Yesteryear

The USN has concluded that there is no case for the design of a new airframe to replace the Lockheed P-3 Orion in the anti-submarine warfare role. This will see the USN increase its purchases of the P-3 over the next few years. In addition, the Department of Defense will invite competitive bids from three contractors, including Lockheed California, to produce the advanced Orion variant, the P-3D.

The first British Aerospace 146 CC Mk.2 for the Queen’s Flight was handed over to the RAF at Hatfield on April 23. The second aircraft, which is nearing completion, is scheduled to be delivered in June. The BAe 146 CC Mk.2s are Series 100 aircraft with auxiliary shoulder tanks which give a 1600nm (2965km) range. They have a three-person flight crew and are furnished to accommodate 20 passengers.

The Indian Government has signed a contract for the purchase of the former RN aircraft carrier HMS Hermes which is currently undergoing a refit in Devonport Dockyard. The carrier is due to be delivered to the Indian Navy in March 1987 at a total cost of £63 million.

Grumman has proposed a retrofit programme for the S-2 Tracker, which it feels would be of interest for the users of S-2Es still in service. The S-2(T) would be re-engined with Garrett TPE331-15AW turboprops, have a refurbished airframe and a new suite of digital avionics.

The assembly of the first single-seat Hawk 200 is nearing completion and the first flight is expected to take place at Dunsfold before the end of May.

20 Years Ago

On April 9, Air France commenced a weekly Concorde service to Caracas, Venezuela via the Azores. Its second Concorde, 207 F-BVFB, had its first flight at Toulouse on March 6.

The second Rockwell B-1 to fly, 71-40160, had its maiden flight at Palmdale on April 2, lasting 4hr 54min and reaching a speed of Mach 0.85. This is the third B-1, with the second aircraft being presently used for ground tests. The USAF hopes to obtain 241 B-1s and the first SAC B-1 unit should become operational in 1982.

Boeing is studying a number of possible stretches of the Model 747 for possible long-term developments. On the assumption that 60,000lb (270kN) thrust class engines will become available, these could have a fuselage 15.25m (50ft) longer than the current model and seat 526-704 passengers, at a gross weight up to 454,000kg (1,000,000lb). April 1976 saw two RAAF F-111s set a series of Australian speed records.

Speed records were recently established by two RAAF F-111s flying at more than twice the speed of sound. From No 6 Squadron based at Amberley, and engaged on high-altitude training flights, they established the following records: Adelaide to Melbourne in 27min 8sec and Sydney to Melbourne in 35min. The latter record was set with a route around the south-east coast. The top speed reached was Mach 2.4 (1600mph or 2600km/h).

The first production Northrop F-5F Tiger II two-seater, 50681, flew during this month and will be delivered to the Imperial Iranian Air Force in June.

McDonnell Douglas is building an enlarged wing to be tested on one of its YC-15 AMST prototypes. It will have the same supercritical airfoil but an increased span of 35m (115ft). The two prototypes have now flown more than 200hrs and have demonstrated a 75kt (139km/h) landing speed, stop distance of 700ft, and a 1950nm (3615km) nonstop flight in 4hr 35min at an altitude up to 33,000ft.

A ceremony was held at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania on April 7 to mark the delivery of Piper’s 100,000th aircraft. The aircraft was a Cheyenne turboprop named ‘Heritage of 76’, which was shown next to the first Piper, a Cub. The 99,999th Piper aircraft was a PA-18 Super Cub, the latest version of the classic Piper high-wing aircraft.

30 Years Ago

On April 13, Boeing released details of the Boeing 747, a giant jet airliner which will seat from 350 to 490 passengers. The details were released concurrently with the announcement of a $US525 million contract from Pan American World Airways for 25 747s with spares, with deliveries beginning in September 1969. The 747 will have a wing span of 59.70m (195ft 9in), length 69.69m (228ft 6in), height 17.39m (62ft 7in) and gross weight of 308,720kg (680,000lb). The Pratt & Whitney JT9D-1 turbofan powerplants will initially develop 41,000lb (184kN) of thrust on takeoff, which will enable operations from any airfield which presently accommodates existing international-type jet transports. The passengers will be seated in a single-deck cabin of 6.1m (20ft) width. The flight deck will be on a level above the main cabin, and there will be space on that level for additional private or special passenger accommodation in eight separate staterooms.

Since BOAC’s Super VC10s were introduced into service on April 1 1965 on Atlantic routes, they have carried more than 259,000 passengers in their first year of operation at an average 64% load factor. Eight Super VC10s are in service with seven to be delivered. BOAC also has 12 Standard VC10s in its fleet.

Qantas has received Government approval to purchase two additional Boeing 707s at a cost of $15.7 million including spares, for delivery in September and December next year.

The Minister for Air, Mr Howson, announced on April 24, that the Sabres currently based at Darwin would be replaced by a detachment of Mirages from No 75 Squadron at Williamtown. The eight Sabres from No 76 Squadron will then return to Williamtown.

Cessna has announced that it has increased its commercial aircraft target from 6000 to 7000 sales for 1966, following a record 717 aircraft deliveries in March. The figure included 644 single-engined (including 309 Model 150s) and 73 twin-engined aircraft.

An unspecified number of Lockheed F-104 Starfighters have been ordered by Jordan for the Royal Arab Air Force. It is believed the aircraft will be surplus USAF F-104Cs and that they will equip two squadrons.