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Aviation History
1965
1965 - 1360.PDF
758 FLIGHT International, 13 May 1965 The third Short Belfast, pictured here, has begun the development programme for the automatic-landing equipment which will make the type the world's first transport with full automatic-landing performance. Seen here with a Hunter T.7 chase aircraft, this Belfast had not then been modified by the addition of a rudder horn balance, which is being fitted to improve directional stability. The fourth Belfast went to Boscombe Down on May 6 to begin radio trials Exit MCL NORTH AMERICAN AIR DEFENCE will be $7m cheaper this year than last, following the closure recently of the remaining portion of the Mid-Canada Line, which originally extended from Dawson Creek, BC, to Hopedale, Lab, when it was completed in 1957. Most of the MCL went out of service in January 1964 when improvements in the more southerly Pinetree Line made it redundant. Now further improvements to Pinetree stations have led to the closure of the remaining 1,000-mile portion in the Hudson's Bay area. Stations recently closed comprised three sector-control stations at Winish, Ont, Gt Whale Lake, PQ, and Knob Lake, PQ, and 39 un-manned Doppler detection stations. The closure is in keeping with recent close examination by the Canadian and US Governments of resources invested in anti- bomber defences to bring them more into line with the remaining threat from that source. The recent Canadian White Paper on Defence forecast: "Failing the wide-scale deployment of an anti-ICBM system, the proportion of Canada's resources directed to air defence will gradually decline through the balance of the decade." Joint Canadian-US running down of their fixed air defence systems makes NATO's decision to go ahead with the £107m NADGE scheme, of which Britain's share will cost £11.5m, all the more surprising as this will not be operational for another six or seven years. Raytheon Hawk short-range anti-aircraft missiles were recently revealed to be in service with the Israeli Air Defence Force. They are man- ned by personnel who have been training in the USA since 1962. The Hawks seen here are at an undisclosed location near Haifa RAF Re-dispositions THREE SQUADRONS of Victor tankers will begin forming at RAF Marham next month and the build-up win be completed in late 1966. Marham, last home of the Valiants when they were retired from service follow- ing fatigue problems earlier this year, will also house the Victor operational conversion unit, which will move from RAF Gaydon this summer. The run-down of RAF Honington, present home of two squadrons operating Victor B.las, will soon begin- presumably as its aircraft are withdrawn from the bombing role for conversion to tankers—and be complete by the second quarter of next year. (Only last month a new £12,000 social club was opened at Honington, and the MoD Air Department states that the station's domestic and social facilities will continue in RAF use after the run-down.) Among other re-arrangements of home stations recently decided is the decision to re-open RAF West Mailing (until 1960 a famous fighter station and latterly used by USN communications aircraft) as the main WRAF recruit training centre during the third quarter of 1966. The WRAF Depot will move from RAF Spitalgate, which will be handed over to the Army. The Army is also to take-over RAF Weeton, whose technical training elements have moved to RAF St Athan. Winging Down to Rio MANUFACTURERS of jet trainers, already keenly contending for the expected joint RAAF/RNZAF jet trainer order, are about to join battle on another front- Brazil. The Canadair CL-41G aroused no mean interest when demonstrated there last month and plans are being laid for demons- trations in Brazil within the next few months of the Fuji T1F, the Macchi MB 326, the Saab 105 and the Potez Magister. A spokesman for BAC Luton, questioned about the absence from this list of the Jet Provost or a derivative, said that his company was "well connected" with the situation in Brazil, but its efforts did not
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