FLIGHT International, 23 April 1970 705

These features, combined with the A-4M's higher performance, are expected to improve its impressive record of survival in combat.

Other A-4M changes include a greater ammunition capacity for the two intern­ally mounted 20mm guns, a more power­ful generator and a self-contained engine starter. It retains such basic Skyhawk design features as nose-wheel steering, non-folding wing, in-flight refuelling capability and the Escapac I-C-3 zero-altitude, • zero-speed ejection system.

Skyhawk attack versions operated by the Marine Corps include the A-4A, -4B, -4C and -4E. In addition, the Marines have used the two-seat TA-4F trainer modal in both training and tactical con­figurations. McDonnell Douglas has pro­duced more than 2,400 Skyhawks of all models since the aircraft was introduced into Navy service in 1956.

Skyhawks are used extensively by the Navy and Marine Corps on combat missions over Vietnam. Models of the aircraft are also in service with the Royal Australian Navy, Israeli Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Argentine Air Force.

VAK 191B Roll-out THE FIRST VFW-Fokker VAK. 191B single-seat V/STOL tactical reconnais­sance fighter is due to be rolled-out at the company's Bremen works tomorrow (Friday, April 24). This aircraft will serve as a systems test-bed for the Panavia MRCA multi-role combat aircraft.

Originally six prototypes were to be built under a programme to meet the German VAK. 191B requirement (VAK=vertical ausklarumvs und kamp-fflugzeug: VTO reconnaissance and fight­ing aircraft) for a subsonic VTOL tactical reconnaissance fighter to replace the Fiat G.91, but the number of prototypes was subsequently reduced to three. Simi­larly, this was originally a German-Italian programme; but in 1968 the Italian Government withdrew, and it has been continued by VFW-Fokker, with Fiat as subcontractor.

The VAK 191B has two Rolls-Royce/ Man RB. 162-81 lift jets (each of 5,5771b, 24.8kN s.t.) mounted vertically in the fuselage, one immediately aft of the cockpit, the other aft of the wing; and one R-R/Man RB.193-12 vectored thrust turbojet of approximately 9,9201b, 44.15kN s.t. for forward flight. Stabilisa­tion is achieved by "puffer jets" at the aircraft's nose, tail and wing tips.

Testing Europe's Air Defences SEVEN AIR FORCES in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation—Belgian, British, Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, West German and United States—are taking part in the 1970 Air Defence Competition being run by Allied Forces Central Europe. This began on March 31 and continues until May 7.

Although Afcent sponsors the com­petition, other Nato sectors outside the Central Region are invited to participate. This year, as well as the three sectors of Afcent's two major air formations— Second and Fourth Allied Tactical Air

Forces—the Danish, French and United Kingdom sectors will also be taking part.

In the case of Afcent's own air defence sectors, two fighter-intercepter squadrons, each from a different national Air Force normally operated within a particular sector, together form a fighter "wing" on the same station. So at least one of the squadrons in each team is operating away from its own base. The "wing" will operate under the direction of the fighter control organisation for the sector. .

Bersatu Padu Initiated EIGHT AIR SUPPORT COMMAND aircraft recently inaugurated the biggest airlift ever undertaken by the command—the transport of more than 2,000 troops, plus helicopters, vehicles and other equip­ment to the Far East for Bersatu Padu, the five-nation exercise in Western Ma­laysia. Main Army deployment is from April 12 to 22; main RAF deployment from May 14 to June 5.

The theme of this exercise (whose •title is Malay for "complete unity") was described in Flight for February 26. It presupposes a situation arising after the British withdrawal from the Far East has been completed by the end of 1971, with Malaysia having to defend herself against aggression and Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the U K acting in concert under their treaty obli­gations to assist her.

The eight ASC aircraft on the first lifts were a Britannia with slip crews and serving personnel and a VC10 carrying the advanced Army party (April 7, from Lyneham and Brize Norton respectively); two Hercules with Land Rovers, trailers and Army passengers and two VClOs carrying slip crews, mobile air movements teams and servicing personnel (April 8, from Lyneham and Fairford (Hercules) and Brize Norton respectively); and a Hercules carrying aircraft spare parts and a Britannia with slip crews and servicing personnel (April 9, from Lyneham).

Malaysia's first BH-/25 for the Royal Malaysian Air Force ("Flight," March 26) seen shortly after arrival at Kuala Lumpar

Britain's US Aircraft Costs REPAYMENTS OF CAPITAL and interest beyond 1974-75 for British purchases of Phantom and Hercules aircraft, plus support and initial spares, are estimated to amount to £47 million. This was stated by the Minister of Defence for Equipment, Mr John Morris, in a written answer to a Parliamentary question on April 13.

In the Commons on April 8 the Secretary of State for Defence had been asked by Sir Ian Orr-Ewing (Con, Hendon, North) what sums had been allocated in each of the next five financial years for the payment of interest and repayment of the loans made by the United States to the United Kingdom for the purchase of US military aircraft.

Mr Morris said in reply that the following sums had been allocated: 1970-71, £55 million; 1971-72, £56 million; 1972-73, £55 million; 1973-74, £50 million; and 1974-75, £41 million.

IAF Strength INDIA'S AIR FORCE has already achieved its target of 45 squadrons equipped with the latest types of aircraft. This was stated by the Defence Minister, Sardar Swaran Singh, in a recent broadcast in which he referred to the Government's long-term plan to expand and modernise defence services and minimise depen­dence on foreign sources. The Air Force was increasingly using types which were now either being entirely produced in­digenously or were in an advanced stage of production: the MiG-21,HF-24Marut , HJT-16 Kiran, HS.748 and Sud Alouettes. The first-named and the last two named types are built under licence by H A L (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd). Sardar Swaran Singh said that the Government had taken steps to tackle problems arising from the rapid introduction of sophisticated aircraft into the IAF.

Rhodesia's Air Force RHODESIA OWES £918,409 to Britain for Hunter aircraft and associated ground equipment and spares. This was stated