Yesteryear

• An agreement has been signed by Aero spatiale and Aeritalia to launch the ATR42 short haul 42-52 seat transport. A total of 56 paid options received by November are now being converted into firm orders.

• Figures released by the Department of Transport show that Moorabbin with 282,062 movements during 1980 was slightly ahead of Bankstown with 281,579 with Archerfield 268,295 in third place. Total GA hours were 1,791,000, while the airlines flew 378,800 hours.

• The US Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger announced on 19 November that the British Aerospace Hawk had won the USN VTX-TS trainer competition, British Aero- space, McDonnell Douglas and Sperry have been awarded a contract as the next stage to develop a trainer version for the USN The modified Hawk for the USN will include a strengthened landing gear, arrestor hook and catapult launch timings. At least 300 will be required by the USN with deliveries to commence in 1987.

The US Army has now received more than 210 Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawks out of a stated requirement of 1,107.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force has ordered 44 Platus PC-7 Turbo trainers with deliveries due to commence in October 1982.

20 Years Ago

• The Boeing 747F, the world’s largest jet freighter, has been rolled out at Everett. The arcraft which is the 168th off the 747 production line, will undergo several months of testing prior to delivery to Lufthansa. Capable of carrying 125 tons on its main deck and in the lower holds, the 747F will have no windows along its 232ft fuselage, and will have an 8ft 12ft nose door to admit standard 8ft x 8ft containers.

Following the outbreak of hostilities between India and Pakistan, International airline traffic has been diverted via Ceylon. Qantas has suspended stops at Calcutta and Delhi and will now fly direct Singapore/ Bahrain.

• An order has been placed by Westem Al- lines for three Boeing 727-200s with an option on a further three aircraft. This was the first order received from a US airline by Boeing in 17 months. Boeing has now sold 884 Boeing 727s to 59 airlines and 320 737s to 35 airlines.

A Cantas proposal for a $700 fare to London has been accepted by ATA in Geneva.

• The first of the 75 Bell 2068-1 Kiowa hellcopters on order to the Australian Army and the RAN, was accepted at Brisbane airport by the Minister for Defence, Mr John Gorton, on 22 November. The first 12 Kiowas will be of airfreighted to Australia and the delivery these will be completed by January. Production of the Australian Bell 2068-1s will begin late next year.

To replace the three Hawker Siddeley 1255 (known locally as the “Mercurius” lost in an accident on Table Mountain on 26 May, the SAAF has ordered three more HS 125s. • The last BOAC Boeing 707 passenger service to Sydney was operated by G-ARRC on 1. November and their initial Boeing 747 to visit Sydney was G-AWNG on 3 November. • No 205 Squadron RAF which had been operating Shackleton MR. 2s at Changi, Singapore has been disbanded. Until Nimrods arrive early next year, some of the Shackle tons will remain in the Far East as a detachment of No 204 Squadron, Honington, to cover Gan and Singapore.

30 Years Ago

• It has been reported that negotiations are in progress between Finland and Dassaut for a small number of Mirage BIC all-weather fighters. In addition to the sales to Australia and Switzerland it is believed that some Mirage Ils are in service with the Israel Air Force.

An open day was held at RAAF Base East Sale on 19 November to coincide with the visit of USAF aircraft operating from there in connection with Operation Crowflight II. Vising USAF aircraft included one Lockheed U-2 and two U-2As, four Martin NB-57Bs and a Douglas SC-540. Also present were several RAAF aircraft including two Sabres, two Canberras, seven Dakotas and nine Vampires.

• De Havilland Canada has increased the production rate of the DHC-4 Caribou to three a month and orders are now held for 61 for the US Army. Initial deliveries of the version with a 2,200lb payload increase and gross weight of 28,500lb to the US Army have begun.

• Deliveries of the Aero Commander Model 1121 Jet Commander are due to commence during the third quarter of 1963 and a price of $475,000 has been quoted.

The first Qantas turbofan service to the Far East was operated by a Boeing 707-1388 when it departed from Sydney on 14 November for Manila, Hong Kong and Tokyo.

• Three Armstrong Whitworth Argosy 100 freighters have commenced operations with British European Airways. There are already seven Argosy 100s in service with Riddle Airlines of Miami. Armstrong Whitworth are also producing the improved Argosy 200 series which features a payload increase of 3,000lb.

• RAAF aircraft present at a display at Manila on 26 November, which concluded the 14th Philippines Aviation Week, included sk Sabres from No 78 Fighter Wing and two Canberras from No 2 Squadron from Butter worth Malaya and a Hercules from No 36 Squadron Richmond.

• TAA Vickers Viscount 720C VH-TVC car.

rying four crew and 11 passengers was lost soon after takeoff from Sydney Airport at 7. 10pm on 30 November. The Viscount was on climb at the beginning of a fight to Canberra and a severe storm was in the area at the time. Wreckage from the aircraft was located in the Botany Bay area near the airport the following morning.