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Aviation History
1978
1978 - 0273.PDF
FLIGHT International, 25 February 1978 483 No surprises in UK defence White Paper BRITAIN'S 1978 defence estimates contain little for anyone expecting news of new weapons or develop ments. Most of the important deci sions mentioned have already been announced, including the order for 30 Chinook helicopters and the three per cent real increase in defence spending in 1979-80. In the coming financial year Britain plans to spend £6,919 million on defence, about 434 per cent of the estimated gross domestic product (GDP). New equipment and spares will account for £2,184 million, and R&D for a further £876 million. Introducing the defence White Paper, Secretary of State for Defence Fred Mulley spoke of the rescue work carried out by the services during the recent blizzards. "The services provide emergency assistance to civil authori ties throughout the year, and did a remarkably good job during the re cent weather emergency in Scotland." More than 350 people were airlifted from vehicles, remote houses and a stranded train during severe blizzards last month. Seventeen military and civil helicopters — including RAF Whirlwinds, Wessex and Pumas, Royal Navy Sea Kings and an Army Lynx—flew at least 300hr of search and rescue. Relief missions included 85 searches for missing individuals, 390 checks on isolated homesteads, and 70 drops of food, fuel, medical supplies and animal feed. Highlights of the White Paper: • The first front-line Sea Harrier squadron is due to form in 1980 for embarkation on HMS Hermes. The second will embark in HMS Invincible and ultimately all Sea Harrier units will be deployed aboard ships of this class. • RN Sea King helicopters are to be fitted with improved radar and com munications equipment, plus an acoustic processor and sonobuoys to supplement the existing dunking sonar. • First Tornado GR.l deliveries are expected next year. By the end of 1977 the trials programme had logged about l,500hr and was indicating that service requirements will be met. • First-phase airborne trials of the Tornado F.2 (ADV) radar have ended. A second series intended to demon strate the entire operational capa bility will begin shortly. The first of three prototype F.2s is under con struction. • Studies of various designs for a Harrier/Jaguar replacement are con tinuing with the aim of combining in one airframe both battlefield-attack and air-combat capability. • Agreement has been reached in principle with the USA for the co operative development of the JP 233 airfield-attack weapon. • Further improvements to Rapier are being studied, as is the cost- effectiveness of a tracked version for British Army use. Brazil to build Aerospatiale helicopters FORMAL signature last week set the seal on Aerospatiale's plan for a new company to licence-build helicopters in Brazil (see World News, October 15, 1977). Two hundred AS.350 Ecureuils and 30 Lamas are to be built in a new factory at Itajuba, near Sao Paulo, over the next decade. The new Brazilian company, Helibras, will be owned 45 per cent by Aerospatiale, 45 per cent by the state of Minas Gerais and ten per cent by Aerofoto Cruzeiro do Sul. Aerospatiale's main competitor in the Brazilian helicopter venture is reported to have been Bell Helicopter, while national aircraft company Embraer remained aloof. Last year Aerospatiale exported no fewer than 324 of the 326 helicopters which it built. While orders for the Ecureuil mount, the best seller in 1977 was the Puma, 96 of which found customers. Dauphin sales continue to be disappointing, with only 60 sold during the year. Ecureuil orders are reported to have passed the 200 mark. Sensor A redesign of Airbus Industrie's structure to cater for other airliner types is being sought by the British, who remain concerned that the central, Toulouse-based struc ture could mean eventual subser vience of the British, German and Dutch "partners in Airbus. There is concern also in the British Govern ment about the absence of any Airbus financial accounts, and con cern in BAe about the high cost of HQ staff (nearly treble UK levels) and their lack of authority over subcontractors. The French part ners and senior Airbus executives are trying to be helpful and do not object to British control of a 150- seater, but say that this is possible without major mods to the Al structure. British Aerospace is aware of HM Government's view, especially strong in the Treasury, that the easiest and most factory-filling civil-aerospace decision is to join up with Boeing, Douglas or Lock heed. Finland is expected to be the next market for a MiG-21 electronics retrofit. British companies are pro posing head-up displays and naviga tion equipment. Cost of Chinook civil certification will be included in the $11 million unit price to be paid by British Air ways for three aircraft. One British avionics company, after experiencing difficulties in winning orders since the number of new products introduced by the air frame industry has diminished, is finding that private - venture research of about £5 million per year is producing profitable home and export business. North Atlantic airlines are finding that Skytrain is generating more ABC charter business as Laker's charter capacity is increasingly being filled by the demand for Sky-train seats. Air Canada expects that Laker will soon bid for a Toronto Skytrain. Second Dassault Falcon 50 flies FALCON 50 No 2 made its first flight on February 16, two weeks ahead of the forecast published last year by Dassault. The aircraft was airborne for lhr 45min in the hands of pilot Jerome Resal and test engineer Gerard Joyeuse, and the flight profile extended to 29,000ft and 430kt. The Falcon 50 took off from and landed at Bordeaux; the second flight is ex pected to end at Istres. The second Falcon 50 is closely representative of production aircraft. Its wing was built in a production- prototype jig, unlike that of the first prototype, which was built up with glass-fibre when a section change was introduced a year ago. The aircraft will be used for certification testing, including performance and stalling characteristics, and for development of the autopilot. The No 1 aircraft will continue to explore the flight envelope, investigate flying-control failures and contribute to engine and noise certification. By the beginning of February the No 1 aircraft had flown 306hr in 171 sorties. Fly with "Flight" to the Hanover Show A FLIGHT day-return trip from Lon don to the Hanover Show is available on April 26, the opening day. The cost, including entry to the show, will be £63. Organised by Harrow Travel, the flight will be by Dan-Air One- Eleven or Comet, and 119 seats are available. Enquiries and reservations should be directed to Derek Cullen- Smith, Harrow Travel, Group Travel Department, 38 Thurloe Place, Lon don SW7; telephone 01-581 2668.
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