Yesteryear

Following the New Zealand government’s decision to acquire two Boeing 757s as replacements for the RNZAF’s two Boeing 727-22Cs, the aircraft will comprise two second-hand aircraft obtained from GECAS, previously operated by the Dutch carrier Transavia. PH-TKA and PH-TKB are both powered by Rolls- Royce RB211-535E4 engines.

The prototype Bombardier Global 5000, C-GERS, had its maiden flight from Downsview, Ontario on March 7. During the 3hr 44min flight the aircraft reached an altitude of 45,000ft and a maximum indicated airspeed of 340kt.

Asiana became the 17th member of the Star Alliance on March 1. The airline’s Boeing 767-38E HL7516 repainted in Star Alliance colours was unveiled on January 28 at Incheon prior to the announcement on February 17 of Asiana’s joining.

25 years ago

Deliveries of the Airbus A320 have now commenced. Initial deliveries were to Air France on March 28 with the first production aircraft F-GFKA Ville de Paris followed by British Airways on March 31 with G-BUSC. To mark the occasion, Air France flew its first A320 over the Champs-Elysees at 1,500ft with French prime Minister Jacques Chirac as a passenger.

Following the invasion of Honduras by Sandinista forces, a request by the Honduran government saw USAF transport aircraft fly 3,200 US soldiers to the Republic of Honduras in support of exercise Golden Pheasant on March 17-18.

Federal Express has placed a further order for 90 Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster versions of the Caravan I turboprop utility transport for their overnight cargo feeder system to smaller cities and towns in the USA and Canada, taking their total orders of the type to 199, of which 98 have been delivered.

The National Safety Council of Australia has ordered two Dornier 228s for search and rescue tasks, casualty evacuation and in support of bushfire firefighting operations. The order followed an evaluation of a leased aircraft over one year. One of the new aircraft will be based at Williamtown, NSW with the other at West Sale, Victoria. Among the special installed equipment is a Bendix lightweight 360 degree radar.

Full-scale development has been authorised by the French government for development of the Dassault Rafale twin-engined fighter. Two Rafale D prototypes have been ordered, a two-seat version for the French air force and a single-seat navy example. The first flight is expected in October 1990 with a planned introduction into service during 1996. France intends to order 250 Rafales for the air force and 80 for the navy.

50 years ago

After a ceremonial flypast by three Avro Lincolns over East Anglia on March 13, the last five RAF Lincolns, from No 151 Squadron, RAF Signals Command, Watton, Norfolk have been withdrawn from service. Three will then fly to the No 23 Maintenance Unit, RAF Aldergrove, Northern Ireland with the remaining two going to RAF Hullavington, Wiltshire for preservation by the Air Ministry’s Historical Branch.

Although production of the de Havilland Dove’s successor, the DH. 125 twin-jet is under way at Chester with the first batch having been increased from 30 to 60, building of the Dove continues with sales now passing 530 since the first flight in September 1945. Current Dove production consists of the Series 7 seating eight to 11 passengers and Series 8 five-seat executive version.

The UK Ministry of Aviation has ordered a de Havilland Comet 4C to be based at Boscombe Down to be used for experimental research into the problems of long-range navigation and instrumentation, taking sales of Comet Mk4s to 72.

The US General Services Administration has allowed Howard Hughes a further three years to experiment with his 700-passenger wooden flying boat. Construction began in 1942 of this largest aeroplane in the world powered by eight 3,000hp Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Majors with a wing span of 320ft. The first flight took place in November 1947.

A decision will soon be made by President Kennedy whether the US will build a supersonic transport, with projects looking at speeds up to Mach 3. 5.

The Dassault Balzac V 001 VTOL research aircraft performed its first successful transition from vertical to horizontal flight at Aerodrome de Melun Villaroche near Paris on March 18.