Yesteryear

This fifth version of the 777 can carry 301 passengers up to 9,420nm (17,445km).

To date five 777-200LRs have been ordered out of total 777 sales of over 680.

The recent release of documents from 1972 by the UK National Archives indicated the concerns about the Concorde’s fragile economic viability, with political considerations ruling out a cancellation.

An interesting light was shone on ambitious French government predictions of sales of 125 to 175 aircraft set against the 20 Concordes which were eventually built.

Qantas is one of world’s most profitable airlines with a net profit of $458.

4 million achieved in the first half of the 2004/5 financial year.

CEO Geoff Dixon highlighted the successful strategy of the airline’s domestic operations and how low-cost subsidiary Jetstar’s launch in May 2004 is aiding the bottom line.

Steve Fossett flew the Scaled Composites Model 311 Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, N277SF, capturing the absolute world record for the fastest solo nonstop unrefuelled circumnavigation of the world between February 28 and March 3 after departure and return to Salina Municipal Airport, Kansas.

The flight was accomplished in 67hr 1min 46sec covering 36,912km, marginally exceeding the FAI definition of the 36,787.

559km distance to be covered.

Bombardier Aerospace will commence offering its proposed CSeries 110 to 130 seat airliner to airlines following the receipt of board approval on March 15.

The CSeries is offered in two basic five-abreast versions, the 110 seat C110 and 130-seat C130, both available in either a standard or extended range version.

25 years ago

The retirement and final flight of Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird 64‑17972 on March 6 in preparation of its move to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC was distinguished by four record flights on that day across the US, one of which was from Los Angeles to Washington DC in 1hr 4min 20sec at an average speed of 3,418km/h.

The first example of the Sikorsky SH-60F inner-zone combat helicopter for operational deployment with the fleet was handed over to Squadron HS-2 at a ceremony at NAS North Island, California on March 27.

Lockheed has reported that although production of the L-1011 has ceased, 243 of the 250 aircraft built are still in service.

Operators have been offered the Dash 150 modification by Lockheed which improves gross takeoff weight from 195,048kg to 213,192kg, and strengthens the fuselage, wing and undercarriage.

The British Ministry of Defence has given a contract worth over £100 million to British Aerospace Commercial Aircraft to convert 13 VC10 and Super VC10 aircraft into flight refuelling tankers for the RAF.

A total of 54 VC10/Super VC10 were built by Vickers/British Aircraft Corporation between 1962 and 1970.

Of these, 13 already serve with the RAF as VC10 C.

Mk1 transport aircraft, plus another nine VC10 K.

Mk2/Super VC10 K.

Mk3 as flight refuelling tankers following conversion by BAC at Filton in the early 1980s.

The first Grumman production F-14D Super Tomcat has been flown from the company’s Calverton, New York facility to the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland.

Representing a major advance on the F-14A this new version has new engines, upgraded avionics and Hughes APG-71 radar similar to that fitted to the F-15.

50 years ago

A USN Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King named Dawdling Dromedary has made the the first nonstop helicopter flight across the North American continent.

It departed from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet alongside NAS, North Island, San Diego on March 6 and after a flight of 2,105.

64 miles (3,388.

7km) lasting 15hr 52min landed on the USS Franklin D Roosevelt (CV-42) at sea off Mayport, Florida.

To conserve fuel one engine was shut down for 9.

5 hours.

The first tethered walk in space took place after launch on March 18 of the Soviet Union’s Voshkod 2 crewed by cosmonauts Pavel Belyayev and Alexei Leonov on a flight lasting 26hr 2min 17sec.

The extra vehicular activity (EVA) lasting about 10 minutes was carried out by Leonov wearing a space suit and life-support system.

The USN has received initial deliveries of the Grumman C-2A carrier onboard aircraft which will replace the Grumman C-1A Trader.

Developed from the E-2A Hawkeye the C-2A has a completely new rear fuselage with a rear-loading ramp.

Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies officially opened the the new deep space network tracking station, known as Deep Space Instrumentation Facility No 42 (DSIF 42), in the Tidbinbilla Valley about 30 miles from Canberra on March 19.

This facility will be followed by two others in the ACT, one already under construction at Orroral Valley to track larger and more complex scientific satellites and another yet to be constructed at Honeysuckle Creek in support of the US lunar manned flight Project Apollo.

TAA launched regular flights using a 9/10 passenger Beech A80 Queen Air supplemental aircraft to Brampton Island in the Great Barrier Reef on March 24 in its Coralair service, following the opening of a new airstrip, connecting to mainland services at Rockhampton.