Yesteryear

Thai International has become the first operator to order the extended range version of the Boeing 767-200 which will become available in 1984.

• The first Boeing 747-300, painted in Swissair livery, had its first flight on October 5.

To reduce the deficit on Concorde operations, the French government has ordered Air France to suspend services to Washington and Mexico City with the last round-trips being made on 29 and 31 October respectively. This will mean that Air France will then only fly its Concordes to New York. • The first Saab 340 rolled out on October 27. Three development aircraft will fly in January, May and July 1983 with first deliveries in April 1984 to Crossair and July 1984 to Teterboro Air Service. Saab have orders and options for about 100 plus 30 more under negotiation.

• The merger between Continental Airlines and Texas Air will see the airline operations of both airlines fully integrated from October 31. The combined fleet will consist of 13 DC-10s, 57 Boeing 727s and 39 DC-9s.

On 17 October the first RAF Phantom landed at the newly extended and strengthened runway at Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. During the following week, additional Phantoms were ferried from Ascension to their new base. Negotiations are in progress between the British and US governments for the purchase of 15-20 ex USN F-4 Phantoms at a unit flyaway cost of $1. 5m.

20 Years Ago

Iran Air signed a preliminary purchase agreement on October 5 for the purchase of two BAC/Aerospatiale Concordes with an option on a third. Concorde orders and options now total 76 from 17 airlines. These comprise orders from BOAC for 5, Air France 4, preliminary purchase agreements from CAAC 3, Iran Air 2, plus another 62 Concordes on option.

Defence Minister Fairbairn said in Parliament on October 11 that an offer from the United States for Australia to purchase the remaining 23 McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantoms in RAAF service for about $54m will not be accepted. Although this was $20m less than the price asked for in the 1970 agreement, there would be other costs for spares and ground handling equipment. It would also have required the disbandment of one Mirage Squadron plus the recruitment of some 320 pilots and airmen. He said that there were 88 RAAF Mirages and 20 RAN Skyhawks for air superiority and ground attack use and that the RAAF had assessed the F-4Es as only marginally superior to those aircraft rather than markedly superior. The lease of 11 of the Phantoms had been terminated and the first batch of six aircraft will be flown by USAF ferry crews from Amberley on October 25 followed by five aircraft on November 8. The remaining 12 will be retained until the first F-111Cs are delivered in the middle of next year.

The first flight of the prototype A300B European Airbus took place at Toulouse-Blagnac on October 28. The 1hr 25min flight was one month ahead of schedule.

• The Grumman F-14A Tomcat entered service with the USN on October 12 and the first two squadrons are being formed at Miramar NAS, San Diego.

During their 1972 financial year which ended on September 30, Cessna delivered 4,653 new aircraft.

A Boeing 707 left Sydney on October 21 carrying the first of the passengers on the low cost Qantas MSA Jetaway tours to Singapore and Malaysia. The promotion has been an outstanding success and Qantas estimates that nearly 10,000 Australians will have participated in the current promotion which ceases in March 1973. The offer was for seven nights in Singapore for $295 or 14 nights in Singapore/Malaysia for $399, including airfare, accommodation including breakfast and tours. The economy return airfare from Sydney to Singapore is $525.

30 Years Ago

• Construction of the first Boeing 727 has reached the stage where the aft and forward sections of the fuselage have been joined at Boeing’s Renton plant and the aircraft is due to roll off the production line next month. The first flight is expected to take place in January. Orders have been received from five airlines for 127 727s. The Australian airlines have yet to announce their orders for their first line jet equipment. Ansett-ANA has a preference for the 727 while TAA has a technical preference for the DH. 121 Trident-IE.

• The Ilyushin D-62 four engined jet airliner capable of seating 182 passengers was unveiled this month. It is stated to be able to cruise at about 560mph and have sufficient range to fly the 4,800 miles from Moscow to New York. From the first photograph released it appears to be larger and heavier than the Super VC10.

The Avro 652A XIX Series 2 VH-RCC arrived at Moorabbin on October 27 where it will be operated by Nicholas Air Charter. It was originally built as a Series 1 in 1946 and was converted to a Series 2 in 1954 and used as a personnel transport by Hawkers at Dunsfold.

• Republic has received an $8m order from the USAF for a two seat version of the F-105D Thunderchief fighter bomber, to be designated the F-105F. It will have the same mission capabilities of the F-105D and will be 31 inches longer with a taller fin.

Two RAN Sea Venoms collided during a bomb burst manoeuvre, while participating in a display over Sydney Harbour on October 2. One of the Sea Venoms, WZ940, dived into the Harbour near Cremorne Point just after the pilot had ejected. Despite a damaged tail unit, the other aircraft, WZ893, was able to reach Nowra where it landed safely. HMAS Kimbla recovered the crashed Sea Venom and it was placed on display at the open day at Garden Island on October 6. HMAS Kimbla was again used to locate a crashed aircraft, when it took part in the search for the USAF Martin NB-57 which dived into the sea between Lorne and Airey’s Inlet on October 16 with the loss of both crew.