Yesteryear

The UK Government confirmed on September 30 that the the RAF and RN will get 150 Lockheed Martin F-35B STOVL JSFs as replacements for Harriers and Sea Harriers.

The USAF is to retire its long-serving C-135C, 61-2669, used mainly as the personal aircraft of the USAF Chief of Staff and other senior officials. It also had been extensively modified and served as a test aircraft for advanced avionics and communications equipment.

The first JAS 39C Gripen, 39208, was handed handed over by Saab to the Swedish Defence Material Administration on September 6.

Boeing and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics have each won US$7 million contracts for component advanced development of USN’s Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) program. Boeing proposes a militarised version of the Next-Generation 737 while Lockheed Martin will offer a new production P-3 derivative dubbed Orion 21. The MMA will replace P-3Cs and EP-3Es.

The Bombardier CRJ900 was awarded Transport Canada aircraft type certification on September 13 — and type recommendation from the European JAA and US FAA is expected soon.

The first flight of General Electric Aircraft Engines’ Boeing 747-121 N747GE, carrying the world’s most powerful jet engine, a GE90-115B installed in the inner port engine pylon, took place from Mojave, California on September 18.

25 Years Ago

Eight C-130 Hercules and a large number of C-141 Starlifters flew 2,511 tons of fire retardant and firefighters to California and Oregon between August 31 and September 9 to combat forest fires.

Deployment of the Pioneer remotely piloted vehicle from the battleship USS Iowa on September 10 for a NATO Indian Ocean cruise marked the beginning of battleship-operated RPVs for independent reconnaissance and naval gunfire support.

The first updated F/A-18C Hornet, including the infrared imaging Maverick missile, was delivered to the USN on September 21.

The first of a new class of amphibious assault ships , USS Wasp, was launched on September 19. The ship will operate the AV-8B Harrier II as well as helicopters and the new air cushion landing craft.

Austrian independent airline Lauda Air plans to begin international services to Beijing and Sydney in May 1988 using a Boeing 767-300ER.

The world’s largest operator of the Boeing 747 family, Japan Air Lines, has ordered five 747-400s with deliveries beginning in 1989. JAL has 69 747s.

Following deferment of its order of nine Airbus A320s, Australian Airlines has in the interim ordered four more Boeing 737-300s. Australian has 12 737-300s already in service.

The first unrefuelled trans-Atlantic crossing by a Panavia Tornado F Mk 3 was flown on September 24. The aircraft flew the 4,077km from Goose Bay, Canada to Warton in 4hr 45m.

The maiden flight of the MacAvia-BAe 748 Turbine Tanker, G-BNJK, took place from Cranfield, England on September 4. The aircraft has been converted into a water bomber on behalf of its sponsor, MacAvia International,California.

The first of 39 Sikorsky S-70A-9 Black Hawks ordered by Australia, A25-101, had its maiden flight at Stratford, Connecticut on September 11. Sixteen S70B-2 Seahawks also will be delivered to the RAN.

50 Years Ago

Aero Spacelines Boeing 377-PG Pregnant Guppy, converted from former PAA Boeing 377-10-26 Stratocruiser, N1024V, had its first flight on September 19. The outsize aircraft will be used to carry spacecraft sections made on the US West Coast to Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The Royal Canadian Navy’s last fighter squadron, VF-870 equipped with McDonnell F2H-3 Banshees, was disbanded on September 6.

A joint US Army-Navy-Air Force regulation was issued on September 18 to establish a uniform system of military aircraft designation. All existing aircraft were redesignated using a letter, dash, number, and letter to indicate in order the basic mission or type of aircraft, its place in series of that type and its place in the series of changes in its basic design.

Kuwait Airways has placed a £8.5 million order for a de Havilland Comet 4C, two de Havilland Trident long-range versions and three BAC 1-11s, plus another one on option.

The USN has retired its last Grumman F6F Hellcat, which had been used as a target drone. The Hellcat first flew on June 26 1942 and on August 31 1943, carrier-borne F6F-3s attacked Japanese installations on Marcus Island in the Pacific. Grumman built 12,275 Hellcats.

Notley Aviation Pty Limited of Camden, NSW is offering a clearance sale of DH.82 parts. Among offerings are ailerons for £3/15/- each, oil tanks £1, engine mounts £1/10/-, floors £3 and tail springs five shillings.

The Department of Civil Aviation will withdraw the certificates of airworthiness of 28 light aircraft on December 31 1963 overstructural concerns. Types affected are Miles Gemini, Mercury and Messenger, de Havilland Moth Minor, Percival Proctor 5, and Mraz M1C Sokol.