Yester Year

• The first crossing of the Atlantic by jet powered aircraft, made by six RAF de Havilland Vampires between July 1 and 14 1948, was commemorated by a Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-243B accompanied by two of Source Classic Jet Flight’s Vampires in a flight over RAF Brize Norton on June 22.

• The Australian Department of Defence and Boeing announced on June 19 that a contract had been signed for the purchase of two additional CH-47D helicopters, for delivery in 2000.

• The first flight of an Airbus A330-200 powered by Rolls- Royce Trent 700 powerplants, F-WWKA, took place from Toulouse on June 24.

25 Years Ago

• An order announced in Seattle on June 1 includes the first sale of the Boeing 757 in Asia. The US$1 billion sale to Singapore Airlines includes four 757-200s and six 747‑300s, and sees 757 sales reach 127 aircraft to nine customers.

• The recently acquired ex Qantas Boeing 707-338Cs for the RAAF, VH-EAC and VH-EAI, arrived at Richmond on June 19-20 as A20-623 and A20-629.

• The prototype British Aerospace 125 Series 800 was officially rolled out followed by a flight demonstration on June 1 at Chester. Carrying registration N800BA for promotional purposes, the aircraft first flew on May 26 registered as G-BKTF with Class “B” marks G-5-11.

This latest version of the 125 family is powered by two 4300lb Garrett TFE731-5 engines with a trans-Atlantic range capability. The second BAe 125-800 will be registered G-DCCC.

• The first de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 twinengined turboprop airliner, C-GDNK, had its maiden flight from Downsview on June 20. After a certification program involving five aircraft the first customer delivery is scheduled for September 1984 to norOntair.

• Production of the Helio Courier by the Helio Aircraft Co at Pittsburgh, Kansas, has resumed after a break of over eight years. Following a first flight on March 24 deliveries of the Courier 800 are due to commence this month with the Courier 700 set to begin flight testing next month.

50 Years Ago

• The first delivery of an aircraft engine by a carrieron- board delivery aircraft was made by a Grumman TF-1 Trader from VR-21 at San Diego, California, to the USS Yorktown 483km at sea.

• The Westland Westminster, G-APLE, had its first flight at Yeovil on June 15 flown by ‘Slim’ Sear. With a fuselage length of 21. 3m and a main five-bladed rotor with a diameter of 21. 9m, the Westminster is powered by two 2920shp (2177kW) Napier Eland E220 turboshafts and can carry 42 passengers or six tons of freight.

• Lawrence Engineering & Sales Pty Ltd of Hangar 55, Camden, NSW, is offering a number of Tiger Moths with a new CofA for £850 and a Gypsy Major engine for either £425 new or £350 with nil hours since overhaul.

Grumman’s new G-164 agricultural biplane powered by a Continental 164kW (220hp) W670-16 radial engine has entered production.

An agreement between Grumman and Schweizer Aircraft of Elmira, New York will see production aircraft built by the latter company. The first prototype, N74054, was flown by Hank Kurt on April 27 1957, then named Grasshopper. The name was later changed to Ag-Cat.

Mr R M Ansett said that he is looking to purchase between four and eight turboprop aircraft to re-equip Ansett-ANA. This may comprise four to six Fokker Friendships or Handley Page Dart-Heralds and possibly two more Viscount 810s. o