Yesteryear

The expansion of the Toll Priority air freight facility at Bankstown Airport is going to impact on aircraft operations with the closure of some taxiways with increased taxi time for some operators. The changes will coincide with increased aviation charges at the airport from August 7, the first since 2004.

Boeing rolled out the first EA-18G Growler for the USN, EA-1, on August 3 followed by a first flight from Lambert-St Louis International Airport on August 15. The Growler is destined to replace Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowlers from 2009 in USN service in the electronic attack role.

Boeing said on August 17 that an agreement has been signed to provide logistics support services for the RAAF’s four C-17s on order with an initial delivery planned for December this year. On the following day Boeing said a lack of US government orders had prompted it to inform program suppliers to stop work on uncommitted aircraft. If no further US government orders are received C-17 production may end in 2009.

The first Airbus A380 powered by Engine Alliance GP7200 engines, MSN 9 F-WWEA, took off from Blagnac Airport, Toulouse on August 25. Carrying heavy test equipment and ballast the aircraft had a takeoff weight of 430 tonnes.

Steve Fossett claimed yet another record with his copilot Einar Enevoldson when they attained an altitude of 50,722ft in the Perlan 1 high performance research glider on August 30. The glider was towed to 13,000ft before taking advantage of the uplift of the high altitude mountain waves and the Polar vortex over Argentina’s El Calafate, Patagonia region.

25 years ago

A ceremony at NAS Jacksonville, Florida on August 27 marked the introduction of the Sikorsky SH-60F Seahawk into operational service with the Atlantic Fleet, replacing the Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King of HS-3.

Following German unification a number of air bases will be closed and several wings disbanded. Included in the changes are the disbanding of two reconnaissance wings based at Bremgarten and Leck, AKG. 51 and . 52 equipped with RF-4E Phantoms.

The French Securite Civile has ordered 12 new production turboprop Canadair CL-215T aircraft at a cost of about US$219 million including modifications and spares. A previous order for eight aircraft from the Quebec government has prompted Canadair to establish a new production line, with the aircraft now designated the CL-415. Aircraft converted from the piston-engined CL-215 to turboprop power will now be designated the CL-215T.

After months of protracted discussions between Britain and China, a new airport for Hong Kong offering 24-hour operations with a dual runway is to be constructed on reclaimed land on Chek Lap Kok island. The new airport will take over from Kai Tak, in use since the end of World War 2.

Because of delays in the Saab JAS 39 Gripen program, the Swedish Air Force has announced a stop-gap upgrade of 115 of its 280 AJ 37 and SF/SH 37 Viggens to a new multirole AJS 37 (Attack Fighter Reconnaissance) standard.

The USAF awarded contracts valued at US$11bn on August 3 to commence the airframe and engine engineering manufacturing development (EMD) phase for the Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics F-22 advanced tactical fighter (ATF). This comprised a US$9. 6bn EMD contract to the Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics team and a US$1. 4bn engine contract to Pratt & Whitney to manufacture 33 F119-PW-100 engines.

50 years ago

An initial hovering flight was conducted by the first of six Hawker Siddeley Harrier jump jets, XV276, at Dunsfold, Surrey on August 31.

On August 7, in one of the worst days of the air war, a total of eight USAF and USN aircraft were destroyed, either by missiles or AAA fire over North Vietnam, or in incidents at sea or land. Aircraft losses were three F-105Ds, two F-105F Wild Weasels, one A-1H, one A-4B and one RF-101C with the toll of two aircrew killed, five captured as POWs while six survived.

Fewer General Dynamics F-111As are to be purchased for the USAF resulting in total procurement of F-111As and the USN F-111B version, being reduced from 1,704 to 1,398, according to recent information from the US Defense Department. The USAF reduction is attributed to thoughts that additional F-4 Phantoms give a better combination of tactical aircraft for future wars.

After having spent 27 years mostly in the light aircraft area, the Waco Aircraft Company is to re-enter the market after withdrawing from aircraft manufacturing in 1947. The Waco Division of Allied Aero Industries will build the Waco S-220 four-seat low-wing tourer in conjunction with S. I. A. I. -Marchetti of Italy, at a new plant at Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

BOAC announced an order for six Boeing 747s on August 3, soon after Boeing president William A Allen announced the go-ahead for the 747 program on July 26. The value of the BOAC order, including spares, will total £55 million. Boeing intends building 200 747s by December 1972 and 400 by December 1975.

BOAC announced an order for six Boeing 747s on August 3, soon after Boeing president William A Allen announced the go-ahead for the 747 program on July 26. The value of the BOAC order, including spares, will total £55 million. Boeing intends building 200 747s by December 1972 and 400 by December 1975.