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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 0055.PDF
FLIGHT, 8 January 1960 55 the prototype flew in 1958. Also new to the list are a number of new variants of familiar types, notably turbofan versions of the Boeing 707 (-120B and -020B) and the Douglas DC-8. New orders for variants of these big jets account for sales of another 25 aircraft, while others—already delivered—are to be converted. The Comet also appears with first orders for a new variant, the 4C, in demand by Compania Mexicana de Aviacion and more recently by Misrair. This brings the total of Comet orders to 42, with others in prospect (see col. 2 below). One or two orders which appeared in April no longer feature on the present list, notably the Riddle Airlines' order for four AW.650 Argosies (which at the time of writing is not yet recon- firmed), while firm orders for Fairchild-built F-27 Friendships have been reduced from 90 to 78. The most recent F.27 order came as the list closed for press—five Fokker-built aircraft for THY, to be delivered to the Turkish airline at the end of this year and the beginning of next. The substantial Viscount order-book has again increased, although at a reduced rate. There are now 51 Viscount operators in 32 countries and the first order for an executive version of the Viscount 810 has been announced—an aircraft for the Tennessee Gas Transmission Company. The Viscount order- book as written here refers to operators to whom new aircraft were delivered, but because of the large number of subsequent transfers it is not representative of current Viscount operators' fleets. BREVITIES Caravelles will be used by Air Algerie on their route between Parisand Algiers as from January 12. Nine Convair 340s have been bought from United Air Lines byNapier Engines Inc. These aircraft are apparently independent of the aircraft Napier are supplying to Allegheny and they are reported tohave a market value of about £120,000 each. Because of air traffic congestion in Europe, Sabena is training Boeing707 crews at Leopoldville in the Congo. The airfield is one of the longest in the world, with a runway length of 15,420ft. Sabena's first707 was delivered to Brussels on December 21. The freight services agreement between Air-India International andSeaboard and Western has been revised and extended until next August. Air-India will now take 15 per cent of the gross revenue instead of 20 percent as origina'ly agreed. Since "The Airlines' Shopping List" (page 56) went to press, a repeatorder for three Electras has been announced by Western Air Lines, bringing their total order to twelve. Two are to be delivered in July andone MI August. Because Aer Lingus have been unable to obtain from the Air Ministry the use of RAF Valley after March, the airline has suspended its scheme to operate an "air bridge" coach-air service between Dublin and Anglesey. Capt A. S. Wilcockson, BO AC flight services manager, retired fromthe corporation at the end of the year. He made the first east-west commercial experimental flight across the North Atlantic in 1937 andwas awarded the Johnston trophy by the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators for his work in connection with North Atlantic services. Imminence of the French A-bomb tests in the Sahara is suggested byAlgerian Notam 3099, dated December 31, prohibiting an area round Rcggan until further notice. An information circular of the same datesays that a further Notam will be issued prohibiting over-flying of a "blue area" around Reggan about 300 miles across, in which flying upto 3,000m will be prohibited, and an outer "green area" about 800 miles across, in which flying above 3,000m will be prohibited. Convair's FAA type certification programme for the 880 is about60 days ahead of schedule. The test programme should be completed by March 1 instead of May 1 as originally planned. There are indications that an order for de Havilland Comets may beplaced by Middle East Airlines, whose chairman, Sheikh Najib Alamuddin, is to visit de Havilland next month. Master Pilot certificates have been awarded by the Guild of Air Pilotsand Air Navigators to Capt James Monro of BEA, assistant flight manager of the Viscount 802 fleet, and to Alan Smith, an instructorwith Airways Aero Associations Ltd. A BOAC Comet was damaged at Ciampino Airport, Rome, onDecember 23 as a result of a belly landing. First reports spoke of the undercarriage collapsing during the landing but they have not beenconfirmed. The most serious damage was to the flaps. Capital Airlines are negotiating an agreement with PanAm to leaseseven DC-6Bs with an option on a further four. Arrangements between Capital and Frederick B. Ayer to lease American Airlines' DC-6Bs havebeen dropped in favour of an agreement with PanAm. The latter air- line's aircraft apparently require less modification to suit Capital'sneeds than those of American. The first of ten spare Rolls-Royce Conways has been delivered bysea to Bombay for Air-India's Boeing 707-420s. Air-India is paying £75,000 each for these engines which, in the first two years of opera-tion, will be overhauled by Rolls-Royce in the United Kingdom. Other powerplant units will be overhauled in Air-India's workshops at SantaCruz Airport. The Australian Government has given permission for "group charter"operators to charge an air fare between all countries with which Australia has a regular air service that is 30 per cent below IATA tourist classfares. The concession was announced by Senator Paltridge, Australian Minister of Civil Aviation. The fare between Sydney and London willbe £184 16s compared with the tourist fare of £264. Bembridge Car Hire Ltd have purchased the entire assets of Inde-pendent Air Travel, including four Vikings and their ancillary equipment and spares. The machines are being flight cleared and will be offeredfor sale or for bare-hull hire, or the firm are prepared to lease them for "extremely short periods." A petition for the winding up of IAT,presented by Shell International Petroleum Co Ltd, is to be heard on January 11. BEA has sold two D.H. Ambassadors (Elizabethans) to the RoyalJordanian Air Force after conversion by Marshalls at Cambridge (modi- fications included the fitting of a large freight door). The first aircraftwas delivered on Boxing Day, picking up King Hussein en route at Rome. The second aircraft is due to be delivered next month. BEAare not prepared to state the value of the sale, but current market asking price, as quoted on Aircraft Exchange, is £70,000 per aircraft. According to the Daily Mail Eric Rylands, managing director ofSkyways and president of BIATA, considers that "one of the groups [of merged independents] should cover internal services." He added,"I have told the Minister one group could give a better service than at present and two could do more than BEA. As far as my airline isconcerned, I believe we could fulfil a better role for British aviation by continuing our policy of working closely with the two corporations." Now in the colours of Falcon Airways are two Hermes 4s previously owned by Airwork. This one is pictured at Blackbushe Converted to a high-density ten- seater feederliner, this Piaggio P. 7 66 has been bought by Patair—Papuan Air Transport Ltd., of Port Moresby. Before delivery the P.I66 made a demonstration tour of Australia in the hands of Bristol Aircraft (Pry.) Ltd., Australian representatives of Piaggio
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