Yesteryear

QantasLink has commenced using Boeing 717s on its Western Australia services.

The former Jetstar aircraft will be operated by National Jet Systems.

By January 2006 the 717s will have replaced BAe 146s on QantasLink’s WA and NT routes.

Following the decision to retire HMS Invincible six months earlier than planned, HMS Illustrious will be the Royal Navy’s sole active aircraft carrier from this month.

The remaining Invincible-class carrier, HMS Ark Royal, will have a major refit which will see it out of service for about two years.

HMS Invincible will be mothballed and held in reserve prior to sale scheduled in 2010.

After nearly 40 years of service the Czech Republic has retired its last MiG-21 fighters which have been replaced by 14 leased Saab JAS 39 Gripens, 12 JAS 39C fighters and two JAS 39D trainers, under a 10 year contract valued at about US$1 billion.

On August 3 the world fleet of Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet versions reached 6 million flight hours, with 4.

7 million hours of this figure achieved by USN and USMC aircraft.

The remaining 1.

3 million hours were notched up by aircraft from Australia, Canada, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Spain and Switzerland.

Flights at Sydney Airport were delayed for two hours on Saturday August 27 caused by a fuel shortage when a batch of sub-standard fuel had been delivered to the airport.

To cope with the shortage some international aircraft diverted to other airports to take on additional fuel on their outbound legs.

Normal fuel supplies were in place by Monday morning.

25 years ago

The first of two Boeing VC-25A ‘Air Force One’ presidential aircraft was delivered to the 89th Military Airlift Wing and flown to Andrews AFB near Washington DC on August 23.

The new US VIP flagships are based on the 747‑200B and will replace two VC‑137Cs which have served in a similar role since the 1960s.

The substantially modified and equipped aircraft have a range of 7,200nm and are equipped for inflight refuelling.

New Zealand placed a recent order for 18 Aermacchi MB-339C training aircraft for the RNZAF.

The NZ$266 million contract also includes spares, training and a cockpit simulator.

The MB-339s will replace the BAC Strikemaster over the next three years.

The Northrop-McDonnell Douglas YF-23 had its maiden flight from Edwards AFB, California on August 27.

The aircraft is the first of the contenders for the US Air Force’s Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) to fly, the other competitor being the YF-22 developed by Boeing, General Dynamics and Lockheed.

The Iraqi Air Force supported Iraqi forces in an unprovoked attack on Kuwait on August 2 which saw a huge build-up of United Nations forces from 34 countries in the Gulf responding to the threat to other Middle East countries.

On August 7 Operation Desert Shield began in accordance with a decision reached by President George H W Bush with the immediate objective of protecting Saudi Arabia from Iraqi aggression.

In an immediate response on that day, 24 McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagles of the TAC’s 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron made a 15‑hour 8,000 miles non-stop flight with the aid of 12 refuellings from Langley AFB, Virginia to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

On August 17 the Civil Reserve Air Fleet was activated by President Bush for the first time since it was authorised in 1952, in a decision to increase airlift availability for the Middle East.

50 years ago

Minister for Defence Senator Shane Paltridge announced the selection of the Macchi MB.

326H as the RAAF’s all-through jet training aircraft on August 26.

A total of 108 aircraft will be received, 75 in an initial batch followed by a second of 33, at an overall cost of over £15 million.

The Macchi was selected from a field of six contenders, and will replace Winjeel basic and dual-seat Vampire advanced trainers.

Trans-Australia Airlines had a record year with 1,678,647 passengers carried in Australia and Papua New Guinea in the year to June 30.

The figures were an increase of 17.

3 per cent and were aided by the two Boeing 727s introduced into service prior to the Christmas 1964 period.

Other aircraft received during the year were two DC-4 freighters, one DC-3 and three Beechcraft A80 Queen Airs.

BEA signed a contract valued at £30 million on August 26 for the purchase of 15 Hawker Siddeley Trident 2 airliners plus options on another 10 with deliveries commencing in 1968.

This larger Trident will accommodate up to 94 tourist class passengers over a range up to 2,400 miles.

Swiss demonstration pilot Rolfe Boehm arrived in Australia flying Pilatus Turbo-Porter HB-FBW to conduct demonstration flights.

The aircraft, fitted with long-range tanks, left Switzerland on July 1 and was shown in the Middle East, India and Indonesia on the way.

The aircraft has been purchased by the Australian agents Forrester Stephen Pty Ltd to be retained as a demonstrator.

It has quoted the price of a standard Turbo-Porter PC6/B-H2 powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A engine at £37,400.

TAA Beech Queen Air VH-TGD arrived in Port Moresby on August 26 and will initially operate services to Kerema and Misima.

It will eventually be used on services previously operated by the Catalina VH-SBV which will be withdrawn from use.