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Russia’s Ilyushin design bureau has opened up a new front on the firebombing debate by proposing to base an Il-76DMP in Australia for a three-month trial period. The leasing cost of $1.3m, including the crews, could in part be paid for by a barter of surplus wool or other Australian commodities. Fuel and other charges would come to an additional $700,000. According to Ilyushin’s Australian spokesman John Parkin the Il-76 firebomber is capable of extinguishing a firefront up to one kilometre long and 100 metres wide. The aircraft’s 42,000-litre water/fire-retardant capacity is seven times that of Canadair’s ### Cl-415 (described on p34), although the Ilyushin needs to be refilled from a major airport, a process which it is claimed can be done in less than 15 minutes. The Il-76DMP has a cruising speed up to 430kt (800km/h) and a fully loaded range of 2050nm (3800km). The Ilyushin firebomber was displayed at last year’s Avalon Airshow (pictured). (Peter Barker)
Newsdesk — Military Aviation
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Retention Bonus Introduced
In an effort to stem the flow of air traffic control (ATC) officers leaving the Australian Defence Force for more attractive civil jobs, the Government is to introduce a $70,000 ‘Retention Bonus’ to tempt them to stay on. The loss rate has increased markedly since early 1995 when AirServices Australia began a programme to recruit up to 400 ATC officers. Largely as a result of this, the resignation rate exceeded 10% in 1994/95 and so far this year 48 resignations have been received, or just over 20%. The Bonus will entail an upfront $70,000 payment to ‘approach’ rated controllers in return for a commitment to serve for five years. Approximately 170 personnel from all three services will be offered the bonus, which the Government considers to be a good investment when weighed against the $300,000 it costs to train one controller.
Spitfire Diamond Jubilee
The month of March sees the 60th anniversary of the first flight of probably the world’s most famous fighter, the Supermarine Spitfire. The prototype Supermarine Type 300, carrying the RAF serial K5054, was flown by ‘Mutt’ Summers from Eastleigh Aerodrome in Hampshire on March 5 1936, witnessed by the aircraft’s designer Reginald Mitchell. Mitchell was terminally ill with cancer at the time and didn’t live to see his masterpiece enter service, its design development taken over by Joe Smith, who was responsible for the myriad of variants which followed the prototype.
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