Air International 1992-12
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Airscene Headlines
CIS Navy Ka-27 Helix 'Red 46' from the 'Admiral Vinogradov' on the deck of HMS 'Chatham' on October 21, 1992 after making the historic first landing of a CIS military helicopter on a Royal Navy ship.
Первый вылет Харриера II PLUS (164129) 22 сентября 1992г.
Seen during its first flight on September 22, 1992, is the first Harrier II Plus, 164129, wearing the flags of its three customer nations on the nose. Note also the additional new 'bump' on the upper rear fuselage side, visible just above the wingtip, which presumably houses further new equipment although details are unknown.
Seen here at Southend earlier this year, Boeing 707-338C 5B-DAY of Phoenix Aviation was one of two worked on there by Heavylift prior to delivery to Grumman Systems Group at Lake Charles, Louisiana, where 20 former airline 707-300s are to undergo conversion into E-8C JSTARS (Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar Systems) aircraft for the USAF/US Army. Preliminary work undertaken by Heavylift included paint stripping and application of primer together with removal of all interior furnishings. 5B-DAY is now re-registered N4131G and will be the first production E-8C following conversion work which takes around 18 months per aircraft.
Sporting the US Customs Service's new overall tactical grey colour scheme, their third P-3 AEW&C aircraft was delivered from Burbank on June 26, 1992. Since delivery of the first aircraft three years ago the Orions have proved extremely successful in anti-drug smuggling operations, the AEW examples with their GE APS-138 target detection radar normally operating as hunter-killer pairs in conjunction with rhe USCS's four P-3 ’slicks’ fitted with specialised tracking and surveillance equipment. The fourth and final AEW conversion is scheduled for delivery next year.
Resprayed at Shoreham during September 1992 in this attractive search-and-rescue scheme, Channel Islands Air Search's PBN BN-2B-21 Islander G-CIAS, complete with elongated radar nose, is seen here after return to its Guernsey base. The aircraft will shortly replace CIAS's veteran PA-E23-250 Aztec E G-BBWM.
Recently modified 'on location' by Airwork in Oman on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment was a single Royal Air Force of Oman Skyvan which has been fitted out as an oil spill dispersant sprayer. The aircraft, Srs 3M-400-22, serial 911, has permanently fixed spray bars under the rear fuselage but the internal dispersant tank, pump etc are quickly removable, enabling the aircraft to be also used for more normal duties. The aircraft, based at Seeb with 2 Sqn is seen here undertaking trials off Oman on October 31, 1992 and following the success of these has now been declared operational.
Previously in service with London City Airways as G-BOAX, DHC-7 Srs 100 VP-FBQ was delivered to Canada in 1990 for modification and fitting-out with survey equipment by Field Aviation of Toronto and Calgary on behalf of the British Antarctic Survey team which is scheduled to take delivery of the aircraft on completion in mid-1993. Seen here at Toronto/Pearson International Airport, the aircraft had at this stage still to be fitted with a set of skis, the first Dash Seven so equipped. It will join BAS's present fleet of four DHC-6 Twin Otters which operate from a base on the Falkland islands.