People, Bottom Line, Book & Video Reviews

The Emirates Group has posted a combined profit for FY1995/96 of $US89m ($A51m) on revenue of $US838.8m ($A1.1bn), of which $US22m ($A29m) was contributed from the airline.

Kaman has announced net earnings of $US10.6m ($A13.8m) on revenues of $A246.5m ($A320m), compared with $US10.2m on$US221.9m in 1995.

Cathay Pacific Group has reported a profit of $HK1.1bn ($A184m) for the first half of 1996. This is 12.5% up on last year’s figure for the same period. In addition there was an exceptional profit of $HK541m ($A90.5m) from the sale of part of the airline’s shareholding in Dragonair. Turnover, at $HK15.2bn ($A2.5bn), was 7.0% above the $HK14.2bn ($A2.4bn) reported for the same period in 1995.

British Airways has announced pre-tax profits of £150m ($A298m) for the three months to the end of June up 11.1% on the £135m ($A268m) achieved in the same period a year ago. Profit after tax in the first quarter was £115m ($A228m). Group turnover for the three months increased by 10.5% to £2.1bn ($A4.2bn). Growth in operating profit, up by only £1m ($A2.0m) to £195m ($A387m), was held back by a $23m ($A46m) increase in fuel costs.

For the first time a book has been written which comprehensively lists all of the Australian aces who flew in both World Wars, the aircraft they flew, the squadrons they flew with and the aircraft they claimed.

Aces has been extremely well researched and written. Featuring photographs of all Australian aces, where they are available, Aces also includes a number of photographs of squadrons and aircraft as well as tables of victories for some of our highest scoring aces.

With the release of the new Cessna 172, 182 and 206 next year, Cessna has announced the prices for two of these new aircraft. The 172R will sell for $US124,000 and the 182S for$US190,600. The price of the 206 has yet to be confirmed however it is expected to be released relatively soon. One of the popular original models was the 172M Skyhawk 2, pictured. (Bill Lines)

The book gives the definition of an ace and the reasons why there has been no Australian aces since World War 2. Each ace is reviewed giving details about their wartime careers and also contains some stories that are bound to amuse.

Especially interesting are the WW1 aces of whom very little has been told and who performed admirably.

Australian Air Aces is a must for anyone with an interest in Australia’s wartime aviation heritage.

Available only from Aerospace Publications, PO Box 1777 Fyshwick ACT 2609, ph (06) 280 0111, fax (06) 280 0007. Hard cover $32.95, soft cover $22.95 + $4.95 p&p

Strike And Strike Again: Ian Gordon

Ian Gordon’s Strike and Strike Again is the story of the RAAF’s 455 Squadron’s operations during 1944 and 1945. 455 Squadron formed in 1941 as an RAF Bomber Command unit operating Handley Page Hampdens, later transferring to Coastal Command and using its aircraft as torpedo bombers.

In December 1943 455 Squadron reequipped with the formidable Bristol Beaufighter, and this book traces in detail the unit’s Beaufighter operations – the only Australian strike squadron in RAF Coastal Command.

Armed with cannon and rockets, the Squadron then focussed on rocket attacks with its ‘Rockbeaus’ against German shipping off the Dutch, German and Danish coasts. The book covers the interesting tactics development within the RAF Strike Wings, and as enemy air defences became more determined, describes the need to suppress enemy air defences by joint formations supported by ‘Flakbeaus’. These coordinated strikes required great aircrew skills in low flying, generally below 50ft, navigation, and driving home attacks onto heavily defended targets.

Australian Aviation

455 Squadron then was tasked with operations into the Norwegian fjords, which proved both hazardous and exciting. These operations over the final 18 months of the war cost 455 Squadron 46 aircrew.

The book’s complete appendices include an abridged summary of the squadron’s Operations Record Book, details of its Beaufighters, honour roll, and details of unit citations and awards, making Strike and Strike Again a very useful squadron history.

The author of Strike and Strike Again is Colonel Ian Gordon, whose father flew as a navigator with 455 during the period covered by the book. His style, including the liberal use of quotes and recollections from the men of 455, make this a valuable and interesting record of one of the RAAF’s lesser known squadrons. Review by John Bennett.

Strike and Strike Again is available from Banner Books, 122 Walker St, Maryborough Q 4650 for $40.

Helicopter Flight Dynamics: Gareth D Padfield.

The author is a highly qualified aeronautical engineer who has specialised in helicopter flight dynamics over a period of 25 years, starting with Westland, to the present time where he is head of the Helicopter Aeromechanics Section at RAE Bedford.

His book provides a comprehensive treatment of the theoretical background to the principles of helicopter flight, the development of handling criteria and new flight test techniques. Flying quality is described from both objective and subjective perspectives with test results presented from a variety of different sources, including the author’s own research experience in the UK.

The book is certainly not light reading, however despite its cost of $255 per copy, it would be a valuable textbook for those with a serious professional interest in helicopter flight dynamics such as test pilots, flight test engineers and graduate aeronautical PO Box 378 Carlton South, 3035. (03) 9347 0300, fax (03) 9347 5001.

Spitfire Flying Legend: John Dibbs And Tony Holmes

Published by Osprey in the Spitfire’s 60th anniversary year, this large format hardcover book takes a general look at the fighter’s history by way of a large number of personal reminiscences, some straight historical data and superb photographic coverage backed with informative captions.

The chapters are arranged in chronological order around current airworthy Spitfires with period black and white photographs supplementing John Dibbs’ superb colour photography of some of today’s airworthy aircraft. These photographs are really the stars of the book, offering wonderful images of a beautiful aeroplane. The cover notes describe John Dibbs as “unquestionably Britain’s premier aerial photographer” and the quality of his work in this book tends to support that view.

His exploitation of light and unusual angles and attitudes is something which makes the viewer look at many of the photographs time and time again, surely an indication of high quality work. Very well presented and printed, Spitfire Flying Legend is a worthwhile addition to the bookshelf of any fan of this famous fighter, regardless of how many other books on the subject he or she may already have.

Available for $69.95 from JB Wholesalers, 1/15 Zeta Crescent, O’Connor WA 6163, phone (09) 314 2883.

Black Sunday & Helluva Pelican: Michael John Claringbould

These two books written by Michael Claringbould concern the WW2 US 5th Air Force operations in New Guinea.

The first book written was Black Sunday. This covers one of the darkest days in the 5th Air Force’s history when 37 aircraft were lost over New Guinea due to a terrifying storm and 10 aircraft remain missing to this day. The author has used over 200 sources who were involved in this terrible tragedy and has done very well to recount the scenario of the day over 50 years later. The book includes a number of appendices and photographs of the aircraft in service and of those which remained in the jungle.

Helluva Pelican is almost a sequel to Black Sunday and is the story of A-20G Havoc “Hell’N Pelican 2” which was forced down into the jungle of New Guinea on Black Sunday. The author of these books was involved with the recovery of the bomber by the RAAF in 1984 and provides a diary of the operation and also the recently completed restoration conducted at Amberley.

These two books provide a wonderful insight into a little known part of WW2 and are great reading for anyone with an interest in South Pacific operations during WW2.

Australian Aviation

Both books are available from Michael Claringbould, (Suva Bag) Locked Bag 40, Queen Victoria Terrace ACT 2600 for $20.00.

The Imperial Gift: John Bennett

With the RAAF celebrating its 75th anniversary this year it is probably relevant that this book covers the very beginnings of our very own Air Force.

The Imperial Gift was a donation of aircraft from the British government which comprised Avro 504K, DH.9, DH.9A and SE5a aircraft which were sent to Point Cook and used to establish the Royal Australian Air Force.

The book is extremely well researched and written and describes all the various aspects of early RAAF operations and gives detailed accounts of the aircraft and their roles in the Air Force. The Imperial Gift also contains over 200 photographs of the aircraft of which many are from private collections and as such have never been published before. These photos have been well presented and are quite large which makes for great viewing.

For anyone with an interest in the RAAF then this book is destined for your bookshelf.

Available from Banner Books, 122 Walker St, Maryborough 4650 for $40.00. Ph/fax (071) 230255.

This book is the story of 618 Squadron during World War 2 and is written by former navigator and member of the unit, Des Curtis.

618 Squadron was formed in parallel with the famous 617 Squadron and was to use a similar but smaller version of the bouncing bomb called “Highball” which would have been used against shipping instead of dams and utilised by modified Mosquitoes. This weapon was never used, however the squadron went on to use its Mosquitoes armed with a 57mm cannon against U-Boats.

This book provides excellent reading about a little known squadron during WW2. It is also well illustrated with some excellent “action” shots. The book is produced in association with the de Havilland Aircraft Museum Trust and profits will benefit the worthy cause that is The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

The book is available from The Mosquito Aircraft Museum, PO Box 107 Salisbury Hall, London Colney, Herts. AL2 1BU Great Britain for £21.39. Payments in Sterling cheques or international money orders.

A Spitfire’s Story: Flying Machines

There can’t be a Spitfire nut in the world who doesn’t know about Mk.IX MH434, owned and displayed by Ray and Mark Hanna’s Old Flying Machine Company at Duxford in the UK.

If you don’t know it, then you’re not a Spitfire nut!

This 54 minute video is all about that particular Spitfire, tracing its history from first flight in 1943 (flown by Alex Henshaw), through its successful combat career with the RAF, postwar service in the Netherlands, time as a target tug in Belgium, ownership by Cathay Pacific’s Sir Adrian Swire and purchase in 1983 by the Hannas. Also covered is its recent rebuild, the Spitfire’s first in half a century. This in itself puts MH434 in a special category as unlike many Spitfire restorations which retain the maker’s plate and little else, this aircraft has remained very much original.

There’s little to fault in this video which includes interesting interviews with the Hannas, Alex Henshaw and Adrian Swire plus archival footage and stills photography of the aircraft before it became the star of airshows around Britain. Most of the flying sequences are excellently captured and include some in-cockpit views of Ray Hanna at work. It has to be said that in many ways he gets equal top billing to MH434 because — let’s face it — nobody can display a Spitfire like him.

The only real disappointment (apart from the lack of an apostrophe before the ‘s’ in the titles and on the box!) is that even though Ray Hanna talks about that wonderful sequence in A Piece of Cake where he flies MH434 under a low bridge, there is no footage to support it. A question of copyright ownership, we suppose.

The first three production Dassault Falcon 900EX corporate jets have flown nonstop to the Dassault Falcon completion centre in Little Rock Arkansas after being certified by the FAA on July 19. There they will be fitted with their executive interiors, optional avionics and external paint. Deliveries of these long range aircraft will begin in October 1996. The aircraft has a range of 4500nm (8339km) with eight passengers.

This reviewer is fairly hard to please when it comes to videos as many of them are less than adequate. This one is worth having just to see a bit of Ray Hanna’s sublime skill when he flies MH434. Not quite as good as being there, but the next best thing.

Available from Aviation Collectables Downunder, PO Box 444 Mundaring WA 6073, ph 1800 623 044 or (09) 295 6026 for $39.95 plus $3.95 p&p.

Cathay Pacific 777-200:

Presented by Cathay Pacific and hosted by the airline’s Boeing 777-200 fleet manager Captain Graeme Thomson, this video is designed to give the viewer a closer look at its latest acquisition, the Boeing 777-200.

The video looks from an airline pilot’s view of the aircraft and so we are shown the aircraft in circuit at Auckland where the aircraft does a pass in landing configuration, then a high speed pass (which Auckland residents must have appreciated) followed by a landing.

Following this the viewer is taken into Cathay’s simulator and given a rundown of all the instruments, displays and control features of the aircraft. Of interest were some of the fail safe features of the aircraft such as the Thrust Asymmetry Compensation which in the event of an engine failure on takeoff will apply compensating rudder to help the pilot control the aircraft.

Captain Graeme Thomson and Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-200

Overall though the video was rather lacking in information on both the aircraft and its future operations with Cathay. However if you ever wanted to know what all the buttons and displays in a modern airliner do, then this video will tickle your fancy.

Australasian Aviation ’97

Australian Aviation is proud to announce the launch of our first ever aviation conference.

Designated Australasian Aviation ’97, the conference deals with a wide range of issues affecting the air transport industry through the coming twelve to eighteen months.

Key speakers will represent the very cream of the Australasian airline industry and regulatory environment including (in alphabetical order) Air New Zealand, AirServices Australia, Ansett, Australian Tourist Commission, Board of Airline Representatives, Bureau of Air Safety Investigation, Cairns International Airport, Canberra Business Council, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Federal Airports Corporation, International Air Services Commission, Kendell Airlines, Kiwi International Airlines, National Jet and Qantas.

The conference will be opened by the Minister for Transport & Regional Development John Sharp MHR who will also deliver the keynote address.

To be held at Canberra’s Rydges Lakeside Hotel on November 25 & 26, this conference will address the crucial issues affecting our industry in the year ahead. Airport privatisation, the future of regional airlines, the Ansett/ANZ alliance, Qantas expectations for the future, air safety, aviation and tourism.

How to develop profitable airline operations and changes in the regulatory outlook will all be addressed over the two days of what should be a very effective, productive and enjoyable conference in the nation’s capital.

For full details please refer to our special centrespread feature.

Australian Aviation

Available from Skylines Aviation Supply for $49.95, refer to the advert in this magazine for details or Aviation Collectables Downunder, PO Box 444 Mundaring WA 6073, ph 1800 623 044 or (09) 295 1105 for $49.95 + $3.95 p&p.

Hong Kong International Airport Kai Tak:

An amazing scene unfolds as the Lufthansa 747-400 makes an unbelievably sharp right hand turn and descends on finals perilously close to the dense city beneath it.

This is the opening scene of the video and gives a superb picture of a typical landing on Kai Tak’s Runway 13. This video is extremely well presented and covers most aspects of Kai Tak’s operations, history and future which it will not have come 1998 and Hong Kong’s brand new airport is opened.

Featuring some marvellous footage of aircraft on arrival and departures and also some near misses which have made Runway 13 famous, this video is a must for anyone with an interest in aviation and an airport that will soon disappear.

Available from Aviation Collectables Downunder, PO Box 444 Mundaring WA 6073 or ph 1800 623 044 or (09) 295 6026 for $49.95 + $3.95 p&p.