Yester Year

• In a 20-second single bombing run at Edwards AFB, Cali-fornia on May 2, the crew of a USAF B-1B Lancer successfully targeted three different weapons against three separate targets. It was the first time in the USAF’s history that an onboard weapons system had automati-cally deployed multiple weapon types against multiple separate targets in a single bombing run. Released during the mission at targets about 10,000ft apart were a single Mk 84 bomb, three Mk 82 bombs and four CBU-89 cluster munitions.

• The prototype Boeing X-45A UCAV had its maiden flight from NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB, California on May 22. During the 14-minute flight the X-45A reached a speed of 195kt and altitude of 7,500ft.

• Four RAAF F/A-18A Hor-nets from 77SQN returned to RAAF Williamtown on May 20 after a six-month deployment based on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

• Following a 17-month grounding after a fatal crash on December 11 2000, flight testing resumed on May 29 of the Bell-Boeing MV-22 Osprey with the 10th example built, 164942, on a flight from NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.

25 Years Ago

• On May 17 the D. H. 88 Com-et G-ACSS Grosvenor House, which won the 1934 MacRob-ertson Race from England to Australia, was flown by BAe 146 test pilot George Ellis from Hatfield, Hertfordshire after a rebuild lasting 14 years.

• Nineteen-year-old Mathias Rust was arrested and charged with violating Soviet airspace after an audacious flight on May 29 in a German-registered Cessna 172 from Helsinki, Finland culminated in a landing in Moscow’s Red Square. He attempted to evade radar detec-tion by Soviet authorities flying at times at rooftop level.

• US Marine Corps Aviation celebrated its 75th anniversary on May 22. On May 22 1912 1st Lieutenant Alfred A Cun-ningham USMC reported to the Naval Aviation Camp at Annapolis, Maryland for duty in connection with aviation.

• Following the receipt of orders from four airlines for a total of up to 73 aircraft, Boe-ing launched the 737-500 on May 20. The 737-500, known in the design study phase as the 737-1000, will be powered by two 20,000lb CFM56s and will have a range of up to 5,552km carrying 108 passengers. First flight is due in mid 1989.

• Flight testing began on May 18 of the modified MD-80 UHB (ultra-high-bypass) demonstra-tor with a General Electric GE36 unducted fan engine installed in the port nacelle, replacing the usual Pratt & Whitney JT8D.

• The British Aerospace 146 Series 200QT (Quiet Trader) entered operational use on May 5 with the handover of the first aircraft, G-TNTA, at Birmingham to TNT.

50 Years Ago

• The Sikorsky S-64A Sky-crane helicopter had its first flight at Stratford, Connecticut on May 9. Powered by two 4,050hp (3,020kW) Pratt & Whitney T74 engines with a six-blade main rotor, the heavy-lift Skycrane is believed to be the most powerful helicopter outside the USSR.

• The British Ministry of Avia-tion has signed a contract with the British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) for a design study of a ‘variable geometry’ aircraft with wings that can be swivelled in flight. It is considered this could be a step in solving the prob-lems of a supersonic airliner. BAC and Sud Aviation will be invited to undertake a joint preparatory design study of the supersonic airliner to enable the British and French governments to decide whether to co-operate on the project.

• The first USN squadron to become operational with the North American A3J Vigilante is Heavy Attack Squadron 7 based at Sanford, Florida.

• Sud Aviation carried out a demonstration tour during May of the SE-210 Caravelle 3 Santa Maria, F-BJAO, with visits to Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. The aircraft had been bought from Sud by General Electric to test its CJ-805-23 turbofans which will be later fitted to the Caravelle 10A, and the aircraft was bought back by Sud after completion of tests.

• Ansett-ANA’s technical man-ager, John Bibo, has been in the US at the invitation of Douglas for a technical presentation of the Douglas 2086, a 56-74 pas-senger twin-engined jet airliner intended for the short-medium haul market. There have been suggestions the 2086 is likely to emerge as the DC-9. n