Yesteryear

He plans to fly the aircraft on a world tour tracing the route of the 1929 Dornier DO-X, which at the time was the world’s largest flying boat.

On April 6 Qantas announced it would become a major investor in a new Singapore-based intra-Asia airline with a fleet of either Airbus A320s or Boeing 737-800s.

Flights will be conducted to Asian cities within five hours flying time from Singapore with an initial four aircraft by the end of 2004 increasing to over 20 aircraft within the following three years.

The Qantas financial interest will be 49.

9 per cent with the remainder held by Singapore government-owned Temasek Holdings 19 per cent, and by businessmen Tony Chew 21.

1 per cent and Fong Fui Wong 10 per cent.

Boeing formally approved launch of the 7E7 Dreamliner on April 26 following the announcement from All Nippon Airways (ANA) of a firm order for 50 aircraft valued at US$6 billion at list prices.

It is the largest launch order for a Boeing airliner.

Defence Minister Robert Hill announced on April 16 the selection of the Airbus A330-200 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) to fulfill the RAAF’s air-to-air refuelling requirements.

The order for five aircraft will see the first aircraft built by Airbus at Toulouse and converted in Spain to MRTT configuration with the other four aircraft arriving in Australia as green airframes for conversion by Qantas Defence Services in Brisbane.

The German air force said on April 30 that the first five Eurofighter Typhoons have officially entered service, with JG 73 at Laage.

25 years ago

A British Airways Concorde which arrived in Sydney on April 12 had lost the rear portion of the upper tail.

On a flight from Christchurch, New Zealand the crew experienced a vibration and small thud as the aircraft was passing through 43,000ft accelerating to Mach 2 after departure.

Subsequent investigations revealed the delamination of that part of the structure.

A Grumman A-6E Intruder fitted with a new all-composite wing had its maiden flight from Wichita, Kansas on April 3 on a modified A-6E.

The wing built by Boeing has graphite/epoxy components and is stronger than the previous metal structure.

Developed to overcome fatigue problems encountered in the original metal wing, it will be fitted to 21 new-build A-6Es for delivery from late this year.

On April 19 the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea on operations in the Caribbean, responded to a call for assistance after an explosion in the number 2 gun turret onboard the battleship USS Iowa off Puerto Rico, which resulted in the loss of 47 crew.

The carrier’s explosive ordnance disposal team removed volatile powder charges from the ship’s 16in guns and flooded powder magazines.

Sikorsky SH-3G Sea King helicopters from VC-8 ferried a surgical team and medical supplies, in addition to medevac and logistical support.

The fixed list price of the all-composite Beech Starship business turboprop has been announced by Beech Aircraft Corporation at US$3,886,700 equipped, while the world’s fastest selling high performance single since 1987 is the Beech Bonanza F33A, with an equipped price of US$139,850.

The first production Starship, NC-4, N2000S, had its maiden flight from Wichita, Kansas on April 25.

Firm sales of the Airbus A320 have reached 460 while options are held for another 278 aircraft.

50 years ago

The first prototype twin-turboprop de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo, 63-13686, had its first flight from Downsview Airport, Toronto on April9.

Developed from the DHC-4 Caribou, the first of four prototype aircraft was built under a US-Canadian cost-sharing agreement and will join three other prototypes for evaluation by the US Army in early 1965.

Ten additional BAC One-Eleven Series 400 aircraft carrying 74 passengers have been ordered by American Airlines taking orders for the type to 72.

The USN’s light-attack aircraft (VAL) competition for a Skyhawk replacement has been won by Ling-Temco-Vought with a substantially modified version of the F-8E Crusader.

The new aircraft known as the A-7A will be powered by a non-afterburning Pratt & Whitney TF30 engine currently in development for the General Dynamics F-111.

BOAC introduced the Vickers VC10 into regular passenger service on April 29 on the London to Lagos route.

The first around-the-world solo flight by a woman concluded on April 17 when Jerrie Mock landed at Columbus, Ohio on April 17.

Her 1953 model Cessna 180 Spirit of Columbus, N1538C, had departed on March 19 on a flight covering 22,858 miles (36,785km) involving 21 stops.

On April 12 the wreckage of RAAF Curtiss P-40E-1 Kittyhawk A29-93, formerly USAAF 41-25168, together with the remains of its pilot Flying Officer Albert Gordon McLeod, were found in dense rain forest near Gurney Strip, Milne Bay, Papua.

The aircraft had been shot down on August 11 1942.

Ansett-ANA Douglas DC-6B VH-INA suffered a detached propeller blade from the No 3 engine soon after takeoff from Melbourne to Adelaide on April 14.

After dumping fuel, skillful action by Captain Keith Hants was able to dislodge the damaged engine from the aircraft and make a safe landing.