Aerojet has negotiated a one-year, $31- million extension of its production and launch operations contract with Lockheed Martin for first- and second-stage engines for Titan boosters. Aerojet's current $318-million production and $88-million launch operations contracts were due to expire in September 2002.
Rolls-Royce plc. has become the fifth founding partner in Exostar, bringing an engine maker's perspective to the aerospace industry's largest procurement and supply-chain management Internet exchange. Due diligence on the initiative began in February and negotiations concluded during the June 8-9 weekend. Rolls-Royce announced its participation June 15 in London and Exostar is to follow with an announcement June 18 at the Paris air show. Rolls-Royce's actual participation in the Exostar exchange is expected in the third quarter.
Bell also is teaming with ITT Industries to pursue international sales opportunities for the AH-1Z Super Cobra attack helicopter. ITT would provide the AN/ALQ-211 integrated countermeasures suite. In addition, Bell has selected Longbow International to develop the Cobra Radar System for the AH-1Z. The system uses a pod-mounted millimeter wave radar integrated with the existing M299 launcher and AGM-114L RF Hellfire missile. Longbow International is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman Corp.
A series of RF coaxial connectors designed for high-power military applications and high-temperature environments such as aircraft engines is being introduced by Tru-Connector. The connector scan can now be manufactured with Fluoroloy H dielectrics, which allows them to operate at up to 5,000 watts and temperatures to 200C, depending on connector type. Configurations include straight, right-angle and bulkhead connectors in both male and female designs for use with semi-rigid and flexible cables.
When Dave Gibbon, chief propulsion engineer at Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., needed a propellant tank for the smallest working satellite he had ever flown--the 6.5-kg. (14.3-lb.) Surrey Nanosatellite Applications Platform (SNAP-1)--he went to the scrap heap at Airbus. There he found a length of titanium tubing that was perfect for the 32 grams of pressurized butane that pushed the tiny spacecraft on a merry chase after a sister satellite, following their piggyback launch a year ago on a Russian Cosmos rocket.
Mirko Zgela has been named vice president-engineering of the Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group of Montreal. Kenneth Dandy has become vice president/general manager and Dave Calam manager of technical sales of subsidiary Pacific Avionics and Instruments Ltd. of Vancouver. Dandy was vice president-international business development, and Calam was a sales and marketing manager for Ferrotronic Electronics.
The Hammerhead 3 mobile computer is built for operator convenience and elimination of field failure. Computers are fully sealed and vacuum tested. Touch-screens replace keyboards, and its lightweight design makes it easy to use anywhere. A docking station and wireless modem facilitates data transfer. It is powered by a 400-MHz. Pentium chip, 256MD SDRAM, a 10GB or 20GB removable hard drive, and a 10.4-in. color display with pen or touch input. WalkAbout Computers, 2655 N. Ocean Drive #510, Singer Island, Fla. 33404.
Given the crash of so many dot.coms, having a track record helps if you want to attract venture capital. In that regard, Andrew Dumke has a tale to tell. After launching Avexus Inc. as an aftermarket spare parts trading exchange 15 months ago, Dumke decided that the whole aerospace exchange concept is putting the cart before the horse. ``Ultimately, exchanges make sense but most people need to get their internal houses in order'' to profitably use them, he said.
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is now licensing a software design code used to assess the risk of a jet engine's titanium rotor disk containing a dangerous metallurgical flaw that could cause fatigue cracking, and ultimately, possible catastrophic failure. One such failure in 1989 led to the crash of a DC-10 airliner at Sioux City, Iowa, after fragments from a disintegrating engine disk disabled the aircraft's hydraulic flight control systems.
This catalog has technical specifications, design details, custom products and designer kits for Gowanda's four major categories of inductors--surface-mount RF inductors, surface-mount power inductors, leaded RF inductors and leaded power inductors. More than 14 products introduced over the last year are featured, including the CC series of surface-mount inductors, and the CMF2 surface-mount common mode filter. The company provides magnetic components for signal and power applications.
Frank Quintavalle has been promoted to director from manager of e-commerce client relations and Jim Nelson to director of e-commerce integration solutions from a product line manager for Worldspan of Atlanta. John James has been appointed director of e-commerce business development for the Americas and Stacy Cantrell director of e-commerce programs. James was head of strategic, product and communication marketing for the XTRA On-Line Corp. Cantrell was director of content programming and operations for Cox Interactive Media's MP3Radio.com.
Karen K. Clegg has been named vice president/general manager of Honeywell Defense and Space and Garrett E. Mikita president of Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc., both in Columbia, Md. Clegg was president of Honeywell Federal Manufacturing and Technologies, while Mikita was vice president/general manager of Honeywell Supply Chain Services.
If anyone needs further evidence of how important Web collaboration is becoming in aerospace, look no further than Structural Dynamics Research Corp. At the Paris air show, SDRC will unveil TeamCenter, its entry in the race to build collaborative product management systems that use the Web as a computing medium.
The development and deployment schedules of the FAA's Stars program remain at risk and the cost continues to increase, according to FAA and Transportation Dept. officials.
Jack Vance has been named vice president-quality assurance and Robert P. Kaplan, a former member of Canada's Parliament, to the board of directors of Advanced Aerodynamics&Structures Inc., Long Beach, Calif.
These brushless motors are electronically commutated and have long motor life because there are no mechanical brushes to wear out. Hall effect sensors, built into the motor, provide feedback to the control electronics. By assembling the motor so the coils are outside the rotor, good heat dissipation and high overload capacity is attained. Continuous output power is 80 watts, maximum speed is 25,000 rpm. High-energy neodymium magnet use results in a high-torque capability in a small package. The motors are CE-approved for the European market.
UAL Corp.--parent company of United Airlines--plans to purchase 35 business jets from General Dynamics Corp.'s Gulfstream Aerospace, blurring the lines between business and commercial aviation and opening a new chapter in the remarkable evolution of aircraft fractional ownership. The $1.25-billion transaction includes a long-term maintenance agreement.
Bill Freeman has become director of sales and marketing for Southwest Companies Inc., Tulsa, Okla. He was sales manager for the Accessory Services Div. of Curtiss-Wright Flight Systems, Gastonia, N.C.
Xantrex Technology programmable power supplies were selected by NASA to test and repair electronic equipment on the International Space Station and visiting space shuttles. The 1,000-watt programmable power supplies (Xantrex model XHR, 150 volts, 7 amps) were launched in March on Discovery. The ISS's main power is generated from a solar photovoltaic array at 120VDC, which the Xantrex units convert to variable voltage levels required to test the electronic equipment, including avionics, that will be on the station.
Robert M. Chiusano has been appointed executive vice president/chief operating officer for government systems and Neal J. Keating executive vice president/ COO for commercial systems for Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Chiusano was vice president/general manager for government systems, while Keating held those posts in air transport systems.
The Series 9000 sensor is designed to determine the proximity of a piston inside a cylinder. The ultra-small magnetic proximity sensor is available in both solid-state electronic and reed styles, and is designed to mount on a variety of cylinders. It is used in applications in which the pistons have a very short stature and require a diminutive sensor. For added strength, the unit's electronics are housed in a rugged 20%-glass-filled module.
John K. Loh has been appointed manager of field service for the Dassault Falcon Jet Corp., Teterboro, N.J. He was senior field representative. Loh succeeds Bill Vonder Linden, who has become manager of spares technical programs.
