The Lockheed P-3 Orion is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime patrol aircraft that was produced through 1997. Lockheed won a U.S. Navy ASW competition in 1958 and began deliveries of the P-3A in 1962; the improved P-3C first flew in 1968. Lockheed produced a total of 647 P-3s, while Kawasaki produced 101 under license and, although P-3C production ended, the aircraft remains the subject of numerous upgrade programs. Power for the P-3C is provided by four 4,910-shp. Rolls-Royce T56-A-14 turboprop engines.
Researchers are hatching plans for a new, multirole hypersonic flying testbed to bridge the gap to practical missile, surveillance and reconnaissance applications.
JetBlue Airways will develop a high-speed airborne connectivity service using JetBlue’s LiveTV affiliate and Ka-band antenna components, modems and two-way transmission bandwidth supplied by ViaSat. ViaSat currently offers Ka-band capacity on WildBlue-1 and will launch a powerful new Ka-band spacecraft, ViaSat-1, next year. The service will be offered on JetBlue’s entire fleet. LiveTV will manage the integration of ViaSat equipment on the aircraft and lead the FAA certification process.
The Mitsubishi F-2 is a single- and twin-seat air combat fighter/interceptor aircraft based on the Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 40 aircraft. The first F-2 prototype flew in October 1995, with initial production deliveries following in September 2000. Lockheed Martin supplies various components for the F-2. The aircraft is powered by a single 29,500-lb.-thrust General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan engine, license-produced by IHI Corp. Eighty-one F-2 aircraft were built through 2008, plus four flying prototypes.
Lockheed Martin Aircraft Argentina S.A. (Lmaasa), recently nationalized and now known as Fabrica Argentina de Aviones “Brig. San Martin” S.A. (FAdeA), produces the AT-63, an updated version of the tandem-seat IA 63 Pampa trainer/light attack aircraft. First flight of the IA 63 occurred in 1984, followed by initial production deliveries in 1988. It was originally powered by a single 3,500-lb.-thrust Honeywell TFE731-2-2N turbofan engine. Twenty-two IA 63 aircraft were produced, including three flying prototypes, before the last was built in 1999.
Eurocopter is hoping a new hybrid helicopter concept will allow the company to bring to market a high-speed Super Puma- or Dauphin-sized rotorcraft before the end of the decade. The company last week unveiled its X3 helicopter demonstrator, which is aimed at validating the ability to fly more than 220 kt. using what the Franco-German helicopter makers bills as a simple design approach. The twin-turboshaft-powered demonstrator uses two propellers on a short wing for forward speed, with a five-blade main rotor.
The Airbus A400M is a four-engine, turboprop-powered military transport aircraft currently under development. Seven European nations are participating in the A400M transport program—Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the U.K.—all to eventually acquire a total of 80 A400Ms. Malaysia joined its European counterparts in the development effort in 2005 and, along with workshare, will acquire four A400Ms. A product of Airbus Military, the A400M made its first flight in December 2009, with initial deliveries expected in late 2012.
The Boeing and BAE jointly produced T-45 Goshawk is a variant of the BAE Hawk, designed specifically for aircraft carrier pilot training. The twin-seat aircraft is powered by a single Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour RT172 Mk 871 non-afterburning turbofan (5,845 lb. thrust), also known as the F405-RR-401. The U.S. Navy awarded exploration contracts in August 1980 and, in 1981, the McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) design was selected. The first prototype flight occurred in 1988, and the first aircraft carrier landing was in 1991.
Missile defense activities outside the U.S. are slowly ramping up to tackle medium- to intermediate-range ballistic missile threats. One of the beneficiaries of those activities in Europe could be MBDA and upgrades to the Aster 30 weapon system, now being rolled out in ship-based and land-based applications in France, Italy and the U.K. MBDA photo by Michael Hans.
Pratt & Whitney is racing to defend the geared turbofan (GTF) against legal attacks from Rolls-Royce ahead of decisions by Airbus on whether to offer the powerplant on a re-engined A320.
The C-17 is a long-range, heavy-lift transport aircraft powered by four 40,440-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines. First flight of the C-17—a prototype designated T-1—took place in 1991. One of the largest military transport aircraft, the C-17 can carry vehicles such as the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the M1 Abrams main battle tank. The U.S. Air Force operates some 195 C-17s and has received funding for 215. Australia, Canada, Qatar and the U.K., among others, also operate the C-17.
Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways face few rivals in the nonstop markets where they overlap, suggesting room for real pricing power in some important Florida leisure markets—and one area for potential regulatory scrutiny. Aviation Week analyzed and ranked departures in those markets, as well as available seats, load factors and fares, and on balance found very little overlap that might draw regulatory attention.
The Harrier II is out of production. Through 1998, 428 Harrier II vertical/short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft were produced by Boeing/McDonnell Douglas and BAE. The Harrier II is a single- or two-seat, single-engine ground attack aircraft. AV-8B Harrier IIs are powered by either a 21,450-lb.-thrust Rolls-Royce Pegasus 11-21 (U.S. designated F402-RR-406A) vectored thrust turbofan or a 23,800-lb.-thrust Pegasus 11-61 (U.S. designated F402-RR-408). The British Royal Air Force GR7 and GR9 models use a Pegasus Mk 105 vectored thrust turbofan (21,500 lb.
The AS 32 Cougar and the new EC725 are twin-engine, medium-lift military transport and special-purpose helicopters. They are the military versions of Eurocopter’s AS332 Super Puma and EC225, respectively. Current engines include two Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshafts rated at 1,819 shp. each for takeoff for the AS532 Mk 1; two Turbomeca Makila 1A2 turboshafts rated at 1,845 shp. each for takeoff for the AS532 Mk2; and two Turbomeca Makila 2A turboshafts rated at 2,100 shp. each for takeoff for the EC 725. Armament can include a 20-mm. cannon, twin 7.62-mm.
I found “Flying Safer” (AW&ST Sept. 13, p. 56) disturbing. After 10 years of apparent diligent evaluation of the Concorde crash attributed to a “strip of sheet metal from a Continental Airlines DC-10” causing a Concorde tire to burst, the French accident investigators are bringing a criminal wrongful death suit against multiple personnel and other entities. I doubt that anyone involved planned this terrible outcome; however, a criminal charge is sure to make fact-finding much more difficult.
The U.S. fills two of its most senior positions in the international aviation arena. The State Department promoted Kris Urs to succeed John Byerly as the deputy assistant secretary for transportation, the point man on bilaterals and other negotiations. Urs, a veteran of aviation negotiations, will take over on Nov. 1. Meanwhile, the Senate OK’d former Air Line Pilots Association chief Duane Woerth as U.S. representative to ICAO. Industry groups had urged that he be confirmedin time for the ICAO general assembly, which began Sept. 28. There had been no permanent U.S.
The Eurocopter EC635 is a military version of the EC135 multipurpose light twin-turbine helicopter, used in troop transport, search and rescue, and training. Two versions are marketed: the EC635P2+, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2 engines rated at 667 shp. each for takeoff; and the EC635T2+, powered by Turbomeca Arrius 2B2 engines rated at 606 shp. each for takeoff. Through 2009, 33 EC635s were produced; another 43 are expected to be produced in 2010-19.
The next Soyuz capsule launched to the International Space Station will be able to carry about 70 kg. more payload, thanks to a digital flight computer that replaces the analog system used for the past 30 years. Cosmonaut Aleksander Kaleri will check out the new TsVM-101 computer in flight next month, when the Soyuz TMA-01M vehicle is launched to the ISS. Liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan is scheduled for Oct. 8.
In 1991, two years after the U.S. withdrew from the Grumman/Chengdu Super 7 program, Chengdu began the FC-1 program. Pakistan, where the aircraft is known as the JF-17, and China signed an agreement in 1998 for joint development and production. The first prototype flew in 2003, and the first delivery occurred in 2007. The single-seat air superiority and ground attack aircraft is powered by a single Klimov RD-93 afterburning turbofan (18,300 lb. thrust), with a two-seat variant also planned.
The Schweizer 330 and S-333 are a series of 3-4-place, single-turbine-powered military training/utility helicopters developed out of the piston-powered S-300. The S-330 and the S-330SP were both powered by a 420-shp. Rolls-Royce Model 250-C20W turboshaft engine derated to 235 shp.; the S-333 is also powered by the 250-C20W. Through 2009, 32 S-330s and 60 S-333s were produced.
The Eurocopter BO105 is a 5-7-seat, twin-turboshaft-engine, single-main-rotor utility helicopter used for both military and commercial roles. BO105CB/CBS models were powered by two Rolls-Royce 250-C20B turboshaft engines rated at 420 shp. each for takeoff, while the BO105LS featured a pair of Rolls-Royce 250-C28C turboshafts rated at 500 shp. each for takeoff. Approximately 1,400 BO105s, including 680 military BO105s, were built through 2005. The newer and more advanced EC135/635 light twin has replaced the BO105 in Eurocopter’s product line.
Jacques Serre (see photos) has been named senior vice president-systems engineering, Martin Sion director of the space engines division and Pierre Syx vice president-economic and financial affairs/corporate secretary at Snecma , Courcouronnes, France. Serre was head of the operations division, Sion head of the equipment and accessories center of industrial excellence at Snecma’s production division and Syx vice president-administrative and financial affairs.
Brandi L. Festa has been promoted to director of finance and administration/principal accounting officer/secretary-treasurer from corporate controller of the Emrise Corp. , Eatontown, N.J. She succeeds CFO D. John Donovan, who has resigned.
Two days after Southwest Airlines unveiled its proposed $1.4-billion acquisition of AirTran Airways, TransDigm Group Inc., a mid-size supplier of aircraft components, announced a deal of almost similar size to buy McKechnie Aerospace Holdings. It was barely noticed in the mainstream media. Nor was much attention paid when Safran SA announced on Sept. 20 that it would pay $1.1 billion to acquire L-1 Identity Solutions, a biometrics company that was the brainchild of L-3 Communications Holdings co-founder Robert LaPenta.
William Garvey’s “Proceeding as Planned” (AW&ST Sept. 6, p. 45) commended Gulfstream for following dates and budgets on its G650 program, a practice not often heard of late. He listed programs that could follow neither a budget nor a schedule, including the 787, F-35, A400M and A380. However, there is one significant program that has been on time and within budget that should receive credit, the Boeing-Navy EA-18G Growler now joining fleet squadrons and replacing the EA-6B Prowler. It even beat some timelines.
