YesterYear

The maiden flight of the first prototype Bombardier CRJ700, C-FRJX, took place on May 27 from Montreal International Airport (Dorval) flown by CRJ700 project test pilot Craig Tylski with eco-pilot Chuck Ellis. After initial test flights from Montreal, the aircraft will carry out the remainder of the 1500 hour certification program at the Bombardier Flight Test Center at Wichita, Kansas.

Following completion of acceptance test flights of the first production Bell-Boeing MV-22B Osprey, 165433, the aircraft was handed over to the US Marine Corps at the Bell Helicopter Textron Flight Research Center at Arlington, Texas on May 14. Intended to replace the CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters, a total of 360 Ospreys are scheduled for USMC acquisition.

The Bombardier Global Express is the first ultra long-range business jet to receive type approval from the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA) which was granted on May 7. The first deliveries are expected to made shortly with production aircraft being fitted out at Bombardier’s completion centres in Montreal and Tucson. Firm orders are held for 80 aircraft.

Operation Vijay (Victory) was launched by India on May 26 with two strikes on the Kargil region of Kashmir as a consequence of increasing cross-border artillery duels. Indian Air Force Mi-17 gunships supported by MiG-21s, -23s and -27s with MiG-29s providing air defence cover attacked guerilla positions on the Indian side of the UN-established Line of Control (LoC) cease-fire line. There were reports Mi-35 Hinds were also involved.

25 Years Ago

The first flight of the prototype fly-by-wire single-seat Aeritalia/Aermacchi/Embraer AMX close-support attack aircraft took place on May 15 from Caselle near Turin flown by Captain Mario Quarantelli. The aircraft made a forced landing in a field near Turin on its fifth flight later in the month and is believed to be beyond repair.

As part of a re-equipment program Ansett Transport Industries has ordered two British Aerospace 146-200 regional jets in a 75 seat configuration plus six options. Due for delivery in January and February 1985 the aircraft will be operated by the company’s subsidiary Airlines of Western Australia. Orders for the BAe 146 stand at 36 plus 45 options.

Fokker is developing the F27 MPA Maritime Enforcer an armed derivative of the F27 Maritime. Equipped with six underwing and two fuselage hardpoints this version can carry a variety of weapons including up to four torpedoes and missiles such as the Aerospatiale AM.39 Exocet or McDonnell Douglas AGM-84A Harpoon. It is viewed as a replacement for types such as the Grumman S-2 Tracker and HU-16B Albatross and Lockheed SP-2 Neptune.

Four contenders remain for the RAF’s AST.412 requirement to replace the ageing fleet of Jet Provosts, comprising the Australian Aircraft Consortium A.20 version of the A.10 Wamira, Embraer EMB-312 Tucano, NDN Aircraft Ltd NDN-1T Turbo Firecracker and the Pilatus PC-9. A production contract for 155 aircraft will be awarded to the aircraft selected.

Venture Airways was launched at ™Coventry Airport on May 15 to meet the needs of business travellers in the British Midlands. The airline will use a recently acquired British Aerospace 748 purchased from Cayman Airways on scheduled twice-daily flights to Paris (Charles de Gaulle) in a 33 seat configuration.

Dassault-Breguet received French Ministry of Defence authorisation on May 24 to commence production of the new-generation Atlantique 2 version of the Atlantic 1. The French Aeronavale has ordered 42 of the new version.

The Southampton Hall of Aviation opened on May 26 has amongst its major exhibits a Supermarine Spitfire F Mk.24, Supermarine S.6A racing seaplane, Short Sandringham and Saro Skeeter.
T

50 Years Ago

The last use of water based aircraft by the RAF was marked by the final operational flight on May 15 of two RAF Short Sunderlands from Seletar, Singapore. They were part of a detachment of three operated by the combined No 205/209 Squadron which from January 1 1958, began changing over to Shackletons, based at Changi.

A six month evaluation of the Hunting Aircraft Jet Provost T.2 will commence this month with an example attached to No 1 Basic Flying Training School, Point Cook. Two pupils will be trained on this aircraft, A99-001 (ex G-AOHD), with the remainder of the course receiving tuition on piston-engined CA-25 Winjeels. This will enable the RAAF to not only examine the aircraft but to also evaluate all-through jet training. The Jet Provost was shipped by sea to Australia and assembled by de Havillands at Bankstown.

The first turbojet airline service linking South America with the UK was inaugurated by Aerolineas Argentinas on May 19 with a Comet 4 from Buenos Aires to London.

A lack of foreign exchange is delaying plans by Chile to form a squadron of Convair PBY-5A amphibians to operate a regular service between Quintero Air Force Base and Easter Island. Chile is also looking to replace the Chilean Air Force’s obsolete Republic F-47D Thunderbolts. The only jet aircraft operated by the CAF are a few Lockheed T-33A training aircraft.

Flight testing of the Millicer Air Tourer is now progressing following its first flight from Moorabbin on April 10 flown by F/L Randy Green, who has obtained special leave to conduct the tests. F/L Green formerly of ARDU has been on detachment with de Havilland at Bankstown conducting production testing of Vampire Mk. 35 training aircraft. The Air Tourer won the 1953 Royal Aero Club Kemsley Trust design competition.

The Minister for Civil Aviation, Senator Paltridge, issued a statement on May 1 that Cabinet had decided that land will be acquired in the Tullamarine area for a new Melbourne Airport. He said this was necessary to provide for the replacement of Essendon as Melbourne’s airport.