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Aviation History
1969
1969 - 2464.PDF
^m . i-ivi i • iinniMirannif 11 juiy i 7oy The first deck landing of a Westland-Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King helicopter took place on July 2 on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Engadine," which was then operating in the Portland area. It was made by Lt Cdr C. J. Horscroft and Lt P. J. G. Harper, both of the Aircraft Handling Squadron at A&AEE, Boscombe Down. The aircraft was embarked for several days as part of its trials programme AUSTRALIA'S F-111 THE AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER, Mr Gorton, held a special meeting with key ministers on the latest F-111 situation in Canberra on July 2. He discussed with the Defence Minister, Mr A. Fairhall, and the Air Minister, Mr G. D. Erwin, cracks which have developed in the wing carry-through box of the aircraft after just under 8,000hr of bench testing. This meeting reflects the Government's con cern at the latest developments. It still hopes to be able to make a decision before the elections at the end of the year on whether or not it will accept delivery. But it is showing deep resent ment at Washington suggestions that it is trying to opt out of its contract to buy the 24 F-llls, on technical grounds. It resents even more deeply suggestions that it is being unreal in seeking bench tests simulating 16,000hr of operation. There have been strong criticisms in Washington of Australia's insistence that General Dynamics should adhere to the original understanding of a test to 16,000hr, or what Washington describes as "four life times." Australia does not accept the concept that 16,000hr of simulated tests on the bench is equal to four operational life times. The Government's advisers argue that the 8,000hr test with which the USAF is satisfied is equal (in practical terms) to about a quarter of this time in operational flying. If allowance is made for exceptional stresses which can be imposed by operational need or pilot error, this figure would be further reduced by about 20 per cent for the F-111 A, the model on order for the USAF. However, the longer wingtips which Australia has ordered for the F-111C impose added strains on the carry-through box, reducing the life of this version to about half that of the F-111 A. On this basis, Australia argues CONCERN that the 8,000hr simulated test would be equivalent to not more than two and a half years' operational flying for the F-111C. In terms of cost, this would be quite impracticable as the service life of an aircraft bought for the RAAF, which wants an aircraft with a life of 15 years. Mr Gorton and his ministers at their meeting considered those techni cal assessments of the failure already available. However, it will be some time before a full evaluation arrives from Fort Worth. Before a decision to seek cancellation is contemplated, the Govern ment would want a full assessment from its two advisers at GD, Dr A. O. Payne, of the Department of Supply, and Air Cdre D. R. Cuming, of the Department of Air. After these advisers return to Australia, the Government is likely to send another technical mission to report on what steps the Americans are taking to counter the latest defect. Significantly, the statement in which Mr Fairhall discussed the latest failure was virtually his first implied criticism of the aircraft. His only deflec tion from this stand was a statement last May that the Government reserved the right to change its mind. As assiduous TV viewers will have noted, the Sikorsky S-64 Skycranes of the US Army are now an established ingredient of the Vietnam scene. Part of their job is to add mobility to already mobile vehicles; the S-64 shown here is ferrying a US Navy river patrol boat near the Chau Dug canal on the Cambodian border Transall in Biafra PRE-PRODUCTION TRANSALL A-03 Which (supplied by the West German Govern ment) has been flying supplies into Biafra with the Swiss operator Balair was returned to VFW recently for routine inspection. The aircraft flew out to Cotonou, Dahomey, in Novem ber last year and has flown no fewer than 198 missions. Of these, 25 had to be discontinued in order not to hazard the aircraft by exposing it to Nigerian * ' / \
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