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Aviation History
1986
1986 - 0015.PDF
Poland flies latest "Seneca" MIELEC Polish aircraft manufacturer Pezetel has flown the latest variant in its series of aircraft based on the Piper Seneca. The type has been developed and assembled or manu factured in Poland since 1977 under an agreement with Piper Aircraft. Called the M.20 Mewa (Gull), it has differed from American examples of the Seneca principally in its use of Polish-built Franklin engines. Initial examples of the aircraft, designated M.20.00 and assembled from Piper- built PA-34-200T Seneca II kits, were certificated in 1983. This model was joined by the M.20.01, built entirely in Poland, which flew first in 1982. A number of early M.20.01s were completed in ambulance configuration. The latest model, the M.20.02, has been taking its place in PZL priorities behind the two-seat M-18A Drom- ader, and M-21 Mini Drom- ader agricultural aircraft and the Antonov An-28, which is produced on behalf of the Soviet manufacturer. There are understood to have been delays with the 220 h.p. PZL- F 6A-350C engine which powers the M.20 Mewa. Astra production target set TEL AVIV ~ Encouraged by a market study performed with Atlantic Avia tion, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) is to boost Astra pro duction to two aircraft per month by the end of next year, reports Arie Egori. First deliveries of the cor porate jet are expected in two months' time, and the intro ductory price of $5-5 million is to be held for the first 16 aircraft. After that IAI expects to raise the price to $6 million. IAI's aircraft division has sold eight Astras so far. Survey reveals heat loss The heat loss from buildings in the centre of Glasgow is shown in this photograph taken by an infrared linescan camera carried by a Clyde Surveys Beech Queen Air. The white square (on the left) shows heat pouring from windows of the City Chambers, while the black region (on the right) shows the cool roof of a railway station. Clyde is surveying 965 square miles of central Scotland, in what is claimed to be the largest thermographic survey undertaken by aircraft. India offered French freebie NEW DELHI France is to give eight Aero spatiale SA.36SN Dauphin 2 helicopters to India in the latest efforts to beat off competition from Britain, reports Gilbert Sedbon. British manufacturer West- land and Aerospatiale are locked in competition to win an Indian order for 27 helicop ters. Westland is offering the W.30 and the British Govern ment has agreed to supply 21 of the aircraft as part of an aid package. French foreign-trade secre tary Edith Cression has approved the Dauphin dona tion, which is worth some $20 million. France hopes that the gift will bring it closer to clinching the $90 million Indian order for further heli copters. Westland has revised its technical and financial offer after the W.30's rejection on cost grounds. Antarctic arrival Antarctic Airways' Twin Otters has recently made several flights between Chile and the base of the 16,863ft Vinson Massif, highest peak in Antarctica, enabling several groups of climbers to reach the remote area. BUSINESS AVIATION ROTARY BRIEFS British Airways Helicop ters Sikorsky S-61N G-BCEA suffered exten sive damage after a main- rotor-blade strike at Sumburgh recently. The aircraft had unloaded passengers at the Wilsness terminal and was ground- taxiing when the incident occurred. Fragments also damaged adjacent buildings and a laid-up ex-Bristow S-61N. Following the award of a five- year, £15 million East Anglian offshore-support contract by Shell Expro, BA Helicopters is reviewing staff levels and is to call for up to 80 redundancies from among its 620-strong work force. The contract begins in March 1986, with BAH providing up to three Beccles (Suffolk)-based S-61Ns. BA Helicopters took the contract back from Bristow Helicop ters, which had held it for the previous two years, and will reassess staff levels in the light of this success and the outcome of a number of pend ing support-contract awards. Aberdeen-based oil-company Hamilton Brothers has been awarded its 1986-87 Argyll Field (175 n.m. east- southeast of Aberdeen) support contract to Bond Helicopters. At least one Aerospatiale AS.332L Super Puma will operate from the city's Dyce Airport, the Bond aircraft replacing various Bristow types which have supplied Hamilton Bros' heli copter requirements for more than ten years. Recent offshore-contract awards reinforce a growing trend for North Sea oil and gas companies to work purely to prices on offer rather than to long- established relationships, according to industry sources. In consequence the allocation of several pending contracts is awaited with considerable interest. Oil-company sources report a further decline in UK- based Sikorsky S-76A char ter rates for offshore sup port, with aircraft on offer for perhaps little more than £500 per hour, this charge more usually associated with the much smaller MBB BO105. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 4 January 1986 15
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