Yesteryear

•The roll out of the first Rockwell International B-1 bomber took place at Palmdale on 26 October and the first flight was on 28 December.

A preliminary examination of the primary structure of HMAS Melbourne has indicated that the ship is suitable for service extending beyond the 1980s.

•The choice of aircraft to replace the RAAF’s Lockheed SP-2H Neptunes now lies between the Lockheed P-3C Orion and Hawker Siddeley Nimrod Mk 2. The Orion is considered the front-runner for the order.

• The Japanese Air Self Defence Force is still operating about 270 F-86F Sabres and plans to keep the type in service until March 1980. Following the gradual withdrawal of these aircraft the number in service by March 1977 is expected to be down to 170 Sabres

• De Havilland Canada’s DASH 7 airliner received the production go-ahead on 26 October. Prior to this stage, two prototypes and a static airframe were underway. The first flight is expected early in 1975.

• An announcement was made by Boeing on 13 December that an agreement had been reached with United Air Lines for the joint development of specifications for a proposed version of the 727 to be called the 727-3008. The derivative being considered would have an 18′ 4″ fuselage extension and 157 passenger capacity. Other expected changes to the 727-300B are a four bogey undercarriage and 747 type variable camber leading edge flaps on an improved wing.

• Economic conditions are believed to be the main reason for Piper’s decision to defer introduction of the PA-41 Arapaho Twin Comanche replacement.

• An era came to an end when Ansett’s last Sandringham VH-BRC departed from Rose Bay on 28 November in Antilles Air Boats Markings as N158C Southern Cross’. The aircraft was flown by Captain Charles Blair who is the Sandringham’s new owner.

• An announcement was made by East West Airlines on 3 December that it would not proceed with the purchase of jet aircraft because of the economic situation and would instead replace the, current Fokker F27-100 Series with the improved F27-500 Series.

20 Years Ago

•The roll out of the first General Dynamics F111A took place at Forth Worth on 15 October and the first flight of 21 minutes’ duration was made on 21 December at Carswell AFB, Texas.

• The first Hawker Siddeley Trident 1E had its first flight at Hatfield on 2 November.

• Some major equipment plans have been announced for the RAAF by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies. Expenditure of 116 million pounds will be made on aircraft during 1965-1968. Aircraft to be acquired are 12 Lockheed C-130Es, 10 Dassault Mirage IIIB two-seat conversion trainers, 75 jet trainers of a type to be selected, 10 Lockheed P-3 Orions, 14 Grumman SP-2 Trackers for the RAN and eight jet aircraft (HS125 or Dassault Mystere 20s) as navigational trainers to replace Dakotas.

• A Lockheed KC-130F has taken off and landed from the USS Forrestal during trials conducted in November The take-offs were not assisted and the gross weight varied between 85,000 lb and 120,000 lb. The Hercules range could be extended when operating from such sea bases and it could also be used as a logistic support system for the Navy’s surface vessels.

• KLM has standardised its fleet during 1964. The DC-3, Convair 340 and DC-7C types were with. drawn leaving 40 airliners in service comprising 16 DC-8s, 11 Electra lls, 9 Viscounts and 4 DC-7F freighters.

• The first Boeing 727s for both Ansett-ANA and TAA arrived in Melbourne on 16 October. The two aircraft, VH-RME and VH-TJA,. flew from San Francisco via Honolulu, Canton Island and Nadi.

• The inaugural Qantas service on the Fiesta route to London was flown by Boeing 707 VH-EBM on 26 November. The same aircraft had earlier carried out a proving flight on 12 November. The 4300 mile sector between Tahiti and Mexico has necessitated the carrying of special navigational equipment.

• Alice Springs Airport will have an instrument landing system installed because numerous dust storms have disrupted airline schedules.

The first flight of the Lockheed SR-71 reconnaissance version of the A-11 took place at Palmdale on 23 December.

• An order from Trans World Airlines for 12 additional Boeing 707 StarStreams will boost their Boeing fleet to 79, and 707 total orders to 482.

• The first flight took place on 14 October of the Sikorsky CH-53A transport helicopter.

• Reports from Tokyo indicate that the go-ahead has been given to Shin Meiwa to design and , construct a large four engined turboprop flying boat for anti-submarine duties for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force.

30 Years Ago

• A ceremony was held at RNAS Yeovilton on 23 November to farewell the Supermarine Seafire. The aircraft operated by No. 764 Squadron will be burnt for scrap with the exception of one aircraft which will be retained, possibly in flying condition.

• Three Short Solent flying boats have been purchased by Aquila Airways from Tasman Empire Airways for services to Madeira, the Canary Islands and Capri. Aquila have also been granted licences to operate flying boat services to the Italian Riviera. Government consideration is being given to an application to operate a freight service to Australia.

• The new version of the Lockheed Super Constellation is the RC-121D flying radar station. Early warning radar is fitted in a sharks fin radome on the fuselage top and in a guppy radome underneath. Additional fuel is carried in six hundred-gallon tip tanks and a 1000 gallon fuselage tank.

• Boeing is flying the 707 from a 5800-foot-long widened taxi strip while their main 10,000-foot runway undergoes repairs. The 707’s weight is being restricted to 135,000 lb and only requires a 2000 ft take-off run.

• The North American F-100 Super Sabre has encountered considerable control problems and structural difficulties placing the present programme in jeopardy.

• Eight Douglas B-26s were recently delivered to the Peruvian Air Force under the USA’s Mutual Defence Assistance Programme.

• The F-8U-1 supersonic carrier-borne fighter is the latest Chance Vought aircraft to be ordered by the USN. It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney J-57 with an afterburner and has a variable incidence wing.

• Boeing’s 707 four-jet tanker aircraft for the USAF will be known as the KC-135.

• Engines of 4500 hp will be installed in the Sud-Est Armagnac and the French hope this will make it competitive with the Douglas DC-6 and Lockheed Super Constellation.

• Beech Aircraft Corporation delivered 99 Twin Bonanzas between 28 January and 2 October this year.

• A new altitude record for helicopters has been claimed by the US Army. A Sikorsky H-39 reached 24,500 feet on 17 October.

• The first Avon Sabre was flown to Williamtown for delivery to the operational Training Unit during December. Twelve Sabres have so far been delivered by CAC to Avalon.

• A Viscount replacement aircraft powered by 4000 hp turboprops is being worked on by Vickers for use in the 1960s.