FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1978
1978 - 0373.PDF
FLIGHT International, 4 March 1973 639 Neiva T-25 Universal Designed as a basic trainer to replace T-6s in the Brazilian Air Force. Production of the T-25 con tinued last year to fulfil a further order from the BAF. Operators: Brazil 150+; Chile 10. CANADA de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo The Buffalo line was reopened in 1974 to produce 19 of the improved-performance D model. The new Buffalo is powered by two General Electric T64-820-4 turboprops, flat-rated at 3,133 s.h.p. to 100°F. Gross weight is increased to 49,2001b and payload is up to 18,0001b. Buffalo production now stands at 78, with a further run of 24 DHC-5Ds authorised. Operators: Brazil 21; Canada 14; Ecuador 2; Kenya 4; Mauri tania 2 on order; Peru 16; Sudan 4 on order; Togo 2; United Arab Emirates 4 on order; Zaire 3; Zambia 7. de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter The Twin Otter was designed as a general utility transport and has been adapted to a wide variety of missions, both civil and military. It can be easily converted to operate on wheel-skis or floats, and the present 300 Series can accommodate up to 20 passengers or 4,2801b of cargo. Production continues at four aircraft a month. Operators: Argentina 8; Canada 8; Chile 11; Ecuador 3; Ethiopia 4; Jamaica 1; Norway 5; Panama 1; Paraguay 1; Peru 12; US Army 2. CHINA Shenyang licence-built aircraft China's aircraft industry has produced versions of the MiG-19 (US designation F-6) and MiG-21F (F-8) fighters, as well as some 80 copies of the Tupolev Tu-16. Production of these types is believed to have ended. F-9 Known only by its US designation, this is reported to have been a fairly crude adaptation of the F-6 (MiG-19) to accept a search radar in the nose. Its performance is believed to have been disappointing and it was produced in small numbers. F-12 This is the designation given by the West to the indi genous combat aircraft being designed around the licence- built Rolls-Royce RB.168-25R Spey afterburning turbofan. There are conflicting reports as to the configuration of the F-12. Egypt has supplied a Mikoyan MiG-23 to China, and a single Spey would be a very suitable powerplant for a copy of the Soviet type. However, it is not thought that the Chinese aircraft will be a direct copy of any design, although it may embody lessons learned from examining the Mikoyan fighter and US aircraft captured in Vietnam. CZECHOSLOVAKIA Aero L-39 Albatros Selected as successor to the L-29 Delfin, of which more than 3>0O0 were built up to 1974, the L-39 entered service with the Czechoslovak Air Force in 1974 and is now in full series production for the air forces of nearly all the Warsaw Pact countries, including the Soviet Union. The aircraft is part of a training package which also includes a simulator. Operations have been tested from unpaved strips. Operators: Czechoslovakia; Iraq (trainer and ground-attack variant); other customers in Warsaw Pact. FINLAND Valmet Vinka A joint project between Valmet and the Finnish Air Force, the Vinka prototype, or Leko-70 as it was previously known, first flew in July 1975. Thirty are on order as primary trainers for the air force, replacing a similar number of Saab Safirs. The aircraft is essentially a two-seat trainer, but two further passenger seats are optional and an agricultural version is on offer. An engine of up to 300 h.p. could be fitted, and skis are available for winter use. Basic avionics consist of two VHF com, ADF and VOR/ILS. In return for the HS Hawk order, Hawker Siddeley is expected to assist overseas sales of the Vinka when production gets under way. Operators: Finland 30 on order. GERMANY (WEST) Dornier Do28D Skyservant Latest production version is the Do28D-2. Deliveries since 1967 are reported to have exceeded 200, including civil sales. Operators: West Germany 121; Israel 10; Malawi 2; Morocco 1; Nigeria 8; Somalia 2; Zambia 10+. INDIA Hindustan Aeronautics HF-24 Marut This single-seat strike aircraft is in service with the Indian Air Force in its Mk 1 form and (in small numbers) in Mk IT two-seat trainer form. Fifteen trainers and 125 single-seaters were built. At least one prototype with afterburning Orpheus engines is known to have been built, and some pre-production aircraft are believed to have been ordered but then cancelled. Licence production of the Orpheus 703 has now ceased. R-R/Turbomeca Adours were also studied for a Mk 2 version. HAL is studying a new single-engined aircraft, understood to be designated HF-25 and powered by a 16,5001b thrust R-25 engine; a fuse lage mock-up has been built. Operator: India 125 Mk 1, 15 Mk IT. Hindustan Aeronautics HJT-16 Kiran Some 279 of these basic-trainer/light attack aircraft are required by the Indian Air Force and Navy, and more than 120 have been delivered so far. The Kiran Mk 1A is principally a weapons trainer, sporting two 7-62mm machine guns in underwing pods. Development of the Mk II Kiran, with a derated Orpheus Mk 701 engine of 3,4001b thrust and four underwing hard- points, is due for completion this year. Operator: India 279 required. Hindustan Aeronautics HPT-32 This two-seat primary trainer, of which two prototypes are on order, first flew on January 6, 1977. Powered by a 260 h.p. Lycoming AEIO-540-D4B5 engine, the HPT-32 has a maximum take-off weight of 3,4901b. In its present, ab-initio trainer form the aircraft has a fixed tri cycle undercarriage but provision has been made for retract able gear on aircraft built for other duties. Production aircraft could have four underwing hardpoints. The type is scheduled to replace the HT-2 in IAF service in 1981-82. Operator: India 2 prototypes on order. Hindustan Aeronautics Gnat Mk II Ajeet IAF deliveries of the Ajeet are believed finally to have got under way late last year, following minor development problems and delay in the delivery of some new equipment items. Some 215 licence-built Folland (HSA/British Aerospace) Gnats were built by Hindustan Aeronautics, and the first Ajeet develop^ ment aircraft flew in March 1975. Communications and naviga tion equipment is being improved and, from the 21st aircraft onwards, a Ferranti F195 Isis gunsight will replace the older unit. The major change in the Ajeet is however the adoption of an integral wing fuel tank, which allows the underwing tanks to be dispensed with and weapons to be carried in their place. The hydraulic and flying-control systems have also been modified. Production of the Ajeet is expected to last about four years and Gnat Mk Is are to be brought up to Ajeet standard. The prototype of a two-seat training deriva tive is under construction and due to fly later this year. Production deliveries to the IAF are planned for 1981. Operator: India 258 Mk Is delivered, 100 Ajeet initially required. ISRAEL Israel Aircraft Industries 1AI-201 Arava A military version of the Arava utility transport aircraft made its first flight in 1972, since when more than 60 have been sold worldwide. The Israeli Air Force first used the type in the Yom Kippur war and has since placed production orders, though by far the majority of aircraft have been built for export. A mari time-patrol version is being offered which has an AD-9 passive radar system in the nose, while a further development is the so-called IAI-202 "stretched" Arava with Whitcomb winglets and a wet wing carrying an additional 1,6001b of fuel. The winglets allow a 2,0001b increase in gross weight. Arava production is at a rate of nearly three a month. Operators: Bolivia 6; Ecuador 9; Guatemala 10; Honduras 3; Israel 14; Mexico 10; Nicaragua 1; Salvador 4. Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir The Kfir J79-17-powered Mirage IH/5 derivative was publicly shown for the first time on April 14, 1975. On July 20, 1976 (Israeli Air Force day), IAI unveiled a new version of the aircraft, designated Knr-C2 and differing from the original in having fixed canard sur faces slightly ahead of and above the wing, leading-edge saw teeth on the main wing and small strakes along the nose. Although similar in principle to the close-coupled canard configuration of the Saab Viggen, the forward wings of the Kfir-C2 are considerably smaller in relation to the main wing and are designed primarily to improve combat manoeuvr ability rather than field performance, though this naturally benefits as well. The addition of the canards gives increased lift-coefficient for a given angle of attack as well as a greater angle-of-
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
