Yesteryear

The Bombardier component covers firm orders for 60 CRJ200s and 25 CRJ700s plus 90 reconfirmable orders and 100 options that can be exercised for either CRJ200s or CRJ700s.

The Embraer portion covers firm orders for 85 Embraer 170s plus 190 options split between Embraer 170s and ERJ-145s.

EADS announced on May 6 that its directors had approved the Airbus recommendation for the 10,000shp (7,460kW)-class EuroProp International (EPI) TP400-D6 as the powerplant for the A400M military transport aircraft.

The EPI consortium comprising ITP, MTU Rolls-Royce and Snecma is planning to have the first engine available for test by August 2005 and a first flight by September 2007.

After Australian Special Forces participating in Operation Falconer seized al Asad airfield 180km northwest of Baghdad a total of 57 operational Iraqi Air Force fighters were found, mostly comprising MiG‑21s, but also included were three MiG-25 Foxbats.

All aircraft had been carefully concealed to avoid detection during coalition bombing, some under camouflage netting, others hidden in buildings, dry river beds and palm grove trees, while a number were buried.

After more than 40 years of service, the USN’s last Douglas TA-4J unit, VC-8 Red Tails based in Puerto Rico, is scheduled to be disestablished on September 30.

Disposal of the aircraft has begun with TA-4J 158137 flown from Roosevelt Roads to Oakland, California on April 8 and after decommissioning will be placed on display at the USS Hornet museum at nearby NAS Alameda.

25 years ago

A prototype of the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D two-seat advanced night attack aircraft took place from St Louis, Missouri on May 6.

The aircraft has a FLIR sensor called TINS (Thermal Imaging Navigation Set) to assist in locating, identifying and attacking ground targets at night.

The name ‘Merlin’ has been approved by the Royal Navy for the EH 101 anti-submarine helicopter due to enter service in 1990.

Fifty are to be procured.

In recent months two older RN helicopters have been withdrawn from front-line service.

The last Westland Wasp was retired on March 31 at RNAS Portland, with the last Wessex, search and rescue HU.

5s, phased out the following day at RNAS Culdrose, with both types replaced by Lynx and Sea Kings respectively.

The Dutch Dakota Association has acquired a 1952-model Beechcraft D18S to join its collection of two Dakotas and a DC-2.

The aircraft, originally operated as a VIP aircraft for the RCAF Air Transport Command, was later owned by Canadian Warplane Heritage as C-FAID.

It was flown to Amsterdam from Greater Rochford Airport near Chicago via Labrador, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland.

May 27 marked the 30th anniversary of the first flight of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, still in use in 12 countries.

To commemorate the milestone, F-4E 68-338 of the 131st TFW, Missouri ANG, carried the prominent fuselage notation “30 Years of Phabulous Phantoms” in recognition of the first Phantom flight.

Of 5,195 Phantoms built, approximately 2,400 remain in service.

International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) announced the largest airliner order ever placed with Boeing for 124 aircraft worth an estimated US$4.

6 billion.

The order comprises 78 737s plus 19 options, nine 757s plus two options, nine 767‑300ERs plus two options and four 747-400s plus one option.

50 years ago

The Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, announced on May 22 that a further 40 Dassault Mirage IIIOs would be ordered for the RAAF taking the total to 100.

This latest order related to aircraft on option, announced by the Minister for Air, Mr Fairbairn, on February 20.

Unofficial reports from Canberra estimate a unit cost of about £1,125,000 for each aircraft.

The maiden flight of the USAF F-4C two-seat tactical fighter version of the USN’s F-4 Phantom II, 12199, took place from St Louis, Missouri on May 27.

The USAF Phantom will retain the folding wing and arrester gear present on USN examples.

During May 15-16 Major L Gordon Cooper Jr, USAF, carried out the longest US space mission in the Mercury-Atlas 9 Faith 7 with 22 orbits of the Earth in a mission time of 34hr 19min 49sec.

He landed in the Pacific 80 miles southeast of Midway Island with a recovery by USS Kearsage stationed in the Western Range.

He was the first American to orbit the Earth for more than one day and was the last pilot of the Project Mercury series.

Following the loan of two USN Douglas Skyraiders to the USAF in mid-1962 and subsequent field tests, the USAF announced on May 8 that two squadrons of A-1E Skyraiders would be added to the 1st Air Commando Group at Hurlburt AFB, Florida.

A further decision in May 1964 saw the Secretary of the Air Force announce that 75 Skyraiders would be sent to Vietnam to replace B-26s and T-28s of the 1st Air Commando Wing.

The Minister for Civil Aviation, Senator Paltridge, said on May 16 the Department of Civil Aviation had ordered a DH.

125 twin-jet utility aircraft for a variety of tasks including calibration of navigation and landing aids and other duties.