Air International 1979-08
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The two-seat night and adverse weather version of the Fairchild A-10 Thunderbolt II (on photo) flew for the first time on 4 May 1979 and is now undergoing a 50-flight 100-hour programme sponsored by the parent company and lasting through September. A conversion of a pre-production single-seater, the two-seat A-10 will subsequently undergo tactical evaluation by the USAF. A-10A production has now peaked at 12 monthly with some 240 delivered by the beginning of this month (August).
The Aerospatiale SA 361H/HCL, as presented at the Paris Air Show, features a forward-looking infra-red (FLIR) for "starry-night" anti-tank warfare. Armament comprises eight HOT air-to-ground missiles.
On 5 June 1979, a contract was signed by the Irish Ministry of Defence with BAe for the supply of one HS 125-700B and the interim lease of an HS 125-600B pending delivery of the new aircraft. The leased aircraft (illustrated) entered service with the Irish Air Corps last month (July), after a period of crew training and route proving, and its roles include training, search and rescue, aerial ambulance and governmental personnel transportation.
This provisional general arrangement drawing depicts the Aeritalia-Aermacchi AMX light strike fighter in what is now considered its definitive configuration as revealed at the Paris Air Show. To be powered by a Spey 807 turbofan it will have a built-in armament of one 20-mm rotary cannon.
Dornier has recently completed its TNT (Tragflugel Neuer Technologie) test-bed based on a Skyservant airframe, and the first flight was made on 14 June 1979. It features a new wing similar to that of the projected LTA, a retractable undercarriage (using Alpha Jet components), a lengthened fuselage and Garrett TPE 331-5 turboprops
The Cessna Citation III is seen here on its first flight, made at Wichita on 30 May 1979. Cessna has stated that the first two years of Citation III production are now sold out; deliveries will begin in June 1981.