Sophistication has always been the name of the game in the light aircraft field, throughout the flying world. True, some enthusiasts are going backwards in terms of development and pinning their faith – and life – on hang gliders, powered laundry hoists and other Lillienthal-like constructions (which would have made the good Otto pack up

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THE PROBLEM of replacing the country’s sole surviving aircraft carrier goes back at least as far as that of replacing RAAF Mirages. I recall a conversation in Canberra over 10 years ago, when some RAN officers who had inspected the ship’s bilges told me that any reasonably heavy sea would break her in two! Despite

The right plane at the right time – that in one brief sentence is what makes· a commercial (read successful) aircraft program. There is certainly no arguing with this simple theory and it is a sad fact of aeronautical life that only one In three design approvals ever live to become viable aircraft projects. One