Newsdesk- General Aviation

This latest addition to the AWA network gives the company dedicated General Aviation service centres in every state of Australia, allowing coordinated customer support throughout the country. Darwin’s Manager is Greg Hill. and the AWA Facility Is located in the Department of Health Hangar (operated by Northern Territory Aerial Work) on the GA apron.

And Now for the Armed Ultralight:

It had to happen and It has! An armed ultralight has been launched. UK-based Luscombe aircraft have released details of their Rattler ultralight designed purely for military use. The Rattler can carry a flexible array of useful weapons including a 7.62 mm Hughes minigun complete with 2000 rounds of ammunition, 14 2-inch unguided rockets or up to 144 anti-personnel mines in the area denial role. Rattler is powered by a single 880 cc Weslake twin-cylinder engine producing 80 hp Rattler, like all ultralights, can be easily dismantled for transport and does not require a highly trained pilot Takeoff distance on grass is 200 feet while an 80 kt cruise will take the aircraft more than 600 nm No firm sales have so far been achieved but at only around thirty thousand dollars fully equipped, Rattler has more than novelty value in many combat circumstances. One by-product of this type of research that will ultimately benefit all ultralights will be the lowering of engine and exhaust noise from a typical ultralight engine. The development of a1rshIps and armed ultras could well have us re-manufacturing the Sopwith Pup!

Helicopter Market Softens:

Detroit Diesel Allison, makers of the helicopter industry’s most prolific powerplant, have reduced their forecast for helicopter sales through this decade from 19,000 units to 17,400. Allison point to a reduction in oil exploration, a lack of corporate profits to boost the corporate market and a high inventory of new helicopters All Is not gloomy though, as Allison point out that even at the lower figure the total market will show a growth of 117 per cent during the eighties as compared with the seventies when only 8000 helicopters were sold. Allison predicts that twin-turbine helos will make the greatest market impact this decade with 38 per cent of the market as against 12 per cent during the seventies. Piston-engined helos will decline from 25 per cent of the market last decade to barely 15 per cent, with the majority of this category being Robinson products

Litton Ltn-3000 Nav Breakthrough:

Technology is certainly moving fast in the world of avionics. Litton’s latest offering, the LTN-3000, Is a fully capable Omega navigation package that sells for a mere $15,000, less than a third of the cost of some rival systems. Local Litton agents, Stillwell Aviation, have sold 24 units between February and late April and are hoping to have more than 100 units operational by the end of 1984 Having had the pleasure of a full evaluation of the new Omega we can only say that we were impressed The unit also h.as a memory capacity for 90 waypoints, weighs a mere 5.5 kg and occupies roughly a square foot of nose locker space with the display unit being about the size of a small car radio The unit has already been installed In aircraft as small as Cessna 21 Os and Variezes. The unit also features a weather radar navigation mode track overlay.

New Challenger Into Service:

Alan Bond was due to take delivery of his new Canadair Challenger 600 in late May The wide-bodied business Jet has notched up considerable success in the international marketplace with more than 80 Model 600s already delivered. The more powerful 601 was granted FAA certification on March 11 and this aircraft has already entered service in the corporate role. Canadair currently hold 50 orders for the GE-powered 601 which also boasts a maximum payload range of 3568 nautical miles. Canadair, and local sales agent Jet Direct, are planning an Australian sales tour of their winglet 601 this October

The First Pitts:

In Airshow ’83 we stated that the first Pitts Special to fly in Australia was VH-DDS. We have since learned that this is not so and in fact the first Pitts was VH-PAS built and flown by the late Jim Patterson and the late Jim Scott. This aircraft took to the air on 26th May 1973 and recorded a long and eventful career, being the motivating drive behind what today Is a sizeable community of this very special aircraft.

Super Mooney Flies:

Mooney has test flown its new six-seat 301 which was formerly known as the M30. The 301 is powered by a single 360 hp Lycoming which is claimed to provide the 301 with a cruise speed of 220 kts for a range of 1000 nautical miles. Mooney also claims a ratio of 5:1 between max and stall speeds compared with the more usual 3.5:1 for single-engined GA types. The 301 has been in development for several years and will not be commercially available till 1986.

Stillwells Sell Agusta Helicopter:

Local Agusta agents, Stillwell Aviation, have sold their first Agusta 109A twin-engined helicopter. Mount Isa Mines will operate the eight-seat medium-range helicopter in support of their Queensland coast interests in the Oakey and Mackay region. The new helicopter, the first of its type in Australia, will become operational in June. Stillwells, who are now 99 per cent owned by Kerry Packer, are hoping to sell quite a few Agustas now that the first sale has been made.

Where to Find out More About Ultralights:

A new era in lightweight recreational aircraft is dawning with the advent of DofA’s ANO 95.22 (refer p.35 this issue) and the formation of the Australian Ultralight Federation. If you are interested in joining the AUF or simply wish to make contact with a number of ultralight manufacturers, then contact either Phil Peterson, Federal Secretary and Treasurer, 64 McKell Avenue, Sunbury 3429, (03) 744 1587, or David Beveridge, Federal President, 2/88 Moseley Street, Glenelg 5045, (08) 3820433.

Commuters on the Move:

If there is an industry segment that is in a constant state of turmoil then it is the third level scene within Australia. Aircraft and liveries come and go at a moment’s notice in a sector of the industry which has probably been hit hardest by the combined ravages of drought and recession. East Coast has certainly benefited by the demise of the Wings Australia commuter network and has acquired a number of Cessna 404s from Airlines of Tasmania to further bolster their growing fleet. East Coast, who are partly owned by East West Airlines, have benefited from the takeover by Brian Grey and are now filling in on many of the low-loading EWA traditional sectors. Airlines of Tasmania have purchased a Heron (VH-CLT) which had been static at Parafield for some time for use on the Launceston to Flinders and King Island routes. It is believed that they have purchased the three Herons formerly operated by Northern Airlines.