Yesteryear

The RAAF F/A-18 Hornet programme is close to schedule and the first two aircraft, which will be assembled in the USA, will be handed over to RAAF pilots in October. They will be used to train RAAF instructors for the OCU at William-town until March 1985 and will be flown to Australia the following month. The first of 168 General Electric F404 engines for the RAAF Hornets was formally handed over last December.

The US Department of Defense announced on February 24 that the USAF’s future dual role fighter will be the McDonnell Douglas F-15E in preference to the General Dynamics F-16XL. Current plans will see 392 F-15s modified to the F-15E standard at a cost of $US1500m, with production commencing in 1986 and deliveries to the USAF in 1988.

• The first prototype of the Aeritalia-Aermacchi-Embraer AMX single seat battlefield support and light attack aircraft, was rolled out at Caselle on February 14 and was due to have its first flight on May 2 Following the government decision to provide $250m launch aid over the next four years, British participation in the Airbus A320 is now assured. British Aerospace will repay $50m of this loan over a three year period in the early 1990s, and the other $200m in the form of a variable levy on A320 sales. A further $400m will be required from 1988 onwards from international resources or commercial loans to finance BAe’s 26% share in the A320 programme.

Final assembly of the first ATR 42 which began at Toulouse in February is now under way, and the first fuselage built by Aeritalia in Naples and the first wing from Aerospatiale’s Saint Nazaire and Nantes facilities are in the process of being mated. Rollout is expected in the second half of June, the first flight in August and certification in the third quarter of 1985.

The USAF has selected the F-15 as its new multirole fighter

20 Years Ago

Cathay Pacific has ordered two Lockheed L-1011-100 TriStars with options on a further two aircraft. This is the first sale of the new long range version which has a range of 4500 miles and gross weight of 211,564kg (466,000lb). TriStar orders now stand at 133 plus 69 options.

• Two modified Grumman Gulfstream IIs will be acquired by NASA to be used to train space shuttle crews in making descents from 35,000ft to landing.

• British Airways will withdraw five Vanguards from its European Division during April. At least three will be converted to Merchantmen for the Cargo Division and one may be converted to a swing tail freighter to enable it to carry Lockheed TriStar RB. 211 engines.

• Twelve Boeing Vertol CH-47C Chinook helicopters for No 12 Squadron at Amberley arrived at Brisbane on March 28 on board HMAS Sydney. They were taken to RAAF Base Amberley where six will be prepared for use while the others will be put into long term storage with 3AD.

• The 900th Mirage to be built in France was recently completed at the Dassault-Breguet plant at Bordeaux-Merignac. An additional 250 Mirages have been built under licence in Australia, Belgium and Switzerland.

• The De Havilland Doves in service with the Northern Territory Aerial Medical Service will be replaced by six GAF Nomad 24s.

British Airways Overseas Division will retire all 11 of its VC10s by July. Two of the aircraft have been sold to Gulf Air who will inaugurate a new Golden Falcon service between London and the Arabian Gulf on April 1.

The largest and most powerful helicopter in the Western world, the Sikorsky YCH-53E had its first flight at Stratford Connecticut on March 1. This multi purpose helicopter is being developed for the USN and USMC and is a growth version of the twin turbine CH-53E. It is powered by three 4380shp GE T64-415 turbines, the rotor diameter has been increased from 22 to 24m (72ft to 79ft) and a seventh blade added.

The new Russian “Hind” helicopter gunship is now in service with Soviet Air Force units based in East Germany.

30 Years Ago

Ansett-ANA’s Douglas DC-6B VH-INA lost a propeller blade from the No 3 engine shortly after takeoff from Melbourne airport on April 14. The remainder of the propeller and then the No 3 engine subsequently separated from the aircraft. After jettisoning fuel the aircraft landed safely at Melbourne airport. A preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was due to a fatigue crack which had developed in a propeller blade which caused it to come away from the main propeller installation.

The name “Andover” has been chosen for the Hawker Siddeley 748MF ordered for the RAF. Freighter Andovers will be delivered to Boscombe Down this year for acceptance trials.

• Qantas and the British Aircraft Corporation signed contracts on April 15 to secure Qantas four Concorde production line positions. Qantas will be guaranteed delivery of aircraft number 30, 36, 40 and 42 (which represent the 15th, 18th, 20th and 21st positions on the British production line) if it decides to place firm orders for the Concorde.

• The Consolidated PBY-5A Super Canso CF-JMS arrived at Sydney Airport on April 11. It will be reregistered VH-UMS and will be used for survey work.

The British ARB has granted Transport Category (Passenger) airworthiness approval to the Bristol Siddeley Viper 520 turbojet. Two Vipers rated at 3000lb) thrust each will power the Hawker Siddeley HS. 125 executive jet. The Viper will enter service with an initial 800 hour overhaul life, which is equivalent to 18 months flying by the average executive aircraft operator.

A second Convair 880M has been ordered by Cathay Pacific for delivery in October 1964.

• Lockheed has been awarded a contract by the Canadian Defence Ministry for 16 C-130 Hercules, with deliveries to commence later this year to be completed by September 1965. The value of the order, with spares is estimated at $55m.