Yesteryear

In late July USAF B-1B, B-2 and B-52H bombers commenced their use of the Delamere training range near Katherine, Northern Territory. The aircraft, on rotational deployment to Andersen AFB, Guam will fly training missions, supported by USAF tankers operating from RAAF Base Darwin.

The final Grumman Tomcat mission from an aircraft carrier took place on July 28 with the launch of an F-14D from the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The F-14 will retire in September 2006 after 32 years in USN service.

A ceremony in Brisbane on July 27 marked the withdrawal of the Boeing 717 from Jetstar service. Among those present were Jetstar CEO Alan Joyce and Impulse founder Gerry McGowan. The 717s were originally operated by Impulse, which after its purchase by Qantas was used as the operational basis for Jetstar.

Airbus said on July 21 it had received the first commitment for the new A350 XWB from Singapore Airlines with signing of a letter of intent for 20 firm A350s plus 20 options.

25 years ago

Piper Aircraft of Vero Beach, Florida filed for Chapter 11 protection on July 1. Management is hopeful of saving the company as it has potential orders for aircraft valued at nearly $200 million. The workforce has been reduced to 200 from almost 1,800 a year and a half ago.

Marking the end of over 40 years of Shackleton operations, the final five RAF Shackleton AEW. 2s in service with No 8 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland were retired on July 1.

During a routine flight on July 8 in support of Operation Provide Comfort in northern Iraq, a Grumman E-2C Hawkeye from USS Forrestal was ordered to be shot down by a USN F/A-18 Hornet after it suffered an engine fire that could not be extinguished. The five crew had parachuted to safety and were recovered by helicopters from the Forrestal and USS Yorktown.

On July 29 the last production Grumman EA-6B electronic warfare aircraft was delivered to the US Navy in a ceremony at the company’s plant at Calverton, New York.

The maiden flight of the Beech T-1A Jayhawk trainer took place from Beech Field, Wichita, Kansas on July 5. The US Air Force has so far ordered 43 T-1As out of a total requirement for 211 aircraft.

A total of 18 aircraft at Mineralnyye Vody Airport, Soviet Union sustained considerable damage on July 2 when freak giant hailstones punched holes in fuselages, smashed cabin windows and damaged engines and propellers. Some of the aircraft damaged were Aeroflot Ilyushin Il-62s and Tupolev Tu-154s.

Airbus Industrie announced on July 5 that Federal Express Corporation will purchase up to 75 Airbus A300-600F freighters, comprising 25 firm orders, 25 re-confirmable orders subject to cancellation, plus a further 25 on option. These will be the first A300s built on the production line as freighters.

50 years ago

On July 12 the Northrop/NASA M2-F2 lifting body research aircraft, developed at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, California had its first successful un-powered flight after being dropped from a Boeing B-52 at 45,000ft.

In what was called a highlight of the F-111 flight-test development program an F-111 flew for the first time at Mach 2. 5, about 1,800mph, on July 9.

Following the record sale of 717 aircraft in March, Cessna has increased its commercial sales target in 1966 from 7,000 to 8,000 aircraft. The March figures comprised 644 single-engined (including 309 two-seat 150s) and 73 twin-engined aircraft.

By the end of 1967 Qantas will have a fleet of 24 Boeing 707s, comprising 13 707-138Bs and 11 of the larger 707-338C, which by then will be at a total program cost of $165 million. The current utilisation figure is 10 hours a day which would be 11 hours per day if the airline was not faced by a pilot shortage. The 490-passenger Boeing 747 is currently under evaluation by Qantas to join the fleet.

The four-seat Victa Aircruiser flown by company test pilot Vic Walton had its first official flight at Bankstown on July 18 before a large party of guests. An unofficial flight took place the day before. The prototype is powered by a 210hp Continental and a second prototype will be test flown before the end of the year. A more economical version powered by a 180hp engine is anticipated to be built next year.