Yesteryear

10 Years Ago

• The 600th Boeing 747 delivery was made on November 14. The aircraft is a 747-300 Extended Upper Deck model for Qantas and is the first to appear in the new Qantas livery.
• Sikorsky has completed its basic flight vehicle tests of the prototype Hh-60A Night Hawk combat rescue helicopter. Following rescue hoist qualifications at Edwards Afb, it is now undergoing avionics installation at the Ibm facility at Owego, New York.
• Deliveries began in late November of the Cessna Caravan with the second production aircraft. The first was used for the 150 hour reliability test for certification purposes and is now undergoing a 350 hour accelerated service test. Certification tests of the floatplane version will begin in January.
• The Boeing 737-300 has been certified and the first deliveries were made late in November to Usair and Southwest Airlines. During the nine month test programme, three 737-300s flew 1294 hours in which they achieved complete compliance with Far 36 Stage 3 and Icao Annex 126 Chapter 3 noise regulations and demonstrated better than predicted fuel economy.
• The Airship Industries Skyship 500 has received a full Transport Category Certificate of Airworthiness, the first certification of an airship to such exacting standards. It is the first time in over 50 years that a British airship has been licensed to carry fare paying passengers.
• The Shackleton Mr Mk 3 was phased out of service with the South African Air Force on November 23. After 28 years’ service with No 35 Squadron, a ceremony was held at D D Malan Airport. The Shackleton’s replacement will be the longer serving C-47 Dakota which will perform a strictly limited search and rescue coverage around the Cape of Good Hope. Saaf attempts to procure Bae 748 Coastguarders have been refused owing to the Un trade embargo on South Africa.
• The final stage of a programme of flight testing an Raaf F-111C with Pave Tack is underway at Fort Worth, Texas. The 30 Raaf personnel supporting the test aircraft are writing procedures to modify 19 additional F-111Cs in Australia using kits supplied by the Usa. When tests are completed at Fort Worth by February 1985, the test F-111C will go to Mcclellan Afb, California where the flight test programme will extend to systems evaluation.

20 Years Ago

• The third prototype Saab Ja 37 Viggen had its first flight at Linkoping on November 22. The first flight of the 5th and last prototype is scheduled for the middle of next year.
• Two Hawker Siddeley Hs 125 Series 600s have been purchased by the Indonesian state owned oil company Pertamina, to be used by their subsidiary Pelita Air Services. Sales of the 125 now total 335.
• The designation Av-8B has been given to the improved version of the Hawker Siddeley Harrier which may be ordered by the Us Marine Corps to supplement the existing Av-8As, pending a decision on the Av-16 Advanced Harrier.
• An Airbus A300 was delivered to the Belgian charter operator Trans European Airways on November 27. There are now five A300s in service, the Tea aircraft plus three with Air France and one with Air Siam. Firm sales of the Airbus now total 22 plus a further 23 options.
• November 29, 1974 sees the Yuh-61 complete its maiden flight.
• The first flight of the prototype Boeing Vertol Yuh-61A Uttas (Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System) took place at Calverton, Long Island on November 29.
• The production go ahead for the de Havilland Canada Dhc-7 “Quiet Stol Airliner” or Dash 7 was authorised on November 26. The prototype is scheduled to fly next February and the type is expected to enter service in early 1977.
• Northrop delivered the 2500th aircraft in the F-5/T-38 series on November 4. The type is in service with 22 countries and the grand total includes 1187 T-38 Talons delivered to the Usaf.
• The ex Ansett Flying Boat Services Short Sandringham Vh-Brc, left Rose Bay on November 28 for the Virgin Islands. It was flown by Captain Charles Blair of Antilles Air Boats as N158C “Southern Cross”.
• The Indonesian Air Force will buy 12 Rockwell International Ov-10 Bronco Coin aircraft. Options were placed on a further four.
• The Us Army has placed an order for 54 more Bell Uh-1H helicopters for delivery between January and December 1976. Approximately 10,000 Uh-1s have been delivered to the Us and other armed forces.

30 Years Ago

• A 55 tonne (60 ton) Lockheed Kc-130F Hercules has become the largest and heaviest aircraft to operate from an aircraft carrier. During November, a series of 21 unarrested full-stop landings, 21 unassisted takeoffs and 29 touch and go’s were made on Uss Forrestal in the Atlantic. The takeoffs were made at weights ranging from 38,590kg (85,000lb) to 54,480kg (120,000lb).
• The Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies announced a three year defence review on November 10, that amongst many decisions includes new aircraft orders for the Raaf and Ran during 1965-68. Purchases include 12 Lockheed C-130E Hercules, 10 Dassault Mirage Iiib two seat conversion trainers, 10 Lockheed P-3 Orions and 14 Grumman S-2E Trackers for the aircraft carrier Hmas Melbourne. In addition, orders will be placed for 75 jet trainers of a type yet to be selected (the Bac 145, Macchi MB-326 and Canadair Cl41 are being considered) and eight navigational trainers to replace Dakotas. There is a wide field for this selection with possible candidates being the Grand Commander, Beagle 206, Hs 125 and Avro 748.
• Reports from Tokyo indicate that the go ahead has been given to Shin Meiwa to design and build a large four engined turboprop anti submarine warfare flying boat for Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force. It will have an all up weight of 29 tonnes (32 tons), empty weight of 18 tonnes (20 tons), span of about 34m (110ft) and length of 32m (104ft). It will be powered by four 2850shp (2125kW) General Electric T64 turboprops and compressed air for boundary layer control for Stol performance will be supplied by two T58 shaft turbines.
• The maiden flight of the first Hawker Siddeley Trident 1E took place at Hatfield on November 2. Powered by three 11,400lb (51.1kN) st Rb163-25 Rolls-Royce Spey engines, the Trident 1E has a greater 59,020kg (130,000lb) all up weight and increased fuel tankage which can enable it to fly half as far again (2260nm/4180km) than the Trident 1.
• Boeing has released details of the projected 737 twinjet short range airliner. Although Boeing has not decided as to whether it will be placed into production, it says it favours a design of the size of the Convair 340 with wing mounted engines and a passenger capacity of 65 to 85.