The wing and fuselage of the first production prototype Bell/Agusta BA609 civil tiltrotor have been mated at Bell's facilities in Fort Worth. Plans call for the aircraft to fly in August 2001 followed by FAA certification in 2003. Bell is building four prototypes for the flight test program. Production fuselages for all BA609s will be built by Fuji Heavy Industries. Aircraft will undergo final assembly at Bell's facility in Amarillo, Tex., alongside the military Bell Boeing V-22. Officials of Bell/Agusta Aerospace Co. report 83 orders for the BA609.
International Aero Engines has been named reference engine supplier for the Airbus Industrie Corporate Jetliner, under an agreement signed last month. The twinjet will be powered by 27,000-lb.-thrust V2527M-A5 turbofans.
Monogram Aerospace Fasteners, a division of Masco Tech, has developed an aerospace blind bolt designed for use in primary structures. The OSI Bolt is a unique fastening system which directly replaces conventional two-piece solid shank shear pins and collars. The one-sided installation bolt is installed from one side of the structure, which requires less labor than two-piece fasteners. Its many features include interference fit capability, high preload capability, vibration resistant to NAS1675 testing and minimal FOD cleanup.
Of all the innovative science and technology engineered into Europe's Mars Express mission, perhaps none is so bold as the lander. Christened Beagle 2, after Charles Darwin's legendary vessel, the lander will be pioneering in more ways than one. If successful, it will mark the first time countries other than the U.S. or the Soviet Union have landed a spacecraft on another planet. And assuming NASA's two Athena probes touch down safely, it will be the first time three landers have reached such a body at the same time.
The Czech air force plans to start networking its flight simulators so joint combat exercises can be conducted from separate facilities (AW&ST Nov. 27, p. 58). They plan to use the Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) protocol for the network, which is used by the U.S. military, but USAF is working to adopt the High Level Architecture (HLA) protocol for future aircraft simulations.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has signed a letter of intent with D. Logistics of Germany for the sale of cargo ground handling operator Cargo Service Center Holding.
The IPM 240 servo drive offers increased control, reduced system building time and lower cost. Because of advanced digital control algorithms, precise control of position, speed or torque of DC and brushless motors can be achieved over a wide range of conditions. The IPM240 also offers a range of integrated functions that eliminate the need for additional peripheral equipment, making it ideal for industrial application.
Passengers are increasingly criticizing European airlines, blaming their discontent on flight overbooking, extensive delays and poor information relay, according to consumer groups. The European Commission (EC) plans to address passenger concerns with cross-border legislation and voluntary commitments from airlines and airports (AW&ST June 26, p. 74). Travelers, however, are showing signs of impatience and pressing for the compilation of air travel consumer reports similar to the U.S. Transportation Dept.'s monthly data.
A secret 3-4-ton Boeing/National Reconnaissance Office data relay spacecraft is en route to its geosynchronous orbit station following launch Dec. 5 from Cape Canaveral on board an International Launch Services Atlas IIAS. The launch was managed by Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing. The Atlas-Centaur with four solid rocket strap-on boosters lifted off from Complex 36A at 9:47 p.m. EST and placed the spacecraft into an initial 20,241 X 146-naut.-mi. transfer orbit inclined 26.5 deg.
The ``Big Shot'' is a large-shot high-capacity JIT vacuum chamber that provides large injection molding machine users the opportunity to use a system with a high-capacity high volume JIT set up. A vacuum chamber is mounted to 6-, 10- or 15-lb. capacity polycarbonate sight tubes with a high temperature molded cone bottom. Adjustable photo eye sensors for the load signal reduces material storage at the throat of the machine, saving inventory costs. It mounts to a slide plate that moves off of the machine throat for quick access and clean-out during material changes.
The global market for military aircraft upgrades is becoming increasingly unstable as demand shifts away from modifications of existing aircraft toward acquisition of new equipment. According to a report prepared by Frost&Sullivan, the market for upgrades and service-life-extension programs is forecast to be ``sporadic and slow'' through 2005. Spending by U.S. and European/NATO forces on upgrades will be ``uneven,'' while the Middle East and Africa will be ``sluggish'' during the next four years.
British Airways will reduce capacity at London Gatwick Airport by 40% over the next two years, 30% of which will come from cuts in long-haul operations, as it abandons its strategy of building up a second transfer hub at London's second largest airport. The carrier will drop six unprofitable routes and move another 10 or more to Heathrow Airport. British Airways' Gatwick long-haul fleet will be reduced from 33 Boeing 747s, 767s and 777s to 20 777s.
Japan's Nozomi spacecraft is on schedule to enter an orbit in Mars' upper atmosphere in January 2004 after completing the second of three trips it will take around the Sun since its July 1998 launch.
President Clinton ordered the FAA to create the Air Navigation Service Organization (ANSO) to manage the world's largest air traffic control system, an expected action that stems from Congress' AIR 21 aviation improvement act and presidential commissions.
Does Raytheon Co. remain on track for a financial turnaround? Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown analyst Christopher Mecray thinks so, despite some misgivings by investors. He upgraded the company's stock last week to ``strong buy'' from ``buy,'' based on a sharp drop in the price recently. Triggering the pullback was management guidance for estimated 2001 earnings per share (EPS), which fell short of Wall Street forecasts. The company also signaled that Raytheon Aircraft is continuing to struggle in some areas.
The International Space Station is now the largest, most powerful spacecraft ever to orbit the Earth, following the addition of solar arrays spanning 240 ft. and emergency efforts by both the Endeavour astronauts and ground teams to correct problems that threatened this critical phase of station assembly.
Robert Fan (see photos) has been appointed technical director for fiber optic operations and Kees Trimpe European sales manager of Trompeter Electronics, Westlake Village, Calif. Fan was principal research engineer/technical director of LiteCom, Canoga Park, Calif., while Trimpe was a sales and marketing executive for Tyco Electronics in the Netherlands.
In the article ``United, ACA Share Contract Trade-Offs'' (AW&ST Dec. 4, p. 50), it was incorrectly reported as to which group in labor negotiations had stated that regional jets posed a job threat to mainline pilots. It was the pilots, not management, that expressed reservations about RJs.
The F Series line of fire retardant foam tape is a self-extinguishing foam which conforms to UL94 requirements. This tape can be combined with new materials and other foams and tapes to meet the challenges presented by changing environmental regulations in complex industrial materials. It is available in a range of densities from 6-40 lb. per cu. ft. and a variety of colors. Gaska Tape Inc., P.O. Box 1968, 1810 W. Lusher, Elkhart, Ind. 46515.
The K series is the smallest, lightest 200-400-amp., 28-vdc contactors available in the aerospace industry, according to the company. They weigh between 0.50-0.75 lb. and are extremely flexible. Their dual-usage contactors are designed for continuous operation at 200, 300 or 400 amps, or for start duty applications requiring starter inrush currents of up to 1,000-2,000 amp. The units have infinite mounting positions, including chassis and buss bar mounting. CII Technologies, Fairview, N.C. 28730.
Delta Connection Comair, which introduced U.S. travelers to regional jets (RJs) in 1993, now operates an all-jet operation from its main hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The carrier is in the process of phasing out its 12 Embraer Brasilia turboprop aircraft that provide service out of the airline's Orlando, Fla., hub. Comair, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, operates 103 Bombardier Regional Jets.
Hans Mark, director of defense research and engineering for the U.S. Defense Dept. is one of three honorary fellows recently named by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The others are: Dale B. Myers, who is retired from NASA and the Rockwell International Corp.; and Harold W. Ritchey, former technical director/president/CEO of the Thiokol Corp.
