Yesteryear

The Canadian Ministry of the Environment has confirmed its intention to order a DHC Dash 7R to be used in an ice reconnaissance role. It will be the first -7R variant which has an increase in fuel capacity from 4500kg to 7710kg. Amongst the special equipment installed will be a laser profilometer to measure ice formation contours, SLAR to locate ice in drilling areas and shipping lanes and a data link with ships.

• Production of the Helio Courier has resumed at Pittsburg, Kansas by the Helio Aircraft Company after a break of more than eight years. The company is a division of the General Aircraft Corporation, from which it acquired tooling, production rights and type certification for all Courier models and other Helio designs in 1977. Following the first flight of a Courier 800 on May 24, deliveries are due to commence next month and flight test of the Courier 700 is set to take place in July.

An additional 16 mothballed ex USN A-4C Skyhawks have been purchased by the Republic of Singapore Air Force. They will be converted into eight two seat TA-4 trainers by the Singapore Aerospace Maintenance Company. Engineering assistance will be given by Lockheed Aircraft Service with the first two conversions.

• The latest development of the BAe 125 series was first flown at Chester on May 26. The BAe 125 Series 800 is powered by 4300lb st Garrett TFE 731-5 turbofans and amongst numerous changes has an aerodynamically refined wing with a 1. 4m (4. 5ft) span increase, re-shaped rear fuselage, larger fin area and Collins EFIS.

20 Years Ago

Lufthansa has increased the frequency of its Boeing 707 service to Sydney from two to three services a week from May 15. From April 1974, the 707s will be replaced by McDonnell Douglas DC-10s.

The first Alitalia McDonnell Douglas DC-10 service to Australia arrived on May 19 and visited both Melbourne and Sydney. There will be three services a week.

The US FAA has initiated a replacement programme for its 47 DC-3s and T-29s which are used in the flight checking for accuracy of ground navigation aids. The first new air- craft will be five Jet Commanders ordered last January and a lease purchase contract was signed this month with Rockwell International for 11 Model 75A Sabreliners.

• The first sale of an HS 748 in the USA has been made to Air Illinois for delivery in October. It will be operated in 44 seat configuration between Springfield/Chicago-Meigs.

Sales of the 748 stand at 273.

President Nixon has ordered the acceptance for unspecified “foreign policy reasons” of the merger of Eastern Air Lines and the Puerto Rico based Caribair. The US CAB had twice previously rejected the merger. The Caribair fleet consists of three DC-9-30s, two Convair 340s and six CV-640s.

The assembly has begun of Piper aircraft by Chincul S. A. of San Juan, Argentina under an agreement made in December 1972. During the next ten years, Chincul plans to assemble 1000 single engined and 340 twin engined aircraft. Under a similar programme arranged in 1968, AICSA of Bogota has assembled about 100 Piper aircraft.

• East-West Airlines has taken over Adastra Airways Ltd based at Mascot. Founded 33 years ago, Adastra is the best known and most experienced aerial survey and mapping company in Australia.

• During a visit to France, General Mobutu, the President of the Republic of Zaire announced that the Zaire Air Force is planning to purchase 15 Dassault Mirage III fighters and up to 30 Aerospatiale/Westland Puma helicopters.

Eight Britten-Norman Islanders have been ordered by the Ghana Air Force. They will be used mainly for communications and pilot training.

30 Years Ago

Vickers has devised a modification to the VC10 to overcome drag problems which would have reduced the useful range in service. The changes involve a 3 degree upward tilt of the engines, an 27cm (11in) increase in the distance of the engine nacelles from the fuselage and wing modifications. Vickers currently holds orders for 58 VC10s and Super VC108 The maiden flight of the first Blackburn Buccaneer S. 2 took place at Holme-on-Spalding Moore airfield on May 17. The Rolls-Royce RB. 168 Spey powered S. 2 features many performance improvements over the Gyron Junior engined $. 1 version. • A Pan American World Airways order for five additional Boeing 707-320C all cargo jet transports has taken total sales of Boeing commercial jets to 501, comprising 370 707s and 720s and 131 7278.

The Minister for Civil Aviation, Senator Paltidge, announced on May 16 that an order has been placed by the Department of Civil Aviation for a de Havilland DH 125, to be delivered in the middle of next year. It will join their existing fleet of four Aero Commanders, two Friendships, one Cessna 170, one Cessna 310, a DC-3 and a Piaggio P. 166. The DH 125 will be used to assist DCA in preparation for the forthcoming introduction of jet airliners into the Australian domestic networks. This will include the survey, research and calibration of various airborne and ground aids.

• The delivery has now taken place from Kawasaki of 42 licence built Lockheed P2V-7 Neptunes to the Japanese MSDF and six more are on order.

• Because of BOAC’s financial losses and to balance reduced commitments, the airline plans to reduce the number of aircraft in service to 52 by 1967, instead of the originally planned 62. The current fleet includes 18 Boeing 707-436s and orders have been. placed for 12 VC10s and 30 Super VC10s. Not announcement has been made regarding which aircraft type will be reduced in numbers in the future fleet.

The Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies announced in Parliament on May 22 that options would be taken up on 40 additional Mirages, taking total RAAF Mirage orders to 100. Other orders announced in the defence programme were for 18 DHC Caribou STOL transports and another eight Bell Iroquois utility helicopters.