Business & Commercial Aviation News from September 1965

Britten Norman's utility twin "Islander" has flown over 60 hr. in extensive testing. Factory export price of the Continental IO-360-powered fixed-gear, 10-seater is $49,000 and the manufacturer recently announced 15 deposits on pre-release orders.

The White Sox DC-7B deluxe aerial clubhouse was specially fitted for the team by Eastern Airlines. The Sox have a permanent crew of four: L.J. Edwards, captain; P.C. Meister, first officer; Bill Stevens, flight engineer; and E.G. Ottenberg, flight mechanic. The crew were all trained by Eastern Airlines.

Crop spraying helicopter modification now on the market uses stripped-down Bell rotorcraft equipped with spray gear to carry 90 to 120 gal. of spray. The El Tomcat Mark III sells for $19,500 with 210-hp Franklin engine; $25,000 with 235-hp Franklin. 

The Alti Cruiser, built by Aero Commander and first flown in 1957, was the first pressurized and air conditioned airplane in general aviation. A simple 2.0 psi differential system was fed by two engine-mounted variable delivery hydraulic pumps and a hydraulic motor-driven air compressor.

With garish paint job and fixed landing gear, the Twin Otter would win few beauty contests among flying birds. As a utility/air taxi performer, however, it has few peers, with low operating costs, quick turn-around time, high capacity (to 18 passengers or 2,000-3,500 lb. payload) and a design that uses every maintenance-reducing trick in the book. Part of the STOL performance is due to the P&W PT-6 turboprops at 579 shp each.

The Executive Skyknight joins the fleet of Cessna "can do twins - flies faster and more handsomely than anything that might be considered competitive." Cessna says that this aircraft was created to bring you all the benefits of the company's exclusive Turbosystem power.