Yesteryear

• The delivery of a British Aerospace 146 to the Government of Mali on October 15 takes to seven the number of the type in service. The first BAe 146 delivered to Dan-Air in May has completed 1000 revenue hours in less than four months.

• Pakistan is considering the purchase of six ex-RAAF Lockheed P-3B Orions previously traded back to Lockheed as part of the procurement of the additional RAAF P-3Cs.

• Two more Westland Wasps have been delivered to the Royal New Zealand Navy tak- ing its complement of the type to seven. The Wasps operate from the frigates Canterbury, Waikato, Wellington, and Southland. Following the handover by Westland on September 15, the first was airfreighted to New Zealand this month to be followed by the second in December.

• Funds are being sought by the NASAAmes Research Center to develop a Quiet Shorthaul Research Aircraft (QSRA) which would use the basic airframe of a Douglas A-3 Skywarrior. The aircraft would have four small turbofan engines mounted above the wing leading edge, with upper surface blowing and canard noseplanes and winglets.

• A British Aerospace BAe 125 Series 800 has made its first overseas visit when it was demonstrated at Washington (Dulles) airport and appeared at the NBAA Convention in Dallas. The third Series 800 demonstrator G-BKUW flew trans Atlantic to Goose Bay in 5 hours 15 minutes and was the first example fitted with an EFIS which will be standard on production aircraft.

A BAe 125 Series 800 was demonstrated in the USA during November 1983.

20 Years Ago

• Following experiences in resupply operations to Israel during the October 1973 war, the USAF has identified a need for about 50 Boeing 747s or McDonnell Douglas DC-10s to increase its airlift capacity.

• Two French Navy pilots have carried out a flying assessment of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier T. 52 two seat demonstrator G-VTOL The trials, which lasted two days, were carried out aboard the aircraft carrier Foch while the ship was cruising off Brest.

• The first Rolls-Royce Adour engine for the Hawker Siddeley HS 1182 Hawk jet trainer has been delivered. The first flight will take place next year.

• Air Niugini commenced operations on November 1 with a fleet of eight Fokker F. 27 Friendships and 12 DC-3s obtained from Ansett and TAA. The first aircraft to be painted in the new colours was DC-3 VH-SBB.

• The 162nd Lockheed Starfighter to be lost by West Germany crashed into the North Sea on November 22 after the two crew had ejected safely from their TF-104 trainer.

• The 1000th Boeing 727 was rolled out at Seattle on November 29, 11 years and two days after the unveiling of the prototype.

Total 727 sales stand at 1093 of which 79 have been ordered this year.

• Avro Vulcan B. 2s will be modified to a strategic reconnaissance role as Vulcan SR. 2s, and will operate with No 27 Squadron based at Scampton. When the squadron is fully operational, it will take over the present SR roles currently carried out by the Handley Page Victors of No 543 Squadron, Wyton whose aircraft will be then converted into Victor K. 2 tankers.

The Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, announced on November 30 that the separate departments of Navy, Army and Air Force will be merged into a combined Department of Defence from December 1. Other changes will see the former Department of Civil Aviation merged into a combined land, sea and air Department of Transport.

• An order for 15 additional Trident 2Es has been received by Hawker Siddeley from the Civil Aviation Administration of China. Val- ued at $50m with spares, they will be delivered in the autumn of 1975. This will take CAAC orders to 35 and total Trident sales to 117.

30 Years Ago

• The first flight of an Australian assembled GAMD Mirage III took place at Avalon on November 16. Flown by Squadron Leader Billie Collings, Mirage A3-3 reached speeds up to Mach 1. 4 during the 52 minute test flight. Lockheed Hercules A97-206 arrived at Avalon on November 27 carrying the partially dismantled A3-1, the first of the two French built Mirages.

• The British Minister of Aviation, Mr Julian Amery, announced in the House of Com- mons on November 20 that “100 or more” BACTSR-2s will be built in the mid 1960s for operational service. He confirmed that an initial batch of 30 has been ordered.

• The first Vickers Super VC10, G-ASFA, the first of 30 on order for BOAC, is nearing completion at Weybridge.

• Ansett-ANA and TAA have taken delivery of one Douglas DC-6B each. The TAADC-6B, VH-TAD, arrived at Essendon November 16 and was ferried from the USA by a TAA crew. The DC-6B was overhauled and modified by Douglasto incorporate an enlarged door and strengthened floor to enable the aircraft to be used in an all freight role when required. The Ansett-ANA DC-6B, VH-INA, arrived at Essendon on the 22nd.

• The last RCAF Sabres in Europe were retired on November 14 when No 439 Squadron based at Marville, France was stood down.

• Three USAF Boeing B-47Es arrived at RAAF Base Amberley on November 15 after a non-stop flight from Guam, at the commencement of a series of demonstration flights around Australia. They are supported by servicing personnel who arrived in two Douglas C-124 Globemasters.

• The two RCAF de Havilland Comets are awaiting disposal at Mountainview, near Trenton, Ontario following their retirement on October 3. They had been in service with No 412 Squadron since 1953.

• Qantas announced on November 2 that it had ordered three intercontinental type Boeing 707-320Cs for delivery in 1965, two in April and one in September. It already has a further two 707-138Bs which will be delivered in the second half of 1964. When the 707-320Cs are delivered, Qantas will have a Boeing fleet of 16 including 13 707-138Bs.

The first Australian assembled Mirage Omade its first fight on November 16 1963.