Yesteryear

The last of 270 Lockheed C-141As to be converted to C-HIB standards was handed back to the USAF on June 29. The main change is the insertion of two fuselage plugs increasing fuselage length by 23ft.

The Industry and Commerce Minister Sir Phillip Lynch has announced that Nomad production will cease late in 1984 when 170 will have been delivered.

The British Ministry of Defence has stated that they had confirmed the destruc tion over or on the Falklands up to June 1 of 25 Skyhawks, 19 Mirages, one Canberra, four T-34Cs, one MB-339, nine Pucaras, one Her.

cules, nine helicopters and three light-planes. On June 3, an RAF Vulcan was intercepted in Brazilian airspace and escorted by Brazilian F-5Es to Rio de Janeiro. When the Argentine forces on the Falk-lands surrendered on June 14, their total aircraft losses were estimated at over 100. British air losses were: four Sea Harriers in accidents, two Sea Harriers to ground fire, three Harrier GR Mk 3s to ground fire and a number of Wessex, Sea King and Gazelle helicopters.

20 Years Ago

The first McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 was rolled out at Long Beach on June 1. This is the intercontinental version with a 6,000 mile range, a maximum weight of 555,000lb and third main undercarriage unit under the fuselage to spread the load on the runway. It was the 46th DC-30 to be produced.

Large crowds viewed Concorde 002 G-BSST when it landed at Sydney and Melbourne during June as part of a one month demonstration tour of the Far East and Australia. It departed from Melbourne on June 23 at the start of its journey back to the UK.

The McDonnell Douglas A-4N Skyhawk II had its first flight at Palmdale on June 8. This latest version of the Skyhawk has several improvements including a new navigation and weapons delivery system, the installation of two 30mm cannon and a redesigned and simplified cockpit layout.

• This month saw the rollout of two new US fighter prototypes. On June 23 the Northrop F-5E, now named the Tiger II, emerged at Hawthorne, California and is expected to fly soon. Meanwhile, the prototype McDonnell Douglas F-15 fighter, was rolled out at St Louis on June 26. After the accompanying ceremony in which it was named the Eagle, the wings were removed prior to its departure in a C-5A galaxy to Edwards AFB where its first flight is expected next month.

The two contenders for the USAF’s A-X close air support requirement had their maiden flights last month. The Fairchild- Republic A-10A flew on May 10 and the Northrop A-8A made its flying debut on May 30.

• Israeli Mirage IIICJs shot down two Egyptian MiG-21s over the Mediterranean on June 13. In the period since the June 1967 war Israel claims to have shot down 114 aircraft for the loss of just 17 of their own.

Nearly one hundred aircraft were lost when floods in Pennsylvania inundated the Piper factory at Lock Haven.

West Germany lost its 155th Lockheed F-104G Starfighter on June 23 when it crashed in Arizona during a training flight. .

30 Years Ago

• The maiden flight of the first Vickers VC30 G-ARTA took place at Weybridge on June 29. Carrying BOAC colours, the lightly laden VCIO at 180,000lb weight lifted off in less than 740 yards. The VCD is expected to enter service with BOAC in 1964 followed by the Super VC10 in 1965.

• The USAF took delivery of its last Boeing Stratofortress, a B-52H at Wichita on June 29. Total B-52 production is 744 with 466 from Wichita and the remainder from Boeing’s Seattle factory. Although B-52 production has ceased, the fleet will continue to serve in a front-line capacity for many years to come. The prototype YB-52 Stratofortress first flew on September 4, 1954.

A new joint company, BOAC-Cunard Ltd, has been formed by BOAC and the Cunard Steamship Company to operate their Atlantic air routes. BOAC will contribute 16 of their Rolls-Royce engined Boeing 707s and Cunard will contribute their two 707s. If necessary, the new company will buy additional 707, DC-7C, DC-7F and Britannia 312 flying time from ВОАС.

• The Department of Civil Aviation’s order to ground all Avro Anson Mk 1 aircraft in Australia came into effect at midnight on 30 June. Farewell flights were carried out on June 30 by VH-FIA, VH-FIC and VH-BSF over Melbourne and VH-BEL over Perth while MacRobertson Miller Airlines’ VH-MMH was flown from Mount Magnet to Perth after completion of a survey operation. • General Dynamics/Convair will use a Martin PBM Mariner to conduct renewed fly-ing boat studies for the Bureau of Naval Weapons. The need for a reliable flying boat in limited wars has been expressed by some US officials.

Fokker’s new twinjet short haul airliner the F28 is now in the mock up stage at Schiphol and is expected to fly in 1965 with deliveries to start in 1967.