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Aviation History
1967
1967 - 0074.PDF
74 FLIGHT International, 19 Jonuor7 I Hi! WORLD E W S AFVG AND WG.13 WILL GO AHEAD There is now no doubt that the Anglo- French variable-geometry aircraft will go ahead. At Monday's meeting in Paris the Ministers of the two countries (Messrs Healey and Stonehouse, and M Messmer) said in a brief communique that they "agreed that the AFVG should go ahead." Agreement had looked very unlikely after the previous meeting last Novem- ber, but concessions made by the British side have evidently won the day. Another meeting planned for March will, says the communique, "complete agreement on the technical specification and will take the further decisions required to imple- ment the programme." Among the concessions made by the British side is believed to be agreement to accept a higher proportion of both R & D costs (about £400 million total) and production deliveries (due to start in about 1974). This will help the French with their budgetary problems resulting from heavy spending on space and nuclear projects. It now seems incon- ceivable that Britain will not have design authority. Also agreed at last Monday's meeting was the expected Anglo-French joint helicopter programme. As forecast in our December 1 article "Helioopter Decision Time," this will mean British orders for the Sud 330 tactical machine, the Sud 340 LOH (still a project but likely to be built in Britain) and a go-ahead for the Westland WG.13, now men- tioned for the first time officially. Further French Regrouping? Two further moves in the reorganisa- tion of the French aircraft industry were reported from Paris at the beginning of last week. On January 9 it was reported that Dassault and Breguet were to merge, probably by the former acquiring a con- trolling interest in the latter. On January 10 proposals were reported for a take- over of Potez by Sud-Aviation, with negotiations expected to begin soon. Dassault is the largest privately owned aircraft company in France, and Breguet the second largest. Industry officials said that the proposed merger would not affect the planned production of the Anglo-French Jaguar strike fighter, which is being developed jointly by BAC and Breguet. The appointment of M Maurice Papon, former Paris police chief, as head of the State-owned Sud-Aviation was confirmed by the French Cabinet on January 11. He replaces Gen Andre iPuget, whose removal aroused strong protests from the company's employees and the trade unions. Gen Puget has assured BAC thait work on the Concorde will not be affected by the change. McDonnell/Douglas Merger Speculation on the future of Douglas Aircraft Co ended on January 13 when Douglas and the McDonnell Co an- nounced that they had agreed to proceed immediately "with negotiations looking toward a merger of the two companies." The joint statement continued: — "Basically, the merger would involve anexchange of one-and-threequarter shares of the new company, which would be calledthe McDonnell Douglas Corporation, for each share of Douglas. Each existing shareof the McDonnell Company will constitute New angle on Concorde 002, at BAC Filton, now with its tail fin in place. As recorded last week (page 48), the work is on schedule, and 002 should fly about six months after the target date —February 28 next year—for 001, the Toulouse aircraft one share in the McDonnell Douglas Cor- poration. "The merger will require approval by stockholders of both companies. Approvals of appropriate government agencies, where necessary, would also have to be obtained "In order to assist Douglas in meeting its immediate financial requirements, McDon- nell has offered to purchase immediately up to 1,500,000 shares of authorised but un- issued Douglas common stock at $45.80 per share. "As part of the proposal, McDonnell intends to issue a six per cent stock dividend to its shareholders prior to the consumma- tion of the merger." Following a recent reorganisation, the McDonnell Company is the parent com- pany of three individual companies- McDonnell Aircraft, McDonnell Mi«:'c and Space, and McDonnell Automat News of an arrangement by Douglas to obtain temporary financial assistance from a number of banks was reported in last week's issue of Flight. BEA to Buy Russian? A party of BEA executives, including Captain John Cameron, managing direc- tor of BEA Helicopters Ltd, will fly to Moscow on February 4 for talks with the Russians and demonstrations of the range of Mil helicopters. Prior IO the visit the Russian agents, Tradeplane, are to hold demonstrations at Redhill. Prices quoted for the helicopters are said to be some two-thirds of those of the US equivalents. BEA received ATLB per- mission last week to start a regular heli- copter service between London's airports and a proposed floating heliport on the Thames near Blackfriars (see page 81. and caption to picture opposite). ARB officials will also visit Moscow in February for talks on the feasibility of issuing Certificates of Airworthiness for any imported Russian aircraft or helicopters. Military Orders for DHC and Cessna Four de Havilland Canada Twin Otter light transports have been ordered by the Royal Norwegian Air Force, the second military operator to adopt the type- Required to operate from short strips in the rugged mountain terrain of north an central Norway, the aircraft will repla« the single-engined Otters which the RNorAF has operated for 15 years. The first two Twin Otters will be delivered in July, with the second pair following in September. Twin Otter production at Downsview is approaching seven aircraft a month. Cessna announced last week the large*1 military aircraft purchase by the Sou* American nation for some years. Tw Brazilian Air Force has placed a con- tract for 40 T-37C twin-jet trainer- which, with spares and ground equip'
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