Yesteryear

• The name Extender has been adopted by the USAF for its McDonnell Douglas KC-10A tanker aircraft due to enter service from October 1980. Two new air refuelling squadrons will be equipped with the KC-10A by late 1983.

• The fight testing has begun at Stansted of ex-RAF Short Belfast transport aircraft to enable civil certification to be obtained. Three Belfasts are jointly owned by Transmeridian and Eurolatin Aviation and it is hoped to place the aircraft into service early next year.

• RAF Strike Command at RAF Kinloss received the first British Aerospace Nimrod MR. Mk 2 (XV236) on 23 August.

• An RAF McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR. MK 2 carried out the first test firing of the British Aerospace Sky Flash air-to-air missile on 15 August and completely destroyed a Meteor U. Mk 10 target drone flying at a much lower altitude at 460mph.

• The four contenders to fulfil the RAAF’s Tactical Fighter Force requirement, the F-16 Condor, F-18A Homet, F-18L Cobra and Mir age 2000 will be reduced to a choice of two aircraft by the end of the year. Contractual negotiations son late next year for the first batch of 25 out of a total 75 fighters to be procured. The selection of two different types is a possibility although this is considered unlikely because of the complications it would create for local industry participation.

• The possibility of using business jet aircraft as trainers for SAC crews is being investigated by the USAF. This would extend the service lives of the ageing B-52 Stratofortress and lessen training mission costs. Part of the exist ing training overheads sees each B-52 flight hour consume 4,000 US gallons of fuel. Currently being considered for the role are the Gates Learjet 35, Rockwel Sabreliner 65A, Cessna Citation II and the Dassault-Breguet Falcon 10.

• A modified version of the Tu-144 supersonic transport has resumed flight testing. Aeroflot suspended regular services during June 1978 following the loss of a test aircraft • It is expected that Air Lanka, the newly formed airline of Sri Lanka will become operational in September initially using two Boeing 7075 leased from Singapore Airlines.

20 Years Ago

• At a recent conference held at Dubbo for Piper Dealers, Mr Frank Thompson, the company’s international distribution manager said that Piper sold 4,474 aircraft worth US$96. 7m during 1968 and sales should exceed US$100m during 1969.

• Israel claims to have shot down four Egyp tian Mig-21s with no loss to themselves during an air battle over the Gulf of Suez on 2 July. A further seven Syrian MiG-21s were claimed destroyed, again with no Israeli losses, when they penetrated the Kuneitra area on 8 July. • The Department of Civil Aviation announced on 11 August that the remaining five Vickers Series V. 720/V. 747 Viscounts in Australia have been permanently grounded and cannot be sold overseas, Ansett owns one of the aircraft affected and TAA the remainder.

• A dam has been lodged on behalf of senior Qantas pilots who will be flying the Boeing 747, by the Australian Federation of Airline Pilots. The claim for increases up to $10,000 per year would see a maximum annual salary of $28,000.

• Neil Armstrong became the first man to land on the moon when he descended from the lunar module Eagle onto the moon’s surface on 21 July.

• A Japan Airlines DC-8-62 JA8035 arrived in Sydney on 23 July on a route survey flight as a prelude to regular operations scheduled to commence on 1 October. The twice weekly service will be flown between Sydney and Tokyo.

• Darryl G Greenmayer has set a new world record of 477. 98mph for piston engined aircraft following an attempt made by his modified Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat on 16 August. The Bearcat N1111L ‘Smimoff was flown over a 3km course at Edwards AFB. The previous record of 469. 22mph was established by a Messerschmitt 209V-1 on 26 April 1939.

• Lockheed-California has received a $461m contract to develop a new anti-submarine air- craft designated the S-3A. It is expected that the USN will order an initial batch of 193 production S-3As with a first flight expected to take place early in 1972. They will replace the Grumman Tracker.

• Handley Page Limited was placed in voluntary liquidation on 8 August because of continuing financial difficulties.

• The two RAAF Vickers Viscounts used for VIP duties were put up for disposal by tender in August. Both aircraft have flown comparatively low hours with 4,943 hours for A6-435 and 4,282 hours for A6-436.

• Ten Macchi MB-326H trainer aircraft are to be delivered to the RAN to replace Sea Venom and Vampire aircraft employed in the training role. They are in addition to the 75 already on order for the RAAF

30 Years Ago

• Qantas’ first Boeing 707 airliner arrived in Sydney on 2 July after the completion of a delivery fight from San Francisco via Honolulu and Nadi. Amongst those on board VH-EBB “City of Sydney’ were the Qantas Chairman Sir Hudson Fysh and Boeing President Mr William Allen. The first Qantas Boeing 707 service was operated by VH-EBC ‘City of Melbourne’ on 29 July when it departed from Sydney to San Francisco. It was also the first scheduled transpacific jet airliner passenger service.

• Lockheed will retrofit 59 Electras with modified engine nacelles, tilted upwards three degrees to reduce airscrew vibration. The cost of the modification will be borne by Lockheed. • A world altitude record of 94,659ft was established on 14 July by Major V Lyushin of the Soviet Union flying the Sukhoi T-431.

• A Commonwealth Sabre, A94-946 has been test flown with two Sidewinders installed under the wings. The Sabre which is painted distinctively with a red nose, fin and wingtips is operated by the ARDU at Laverton.

• In a statement issued during July, the BOAC Managing Director Mr Basil Smallpiece said that his airline was planning to introduce Comet 4 services onto the UK/Australia route in November offering five flights weekly in each direction. BOAC has taken delivery of 13 of the present order of 19 Comets and they are our recently operating seven return services a week between London and New York.

• A Lockheed C-130A Hercules is being test flown with two 375 gallon wing mounted pylon tanks taking total capacity to 6,150 gallons. This will enable the C-130A to fly from California to Hawaii under all conditions. Previously the flight was only operated when favourable wind conditions prevailed.

• Freight loadings have increased steadily in the airport courier service inaugurated in May between Bankstown and Sydney Airport by Hawarra Airways. A light aircraft carries freight and passengers two times each weekday leaving Bankstown at 9. 55am and 3. 45pm return. from om. The service is presently carried out by 10. 30am and Sydney Airport an Auster and it is planned to place a Cessna 172 into operation by late August. The single fare for the 15 minute flight is 17/6 with a 30- return fare. 4. 45pm.

• The Northrop N-156C exceeded Mach 1 dur. ing its first flight on 30 July.

• The Sud-Aviation Caravelle was introduced by Air France onto its services to the United Kingdom using F-BHRB ‘Lorraine’.

• Construction of a Piel Emeraude light aircraft will begin soon following the importation of a set of plans by Mr AR Mackie of Wentworth ville, NSW. When the plans have been translated and converted to Australian standards they will be submitted for final approval to DCA.