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Aviation History
1972
1972 - 1941.PDF
142 FLIGHT International, 27 July 1972 mini '••(.:-••'.: • .• DEFENCE Australian defence plans A new option has been introduced into RAAF re-equipment plans with the offer by the United States to sell to the Australians the 23 Phantoms at present on lease. The Phantom lease, reported to have cost £14-5 million for two years, was intended as a stop-gap while pro longed negotiations took place over the structural integrity of the 24 F-lllCs, now scheduled for delivery in May 1973. The deployment of Phantoms in the close-support role would release Mirages for interception and help extend their fatigue lives. There is also a possibility that some Mirages will be refurbished by the Common wealth Aircraft Corporation. This mixture of F-llls, Phantoms and Mirages would facilitate a postpon- ment of the Mirage replacement pro gramme until after the elections in November. As some of the aircraft offered as Mirage replacements have not yet flown, a delay might also be welcomed by foreign manufacturers and by the Australian Defence Ministry. Additional RAF Harriers Press reports that the RAF is to buy between six and ten Harriers to supplement the 77 GR.ls and 13 T.2s already ordered had not been con firmed as this page went to press, and were being treated by the Ministry of Defence as pure speculation. The question of naval Harrier oper ations was again raised in the House, as reported in the Westminster column. The Hawker Siddeley T.2, G-VTOL, now in desert camouflage, is expected to be demonstrated to the Indian armed forces during this week and should take part in trials with INS Vikrant. Sixth Helicopter Rescue Meeting For the second year running, the Royal Navy carried off the lion's share of the trophies at the International Rescue Meeting held at Lee-on-Solent from July 6-12. Lt Cdr Dick Ryan was team captain for the two RN Wessex HAS.ls which took the West- land Navigation Trophy ("B" crew best individual) and the Henri Dunant Trophy for the best team overall. Royal Navy "B" won the precision winching and the Netherlands Indi vidual Crew Challenge Trophy ("A" crew runners up). The Rolls-Royce Trophy for the scramble event and the Kaman Aerospace Trophy for the second team overall were won by the USAF, flying Kaman HH-43 Huskies. The new Fulmer Trophy presented by RNAS Lossiemouth for the third best team went to the RAF. • In 1971 RAF Search and Rescue helicopters of No 22 and 202 Squad rons operating from the UK attended 606 incidents and gave assistance to 266 people. Full circle in New Zealand In March 1941 the Royal New Zealand Air Force took delivery of the first of 202 North American AT-6 An aerial view of the RNZAF "Red Checkers" aerobatic team, whose AT-6s sport distinctive red-and-white check engine cowlings Harvard trainers. Sixteen examples are still in service at Wigram (near Christchurch), the home of RNZAF flying training, and a further two have been fitted with special equip ment by No 14 Squadron and are being used for forward air control alongside Skyhawks and Vampires. Now that the Harvard has accumu lated over 30 years service, an un usual cycle has taken place. Fg Off G. Wood, son of Wg Cdr B. A. Wood, formerly commanding officer of the Flying Training Wing, and Fg Off A. J. Stevens, whose father also flew Harvards during the Second World War, have recently graduated from Wigram- They will be followed later this year by Fg Off Fenwick, son of the Waikato Aero Club's CFI. A second generation of RNZAF pilots is thus learning to fly on the Harvard. • The Royal Thai Air Force is re ported to have decided in principle to buy 25 Aero Engine Services CT4 Airtrainers from New Zealand at a cost of $1 million. Twenty-four crews representing eight nations competed at the helicopter meeting held at RNAS Lee-on-Solent. Below, Royal Navy "B" crew are seen leaving the start line in their Wessex HAS.I
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