft and V/STOL operational concepts as applied to USAF. A similar request has also been made to evaluate the F-18A Hornet fighter.

NASA to Fly F-14 in Research Program:

An F-14 fighter aircraft has been loaned by the Naval Air Systems Command to NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif, where it will be used in a Joint NASA-Navy research program. The aircraft will be flown as part of NASA’s inflight research on current high-speed military aircraft.

NASA Dryden is currently operating two US Air Force F-15 fighters and Dryden pilots have flown the YF-17, the prototype of the new F/A-18 Navy multimission aircraft.

The F-14 program will include an in-flight assessment of a new control system concept developed by NASA.

Data from the program will be used to aid in the design of future high-speed aircraft.

To Europe by Chinook

Four US Army CH-47C Chinook medium-lift helicopters have successfully flown from Ft Carson, Colorado to Heidelberg, West Germany in a self-deploy exercise code-named Operation Northern Leap. The four Chinooks are evaluating the feasibility of direct theatre deployment from continental US bases in the event of a surprise attack on Western Europe. The route followed took in fuel/rest stops at Davenport, Iowa: Cumberland, Pennsylvania; Loring AFB, Maryland; Goose Bay, Canada; Greenland; Keflav1k, Iceland; Losslemouth, Scotland and Odilham, England.

Foxbats for Syria?

Following the demoralising defeat of the Syrians in an air battle between Israeli and Syrian Jets late in June, Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi has promised to make good any Syrian aircraft.

losses and if necessary to supply Syria with his own MiG-25 Foxbats. At time of writing it was not known what the official Soviet reaction was to this offer.

No Ffg Helo for Several Years:

With the first of three Oliver Hazard Perry-class FFG patrol frigates on order for the RAN due to enter service in 1980 there is concern among the navy that suitable helicopters would not be available to 1983.

Selection of a suitable shipboard helo was to be decided by late 1978, at prevent It looks as if a firm decision could be as much as a year away. Contending aircraft are the Westland Lynx, Kaman Seasprite, Aerospatlale Puma and the heavily equipped Sikorsky LAMPS Ill which is the USN choice for the vessel. Plans to use the RAN Kiowas have been dropped while suggestions of using the Wessex are complicated by the fact that the Wessex is due for substantial re-refurbishment and is also scheduled to serve aboard the new RAN support ship, the Tobruk. Modern patrol boats with World War II vintage Bofors and highly sophisticated frigates without helicopters does not help to create the image overseas that the DOD is master of its own destiny.

Hawks for Air Defence

The RAF Is to equip a portion of its Hawk trainer force with the latest AIM-9L Sidewinder AAM for use as a point defence fighter. Following an all-out attempt to hurriedly upgrade Britain’s air defence capabilities the RAF will also adapt the Phantom to carry British Aerospace Skyflash missiles In place of the US-made Sparrows. The Phantom will also use the AIM-9L Sidewinder. An additional squadron of F. 6 Lightnings is being reactivated though there is little that the RAF can really do to improve the chances of intercepting such threats as Backfire, Fencer and Foxbat till the arrival of the ADV Tornado in 1984.

Shades of the Gnat

ARL, a private Swiss group of engineers, aircraft specialists and reserve officers of the Swiss Air Force have produced a flying scale model of a proposedmicrofIghter. The small Jet aircraft, named Piranha, is about 20 per cent smaller in overall size than the F-5E or MiG-21. AAL has so far produced a scale flying model, conducted wind tunnel tests and built a full-size cockpit mock-up.

The Piranha features a HUD, fly-by-wire controls, a canard foreplane, 30mm Oerlikon cannon and two wing-tip mounted Sidewinder I R missiles. The projected powerplant is the developed -58 version of the Rolls-Royce Adour as used In late-model Jaguar attack aircraft. The basic design allows a full STOL capability along with a maximum Mach number of 1.6, The combat intercept radius is only around 180nm but as the mission requirement is primarily point defence then this would be generally adequate. The purpose of the ARL exercise Is to provide a Swiss-manufactured and marketed aircraft that could provide a viable F-5/MiG-21 replacement to those nations wishing such an aircraft but not wanting to tie themselves to either Superpower politically or economically.

 HAWK CRUISE MIS

The US Navy has awarded Beech Aircraft Corporation a contract in excess of $9 million for the production of additional Beechcraft T-34C training aircraft.

This contract brings the Navy procurement of T-34Cs to a total of 184 aircraft. E. C. Nikkel, Beech vice p resident – aerospace programs said. The additional aircraft will provide the Navy with an all-T-34C, turbine-powered fleet for its basic and primary training programs.

The T-34C replaces piston-engine T-34B and T-28 aircraft which the Navy has operated in training student pilots for more than 20 years.

Small Air Launched Tomahawk Cruise Missile Under Study:

General Dynamics and the US Navy are planning to develop a smaller version of the Tomahawk cruise missile specifically for use from earner-based attack aircraft. The new missile would weigh only 2000Ib including its 1000Ib conventional warhead.

The range of the mini-Tomahawk would be 600km in accordance with SALT 2 accords and the missile would be of 194 inches in length. The proposed missile would offer an attractive anti-ship capability for such aircraft as the F-111 and P-3 Orion of the RAAF once they were modified with suitable avionics.

“Australianised” F-18 on Offer:

Northrop has released data on their proposal for a localised version of the F-SA for the RAAF Tactical Fighter Force requirement. The aircraft is not the F-18L but a modified McDonnell Douglas/Northrop F-1SA. The local aircraft features the much lighter undercarriage of the YF-17, a system that has been in use now for more than half a decade. Northrop is also offering a non-folding version of the F-18A wing which allows for two additional hardpoints for underwing stores. The specialised carrier-required landing avionics are also deleted along with the heavy USN arrestor hook, a standard lightweight NATO hook would be used in its place. Overall this trims around 30001b off the F-1SA Hornet dry weight and just over one million dollars off the flyaway price of that aircraft. Northrop is willing to place the total construction of all F-18 family undercarriage units with the Australian industry if the aircraft is selected as the Mirage replacement

French Aerospace Industry Scores Again in USA:

American aerospace executives literally fell off their chairs when the Dassault-Breguet Falcon Guardian was chosen by the US Coast Guard as their future medium-range maritime surveillance aircraft two years ago.

This represented an order for some 41 aircraft and was won against stiff competition from US manufacturers. Just to top that off Aerospatiale has literally run off with the US Coast Guard short-range recovery (SRA) helicopter order handily downing both Bell with their 222 and Sikorsky with the S-76.

This latest triumph is worth $US215 million and covers 90 Dauphin 2 helicopters. In retrospect, it was the large number of US-based Falcon executive jets that helped the Guardian win the 1977 USCG order. Now It will be the exact opposite with the purchase, and overall endorsement, by the USCG of the Aerospatiale Dauphin that will result in this helicopter gaining greater access to the lucrative US domestic market against such entrenched competitors as Bell and Sikorsky.

New Business for Australian Industry:

Lockheed-California Company’s Director of Material, Robert R. Paul, said this week that “due to the increased sales of P-3C Orion and L-1011 Trlstar aircraft, Lockheed has reassessed the total value of contracts placed with Australian industry under the company’s Australian Industrial Participation Program (AIP) at potentially $US74 million In 1975 the Australian government purchased 10 P-3C Orion Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft from the United States Government under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement In support of this sale, Lockheed and its P-3C suppliers placed 22 contracts with Australian firms. These contracts, which have generated $US11. 5 million through 1978, were structured to meet an AIP goal of $US48. 8 million by mid-1983 Many of these contracts are ongoing and relate directly to aircraft produced by Lockheed.

Because of the actual and projected increased demand for these aircraft, Lockheed is now projecting the established contracts will exceed $US48. 8 million by mid-1983 and could reach $US74 m1ll1on through 1986.

Paul stated that $US74 million is not the final word.

“From 1975 through 1978 we and our suppliers have issued to Australian industry close to 20,000 requests for bid quotations.

These requests had an annual value of $US48 million. We hope to maintain this level of activity well into the future,” Paul said.

Some of the Australian companies taking advantage of the Lockheed-California Company’s AIP program are British Aerospace (Australia), Commonwealth Aircraft, E-COMM, Hawker De Havilland, Morris Productions and STC-Cannon.

Egyptians S W AP Migs With Chinese:

While waiting for a promised $1. 5 billion In American military credits to overhaul its armed forces, Egypt has reportedly carried out a mutually satisfactory swap of Soviety-type jetfighters with China.

The Chinese have provided at least 40 aircraft, their version of the MiG-19, called the Shenyang F-6, with the first created planes arriving early this year. About 20 aircraft have been assembled and at least four are now flying, according to knowledgeable military sources In return, the Egyptians have given China a more advanced MiG-23 supersonic fighter, the sources said. China, whose relations soured with the Soviet Union before it could get the plane, will examine it with the apparent aim of manufacturing a Chinese version.

The Soviet Union supplied about two dozen M1G-23s to Egypt before halting military aid after the 1973 war. All Egyptian MiG-23s are now grounded for lack of spare parts and their two squadrons have been disbanded.

Rockwell Unveils Forward Swept Wing Mini-Fighter

One of the most interesting exhibits at the Paris Air Show was the balsa wood full-size mock-up of Rockwell’s forward-swept wing fighter proposal. The aircraft is an F-5 size fighter powered by a single GE F404 afterburning turbofan producing 16,000lb thrust. The armament consists of a 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon plus two Sidewinder/Sparrow AAMs. Radar Is straight from the F-18 family with Hughe’s Impressive APG-65, so the mini-fighter Is capable of more than just day missions.

The estimated cost of the aircraft would be in the region of $US6 million or about 25% less than the current F-16 flyaway cost. Forward wing advantages are an overall decrease in radar size, decrease in aircraft bulk and structure weight, ability to operate at very low stall speeds thereby utilising STOL capabilities in take-off and landing modes and greatly reduced transonic drag profiles enhancing transit fuel economy and mission radius.

Rebuilt F-102A Help Train Fighter Pilots

Three years ago, the Air Force decided to convert obsolete General Dynamics F-102s, mothballed at DavlsMonthan AFB, Ariz, to full-scale, manoeuvring, after-burning target drones for fighter pilots on practice missions.

Standard·target drones are about half the size of a real fighter. They don’t present the radar or visual picture of an actual enemy as friendly pilots would in mock dogfights, but mock dogfight pilots don’t pull the manoeuvres a desperate enemy would in a real battle.

In response to the problem, the Air Force developed a project called PAVE DEUCE, allowing pilots to train realistically for air-to-air combat in manoeuvres and attack techniques of remotely controlled F-102s.

The F-102s have been rebuilt from existing and newly fabricated parts to approximate the size and configuration of Soviet-designed aircraft. They can fly at nearly 800 miles per hour up to 55,000 feet above the ground and are lighter and more manoeuvrable than the original aeroplane – and can duplicate the type of enemy fighter tactics US pilots can expect to meet.

Tilt-Rotor Aircraft Demon Strates Capability

A research aircraft combining features of helicopters and con-ventilation turboprop aeroplanes has successfully demonstrated in-flight conversion from helicopter mode to aeroplane mode.

The milestone flight was made at Bell Helicopter Textron’s Flight Research Center in Arlington, Texas, Bell designed and built the aircraft under a Joint research program of the NASA Ames Research Centre, Mountain View, Calif and the US Army’s Research and Technology Laboratories.

The XV-15 Tilt Rotor Research Aircraft has a 7. 5-meter diameter (25-foot) helicopter-type rotor at each wingtip. Each rotor is powered by a turboprop engine and each engine-rotor-prop system can be pivoted from straight up to straight ahead.

With rotors oriented up and the blades rotating in the horizontal plane, the aircraft operates as a helicopter and can make vertical landings and takeoffs as well as hover.

With rotors rotated forward the blades function as airplane propellers and the vehicle fires like an airplane. it is designed to be much quieter than today’s helicopters and turboprop aircraft.

The tilt-rotor aircraft concept can combine vertical landing and takeoff capabilities with the advantages of longer range, and higher.

speed transport aircraft. Potential future military missions include search and rescue, reconnaissance, surveillance and troop transport. Future civil use includes long-range, off-shore resource exploration and Intercity transportation.

The tilt-rotor concept is designed for better hover and climb performance than present helicopters and with an expected cruising speed of about 550 kilometres/hour (345 miles/hour), It will be faster than many present turboprop aircraft.

The aircraft is 12. 6m (42ft) long and has a 9. 6m (32ft) forward-swept wing. Nacelles at the end of each wing house the Lycoming 1500-horsepower free turbine engines and Bell transmissions which drive the motor props. Each nacelle-engine-rotor combination rotates through 95 degrees to provide unique helicopter/aircraft capabilities.