Yesteryear

The prototype Sikorsky HH-60D Night Hawk was rolled out at Stratford, on January 23 and had its first flight a few days later. The prototype Night Hawk is converted from a standard UH- 60A, one of a batch of 11 purchased by the USAF through Army channels.

The initial flight of the first production Hughes AH-64A Apache anti tank helicop- ter took place at the company’s Apache Assembly and Flight Test Centre at Mesa, Arizona on January 9. The Apache reached a forward speed of 105kt (195kmh) and 20kt (38kmh) in both sideways and rearward directions during the flight.

• The newest version of the Boeing 737 family, the 737-300 was rolled out at Renton on January 17 and had its first flight lasting nearly three hours, on February 24. Orders are held for 56 of the new version with a further 40 on option. The first delivery will be made to USAir in November.

The RNZAF has received approval to look for a part life Lockheed P 3B Orion to bring No 5 Squadron’s strength to six aircraft of the type.

20 Years Ago

• The first flight of the second production BAC/Aerospatiale Concorde, 202 G-BBDG, took place at Fairford on February 13. During the 1hr 16min flight, the aircraft was supersonic for 30 minutes at speeds up to Mach 1. 4.

• Air New Zealand has ordered an additional three McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s to supplement the other three in its fleet. Deliveries will take place in December 1974, March and late 1975.

• The first RAF Squadron to be equipped with the BAC/Dassault-Breguet Jaguar GR. 1 is No 54 Squadron, which is scheduled to reform at Lossiemouth on March 29. The RAF will eventually have nine Jaguar squadrons, two each at Coltishall and Lossiemouth and five in Germany.

• Because of the fuel shortage in the UK, British Airways cancelled 11 of its 72 flights to Australia in January. Both the Kangaroo and Pacific routes were involved.

• first flight has been made by the first of the two General Dynamics YF-16lightweight fighter prototypes, which had been ferried by a Lockheed C-5 Galaxy from the Convair Division at Fort Worth to Edwards AFB on January 8. During a 150kt (288kmh) high speed taxi trial on January 20 with the nose raised, the tail hit the runway. The pilot, Phil Oestricher, decided it would be better to takeoff and regain control in the air. The aircraft landed safely after an uneventful six minute flight.

• As the regular Short Sandringham service to Lord Howe will cease on May 31 1974, Army engineers will commence construction of a 915m runway in March. The runway will be used by RAAF Caribou for medical emergencies as no suitable large commercial aircraft are currently available which can use the runway.

• Thai International is to acquire three more long body McDonnell Douglas DC-88 from SAS to add to its one DC-8-62, one DC- 8-30 and five DC-8-338.

• Approval has been given to both Ansett Airlines of Australia and TAA to each purchase an additional two Boeing 727-2008, taking the fleet of the type for both airlines to six each. Deliveries are scheduled for November 1974 and April 1975.

30 Years Ago

• President Johnson revealed in Washington on February 29 that the Lockheed A-11 which has been under secret development since 1959. Eleven or twelve A-11s are now flying from Edwards AFB. The A-11 is claimed to have been tested in sustained flight at speeds over 2000mph at an altitude over 70,000ft.

• During the defence debate in the UK House of Commons in February, it was revealed that the Hawker P. 1154 VISTOL fighter will be supplied to the RAF to re- place the Hawker Hunter and a Spey engined version of the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II all weather fighter will replace the Royal Navy Sea Vixens.

• The prototype BAC TSR-2 was trans- ported by road on March 4 from Weybridge to Boscombe Down from where it will make its first flight.

• The log books of the first Australian assembled Mirages were handed over to the Minister for Air, Mr Fairbairn, by the Minister for Supply, Mr Fairhall, on January 29 at Avalon. Mirage A3-1 was flown by Squadron Leader B Collings to Darwin on February 3 to commence tropical trials. • BOAC and Air France have announced that they both are to order eight Concordes each, two more than was initially reserved for them by their respective governments. Total Concorde orders now stand at 37 including American Airlines six, Pan American six, TWA four, Continental three and Middle East Air Libyan two.

• It was announced on January 29 that TAA has ordered two Beechcraft Queen Airs to be used on intrastate services in Queensland and Tasmania.

• During flying exercises on the night of February 10, the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne collided with destroyer HMAS Voyager off the NSW coast, resulting in the loss of the destroyer and 82 members of her crew.

• Ling-Temco-Vought has won the USN’s light attack aircraft (VAL) competition for a Douglas Skyhawk replacement, with a substantially modified version of its F-8E Crusader. The aircraft will be designated the A-7A and plans are that it will be powered by a non afterburning version of the Pratt and Whitney TF-30 engine being developed for the General Dynamics F-111.