People, Bottom Line, Book & Video Reviews

Qantas Chief Executive John Ward has resigned and has been replaced byJames Strong. Ross Keenan is the new Qantas Regional Director, New Zealand, while Allan Williams has been made Qantas Group Sales Manager, SA/NT. Qantas General Manager John Schaap has taken up the position of Chairman of Australia air Express, following the resignation of Australia Post Managing Director Rae Taylor. Air New Zealand has appointed Brendan Fitzgerald to its newly created position of General Manager Terminal Services, heading the new Terminal Services New Zealand business unit. The Federal Government has made two appointments to its aviation boards. John Mant has been reappointed for a second term on the board of the CAA, while John Graham has been appointed to the board of the FAC. Jack Moffat, meanwhile becomes Chief General Manager of Operations at the FAC, tasked with smoothing the corporations relations with industry. John Fordham’s Fordham Communications is no longer the public relations agency for Northwest, having switched allegiances back to rival US carrier Continental. Brian McKeon has been appointed Marketing Manager of the Fleet Air Arm Museum. Ian Oldmeadow has become manager of Ansett International.

Books

Target Charlie:

Steve Eather Target Charlie, three years in production, tells the story of Australia’s air war in Vietnam during the 1964 to 72 period.

Reading the text reminds the reader that Vietnam actually happened’ around a quarter century ago whilst for many of us it is little more than fleeting memories of a television war long before we began to understand the enormity ofthis long and politically complex conflict. Target Charlie is an interesting read for everybody, but for those who weren’t there or were too young to fully appreciate the era then it certainly is an indispensable slice of Australia’s military history.

The book individually narrates the experiences of each of the ADF units including Australians involved with US units on exchange or Forward Air Control duties. How many readers, for instance, realise that Aussie pilots flew missions north of the DMZ? Target Charlie includes individual chapters on each of Australia’s (and New Zealand’s) units operating during the war. As such, it enables the reader to quickly verify events at the time and cross reference data in what is also an excellent ready reference work.

Target Charlie also naturally includes a wide variety of charts, maps and tables detailing a wide range of Australasia’s Vietnam air operations. This is information, under one cover, that is not always readily available elsewhere without hours of reference.

All in all, a worthwhile investment that also offers excellent value for money.

Available from your newsagent or direct from Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, PO Box 3105, Weston Creek, ACT 2611 for $19. 95 (soft cover) plus $4. 95 p&p or $29. 95 plus p&p for hard cover editions.

Videos

Israeli Air Force:

ART Video The Israeli Air Force is perhaps the most secretive, yet most potent and effective air arm in the world today.

This highly interesting video takes a rare look into both the history of the air arm following Israel’s independence, the aircraft themselves, pilot training and force structure.

Particularly interesting is the historical narrative, studying in depth the air force’s involvement in Israel’s various wars (the Six Day War, Yom Kippur, etc) formation and early operations. This includes some fascinating combat footage as the force’s many resounding successes and few failures are documented.

Pilots in particular should find the video’s section on the challenging Israeli training process of great interest, as the video studies the intense progression from basic trainers (Piper Super Cubs) through to frontline fighter jets (F-4, F-16 and F-15). Available from Southern Pacific Transport Videos, PO Box 102, Huntly, New Zealand, ph6478289769 or fax 6478289830 for $A43 including air mail postage.