Investigators are reviewing flight data from the final flight of the HyFly hypersonic missile demonstrator to find out why the vehicle’s exotic propulsion system failed to operate, leaving it to plunge into the ocean after less than 1 min. of flight.
Pratt & Whitney is speeding up clearance tests of a follow-on F135 engine to try to minimize delays to the planned first flight of the Lockheed Martin F-35B. The scramble follows a turbine failure in the engine originally destined to power the short takeoff/vertical landing (Stovl) variant.
SES appears to have failed in a bid to acquire Space Communications of Tel Aviv, operator of the Amos telecommunications satellite network, although the future shareholding structure of the Israeli company remains unclear. The Spacecom board of directors said on Feb. 7 that it had rejected an unsolicited, non-binding tender submitted by SES on Jan. 22 as part of a strategy of seeking modest acquisitions to fill holes in its global satellite network, the world’s second largest after Intelsat/PanAmSat.
EADS’s Augsburg aerostructures unit is nearing completion of certification tests for the Boeing 787 aft pressure bulkhead. The trials, which included 165,000 fatigue cycles, began in April 2007. Although a sister company to Airbus, the EADS unit won the Boeing work several years ago, and it will be looking for more of that type of business, especially if the planned spinoff of the facility to OHB Technology goes forward. EADS has delivered 21 series-production aft pressure bulkheads to Vought Aircraft Industries for use on the 787’s aft fuselage section.
It’s been a hurry-up-and-wait situation for United Launch Alliance’s refurbishment of the nearly half-century old Space Launch Complex-3 here, but a strengthened new pad is now ready to debut Atlas Vs on the Pacific Coast. The first mission liftoff, scheduled on Feb. 26, is for the National Reconnaissance Office using an Atlas V in a 411 configuration—a 4-meter (13.1-ft.)-dia. payload fairing, one Aerojet solid rocket booster (SRB) motor and a single Pratt & Whitney RL10 Centaur upper stage.
USMC Brig. Gen. Randolph D. Alles has been nominated for promotion to major general. He is assistant wing commander of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at San Diego.
A key radar development for the British Royal Air Force’s Tornado fleet is threatened as a result of the Defense Ministry’s deliberations on procurement cuts and delays. Top level U.K. Defense officials will meet later this month to try to hammer out defense equipment and support plans for the next three years. One program that the officials may delay or even drop is the Reforger project, intended to upgrade the RAF’s Tornado GR4A fleet with an active electronically scanned array radar (AESA).
I must protest your naming Qian Xuesen Person of the Year (AW&ST Jan. 7, p. 56). Qian is more the “Trofim Lysenko” of China’s space efforts than their father. China only began to make progress in missile and space development after the death of Mao and end of the Cold War, and by finally ending its commitment to the “political” science of Qian. His achievement has only been to outlive those who knew his true nature and disastrous effect on Chinese space and missile efforts and science in general.
Robert Wall (Filton, England), Michael A. Taverna (Paris)
Airbus and its industrial partners are working on a strategy that could see alternative fuels introduced into operational service next year, with the target of having 30% of all aircraft powered by biofuel in 2030. However, along the way, several regulatory, scientific and logistical hurdles will have to be overcome. The long-term goal is to reduce the air transport industry’s carbon dioxide emissions.
Feb. 20-21—Shephard’s Defense IT ’08 Conference, London. Also, Mar. 17-19—Shephard’s Search and Rescue Conference and Exhibition 2008. Bournemouth (England) International Center. Call +44 (162) 860-6979, fax +44 (162) 866-9789 or see www.shephard.co.uk/events
Dutch aerospace industries and research labs are making notable inroads into both engine programs for Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). Stork Aerospace is poised to win up to $300 million in business as a supplier of a key titanium-made synchronizing ring component on Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine. The first unit produced by the company, destined for F-135 flight test engine No. 9 to fly in April 2009, was delivered Jan. 29. Seven more are under contract.
The European Space Agency’s Columbus laboratory—the crown jewel of Europe’s space program—is set to undergo experiment power-up this week following its launch Feb. 7 on Atlantis. After five years of setbacks, installation of the laboratory onto the International Space Station is set for Feb. 10. Columbus experienced two years of postponements related to Russian Service Module problems, then was grounded another three years by the Columbia accident in February 2003.
Robert Serabin (see photo) has been named general manager of the Freundlich Supply Co. of New York. He was an executive of the Bowman Distribution Div. of the Barnes Group.
Your Letter from the Editor (AW&ST Jan. 21, p. 3) addresses the issues of greenhouse gases emitted by commercial aircraft and the uses of allowances. As a major fan of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels, your letter further fueled my concern that the green movement could spell doom for both American military air demonstration teams’ continued operations.
Investigations into the original third-stage low-pressure turbine failure of the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine on Aug. 30, 2007, revealed a blade fatigue issue caused by the flow field from the stator ring immediately upstream. The uniform spacing of the stator vanes set up a wave pattern, the amplitude of which caused uneven stress on the LP blades, which vibrated as a result.
The decision to shift the role of program integrator from the military to industry is now irreversible because of Pentagon manpower cuts. But giving the job to contractors isn’t working very well either. Some critics say the fundamental problem is that major airframers like Boeing and Lockheed Martin build a platform and then ask the electronics houses like Raytheon and Northrop Grumman to stuff them with payloads.
I have to take issue with the letter from Scott Hubbard and Louis Friedman on their upcoming conference about alternatives to the Vision for Space Exploration (AW&ST Jan. 28, p. 386). Both have made it clear in other remarks that they believe a manned lunar return is a waste of NASA’s money. Therefore, I find it incredibly doubtful that an “invitation-only” event sponsored by these two will take a balanced approach toward the VSE.
Bolstered by a strong market for helicopters, French engine maker Turbomeca is launching a broad push to update its product line and develop technologies for new turboshaft engines.
First flight of the prototype Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) for India is tentatively scheduled for March 2009. The aircraft is being designed and developed by government-owned defense manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. The LCH will perform anti-tank, counterinsurgency, and support for combat search-and-rescue operations.
In March, Lockheed Martin will begin extensive laboratory tests of voice-recognition software (VRS) for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in preparation for flight evaluations scheduled for the third quarter of 2009.
Amy Butler (Washington), David A. Fulghum (Washington)
President Bush is in office for another year but his Fiscal 2009 Pentagon request indicates that political officials there already have a foot out the door given their willingness to let key military programs languish until the next administration arrives. The Defense Dept.’s $515.4-billion request for Fiscal 2009, the largest ever, will leave Bush’s successor with a host of unpaid bills and unanswered questions about the fate of some major acquisition programs.
The Bush administration is proposing to slash airport funding in its Fiscal 2009 budget, and—as they have done in years past when the White House has cut airport funding—congressional leaders have already signaled that they intend to restore the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds threatened by the budget request.
Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. and government officials are proposing to relocate all of Moscow’s main aerospace companies to Zhukovsky in an audacious move to create a national aviation center. The plan is to be presented to President Vladimir Putin before the end of this month. Zhukovsky, 12 mi. southeast of Moscow, is already home to the Gromov Flight Research Insitute and the Central Aero-Hydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI).
