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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 2576.PDF
First Flight—1 Accompanied by no fewer than three T-38 Talon chaseplanes, the prototype North American X8-70A Mach 3 bomber—at about balf-a-million pounds the world's heaviest aircraft—flies over Edwards AFB during its first fight, from Palmdcie, on September 23 (news story below) FLIGHT International, I October 1964 577 estimate of the money already spent on the TSR.2. I challenge the Minister of Defence to give the country the facts." Next day Mr Amery deplored Mr Healey's "constant knocking of the TSR.2, especially at a time when the test pilot and crew are working up to the first flight." He said that nothing had happened which led the Government to expect that any enemy would have asy valid answer to the TSR.2 or the American TFX up to at least the second half of the 1970s. While there was no doubt that in time an effective defence to low-flying high-speed aircraft would be found, the TSR.2 itself was already at least half a decade ahead of any effective countermeasures. Mr Amery said that the Government was already taking steps to ensure the continued long-term validity of the TSR.2 as a weapons system. Among these would be the development of new weapons with a stand-off capability and improved electronic countermeasures for use by TSR.2 against anti-aircraft missiles. Already both con- ventional and nuclear missiles were being developed fer use by TSR.2. "As usual," said Mr Amery, who denied that there was any intention to cut back on the 30 aircraft, "Mr Healey is wildly mistaken. Nothing like £250 million has yet been spent on TSR.2." Asked at a news conference to say whether the word "yet" implied that £250 million might eventually be spent on 30 RAF TSR.2s, Mr Amery replied that he had already said what the eventual cost would be. Reminded that he had mentioned a figure of £400 million in Parliament, he said: "I can't remember, but whatever I said stands." [Leading article in this issue.] The B-70 Flies The first of the two North American XB-70A "air vehicles" made a successful flight on September 21. The 185-ft long, 550,0001b aircraft, was flown by Al White, NAA's chief test pilot, and Lt Col Joe Cotton of the US Air Force. The white- painted monster rotated and lifted from the runway at Palmdale, Calif, at O838hr local time, and almost 5,000 "newsmen and engineer spectators" broke into applause as the six General Electric J93-3 engines thrust the aircraft into a steep climb. As the B-70 circled before setting course for Edwards AFB one engine suffered an overspeed signal, and it was shut down. The landing gear had been retracted, but a warning light indicating a malfunction prompted White to lower it again as a precautionary measure. This limited the speed to about 390 m.p.h. at 16,000ft, slightly less than half the maximum which had been programmed. The aircraft landed at Edwards at 0900hr, touching at about 175 m.p.h. and streaming its three braking parachutes. The two rear wheels on the port main gear locked, blowing the tyres and grinding away the lower parts of the wheels themselves. White said the aircraft "acted exactly as planned." He went on, "Naturally I was disappointed [with the three "incidents"], but these things are not major problems." The next flight is scheduled for October 1-5. The aircraft was described in this journal last June 25 and July 2. C-141 Deliveries A Lockheed C-141 StarLifter is due to be delivered to MATS for evaluation at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, this month. According to Aviation Daily eight aircraft have now accumulated a total of more than l,000hr. Half this total has been logged by Air Force Systems Command on one aircraft at Edwards AFB; the remainder was accumu- lated by USAF, FAA and Lockheed pilots on seven aircraft flown from Dobbins AFB, Georgia. Hindustan HJT-16 Plans Following the first flight of the HJT-16 jet trainer on September 4, Hindustan Aircraft Ltd has already begun to lay down an assembly line for the initial batch of 24 pre-production aircraft. The HJT-16, powered by a 2,5001b-thrust Bristol Siddeley Viper 11 turbojet, is a military trainer with a gross weight of 6,4901b. Its side-by-side cockpit (not tandem seats, as previously reported), is fully pressurized and air- conditioned, the latter being important in India for crew comfort while taxying. Fuel is carried in a 25Ogal fuselage tank, with provision made for two 50gal external wing tanks. Structural details are conventional, and the design of the aircraft allows for stressing to lOg. Designed to meet the operational require- ments laid down by the Indian Air Force for a basic/intermediate trainer, the HJT-16 simulates the characteristics of more advanced aircraft and takes the student through the first stages of piloting up to high- speed flight. A variable-incidence tailplane is fitted to give pilots experience of trimming high-performance aircraft. For Dr V. M. Ghatage, HAL chief designer, and his 60-man team, this first flight represents the climax to 3| years of "ot Landing Arriving at Edwards AFB, the B-70 burst two of its port main tyres, causing excessive damage to the bogie. Flames can be seen 'Wing from the tyres as the I85ft-long research aircraft touches down. Nothing daunted, NAA officials expressed the hope that the second flight w°u>d be made within "ten or 14 days"
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