Yesteryear

The first of six prototypes of the Aeritalia/Aermacchi/Embraer AMX light attack aircraft had its maiden flight at Caselle near Turin on May 15, flown by Captain Mario Quarantelli.

• The RAN’s reformed No 816 Squadron is to receive the Navy’s 14 serviceable Westland Wessex Mk 31B helicopters, to be used in the utility role, while three other Wessexes will remain in storage. No 816 will become the parent unit for the Navy’s shipboard flights which will receive AS 350B Ecureuil helicopters to augment its Bell 206B-1 and UH-1B Iroquois helicopters.

Thai International is leasing two McDonnell Douglas DC-8 Series 62CFs from SAS, one from May and the other from October, until September 1985 with an option to purchase prior to the date.

• The first USAF reserve unit to receive the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Fal- con is the 419th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah. Their 24 F-16s, deliveries of which began in January, will replace Republic F-105 Thunderchiefs, the last in Air Force service.

The 713th and final A-10 Thunderbolt close support aircraft has been delivered by Fairchild Industries to the USAF. Assembly of the A-10 began in 1975 at the Hagerstown, Maryland plant.

20 Years Ago

A world distance record for a helicopter has been claimed by Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm for the BO 105. An S1 model of the helicopter flew from Munich to Seville during recent endurance flying tests, a distance of 1715km with a pilot and flight test engineer on board. Carrying extra fuel for the flight, the BO 105 had a takeoff weight of 2600kg instead of the normal 2300kg.

The first Handley Page Victor K. 2 tanker for the RAF was delivered to Marham on May 7 and has now entered service with No 232 OCU  Cessna delivered 153 agricultural aircraft in the first three months of 1974 including a monthly record for them of 70 in March, beating their previous best total of 52 in March 1973.

Bellanca Aircraft Corporation, in response to record sales of $5. 72m for the six months to March 31, is expanding facilties and increasing production. Citabria production will be increased to 60 units a month, Viking from 11 a month to one a day and Champion from 40 a month to three a day. Bellanca forecasts sales in the 1973/74 year will top $16m, more than twice last year’s result.

Ansett Flying Boat Services operated their final scheduled service on May 31 when the Short Sandringham VH-BRC Beachcomber flew to Lord Howe Island under the command of Captain Keith Mansfield. The Ansett Sandringhams have been sold to Antilles Airboats, but pending completion of the Lord Howe Island airstrip, one will be kept to maintain a token service.

BAC has announced orders for a further 10 BAC. 167 Strikemaster light strike trainer aircraft. Six for the RNZAF, to add to the 10 they already have for pilot and weapons training, and another second order to an undisclosed air force. Including spares and associated equipment, the RNZAF order is worth $4,374,000.

• The USAF’s new requirement for an AFTI (Advanced Fighter Technology Integration) is being studied by McDonnell Douglas, Fairchild-Republic and Rockwell. The McDonnell Douglas proposal resembles a scaled down F-15.

• The first metal has now been cut on the Hawker Siddeley HS146 fanjet feederliner and the first flight of the prototype is scheduled for December 1975.

30 Years Ago

The North American XB-70A Valkyrie was rolled out at Palmdale on May 11. Two Valkyries have been ordered and will be used for research into sustained high speed flight. It is constructed largely of brazed stainless steel honeycomb sandwich and extensive use has also been made of titanium and other heat resistant metals. The XB-70A is powered by six 30,000lb thrust General Electric YJ-93 turbojets, which are fed with air through a 25m (80ft) long duct with a special inlet control system to slow down air at supersonic speeds.

The first batch of Hindustan HF-24 Marut Mk 1 jet fighters was handed over to the Indian Air Force at a ceremony held on May 10. The HF-24 Mk 1 is powered by two 4850lb Bristol Siddeley Orpheus 703s, which are being built by HAL at Bangalore.

The Minister for Civil Aviation, Senator Paltridge has said that the new runway extension into Botany Bay, due for completion in 1966, will provide Sydney with an airport capable of handling aircraft up to 227,000kg (500,000lb) AUW. The dredging of Botany Bay, now in progress, is the first step of a major works programme. A second stage will include the building of a new international terminal located on the airport’s western side.

The United States is supplying 75 Douglas Skyraiders to the South Vietnamese Air Force. Consisting of 50 two seat A-1Es and 25 single seat A-IHs, they will replace North American T-288 and Douglas B-26s previously supplied by the US.

An order for eight L-300B Super Starlifters has been placed by the Flying Tiger Line. The L-300B civil development of the USAF C-141 has a 25% longer 31. 7m (104ft) hold in a lengthened 51m (168ft) fuselage, a 49,940kg (110,000lb) payload and a maximum takeoff weight of 111,630kg (366,000lb). The contract is believed to be the largest ever placed by a civil firm for cargo aircraft. Four L-300Bs have also been ordered by Slick with options on two more.

The USAF is flying reconnaissance missions in Vietnam using Lockheed U-2s, Martin RB-57s and McDonnell RF-101 Voodoos, and in addition, is oper ating a number of Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports.