Robert P. Barker has been appointed president of Parker Aerospace, Irvine, Calif. He was vice president for the Flight Control and Hydraulic Systems Branch. Barker has been succeeded by Joel H. Benkie, who was general manager of Parker's Control Systems Div.-Military.
HISTORIC AIRCRAFT Looking at Israel's fighting in the West Bank cities and the latest U.S. experience in Iraq, both U.S. and Israeli officials contend that the day of the manned, attack helicopter is over. The Israelis predict Iraq will see the last extensive use of attack helicopters in a major conflict. Post-war analyses will doom further attack helicopter development, they say. Pentagon officials agree to the extent that attack helicopters will not be used as an independent maneuver force unsupported by fixed-wing aircraft and artillery.
Improper handling of oxy-fuel equipment and compressed gas cylinders can lead to injuries and property damage. Proper handling techniques are critical to achieving a safe workplace. This $29.99, 40-min. safety video, Oxy-Fuel Equipment Safety & Operations, discusses all aspects of oxy-fuel cutting, welding, brazing and heating safety. Topics include: gas cylinder handling; torch operation; and information regarding fuel gas characteristics, gas regulation and personal safety. A Spanish-language version will be available later this year.
The TH-10 long-range, IR surveillance camera system is ruggedized for demanding environmental conditions and meets Mil-Std-810E environmental protection standards. Its mechanical, electrical and software interface integrates with established tracking or surveillance systems. Designed for use where continuous IR imaging is needed, the unit features O-ring seals and a dry nitrogen-purged environment. The mid-format (320 X 256 pixels) or Phoenix large-format (640 X 512 pixels) camera may be specified. Remote control of camera and lens functions is standard.
Air France and British Airways' joint decision to stop operating Concorde is unprecedented. For the first time in history, the fastest commercial transport in existence is being phased out without a more advanced design waiting in the wings. The French flag carrier is slated to ground its five-aircraft supersonic fleet on May 31 while BA will continue London-New York flights to Oct. 31 before putting an end to 27 years of supersonic operations.
TKO2 is a rust preventive, cleaner and lubricant for both ferrous and non-ferrous metals in indoor and outdoor environments. The product: penetrates and spreads rapidly; has lubricating capabilities at low and high temperatures; contains no hazardous, volatile petroleum solvents; is biodegradable; contains no potentially carcinogenic barium compounds; meets Mil-L-63460 requirements as a rust preventive for small automatic rifles; will not stain steel, and can be wiped off.
Alenia Spazio has handed over a second pressurized interconnection module for the International Space Station Node 2. ASI accepted the module, known as Node 2, on behalf of ESA, which is supplying the structure to NASA under a barter arrangement. Intended to permit the connection of the European Columbus laboratory and the Japanese Kibo lab, Node 2 is to be installed on the ISS in 2004.
Correction: In a story in last week's issue about the initial F-117 attack on Saddam Hussein, the role of Lt. Col. Mathew McKeon, commander of the 8th Expeditionary Fighter Sqdn., was incorrectly stated (AW&ST Apr. 7, p.24). He did not fly the mission but did provide the interview for the two pilots who conducted the attack.
Northrop Grumman/Rafael LiteningII targeting pods carried by A-10s (under right wing in photo) have given the Warthog considerable flexibility and multiplied the aircraft's effectiveness during the war in Iraq, according to aircrews.
Air operations focused last week largely on the complexities of urban battle in Baghdad. The key to taking the city turned out to be "a combination of finesse air power and guys who hold the terrain," said Col. Jon Miclot, operations officer for the 3rd Marine Air Wing.
Regarding "The Waiting Game" (AW&ST Mar. 10, p. 46), the repeated Europeans' claims that they are abiding by the 1992 European Union pact concerning Airbus A380 development is becoming passe.
THE BUCKS START HERE In an initiative aimed at facilitating the acquisition of additional orders for airline transports in a depressed market, Airbus plans to form Avion Capital--a financing subsidiary that would work with the CIT Group, Credit Agricole Indosuez and Germany's Kredietanstalt fuer Wiederaufbau. The joint venture, which will be headquartered in Dublin, will provide finance leases and long-term loans to Airbus customers on a nonexclusive basis, according to company officials.
AIAA 70 Airbus Industrie 14 ARINC 20 Arrow Gear Co. 3 Aviation Week & Space Technology "Rocket Scientist" 25** Aviation Week Conferences & Exhibitions Aerospace & Defense Finance Conference 76 Boeing Co., The 7 CFM International 9 Everest VIT Inc. 72 GE Aircraft Engines 2nd Cover Korea Aerospace Industries Association 11 Lockheed Martin 4th Cover Montreal Foreign Trade Zone at Mirabel 71 Northrop Grumman 25*
Richard Reed has become president of Triumph Group Inc. subsidiary Frisby Aerospace Inc., Clemmons, N.C. He was director of aftermarket services. Reed succeeds Jeff Frisby, who remains president of the Triumph Control Systems Group. MaryLou Thomas has been named president of Triumph Composite Systems Inc., Spokane, Wash. She was general manager, and had been director of operations when the facility was Boeing's Spokane Fabrication Operation.
James Breckinridge, NASA Origins Program theme technologist at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., has been named to receive the International Society for Optical Engineering's 2003 George W. Goddard Award. The award recognizes achievement in optical or photonic instrumentation for aerospace applications. Breckinridge is being cited for his work in interferometry, corrective optics for the Hubble Space Telescope, optical sciences for the Origins Program, and for teaching optical system engineering at the California Institute of Technology.
Qantas Airways said it will lay off 1,000 employees by June 30 in response to lower passenger loads due to the Iraq war and the outbreak of SARS. Another 400 permanent positions will be eliminated through attrition and 300 full-time positions are to be converted to part time.
NOBODY ON BOARD Unmanned aircraft continue to make a big impact on the war in Iraq. The high-flying Global Hawk provided the long-term surveillance for the B-1 strike at Saddam Hussein and his sons (see p. 28). In addition, during the disruptive sandstorms early in the campaign, it was able to continue its surveillance missions. "From the very beginning we've had Predators up in the vicinity [and] Global Hawk over the top of Baghdad in an orbit that runs as far north as Kirkuk and Irbil," said the war's air chief, Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Mosley.
VIPER/HUNTER INTERFACE The U.S. Army's Viper Strike precision munition, supplied by Northrop Grumman Corp. and dispensed from its Hunter unmanned aerial vehicle, scored seven direct hits in nine attempts against targets in demonstrations conducted Mar. 29-30. Targets ranged from compact pickup trucks to multiple rocket and missile launchers to a countermeasures tank. Cosponsored by the Army's Precision Fires Rocket and Missile Systems and UAV Systems Project Offices, the drops were performed at White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
European space managers are concerned that problems with Europe's expendable launch vehicle program may push back its reusable launch vehicle effort another two years or more, increasing the research gap with the U.S. and putting critical engineering know-how at risk. Planners have attempted to cobble together an RLV program since the European Space Agency's earlier Festip technology initiative ended in 1998--so far to no avail (AW&ST June 24, 2002, p.52).
Aerial refueling--a key to keeping aircraft instantly on call--has a number of new wrinkles, including positioning tankers far forward over the battlefield and rigorously timing refueling to keep aircraft from stacking up and thereby making an inviting target for enemy air defense. Perhaps the most salient figure involving refueling is that from the start of hostilities through Apr. 7, tankers passed 289 million lb. of fuel.
May 6-8--Aerospace Defense & Finance Conference. Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York. May 14-16--Homeland Security Summit & Exposition. Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, Va. June 16--Top 100 Stars of Aerospace, Paris (during the Paris air show). Sept. 16-18--MRO Europe, Cardiff, Wales. Oct. 14--Value Creation Conference The McGraw-Hill Companies Headquarters, New York. Oct. 28-30--A&D Programs & Productivity Conference & Exhibition. Arlington (Tex.) Convention Center.
UNITED STATES Editor-In-Chief: David M. North [email protected] Managing Editor: James R. Asker [email protected] Assistant Managing Editors: Stanley W. Kandebo--Technology [email protected] Michael Stearns--Production [email protected] Senior Editors: Craig Covault [email protected], David Hughes [email protected] NEW YORK 2 Penn Plaza, Fifth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10121 Phone: +1 (212) 904-2000, Fax: +1 (212) 904-6068
The final U.S. Air Force $800-million Lockheed Martin Milstar advanced military communications spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral Apr. 8 on board a $468-million Lockheed Martin Titan IVB. The mission completes the overall five-spacecraft Milstar constellation. Milstar spacecraft are providing key support for UAV and Special Forces operations in Iraq as well as Marine and Army battle support communications there. The launch was managed by the 45th Space Wing's 3rd Space Launch Sqdn.
LOOKING UP AT ROCKWELL COLLINS The company received a $30-million contract from Vision Systems International LLC (VSI) for the delivery of more than 300 Joint Helmet-Mounted Cuing Systems plus spares for the LRIP 3 (low-rate initial production) acquisition. The systems will be delivered over the next 18 months. The company's Kaiser Electronics business will provide the Helmet-Mounted Display. This procurement supports U.S. Navy F/A-18 and Air Force F15 and F-16 production commitments and retrofit obligations. A full-rate production award is expected later this year.
Swissair Flight 111 leaves a valuable safety legacy: Investigators were able to review aircraft flammability standards and improve testing and certification of materials. It also leaves a painful legacy: The lead investigator says there wouldn't have been an accident if flammable materials hadn't been positioned next to arcing wires.
