Satellite communications have made it practical to locate a deployable ground station (DGS) a continent away from U-2s employed in low-level conflicts, reducing in-theater presence. Flights over Bosnia send their information to the DGS-2 complex at Beale AFB, Calif. The other ground station, DGS-1, is based at Langley AFB, Va., and is partly deployed in Saudi Arabia.
An unmanned aerial vehicle with a payload sensitive enough to listen in on low-power radio transmissions--for example between two terrorists using hand-held walkie-talkies--is expected to be flying for the U.S. Air Force over Bosnia by the first week in September.
VIRGIN ATLANTIC AIRWAYS SERVICE between Washington and London, starting June 26, will operate with Airbus A340 aircraft five days a week, and a Boeing 747 on Friday and Sunday, the heavier travel days. The carrier, which is entering the market with a range of low fares, hopes traffic will grow enough to require daily 747 service by next spring. The airline expects 50% of its revenues on the new route to come from business travelers. Details of Virgin Group's other current airline project--EuroBelgian Airlines--will be unveiled in two weeks.
The IN Lite Mil-Spec PC features one full-length, full-height AT expansion slot and two PCMCIA slots in a magnesium case. The 120-MHz., Pentium-based machine can accommodate up to 64 megabytes of dynamic random access memory and either an 800 megabyte or 1.3 gigabyte EIDE hard drive. The display can be up to a 12.1-in. XVGA color screen. It meets Mil-Std-810E for heat, vibration, moisture and altitude resistance, Mil-Std-1275A(AT) for 28 v. dc electrical system compatibility and Mil-Std-461D for electromagnetic resistance.
The ADS-927/883 is a 14-bit, 1-MHz. sampling analog-digital converter that meets Mil-Std-883. It is guaranteed to have no missing codes to the 14-bit level over the full military temperature range of -55-125C (-67-257F). It offers a signal-to-noise ratio of 77 dB. and -87 dB. total harmonic distortion. The 927/883 can be substituted for the 500 KHz. ADS-926/883, which has an identical pin layout. Applications include imaging systems, digital communications, radar and sonar. Datel Inc., 11 Cabot Blvd., Mansfield, Mass. 02048.
The first Gulfstream 5 flight test aircraft was built with an out-of-trim wing that initially caused the aircraft to roll right and its BR710-48 engine failed a mandatory bird-ingestion test. The problems are among the ``few blemishes'' uncovered since the flight test program began last November. ``There are no warts and pimples,'' Randy Gaston, a G5 test pilot, told customers during a technical briefing here Apr. 19.
The European Joint Aviation Authorities has certified a hybrid Litton GPS/INS navigation system with software integrity monitoring for sole-means of navigation on the Airbus A340/A330. With this ground-breaking airworthiness certification, those aircraft could fly en route and execute a nonprecision instrument approach to 250 ft. above the ground without reference to terrestrial navigation aids, so long as the national authorities who own the airspace approve.
Air Combat Command's only data link-equipped fighter squadron is demonstrating that the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) provides greatly enhanced situational awareness while decreasing workload, according to F-15C line pilots.
With a favorable agreement in place for expanded freighter services, the Japanese pressed President Clinton to agree to early talks on a new air services agreement during his recent visit to Tokyo. At the urging of his Transport Ministry, Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto reportedly sought an assurance from Clinton three times but got none. Still, a Japanese executive said the Transport Ministry's negotiating team was expected to leave for Washington within a few weeks.
The first Cessna 172 manufactured in 10 years flew earlier this month in Wichita, Kan. The updated 172 stayed aloft for 25 min. and achieved an altitude of 2,500 ft. The aircraft is one of three Model 172s being built in a former hangar at the company's East Pawnee plant in Wichita. The pilot manufacturing program is being used to streamline assembly techniques, train workers and recertify the type. Cessna is conducting similar preproduction runs with planned single-engine C-182 and C-206 models.
The Heater Pressure Decay Tester can perform tests mandated by FAA airworthiness directives 82-07-03 and 81-09-09 without removing the heaters from the aircraft. The kit works with Janitrol and Southwind heaters. It comes with expansion bulbs, supply assemblies, hoses, gauges and quick-change fittings. The removable temperature monitor measures from -58-1,999F. A mechanic can test combustion tube deterioration, heater output, overheat and thermostat switch settings, and make pressure switch adjustments and fuel pressure readings using the kit.
The Lockheed Martin/Boeing Tier 3-DarkStar drone crashed on its second flight last week, setting the program back by an estimated 3-8 months. The stealthy reconnaissance aircraft hit roughly 10 sec. after liftoff following a diverging series of pitch oscillations that culminated in an approximately 90-deg. pitchup followed by rolloff to the left, observers said. The No. 1 aircraft caught fire and only a few pieces remained. However, onboard data recordings appeared to be intact.
The U.S. Air Force's composite wings have matured well beyond the experimental or testing stage, and now maintain a heavy schedule of contingency and exercise support. Three Air Combat Command composite wings are organized as several squadrons of different aircraft types. They are quick-reaction, self-contained units that deploy to a theater with enough fire-power to conduct effective combat operations until backup support arrives. Once in place, they are trained to conform with that theater commander's rules of engagement and air-tasking cycle.
Despite the expected proliferation of reconnaissance drones, manned reconnaissance appears to have a bright future. The Air Force/Lockheed U-2 is flying about three times the Cold War sortie rate in the new multipolar world and is programmed to be operational until at least 2020.
Officials at CTT Systems AB of Sweden believe Boeing's decision to offer the Swedish company's Zonal Dryer as buyer-furnished equipment on new 767 transports and the experience of launch customer Martinair will help make the system a success. The Zonal Dryer is designed to remove water that accumulates in fiberglass insulation on commercial transports, especially above the cabin ceiling, said Thomas J. White, CTT's president and director of engineering.
This second-generation, computer-controlled air data test system can store test sequences from any aircraft or helicopter type. A user can configure test schedules via a personal computer program, then edit them on a hand-held terminal. Routines also can be uploaded via smart cards. The system can measure altitude and static pressure, airspeed dynamic pressure, true airspeed, Mach number, altitude rate, engine pressure ratio and airspeed rate. Altitude accuracy is 12 ft. at 30,000 ft., while true airspeed accuracy is 3 kt. The complete kit weighs 70 lb.
Vladimir Fishel has been appointed director of Russian projects for Spacehab Inc., Vienna, Va. He was vice president/ language operations manager for TechTrans International.
INTERNATIONAL AERO ENGINES' V2500-A5 is expected to be selected over the CFM International CFM56-5B as the powerplant for China Southern's 10 A320s and the 18 A321s that Asiana Airlines is expected to buy from Airbus. Both Asiana and China Southern, previously all-Boeing customers, fly the 737 with CFM International CF M56-3 powerplants. Asiana also is expected to purchase wide-body aircraft--either Boeing 777s or Airbus A330s, or both.
Based on a brief simulator session, the Air Force's F-117 flies much like any other large modern fighter, but is optimized as a stable bombing platform--a testament to fly-by-wire flight controls. The twin-engined aircraft, known for its faceted airframe, was built around existing systems already in service. Consequently, its F-16-derived quad-redundant fly-by-wire flight control system was tailored to the F117's mission--precision weapons delivery deep inside a high-threat environment.
The Model RFI-2816 is a rugged, 16-channel isolated thermocouple reference junction unit that meets Mil-Spec and environmental requirements for aircraft and ground applications. Each circuit is self compensating and fully isolated and shielded. The unit is accurate with +/-30 microvolts from the reference temperature electromagnetic frequency measured at 70F +/-5F and does not exceed +/-100 microvolts over a temperature range of -40-185F with standard base thermocouple materials. The standard unit is tested to 18.8g over a range of 20 Hz.-2 KHz.
THE GERMAN AIR FORCE IS ESTABLISHING a new tactical training center with two squadrons of Tornadoes and F-4s at Holloman AFB, N.M. The new command, which should be in place by mid-year, will have about 350 people and 12 Tornadoes initially. If German officials decide to incorporate a replacement training unit into the center, another 30 aircraft and more than 600 additional personnel could move to Holloman. German pilots have trained in the southwestern U.S. for years, taking advantage of the open airspace and clear weather.
NATO and allied peacekeeping forces in Bosnia will not be reduced but could be reshaped to deal with the new challenges they face as the military operation shifts to focus on assisting civilian reconstruction efforts. At a military committee meeting in Brussels last week, chiefs of staff of NATO member nations discussed the issue of possible troop reductions within the Implementation Force (IFOR). ``We have recommended that no troop reductions be made during this phase,'' U.S. Gen. John Shalikashvili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said.
JAPAN'S FLIGHT CREW UNIONS' FEDERATION has asked the Ministry of Transport to include its 4,000 members under a 1990 law designed to protect the health of nuclear power plant workers. Flight crews say they are worse off than the workers--radiation tests on flights from Japan to Europe and North America show that crews get three times the annual amount of radiation, according to Muranaka Tetsuya, an All Nippon Airways flight engineer and vice chairman of the federation.
Instrument Rating is a Microsoft Windows-based software program designed to prepare students for the FAA pilot exam. The software generates a 100-question custom test. The tests contain questions from each FAA subject code, and none of the questions will be repeated for the same user. On-screen illustrations and FAA references help support explanations. Tests are graded immediately, and a performance graph identifies areas where further study is needed. A log of past scores also is kept. Aviation Supplies&Academics Inc., 7005 132nd Place S.E., Newcastle, Wash.
SENIOR AIR FORCE OFFICIALS HAVE RESURFACED old complaints in the wake of the DarkStar UAV crash (see p. 24). They note that they originally required the first stealthy UAV, the old Tier 3, to carry a pilot during early flight tests to help avoid crashes. The requirement was a response to crashes that plagued other unpiloted projects.
