Yesteryear

• The USAF is investigating ways of reducing its climbing fuel cost bill. Although flying hours have been reduced by 11% or 200,000 hours since 1974, fuel costs have still increased by $800M. A one year experimental programme has been initiated to see if the Cessna T-37 and Northrop T-38 trainers could be used to supplement training on more expensive aircraft. The Operating cost of the T-37 is put at $171 per hour with an hourly fuel consumption of 185 US gallons and for the T-38 the figures are $351/390 gallons. This compares with the following cost/consumption figures for the F-4E of $1,297/1,515 gallons, F-111 of $2,321/1,465 gallons, B-52 of $2,761/3,395 gallons and KC- 135 of 1,444/2,560 gallons.

• Offset contracts worth US$4. 2M have been placed with Hawker de Havilland and Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation for the manufacture of rear passenger doors and airframe parts. The contracts were made by Lockheed as part of the offset agreement in connection with the purchase of P-3C Orions by the RAAF.

• The Lockheed Aircraft Service Company announced on 22 October that in the first 10 years of the joint Luftwaffe/USAF programme to train Luftwaffe F-104G Starfighter pilots, 1,219 students had completed the course and accumulated over 207,000 training hours. Lockheed has been the maintenance manager of the Starlighter fleet since the programme was initiated at Luke AFB, Arizona in 1964. • The Avco Lycoming LTP101 turboprop has been selected by Fairey Britten-Norman for the Turbo Islander, the first flight of which is expected early in 1976.

• The McDonnell Douglas YC-15 STOL transport had completed 51. 8 hours of flight testing in 23 flights by late October in a programme based at Yuma, Arizona.

• The first revenue flight of the VFW614 operated by Cimber Air took place in mid-October between Sonderborg and Copenhagen.

• Concorde 205 had its first flight at Toulouse on 25 October. French certification of the Concorde was granted on 13 October and British certification is still awaited. Regular scheduled Concorde services will commence on 21 January 1976.

20 Years Ago

• The Lockheed Aircraft Corporation has been awarded a contract by the US Department of Defense to develop the C-5A transport aircraft for the USAF. With a gross weight of 350 tons, the C-5A is designed to carry 600 fully armed troops or 700 passengers across the Pacific non-stop at a cruising speed over 500 mph. The C-5A is due to become operational in 1969 and the initial order is for 55 aircraft.

• Air New Zealand inaugurated their Christchurch-Sydney jet service when Douglas DC-8-50 ZK-NZB arrived at Sydney on 3 October. This was Air New Zealand’s first scheduled DC-8 service.

• The first ATL. 98 Carvair for Ansett-ANA, VH- INJ arrived in Melbourne on 30 September and commenced service on 25 October. It has been scheduled to fly Adelaide-Melboume-Sydney seven nights a week.

• A Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2 made a non stop flight on 4 October across the Atlantic from Goose Bay, Labrador to RNAS Lossiemouth without in-flight refuelling. The distance was 1,950 miles and it was the first Fleet Air Arm aircraft to make the crossing non-stop.

• Four Boeing 707-320Cs have been ordered by Aerolineas Argentinas to replace their Comet 4s. The other contenders for the order were the VC-10 and DC-8 Series 50.

• The inaugural Philippine Air Lines service between Manila and Sydney was operated by DC-8-50 PI-C802 which arrived in Sydney on 7 October.

• The Minister for Air, Mr Howson announced on 8 October that two RAAF Caribou aircraft will be operating in New Guinea as light transports for army units on a semi-permanent basis.

Mr Chaney, the Minister for the Navy announced on 26 October that ten Douglas A- 4E Skyhawks had been ordered at a cost of 9. 2M pounds. They will replace the RAN’s De Havilland Sea Venoms and will enter service early in 1968 when HMAS Melbourne completes a refit.

• According to statistics released by the US Federal Aviation Agency, as at the end of 1964 there were 90,935 “active” aircraft in the USA. Of these, 2193 belonged to the airlines and 2081 were actually engaged in airline operations. The total number of turbine-powered and piston-engined airliners in 1964 were 812 and 1362 respectively.

• Two Fokker F27s ordered by Ansett Transport Industries bring the group total for six airlines to 21 Friendships. Friendship sales now total 365 aircraft.

30 Years Ago

•The Bristol Aeroplane Company has made a proposal to ANA and TAA to employ three Bristol Mk 32 Freighters on the Bass Strait run. They suggest such a service would be used to fly new cars south and frozen vegetables north. In the year July 1953/June 1954, 7,000 vehicles were shipped to Tasmania, including 5,000 new cars. Bristol contends the estimated 62 pounds airfreight cost per car Melbourne- Launceston is competitive with the 43 pounds sea rate, when inconvenience, repairs and inventory check are taken into account.

• Two Westland Whirlwind helicopters accompanied by a Dakota carrying spares, made history recently when they flew 3,400 miles from England to the Persian Gulf sheikdom of Qatar in eight days. They were equipped with long range tanks and flew across France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Iraq. The leg from Rhodes to Nicosia was flown across 250 miles of sea.

• Lockheed has announced that the Allison T- 56 will be used as the powerplant for the Electra. General Electric are continuing discussions with Lockheed with a view to licence construction of the Napier Eland as an alternative powerplant. This is because some prospective Electra customers do not like some features of the T-56 engine or its installation.

• The F-4H, a two seat fighter based on the F-3H, but with all rocket armament, is being developed by McDonnell.

• Lockheed claims that the R7V-2 turboprop Super Constellation for the USN is the fastest propeller-driven transport in the world. It can cruise at 440 mph with 36,000 lb of cargo or 106 passengers.

• A new super turboprop has been announced by Vickers for BEA. This is the Vanguard, a 93 seat airliner due to go into service 1959/60, powered by Rolls-Royce R. B. 109 engines.

• The design of a new supersonic lightweight delta fighter by Northrop is reported to be well advanced.

•Although the first flight of the prototype XB-58 Hustler has yet to take place, the type has now been placed into production.

• The North American F-107A will have a variable inlet duct for its J-75 engine to improve high-speed performance.

•India is to receive some Mystere 4A aircraft to bridge the gap between the Ouragan and Gnat.

• Increasing interest is being shown by the Royal Navy in the Folland Gnat. One of the six prototypes will be fitted out with an arrester hook. It is possible that the Navy’s Seahawks may be replaced by the Gnat.

•Combined powerplant fighters from both A. V. Roe and Saunders-Roe are stated to be due to fly soon. The aircraft will be powered by the Gyron Junior and a Spectre Rocket.