Yesteryear

The first Siai Marchetti S211 basic trainer for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) flew for the first time on October 4. It was the first of a firm order for 10 S211s, of which the RSAF is the launch customer for the type.

An RAF Nimrod MR Mk 2 from No 42 Squadron was announced as the winner of the 1984 Fincastle Trophy contest held at RAAF Edinburgh from 1-7 October, competing with other maritime reconnaissance aircraft from Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

Boeing sold its 5000th jetliner on October 3, with the announcement of an order from Varig for two 747-300 Combis. Since the company received its first order for a Boeing 707 on October 13, 1955, it has averaged sales of 172 aircraft a year. Its jetliner sales comprise 982 707s, 1831 727s, 1224 737s, 637 747s, 139 757s and 188 767s.

The first flight of the Rockwell B-1B, lasting 3hr 9min, took place at Palmdale on October 18. It returned to Palmdale after the flight where it was viewed by President Reagan a few days later. It will later be transferred to Edwards AFB where it will be based for the B-1B flight test programme.

The Sikorsky S-70B-2 Seahawk was announced as the winner of the RAN’s RAWS (Role Adaptable Weapons System) on October 9. A contract will be placed for eight Seahawks with deliveries to begin in late 1987. The first S-70B-2 will be delivered by Sikorsky in flyaway form while the remaining helicopters will be assembled by Hawker de Havilland.

20 Years Ago

British Airways’ first Lockheed TriStar, G-BBAE, arrived on delivery at Heathrow on October 21 after a flight from Palmdale, California.

The first Panavia MRCA to be assembled in Britain, XX946, which is the second prototype, had its first flight at Warton on October 30 flown by Paul Millett.

On October 26, the prototype Rockwell International B-1 Mach 2 swing wing bomber was rolled out at Palmdale. The USAF plans to acquire 244 B-1s to replace its Boeing B-52s.

At Navy Week displays held this month at Garden Island, a flypast was made by Skyhawks and Trackers from HMAS Albatross at Nowra, while at HMAS Nirimba at Quakers Hill, three Wessex helos gave flying displays while Firefly, Sea Venom and Tracker instructional airframes used by apprentices were on view.

A contract has been received by LTV Aerospace Corporation to convert 81 A-7B and A-7C Corsair IIs into TA-7C two-seat trainers for the USN. Five versions of the A-7 have been delivered to the USN and USAF totalling 1200 aircraft.

The prototype Sikorsky YUH-60A UT TAS (Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System) had its first flight at Stratford, Connecticut on October 17. Designed to serve as the US Army’s primary utility transport helicopter of the 1980s, the YUH-60A will carry 11 fully equipped troops plus three crew. It has a four-blade main rotor, a canted tail rotor and is powered by two General Electric T700 turbine engines. The other entrant in the UTTAS competition is the Boeing-Vertol YUH-61A and the final selection will be made in 1976.

On October 12, the USS Guam helicopter carrier with AV-8A Harriers on board arrived at Southampton. It later sailed for the Mediterranean where it will join the US 6th fleet for six months’ service. Also on board is a helicopter squadron operating two Bell UH-1N Hueys, five Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallions and eight Boeing Vertol CH-46F Sea Knights.

On October 22, an Australian Flight was formed at RNAS Culdrose to train RAN crews on the Westland Sea King Mk 50.

30 Years Ago

Qantas has signed a contract for the purchase of two Hawker Siddeley HS.125 twin jet aircraft to be used for crew training. They will be delivered in November 1965 and early 1966. The airline has also ordered a further three Boeing 707-338Cs which will take its 707 fleet to 19.

The prototype General Dynamics F-111A (USAF version) was rolled out at Fort Worth on October 15, two weeks ahead of schedule and 25 months after the contract was awarded. Grumman, which is the main subcontractor for the F-111 programme, expects to roll out the F-111B USN version in May.

A version of the Hawker Siddeley Comet powered by Rolls-Royce Speys has been put forward as a Shackleton replacement for RAF Coastal Command. The lower fuel consumption of the Speys compared with the Avons will give a substantial increase in payload and range.

The renegotiation of a French-Australian traffic rights agreement announced on October 5 will see Qantas able to operate its ‘Fiesta Route’ to London via Tahiti and Mexico. Under the agreement, Qantas was granted rights to Tahiti and beyond and UTA will have traffic rights through Sydney and on to North America. A Qantas proving flight will leave Sydney on November 13 to London via Fiji, Tahiti, Mexico City, Acapulco and Nassau.

After a decade of Viscount operations, 68 Viscounts have now completed more than 20,000 flying hours each. The highest time Viscount is a Type 745 operated by United Airlines with a total of 23,848 hours.

The first Boeing 727s for both Ansett-ANA and TAA arrived in Australia on October 16 after a flight from San Francisco via Honolulu, Canton Island and Nadi. The first to land at Essendon was Ansett-ANA’s VH-RME followed by TAA’s VH-TJA. Both aircraft will enter regular service next month.

Sales of the Fokker F27 Friendship have risen to 285, with recent sales of two to Pakistan International Airways and one to Queensland Airlines.

The name ‘Basset’ has been chosen by the Air Board for the Beagle B206 light communication and liaison aircraft, 20 of which are on order for the RAF.