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Aviation History
1968
1968 - 0868.PDF
The first Spanish-assemble, SF-J8 on roll-out day CASA's Getafe plant. I was flown on May 22 b) Darrell Cornell, Nonhrtf test pilot THE PLANES IN SPAIN . . . Spanish industry's big leap forward BY ROBERT R. RODWELL WHEN THE FIRST Spanish-built Northrop F-5 made itsmaiden'flight on May 22 it was an event marking thefirst stage of a plan to update the Spanish aircratt in- dustry in terms of techniques, skills and equipment, to be competitive with those of its European neighbours. The Northrop F-5 is the subject of a production programme which is enabling Construcciones Aeronauticas SA (CASA), the biggest Spanish aircraft company, to close a gap of about 15 years in equipment and know-how which previously existed between it and similar sized aircraft companies elsewhere in Europe. The programme is initially for 70 aircraft, though several factors suggest it could ultimately be for many more. It is being backed by a very large investment programme in new tools and facilities. For the first time the company is working in techniques commonplace elsewhere, such as chemical milling (at Seville) and bonded honeycomb structures (at Getafe). With its new competence resulting from the programme CASA is certain to play a more active part in the European aviation picture in the future. For the first time Spain will be in a position realistically to bid for its share of work on collaborative European ventures; provided Iberia adopts the aircraft it is likely that CASA would become a contractor on the A-300 airbus. The primary object behind Spanish adoption of the F-5 is not, of course, simply to give CASA work to do—the aircraft has been selected first and foremost to replace in part the Spanish Air Force's T-33 trainers and approximately 150 F-86Fs (the remaining part of the Spanish fighter force being one squadron with about 21 F-104Gs at Torrejon). The 70J F-5s—redesignated SF-5s when built in Spain—will be com- prised of 36 -B two-seaters and 34 -A single-seat fighters. It is the smallness of the single-seat batch which suggests that aq extension of the programme is a strong possibility, for Spanish Air Force, potentially, will require far more fighter^ than this if it is to be maintained at strength during the 1970 and there would seem to be possibilities here, too, for reconnaissance version of the F-5 which Northrop is currentljj developing. In addition it is admitted in Madrid that the SAFl with Northrop, is looking at the possibilities of an F-5 inter| cepter version, the 34—as already ordered being intended forj close support. The Spanish Government's decision in principle on the F-ij was made in January 1965. The definitive contract was signe in February 1967; thus the first aircraft-—a -B, as are all thd first nine—has appeared in a scant 15 months from CASA'^ Getafe plant, which shares an airfield near Madrid with Spanish Air Force transport wing. The company was founded in 1923 and is still chaired its founder, 82-year-old Don Jose Ortiz Echague — who,] incidentally, among many other claims to national renown went supersonic in an F-5B in California not so very long ago! It employs nearly 5,000 people in its two major plants, Gtff (near Madrid) and Seville, and three other factories, two ii urban Madrid and one in Cadiz. About 3,000 of its worker! are skilled specialists. The work force has grown very little W| recent years — Spanish labour laws not permitting the syj The first SF-S, one of • -8 two-seat trainers, vf making retraction when photographed May 10 "Flight" photograph
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