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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 2225.PDF
236 FLIGHT International, 13 August 1964 WORLD E W S Fighter Strikes Air warfare erupted on two fronts last week with both the US Navy and Turkish Air Force mounting punitive strike missions against coastal patrol boats and their support facilities. The USN's action was in the Gulf of Tonkin, where carrier-based aircraft initi- ally flew combat patrols over two destroyers which had been attacked by North Viet- namese torpedo boats. In a massive retalia- tion the next day, Skyhawks and Skyraiders from Ticonderoga and Constellation flew 64 sorties against four North Vietnam patrol boat bases and an oil installation holding approximately 10 per cent of the country's fuel reserves. The North Viet- namese patrol boat fleet was reported almost wholly destroyed, for a loss to the USN of two aircraft—claimed to be five by North Vietnam. Massive US redeployments of land, sea and air followed this flare-up in the Vietnam war, including the flying-in to South Viet- nam of B-57 bombers (one of which crashed and three of which were damaged on landing at Saigon) and of F-102 interceptors. Other air formations were rushed to neighbouring Thailand and further carriers of the USN were being brought into aircraft operating range of Vietnam. In an action which was almost a carbon copy of the USN air strike, the Turkish Air Force, operating from bases on mainland Turkey, flew F-100 Super Sabre strikes on Friday, August 7, against Greek Cypriot patrol boats reported to have shelled Turk- ish-Cypriot villages in the Mansoura- Kokkina area—the only possible beach- head for any Turkish invasion of the island. One F-100 was brought down by return fire. Even heavier Turkish Air Force intervention occurred last Sunday, August 9, with 64 F-lOOs making strafing sorties against Greek-Cypriot positions in the area. Guns, rockets and napalm were reported to have been used. Greek Air Force fighters—type unidenti- fied—made a "show of strength" over Nicosia and other parts of the island shortly after the cessation of the Turkish air attacks on Sunday. The Greek-Cypriot Government radio said that these were operating from Cyprus bases but it seems more likely that they came from Crete. If, in fact, there are Greek Air Force units in Cyprus, it would indicate that the military build-up in progress on that stricken island in recent weeks has been even greater and more clandestine than suspected. British Aero Exports for June British aero exports for June were worth £6,308,373, against £9,718,460 for June last year. Aircraft and parts contributed £2,678,076 to the total; aero-engines and parts £3,514,132, instruments £18,374 and tyres £97,818. Italy was the best customer for aircraft and parts, with purchases worth £489,455, followed by India with £260,062. Canada was the best engine and engine parts customer, taking £608,407-worth, followed by Italy with £550,603. Total value of exports for the first half of 1964 was £50,831,118 against £60,064,046 for January-June, 1963. Franco-US VTOL Exchanges . . . An agreement was concluded in June between France and the United States to exchange data on VTOL aircraft, it was revealed in Washington some days ago. News of the agreement was initially kept secret at the United States' request. The USA gets rights to complete test data on the Mirage III-V VTOL fighter, due to make its first flight imminently, and has rights to fly this aircraft. France will receive in return data on a new, unrevealed American engine for V/STOL applications. . . . and Franco-German Helicopter Link Sud-Aviation and the West German company Bolkow Entwicklungen KG have signed a collaboration agreement for work on light military helicopters. The primary subject of the agreement is Bolkow's rigid rotor system, employing plastic blades, which is to be licensed to Sud-Aviation. The Bolkow rigid rotor, shown at Hanover in April, is intended for the B6105 light helicopter to fly in 1966. A Sud Alouette 2 is now to be made available for flight development of the rigid rotor. Already ratified by the French and German Governments, the Sud-Bolkow agreement comes into immediate effect. "TSR.2's Problems Solved" Unofficial reports current in Britain in the last few days say that problems en- countered with the Olympus 350 engine for the TSR.2, which have caused shaft disinte- gration in several test engines and delayed the flight of the supersonic strike aircraft, have now been solved. The tenor of the reports was that the first flight of the TSR.2, from Boscombe Down, can now be expected later this month. South Africa to Manufacture Aircraft South Africa would soon start its own aircraft industry, announced the South African Premier, Dr Hendrik Verwoerd, addressing a Nationalist Party rally at Balfour, Transvaal, last week. He said that the Government's plans for an aircraft industry were part of the country's answer U-2, Canberra? Latest aircraft to be fitted with much enlarged wings for high-altitude performance is the Martin-built B-57 version of the English Electric Canberra. General Dynamics, Fort Worth, are at present rebuilding S-578s as RB-57Fs, with a greatly enlarged, 122ft three-spar wing, a double-area fin and two !8,000lb-thrust P & W TF33-P-II turbofans, with two detachable 3,300lb-thrust P & W J60-P-9 auxiliary engines close outboard. Ceiling is in excess of 100,000ft. The modification costs about $l.5m and the version is intended for high-level air sampling and weather reconnaissance, while retaining weapons-delivery capability. The first 12 are destined for MATS's 58th Weather Recce Sqn, Kirtland AF&
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