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 intern-
ally mounted 20mm guns, a more power-
ful 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-3zero-
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 t he two-seat TA-4F trainer
modal in both training and tactical con-
figurations. McDonnell Douglas has pro-
duced 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 reconnais-
sance 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=vert i cal ausklarumvs und kamp-
fflugzeug: VTO reconnaissance and fight-
ing aircraft) for a subsonic VTOL tactical
reconnaissance fighter to replace the
Fiat G. 91, but t he number of prototypes
was subsequently reduced to three. Simi-
larly, 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 t he
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. Stabilisa-
tion is achieved by "puffer jets" at the
aircraft's nose, tail and wing tips.
Testing Europe' s Air Defences
SEVEN AIR FORCES in the Nort h Atlantic
Treaty OrganisationBelgian, British,
Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, West German
and United Statesare 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 com-
petition, other Nat o sectors outside the
Central Region are invited t o participate.
This year, as well as the three sectors
of Afcent' s two major air formations
Second and Fourth Allied Tactical Air
Forcesthe 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 t he sector. .
Bersatu Padu Initiated
EIGHT AIR SUPPORT COMMAND aircraft
recently inaugurated the biggest airlift
ever undertaken by the commandthe
transport of more than 2,000 troops, plus
helicopters, vehicles and other equip-
ment to the Far East for Bersatu Padu,
the five-nation exercise in Western Ma-
laysia. 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 UK
acting in concert under their treaty obli-
gations to assist her.
The eight ASCaircraft on the first
lifts were a Britannia with slip crews
and serving personnel and a VC10
carrying the advanced Army part y (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 Nort on
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 t he Commons on April 8 t he
Secretary of State for Defence had been
asked by Sir Ian Orr-Ewing (Con,
Hendon, Nort h) 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 t he
United States to the United Kingdom
for the purchase of US military aircraft.
Mr Morris said in reply t hat 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 t he Government' s
long-term plan to expand and modernise
defence services and minimise depen-
dence on foreign sources. The Air Force
was increasingly using types which were
now either being entirely produced in-
digenously or were in an advanced stage
of production: the Mi G- 21, HF- 24Mar ut ,
HJT-16 Kiran, HS.748 and Sud Alouettes.
The first-named and the last two named
types are built under licence by HAL
(Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd). Sardar
Swaran Singh said t hat t he Government
had taken steps to tackle problems
arising from the rapid introduction of
sophisticated aircraft into t he IAF.
Rhodesia' s Air Force
RHODESIA OWES 918,409 to Britain for
Hunt er aircraft and associated ground
equipment and spares. This was stated