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Aviation History
1968
1968 - 0040.PDF
42 FLIGHT International, II January WORLD NEWS ... transmits power to an epicyclic gearbox, which has a 45° output shaft to the main rotor gearbox. Both the latter gearboxes are airframe items. Inspection of all gearboxes was immediately put in hand, both by the RAF and by Westland, and all Whirl- winds were expected to be returned to service by January 6. More Jetstreams for North America? The Canadian Government (according to a recent report in the Sunday Express) is planning to buy up to 40 Handley Page Jetstreams at a unit cost of $(Can)500,000 (about £200,000). A spokesman for the company declined to confirm an actual order, but there is known to be a Canadian requirement for a general-purpose transport in this class. Choice of powerplant is understood to be between the United Aircraft of Canada PT-6 and the Air Research TPE331. The latter turboprop has been chosen for the Jetstream 3M for the USAF, the recent order for which was announced in Flight for January 4. New Export Prices Set Prices of British aircraft abroad have reacted to the effects of last November's devaluation of sterling—as was widely expected. The amount of the reductions of the dollar prices ranges from seven to 12 per cent; none approached the full amount of the devaluation (14^ per cent), mainly on account of the content of im- ported equipment in each aircraft. Hawker Siddeley Inc, marketing the HS.125 in the USA, recently announced a price reduction of $100,000 on the basic price (landed in the USA and duty paid) of $822,400. No alteration has been made to the warranties and after-sale support services offered with the aircraft. Furnishings and fittings are normally in- stalled in the USA by Atlantic Aviation or AiResearch, and bring the new price of the aircraft, equipped for corporate use, to less than $1 million. This highly competitive figure has already resulted directly in the order for two HS.125s from Firestone Tire Co (reported in last week's issue, page 56), and Hawker Sid- deley Inc is reported to be highly pleased with an increasing number of enquiries following the adjustment. Corresponding reductions in the price of the HS.125 are being made in other countries which have not devalued. British Aircraft Corporation has also announced a cut of nine per cent in the dollar price of the BAC One-Eleven. This now stands at about $3,160,000 basic, giving BAC an edge on its com- petitors. A slightly smaller reduction in dollar price—seven per cent—has been notified for the Handley Page Jetstream. This will now be priced at $418,000 in the USA. No decision has yet been an- nounced on reduced prices for this air- craft in other countries that have not devalued. Shorts are also cutting the dollar price for the Skyvan, by seven per cent. At the same time the company has an- nounced pleasing progress with the Gar- rett-powered Skyvan, a firm order for two of which has been placed by Papuan Airlines to replace their earlier order for two Astazou-powered Skyvans (see also next news item). One firm which has decided against any dollar price reduction is Britten- Norman, whose Islander production is committed well ahead. Garrett Skyvan Prospects Initial test flying with the first Garrett- engined Short Skyvan (see Flight for December 28, page 1057) shows that the performance has been improved all round by the substantial increase in power available. Since its first flight on December 15 the new version of the Skyvan had already, by January 2, made a series of single-engined climbs—an im- portant feature of the performance from high-level airfields and short strips. A second Garrettipowered aircraft is due to fly next month and production deliveries of certificated aircraft are expected to start in June. Short's sales director has described the prospects, with devaluation and the improved performance of the new version, as "very promising." The price of the Skyvan in dollar countries has been reduced by about 7 per cent. BAC Appointments As we reported last week (page 4), Mr G. R. Jefferson has been appointed chair- man of British Aircraft Corporation (Guided Weapons), in addition to his existing appointment as managing direc- tor. The corporation has also announced new appointments at its Filton Division. Mr M. G, Wilde Mr F. H. Pollicutt Mr F. H. Pollicutt, FRAes, AFAIAA, and Mr M. G. Wilde, BSC, DipAe(Hull), AFRAes, have been appointed directors; and Mr E. H. Burgess, MBE, DFC, Mr E. A. Hyde, Mr J. Longley, CEng, MiProdE, and Mr R. P. Matthews have been made special directors. "FLIGHT" NEXT WEEK . . . . . . will include a special feature survey- ing radio aids for light aircraft, with tabulated details of available equipment. Another F-111A Crash A General Dynamics F-111A crashed some 25 miles south-east of Edwards AFB, Calif, on January 2 while on a training flight from the base. Both crew members ejected and were saved, using the escape module built into the aicraft. This is the fourth accident to the F-m series (two F-lllAs and one F-lllB having been destroyed previously) and the second involving the use of the crew escape module. The capsule landed successfully despite a high wind. Some 31 F-llls are now flying and the first operational F-lllAs will shortly be deployed to South-East Asia. Mr Muirhead Johnston Flight regrets to record the death, on January 6, of Mr James Muirhead Johnston, editor of ABC World Airways Guide, now the standard airline time- table the world over, since its inception 21 years ago. Mr W. E. R. Thain Mr W. E. R. ("Bill") Thain, one of the most senior of Mintech's Senior Experi- mental Officers, died on January 1, after a brief illness, at the age of 59. He had been engaged in flight test and develop- ment work at A&AEE, Boscombe Down, and over the past decade had been con- cerned mainly with helicopter engineering trials, working on practically every type that went into service with the British forces. He was particularly well known for his work on overseas trials. In the 1930s he had been a member of No 603 (City of Edinburgh) Sqn, AAF. Dorothy Spicer Award Recommendations have been invited for the 1967 Dorothy Spicer Award- made annually for "the most outstand- ing effort by any company, organisation or person engaged in the aircraft in- dustry in production, operating or main- tenance"—and should be sent to the Secretary, Dorothy Spicer Memorial Award Committee, c/o Society cf Licensed Aircraft Engineers and Tech- nologists, Grey Tiles, Kingston Hill, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey. Closing date is February 29, and recommenda- tions should be based on "an outstand- j ing contribution or effort in the safety of flight, advancement of knowledge, demonstration of skill, devotion to duty or concentration of study." Anyone in the aviation industry is eligible to com- pete for the award. Yachting and Photography The International Boat Show is the feature subject of two special numbers of Yachting World—the January issue, now on sale, and the February issue (appearing on January 25), which will contain a detailed report of the show. The January 11 issue of Amateur Photographer, now on sale, is the second issue of the journal in its entirely new format. The feature subject is glamour photography. Next week's (January 17) issue features "How to sell your photo- graphs." Price of the re-styled journal is 2s.
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