Yesteryear

The Airbus A380, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines, received EASA and FAA certification on December 12.

Four aircraft powered by the Trent and one by Engine Alliance GP7200 engines have been involved in the flight test program.

Orders and commitments for 166 A380s are held and the first delivery, to Singapore Airlines, is due in October 2007.

Boeing announced on December 6 the first order for the 747-8 Intercontinental with Lufthansa committing to 20 plus 20 purchase rights.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2010.

Boeing now holds orders for 73 747-8s in its passenger and freighter versions, with launch customer Cargolux set to receive its first aircraft in late 2009.

The Qantas board announced on December 14 that it had accepted a takeover bid from the Airline Partners Australia consortium.

The $5.

60 per share offer values the company in excess of $11 billion.

Raytheon will release a special luxurious anniversary package for the 2007 model Bonanza.

The Beechcraft Bonanza celebrates its 60th birthday next year, having been in continuous production since 1947.

At Heathrow and Gatwick Virgin Atlantic is trialling towing 747-400s to holding areas near the runway allowing engine start 10 minutes before takeoff, reducing fuel consumption.

Reports suggest that Airbus and Pratt & Whitney are looking at offering a version of the A320 powered by a new technology geared turbofan engine which could offer a fuel saving ranging from five to 12 per cent.

25 years ago Pan American World Airways’ last flight took place on December 4 with Boeing 727 Clipper Goodwill N368PA operating Clipper 436 from Bridgetown, Barbados to Miami.

The flight originated earlier in the day from New York JFK and the crew were only advised of the airline’s demise after arrival in Bridgetown, a decision dictated by financial events.

The 500th Cessna Caravan was handed over to FedEx in a ceremony at Wichita, Kansas on December 17.

FedEx has 250 on order with the final delivery due at the end of this year.

Cessna has been building 70 Caravans per year over the past six years.

The prototype McDonnell Douglas T-45A Goshawk, BuNo 162787, has carried out the types’s first landing on an aircraft carrier aboard John F Kennedy on December 4 off Jacksonville, Florida as part of carrier suitability trials.

Soviet airliners are being acquired for very low prices from East German airline Interflug.

Aeroflot has bought six 1981-89 vintage 170-seat Il-62Ms for US$6 million, while Vietnam Airlines received six Tupolev Tu-134As plus spares for US$1 million.

The US Government is providing 16 Rockwell OV-10A Broncos to the Colombian Air Force to help combat guerilla violence and increase the battle against Colombian drug cartels.

The first six aircraft to be delivered are believed to be former USMC aircraft.

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force has ordered two Airtech CN-235 transports.

The aircraft will be built by CASA in Spain and will replace five C-47 Dakotas.

The prototype Saab 2000 was rolled out in a formal ceremony at Linkoping on December 14 carrying Saab house colours on the starboard side and the livery of launch customer Crossair on the port.

Based on the Saab 340, the 2000 has a stretched fuselage, larger wings and Allison AE 2100 engines.

50 years ago The Luftwaffe grounded its entire fleet of 770 Lockheed F-104G Starfighters on December 6 after having lost its 65th example in an accident.

Grumman has now received 60 firm orders for the Gulfstream II, which conducted its maiden flight from Bethpage, New York on October 2.

The aircraft is claimed to be the world’s fastest executive jet aircraft with a top speed of 585mph and a maximum cruising speed 565mph.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in May 1967.

Northrop has received a contract to provide technical support for the USAF flight test program of the Hawker Siddeley P.

1127 V/STOL jet fighter during a six-month flight test phase at Edwards AFB, California.

With the designation XV-6A six P.

1127s have been shipped to the USA with four at Edwards and two at NASA Langley Research Center, Virginia.

Cessna has released details of the new six-seat Model 421 which at US$159,950 is claimed to be the lowest priced twin-engined, pressurised aircraft in the executive market.

The 421 is powered by two 375hp Lycoming GTSIO-520-D turbo-supercharged engines and has a 275mph top speed.

BAC/Sud Concorde sales have increased to 69 with an order for three from Braniff International Airways, Air Canada four, while Eastern Air Lines has increased its order from two to four.

The Prime Minister, Mr Holt, announced on December 22 that a RAAF squadron of eight Canberra bombers would be sent to fight in Vietnam.

Later information revealed the squadron would be No 2, currently stationed at Butterworth, Malaysia.

The nationalisation of Beagle Aircraft Ltd was announced in the British House of Commons on December 12 with parliamentary approval being sought to pay £1 million for all Beagle assets including the work already well advanced.