YesterYear

The US$3. 8 billion contract was awarded on January 26 2001.

CVN-77 is currently under construction at Northrop Grumman, Newport News, Virginia for commissioning in 2009 as the replacement for the USS Kitty Hawk.

• Cessna delivered the 1,000th Model 208B Grand Caravan on December 12. Since 1985 more than 1,300 Caravans have been delivered, comprising the Caravan 675, Caravan Amphibian, Super Cargomaster and Grand Caravan.

• The ultra long-range Airbus A340-500 was granted type certification by the European Joint Aviation Authorities on December 3 after completing 400 flight hours over more than 150 flights. The first customer delivery is scheduled to Air Canada in early 2003.

• Qantas took delivery of its first Airbus aircraft, A330-204 VH-EBA Cradle Mountain on December 6. The airline has ordered seven A330-200s and six A330-300s, all powered by General Electric CF6-80E1 engines. The A330-200s, with 38 business class and 265 economy seats, will be used on domestic routes while the A330-300s will operate internationally.

• Boeing’s chief executive of Commercial Airplanes, Alan Mulally, announced on December 20 the Sonic Cruiser project will be cancelled. He said Boeing will look to build a mid-sized, fuel-efficient, more traditional aircraft with two size options, for a launch in 2004 and service entry in 2008, which is presently unnamed.

25 Years Ago

• TWA has applied for rights to operate in Germany on internal air routes between Western Germany and Berlin. Since the end of WW2, these routes have been operated only by Pan Am and British Airways (previously British European Airways). Subject to approval from the French, UK and US authorities, TWA will commence services with twoclass Boeing 727s from Berlin to Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart in April 1988.

• The first of 16 Sikorsky S-70B-3 Seahawk helicopters for the RAN conducted its maiden flight from West Palm Beach, Florida on December 4.

The Australian government will accept two of the Seahawks in the US while the other 14 will be delivered from the Hawker de Havilland (HdH) Bankstown facility. There is a similar agreement between HdH and Sikorsky covering 39 S-70-9 Black Hawks for the RAAF.

• The maiden flight of the extended range Airbus A300-600R took place from Toulouse on December 9. The aircraft is the first of 25 ordered by American Airlines. With a tailplane fuel tank the -600R carries 6,150 litres more fuel than the -600 and operates at a higher gross weight of 170,500kg.

• NATO has acquired an ex Sabena Boeing 707-320C which will be converted and used as a crew trainer for its 18 E-3A Sentry AWACS aircraft. It is expected that two additional 707s will be purchased during 1988 to perform similar duties.

• The newest independent airline in Ireland, Ryanair, commenced a commuter service between Dublin and Cardiff on December 16 with an Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante.

50 Years Ago

• On December 19 the first test was conducted from the USS Enterprise of the catapulting of a Grumman E-2A Hawkeye in the first shipboard test of nosetow gear designed to replace the catapult bridle and reduce launching intervals.

• A chapter in US naval aviation which began in June 1915 has concluded with the announcement on December 31 of the end of all lighter-than-air operations.

The role of airships has now been taken over by the P-2 Neptune and P-3 Orion.

• A balloon carried civilian astronomer William C White with a specially-mounted telescope to a height of 82,000ft during December 13-14. The 18. 5-hour flight over southwestern New Mexico enabled him to experience the clearest celestial view ever experienced by an astronomer.

• The ability of a US Army Nike-Zeus antimissile missile to discriminate between an intended target and accompanying decoys was established on December 22 when the vehicle was fired from Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands and intercepted an Atlas launched on a 4,800mile flight from Vandenberg AFB, California.

• BOAC is to lease a de Havilland Comet 4 to Malayan Airways for three years from December 3 with the aircraft to be used on services linking Singapore to Hong Kong and on other routes.

• Defence Minister Townley recently released estimates in parliament providing for the order of 12 STOL aircraft with the de Havilland Caribou favoured by the Army. The Caribou in full military configuration costs £A292,000.