Yester Year

• High yearly operating costs of about US$2 million seem likely to see the two remaining Martin JRM-3 Mars flying boat water bombers based at Sproat Lake, British Columbia, withdrawn from use.

• In an announcement on November 29 Qantas gave details of major acquisitions of 31 aircraft for its long term fleet plan. Included are orders for 12 Airbus A3XXs plus an undisclosed number of options, seven A330-200s and six A330- 300s, and six increased gross weight Boeing Longer-Range 747-400s, previously known as the 747-400X. Deliveries of the A3XX will take place between 2006 and 2011, the A330s dur-ing 2002 to 2005, and the 747s between 2002 and 2006.

• The oldest example of the Boeing B-52 still flying is to be retired. Operated by NASA Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, California the NB-52A, 52-0008, is the eighth production aircraft and will be replaced by a B-52H due to arrive early next year. On November 2 the B-52 launched the prototype X-38 Vehicle 131R intended for the proposed International Space Station Crew Return Vehicle from a wing pylon on its first free flight.

• On November 15 the French Navy aircraft carrier Foch was handed over to the Brazilian Navy at Brest. The ship will be renamed Sao Paulo and will sail to Rio de Janeiro in February 2001 after it has completed a refit.

25 Years Ago

• Options held by Federal Express of Memphis, Tennessee, for 70 Cessna Caravan Is have been converted into firm orders, and orders have also been placed for a further nine aircraft while new options have been placed on another 90 Caravans. All 79 Caravans on firm order will be delivered in 1986. The opera-tor has 21 Caravans fitted with a ventral cargo pod currently in service, used on overnight freight carriage.

• Cessna became a subsidiary of General Dynamics Corporation on November 18. Two months earlier General Dynamics launched a US$591 million bid to acquire outright owner-ship of Cessna. Since Convair 990 production ended General Dynamics has had no commer-cial aircraft activity apart from a 2. 7 per cent stake in Cessna acquired in 1983.

• Delta Air Lines has con-tracted Lockheed to produce kits to convert six of its L-1011 TriStars to extended range L-1011-250s to be re-engined with higher thrust Rolls-Royce RB. 211-524Bs. The changes will increase gross weight by 15 per cent to 224,982kg, fuel capac-ity from 71,668kg to 96,162kg, and range extended from 2700 to 4500nm. TriStar production ceased in 1981.

• Trans-Australia Airlines has ordered three British Aerospace Jetstream 31s for delivery in August and September 1986 to replace Fokker F27s on services in western Queensland.

• The RAAF is expecting to have received seven TF/A-18 Hornets by the end of the year for conversion of Mirage pilots by No 2 OCU at Williamtown. During 1986 it is expected 15 single seat F/A-18s will be received to initially equip No 3 Squadron.

50 Years Ago

• The maiden flight of the first swing-tail version of the Can-adair CL-44, the CL-44D4-1 CF-MKP-X, took place from Cartierville, Montreal, on November 16 flown by W S Longhurst and G T (Scotty) McLean. The aircraft is the first transport to enter production with a swing-tail to assist with the loading of bulky freight.

• Peter Masefield, former managing director of Bristol Aircraft, will head a new aircraft company, British Executive and General Aviation, to be known as Beagle, a subsidiary of the Pressed Steel Company. The entire issued share capital of Auster Aircraft has been acquired by the Pressed Steel Company, although Auster will continue with its line of aircraft. The decision will see Beagle design and manufacture a new range of aircraft.

• A RCAF Beechcraft Expe-ditor is to soon begin flight testing of the Canadian Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop with one of the engines mounted in a nose position.

• An executive jet seating 14 passengers is being planned by de Havilland with engines in the rear fuselage. The aircraft’s final designs will be submitted to the Ministry of Aviation.

• Following the recent decision to place the Victa Air Tourer into production, the initial sales drive by the aircraft division of Victa Consolidated Industries has been very successful. Provi-sional orders have been received for 23 Air Tourers valued at £120,250 excluding spares, and sales have also been achieved for four Victa R-2s. Victa has quoted a price of £3750 for the Air Tourer powered by a 95hp Continental and £8500 for the four seater R-2 powered by a 180hp Lycoming engine.