Yesteryear

The most numerous type were 475 Cirrus SR22 aircraft and honours for the top jet were 64 Cessna Citation XLS deliveries.

Boeing announced the first engineering releases of the 747-8 relating to the body landing gear and underwing engine fittings on April 5.

The 747-8 family consists of both an Intercontinental passenger and Freighter cargo version.

The passenger aircraft is capable of seating 450 passengers in a three-class configuration over an 8,000nm range while the freighter can carry a maximum structural load of 140 metric tonnes over a 4,475nm distance.

Launch customer Cargolux will receive the first Freighter in September 2009.

In early April three USAF B-1B bombers from Andersen AFB, Guam participated in the RAAF’s Aces South exercise with Fighter Combat Instructor (FCI) students from 2OCU at RAAF Williamtown.

They flew non-stop 7,000nm ‘Red Air’ anti-ship sorties from Guam, extending along the Australian eastern seaboard and return, with airspace defended by RAAF F/A‑18s, F-111s and Hawks.

The US Department of Defense has approved the sale of up to four Boeing C-17s to Australia.

The first aircraft is due to be delivered to the RAAF’s 36 Squadron this year with the other two or three aircraft scheduled in 2007/2008.

Qantas and Air New Zealand signed a Tasman Networking Agreement on April 12 to codeshare 218 flights across the Tasman per week, and will soon file applications seeking authorisation from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the New Zealand Minister of Transport.

The present situation, as remarked upon by Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe, has a daily excess of seats available, equivalent to the capacity of 11 empty Airbus A320s operating two return flights every day.

25 years ago

The maiden flight of the Cessna 525 CitationJet took place from Wichita, Kansas on April 29 flown by Cessna test pilots Bob Leonard and Bob Carnahan.

Powered by two 900lb (4kN) Williams-Rolls FJ44 engines the aircraft accommodates one pilot and four passengers and has a cruising speed of 380kt, range of 1,500nm, a price of US$2.

85 million, with 100 orders already received.

On April 27 the maiden flight of the MBB/Aerospatiale Eurocopter Tiger took place from Marignane, France.

The Franco-German battlefield helicopter is powered by two 1,285hp (958kW) RR-MTU-Turbomeca MTR 390 engines and is planned to be offered in anti-tank, scout and escort versions with a service entry in 1997-98.

The Lockheed/General Dynamics/Boeing YF-22A was declared the winner of the USAF’s Advanced Tactical Fighter program on April 23.

US President George H W Bush declared at 9:00pm EST on February 27 that Kuwait had been liberated and the Persian Gulf War was over.

At midnight EST all US and coalition forces would suspend further combat operations.

During March several US aircraft carrier groups left the area to return to their home ports.

The Persian Gulf War officially concluded at 10:00am EDT on April 11 with UN Security Council Resolution No 687 establishing a permanent cease-fire.

After 28 years of production the final Lockheed P-3 Orion for the USN was handed over in a ceremony at the Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company’s production facility at Palmdale, California on April 11.

British Aerospace ATP G-BRLY, on a demonstration tour including Australia and New Zealand, has been evaluated by Mount Cook Airlines.

The airline currently has six HS.

748 Series 2A aircraft among its fleet and the ATP is one of several types being considered to replace them.

50 years ago

USAF Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers conducted strikes against targets in North Vietnam for the first time on April 12 which saw a mission conducted on the Mu Gia pass about 85 miles north of the border.

The North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) combat operations center moved into its new heavily protected underground complex at Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado on April 20.

The first North Vietnamese MiG-21 to be shot down in the Vietnam War was engaged by a USAF McDonnell F-4C Phantom II on April 26.

Two F-4s were escorting F-105 Thunderchiefs near Hanoi when they were attacked by two MiG-21s.

One was shot down with a Sidewinder missile while the other escaped.

Fiat will build 165 Lockheed F-104S Super Starfighters following an agreement between the Italian government and Lockheed.

The F-104S is an all-weather version of the F-104G already in Italian service.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service in Western Australia has taken delivery of a Beechcraft Queen Air 65 to replace the de Havilland Dove previously based at Derby.

The $150,000 Queen Air has a purpose-built modified interior for medical use.

Commonwealth government approval for Qantas to purchase two additional Boeing 707-338Cs was announced on April 5 by the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Swartz.

The $15.

7 million cost of the new aircraft, to be delivered in September and December 1967, includes spares.

The Minister for Air, Mr Howson, announced on April 24 that eight RAAF Sabres based in Darwin since December 1964 would be replaced by a detachment of Mirages drawn from No 75 Squadron, Williamtown.

The Sabres from No 76 Squadron will return to Williamtown.