Air International 1987-03
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As forecast during presentations made at the Farnborough Air Show, Canadair has decided formally to launch the CL-215T turboprop amphibian. The step has been influenced by the decision of the Quebec government to re-engine and retrofit its fleet of 17 CL-215s in order to fulfil its requirements for water bombers for the next 20 years.
The third prototype of the Beechcraft Starship made its first flight at Wichita on 5 January 1987, completing the test fleet to be used to obtain well over 300 hrs of testing. First customer deliveries of the Starship are set to begin in the second quarter of 1988.
Production of the Northrop F-5 has ended, with a total of 2,610 built over a period of 24 years. The completion of the programme, which was managed by the US Air Force Aeronautical Systems Division and was part of the US Government's Foreign Military Sales effort, was marked by a fly-by ceremony by the last two Northrop-built F-5s at the Wright Patterson AFB on 16 January 1987.