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Aviation History
1986
1986 - 0547.PDF
WORLD NEWS Vegas pave way for Giotto MOSCOW ~ Soviet space probes Vega 1 and 2 flew past Halley's comet on March 6 and 8, returning pictures and data which have enabled the European Space Agency (ESA) to target its Giotto probe for a 500km flyby of the comet nucleus at midnight on March 13. The Vega photographs revealed that the nucleus was smaller than expected—an oval shape roughly 3km by 4km. The second probe, Vega 2, suffered heavier than expected dust damage when it passed through the tail within 8,000km of the nucleus. Solar panel power was reduced by 40 per cent and commu nication with the spacecraft was temporarily lost. This does not bode well for Giotto's survival. The probe will cross the comet's path ahead of the nucleus with a closing velocity of 67km/sec. Earlier observations had led USA to believe that Giotto would survive the encounter to be used for another comet interception. Trago wins praise PLYMOUTH The future of the Trago Mills SAH.l trainer could be decided this week. Alan Curtis, the ex-chief of sports car firms Aston Martin Lagonda and Lotus, who has been trying for months to raise finance to enable Trago Mills to produce the aircraft, has new ammunition that may persuade institutions to come up with come cash. It consists of an in-depth appraisal by British Aero space's Brough factory. By all accounts it is glowing. The aircraft can "hardly be bettered", has the "roomiest cockpit" in its class, and would be "cheap to buy, oper ate and run", it says. Curtis is passing the report to financiers, and Trago Mills ") personnel are speculating that production go-ahead may The Soviet Vega 1 space probe returned the first-ever photographs of a comet's nucleus when it flew past Halley on march 6 come "within days". Investment has topped £500,000 and Mike Robert son, whose business interests range from supermarkets to boats, has footed the bill. If the SAH.l project goes ahead it will create jobs at one of four sites in England and Wales, says Curtis. BAe is believed to be close to decid ing whether to market the aircraft in a package with the Pilatus PC-9 and BAe Hawk, and on taking a stake in Trago Mills. French orderbooks healthy PARIS ~ French aerospace industry export orders for civil and military products totalled FFr61,648 million (£6,165 million) in 1985, almost double the previous year's figures, reports Gilbert Sedbon. The 1985 figures, released by Gifas (Groupement des Industries Franchises Aero- nautiques et Spatiales) presi dent Jacques Benichou, are for firm orders only, and do not include options. Complete airframes and aircraft accounted for £2,732 million (44 • 3 per cent) of the orders, engines for £1,241 million (20-2 per cent), missiles for £1,049 million (17 per cent), electronics and equipment for £599 million (9-7 per cent), helicopters for £413 million (6-7 per cent), and space for £131 million (2-1 per cent). Dassault-Breguet has also revealed its 1985 sales figures, which totalled 169 aircraft— 124 military and 45 civilian. The orders are worth £1,964 million, an increase of 38 per cent over 1984. Export orders include 40 Mirage 2000s for Greece, 18 Mirage 2000s for Abu Dhabi, 24 Mirage F.ls for Iraq, and 12 Alpha Jets for Nigeria. Flight Directory of British Aviation 1987/88 Mailing of questionnaires to companies and individu als included in the previous edition of the Directory is now complete. If you have not received our form, and believe that you or your company should be included in the new direc tory, please telex your details to: Malcolm Ginsberg, Editor, Flight Directory of British Aviation, 299412 MAL- COM G. Closing date is March 31, 1986. FLIGHT MTBWATtONM NEXT WEEK Fokker says that the great est competitor for its new Fokker 50 will be the aero plane it replaces, the F.27, How has Fokker improved on the legendary F.27? David Learmount provides a technical report from Schiphol, with a cutaway by Flight artist Ira Epton. High utilisation of its F.28s is the key to success for Sweden's regional airline, Linjeflyg. Harry Hopkins reports from Stockholm. Helicopter rescue flights in the Austrian Tyrol demand cool and precise flying. Dr. Robert Bruce- Chwatt samples the skills of top-rank pilot Franz Schider, whose company, Air-cargo, has five years of experience in the role. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 15 March 1986
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