The F-22 Raptor is a single-seat air-superiority and ground-attack aircraft selected in 1991 as the U.S. Air Force's next fighter. Initial flight occurred in 1997. Propulsion is provided by two 35,000-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning turbofan engines. Lockheed Martin built 195 F-22s through 2012, when production ceased.
The rapid rise of air travel to and from China is an increasingly important dynamic for the airline industry. Overseas carriers and tourist agencies are looking for new ways to tap into the flow of Chinese tourists, while at the same time, the international growth of Chinese airlines is prompting them to consider how they can attract more foreign passengers.
The An-26 is high-wing, twin-engine tactical military aircraft that features a retractable rear ramp. The aircraft is powered by ZMKB Progress AI-24VT turboprops (2,820 shp each) and can carry up to 40 passengers 1,375 nm. The aircraft's first flight took place in May 1969, and more than 1,400 units were produced through 1986. Nearly 40 An-26 variants were produced, including some for firefighting, flying-hospital and electronic-intelligence applications.
The KC-390 is a twin-engine, high-wing military transport under development by Embraer. As envisioned, the KC-390 will be able to carry a payload of 50,705 lb. Embraer has selected International Aero Engines' V2500-E5 turbofan engine (27,000-29,000 lb. thrust) to power the new aircraft. First flight is planned for 2014, with service entry in 2016. To date, Argentina (6 aircraft), Brazil (28), Chile (6), Colombia (12), the Czech Republic (2) and Portugal (6) have committed to acquiring the KC-390, with the Brazilian air force acting as the program's prime sponsor.
A three-engine, medium-lift, multirole helicopter, the AW101 (formerly known as the EH101) has been produced in naval, military utility and civil versions. They have been equipped with a number of engines, such as the General Electric CT7 and T700 and the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322. Through 2012, 175 AW101s were produced. Some 52 more are forecast to be built in the 2013-22 period.
The P-8A maritime patrol/antisubmarine-warfare aircraft (ASW) is a variant of Boeing's 737-800 commercial transport, and is powered by two CFM56-7B turbofans rated at 27,300 lb. thrust each. The aircraft will succeed the Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion in U.S. Navy maritime patrol/ASW service. Flight-testing of the P-8A began in April 2009. The Navy plans to purchase 117 P-8As. India has ordered eight of the P-8I variant, with options for an additional four; the first of these arrived in December 2012.
The Hurkus is a primary and basic trainer aircraft under development by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to meet a Turkish air force requirement for 15 new trainers. The Undersecretariat for Defense Industries and TAI signed a Hurkus development contract in December 2006. TAI completed the aircraft's critical design review in April 2009, and first flight took place in August 2013. TAI is developing two versions. Hurkus-A will be certified with the European Aviation Safety Agency, according to CS-23 requirements.
The Chinook is a twin-engine, tandem-rotor, medium/heavy-lift transport helicopter that first flew in 1961. The current CH-47F production model is powered by two 4,733-shp Honeywell T55-GA-714A engines. The MH-47G Special Operations helicopter is based on the CH-47F. Through 2012, Boeing produced approximately 1,145 Chinooks, Kawasaki built 90 under license and AgustaWestland built 178 under license. Through 2012, 91 CH-47Ds had been converted to the CH-47F configuration, and 62 MH-47G conversions were completed.
The Antonov An-140 is a twin-engine transport primarily used as a commercial regional airliner, but also employed by the Russian defense ministry. The aircraft is powered by Motor Sich TV3-117VMA-SBM1 turboprop engines rated at 2,500 shp each, although Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127A engines (also 2,500-shp) may be used as alternatives. First An-140 flight occurred in 1997, and an estimated 30 have been built. The Aviacor plant in Samara, Russia, also manufactures the An-140, and Iran's HESA offers a license-built Oghab maritime-patrol aircraft variant.
GE Aviation plans to buy 500,000 gal. of biofuel annually for engine testing, beginning in 2016. The company uses more than 10 million gal. of jet fuel a year at its engine test centers. The company has signed a 10-year agreement with the D'Arcinoff Group to purchase synthetic jet fuel made from a combination of cellulosic biomass and natural gas using the Fischer-Tropsch process. Options are in place to order up to 10 million gal. annually at a cost comparable to that of traditional jet fuel, GE says.
After a tortuous, nearly two-year review, punctuated by Washington's budget spasms and political fights, U.S. nuclear and rocket scientists have a bold, new strategy for downsizing and upgrading the nation's nuclear warhead arsenal.
The K-8 is a tandem-seat trainer aircraft produced by Hongdu Aviation Industry Group, with 18% of components produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. First flight occurred in 1990. The K-8 is powered by either a 3,600-lb.-thrust Honeywell TFE731-2-2A turbofan engine or a 3,792-lb.-thrust ZMKB Progress AI-25TL turbofan. Three K-8 flying prototypes and at least 432 pre-production and production aircraft were produced through 2012, with another 162 forecast for production through 2022.
The C-130 is a four-engine, turboprop-powered military transport. Several variants have been produced, including the AC-130 gunship and the KC-130 tanker. First flight of a C-130 occurred in 1954, and the current production model, the C-130J, made its initial flight in 1996. The C-130J is equipped with four 4,591-shp Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 engines, new avionics and other improvements. Through 2012, Lockheed Martin produced 2,432 C-130/L-100 series aircraft: 463 C-130A/Bs, 491 C-130Es, 1,000 C-130Hs, 66 C-130Ks, 20 EC-130Qs, 279 C-130Js and 113 commercial L-100s.
The Pilatus PC-7 is a single-engine, turboprop-powered basic/primary military training aircraft. A Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25A, flat-rated to 550 shp, powers the PC-7, while the 700-shp PT6A-25C engine is installed on the PC-7 Mk II. Pilatus flew the first PC-7, a PC-3 piston-powered aircraft retrofitted with a PT6A-20 engine, in April 1966. However, lack of market interest resulted in cancellation of the program near the end of 1968. A second converted P-3 was flown in May 1975, with a fully aerobatic PT6A-25 for power.
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 production deliveries following in September 2000. The aircraft is powered by a single 29,500-lb.-thrust GE F110-GE-129 turbofan engine, license-produced by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries. Mitsubishi produced 98 F-2 aircraft, including four flying prototypes. F-2 production ended in 2011.
The Rooivalk is a twin-engine, tandem-seat attack helicopter initially developed with assistance by the South African Air Force (SAAF). Denel Aircraft continued subsequent development with in-house funds. Two prototype/demonstrator aircraft, one pre-production aircraft and 12 production-standard aircraft (for the SAAF) were produced through 2004. Production Rooivalks are powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1K2 turboshaft engines rated 1,843 shp each. Armament includes a Kentron GA-1 20-mm cannon mounted in a steerable chin turret.
The U-2 is a single-engine, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. Development began in 1954, and a prototype flew the following year. Lockheed built 49 aircraft in the initial configuration, but as the aircraft were airframe-limited, the manufacturer developed the larger U-2R version, which flew in 1967. The USAF and CIA each received six R models and in 1979, the line was reopened and an additional 37 were built. Twenty-five were designated TR-1A, a U-2R platform fitted with the Asars-2 battlefield radar.
Stephen Blair (see photo) has been named chief executive of e2v, Chelmsford, England. He has been business group director for Spectris plc and was president of Invensys Operations Management for North America in Houston.
Nov. 26-28—Autonomous, Unmanned Systems and Robotics Conference, Exhibition and Demonstration. Rishon Lezion, Israel. See ausrexpo.com Dec. 5-6—Airports Council International Aviation Issues Seminar. Washington. See www.aci-na.org/event/2421 Jan. 13-17—22nd AIAA/ASME/AHS Adaptive Structures Conference, 52nd AIAA Aerospace Sciences Conference and AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics Conference. All at National Harbor, Md. See www.aiaa.org/EventDetail.aspx?id=18410, 18405, 18406
The Harrier II is a single- or two-seat, single-engine ground-attack aircraft now out of production. Through 1998, Boeing/McDonnell Douglas and BAE built 428 Harrier II V/STOL aircraft. AV-8B Harrier IIs are powered by either a 21,450-lb.-thrust Rolls-Royce Pegasus 11-21 (U.S.-designated F402-RR-406A) vectored thrust turbofan or a 23,800-lb.-thrust Pegasus 11-61 (U.S.-designated F402-RR-408). British Royal Air Force GR7 and GR9 models were powered by a Pegasus Mk 105 vectored thrust turbofan (21,500 lb. thrust); RAF GR7As and GR9As were equipped with the Pegasus Mk 107.
Ian Deason has become vice president-airports for JetBlue Airways. He was head of the airline's Boston operation and was director of airline partnerships.
The C-27J is a short-/medium-range, high-wing, twin-turboprop-powered STOL transport developed as a joint venture of Alenia and Lockheed Martin. The prototype C-27J, which first flew in 1999, was a modified Alenia G.222 with an upgraded cockpit and two 4,640-shp Rolls-Royce AE 2100-D2 engines. In a passenger transport role, the C-27J can carry 46 paratroopers, 60 infantry or up to 36 stretchers and six medical attendants. In a utility role, the C-27J allows for a payload of up to 24,353 lb. In 2007, the aircraft was chosen for the U.S.
If the nuclear-capable Agni V mission has signaled the arrival of India as a missile power, the world's largest democracy is hoping its next multiple-warhead variant will upgrade the country's strategic posture from dissuasion to credible deterrence against China. Two successful tests of its 5,000-km (3,106-mi.)-range Agni-V missile have paved the way for India to venture into a longer-range intercontinental nuclear-capable ballistic missile program, which will probably be officially called Agni VI.
The F/A-18 is a twin-engine, single- and twin-seat, land- and sea-based, high-performance multirole fighter/attack aircraft. F/A-18A/B/C/D models were powered by two GE F404-GE-400/402 turbofans (approximately 16,000-17,600 lb. thrust each), while the F/A-18E/F has two GE F414-GE-400 turbofans (about 22,000 lb. thrust each). First flight of an F/A-18 prototype occurred in 1978. The current F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which first flew in September 1995, features a larger fuselage, more-powerful engines and additional hardpoints compared to the earlier models.
