People & Bottom Line

Tnt Has Reported A Net Profit Before Abnormals Of $28.9m For The Ninemonths To March, A Turnaround From$41.5m For The Previous Correspondingperiod.

Central to the profitable period was its 50% holding in Ansett, without which TNT would have recorded an overall loss before abnormals of $3.5m.

Books

Hatfield Aerodrome , Aidstory: Philip Birtles

For those of us who go weak at the knees at the mere mention of the words ‘de Havilland’, this 64 page soft cover is a must. It was produced last year as a souvenir for all the BAe Hatfield employees who lost their jobs due to the closure of the site and is now available for general sale with proceeds going to a very worthy cause, the Mosquito Museum at Salisbury Hall. Unfortunately, for the moment the book can only be purchased from the UK, details of which are below. Packed full of photographs of de Havillands over the ages and supported by DH specialist Philip Birtles’ knowledgeable words, the book traces the 63 year history of the company’s (and its successors’) activities at 16 Australian Aviation July 1994 The first Beech C90SE (special edition) King Air is seen in the advanced stages of manufacture at the company’s Wichita plant. At $US1.7m ($A2.3m) the King Air C90SE is “the lowest priced entry to turbine class twin reliability available,” according to Beech. The first C90SE customer delivery is scheduled to take place in July. Beech meanwhile has also been awarded a $US9.3m ($A12.7m) contract from the US Army for three additional C-12Fs (plus options on a further 26) for its Aviation Troop Command at St Louis. The militarised version of the Super King Air B200C, the C- 12Fs will be used as a utility aircraft for personnel and cargo transport. Beech has delivered more than 300 King Air based C-12s of various models to the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines since 1974. (Beech) Hatfield Aerodrome north of London, a unique technological site as it was the only single location in the world where the full range of aerospace products have been conceived and built, from Moths to jet airliners, propellers, engines and space rockets. The news about Hatfield has got even worse in the few months since this book was published, with the whole aerodrome now to close. It will be the loss of not just a place, but a large piece of aviation history. Available from the de Havilland Aircraft Museum Trust Ltd, PO Box 107, Salisbury Hall, London Colney, Hertfordshire AL2 lBU, England for £11.00 payable by Sterling International Money Order or cheque.

Defeat To Victory: Johnbennett

The 1993 RAAF Heritage Award winner, Defeat to Victory traces the history of 453 Squadron RAAF in its two phases: the hopeless defence of Malaya and Singapore flying obsolete Brewster Buffaloes and its three years in Europe flying Spitfires and taking part in the eventual victory over Nazi Germany. The first half of the book – dealing with the fall of Singapore – is perhaps the most interesting as it analyses in great detail the incompetent political and military decisions which led to the debacle. The before and during periods are examined closely, with 453’s forlorn hopes of helping salvage the situation making for disturbing reading as the effects of poor leadership, second rate equipment and an impossible military situation develop. From reading this, it would be easy to gain the impression that everyone wearing a British uniform was a complete idiot, while the Aussies were, of course, top notch! Surely there must have been one or two competent British officers in the Far East in late 1941? The squadron’s European activities are also well described, while several useful appendices including individual listings of 453’s Buffaloes and Spitfires, squadron ‘kill’ claims, Orders of Battle and so on complete the worth of the book One nitpick regarding aircraft designations: it’s Messerschmitt Bf 109 (not ME-109), Bf 110 (not ME-110), Fw 190 (not FW-190) and so on – an unnecessary annoyance that plagues so many books and magazines. Defeat To Victory is published by the RAAF Museum, Point Cook, Vic 3027, and is available from there on (03) 368 1111. Price is $13.50 plus $3.00p&p. Credit cards accepted.