Yester Year

Two each have been delivered to the Philippine and Tunisian air forces.

• The unveiling of the prototype Bombardier Dash 8 Q‑400, 4001, took place at Toronto on November 21. The aircraft is yet to be painted and is due to fly next month. This new version has a 5. 77m fuselage plug and new 5071shp (3781kW) Pratt & Whitney Canada PW150A powerplants. Current sales of the Series 400 stand at 31 firm orders plus 32 options.

• The second prototype MiG‑29SMT had its maiden flight on November 29 from Zhukovsky. It features a redesigned glass cockpit, increased fuel and improved weapons capabilities.

• Embraer is now marketing its 37 and 50 seat jet airliners as the RJ-135 and RJ-145, changed from EMB-135 and EMB-145, to reflect the worldwide trend towards the description and acceptance of the term ‘regional jet’ for this class of aircraft.

25 Years ago

• Pan American World Airways commenced the world’s longest non-stop commercial airline service on November 4 when one of its long range Boeing 747SPs flew the 6502nm (12,049km) from Los Angeles to Sydney in 14. 5 hours.

• A Tornado GR Mk. 1 from No 9 Squadron RAF based at Honington made a 12 hour non-stop 4300nm (7970km) return flight between England and Cyprus on November 8.

Refuelling in flight was carried out from Victors, and a Buccaneer with a buddybuddy refuelling pack for a tactical low-level phase of about 520nm (966km).

• Following the conclusion of the Falklands War, French government permission has been granted to Dassault-Breguet to deliver to the Argentine navy the remaining Super Etendard fighter-bombers and Exocet anti-shipping missiles which had been embargoed.

• The first operational flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia took place on November 11 carrying astronauts Joe Allen, Vance Brand, William Lenoir and Robert Overmyer. It was the first flight of a shuttle carrying four astronauts where previous missions carried two crew members.

• The Fuerza Aerea de Chile has taken delivery of three refurbished surplus RAF Canberra PR Mk. 9 reconnaissance aircraft.

• The five surviving Avro 696 Shackleton MR Mk. 3 maritime patrol aircraft operated by the South African Air Force will be retired from service in 1984.

50 Years ago

• The first prototype 40-48 passengers Fairey Rotodyne fixed/rotary wing VTOL airliner, XE521, had its first flight on November 6 from White Waltham, Berkshire.

• The sole example of the Convair C-99 powered by six Pratt & Whitney R-4360-25 pusher radial engines has been placed for sale after being declared surplus. This world’s largest troop and cargo carrier could potentially carry more than 400 tourist class passengers or 45 tonnes of freight.

• The USN is organising a design competition for a land based anti-submarine warfare aircraft. A military version of the Electra airliner will be submitted by Lockheed.

Four Electras will be used in the certification program, with a first flight expected in January 1958.

• First components are being assembled for the Grumman Design 159 Dart powered executive transport, named the Gulfstream. First flight is scheduled for May 1 1958.

• Sud Aviation’s president Georges Hereil said that Caravelle production could be increased to seven per month by 1960 if orders justified this development. The first production Caravelle will be delivered in October 1958.

• In its annual report for the year 1956-57 presented to parliament, Trans-Australia Airlines reported a profit of £308,829 with 793,946 passengers carried, an Australian record. The fleet as at June 30 consisted of 43 aircraft comprising 11 Viscounts, two Convair 240s, four DC-4s, 20 DC-3s, four Drovers and two Hiller 12C helicopters.