Yesteryear

The first of 21 Hawk Mk 115s destined for the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program was formally handed over by BAE Systems at CFB Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan on July 6.

The maiden flight of the first production WAH-64 Apache AH.1 assembled by GKN Westland Helicopters for the UK Army Air Corps, ZJ172 (WAH7), took place from the company’s airfield at Yeovil, Somerset on July 18. The helicopter was flown by GKN Westland test pilot Richard Morton and Boeing test pilot Walt Jones. The UK Army Air Corps has 67 Apaches on order.

On July 26 Agusta and GKN Westland announced the merging of their helicopter businesses into a new company called AgustaWestland.

On July 21 China announced a major restructuring of the airline industry which will result in existing airlines being absorbed into three major groups comprising Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines.

The Israeli Defence Force/Air Force has selected the Raytheon Aircraft Beech KIng Air B200T MPA to replace its three IAI 1124N Seascan maritime patrol aircraft. Although the local IAI 1125 Astra SPX was a contender, it is thought one of the reasons for its rejection stemmed from the qualification of the B200 as US military aid to Israel.

The Antonov Design Bureau announced on July 3 that it was seeking partners to build a new cargo aircraft based on the An-225 Mriya/Dream. Only one An-225 has flown and the transport was designed to carry the Buran space shuttle. A second example is incomplete. Antonov feels there is a market for a large cargo aircraft with a 250 ton capacity.

The evaluation of a Tupolev Tu-204-100C freighter has been completed by TNT Airways based at Liege, Belgium. The aircraft was originally delivered to Air Rep in the UK and was evaluated over several weeks by TNT who said it exceeded their minimum criteria and is viewed as a possible replacement for their Boeing 727Fs.

25 Years Ago

Recent sales of the new Fokker 100 fanjet and Fokker 50 turboprop have taken Fokker’s sales since World War II to 1054 aircraft. In addition to Fokker 50 orders standing at 32 plus six options and Fokker 100 at 18 plus 11 options, sales of the F27 Friendship and F28 Fellowship have reached 778 and 226 respectively.

A new version of the 747 is being offered by Boeing to airlines. The 747-400 could carry 412 passengers at a range exceeding 7000 miles permitting non-stop flights such as London-Singapore or Paris-Tokyo. This is a range increase of about 900nm over existing models.

Six of the former RAAF Lockheed P-3B Orions which were traded in with Lockheed towards the purchase of the P-3C Orions have been acquired by the Portuguese Air Force. They will be delivered to Portugal from 1988 onwards after refurbishment including updated avionics and sensors.

The third of the RN’s Invincible-class carriers, HMS *Ark Royal**, was accepted into service on July 1 and arrived at Portsmouth carrying Sea Harrier XZ494 and the Fleet Air Museum’s Fairey Swordfish LS326. Built by Swan Hunter this latest carrier features a 12 degree ski-jump compared with the seven degree ramps fitted to her sister ships *Invincible** and *Illustrious**.

With the Luftwaffe convinced that neither the EFA nor any other new generation fighter will be available for integration into its inventory prior to 1997, a program is to put in place at a cost of DM1,013 million for upgrades to 75 F-4F Phantom of the JG 71 and JG 74 tactical fighter wings. These aircraft will receive Hughes APG-75 radar and AMRAAM capability. All Luftwaffe Phantoms are also to have other upgrades initiated.

The maintainability phase of the AMRAAM was successfully tested at the Pacific Missile Test Center, Point Mugu, California on July 15-17. Demonstrations conducted several times established it was possible to load four AMRAAMs on the wings of an F/A-18 Hornet in less than 15 minutes, critical for the Navy in combat situations. The unloading phase which were not to exceed more than four minutes were carried out in average of two minutes.

The first flight of the Airbus A310-300 variant took place on July 8. Amongst changes are the installation of an additional 5,000kg fuel tank in the tailplane, a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) fin, wing-tip fences, carbon brakes and a revised cockpit.

50 Years Ago

The first flight of the development prototype Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, G-APRL, temporarily fitted with revised “crocodile” rear doors as an AW.660 for military, to be operated by the RAF as an Argosy C Mk.1, took place from Bitteswell, Leicester on July 28. The doors open up and down, with the lower door providing a loading ramp while large loads can be parachuted rearwards without removing the doors. Parachutists exit the aircraft through the rear port and starboard passenger doors. The testing is checking the aerodynamic characteristics of the changes. This aircraft is the second Argosy built and was first flown on March 16 1959.

British United Airways commenced operations on July 1 from its base at Gatwick Airport. The airline is the result of the merger of Airwork and Hunting-Clan Air Transport with a fleet consisting of four Britannias, 11 Viscounts, two DC-6As, four DC-4s, 13 Bristol 170s and 18 other types.

The deterioration in conditions in the Belgian Congo following the grant of independence on June 30 has seen Belgian and French airlines mount an evacuation of Europeans. After flying passengers to various locations in the Congo a series of flights began on July 9 and concluded on the 28th. This saw 25,711 Belgian nationals carried on five Sabena Boeing 707s carrying up to 300 passengers on each flight to Europe.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan is to convert 18 standard F-86F fighter bombers during this year into RF-86F Photo-reconnaissance configuration. This will see the installation of a K-22 on each side of the pilot’s seat with a K-17 camera mounted in the fuselage belly.

Some of the aircraft recently offered for sale by Lawrence Engineering & Sales Pty Ltd of Camden Airport, NSW include new Tiger Moths for £985, an Auster Adventurer for £1500 and a Piper Comanche for £10,000.

A diverse range of overhaul work currently underway at Bankstown Aerodrome, Sydney includes Fairey carrying out a major overhaul of an Avro Lancaster for the French Navy in addition to their ongoing maintenance of Fireflies and Gannets for the RAN, Bristol is handling a major inspection of an RAAF Bristol Freighter while de Havillands are servicing RAAF Vampire Trainers, RAN Sea Venoms and civil Doves, Drovers and various Beechcraft types. Fawcett Aviation is handling a C of A overhaul of de Havilland Leopard Moth VH-UUL which despite its age has only flown just over 1000 hours since new and is in as new condition.