Newsdesk – General Aviation

Seabird claim that the Westlake built Emdair will be a better choice as it is fully certificated to JAR22, is more fuel efficient, significantly quieter and easier to maintain in the long term. At 1850cc, the four stroke, four cylinder flat four Emdair produces 90hp (the same as the Norton), is fuel injected and is also cheaper to acquire. Flight tests will now concentrate on gaining full FAR23 certification with the new powerplant as standard equipment, something that is hoped for by year end.

 Air Show Plans Announced:

The Aerospace Foundation of Australia Ltd – a non profit organisation formed to promote Australian aviation and aerospace out of the profits of the 1988 Bicentennial Air Show – has announced plans to stage several air shows in Australia over the next few years.

As had previously been suggested in this magazine (Newsdesk, March) the Foundation will run regular national and occasional international air shows in conjunction with the RAAF, combining with them an Aero- space Expo to provide all aspects of the industry an opportunity to display its wares and activities to the world. The first international show will be held at RAAF Richmond near Sydney in October 1992 and others will be held at approximately four year intervals, possibly swapping between Sydney and Melbourne. These shows will be in many ways similar to the hugely successful Bicen- tennial effort and will hopefully feature a large international component.

The first of the smaller but no less interesting capital city ‘national’ air shows will also be held at Richmond in March next year to coincide with the RAAF’s 70th anniversary. Other shows are planned for October 1991 and March 1992, probably in Melbourne and Brisbane respectively, and future events are planned for Adelaide and Perth. As was the case with the Bicentennial show, the RAAF will be responsible for all flying operations and military participation at these air shows, with the Aerospace Foundation organising all other aspects. The RAAF’s participation will be met from within its normal budget and operational capacity while the organisational aspects will be financed by the Aerospace Foundation from gate receipts, the selling of trade display space and its own resources. The chairman of the Aerospace Foundation of Australia and the driving force behind the planned air shows is Mr Ian Honnery, the man in charge of the Bicentennial Air Show and the successful Schofields shows which preceded it.

 Optica in Trouble:

The manufacturer of the Optica three-seat slow-flying observation aircraft, Brooklands Aerospace of Salisbury, England, has been placed in the hands of the receiver.

It is the latest in a series of troubles which have plagued the unusual and highly specialised Optica’s career since the first example flew in 1979 as the Edgley Optica. The first production Optica flew in 1984 but financial difficulties resulted in Edgley Aircraft falling into receivership the following year. A new owner and company (Optica Industries) emerged from that but production had just got underway again in early 1987 when fire destroyed the company’s hangar and most of the completed aircraft inside.

Renamed Brooklands Aircraft, the company began limited production of the aircraft again in 1988 and in 1989 received a firm order for six Opticas and options on a further 126 aircraft from its US distributor.

Allison Power for Embraer:

Brazilian manufacturer Embraer has selected the new Allison GMA 3007 turbofan engine to power its 45/48 passenger region-al jet airliner, the EMB-145 Amazon. Basically a stretched EMB-120 Brasilia with two turbofan engines replacing the Brasilia’s PW118 turboprops, the Amazon is due to make its first flight early next year with deliveries beginning towards the end of 1992. The GMA 3007 engine is in the 7,000lb thrust class with full authority digital electronic controls. (FADEC), wide chord fan blades, single crystal turbine blades and a high efficiency 14-stage axial compressor. The engine’s high pressure spool core is common to the T406

Essendon Plans Revealed:

The first in a series of commercial development plans for Melbourne’s Essendon Airport, covering the area from the airport entry to its northern boundary, has been revealed by the Federal Airports Corporation (FAC). This first stage involves the construction of two office buildings providing 12,900 square metres of lettable space at a cost of $21m. Previous research had revealed a significant shortfall in the availability of local office accommodation making access to personal and business services such as legal, accounting and computing facilities difficult.

The location and use of the land in question meets the requirement that any development on the airport be in line with the current Port Phillip Airport and Airspace Study and therefore be compatible with both airport operations now and in the future and with the still real possibility that the airport will at some stage be closed and redeveloped for other uses.

 Engines Are Reliable:

We always knew that the modern jet engine is extremely reliable and information just released by two manufacturers bears this out. The engines involved are both fitted to corporate aircraft, the Dassault Falcon 900’s Garrett TFE731-5AR-1Cs and the General Electric CF34 as fitted to the Canadair Challenger 601. Installed on the Falcon 900, the TFE731 has recorded a remarkable no inflight shut-downs since the type first flew in 1984 and the latest 12 monthly figures show a zero pre-mature removal rate (PRR), meaning that no Falcon 900 engines were removed for unscheduled maintenance during the period in question. The TFE731’s previous PRR was 0. 012, or one removal in 83,000 flying hours. The CF34 has accumulated over 320,000 flight hours on the Challenger since 1983 plus in military TF34 form, another six million hours on the Lockheed S-3 Viking and Fair- child A-10 Thunderbolt II. On the Challenger, the CF34 has recorded just one inflight shut-down in the past two years (or one every 180,000 flying hours) and a PRR of one every 8,300 hours.

Colour Vision Rules Relaxed:

Following a lengthy period of discussion and two Administrative Appeals Tribunal Hearings which found in favour of colour vision defective appellants, the Australian CAA has reduced its colour vision standards to among the most lax in the world. Now private and commercial pilots can fly at any time (day or night) within Australian airspace regardless of their colour vision standard. The Tribunal found that insufficient evidence exists to indicate that normal colour perception of aviation lights is essential for the safe conduct of night flights by private and commercial pilots. Forced against its own judge-ment to change the rules as a result of the Tri- bunal’s ruling, the CAA maintains that all pilots must be able to rapidly and correctly. Differentiate between the various aviation coloured lights in use. It cites red obstruction lights and light signals from a control tower in the event of radio failure as examples.

Bombadier Buys Lear:

Canadian transport conglomerate Bombadier is continuing its expansion into the aerospace industry by purchasing Learjet. Learjet’s previous owner, Integrated Resources, filed for bankruptcy in February and for a time (see Newsdesk, May) looked as if it would be sold to Allen Paulson’s Gulfstream Corporation. Bombadier’s aviation assets already include Canadair and Shorts of Northern Ireland. The purchase price for Learjet was $US75m and its acquisition by Bombadier gives the company a wide range of aviation products ranging from the Shorts 330, 360, Tucano and extensive subcontracting work to the current Learjet range of its Models 31, 35, 36 and 55 and the Canadair CL-215, Challenger and forthcoming RJ regional jet airliner.

Bunch of Idiots Dept:

With thanks to the IATA’S ‘Review’ magazine, we reproduce this little gem of total stupidity and irresponsibility. The worst part is, it’s from an Australian source. The publisher Lonely Planet’s book ‘Trekking in Turkey’ actively encourages people to violate the dangerous goods regulations applying to air travel. Cop this: “Like any airline, THY does not allow butane stove cartridges in either your hand baggage or checked luggage. Since they are almost impossible to get in Turkey you might find some justification, as we did, in breaching regulations and sneaking them aboard. Checked luggage is rarely inspected. As a compromise in the interest of safety, only transport unmounted cartridges – once on the stove they leak very readily under the stresses of carriage. ” Good to hear they’re prepared to compromise everyone’s safety! Isn’t there something this lot can be charged with under the laws pertaining to such things? After all, they’ve admitted in print that they deliberately broke the rules.

People

Mr Alistair Lindsay has been appointed Manager NSW and ACT for Singapore Airlines. Mr George Cecil has succeeded Mr Jim Moynihan as General Manager of Polynesian Airlines. Consultancy firm, Aymever, has appointed Dr Noel Sullivan as Canberra Consultant in its recently opened ACT regional office. Changes to the Federal Government Ministry since the March election include: Senator Robert Ray has been made Minister for Defence; Mr Gordon Bilney has been appointed Minister for Defence Science and Personnel; Mr Kim Beazley has returned to his old post as Minister for Transport and Communications; Mr Simon Crean has been made a junior Minister for Science and Technology; while Ms Ros Kelly, former Minister for Defence Support and junior Minister for Aviation, has been appointed Minister of the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories. Meanwhile, Senator Peter Durack has been appointed the Federal Opposition’s Spokesman for Defence. Mr David Jull has been reappointed as the Federal Opposition’s Shadow Minister for Tourism and Aviation.

Bottom Line

Hawker de Havilland raised net earnings for 1989 by 2% over the previous year to $11. 67m on a revenue of $288. 88m. • Embraer has announced a net profit of $US89m on gross sales of $US692m during 1989, up from a $US35m net loss in 1988. • KLM has announced a net income for the third quarter 1989/90 financial year of $40. 7m, down from $42. 2m in the same period of 1988/89. Fokker has announced a net profit for 1989 of $29. 9m (up from $9. 1m for 1988) from an operating income of $2,207m. Aerospatiale has announced a 1989 net profit of $46. 6m from sales of $7. 25 billion. The civil sector accounted for 56% of all sales.

Videos

Threshold:

Hoyts Polygram This 93 minute video concerns the day to day operations of the US Navy’s precision aerobatic team, the Blue Angels, in the period when they flew the F-4 Phantom.

Probably the most interesting thing about this tape, apart from its unusually long running time, is the excellent air to air footage that just keeps on coming without being constantly edited out as it is in most other aero-betic team videos. Why this editing out happens is beyond the realms of comprehension of this reviewer. I am sure that we would all prefer to see the onboard cameras left run-ning for several minutes at a time with appro-priately stirring background music instead of disorientating cuts from one aircraft tor another interspersed with kids eating ice creams in the crowd, etc.

A very good, though dated, tape and off course if you like Phantoms, then this is another plus.

Marketed by Hoyts Polygram through major retail outlets and the Hawker Pacific Skyshop network for $29. 95 RRP Refer advert elsewhere in this issue.

Ghost Squadron:

Jareki/Jeff Watson Like Oshkosh, Harlingen conjures up visions of warbirds. Not merely a number of warbirds but probably the largest contingent in the world, for this small Texas aerodrome is the home of the famous Confederate Air Force.

This video deals with the annual Harlingen. Fly-in, the personalities and aircraft that make it world famous. Excellent footage of the CAFS B-29 Fifi (the last Super Fortress flying), Mustangs, Texans, Zero, B-25 and B-26 and even the pride of England, the Spit-fire, help make this an interesting video for any warbird connoisseur.

RRP is $24. 95 (plus $2. 10 påp) available from Jareki Pty Ltd, PO Box 929, Artarmon, NSW 2064.

Books

Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mos- Quito in Australian Service:

Stewart Wilson The fourth title in Aerospace Publications” series on aircraft which served with the RAAF deals with three important types used during and after World War II and as with the previous books, deals with them in great detail and reveals much new information. Supporting Stewart Wilson’s 100,000 word text are some 250 illustrations and the individual listing of the 1,556 Beauforts, Beau- fighters and Mosquitos which wore RAAF colours. The latter feature adds greatly to the book’s value for reference and research purposes.

Although the general history of the types and their service with the RAAF (including with squadrons based in Britain in the case of the Beaufighter and Mosquito) are of great interest, one aspect which really stands out is the story of their production under licence in Australia. It’s surprising that the tale of the creation of an Australian aircraft industry virtually overnight to manufacture the Beaufort and then the Beaufighter has not been told in great detail before. It’s the fascinating story of a great Australian industrial achievement in a time of need and makes for highly interesting reading. The chapters dealing with local production of the Mosquito reveal a series of problems which seriously delayed the program and ensured that active service of Australian built examples of de Havilland’s “Wooden Wonder’ was minimal despite earlier plans.

Of 204 pages, ‘Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service’ maintains the excellent standard set by its predecessors. Although lacking in colour illustrations (there were simply no suitable colour photo graphs available) the information and black and white photographs and diagrams provide more than adequate compensation.

Available from Aerospace Publications, PO Box 3105, Weston Creek ACT 2611 at a cost of $19. 95 (soft cover) or $29. 95 (hard cover) post free in Australia. Also currently available from major newsagencies through-out Australia.

The Short Sunderland:

Chaz Bowyer This is perhaps the best book yet written about the Sunderland. It describes not only the aircraft’s wartime operations, but its development and post-war use.

The Sunderland has a particular connection with Australia, having been flown by Nos. 10 & 461 Squadrons in Britain and No. 40 Squadron in the Pacific during 1939-45. It was also used in the region after the war in a civil capacity and by the RNZAF until 1967.

The Australian connection is particularly well covered. Within the detailed text is much mention of RAAF operations, while there are several fine shots of Australian Sunderlands and RAAF airmen amongst the excellent photos that are spread throughout the book.

The appendices-which include details of each Sunderland built, units (both RAF and foreign) and technical data-help make this book well worth the RRP of $55. 00. Available from Princeton Books, PO Box 24, Cheltenham 3192.

 Night Vfr Manual and Instrument Rating Course:

Steve Heel Two books written to assist students preparing for general aviation tests.

The first is for those intending to sit the examination for initial issue of a Night VFR rating. It is perhaps the only such publication in which all the essential information for exam preparation is included in an organised and logical fashion. The book is presented in an A4 format and is easily read. There are nine important lessons discussed, including such important aspects as pilot, aircraft and flight preparation; departure, cruise and arrival procedures; radio navigation, aero-drome requirements and night accidents.

Instrument Rating Course has, as its title suggests, been written to assist pilots who are training for the issue of an instrument rating. Long hours of study are needed for this, and this book again in an A4 format-is ideal to assist the student. It is well set out, with sections covering such areas as aircraft and pilot requirements; classification of flight; operational requirements; departure, climb and cruise, and arrival procedures; and instrument arrival procedures. Sample examinations are also included.

Both these book can be considered essential reading for students, and are written by an experienced general aviation instructor and approved test officer who is well able to concentrate on problem areas to provide most benefit.

NIGHT VFR RATING is priced at $35 plus $2. 50 p&p, while the INSTRUMENT RATING COURSE is $50 plus $2. 50 påp. Both are available direct from Action Aviation Supplies, PO Box 758, Archerfield 4108.