ARCTIC CIRCLERS. What makes these two photographs of otherwise familiar U.S.A.F. types noteworthy is the fact that the aircraft illustrated are residents of the Far North - Ladd A.F.B.. Alaska. Photo: An air-gunnery target tug attached to Ladd A.F.B., is this Douglas TB-26C-45-DT Invader (USAF.0-435756; Buzz No. BC-756), with yellow-painted wingtips and tail assembly.

The impressively large nose radome now installed on all R.C.A.F. Air Transport Command's Fairchild C-119G-30-FA Flying Boxcar twin-boom freighters. The radome houses APS-59 search radar; note the pilot heads, one on each side of the radome. This C-119G was photographed at R.C.A.F. Station Lachine (Dorval) earlier this year.

Two views of an Avro (Victory Aircraft) Lancaster Mk.10-P (R.C.A.F. serial KB976; "buzz no."/radio call sign, MN-976) which has been specially modified for Arctic photographic reconnaissance. Note the Arctic survival equipment tail "dustbin", lengthened nose (plus turret deletion), and ventral radome.

"The Canso-that-isn't-now" - New Zealand's T.E.A.L. has recently undertaken extensive conversion of F-OAYD - a Consolidated PBY-5(A) Canso/Calalina - including the removal of the retractable nosewheel undercarriage, reshaping of the bows and extending the rudder's leading-edge. F-OAYD is operated by Regie Aerienne Interinsulaire. All-white with orange trim and red lettering.

All "sporting" flying and training in Communist-controlled East Germany is conducted on a paramilitary footing. The system follows closely that currently in operation in Poland, Czechoslovakia and other Soviet "satellite" states. Few photographs are readily available of flying activities in the Deutsche Demokratische Republik (DDR - see lettering on rudder below national colours) and so this air-to-air photograph of a Russian Yakovlev YaK-18 (NATO code: "Max") is not without interest. Originally identified bv the lettering DDR, this all-green YaK-18 tandem-seat primary (one 160-h.p. M-11FR radial) shows the new two-letter identification DM.

For liaison and general duties, the French Armie de Terre utilises a considerable number of M.D.A.P.-supplied tandem-seat Piper L-18-Cs (Super Cub 95s). Note French Army use of "sand and spinach" camouflage, white-ringed roundels and rudder tricolore. A 90-h.p. Continental O-205-1 flat-four gives cruise of 100 m.p.h. This example has serial 181613 painted above horizontal hinge line of rudder.

ARCTIC CIRCLERS. What makes these two photographs of otherwise familiar U.S.A.F. types noteworthy is the fact that the aircraft illustrated are residents of the Far North - Ladd A.F.B.. Alaska. Photo: A Northrop F-89D-25-NO Scorpion (USAF: 51-11393; Buzz No. FV-393) of the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, identified by the "Blue Fox" insigne on the starboard missile (2.75-in. Mighty Mouse rockets) pod.

New Harpoon is the Oakland Airmotive Centaurus (N7436C), flown for the first time at end of April. Intended for business executive buyers, the Centaurus will be available in 8-, 10-. 12- or 14-passenger variants, each with eight (four "picture") windows. Useful load for gross 32.000 lb. is 13,500 lb., including 4,695 lb. for passengers and freight. At 10,000 ft. (55 per cent power) the cruise is 280 m.p.h. for more than 2.000 miles range. Maximum speed: 328 m.p.h. Engines: two 2,000-h.p. P. & W. R-2800 radials. New wing now spans 74 ft., and length 54 ft.

FLOTATION CURIOSITIES. Maps out! In October 1957 Vern Reid flew his white and green de Havilland Queen Bee-conversion from Sandy Bay, Tasmania, to Maria Island in order to deliver an urgently-needed two-way radio for the islanders. Mr. Reid carried out the tandem-seat conversion (to Tiger Moth standard) at Sandy Bay. Note the ex-C.A.6 Wackett trainer canopy.

Sole remaining example oj the Vought-Sikorsky VS-44-A (N41881; built 1943) 46-passenger, 185-m.p.h. cruise, flying-boat rides the step across Avalon Bay, Catalina Island. Powered by P. & W. R-1830-92s, the VS-44-A is a commercial adaptation of the Sikorsky XPBS-1 (Serial A-9995), a "one-off" U.S. Navy long-range patrol bomber of 1936. Concentration on quantity production of the Consolidated PBYs (R.A.F. Catalina) resulted in the 1942 cancellation of U.S.N, version of the VS-44-A - the JR2S-1 and JRK-1. Current owner, Avalon Air Transport of Long Beach, Calif.

A rare bird turns up again, I-LUAD, the "one-off" two-seat Ambrosini Girfalco (a modified S-1002 Trasimenus) powered by a 130-h.p. Alfa 110-ter Polaris inline, giving a maximum speed of 136 m.p.h. Operator: Lualdi Films - R.K.O.

One of the last-production Short S.B.6 Seamew tandem-seat "utility" anti-submarine patrol bombers, seen here at R.N.A.S. Sydenham, near Belfast, prior to scrapping under the "economy axe" brought about by the Government Services' Retrenchment Act of 1957. The grey overall paint finish of Seamew XE180 reveals it to be a rarely-photographed MR. Mk. 2 of R.A.F. Coastal Command. Power: one Armstrong-Siddeley Mamba ASMa.6 turboprop, giving maximum speed of 243 m.p.h.

Still fairly new on the international civil register is "CN" for Morocco. This example, CN-TUA is a French side-by-side coupe, the Blairvacq-Piel C.P.30 (No.52) recently delivered to M. Maurice Druesne. Finished in cream with red cheat lines, CN-TUA is powered by a 65-h.p. Continental C65 flat-four, giving a maximum speed of 118 m.p.h. The wing planform strongly resembles that of the "clipped-wing" Spitfire Mk. V.

A smart-looking, all-metal, tandem-seat basic trainer is the Italian Fiat G.46-5B (serial Ea-461) seen here in the markings of the Argentine Air Force at the Aeroparque Beunos Aires. In 1949 thirty 225-h.p. Alfa 115-ter-powered G.46-5Bs were supplied to the Argentine A.F. Maximum speed: 196 m.p.h.

The tandem-seat Morrisey Model 2000C Nifty with fixed nosewheel undercarriage, which is now in limited production at Orange County Airport, Santa Ana, California. Illustrated is the protoype (N5000K; c/n. 1A), finished in light and dark green with white top decking and fin. With a 90-h.p. Continental flat-four, the maximum speed is 125 m.p.h.