Yesteryear

A built-up low cost advanced titanium structure (BLATS) is to be developed by McDonnell Douglas under USAF contract, for the engine bay of the F-15E version of the Eagle, permitting installation of the General Electric F110 or Pratt & Whitney F100. Large titanium sections fabricated by the superplastic forming and diffusion bonding process will be included in the bay. This would enable accommodation of future versions of both engine types, delivering up to 60,000lb (269kN), in the bay.

Rolls-Royce announced on June 6 that the latest version of the Dart, the Mk 522, has obtained full CAA certification. Rated at 2352ehp (1755kW) it gives an increase of 17% in dry power at takeoff, fuel burn is reduced by 10%, and water methanol consumption is reduced by up to 95%, compared with the earlier Mk 530 variants. It will enter service with Air Wisconsin on the F27 and modification kits have been ordered by British Airways for its BAe 748s, and Air New Zealand, Burma Airways and East-West Airlines, for their F27s.

Lockheed California has announced the sale of six ex-RAAF P-3B Orions to the Portuguese Air Force. One of the aircraft will be refurbished and modified by Lockheed to Portuguese requirements and the other five will be similarly modified by the OGMA organisation in Portugal.

The Airbus A300-600R, a further development of the A300-600, is being planned for production in 1987. New features are fuel tanks in the tailplane torsion box, and wing fences. The gross weight will be increased to 170,500kg (375,900lb) from 165,000kg (363,750lb). These changes will enable the gross weight to be carried over 2800nm (5200km), and 267 passengers over 4300nm (7950km), a gain of about 800nm (1480km).

20 Years Ago

Some of the interesting aircraft present at the Paris Air Show were the first prototype General Dynamics F-16 72-01567, Tupolev Tu-144, Concorde 201 F-WTSB (the first production aircraft), the first Lockheed P-3F for the Imperial Iranian AF and two GAF Nomads.

British Airways have ordered four Boeing 747-200Bs, to be powered by Rolls-Royce RB211-524 engines, and the first is due for delivery in April 1977. The order is the first to be placed for 747s powered by Rolls-Royce engines. The first RB211 powered 747-200B is under construction at Everett and is due to be rolled out in mid 1976. The engine, pod and thrust reverser will be provided by Rolls-Royce to Boeing, while the Boeing designed thrust reverser will be built at Weybridge. Compared with BA’s 747-100s, its 747-200Bs will have gross weight increased from 333,690kg (735,000lb) to 363,200kg (800,000lb), and range with full passenger load and baggage, increased from 4750 to 5200 nautical miles (8800 to 9635km).

Belgium announced on June 7 that it had selected the General Dynamics F-16 as the replacement for its F-104G Starfighters. The Belgian decision concluded what has been described as the “sale of the century”, as Denmark, Holland and Norway had already selected the F-16. Over 300 aircraft are involved in the purchase: Belgium 102, Denmark 48 plus 10 options, Holland 84 plus 18 options and Norway 72.

On June 20, the 200th McDonnell Douglas DC-10 was handed over to National Airlines at Yuma, Arizona.

Lockheed has been asked by the USN to submit a proposal for a scaled down, less costly COD version of the S-3A Viking.

Cessna handed over the 1000th Model 421 Golden Eagle pressurised business twin on June 13. This takes production of multi-engined Cessnas to 10,022. Cessna has produced more than 122,000 aircraft during its 64 year history, which is a world record.

A USAF contract has been won by Boeing for the first six production models of the E-3 AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft, worth $247 million. The planned procurement is 34 aircraft, at a total programme cost of $3770 million at a unit price of $111 million. The existing contract covers only production costs, and R&D and engine development are excluded.

30 Years Ago

Hawker Siddeley has now sold more than 100 HS.748s.

The Britten-Norman Islander prototype G-ATCT had its first flight on June 13. Fifteen deposits on pre-release orders are held by Britten-Norman for the Islander. The factory export price for the basic aircraft is £17,500.

Sud Caravelle sales have now passed 200, with a recent Air France order for two taking orders to 201.

The name Corsair II is to be given to the Ling-Temco-Vought A-7A light attack development of the Crusader. Corsair II perpetuates the famous name of the World War II fighter and prewar biplanes. The first flight of the A-7A is scheduled for October and it will go into production in 1966.

Group Captain Hamish McHaddie, aviation consultant, has purchased an ex-RAF Vickers Valiant to be used in the film The Liquidator based on Ian Fleming’s James Bond novel Thunderball.

BAC has released details of a 265 seat development of the Super VC10 which would reduce seat costs of current long range aircraft by 20%. A double deck fuselage similar in structural concept to the Vanguard would seat 80% in the upper saloon and 20% in the lower. The new fuselage is about 9.76m (32ft) longer than the Super VC10 and the gross weight would increase to 167,980kg (370,000lb). Two versions are being investigated, one based on the RR Conway, the other with larger RB178s.

A Sikorsky CH-54A Skycrane lifted 87 combat equipped troops, pilot, copilot and crew chief – a record total of 90 in a recent demonstration. The troops were carried in a detachable van slung under the fuselage. The CH-54A has a max takeoff weight of 17,250kg (38,000lb), max payload of 9080kg (20,000lb), and is powered by two P&W JFTD12A-1 turbines of 4050shp (3020kW) each.

Grumman has decided to go ahead with a production run of 50 Gulfstream II executive jet aircraft, powered by two Rolls-Royce Spey-25 turbofans. The first flight is scheduled for May 1966. With 12/24 seats as an executive aircraft, or equipped with 24 seats for passenger use, the Gulfstream II is capable of flying over 2500 miles (4020km) nonstop against a 100mph (160km/h) headwind. Its speed will be up to 585mph (940km/h).