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Aviation History
1984
1984 - 0651.PDF
WORLD NEWS New Antonov transport tested MOSCOW Flight-testing has begun of a new Soviet Stol jet transport, designated the An-74. The aircraft is based on the An-72, whose high-set engines exhaust over the wing upper- surface and over large multi- slotted flaps, producing lift benefits by means of the Coanda Effect. It is not yet clear whether the An-74 uses the Lotarev D- 36 turbofan engines which power the An-72. From avail able information it seems that the An-74 will be the produc tion version of the earlier aircraft, which was the first jet aircraft produced by the Antonov Bureau. The An-74 will be produced with an interior easily convertible from passenger to cargo operations. Cargo payload will be 7-5 tons, less than the 10,000kg maximum payload of its predecessor. Dimensions of the An-74 have not yet been given. Soviet reports say that it will be equipped for low-level cargo dropping. Like the An-72, the pro duction version is fitted with a cockpit navigation and flight- planning computer, as well as automatic monitoring of engines and systems. The Antonov Bureau claims a high power-to-weight ratio and low landing speed for the An-74. Its engine intakes are situated 4m above the ground, minimising the risk of foreign object ingestion. One unusual feature of the production aircraft will be an interchangeable landing gear, with skis available for opera tion on snow. Antonov claims that the An-74 will be the first large jet aircraft to be fitted with skis. The design office admits that it still has prob lems with the structure of the skis and with ski heating and braking but it claims that the major problems have already been solved. The An-74 will presumably be used primarily for military operations. But three civil tasks it will undertake are cargo transport in the Antarc tic, "organising" drifting polar research stations in the central Arctic region, and ice floe reconnaissance. Oleg Antonov Veteran Soviet transport aircraft designer Oleg Antonov has died at the age of 78. Antonov began his profes sional life as a designer in a glider factory in 1923. His Al trainer became the standard Soviet single-seat trainer before the war. After working for the Yakovlev Bureau during the Second World War, Antonov was appointed the designer in charge of his own Bureau, which since has provided most of the country's piston and turboprop transport aircraft. The Bureau's An-2 biplane has probably been produced in greater numbers (including Chinese licence production) than any other transport aircraft, and the new An-400 turbofan is the world's largest strategic transport. Alexander Fedotov Maj Gen Alexander Fedotov, chief test pilot for the MiG design bureau, was killed in a flying accident on April 4. Novosti says that Fedotov was flying an experimental air craft at the time of his death. He held world speed and height records in the MiG E266M (MiG-25 Foxbat). Fedotov was 51. India joins the cosmonaut club MOSCOW Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian in space on April 3, when he was launched as part of the crew of Soyuz T-ll at 17.09hr Moscow time. He and his colleagues, Cdr Yuri Malyshev and flight engineer Gennady Strekalov, docked with the Salyut 7 orbiting laboratory at 18.31hr Moscow time the following day. Soyuz T-ll's arrival meant that there were six cosmo nauts aboard a Soviet orbiting laboratory for the first time, because Salyut 7 was already occupied by Leonid Kizim, Vladimir Solovyov, and Dr Oleg Atkov. Previous Soviet practice has been to staff Salyuts with two long-stay cosmonauts, who have played host to two-man or three-man crews. Kizim, Solovyov, and Atkov have been aboard Salyut 7 since February 9, when their Soyuz T-10 docked with the laboratory. The visiting Indo-Soviet crew were due to spend seven days docked with the labora tory before returning to Earth. They will probably make their landfall in the previous crew's Soyuz T-10 capsule, leaving behind their "fresh" spacecraft for the long-stay cosmonauts. Britain legalises aerial advertising LONDON ~ Aerial advertising is at last legal again in the UK. The Civil Aviation (Aerial Adver tising) Regulations: 1983 are now in force, and provide both for banner towing, and show ing on the aircraft itself the name of the owner, charterer, and engine or airframe manu facturer. Illuminated signs are allowed only on airships. A Code of Practice prepared by the General Aviation Manufacturers and Traders Association (Gamta) in conjunction with the Civil Aviation Authority played a significant part in clearing the way for the legalisation. Gamta is concerned that oper ators should follow this, and that advertisers go to recog nised responsible operators. The code covers aspects of banner towing from aircraft airworthiness requirements, launch, and dropping pro cedures, to legislation and insurance. It includes measures to avoid noise and nuisance, and Gamta is particularly concerned that operators should follow these recommendations. The association has produced a list of CAA- approved aircraft, and a map showing its member banner- towing companies. It is work ing on a syllabus for pilot training, leading to a Pilot Banner Towing Certificate. A course of about five hours, plus ground briefings, has been suggested. Enquiries to Gamta (26 High Street, Brill, Aylesbury, Bucks HP 18 9ST; tel: 0844 238389). FLIGHT IMTERHAnONAl NEXT WEEK Our C ai -,er Airliner Directo: • ,.' scribes the world's principal small transpo rcraft, and complet tables and cross-se.-i ,>> provide easy reference to vital statistics. Cliff Barnett reviews progress with the Edgley Optica observation aero plane, which forms the subject of a Flight cutaway by artist Ira Epton. ttLUilwEi'' J't' Grand Canyon Helicopters and Bauer Helicopters are two of several companies which provide aerial excursions for tourists over the USA's extraordinary Grand Canyon. Ian Parker reports on their opera tions. FLIGHT International, 14 April 1984 991
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