Aeroplane Monthly 1978-02
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News Spotlight
Concorde services to Singapore were inaugurated on Friday, December 9, 1977, the aircraft carrying British Airways livery to starboard and SIA’s colours to port. Unfortunately the service was short-lived, being suspended before the end of the year.
The last three Bristol Freighters of the Royal New Zealand Air Force en route to New Zealand from Singapore for de-commissioning. They were previously operated by No 41 Sqn RNZAF, formally disbanded at the beginning of December 1977. After 22 years in service, the last Bristol Freighter drop, an aerial resupply mission by one aircraft, took place in November last year.
Aerocondor’s first Airbus A300B4 was delivered to the airline on December 10, 1977, and began operation on routes between Colombia and Miami three days later.
Dassault-Breguet have been very busy in recent weeks - Mystere-Falcon 20G 01 F-WATF, seen during its first flight from Bordeaux-Merignac on 28th November 1977, with Herve Leprince-Ringuet at the controls, is fitted with Garrett ATF 3-6 turbofans and will act as the development aircraft for the Falcon Guardian ordered by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The first Swiss assembled Northrop F-5E Tiger II, J-3001, flew for the first time in December, 1977. America is to supply 19 assembled aircraft and components for another 53 to be assembled in Switzerland.
The first European example of the Canadian Sturgeon Air design based upon the French Jurca Gnatsum, Bill Wilks's 2/3-scale Mustang is powered by a 200 h.p. six-cylinder Ranger engine. The photograph was taken at Redhill.
This Rand KR-1 single-seater was homebuilt by Arnol I. Sellars of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Powered by a Revmaster 1700cc Volkswagen conversion, it cruises at 115 m.p.h. on 3 US gal of fuel per hour. It cost $3,000 and took 3 1/2 years to build.