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Aviation History
1988
1988 - 2785.PDF
• . • •. • • • : ••• '-••• : • : ., Ryanair's first ATR42 will enter service on October 4, flying between Waterford/Galway and London. The second will follow in May 1989 ATR42 increases Ryanair fleet Ryanair, Ireland's independent airline, will make the inaugural flight of the first of its two new ATR42 aircraft on October 4. At a reception in Toulouse, Ryanair chairman Arthur Walls announced the introduction of the new type, which will initially operate on the Waterford-London and Galway- London routes. The 46-seat ATR42, built by Aerospatiale and Aeritalia, sells for around $9 million. Ryanair's $18 million investment in two aircraft was described by its chairman as "A major milestone for an airline which is only two- and-a-half years old". The airline's second ATR42 will enter service in May 1989, bringing its total fleet to ten aircraft. On board an ATR42 demon stration flight over Toulouse, Ryanair's commercial planning manager, Jim Lennox, told Flight that the airline will carry its millionth passenger within the next month. The next major milestone for Ryanair will be in May 1990, when it takes deliv ery of its first Airbus A320, on lease-purchase from GPA. The second A320 will enter service in 1991. The Aerospatiale/Aeritalia ATR42 and ATR72 have together gained orders and options for more than 260 units. The first ATR72 has left the assembly line in Toulouse and is due to make its first flight in early October. Available in two versions, a basic version with a maximum take-off weight of 19-9 tonnes and one of 21-5 tonnes, the ATR72 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW124 engines. Firm orders for the ATR72 currently stand at 23, with 33 options. X-29 tests almost over With more than 200 flights completed, the first Grumman X-29 advanced-technology demonstrator aircraft is close to completing its arduous flight test programme. The second X-29 is sched uled to begin high-angle-of- attack testing for the US Air Force in March 1989. It will have a spin 'chute for spin recovery, and its flight control system will allow manoeuvres up to 40° angle of attack. It is hoped to maintain pitch control up to 70° angle of attack.'This is highly desirable, because it gives the aircraft quicker nose- pointing ability for weapon delivery. The US Air Force claims that the programme has already shown that "the forward-swept wing is a viable design option for future fighter aircraft". The wings of the X-29 are construc ted from a carbon and epoxy composite. The programme has so far demonstrated "that construction of large composite parts like the X-29 wing is feasible for operational use," according to the X-29 pro gramme manager. 747 flap track inspections ordered British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have been directed by the UK Civil Aviation Author ity to make checks on the flap track mechanisms of 15 of their Boeing 747s. This follows an incident which occurred on September 11, when a crack was discovered in the flap beams of a British Airways Boeing 747 after a flight from Abu Dhabi. The CAA in the UK and the Federal Aviation Adminis tration in the USA undertook a review of checks on flap mech anisms. As a result of this review, and of the incident on September 11, both bodies directed 747 operators to under take flap track checks. Under the CAA directive the aircraft affected are those up to serial number 283. British Airways has 14 747s in this group, and Virgin has two. The FAA directive affects many more aircraft in the USA. The CAA and FAA inspections apply to the area of the forward four bolt holes on the lower flap track boom. They call for ultrasonic inspection for cracks above and below the bolt holes, to be carried out within the next 15 flights. The CAA calls for these to be repeated every 35 flights, the FAA every 75 flights. Visual inspection for corrosion, with the bolts removed, is also required. This is compulsory before the end of October. Japan tests booster Japan's National Space Devel opment Agency launched the first TR-1 test rocket on Sep tember 6, as part of its develop ment programme for the H-2 satellite launch vehicle.' About one-fourth the size of the H-2, TR-1 is being used to check separation of the, two auxiliary solid rocket boosters and to collect data on the vibration and air-friction .heat generated. The H-2 will be capable of placing a two-tonne satellite in geostationary orbit, and is scheduled for launch in 1991. Three TR-ls are scheduled for launch by 1989. Birdstrikes hit Indian Indian Airlines' fleet of Air buses and Boeing 737s suffered 45 birdstrikes between July and mid-September, resulting in a loss of over Rsll6 million on repairs alone. The loss of revenue to the domestic carrier as a result of birdstrikes has been colossal. While the replacement of one blade of an Airbus engine costs more than Rsl00,000 in foreign exchange, it also causes a chain reaction of delays to several other flights. A large number of birdstrikes were caused by vultures, crows, sparrows, parrots, cranes, doves, peacocks and kites. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 1 October 1988 15
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