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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 1040.PDF
FLIGHT International, 9 April 1964 591 SERVICE AVIATION Air Force, Naval and Army Flying News Japanese Equipment for RAAF Likely RAAF AUTHORITIES IN CANBERRA have Stated that it is a virtual certainty that 60 Japanese Fuji T-l jet primary trainers will be ordered to meet their pressing need for new training equipment. Although it has not been stated, it is assumed that the model ordered will be that with the BS Orpheus engine, and not the original with the less-developed Japanese Ishikawajima-Harima J.3. If this order is placed it will be the first substantial export of modern Japanese aircraft, and probably the first ever of Japanese military equipment, to a Common- wealth country. It will be a triumph for Fuji Heavy Industries, with their, and Japan's, first jet aircraft, for as previously reported in these pages manufacturers from seven countries, including Britain, USA and Canada, have been busily promoting their military trainers in Australia recently. The Fuji T-l is reported in Australia to be 15 per cent cheaper than the British offering, the BAC Jet Provost. The Australian Supply Minister is believed to have begun negotiations for the purchase of T-ls when he visited Japan last July and in February a Japanese aeronautical sales mission visited Australia. A T-l purchase would be in accordance with Australian policy of promoting their trade with Asia, for currently Japan takes far more from Australia than Australia imports from Japan. But political factors such as this, and the consolation of the aircraft probably having a British engine, are no disguises for the fact that a T-l order would be a considerable blow to the British aircraft industry, following upon a long succession of recent defeats in both the airline and military field in what was once the soundest of British markets. Wykeham for Far East APPOINTED AIR COMMANDER (a new style) Far East Air Force, from June 8, is AVM P. G. Wykeham, with the acting rank of air marshal. AVM Wykeham, a former aircraft apprentice who entered Cranwell in 1935 and graduated in 1937, has enjoyed a rapid nse through the senior ranks and some challenging appointments in recent years. At present the Director of the Joint Warfare Staff at the MoD, his previous four appoint- ments have been Asst. Chief of Staff (Operations) at AIRCENT; Air Cdre (Operations) at HQ Fighter Command; Director of Operations (Fighter and 1 neatre Air Forces) at the Air Ministry and the first AOC of 38 Group, Transport Command's highly mobile tactical element. Credited with the destruction of 15 enemy aircraft in the war, during which he wice baled out after being shot down and Mice walked back to the Allied lines in the western Desert, he led the famous raid of4 M »squitoes on the Gestapo HQ at HMS "Protector," the RN ice patrol ship, has been col- laborating with Sir Vivian Fuchs' British Antarctic Survey recently. Here, one of her Whirlwinds takes off to transfer stores to the Survey's RRS "John 8/scoe." Last month a "Protector" Whirlwind made the first landing on Leskov Island, in the South Sandwich group, hovering with two wheels touching a 30° slope while a survey party jumped down. They found ground fissures issuing jets of steam and sulphurous fumes and the ground warm to the touch —which must have been comforting in a latitude of nearly 70°S Aarhus, Denmark. In the closing months of the war he was on the staff of 2nd TAF. In 1948-50 he was a test pilot at A and AEE at Boscombe Down, and in August 1950 was seconded to the USAF to advise AVM Peter Wykeham on night intruder tactics in Korea and was the first Briton to be decorated in that war, receiving the US Air Medal for operational flying. Argosies All Delivered THE LAST OF 56 ARGOSY C.I tactical freighters for the RAF was delivered from Hawker Siddeley's airfield at Bitteswell on April 1. Delivery has been proceeding for less than two years, during which time the Argosy has established itself as an exceedingly useful transport. Its most impressive utilization has been with 105 Sqn at RAF Khormaksar which, since its formation with Argosies in June 1962, has logged well over 10,000hr, 2£m miles and 5m pounds of freight in flights around the Middle East. In addition to 105 Sqn, 114 and 267 Sqns at Benson, 215 Sqn at Changi and 242 OCU at Thorney Island operate the type. Wessex Transports for Ghana Air Force THE GHANA AIR FORCE has ordered two twin- Gnome Westland Wessex Mk.53 transport helicopters, for delivery next year. The aircraft will be similar to the RAF's new Wessex HC.2 (see pages 581-584) and the RN's Wessex 5 commando assault version now nearing the end of its intensive flying trials. The GAF order, which is worth £465,000 with spares, follows successful operations with Gnome-powered Whirlwinds, supplied to Ghana shortly after the formation of its air force. A BAR TO HIS AFC has been awarded to Fit Lt J. "Pop" Gladstone, of 120 Sqn, Coastal Command who, as reported in this journal on January 16, successfully crash landed his blazing Shackleton, from which one engine had fallen away, at night on unlit ground at Culloden, successfully avoiding the town of Inverness in doing so. Fit Lt Gladstone's calmness, leadership and gallant behaviour "undoubtedly saved the lives of his crew and prevented loss of civilian lives and property," the citation states. STANDARDS ARE TO BE PRESENTED to 80 and 213 Sqns at RAF Bruggen on July 15. It is not yet known who will make the present- ations but past members of these squadrons who wish to attend are asked to write to the appropriate squadron adjutant at RAF Bruggen, BFPO 42.
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