Newsdesk- General Aviation

US Tour Ideal for Enthusiasts:

Brian Creer, Brisbane-based Public Relations officer for DofA and a regular AUSTRALIAN AVIATION contributor, in conjunction with Qantas have come up with an exciting 23 day tour of the USA next winter. The tour visits Oshkosh, the Antique Airplane Association convention at Blakesburg, EAA Museum, the Henry Ford aero museum, Wright Patterson AFB, the Champlin Air Fighter Museum in Arizona, just to name a few. For more details on this exciting tour contact Mr Rex Kirkham, Qantas, Brisbane on (07) 224 3711.

Conquest of the Corsair:

Cessna are doing a Piper and has re-designated their Corsair turboprop a Conquest I, similarly the current Conquest that we know Is now the Conquest II. You may remember that Piper conducted a similar exercise on their early Cheyennes which now ranges through to the proposed Cheyenne IV. The original Conquest was introduced in 1977 and 296 of these aircraft had been delivered to date. The smaller, less powerful Corsair was introduced in 1980 and more than 140 are in service worldwide.

Piper Announce the Cheyenne IV:

The high-performance twin turboprop market is certainly hotting up even if things are a little slow on the sales side. Not wishing to be left in the wake turbulence of Learavia’s Learfan, Piper have unveiled plans for the fourth edition to their popular Cheyenne family. The IV shapes up as a very impressive aircraft. Powered by two Garrett TPE331-14 turboprops flat-rated to 1000 shp each the IV is capable of a 4000 mph cruise speed at an altitude of 41,000 feet.

The Cheyenne IV is developed from experience gained from over two million flight hours of service on the worldwide Cheyenne fleet of more than 800 aircraft. In addition to the change to Garrett turbo-props, the IV will use new-technology Dowty Rotol advanced composite propellers featuring an entirely new aerofoil section, flush riveting, an electronic flight deck, an oversized nose cargo area and be able to maintain a 10,000 ft altitude at 41,000 ft cruise altitude, an altitude the IV can climb to in less than 25 minutes. Piper claim that the Super King Air 200 would have to fly 56 kts slower to achieve a similar specific range. And while the Citation I moves five knots faster than the IV at 39,000 ft, its specific range is 30% less The Cheyenne IV will carry six passengers plus baggage 1680 nm with reserves or four passengers with baggage 1960 nm. First flight is planned for late 1983 with US deliveries commencing during 1984.

Big Year for Air Shows:

Autumn 1983 looks set as a boom time for major Australian air shows. Come March and the first of three giant air shows kicks off with the Rotary-sponsored ‘Flying High’ show at Albury airport on Sunday 13th March. One week later follows what promises to be the best ever Schofields which now stretches through four days, two for the trade and two for the public. A fortnight later the SAAA presented their second major air show at the giant Mangalore airfield north of Melbourne. All three shows are promised RAAF involvement and are certain to attract massive audiences.

Free Maintenance With Mitsubishis:

Mitsubishi, makers of the Marquis (air tested this issue), the Solitaire and Diamond jet, have just launched an exclusive two year free maintenance programme. Basically, if you purchase a Mitsubishi product you will not see a service invoice for at least two years. Local sales and support is performed by lnterair based at Essendon lnterair have sold a number of Marquis and Solitaire aircraft over the past two years and are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first Diamond I executive jet, due to arrive at Essendon during 1983.

US GA Production Rate Halved:

According to the General Aviation Manufacturers’ Association (GAMA) US GA production for the first half of 1982 is down nearly 50% on the same period of 1981, itself a relatively depressed period. From January till June 1982 US manufacturers delivered a total of 2517 aircraft worth $1,073,465,000 as compared with 5021 units worth $1,390,000,000 (not accounting a 10% inflationary component) for the same period in 1981. June itself was the worst month with only 353 aircraft delivered against 870 for June 1981, exports were only 99 as against 221. Top sellers with Beech were the Bonanza with 106 deliveries and the King Air family with 135 deliveries. Cessna’s stars were 172 with 224 sold, the Citation with 67 and the Centurion with 104 sales. Piper enjoyed highest numerical sales with the Warrior with 72 sales, the Cheyenne with 35 sales and the Seneca Ill with 96 sales. Fairchild/Swearingen had delivered 25 aircraft in the period, Mooney 99, Gulfstream 46 and Gates Learjet 55 aircraft. Locally distributors of American GA equipment have been hit in the past year by an increasingly expensive US dollar (effective to a 20 per cent increase in the past eighteen months), interest rates twice what they were in the mid-seventies, ever-increasing fuel, operating and maintenance costs and a regular 10% per annum inflation rate in recent years.

Turboprop P210:

Riley Conversions of California are achieving encouraging results from their Cessna P21O Centurion turboprop conversion. Utilising a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-112 of 680 shp flat-rated to 400 shp and driving a reversible Hartzell four-bladed propeller with Q-tips, the P210 is booking a 300 mph cruise speed at 23,000 ft and3000 ft/ min climb rate. Riley claim a fuel consumption of 30 gal/hr which provides a typical IFR range of 1000 nm with appropriate reserves. Riley claims two dozen firm orders for the conversion which to existing P210s will cost around $250,000 and $330,000 to $450,000 for a new aircraft.

Piper’s New Commuter Visits Australia:

Piper’s new Turboprop Commuter Airliner, the T1040, made its first appearance in Australia early in November when a company-owned demonstrator arrived from New Zealand during the course of an around-the-world demonstration tour The T1040 has been developed from the piston-engined Piper Chieftain which has established a very high reputation for economy and reliability with Australian operators. Following the Department of Aviation’s recent decision to introduce a requirement for two pilots on commuter aircraft carrying more than nine passengers, Ansett General Aviation claim that the most economical 18-passenger commuter will be two T1040s offering a frequency of service and flexibility unobtainable with a larger aircraft.

To produce the T1040 Piper have mated the fuselage of the Chieftain with the nose and undercarriage of the Cheyenne IIXL and the engine nacelles and baggage lockers of the Cheyenne III.

Selling in Australia fully equipped for approximately $1.1 million, the T1040 is less than half the price of the 18-seater Beechcraft C99 commuter. It has been certificated to the latest United States FAR design requirements and is powered by the Pratt & Whitney PT6A-11 engine that combines low weight, high power and extreme reliability. Full fuel can be carried with a total of eleven persons on board. Cruise speeds are relatively high (up to 238 kts) and it has a fast rate of climb and high undercarriage and flap extension speeds, all highly desirable features from a Commuter Operator’s point of view.

Transport Indicators Show Downturn:

The latest Transport Indicators released by the Department of Transport and Construction provide a number of statistics which show a significant downturn in a number of areas of aviation. Following spectacular increases in passenger traffic in the period from 1977 to 1981, commuter activity in the March quarter 1982 is estimated to have fallen substantially by 10.2%.

Movements at major GA airports, which peaked in 1979, fell again in the March ’82 quarter by 1.7%, whilst hours flown decreased by 7.6% in 1981 Sales of avgas fell in the first three months of 1982 by 8.8% and general aviation movements at capital city primary airports fell slightly as a percentage of total movements.

For the first time, the number of aircraft on the register has fallen, in contrast to an 11.5% average annual increase between 1977 and 1979. I

n the March quarter 1982, the wholesale price of avgas rose 1.6% to 49.3 cents per litre.

New General Aviation Annual:

Maybe we are going full circle, but we are producing a quality annual early next year purely on GA. Entitled Airshow ’83, to commemorate the major air shows being held this coming Autumn, our new GA annual will feature a number of interesting articles aimed particularly at the pilot and enthusiast alike. One such feature will be an updated listing of the Australian Aircraft Register, noting alphabetical registration, aircraft type and owner. This will be an invaluable guide and a ready reference work for all involved in commercial aviation. Another major feature will be our General Aviation Directory which lists each GA type available in Australia with a rundown of its local status and performance guidelines. There will be many other features of course, including a guide to how to get started in VHF airband listening and helicopters, ultralights and flying training generally. Airshow 83 will be on sale this coming January and will be a steal at only $2.50, don’t miss it!

AFTS Doing Well:

The Australian Flying Training School is certainly proving a success with its go-ahead policy of training overseas aircrews in Australia. With a large operating base at both Bankstown and Parafield (SA) the school has turned out large numbers of CPL cadets in recent years for such demanding customers as Malaysian Airline System, Zambia Airways and Garuda. AFTS also undertakes motivational training of Royal Thai Air Force pilots prior to their streaming to Point Cook. AFTS fleet is based on the Aerospatiale Tobago and the twin-engined Duchess of which AFTS has the world’s largest training fleet.

Cessna Reports Lower Sales and Earnings:

Lower sales and earnings were reported by Cessna Aircraft Company for its fiscal 1982 year which ended September 30. Sales for the year totalled $831.5 million, down from $1.06 billion a year ago. Before-tax profits of $34.9 million yielded net income of $18.1 million compared to $118.7 million and $60.6 million, respectively, last year.

Fourth quarter sales of $140.7 million resulted in losses of $5.5 million, versus sales of $262.1 million In the final quarter last year.

Aircraft deliveries totalled 2729, down from 5331 units a year ago, and produced revenues of $727 million compared to $956 million in fiscal 1981. Exported aircraft contributed $189 million to total revenues on the shipment of 735 units outside the US, versus 1438 units worth $268 million a year ago.

Beechcraft Commuter 1900 Makes Maiden Flight:

The Beechcraft Commuter 1900, a 19-passenger pressurised jetprop commuter airline, made its maiden flight early September. The aircraft flew for about a half hour in the beginning of what will be a yearlong test certification program.

The first Commuter 1900, and a second prototype scheduled to fly in about a month, will be used in the certification program, which will establish final performance figures for the aircraft.

Preliminary figures indicate the 1900 will cruise in excess of 300 miles per hour. With a full load of passengers and baggage, the aircraft will have a maximum range of 750 nautical miles (860 statute miles) and a service ceiling of 30,000 feet. With 19 passengers and a crew of two, plus fuel, the new 1900 still has room for more than 1300 pounds of baggage or cargo.

Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65 reverse flow, free spool turbine engines, with three-blade, full-feathering and reversing propellers, under normal conditions, with 10 degrees of flaps, the Beechcraft Commuter 1900 can take off in 2440 feet at full takeoff weight. It needs only 3700 feet to clear a 50-foot obstacle.

Landings at full takeoff weight (a normal procedure, without reversing) take only 1750 feet, or 2984 feet after clearing a 50-foot obstacle. For passenger comfort, the 1900 features a bleed-air heat system and an air cycle in-flight air conditioning system. A second air conditioning system is available, primarily for use on the ground. A pressurisation system with a 4.8 psi pressure differential provides a sea-level cabin up to 10,500 feet, and a 3000-foot cabin at 15,000 feet.

Quickly Installed Cargo Pod Available on Piper’s Cheyenne IIXL:

A 16.6-cubic-foot cargo pod, which can be easily installed in 30 minutes to transport large items, has been made available on the 1983 Cheyenne IIXL propjet.

The Kevlar and fibreglass pod provides IIXL operators with added flexibility, allowing the transport of oversized articles such as golf bags, skis and bulky luggage.

The 75-pound pod, equipped with two large side doors each measuring 34.5 inches by 10 inches, is capable of carrying 300 pounds. Neither the IIXL’s zero fuel weight nor the maximum gross weight is changed by the pod. Internal dimensions of the cargo pod are: length – 117 inches; width – 22 inches; depth – 11.5 inches.

Cargo pod installation results In only a negligible change of the IIXL’s takeoff performance Two-engine rate of climb is reduced seven per cent and cruise speed is three per cent lower at maximum cruise power on IIXLs fitted with the pod

Beech Increase Production:

Some good news for a change on production figures of GA types. Beechcraft announced in October that they were having to increase King Air production by 20% by February 1983. Beech have also given spar life guarantees on new Super King Air and F90 aircraft of 30,000 hrs and 20,000 hrs on the 100/90 series. Also slated for a production increase is the Bonanza which for November and December 1982 will see production lift by 40% to overcome dealer stock shortages.

First Citation III Delivered:

With delivery of the first production model effected this month, Cessna Aircraft Company has released firm performance figures for its new Citation III intercontinental business jet.

Performance highlights released by citation marketing officials include

*Maximum true airspeed cruise of 472 knots (543 mph).

*Direct climb time to 45,000 feet of 33 minutes.

* A balanced field length of 4350 feet.

*Range of 2600 nautical miles with six passengers.

*Fuel efficiency of .348 nautical miles per pound of fuel.

*Maximum ceiling of 51,000 feet. More than 140 Citation Ills have been ordered, accounting for all units to be produced through 1985. The current price of the aircraft in 1982 dollars is $6.05 million.

Interair Wins Award:

Interair, the Essendon-based aircraft distributor, has been presented with the ‘Distinguished Service Award’ by Mitsubishi.

Though only recently established, literary were appointed Australasian distributor for Mitsubishi aircraft it is a commentary on the credentials of the aircraft and the market confidence in the distributor that in only 12 months four Mitsubishi MU-2’s (3 Marquise and 1 Solitaire) have been selected for fast freight and executive charter work. In terms of turbo-prop popularity, the MU-2 now ranks in the top three in Australia and New Zealand

Fokker for Lads:

A Fokker F27 equipped with a laser depth sounding system is to be used in a major hydrographic mapping programme, sponsored by the Royal Australian Navy, covering the ocean round Australia’s 16,000-mile coastline.

The aircraft is expected to be commissioned for this task in late 1984 after a series of trials, following modification and installation of a LADS (Laser Airborne Depth Sounder) system.

The F27 type has been nominated for the project because of its ability to accommodate 900 kg of equipment plus flight crew and a survey team of at least two, while operating from bases – often having unpaved runways – up to 350 nautical miles from the survey area. On occasion the aircraft will be required to fly with two trainees in addition to two LADS operators.

An important advantage of the F27 is its ability to maintain a highly accurate straight and level flight path on autopilot; precise navigation is an essential feature of airborne depth sounding and it would be difficult for a pilot flying manually to maintain the required accuracy over long periods.

Tough Airframe for Harrier II:

As much as sixty years of rigorous flying will not wear out AV-8B Harrier II Attack aircraft, results of fatigue testing at McConnell Douglas Corporation show. In a specially equipped laboratory, engineers stressed and strained an AV-BB airframe the equivalent of 12,000 flight hours. Each laboratory flight hour equals two actual flight hours, bringing the total average hours for the test AV-BB to 24,000 hours, or about 60 years of flying.

A major contributor to the airframe’s longevity is a graphite-epoxy composite material used in the wing, forward fuselage, horizontal stabilator, and rudder. By building 26% of the AV-BB airframe from composite material, engineers saved 500 pounds or 10% from the Harrier II’s structural weight. This non-metallic material is made from cloth-like graphite fibres bonded with epoxy glue and cured at high temperatures and pressures. It is lighter yet stronger than conventional metals and has properties that resist fatigue.

‘Based on Naval Air Systems Command and McDonnell Douglas years of joint research and development, future aircraft will be built using a greater percentage of composite material,’ said Dan K. Gilbert, McDonnell Douglas Director of Navy Marketing.

‘We have found composite material gives extra freedom in design to aerodynamic structures, especially those with complex shapes,’ said Gilbert.

McDonnell Douglas is the prime contractor for the US Marine Corps AV-BB Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing Attack aircraft and British Aerospace is major subcontractor. British Aerospace is the prime contractor for the Royal Air Force Harrier GR Mk 5 aircraft with McDonnell Douglas as a subcontractor. Rolls-Royce Pegasus II engine powers both versions of the Harrier II.