Yester Year

• Following the scrapping of its Tu-95MS Bear-H and Tu-160 Blackjack bombers, in compliance with the START 1 treaty, the Ukraine air force will commence the destruction of its 31 T-22M3 Backfires on November 12 at the Poltava air base.

• A total of 700 US Army helicopters comprising 300 Bell AH-1 Cobras and 400 UH-1 Iroquois were placed on the market on November 4.

• Boeing’s 777-300ER was unveiled in a ceremony at Everett on November 14. Orders for this new version stand at 49 and a first flight is expected between late January and early February 2003. The -300ER will carry 365 passengers up to 7,250nm (13,427km). The -300ER was one of two new versions of the 777 launched in February 2000, this as the 777‑300X, alongside the 777-200X which became the 777-200LR. Orders for the 777-200LR, which can carry 301 passengers up to 8,865nm (16,417km), stand at five.

• Defence Minister Robert Hill announced the signing of a contract on November 20 covering the lease of seven Beech Super King Air 350s from Hawker Pacific for the RAAF, to be used as navigational trainers replacing HS748s and King Air B200s.

• NZ Defence Minister Mark Burton announced on November 18 the purchase of two Boeing 757s to replace the RNZAF’s two Boeing 727‑22Cs built in 1968 which have been in RNZAF service since 1981.

The 757s will be configured for passengers and freight.

25 Years Ago

• The Brazilian Air Force is showing interest in the forthcoming sale of the RAAF’s Mirage IIIOs as attrition replacements.

With over one third of the RAAF’s F/A-18 Hornets now delivered, the approximately 70 Mirages remaining are due to be withdrawn from use by September 1988. The Mirages are in good condition having undergone a Life-Of-Type-EXtension (LOTEX) program in the early 1980s. It has been reported the Australian government, which will carefully vet potential customers, anticipates it will only receive between $1 million to $2 million for each Mirage.

• The 11 GAF Nomads which had been stored at Oaklands, NSW and failed to attract any commercial buyers, will be transferred to the RAAF and the Australian Army. The Nomads received regular 90-day checks while in storage.

• Following its restoration at Scampton by CFS engineers the RAF now has an airworthy Meteor again in its ranks. Although not flown for seven years, the overhauled Meteor T Mk 7, WF791, has enough airframe life remaining for up to 30 years of display flying.

• The USN accepted delivery of the first production Grumman F-14A (Plus) Tomcat at Calverton, New York on November 16.

This new improved version includes more powerful General Electric F110 engines with better reliability, operability, maintainability and fuel consumption. The aircraft will be assigned to the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland.

• The first successful launch of an air-launched cruise missile was made from a USAF B-1B Lancer bomber on November 24.

50 Years Ago

• Minister for Civil Aviation Senator Paltridge on November 19 approved applications from Ansett-ANA and TAA for the purchase of two Boeing 727-100s by each airline. The approximate value of the order including spares is estimated at £11. 5 million.

• The contract for the North American B-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber has been amended to three RS-70 reconnaissance/ strike versions of the aircraft.

• The US Department of Defense announced on November 8 that the Cuban missile bases had been dismantled. The naval blockade of Cuba was discontinued on November 20.

• Work is continuing on the BAC TSR-2 under strict security with a first flight scheduled for 1963 and entry to RAF service in the mid-1960s. The TSR-2’s tactical weapons system will allow it to fly at very low levels to avoid radar detection.

• Qantas is one of the few international airlines to make a profit and in recently released figures declared a net profit of £408,817 in the year ended March 31 1962. During the year 206,717 passengers were carried. The airline’s fleet comprises 11 Boeing 707-138Bs and four Lockheed Electras.

• About 70 DH. 82 Tiger Moths engaged in aerial agricultural activities in Australia are to be phased out over the next three years and none will be permitted to perform aerial ag work after December 31 1965, the federal government has announced.

• The first flight of the Westland Wessex HAS. Mk31 helicopters for the RAN took place at Nowra on November 23. A total of 27 Wessex anti-submarine helicopters are on order. n