The piston-powered Canadair CL-215 amphibian first flew in 1967, finding primary use as a firefighting platform. Production of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-powered aircraft ended in 1989, with a total of 125 produced. A new variant, the Bombardier 415, is in production and powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprops. A multi-mission version is available. Some 83 415s had been built through 2011. An additional 32 are forecast for production from 2012 through 2021.
Europe's aerospace and defense industry missed a unique opportunity to complete a wide-ranging consolidation process that began nearly 50 years ago. Combining EADS and BAE Systems would have created a world-class giant with an impressive €72.9 billion ($94.3 billion) in revenues, 216,000 employees and a comprehensive product range. Moreover, the initiative looked like a perfect fit.
The C-17 is a long-range, heavy-lift transport aircraft powered by four 40,440-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney F117-100 turbofans. First flight took place in 1991. The C-17 can carry outsized military payloads such as the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle and the M1 Abrams main battle tank. Through 2011, Boeing had produced 240 C-17s, while another 32 are forecast for production from 2012 through 2015.
The P-8A, an anti-submarine warfare aircraft, is a variant of Boeing's 737-800, and is powered by two CFM56-7B turbofans rated at 27,300-lb.-thrust each. The aircraft will replace the U.S. Navy's remaining Lockheed Martin P-3C Orions in maritime patrol/ASW service. Flight testing of the Poseidon began in April 2009, and deliveries begin in March 2012. The Navy plans to purchase 117 P-8As, with initial operational capability planned for 2013. Through 2011, eight P-8As had been produced, including prototypes.
The V-22 tiltrotor aircraft has two Rolls-Royce AE1107C turboshaft engines housed in wingtip nacelles that can rotate from vertical for rotary-wing operation to horizontal for fixed-wing flight. The MV-22B assault-transport version is in production for the U.S. Marine Corps, while the CV-22B special-operation model is in production for the U.S. Air Force. A total of 186 V-22s were built through 2011; some 264 more are forecast to be built during the 2012-21 period.
The BO105 is a 5-7-seat, twin-turboshaft light utility helicopter used for both military and commercial roles. BO105CB/CBS are powered by two Rolls-Royce 250-C20B turboshaft engines rated at 420 shp each, while the BO105LS has a pair of 500-shp 250-C28Cs. Approximately 1,400 aircraft, including some 680 military BO105s, had been built through 2005. Eurocopter's newer and more advanced EC135/635 light twin has replaced the BO105 in the company's product line.
The AS532 Cougar and new EC725 are twin-engine, medium-lift military transport and special-purpose helicopters. They are the military versions of Eurocopter's commercial AS332 and EC225 Super Puma, respectively. Current engines include two Turbomeca Makila 1A1 turboshafts rated at 1,819 shp each for the AS532 Mk 1, and Makila 2As rated at 2,100 shp each for the EC725. Armament can include a 20-mm cannon, twin 7.62-mm machine guns, or two rocket pods. AS 532 Mk 1 naval versions can carry twin AM39 Exocet anti-ship missiles or two torpedoes.
The M-346 is a two-seat, twin-engine advanced jet trainer/light attack aircraft derived from the Yak-130. The aircraft is powered by two 6,250-lb.-thrust ITEC F124-200 turbofans. First flight occurred in July 2004 and through 2011, three prototypes and two production aircraft had been produced. Italy has ordered 15, Singapore 12 and this year Israel ordered 30. For the 2012-21 period, 136 aircraft are forecast for production.
The Saab 340 and 2000 are out-of-production twin-turboprop commuter aircraft used in the military market as airborne early warning and control platforms. The 340B is powered by GE CT7-9Bs rated at 1,870 shp each, while the larger Saab 2000 uses Rolls-Royce AE2100s, rated at 4,591 shp. Operators of 340Bs modified for AEW&C use include Sweden, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan operates the Saab 2000 AEW&C.
Entertainment value aside, industry participants in Felix Baumgartner's record-breaking, supersonic plunge from 128,100 ft. on Oct. 14 from Roswell, N.M., say the feat will prove valuable for manufacturers of survival gear for high-altitude military operations and pleasure seekers.
The first flight of the J-10 combat aircraft occurred in March 1998. The single-engine, single or two-seat interceptor/ground-attack aircraft is powered by a Lyulka Saturn AL-31FN turbofan rated at 27,560-lb.-thrust with reheat, although the Chinese have been working on a version powered by the indigenous WS-10 engine. About 198 J-10s had been produced through 2011. Production of an additional 240 is forecast for the 2012-21 period.
Japan, it seems, is not betting on the Lockheed Martin F-35 as an air-superiority fighter. Denied permission to buy Lockheed's F-22, Tokyo is preparing to operate at least some of its Boeing F-15s for another 30 years, even though it will also have the F-35.
Kara Lentz (see photo) has been appointed senior project manager in the aviation group of Denver-based Parsons Brinckerhoff. She has held similar roles in project and construction management of both refinery and airport transportation and building projects. Chris Spann has been named senior supervising engineer in the company's Lenexa, Kan., office. As national aviation director at a major consulting firm, he was design manager for the new St. George, Utah, airport.
The KT-1 two-seat turboprop trainer first flew in 1991. The first two prototypes were powered by a 550-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25A turboprop; subsequent aircraft have been fitted with a 950-shp PT6A-62. KAI has developed a forward air control version called the KO-1, fitted with four hardpoints under the wing. Through 2011, approximately 147 units had been produced, while another 30 aircraft are forecast for production from 2012 through 2014.
The Jaguar light strike/reconnaissance aircraft was produced by the Sepecat consortium of British Aerospace and Dassault-Breguet. A prototype made its first flight in 1968, and deliveries began in 1972. Production by Sepecat ended in 1985, but Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. built a licensed version in India through 2008. Power for the Jaguar comes from a pair of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour turbofans. Some 632 Jaguars had been produced through 2008, including aircraft built by HAL.
Rick Ducharme has been appointed executive vice president-industry relations of Dulles, Va.-based Metron Aviation. He was deputy chief operating officer of the FAA's Air Traffic Organization.
First flight of the Mirage 2000 occurred in 1978, with production running through 2007. Early aircraft of the type were powered by a Snecma M53-5 augmented turbofan (19,840-lb.-thrust), and later aircraft with an M53-P2 (21,385-lb.-thrust). Single-seat interceptor and two-seat nuclear strike variants also were produced. Approximately 607 Mirage 2000s were built.
Boeing, with Northrop Grumman as a major subcontractor, produces the F/A-18 single/two-seat, twin-engine fighter. The F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornet models were powered by two GE F404-400/402 turbofans (16,000-17,600-lb.-thrust each), while the scaled-up F/A-18E/F Super Hornet has two GE F414-400 turbofans of about 22,000-lb.-thrust each. First flight of an F/A-18 prototype occurred in 1978. First flown in 2005, the current E/F model features a larger airframe, more powerful engines, greater stealth, new avionics and sensors, and additional hardpoints.
The Sikorsky CH-53E and MH-53E Super Stallion are three-engine, heavy-lift transport and special-purpose helicopters, developed out of the twin-turboshaft CH-53D. Power is provided by three GE T64-416 or -419 turboshaft engines rated at 4,380 and 4,750 shp, respectively. Sikorsky produced approximately 177 CH-53Es, 48 MH-53Es and 11 S-80 export versions through the end of production in 1999. In January 2006, the U.S. Navy awarded Sikorsky a contract to develop the CH-53K, an essentially all-new and more powerful model for the U.S.
Iceland is making progress on an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) network that will be a vital link in an ambitious plan to provide air traffic control coverage all the way across the Atlantic.
The stealthy B-2 is a long-range nuclear and conventional bomber aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force. It is powered by four 17,300-lb.-thrust GE F118-100 turbofans. The maiden flight occurred in 1989, with the 21st and final aircraft delivered in 1997. Only the final two B-2s were delivered in the full Block 30 configuration, though the remaining bombers achieved this standard via upgrades.
The Kazan Ansat is a twin-turboshaft, multipurpose light helicopter. The Ansat-U training variant is in Russian military service. The Ansat is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207K engines rated at 630 shp each. An armed reconnaissance variant of the Ansat, the Ansat-2RT, was also developed, making its first flight in 2005. Through 2011, some 36 Ansats were built, and another 128 are slated for production from 2012 through 2021.
Britain has for years kept mum on new developments in the digital electronic surveillance domain. So it is telling that the U.K. Ministry of Defense sanctioned the formal launch this month of an export variant of the new cutting-edge radar electronic support measures (ESM) system it has been developing with industrial partner Thales for the past six years.
The NH90 is a medium-lift, twin-turbine troop transport and maritime helicopter. The helicopter is available with either GE T700/CT7 or Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines. The NH90 comes in two standard models—the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), though extensive customization is available. The TTH functions as a tactical troop assault, transport and ground -support aircraft; it is capable of hauling 14-20 fully equipped troops, over 5,511 lb. of cargo, up to 12 stretchers, or one light transport vehicle with crew.
The C-130 is a four-turboprop military transport. A number of 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 incorporates four 4,591-shp Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 engines, new avionics and other improvements. Competitors include the Airbus A400M and Embraer KC-390. Approximately 2,398 C-130s were produced through 2011, with production of an additional 256 C-130Js forecast in the 2012-21 period.
