Fokker 50: Launch customer for the Fokker 50 - an improved version of the F27 - is Ansett Transport Industries, with an order for 10 plus five on option.

The Royal Navy’s FRADU (Fleet Requirements and Air Direction Unit) at RNAS Yeovilton received the first of its ex-Federal Express Falcon 20DCs on 5 February 1985. To supplement and eventually replace the Canberra T Mk 22s currently in use, the Falcons are to be operated by the personnel of Flight Refuelling Aviation.

Flight testing has begun of the six-blade advanced technology propeller under development by British Aerospace and United Technologies’ Hamilton Standard Division for the BAe ATP (Advanced Turboprop) airliner. A PW124 engine of the type which will power the ATP has been installed in the nose of a Viscount used by Pratt & Whitney of Canada for engine development, and more than 35 hrs of operating time have been logged by this engine/propeller combination to date. A second propeller has completed 1,000 hrs of ground test running on a PW 124.

The Fairchild T-46A made its first public appearance on 11 February 1985, in roll-out ceremonies at Farmingdale, Long Island. After being delivered to Edwards A FB by Lockheed C-5A, this prototype is expected to fly by the end of April, and will be followed by the second FSD aircraft during July. The first production aircraft is scheduled for completion in April 1986, with the No 3 aircraft to be the first delivered to USAF Air Training Command, in January 1988. The first batch of 10 T-46As has been funded, to be followed by batches of 33 and 99. The total USAF requirement is for 650 aircraft by 1992.

CAA type approval for the Edgley EA 7 Optica was announced on 12 February 1985, and deliveries were expected to begin last month (March) with the first aircraft going to AirFoyle at Luton Airport.