Yesteryear

• The USN has commenced receipt of deliv- eries of 65 QF-86 training target drones from Northrop Services Inc, for use at the NWC, China Lake. Modified by Northropat Inyokern airport, the Sabres were purchased from Japan and Taiwan.

• Qantas has placed an $860m order for six Boeing 767-200ERs and three 747-300s. The Qantas order for the 767-200ER is the second to be placed for the extended range version and the airline is the 18th 767 customer. The initial two aircraft will be delivered in October 1985 and the remainder will be received by March 1986. The 747-300s will be delivered in late 1984 and January and April 1985.

• Japan Air Lines has announced that it will purchase the Boeing 767 to replace its DC-8 fleet. The initial JAL order is for four 767-200s, two 767ERs and three 767-300s plus a further six unspecified 767 options. JAL is the first customer for the stretched 767-300. • Negotiations are talding place between Federal Express and Cessna for the purchase of 30 Caravan I single engine turboprop utility transports with an option for a further 70. The prototype Caravan Ihas now flown over 300 hours and initial deliveries are scheduled for October 1984.

• An order was announced by the Government on October 20 for an additional six Aerospatiale AS 350B Ecureuil helicopters for SAR, liaison and training missions with the RAAF. This follows the order placed in August 1982 for 18 for the RAAF and RAN. The MH-53E mine counter measures helo was unveiled in October 1983.

20 Years Ago

A major strike was made by Arab forces against Israel on October 6. During the first two weeks of the conflict, aircraft losses were (figures in brackets show combat aircraft numbers before the war) Israel 118 (475), Egypt 113 (580), Syria 149 (240) and Iraq 21 (200). Israel lost 80 aircraft in the first week but was able to reduce the loss rate in the second week. About 60% of the initial Israeli frontline strength consisted of the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom and A-4E Skyhawk. Tank losses have been estimated as high as 50%, tank strength prior to the battle were Israel 1700, Egypt 1965, Syria 1270 and Iraq 1065.

At the opening of the Sydney Opera House on October 20 by the Queen, a flypast was made by nine RAAF F-1110s. Part of the other activities consisted of displays by RAN/ Army Wessex, Iroquois and Kiowa helicopters. The Queen arrived and departed from Australia in Qantas’ Boeing 707 VH-EAB, while the Duke of Edinburgh, who was making a private visit to Australia and New Zealand, frequently used the Hawker Siddeley Andover XS790 of the Queen’s Flight.

• Another 50 Grumman F-14A Tomcats have been ordered by the US Navy taking total orders to 184. It is expected that eventually 334 will be procured.

• BAC/Aerospatiale Concorde 001 F-WTASS, the first prototype, made its last flight on October 19 when it flew from Toulouse to Le Bourget and will be preserved by a French air museum. In other preservation news, the last of 40 DC-3s to be used by the Brazilian airline Varig has been placed in Flamengo Park, Rio de Janeiro.

The 48,000lb thrust Rolls-Royce RB. 211- 524 had its first test run at Derby on October 1. It is being developed to power the long range version of the Lockheed TriStar and has potential applications in other widebody airliners. The RB. 211-524 development programme calls for airworthiness certification by late 1975 with production engine deliveries to commence in early 1976.

• The remains of a Spitfire Mk VC have been recovered by members of the RAF Sub Aqua Club in Malta. The aircraft had crashed off the island of Gozo in 1942.

30 Years Ago

• A USAF General Dynamics B-58A Hustler named “Can Do”, flew nonstop from Tokyo to London, covering 6980nm (12,933km) in8 hours 35 minutes. It is the longest supersonic flight ever made and the 814kt (1509km/h) average speed was about twice that of an RAF Canberra which established the previous record in the opposite direction in 1957. The Hustler, 61-2059 from the 306th Bomb Wing, Bunker Hill AFB, Indiana was refuelled five times and reached speeds of up to 1215kts (2250km/h).

• The order for 24 General Dynamics F-111A (TFX) aircraft to equip two squadrons, as a replacement for the RAAF’s GAF Canberras was announced in Parliament on October 24 by the Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies. It came as somewhat as a surprise as the British Aircraft Corporation TSR. 2, McDonnell F-4 Phantom II and North American A-5 Vigilante were considered to be the main contenders. Pending delivery of the F-111As in 1967, 24 Boeing B-47Es/RB-47Es have been offered on a free lease basis as an interim measure as a strike weapon for the RAAF.

The first Short SC. 5/10 Belfast transport, G-ASKE, was rolled out at Belfast on October 8, three years after the order had been placed for ten aircraft for RAF Transport Command. The aircraft will be ready for flight after ground tests lasting six to eight weeks.

• Twelve Gloster Javelins from No 64 Squadron RAF Binbrook, have flown to Kalaikunda near Calcutta to assist the Indian Air Force in air defence exercises.

• Two French independent airlines, Compagnie des Transports Aériens Intercontinentale taux (TAI) and Union Aeromaritime de Transports (UAT) have merged, following approval of shareholders and completion of merger arrangements and will now become known as Union de Transports Aériens (UTA).

General Dynamics has developed the RB-57F, a new version of the Martin RB-57 for very high altitude weather research for the USAF. It is powered by two 18,000lb thrust Pratt & Whitney turbofans in the na celles and two 3300lb Pratt & Whitney JT12As in underwing pods.

• The RCA received the first of 190 Canadair CL-41A Tutor jet trainers on October 24.

October 63 sees a B-58 establish a new non stop record from Tokyo to London.