Yester Year

• The formation of the oneworld global airline alliance between American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Qantas was announced on February 1.

• On February 11 Embraer announced the pre-launch of the new ERJ-170 and -190 regional jet family. The company is seeking commitments from airlines, major suppliers and partners with a go-ahead decision on the 70-seat ERJ‑170 to be made in the second quarter of this year for deliveries in 2002. Deliveries of the stretched 90-seat -190 would commence in 2004.

• The new French nuclear powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle began sea trials on January 26 but was forced to return to Brest after two days when speed trials were prevented following the failure of one of its auxiliary electrical engines.

• The first two Sikorsky CH‑53E Super Stallions were delivered to USN squadron HC-1 on January 10. With a capability of lifting over 14 tonnes the CH-53E is the largest and most powerful helicopter in the western world.

25 Years Ago

• The first McDonnell Douglas/ British Aerospace AV-8B Harrier II, 161573, was delivered to the US Marine Corps at Cherry Point MCAS, North Carolina, on January 12 for assignment to Squadron VMAT-203.

• Boeing’s latest version of the 737 family, the prototype 737-300 with a capacity up to 150 passengers, N73700, had its first flight from Renton, Washington, on February 24.

The aircraft will be delivered to USAir in November.

• Cessna has received its first order for its new Caravan 1 large single-engine turboprop utility transport. Federal Express has ordered 30 with options on a further 70 for delivery between December 1984 and December 1985.

• The RAF will take delivery during the second half of this year of 15 ex-USN McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantoms at an approximate cost of £125 million.

The aircraft are required to fill the gap caused by the need to deploy No 23 Squadron equipped with Phantoms to the Falklands.

• Skywest Airlines based in Perth has now become the third largest Australian carrier following its purchase of East- West Airlines. It is looking at the purchase of two BAe 146s.

• On January 25 the British and Italian governments signed an agreement providing joint funding for the EH101 helicopter, covering development through to the production stage with a first flight due in 1986 and deliveries from 1989.

The EH101 has been jointly developed by Westland and Agusta as a replacement for the Sea King and SH-3D, with expected sales of 900 helicopters.

50 Years Ago

• Powered by a combined turbojet-ramjet, the Nord 1500 Griffon set a new 100km closed circuit record speed of 1638. 32km/h (1018. 03mph) at Istres, France, on February 25, flown by Andre Turcat.

• The last operational Convair B-36, B-36J 52-2827, was withdrawn from Strategic Air Command service on February 12 after a flight from Biggs AFB, El Paso, Texas, to Amon Carter Field, Fort Worth, Texas, where it will be placed on display.

It was the last B-36 built and emerged from the production line on August 14 1954.

• The prototype Convair 880, N801TW – which is the world’s fastest airliner with a maximum speed of Mach 0. 89 – had its maiden flight on January 27 from San Diego, California. With its fiveabreast seating compared to the six-abreast arrangement of its Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 competitors, Convair hopes the 615mph cruising speed of the 880 will be a selling point.

• The prototype Vickers Type 950 Vanguard, G-AOYW, had its first flight from Brooklands, Surrey, on January 20, flown by Jock Bryce with Brian Trubshaw as copilot.

• A new world speed record in the convertiplane class (E. 2) was established on January 5 between White Waltham and Hungerford, Berkshire, when Fairey Rotodyne XE521 was flown over a 100km circuit at a speed of 307. 22km/h.

• Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker announced the cancellation of the Avro CF‑105 Arrow project in Ottowa on February 20. Five Mk 1 and one Mk 2 examples of the delta wing intercepter had been built.