Yesteryear

• Changes in the Qantas fleet were the delivery of the 10th Boeing 747 VH-EBJ City of Gee-long’ which arrived at Sydney on 3 June and the departure of 707s recently sold to British Caledonian. Sporting their new livery, VH-EBX left on 15 May and VH-EBW on 29 May.

• Mr. Bamard, the Minister for Defence, has announced that ten Lockheed P-3C Orion aircraft will be purchased to replace No. 10 Squadron’s Neptunes. The new aircraft will be based, at RAAF Edinburgh to join No. 11 Squadron’s P-3B Orions.

Gates Learjet claimed an industry record when it delivered its 500th new business jet aircraft, a Learjet 24D for the Mexican Navy on 8 April. The first flight of the Learjet was on 7 October 1963 and the first aircraft was delivered on 13 October, 1964. Learjet said that deliveries of other biz-jets up to 11 April, 1975 were Falcon 330, HS. 125 325, Sabreliner 245 (including military), Citation 235, Jet Commander/Westwind 175, Jet Star 162, Gulfstream II 157, and Hansa 34.

• Concorde 203 set a duration record for Concorde flight when it remained airborne for 6 hr. 16min. The flight was subsonic and was carried out to confirm that the aircraft could fly Paris-New York subsonically should the need arise. The Concorde covered 3,740 miles at an average speed of 597 mph at a cruising altitude of 26,000-27,000 ft.

• Approximately 1,000 aircraft supplied by the US to the Vietnam Air Force have been abandoned in South Vietnam. Amongst these were about 400 Bell Iroquois, 87 Northrop F-5, 76 Cessna A-37B (16 were flown to Thailand). and 23 Lockheed C-130B Hercules (six flown to Thailand and then on to Guam).

• The RAAF is considering the Fokker F. 27 Series 400MF military freighter as a replace- ment for its DHC-4, HS. 748 and C-47 transports. There would be a need for about 30- 40 such aircraft.

•British Airways began the operation of Air New Zealand DC-10s from London to Los Angeles. during May. The daily non-stop service is flown by BA crews and the aircraft are leased from ANZ by BA. The Los Angeles-Auckland sector is flown by ANZ crews. This arrangement permits a one-aircraft service between New Zea land and the U. K.

• The Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force has selected the Lockheed P-3C Orion as an interim maritime patrol aircraft and will require between 34 and 50 Orions.

20 Years Ago

• The prototype Transavia PL12 Airtruk, VH- TRN had its maiden flight at Bankstown on 15 April flown by Mr. N. Johnston.

•The Minister for Air Mr. P. Howson announced on 8 April that the USAF had located metal fatigue in the wings of some of its older Sabres. The RAAF has ordered kits designed in the USA to modify the centre section and wing. These will be installed by the RAAF as the Sabres are due for regular inspections.

•The frequency of services between Australia and South Africa was increased to twice weekly from 10 May. The service from Perth is flown on Mondays by South African Airways and Qantas on Saturdays using Lockheed Super Constellations on charter from Trek Airways. •Douglas has announced three new versions of the DC-8. These are the Model 61 with a 33 ft. fuselage extension expected to fly March 1966, the Model 62, an ultra long-range version with a 6ft greater wing span and 80-inch fuselage extension expected to fly July 1966 and the Model 63 combining the fuselage extension of the Model 61 and the powerplant improvements of the Model 62.

•The first flight of the de Havilland Canada Twin Otter took place at Downsview on 20 May.

•The Lockheed YF-12A broke four records on 6 May flying from Edwards AFB. Details are as follows including the previous records held by the Russians:- Straight line 15 to 25-kilometre speed record 2,062 mph (1,665. 89 mph), 500-kilometre closed course 1,642 mph (1,452 mph), 1,000 kilometre closed course 1,688 mph (1,441. 217 mph), sustained altitude in horizontal flight 80,000 ft. (74,376 ft. ).

• The first details have been released by the British Aircraft Corporation of a 265-seat development of the Super VC10. Designed to reduce the seat-mile cost of the present aircraft by 20 per cent, the new version would accommodate passengers on two decks in a fuselage similar in structural concept to that of the Vanguard. The new fuselage is about 32 ft. longer and all up weight increased from the 335,000 lb of the Super VC10 to 370,000 lb. Power would be by the existing Rolls Royce Conway or the Rolls Royce R. B. 178.

• The prototype Britten-Norman Islander G- ATCT first flew on 13 June and subsequently appeared at the Paris Air Show. Deposits are held on 15 orders for pre-release aircraft. Factory price of the basic aircraft is 17,500 pounds sterling.

• Total sales of the Sud Caravelle now stand at 201 aircraft and Sud are going ahead with plans to build 225 Caravelles.

• Qantas flew Boeing 707 VH-EBL ‘City of Gee- long’ to operate its first scheduled jet service between Sydney and Christchurch on 10 April.

• The Avro Lancaster B. 7 G-ASXX left Sydney airport on 25 April for Coolangatta on the first leg of its delivery flight to England where it is due to arrive on 13 May. The Lancaster was presented by the French Navy to the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society in the U. K.

30 Years Ago

• Bristols have completed the reconditioning of five ex-RAAF Catalinas at Bankstown for the Dutch Navy. The aircraft will be used in West New Guinea.

• More than 650 Lockheed Constellations and Super Constellations (both civil and military) have been built or ordered since the design was started.

• Canadair may build a version of the civil Britannia following their experience with the CL-28 anti-submarine and general maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The designation will be the CL-44.

• The RAAF may order various U. S. aircraft. Types in contention are the Lockheed C-130 transport, a bomber (possibly the B-66 or B-47) and a fighter which could be the Lockheed F-104.

• Martin Baker lightweight ejection seats will be incorporated in late versions of the Hawker Hunter including the new two-seat trainer.

• The crew to bring HMAS Melbourne to Australia in May, 1956 left Sydney on 16 June aboard HMAS Vengeance which is to be returned to the RN after being on loan to the RAN. HMAS Melbourne is claimed by the Minister for the Navy, Mr. Francis, to be the most modern fleet carrier afloat. The ship will have an optical landing system, an angled flight deck and be equipped with Sea Venom fighters and Gannet anti-submarine aircraft.

• The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation has been awarded an order for an additional 20 Avon-Sabres bringing the total order to 110.

• Lockheed Aircraft expects to fly the new Electra airliner in 1956. The aircraft will have a low wing and be powered by four Allison 510 turboprops. Accommodation will be 64 to 90 passengers. American Airlines have ordered 35 and delivery will commence during 1958.

• The de Havilland Comets G-ALYR and G-ALYW were dismantled at London Airport in May and June and transported to Farnborough.

• A new American airliner is the Douglas DC-8, the first flight of which will be in 1957 with production deliveries hoped to commence in 1959. It will have four podded Pratt and Whitney turbojets, a span of 134 ft and a length of 140 ft. 6 ins. It will carry 80-125 passengers at a cruising speed over 500 mph.

• The Civil Aviation Department expects that Melbourne will have 10,000 passengers arrive by air to attend the 1956 Olympic Games. The international arrivals will be handled through airports at Darwin, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

• Kingsford Smith Airport (Mascot, Sydney) has shown a steady rise in activity according to the recently released 1954 statistics. Compared with 1953, passenger traffic was up 10. 3%, freight 24. 1% and airmail 23. 8%. The airport handled 985,064 passengers (with a daily average of 2,699), 22,678 long tons of freight and 2,038 long tons of mail. Fuel supplied to aircraft at Mascot amounted to 9. 98 million gallons with a daily average of 27,076 gallons.