The British Royal Air Force’s second AgustaWestland Merlin helicopter unit, 78 Squadron, is to be formed in December, equipped with six Merlin Mark 3A support helicopters. The aircraft were purchased from Denmark and modified for the RAF role, a process that included being fitted with improved rotor blades.
Prospects for the go-ahead of an ambitious oblique flying wing (OFW) “X-plane” supersonic demonstrator appear to have been boosted by completion of wind tunnel tests that, according to Northrop Grumman officials, prove the design is both workable and “robust.”
FlightSafety International is installing a Vital X three-channel visual system at NASA/Ames Research Center. The system will be used in NASA’s Advanced Concepts Flight Simulator for research into new cockpit technologies and associated human factors. The Vital system is PC-based and features graphics processors that provide high-resolution satellite imagery and weather effects. It also supports night-vision goggles, Flir and electro-optical sensors and exceeds FAA Level D qualification and Defense Dept. certification standards.
The prototype of Japan’s P-X maritime patrol aircraft flew for the first time on Sept. 28 from the airfield of manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Gifu prefecture. The flight lasted 1 hr., with the pilot reporting that the prototype was stable in flight and felt much like the simulator. The airframe and engines performed smoothly, the pilot says. Japan is spending ¥345 billion yen ($3 billion) to develop the P-X and the C-X transport. P-X testing will continue until 2011.
RAC MiG MiG-AT The MiG-AT advanced jet trainer first flew in 1996. It uses two 3,175-lb.-thrust Turbomeca/Snecma Larzac 04-R20 turbofan engines, although Russian air force aircraft may be powered by Soyuz RD-1700s. A single-seat light fighter/attack version, called the MiG-AS, is being developed. It is intended to compete for sales with the BAE Hawk 200. Ten MiG-ATs were built through 2006. Production of 96 is expected during the 2007-16 period.
Dassault Mirage 2000 First flight of the Mirage 2000 occurred in 1978. Early production aircraft were powered by a Snecma M53-5 augmented turbofan (19,840 lb. thrust), with later production aircraft fitted with an M53-P2 augmented turbofan (21,385 lb. thrust). Single- and two-seat variants are available. Competitors include the Saab JAS 39 Gripen and Lockheed Martin F-16. Some 607 Mirage 2000s have been fabricated, including prototypes. With no new orders in the near future, Dassault has indicated it will shut down production.
Schweizer 330/333 The 330 and the 330SP versions of this three- to four-place, single-turbine-powered military training/utility helicopter were powered by a 420-shp. Rolls-Royce Model 250-C20W turboshaft engine derated to 235 shp. The new 333 is powered by a 420-shp. Model 250-C20W derated to 232 shp.
Weighing in on the side of business aviation, the National Air Traffic Controllers Assn. says corporate aircraft aren’t causing delays in the metropolitan New York area. Natca contends that the real causes are short staffing at the area’s ATC facilities and airline overscheduling during peak hours.
Bahrain has put its mobile Lockheed Martin TPS-59(v)3B ballistic missile defense radar, with 360-deg. scan and beyond-400-mi. range, into operation. It can detect small air-breathing targets, like UAVs and stealthy cruise missiles, and is designed to operate with the Patriot and Aegis missile systems.
The Asia-Pacific trend toward airline brand franchising continues, with Vietnamese budget carrier Pacific Airlines negotiating to adopt the name of Australian Jetstar, a subsidiary of Qantas, which owns 30% of Pacific. Pacific will launch a joint service this month between Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore with Jetstar Asia, the Australian group’s Singaporean affiliate and franchisee.
Sukhoi Su-27/30/35 Series The Su-27 series comprises a series of twin-engine, single- and two-seat fighter/interceptor aircraft. Besides the Su-27 itself, other versions are the Su-30M multirole combat aircraft, Su-32 fighter/bomber, Su-33 carrier-based naval aircraft and Su-35 fighter. An Su-27 prototype made its initial flight in 1977. The Su-27 is powered by two Saturn/Lyulka AL-31F turbofan engines (27,557 lb. thrust each with afterburning). The Su-27 is produced under license by Shenyang Aircraft Corp. in China. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.
The first Wideband Global Satcom spacecraft will launch on Oct. 9, providing 10 times the communications capacity available from a Defense Satellite Communications Systems spacecraft currently in the on-orbit constellation. The launch window opens at 8:22 p.m. EDT, and the WGS spacecraft will be launched atop an Atlas V rocket. Operators expect to receive the first signals from the satellite approximately 45 min. after liftoff. A second WGS satellite is expected to launch on a Delta IV rocket early next year.
Denel Aircraft Rooivalk This twin-engine combat support helicopter was developed by the South African Air Force (SAAF) through 1992; 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. Production Rooivalks are powered by two Turbomeca Makila 1A2 turboshaft engines rated at 1,843 shp. each. Armament includes a Kentron GA-1 20mm cannon mounted in a steerable chin turret.
Ural Airlines has agreed to acquire seven Airbus A320s, transforming a preliminary order placed at the Paris air show. The aircraft will complement two leased A320s already in service. No engine selection has been made.
International Air Transport Assn.’s (IATA’s) August traffic results show that year-over-year international passenger demand increased 8.6%—the fastest growth rate in 16 months. And, for the first time, the average load factor went above 80% during a month other than July. August’s 80.3% average load factor was down slightly from July levels, but was 9 percentage points higher compared to August 2006, when security scares on the North Atlantic dampened demand. Freight traffic grew 6% in August—also the strongest rate of growth within 16 months.
Bombardier CL-215/215T/415 The piston-powered CL-215 amphibian aircraft first flew in 1967. It was powered by two 2,100-bhp. Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CA3 engines. Production has ended, with a total of 125 produced. Seventeen aircraft were converted to the CL-215T configuration, which incorporates 2,380-shp. Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprop engines and other modifications. A new-production, PW123AF-powered version is called the 415, with 64 built through 2006. An additional 20 are forecast to be produced through 2016.
Northrop Grumman E-2 The E-2 Hawkeye is an airborne early warning and control aircraft. The current production version is the E-2C. E-2Cs produced after 1988 are powered by two Rolls-Royce T56-A-427 single-shaft, axial-flow turboprops (5,250 shp. each). The E-2 first flew in 1960. Northrop Grumman is currently developing an E-2D. A total of 278 E-2s were produced through 2006. An additional 45 are expected to be built from 2007-16.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter Power for this twin-turboshaft-engine, single-main-rotor, multirole helicopter is provided by Turbomeca TM333-2B2 turboshaft engines rated at 1,000 shp. each. Eventually, Turbomeca/HAL Ardiden 1H (Shakti) turboshaft engines, rated at 1,167 shp. each, will be used. Combined Indian military requirements for the Dhruv total up to 250 helicopters.
Northrop Grumman is working aggressively to develop viable long-range supersonic-capable strike and reconnaissance aircraft, with a focus on two complementary tailless designs: an oblique flying wing (OFW), and a supersonic tailless air vehicle (STAV).
The U.S. Air Force plans to stick to the same requirements, funding and, if possible, fielding date for the next round of the Combat Search and Rescue-X (CSAR-X) program. After two upheld rounds of protests from losing bidders Sikorsky, with an S-92-based proposal, and Lockheed Martin/AgustaWestland, with a US101-based proposal, the Air Force agreed to issue an amendment to the original request for proposals, allowing for renewed submissions from CSAR-X competitors.
Richard Owen has been named executive director of the McLean, Va.-based World Airline Entertainment Assn. He was director of agricultural affairs of the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Prof. Robert C. Owen, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
David Harding asked an insightful and appropriate question in your Correspondence section (AW&ST Sept. 17, p. 11): “Has anyone thought to talk to UPS or FedEx about purchasing a ‘civilian’ version of the C-17?” The short answer is “yes.” The Air Mobility Command looked at that issue around the turn of the Millennium and, I believe, is looking at it again. The longer answer is “It probably won’t come to anything.”
Long-haul budget carrier Oasis Hong Kong Airlines is selling a 5-10% stake of itself to asset management firm Value Partners for $30 million. It plans to use the money for aircraft purchases.
Japan’s dream for a commercial supersonic aircraft is alive and well in the form of the Silent Supersonic Technology Demonstrator (S3TD) project, expected to be launched formally in February 2008 with 3 billion yen ($26 million) in initial funding.
Eurocopter EC120 This light single-turbine helicopter primarily is used in the military arena for flight training. Power is supplied by a Turbomeca Arrius 2F turboshaft engine rated at 504 shp. The Spanish air force uses 15 EC120Bs for ab initio pilot training. The Indonesian air force operates 12 EC120s, and the Indonesian navy operates three. The Royal Singapore Air Force operates five EC120s. Through 2006, 458 EC120s were produced. Another 32 are expected to be built for the military market between 2007-16.
