Regarding the reported preference of Mars scientists for sample return over new landing technology in “Next Steps” (AW&ST March 5, p. 38), we do need to maintain Mars arrival expertise and geologists alike. It is easier to not fund Mars ascent because there is no cadre of miniature launch vehicle engineers to keep alive. When funds are allocated, there are too few experts for rigorous peer review. Progress is slow because a Mars ascent vehicle is such a huge leap forward from either satellite propulsion or small missiles.
John Hornibrook has been named chief pilot at Alaska Airlines. He was chairman of the Air Line Pilots Association Central Air Safety, Training and Training Board committees.
With NASA's “green airliner concept study” (AW&ST Jan. 16, p. 21), aerodynamics are not the issue. Northrop Grumman's and Boeing's Blended-Wing Body designs are both highly efficient aerodynamically, as is Lockheed Martin's unusual box-wing concept. But they all have major flaws In terms of passenger appeal. Lockheed's design seems most worthy, though the large engine placement under the rear/upper wing may pose some center-of-gravity issues when it comes to situating the main landing gear.
The gathering of aviation and aerospace luminaries in Washington to celebrate the most inspired achievements of individuals and teams across aviation, aerospace and defense worldwide has been the pride and privilege of Aviation Week for decades. On March 7, the tradition continued in resplendent fashion with the 55th annual Laureate Awards at the elegant Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.
One of the early highlights of the evening, as is the tradition of the Aviation Week Laureate Awards, was the presentation of Tomorrow's Leaders—outstanding young men and women who have chosen career paths in the military and are poised to graduate from premier military academies. All the recipients have an interest in aviation or space. BAE Systems sponsors the award—a fine lensatic compass for each of the four cadets.
Field scientists studying global climate change, marine biology, astronomy and other subjects in Antarctica may gain a robust satellite link to colleagues at home if a Russian working group permits salvage of a state-of-the-art communications satellite stranded in a useless orbit last summer. A working group of Russian agencies and companies is expected to decide later this month what to do with Express-AM4, which has been declared a total loss by its insurance underwriter after a Proton launch mishap last Aug. 18.
In 1967, a 19-year-old university student made a daring escape from Fidel Castro's Cuba, reaching the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay. The chief of naval operations (CNO) happened to be visiting the base, and he took Pedro L. Rustan back to Florida on his plane. Forty-four years to the day after that escape, Pete Rustan retired as director of the National Reconnaissance Office's (NRO) Mission Support Directorate. His government service ended with an enviable list of accomplishments that led to significant advances in aviation and space and helped greatly improve U.S.
It is time for another trip back to the future, according to the only airship company in the U.S. But the competition to fulfill a persistent surveillance role is likely to be just as stiff as it was in the past. This next step is being taken by Airship Ventures, which operates Eureka, a 246-ft.-long Zeppelin NT semi-rigid airship, from historic Moffett Field. This an airfield south of San Francisco from which the U.S. Navy briefly sent dirigibles and blimps on patrols of the California coastline in the mid-1930s.
Until recently San Diego International Airport could glumly admit to being the gateway to the largest U.S. market without nonstop service to Asia, and the only major West Coast city never to have had direct flights to Japan. The problem has been the airport's 9,400-ft.-long runway. Though capable of supporting nonstop Boeing 777 direct eastbound service to the U.K., Runway 9/27 is too restrictive for longer-haul westbound operations flying against headwinds across the Pacific.
A half-century-plus after Sputnik, the swirling mass of operational spacecraft and space junk that has grown up around the planet is overwhelming mankind's ability to keep track of it, much less clean it up. Some of the world's biggest commercial satellite operators have teamed up to help each other with their space situational awareness (SSA), spurred by the 2009 collision between an active Iridium low-Earth-orbit (LEO) spacecraft and a defunct Russian military bird.
As China starts to put together a modern, integrated air force, which could reach 1,000 fighters by 2020, it is developing the components of a future force of stealthier combat aircraft, new bombers and unmanned, hypersonic and possibly space-based combat platforms. These could emerge as soon as the early 2020s.
I was relieved to see the Chinese cyberthreat finally receiving the serious analysis it deserves in “Budget Cyber Threat” (AW&ST Feb. 6, p. 30), until I read the penultimate paragraph. Someone actually thinks UAVs are the future? Consider the following: Chinese hacking deeply penetrated major defense corporations and the Pentagon. The rogue drone that headed toward Washington exhibited a classic capture/flight pattern to analyze efforts to regain control and release without traceback. And the X-47B is being tested over Chesapeake Bay!
Like heavyweight boxers preparing for the propulsion fight of the century, the two mid-thrust challengers—CFM International and Pratt & Whitney—are squaring off with new sets of critical hardware tests for their competing designs.
Boeing is advancing its 777 and 787 programs by shuffling duties for two veterans at its Everett, Wash., widebody jet factory. Vice President Larry Loftis has become general manager of the Boeing 787, where the emphasis is on production increases and the introduction of the airplane's long-range 787-9 variant into final assembly. He previously headed Boeing 777 production, which already is at the build rate Boeing wants the 787 to attain.
The European Commission has given the green light for France and Italy to financially support the Eurocopter X-4 and AgustaWestland AW169 development programs. EU anti-trust authorities determined there was no risk to competition from the move. France sought EU approval for a €143 million ($189 million) loan. Eurocopter needs to repay the loan once its reaches a sales target for X-4s and then pay royalties for additional sales. The loan mechanism mirrors those Airbus partner countries have provided to the large aircraft maker and which the U.S.
Keith Buckley, president and CEO of ASC Signal Corp., has been appointed chairman of the New York-based Society of Satellite Professionals, succeeding Clayton Mowry, president of Arianespace. Michael Aloisi, VP-technology, satellite and affiliate services for Viacom, is the new president.
The U.S. Air Force has funded flight tests of upgraded Rolls-Royce T56 engines on a Lockheed Martin C-130H. They are aimed at increasing reliability and service life as well as cutting fuel consumption by around 8%. The T56-15 Series 3.5 “enhancement” kit is expected to undergo tests at Edwards AFB, Calif., around mid-year and is expected to help USAF meet its target of reducing aviation fuel usage by 10% by 2015.
April 2-3—Engine MRO Forum. Dallas. April 3-5—MRO Americas 2012. Dallas. April 4-5—MRO Military Conference & Exhibition. Dallas. April 23-25—NextGen Ahead: Air Transportation Modernization. Washington. May 8-9—Civil Aviation Manufacturing. Charlotte, N.C. May 23-24—MRO Regional: Eastern Europe, Baltics and Russia. Vilnius, Lithuania. Sept. 19-21—MRO IT Conference & Showcase. Miami. Oct. 9-11—MRO Europe. Amsterdam. Nov. 6-7—A&D Programs. Phoenix.
Boeing's Wideband Global Satcom began merely as a gapfiller project to provide communications for the U.S. military, but 11 years later the WGS satellites have become the backbone for shuttling the Pentagon's wideband data. And at a time when the Pentagon is planning to cut $487 billion over 10 years, WGS is being hailed as an example of an efficient satellite procurement.
James Melville has joined SenarioTek, Santa Rosa, Calif., as U.S. sales manager. He was national account manager for SymTx/AAI for Lockheed Martin and Northeast U.S. sales manager.
Two statements on the Feedback page (AW&ST Feb. 13, p. 10) reflect a surprising lack of understanding of U.S. national institutions and the laws of economics. Reader James Campbell would want “Brazil's economy” to pay part of the price of the Super Tucanos destined for the Afghan air force, because Brazil's economy “is doing well.” The purchase of the aircraft is a straightforward commercial transaction. If you want something, you pay for it. If you can't afford it, don't buy it. Just who in the Brazilian economy should contribute anyway?
When an Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER completed a Los Angeles-Auckland flight in December, it was the first time an airline operated under 240-min. extended operations (ETOPS). But the new 240-min. limit is no longer the edge of the envelope—330 min. is now poised to become the new ETOPS gold standard—ever since last November when Boeing received type design authority from the FAA to offer a 330-min. ETOPS “option” on the General Electric GE90-powered 777 family.
USAF Brig. Gen. (ret.) Harold B. Adams and James L. Armitage have been named senior fellows of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies, Arlington, Va. Adams was VP-engineering and operations at GTE Spacenet, and Armitage was VP and sector chief technology officer for Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems.
