Frank Morring, Jr. (Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China)
Seven new Chinese astronauts will soon start their spaceflight training—including the first two women in the expanded corps of 21—as China moves ahead on a path aimed at launching a 20-metric-ton station by 2020.
The series consists of single- and twin-engine, single-main-rotor attack helicopters. Through 2007, Bell delivered approximately 2,300 AH-1s of all variants, while Fuji delivered about 90. Presumably the final iteration of the Cobra, the AH-1Z is an improved version of the AH-1W for the U.S. Marine Corps and for export. Powered by two GE T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines rated at 1,723 shp. each, the AH-1Z features a four-blade composite main rotor and uprated (2,625-shp.) transmission, providing 30% more power to the rotor.
The F-16 fighter was initially produced by General Dynamics, which was later acquired by Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin continues to build the aircraft, which has also been manufactured under license by a number of companies. The first F-16 prototype flew in 1974. The F-16A, F-16C and F-16E are single-seat fighters, while the F-16B, F-16D and F-16F are dual-seat, combat-capable trainer versions. The F-16 is powered by a single turbofan engine, either the GE F110 or the Pratt & Whitney F100. About 4,431 F-16s were manufactured through 2008.
Lufthansa has become Europe’s largest airline group through its recent acquisitions (see p. 40). But it is now seeking to make its core business more efficient, along with its long-haul hub in Frankfurt, where a Boeing 747-400 departs from Runway 7 Left. Joseph Pries photo.
An antiarmor/ground attack/utility helicopter, the AW129 is powered by two Rolls-Royce GEM 1004 turboshaft engines rated at 890 shp. each, or two LHTEC CTS800 engines rated at 1,373 shp. each. First flight occurred in 1983, with Agusta delivering 65 aircraft, including five prototypes, through 2003. The AW129 was recently selected to fill a Turkish army requirement for up to 92 attack helicopters.
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, and initial production deliveries followed in September 2000. Lockheed Martin supplies various components for the F-2. The aircraft is powered by a single 29,500-lb.-thrust GE F110-GE-129 turbofan engine, license-produced by IHI. Approximately 79 F-2 aircraft were built through 2008, plus four flying prototypes.
In an article in the Oct. 5 edition (p. 40), the manufacturer of the of EchoStar’s Nimiq-5 satellite was misidentified. The spacecraft was built by Space Systems/Loral. The cover photo description in the Table of Contents (p. 4) for the Oct. 5 issue should have listed the manufacturer of the U.S. Navy MH-60R helicopter as Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin.
A tandem-seat, antitank/fire support helicopter designed for all-weather, day/night antitank, ground support, antihelicopter and armed escort missions, the tiger is powered by two MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshaft engines rated at 1,285 shp. each at takeoff. Variants include the HAC Tiger, a basic antitank version for the French army that can carry antiarmor missiles and Mistral air-to-air missiles; HAP Gerfaut, an escort and fire support version for the French army that can carry a chin-turret-mounted 30-mm.
Malaysia-based AirAsia has deferred delivery of a second group of Airbus A320s until 2014 from 2011 in addition to eight A320s already deferred from 2010 arrival. A third of the 48 airplanes it originally contracted to receive in the next two years have now been delayed. Of the 175 A320s ordered, AirAsia has received 64, and it must decide this month about concluding the remaining deliveries.
The Typhoon is a delta-wing, single- and two-seat, supersonic, air superiority combat fighter produced by Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH., a consortium that includes Alenia, BAE Systems and EADS. The aircraft is powered by two Eurojet EJ200 axial-flow, low-bypass, augmented turbofans rated at roughly 20,250 lb. thrust each. The initial prototype flew in 1994. Approximately 160 Typhoons were built through 2008. An estimated 505 Typhoons are forecast for production in 2009-18.
Hamad Obaidalla (see photo) has been named chief commercial officer and Neil Mills chief financial officer of Flydubai . Obaidalla was divisional senior vice president-network operations for Emirates, while Mills was procurement director of EasyJet.
The F-CK-1 (also called the Indigenous Defense Fighter) is a light fighter aircraft developed by the Taiwan state-owned aerospace company in the 1980s. Powered by two Honeywell F125-70 turboshaft engines, the aircraft entered service in 1994. In all, 131 production aircraft were manufactured by the time production stopped in 1999.
Andrew Ward (see photo) has been promoted to chief investment officer from managing director of investment strategy and asset allocation of Chicago-based Boeing . He succeeds Mark Schmid, who is now the University of Chicago’s chief investment officer. Anthony M. Parasida (see photo) has been appointed president of St. Louis-based Boeing Integrated Defense Systems’ (IDS) Global Services and Support. He was vice president/general manager for Boeing’s Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare & Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems.
The TH-28 is a single-main-rotor, turbine-powered militarized instrument-flight-rules-training derivative of the commercial Model 480 with the interior configured for three: two student pilots and instructor. The model was the unsuccessful Enstrom candidate for the U.S. Army’s New Training Helicopter (NTH) program. Only five TH-28s are expected to be built in 2009-18.
There are a lot of new faces at the top of the aerospace and defense industry, with a half-dozen CEOs named recently and a seventh appointment imminent.
The B-2 stealth bomber is a long-range nuclear and conventional strike/attack aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force. It is powered by four 17,300-lb.-thrust GE F118-GE-100 turbofan engines. The B-2’s maiden flight occurred in 1989, and the 21st and final aircraft was delivered in 1997. Only the final two B-2s were delivered in full Block 30 configuration, but the remaining 19 bombers were subsequently upgraded to that standard.
A twin-engine, tandem-rotor, medium-/heavy-lift transport helicopter, the CH-47 first flew in 1961 and is currently offered in several variants, either as new-build helicopters or as conversions. The new CH-47F is powered by two 4,733-shp. Honeywell T55-GA-714A engines with full-authority digital engine control (Fadec). Honeywell has begun supplying kits to upgrade the T55-L-712 engines of the U.S. Army’s CH-47Ds to the new T55-GA-714A standard. The U.S. Army intends to acquire 514 new Chinooks, including 339 CH-47Ds rebuilt to the F standard and 113 new-build CH-47Fs.
The British Defense Ministry has awarded AgustaWestland a £439-million ($698.5-million) contract for the integrated operational support (IOS) of the British Army’s 67 WAH‑64 Apache attack helicopters. AgustaWestland will act as prime on the program, with Boeing and Lockheed Martin as subcontractors. The pact runs until March 2014 and is aimed at providing increased availability while delivering a cost saving of £50 million. Depth support for the Apache AH Mk.1 is carried out at Wattishham.
David Johnson, senior manager for space programs for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Grand Prairie, Tex., has received the NASA Astronauts’ Personal Achievement Award or Silver Snoopy “for delivering exemplary quality and ensuring flight safety for the space program.” Recipients are cited for contributions to the Space Flight Awareness program, which recognizes achievements in quality, safety and mission success.
The C-17 is a long-range transport aircraft powered by four 40,440-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines. The C-17 prototype, designated T-1, first flew in 1991. The C-17 can carry vehicles such as the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the M1 Abrams main battle tank. Boeing has proposed a new version called the C-17B, which could start service entry in 2013 or 2014 if the demand for the C-17 continues. The U.S. Air Force operates more than 170 C-17s and has received funding for 205 C-17s.
The British Defense Ministry is trying to push the acquisition process for an armed long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle in the first quarter of 2010 to avoid the requirement becoming ensnared in the pending full-blown defense review. The tentative in-service date is 2015.
Germany becomes the fifth European country with a dedicated secure military communications satellite network, following the successful launch of its first spacecraft. The satellite, ComsatBw-1, was orbited by an Ariane 5 ECA during the late hours of Oct. 1, along with a civilian telecom spacecraft, Amazonas-2. The launch was the fifth of the year for the Ariane 5 and its 33rd success in a row.
These medium-lift antisubmarine warfare and special-purpose maritime helicopters are powered by two GE T700-GE-401/401C turboshaft engines rated at 1,690-1,860 shp. each. Current production models include the MH-60R and the MH-60S. The MH-60R configuration combines systems and capabilities from earlier Seahawk variants, plus further upgrades. The U.S. Navy plans to procure 252 new-build MH-60Rs as well as 271 MH‑60Ss.
.Jens Flottau in “Curfew Kerfuffle” (AW&ST Sept. 14, p. 49) left me with the question: “Why did the Germans scrunch the new runway in between the old ramp and two towns, highways and a river? The new eastside approach and departure path is right along 2 mi. of a major surface route. When Terminal 3 is completed, aircraft will have to reach it from the new runway by taxiing across the main ramp, two runways and a bunch of taxiways.
The PC-9 tandem-seat military flight trainer is produced by Pilatus and has also been assembled under license by Hawker de Havilland Ltd. A PC-9 prototype first flew in May 1984, followed by initial production deliveries in 1986. The current production model is the PC-9M, which was introduced in 1997. The PC-9M is powered by a single 1,150-shp. Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-62 turboprop engine. About 276 aircraft have been built to date. The PC-9 is no longer in production but is available for order.
