Yesteryear

Over the past 30 years Boeing has built more than 1,500 F-15s for the USAF, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Qantas and Boeing announced on December 13 that the airline will acquire up to 115 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to provide for fleet renewal and expansion of its long-haul fleet.

In the largest Dreamliner order to date in terms of numbers, Qantas and Boeing are finalising an agreement for 45 aircraft plus 20 options and a further 50 purchase rights.

The aircraft will be a split of 787-8 and 787-9 versions for operation by both Qantas and Jetstar with delivery of the first four aircraft to Jetstar in 2008.

Airbus announced the signing of a General Terms Agreement (GTA) with China Aviation Supplies Import and Export Group (CASGC) on December 5 for 150 A320 Family aircraft during the visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to France.

Comprising A319s, A320s and A321s the aircraft will be delivered to Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines and Hainan Airlines.

Embraer will cease production of the ERJ-145 regional jet in the middle of 2006 after all orders have been completed.

Orders for the type have reached 894 and a backlog of 51 aircraft remains.

To match competition from Singapore Airlines’ A380s Qantas will reduce the number of seats on its forthcoming A380s from 501 to 474 seats.

The first Qantas A380 due to commence service in 2007 will be named after pioneer aviatrix Nancy-Bird Walton.

25 years ago

Compass Airlines conducted its first revenue flight on December 1 with Airbus A300-605R VH-YMK operating flights from Brisbane to Sydney and Melbourne.

The first sea trials conducted by the third and fourth prototype Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft were completed aboard USS Wasp on December 12.

The aircraft conducted a variety of shipboard compatibility tests including landing and takeoffs, tie-downs, wing/blade folding evaluations and emergency procedures.

Two Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvairs previously operated by Ansett Airlines as VH-INK and VH-INM, which had been stored at Hamilton in New Zealand for eight years after retirement, are now in service with Hawaii Pacific Air as N5459X and N5459M respectively, carrying produce between the Hawaiian islands.

The Dee Howard subsidiary of Alenia located in San Antonio, Texas has commenced flight testing of a McDonnell Douglas DC-8 Super 70 and a Boeing 727-100 fitted with Collins EFIS glass cockpit systems.

The aircraft came from UPS which has awarded contracts for the installation of modernised cockpits to 49 DC-8s (Series 71 and Series 73 versions) and 40 727s ( -100s and -200s).

The 727s will also be re-engined with Rolls-Royce Tays for Stage III noise compliance.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force is to acquire 18 two-seat Hawk 100s and 10 single-seat Hawk 200s at a cost of Ringgit 2 billion (in excess of GB£400 million) with deliveries between July 1993 and March 1995.

The RAF has retired its McDonnell Douglas F-4J(UK) Phantoms from service.

The 15 former USMC F-4Js were delivered to No 74 Squadron at RAF Wattisham in October 1984 and were orphans in RAF service as they were powered by GE J79 engines rather than the Rolls-Royce Speys installed in the service’s FGR.

2 and FG.

1 Phantoms.

50 years ago

The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise became the first nuclear-powered ship to take part in a hostile engagement when its aircraft launched 118 sorties against Viet Cong guerilla positions near Bien Hoa, South Vietnam on December 2.

The Douglas DC-9 was introduced into airline service on December 8 by Delta Air Lines.

The French Aeronavale took delivery of its first operational Breguet 1150 Atlantic maritime patrol aircraft in a ceremony at Nimes-Garons on December 10.

The US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara announced plans on December 8 to phase out older B-52s and all B-58 bombers.

Lockheed has received a contract from the US Department of Defense to develop the C-5A transport for the USAF.

The C-5A will weigh about 350 tons and is designed to carry 600 fully armed troops or 700 passengers at a cruising speed over 500mph non-stop across the Pacific.

Two Hawker Siddeley HS.

125s have been purchased by Qantas, equipped with appropriate equipment for simulation of the Boeing 707 as a pilot’s training aid.

The first aircraft, VH-ECE, was rolled out at Chester for its first flight in the middle of this month, with both aircraft due for delivery in February and March 1966.

They will fly a daily shuttle from Sydney to Avalon and Narromine to give pilots command experience.

The Minister for Air, Mr Peter Howson, announced on December 1 an order had been placed by the Commonwealth for two BAC One‑Elevens, 10 Hawker Siddeley HS 748s and three Mystere 20s to equip the RAAF’s VIP Flight and to meet the Air Force’s initial navigation trainer requirement.

Eight of the HS 748s will serve in the trainers role with two for VIP use.