Trelleborg’s VCT11 sealing compound is a low-temperature fluorocarbon (FKM) material, well-suited for aerospace engine applications requiring high-temperature performance and low-temperature capabilities, the company states. Seals are available as O‑rings and in a variety of geometries and gaskets. Operating below -40F, VCT11 is one of a few materials that meet AMS 7379 requirements—specifications for low-temperature FKMs. VCT11 also is resistant to high thermal stability oils.
Boeing Shanghai Aviation Services, a partnership between the manufacturer, Shanghai Airlines and Shanghai Airport Authority, has opened a two-bay hangar at Pudong Airport. It will provide line and heavy maintenance, repair and overhaul services, and undertake upgrades to airplane interiors, avionics and inflight entertainment systems.
Previously circumspect, Chinese space officials are out front now about their interest in sending their astronauts to the Moon on their own, even as they worked the halls of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) here to establish closer outside links for human-spaceflight cooperation.
The British defense acquisition process is seriously flawed, and its equipment program unaffordable, requiring a fundamental overhaul of both. This is the stark message of the U.K. Defense Ministry-commissioned review of acquisition led by Bernard Gray, finally published last week. Gray—a former special adviser within the ministry—was brought in to complete the report by the previous secretary of state for defense, John Hutton.
Landing a job on the flight deck will become a lot tougher, if a bipartisan measure that passed the House last week becomes law—the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009 (H.R. 3371). Its author, House aviation subcommittee Chairman Jerry F. Costello (D.-Ill.), says, “At the heart of H.R.
Europe’s regional airlines are concerned the traffic recovery may not be strong enough to carry many financially weak carriers through the coming winter. At the recent European Regions Airline Assn. (ERA) annual meeting here, carriers expressed confidence that the worst is behind them in terms of traffic. ERA Director General Mike Ambrose even made a plea for financial assistance by European governments, but at the same time admitted that is unlikely to actually happen.
A contract covering a substantial element of the partner nations’ required cost savings on Eurofighter Typhoon support was placed with BAE Systems last week. The £400-million ($654-million) deal is for support of the aircraft’s radar and its defensive aids sub-systems. The contract provides incentives for BAE to sort technical issues more quickly and reduce required repairs The contract is meant to deliver a 50% saving from the previous agreement for the same equipment.
Deterrence and war-fighting tenets established through nuclear weapons, conventional warfare and other means do not necessarily translate reliably into cyber-space, a new Rand Corp. analysis stresses. In a recently released report on cyber-deterrence and cyber-war for USAF and the Pentagon, analyst Martin Libicki warns that attempts to transfer policy constructs from other forms of warfare will not only fail, but also hinder policy and planning.
The 300C is a piston-powered light utility and training helicopter. Specially configured models are offered for a variety of military missions, including introductory pilot training and scout/observation. Almost 1,200 Model 300 helicopters were manufactured by Schweizer through 2008, and another 503 are expected in 2009-18.
Seven years ago, U.S. Army Spc. Bryan Welch wandered through the crumbling Soviet-era buildings at Bagram Air Field outside Kabul as a young enlisted soldier, picking through the blasted hulks in the early days of the war in Afghanistan.
The UH-145 is an eight-passenger, twin-turboshaft-powered multimission helicopter based on the EC145. Power comes from two Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engines rated at 738 shp. each. The aircraft was selected for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program, which has a requirement for at least 322 units. The UH-145 represents EADS North America’s first major win as a prime contractor for the U.S. military. Deliveries began in late 2006, with 53 units produced through 2008. An additional 320 helicopters are earmarked for production in 2009-18.
The Saab Gripen is a single-engine, single- and twin-seat, multirole combat aircraft. The first prototype flew in 1988, followed in 1992 by the first flight of the initial production aircraft. Deliveries began in mid-1993. The Gripen is powered by a single Volvo/GE RM12 turbofan engine rated at 18,000 lb. thrust with afterburning. Main competitors include the Lockheed Martin F-16 and F-35 JSF, the Boeing F/A-18, the Dassault Rafale and the Eurofighter Typhoon. An estimated 216 Gripen aircraft were produced through 2008, and another 74 could be built during 2009-18.
It’s time to stop pretending transatlantic defense decisions are based purely on technical issues in a fair competition. The USAF tanker deal is fundamentally political because you are competing an apple against an orange, and how the specification is written will determine the winner. The original A400M program was made even more political by reversal of the original engine selection in favor of a purely European solution.
The success of a bold move by satellite equipment specialist ViaSat to introduce a step change in the broadband satellite market—by offering bandwidth, speeds and prices comparable to terrestrial systems—now appears assured following its takeover of consumer broadband leader WildBlue Communications. The acquisition, announced on Oct. 1, will see ViaSat acquire privately held WildBlue for $568 million in cash and stock. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of ViaSat’s fiscal year, which ends Apr. 2, pending arrangement of financing.
The military version of the AS365, the AS565 is a twin-turboshaft-powered multirole helicopter, the military uses of which include ground support, antiarmor, scout, medical evacuation, search-and-rescue, antisubmarine and antisurface vessel warfare and airborne assault. The AS366G (U.S. Coast Guard designation HH-65) was developed for the USCG SRR helicopter competition. The Coast Guard’s HH-65s were reengined with Turbomeca Arriel 2C2s. More than 890 AS365/565s were produced through 2008; 21 AS565s are forecast to be built in 2009-18.
These are 4-7-seat, single-engine, single-rotor military and commercial utility helicopters. The militarized MD 500/530 Defender series is no longer in production.
The single-engine Bell 206 helicopter can be used in military roles such as flight training, forward observation/scout, light attack, liaison and search-and-rescue. More than 360 Bell 206s are operated by military and paramilitary organizations worldwide. However, no additional production specifically for military applications is anticipated. Bell has announced production of the 206B-3 will end in 2010, though production of the 206L-4 will continue. Through 2008, 7,023 Bell 206 helicopters were produced, and 182 are forecast to be built through 2018.
A twin-engine, multirole military and commercial helicopter that has been produced in a variety of models for antisubmarine warfare, training, utility and transport roles. The Super Lynx 300 series aircraft, currently in production, is powered by a pair of LHTEC CTS800 turboshaft engines rated at 1,384 shp. each.
The FAA’s Ft. Worth Aircraft Certification Office transferred the Eclipse 500 type certificate to Eclipse Aerospace LLC on Sept. 30, three years after its original award. Eclipse Aerospace purchased the assets and intellectual property of bankrupt Eclipse Aviation. The European Aviation Safety Agency is to expected to reissue the European EA 500 TC to the new company as well. Both approvals are key to resuming new aircraft production deliveries, but those are unlikely to begin for another year or more.
Rockwell Collins won a $33.5-million contract for the Block 45 upgrade to the U.S. Air Force’s KC-135 refueler cockpits. In the kit are improved global air traffic management systems, including new autopilot flight director, radar altimeter and electronic engine instrument display systems. During the development phase, two KC-135s will be modified in preparation for upgrades to up to 415 KC-135s. Rockwell has already enhanced 300 KC-135 cockpits, but the Block 45 improvement includes upgraded safety features, including vertical navigation capabilities.
The T-45 Goshawk is a variant of the BAE Hawk designed specifically for aircraft carrier pilot training. Boeing and BAE jointly produce the aircraft. The twin-seat aircraft is powered by a single Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk 871 non-afterburning turbofan (5,450 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.
Leonid Komm has been appointed chairman of the Moscow-based Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. He is vice president-program and development management of the United Aircraft Corp. Vladimir Prisyazhnyuk has been promoted to president from senior vice president/technical director. He succeeds Victor Soubbotin, who is now deputy director general for commercial aircraft programs.
