Yesteryear

The Dassault Rafale fighter entered service with the French Air Force on June 27 with 10 aircraft equipping Squadron 1/7 Provence at Saint-Exupery Air Base, Saint-Dizier.

A GPS-guided JDAM bomb dropped by a USAF F-22 Raptor flying at Mach 1. 5 at 50,000ft, destroyed a ground target after travelling 24nm (45km).

Boeing announced on June 12 that Virgin Blue has ordered an additional nine 737-800s to replace leased aircraft, adding to 52 existing Next-Generation 737s in its fleet.

Boeing unveiled the first production CH-47F Chinook during a rollout ceremony at Pennsylvania on June 15. A total of 452 new CH-47Fs will be built under the US Army’s Cargo Helicopter modernisation program.

Major assembly of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner commenced on June 30 at Fuji Heavy Industries at Handa, Japan with the assembly of the centre wing section. The completed structure will be flown to Charleston, South Carolina where Global Aeronautica will integrate it with other 787 structures.

25 years ago

The SAAF’s Commander-in-Chief Lt Gen Jan van Loggerenberg has indicated that with budgetary constraints and the lower air threat from its northern neighbours, South Africa will not be able to replace its long-range aircraft such as Buccaneers and Canberras. However, the SAAF is looking to replace its veteran North American T-6 piston-engined trainers with unspecified turboprop types within the next five years. It is also looking to re-engine its large fleet of DC-3s and the few remaining DC-4s with turboprop engines.

Yes, there has been a snake on a plane. A passenger on Delta Flight DL236 from Orlando, Florida on June 1 had an unexpected discovery when a four foot python was present in an overhead baggage locker. There was speculation it was the pet of a passenger who boarded the flight originating in Los Angeles, carried illegally, and it had escaped.

After several days of increased seismic activity, Mount Pinatubo on the central Philippine island of Luzon, erupted on June 15. The US mounted Operation Fiery Vigil with the USAF flying in more than 1,800 tonnes of humanitarian aid during June 8 to July 2. More than 15,000 military and civilian personnel were evacuated after Clark AFB and two other military bases were covered with more than two feet of volcanic ash. The USN installation at Subic Bay also suffered major damage. The USN also contributed major assets in the relief effort including USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Midway with their respective battle groups and three ships from the Amphibious Readiness Group Alpha led by USS Peleliu assisted in the evacuation of nearly 19,000 persons.

In the first mid-winter evacuation of critically ill personnel since 1966, an LC-130 Hercules based at Point Mugu, California landed at McMurdo Station, Antarctica on June 3 to fly out a member of New Zealand’s Division of Science and Industrial Research.

50 years ago

British aviatrix Sheila Scott departed London on May 18 to attempt a solo round-the-world speed record for women in her Piper Comanche 206B, G-ATOY. Scott flew via Australia from May 31 to June 6 visiting Darwin, Mount Isa, Brisbane and Sydney. On arrival in London on June 20 she successfully claimed the record with an average speed over the elapsed time, including stops, of slightly over 36mph, beating Jerrie Mock’s record of 32. 77mph established in 1964 in her Cessna 180, N1538C. Mock was the first woman to fly solo around the world.

One of the two USAF North American XB-70 supersonic advanced bombers, 20207, was lost in a collision with a Lockheed F-104 Starfighter on June 8. The accident occurred near Edwards AFB, California during a formation of five aircraft to provide publicity photos for General Electric, the aircrafts’ engine manufacturers. Lost in the accident were Major Carl Cross, the XB-70’s co-pilot, and NASA test pilot Joe Walker, piloting the F-104. Al White, the XB-70 pilot was able to survive the collision in the ejection of his seat capsule. The other three aircraft in the formation were a McDonnell F-4 Phantom, a Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter and a T-38 Talon.

As part of the sale of 18 of its Comet 4s retired from operations last autumn, BOAC has sold two aircraft to Dan-Air, the first sale to another UK airline and Dan-Air’s first jet aircraft. Other sales were five to Malaysian Airways, two to Mexicana and two to AREA Ecuador, with seven remaining to be sold. BOAC has also sold its last propeller-driven aircraft, its final two Britannia 102s to Freddie Laker.

Bendix-Tecnico is to build a new factory in Rockdale, Sydney at a $250,000 cost following its receipt of a Department of Supply contract to build 100 ADF systems for the Macchi 326H trainers to be built in Australia for the RAAF. The company hopes it will receive further military avionics contracts for local production.