People & Bottom Line

Bottom Line

• Civil Aviation Authority has recorded an operating loss of $13,228,000 for the 1989/ 90 financial year, with operating expenses of $569,036,000 outweighing revenue of $555,808,000. This result contrasts with the $30,877,000 operating profit recorded in the pre pilots’ dispute 1988/89 financial year. Air New Zealand has posted a $NZ43. 8m ($A34m) operating loss for the year ended June 30 1990. A tax credit of $NZ14. 4m reduced this to a $NZ29. 4m (SA22. 8m) loss.

Books

Aopa 1991 Airfield Directory: Aopa

This is the second edition of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s popular and proven Airfield Directory, featuring much new and updated information.

The directory is of similar, handy sized format to the 1990 edition, but its 300+ pages contain a wealth of new information vital to pilots in Australia. Included is an additional 300 ALAS, bringing to over 1,100 the number of airfields detailed in the Directory. Useful and vital information includes all the relevant nav and ops data for each particular airfield such as location, elevation and runway characteristics. Also provided are details of services offered at each field such as refuelling and ATC – and phone numbers of airfield operators, fuel, taxi/car rentals and accommodation.

A real boon for users of programmable GPS units is the WAC chart index giving lat/ long data ready for punching in.

Available for $15 plus $2 p&p for AOPA members or $25 plus $2 p&p for non members. Available from AOPA, PO Box 1065, Fyshwick, ACT 2609.

The Historic Civil Aircraft Regi- Ster of Australia, Vh-Caa to Vh-Czz:

Tony Arbon and David Sparrow

This is the fourth part of the popular series of books covering the Australian civil register, this volume giving a “potted” history of the over 900 aircraft which have been registered in the VH-C block.

As with previous volumes, this 40 page A5 softcover booklet details registrations, types, construction numbers, dates of registrations, previous registrations and owners or fates. The VH-C block includes a general mix of the old and the new, having been introduced as early as 1947 and capturing an unusually large number of cropdusters and of course Ansett’s -CZ allocations. The text is supported by 30 B& pics plus four colour shots on the cover. Perhaps most interesting is the very rare shot of the ANA DC-5, as well as the vanity of ag aircraft including a Tiger Moth and a fine colour shot of a weather beaten CA-28 Ceres Available for $15 ($A16 for NZ) inc p&p from AustAir Data, PO Box 1142, Toombul 4012.

The Decisive Factor:

A Stephens and BOʻLoghlin (eds)

This 188 page, soft cover book comprises essays and notes by AVM Henry Wrigley CBE, DFC, AFC, WW1 pilot and pre-war RAAF officer.

Wrigley commanded 3 Sqdn AFC in France in 1918, made the first trans-Australia flight in 1919 and in 1921 officially entered the RAAF. During his military career, Wrigley wrote analyses of aerial combat and bombing and the use of air power in war. His essays show that these topics were debated with vigour by pre-war RAAF officers, and that not all clung to standard Empire air defence. Theories later proven in battle to be defective. Wrigley’s essays are well written and supported by maps, diagrams and tables. More importantly, the editors’ notes show how his ideas stand up against post-1945 experiences, many in fact having survived the test of time. However, though important as an historical record of early RAAF intellectual thinking, this book will have limited appeal, suiting mainly readers interested in 1914-18 aerial warfare and the development of air power doctrine.

RRP $24. 95 from the AGPS in all capital cities, or from AGPS Mail Order Sales, GPO Box 84, Canberra, ACT 2601.

Hawker: One of Aviation’s Greatest Names:

LK Blackmore Harry Hawker was a young Australian who sailed to England in 1911 to establish a career in the aeronautical field. Within just ten years of flying he had established himself as one of aviation’s great pioneers.

Blackmore details Hawker’s life and his career up to his death in 1921 and gives the reader a strong understanding of the man and what drove him to succeed as an aviator. Hawker raced aircraft, broke records, attempted to fly the Atlantic, was a designer and chief pilot for the Sopwith company (itself later taken over by Hawker Engineer- ing to the form the famous company responsible for such aircraft as the Hurricane) and was directly involved with several important designs and developments, including the use of aircraft on board ships. A less well known aspect was Hawker’s passion for motor racing.

Available from Hawker Pacific Skyshops for $29. 95 (plus $2. 50 p&p mail order) on (008) 02 3446.

Videos

 Great Planes-Harrier:

Hoyts Poly- gram/AVI As the only Western vertical takeoff and landing jet combat aircraft to attain operational service, the Harrier really is a record of perseverance in achieving an ultimate goal against stonewalling by entrenched bureaucracies. From its very early days as the R&D P. 1127 through to the Kestrel and finally on to the early model Harrier, the revolutionary jet had to continually fight against an inbuilt headwind of the long runway/fixed wing supersonic jet mentality that was only overcome by the vision of the USMC and the eventual scrapping of Britain’s heavy carriers forcing the admirals to finally accept a jet that did not require catapults.

Much of the historic footage in this interesting tape has been run before in the original AM AV-8 tape, though if you did not buy that tape at the time then maybe now is the time to acquire this one.

RRP is $29. 95 and available direct from Myers or by phone from Hawker Pacific Sky- shops on (008) 02 3446.

 Great Planes – Grumman F-14 Tomcat:

Hoyts Polygram/AVI If you haven’t previously purchased a copy of the original AVI F-14 tape, then this one is a must as it also deals extensively with the early design requirements for the F-111.

So entrenched was the F-111 (or more correctly TFX) in the Tomcat’s beginnings that it even got to perform initial carrier trials. The sight of an aircraft as large as the F-111 idling about the flight deck of a carrier is noteworthy in itself. The tape though is naturally about the F-14 and the story it tells is well narrated with a wealth of extremely good footage including the loss of the prototype not long after its first flight.

RRP is $29. 95 and available direct from Myers or by phone from Hawker Pacific Sky- shops on (008) 02 3446.

Video Ordnance:

CEL Video This is actually a two video set of around 60 minutes for each tape. Though titled Video Ordnance, the tapes themselves feature various items of interest under the titles Dogfight, Fight For The Sky, Air Attack and finally Red Falcons. The latter covers late model Soviet equipment while the others basically concentrate on current Western designs and various weapon systems.

Though the tapes are well produced this reviewer is unclear as to what audience they are targeted at, if you will forgive the pun. Probably more inspired with them would be teenagers than hardened Tornado pilots returning after a stretch in the Gulf! Available from most large department stores for an RRP of $29. 95 each.

Qantas Crew Revue

Each year the Pathfinders, a hard working volunteer group within Qantas, produce an excellent satirical stage show that in addition to having become something of an industry ‘must see’ over the years also raises funds for the NSW Institute for Deaf and Blind Children. Pathfinders is a great cause and their annual stage extravaganza is something not to be missed. Consequently the latest effort -Badgery Jones in Search of the Lost Creek – has been professionally videoed and is now available for just $25 in VHS only.

A good fun video which takes plenty of swipes at the entire airline industry and also helps a group of children that weren’t as lucky as you or L Available from Qantas Crew Review, PO Box 1990, Paddington, 2021.