Fuji T-7 The Fuji T-7, also known as the T-3 Kai or the KM-2F, is a two-seat basic/primary trainer derived from Fuji’s earlier T-5. The T-7 is powered by a 450-shp. Rolls-Royce 250-B17F turboprop engine. First flight of a prototype, converted from an existing T-3, occurred in 1998. In 2000, the T-7 was selected over the Pilatus PC-7 as the new primary trainer for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. T-7 deliveries began in 2002, with 41 produced through 2006. Production of eight additional T-7s is forecast.
Hawker Beechcraft has won a $3-billion contract for procurement of T-6A Texan II training aircraft in Lots 14-20 and ground-based training systems and service support for the U.S. Air Force and Navy. Northrop Grumman snagged a $44.5-million add-on contract for peacetime support of the Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. And, General Atomics took home a $22-million contract increase for MQ-9 Predator-B parts and maintenance at Creech AFB, Nev., and deployed sites elsewhere.
Aermacchi MB-339 The MB-339 was developed as a follow-on to Aermacchi’s MB-326. The first prototype flew in 1976. Propulsion is provided by a Rolls-Royce Viper Mk 632-43 engine (4,000 lb. thrust) or a Viper Mk 680 (4,400 lb. thrust). More than 220 aircraft for flight training and light air combat have been produced. The MB-339CD variant is a lead-in trainer for Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon pilots in the Italian air force.
Deborah G. Droke has been appointed Washington-based director of sales development for the Mid-Atlantic U.S. for South African Airways. She was manager of national account sales for US Airways.
Korea Aerospace Industries T/A-50 Samsung began development of the KTX-2 advanced trainer in 1992. Lockheed Martin is a participant in the program and is responsible for avionics, flight control systems and wings. The program was formally launched in 1997, and the first prototype flew in August 2002. Two versions are being developed: the T-50 trainer and the A-50 lead-in fighter trainer. Both are weapons-capable. The T/A-50 is powered by a General Electric F404-GE-402 turbofan engine (17,700 lb. thrust). An estimated 152 aircraft may be produced in the 2007-16 period.
Sikorsky H-92 A single-main-rotor, medium-lift helicopter powered by two GE CT7-8 turboshaft engines rated at 2,550 shp. each, the H-92 is the military version of the S-92. The H-92, configured for the land assault mission, offers a 200-n.m. radius of action while carrying 22 troops at 3,000 ft. on a 91.5F day. In the amphibious assault role, the aircraft has a dual sortie radius of action of 65 n.m. with 22 troops under 103F conditions.
Aermacchi M-346 The M-346 is a two-seat, advanced jet trainer under development. It is derived from the Yakovlev Yak-130. The M-346 is powered by two 6,280-lb.-thrust Honeywell F124 turbofan engines. First flight occurred in July 2004. Through 2006, three prototypes had been produced. A total of 86 aircraft are forecast to be built during the 2007-16 period.
Eurocopter BO105 This 5-7-seat, twin-turboshaft-engine, single-main-rotor utility helicopter was issued 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. The BO105LS features a pair of Rolls-Royce 250-C28C turboshafts rated at 500 shp. each for takeoff. Approximately 1,400 BO105s, including some 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.
Eurocopter UH-145 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 738 shp. each. The aircraft was selected for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter 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.
Alenia/Aermacchi/Embraer AMX The AMX is a counter-air and close-air-support aircraft powered by a single 11,030-lb.-thrust Rolls-Royce Spey Mk 807 non-afterburning turbofan. Alenia and Aermacchi initially pursued independent designs for Italy’s required attack/support aircraft, but began to collaborate in 1978. Embraer joined the team in 1980. The resulting single-seat aircraft had its maiden flight in 1984, with a two-seat trainer variant, the AMX-T, following in 1990. Approximately 205 AMX aircraft have been built.
Alliant Technologies and United Space Alliance have demonstrated that they can recover a test unit for the first stage of NASA’s Ares 1 crew launch vehicle. The test at the Army’s Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona is the first of six planned during the next 18 months and involved ejecting the test unit at 17,500 ft. from a C-17 transport. The chute weighs one ton and has a diameter of 150 ft.—14 ft. larger than the main chutes used on the solid rocket boosters for the space shuttle. After completing its burn, the Ares 1 first stage will weigh 170,000 lb.
Airbus will pitch its A380 to executives of United Airlines and Northwest Airlines before the end of the year, says Allan McArtor, chairman of Airbus’s North American division. “They will fly the aircraft at some point either on their own or with alliance carriers,” he says. “They will have to because they can’t compete against it.” McArtor says visits to United in Chicago and Northwest in Minneapolis will occur in late November or December.
The Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, now 44 months into what were to have been just three-month missions, are beginning to explore terrain features strikingly different from their already diverse discoveries on Mars, now 87 million mi. from Earth.
The U.S. Air Force has successfully completed the first separation tests of the GBU-39 Small-Diameter Bomb (SDB) from the internal weapons bay of a Lockheed Martin F-22 as part of the fleet-wide Increment 3.1 upgrade program.
Eurocopter AS555 This military version of the AS355 is a twin-turboshaft-powered utility helicopter. Military uses include forward observation, light attack, reconnaissance, naval search-and-rescue, light anti-shipping and anti-submarine warfare. More than 700 AS355/555s were built through 2006. Sixteen more AS555s are expected between 2007-16.
Kawasaki OH-1 Power for this tandem-seat, twin-engine armed scout helicopter is provided by a pair of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries TS1-10 turboshaft engines, rated at 885 shp. each. An AH-2 attack helicopter derivative has been proposd that features uprated engines and unspecified armament capabilities. The AH-2 initially was rejected in favor of the Boeing AH-64 Apache, but a mixed buy of AH-64s and AH-2s could yet occur. Twenty-two aircraft were built through 2006, and another 42 are expected between 2007-16.
The Swedish army has acquired six Elbit Systems Skylark I mini-unmanned aerial vehicles designated as Falken. Five of the hand-launched UAVs are for use with the Swedish-led Nordic Battle Group that is to go on standby Jan. 1 for European Union crisis response operations. The sixth system is assigned to the K 3 mechanized battalion in Karlsborg for training. The Falken system includes the 11-lb. UAV and a portable ground terminal for receiving electro-optical infrared imagery from the vehicle’s camera payload. The aircraft has a range of up to 10 km. (4 mi.) and a 90-min.
Joe Nadol, an aerospace analyst for JPMorgan, was surprised to find himself seated next to a high-ranking Chinese military officer on a recent domestic flight in China. On the same plane, a business tycoon sought to carve out some privacy by reserving two first-class seats for himself. “Those are things you just don’t see in the U.S.,” Nadol says. In his mind, the presence of such men on a regular airline flight underscored the absence of private jets in a nation that is on the verge of becoming the third-largest economy in the world.
Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Lockheed Martin was selected as the winner of the JSF program in 2001. The JSF is to be available in three versions: the F-35A CTOL, F-35B Stovl and F-35C carrier-based attack variant. All versions are powered by a single turbofan engine: either a Pratt & Whitney F135 or a GE/Rolls-Royce F136. Both are rated at 40,000 lb. thrust. Lockheed Martin’s partners in the F-35 project include Northrop Grumman and BAE. Planned U.S.
The STS-120 astronaut crew led by U.S. Air Force Col. (ret.) Pam Melroy will be at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) this week for launch pad safety training and a countdown dress rehearsal Oct. 10 with the crew inside shuttle Discovery on Pad 39A. Launch Control Center technicians will count down the unfueled vehicle as planned for its launch at 11:38 a.m. EDT Oct. 23. The simulation will end with a practice pad abort, when the crew must exit the vehicle quickly and prepare to descend from the top of the massive launch pad in slide wire baskets.
Mitsubishi F-2 The Mitsubishi F-2 is a single- and twin-seat air combat fighter/interceptor aircraft based on the Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 40. 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 GE F110-GE-129 turbofan engine, license-produced by IHI. Some 69 F-2 aircraft were built through 2006, plus four flying prototypes. Production of 29 aircraft is forecast for the 2007-16 period.
Andrew Fitzgerald has formed aircraft consultancy Fitzgerald & Associates, Aurora, Ore. He has retired as vice president-aircraft acquisitions, sales and maintenance development for KaiserAir Inc., Oakland, Calif.
Boeing E-3/E-6 Series A special-purpose military aircraft based on the Boeing 707, the E-3 AWACS and E-6 are out of production. Boeing is now promoting 767-based AWACS aircraft. The E-3 made its first flight in February 1972. The aircraft is powered by four turbofan engines: Pratt & Whitney TF33s or CFM International CFM56-2s. The E-6A uses four F108-CF-100 (CFM56-2A-2) turbofans. A total of 76 E-3s and 17 E-6s were built. Another 707-based special-purpose military aircraft is the Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint Stars.
Passengers planning to carry remote-control toys in carry-on baggage will be subject to closer additional Transportation Security Administration scrutiny. The TSA, which is monitoring potential methods of terrorist attack, says its latest concern is not associated with a specific threat. Rather, the TSA points out that such toys “can be used to initiate devices used in terrorist attacks.”
