U.S. NAVY T-34C FLIGHT INSTRUMENT SIMULATORS will switch from hydraulic to electrical actuators to power the three degrees-of-freedom motion bases and produce the flight control loading to give pilots the ``feel'' of the aircraft. The hydraulic systems will be replaced in four of the flight instrument trainers by electric systems supplied by Servos and Simulation Inc. of Altamonte Springs, Fla., to prime contractor Enzian Technology Inc. The motion platform can carry up to a 2,000-lb. payload and move 15 deg. in roll and pitch at velocities up to 45 deg.
JET PROPULSION LAB WILL JOIN WITH AMBER, a Raytheon Co., to develop a cooled long-wavelength IR (LWIR) camera. The goal is to combine JPL's quantum well IR photodetector (QWIP) with Amber's 256 X 256 AE166 readout multiplexer for an IR imaging system. The other camera element is a 100-mm. focal length germanium lens, with a 5.5-deg. field of view. It is designed to operate over the 8-12-micron wavelength, to be compatible with the QWIP's 8.4-micron operation. Tests of the QWIP array in an Amber Radiance IR camera are scheduled to begin in mid-November.
Aerojet has successfully fired a Russian Trud NK-33 rocket engine twice at its Sacramento facility, matching the performance recorded by the same engine nearly 22 years ago. Aerojet is testing the 339,000 lbf.-thrust engine to show that it is suitable for U.S. launchers such as the Lockheed Martin Atlas, McDonnell Douglas Delta and the USAF's envisioned enhanced expendable launch vehicle (EELV).
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY, Pasadena, Calif., is interested in commercializing a fluid filter that efficiently removes very small particles from liquids at large flow rates and pressures up to 500 psi. The technique directs liquid flow through narrow passages between stacks of fluted disks inside a casing. The liquid transits the flutes of the thin-foil metal disks and enters a hollow core before being expelled axially. The flutes can be chemically etched between 1 and 35 microns in depth.
The $1-billion European Space Agency ISO observatory was developed by a team of about 35 contractors from 13 European countries. The ISO prime contractor is Aerospatiale Espace&Defense, Cannes, France. It designed and integrated the overall vehicle and telescope as well as the optical bench for the Isocam instrument. Other ISO contractors include: -- Alcatel-ETCA (Belgium)--Electrical power. -- Alenia (Italy)--Telecommunications. -- Captec (Ireland)--Attitude control software.
The European Space Agency will toughen procurement practices in response to worsening aerospace industry trends across Europe and management criticisms aired by senior European technology officials at the agency's ministerial conference. The Toulouse meeting resulted in ESA approval of $3.5 billion for development of European station hardware. But station supporters had to argue against a late French initiative on user cost guarantees that threatened a definitive station decision.
REFLECTING EXPANDED NICHE-MARKET international air cargo business, Atlas Air Inc. saw earnings increase 33% in the quarter ending Sept. 30. Operating results in the third quarter jumped 88% over the same period last year. For the first nine months of 1995, revenues were up 71% and flight time increased to 22,456 hr. from 12,430 in 1994. The Golden, Colo.-based carrier expects to receive its ninth 747-200 freighter from Boeing's modification center before year-end.
Capt. Robert E. Besal has become commanding officer of the USS America, deployed in the Adriatic Sea. He succeeds Capt. Ralph E. Suggs, who will be on the staff of the commander of Naval Air Forces, Atlantic Fleet.
The Radar Survival Kit contains a hands-on sampling and explanation of the latest radar absorption materials. Included in the kit are reticulated and multilayered foams, MAGRAM, lightweight honeycomb and high loss materials. The kit also includes a cross reference of hard-to-find products. In addition to being used for radar absorption in aviation equipment, communications devices and antennas, the materials can be used as isolation mechanisms in microwave components. ARC Technologies Inc., 14 Cedar St., Amesbury, Mass. 01913.
Vietnam Airlines is experiencing 35% passenger growth rates and expects to replace all of its Russian transports by 1997 and to see its fleet grow to 35-40 aircraft by the end of the decade. The airline carried 1.6 million passengers last year--50% more than in 1993--and expects to carry 2.1 million this year, Deputy Director-General Pham Ngoc Minh said.
ATLANTIC SOUTHEAST AIRLINES reported a 20.8% increase in its third-quarter profit on a revenue increase of 5.2%, owing to a jump in its ticket yield and to stable operating costs. The Atlanta-based regional airline's $15.1-million profit for the third quarter compared with a $12.5-million net income for the same quarter in 1994. The carrier's net income per share rose to 46 cents from 37 cents per share for the third quarter last year. ASA's revenues increased over the same period to $84.2 million from $80.1 million.
F-22 engineers are using an automated management tool that allows groups of engineers to work concurrently to develop software, greatly speeding the process. Once designers lay out the project design, the new tool, called Process Configuration Management Software (PCMS), automatically identifies conflicts with the mainstream program or with changes proposed by independent groups. PCMS is supplied by SQL Software Inc., Vienna, Va.
David E. Berges (see photo) has been appointed vice president/general manager of AlliedSignal Engine Systems&Accessories, South Bend, Ind. He was president/chief operating officer of Barnes Aerospace, Windsor, Conn.
ON JAN. 1, NEW FRENCH AIRLINES will be granted free access to the country's domestic route system. In sharp contrast with its previous lagging air transport policy, the French government's free-trade initiative, promoted by Transport State Secretary Anne-Marie Idrac, is ending state-owned Air Inter's historic monopoly. In 1990, when Air France acquired Air Inter, the European Commission forced the French government to authorize independent carriers to operate selected domestic routes.
William Van Deventer has been appointed director of facilitation for the Washington-based Air Transport Assn. He was manager of information services for Nippon Cargo Airlines.
Sam Williams, chief executive of Williams International, Walled Lake, Mich., and Edward R. McCracken, chairman/ chief executive officer of Silicon Graphics, Los Altos, Calif., have received the National Medal of Technology from President Bill Clinton. Williams was cited for helping to make the U.S. the leader in small gas turbine engine technology as well as leadership in reviving the depressed U.S. general aviation industry. McCracken was honored for his work in the areas of affordable 3-D visual computing and supercomputing.
Pilatus Aircraft of Stans, Switzerland, is completing one of the best years in its 55-year history with brisk sales of its new PC-12 and a major U.S. military order for a license-built version of its PC-9 turboprop trainer. Challenges include increasing capacity, now at maximum, to accommodate jumps in orders following expected FAA easing of rules on passenger-carrying, single-engine aircraft operations at night and in bad-weather. Pilatus, with a staff of about 900, also must manage expenses in Switzerland's high-cost environment and launch a derivative.
AIR FORCE SECRETARY SHEILA WIDNALL is pushing hard for the Airborne Laser (ABL) over kinetic-kill vehicles for missile defense. She says adaptive optics and aircraft stability are the key to making ABL work, but even having to spend to push those technologies still makes the oxygen iodine laser the better bet. She said, ``We would like to have had this in the Gulf.''
Merrill S. Spiegel has been named director of government affairs, telecommunications and space policy in Washington for the Hughes Electronics Corp. She was special assistant to the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.
MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ALSO IS WORKING on the 600-shp. MG-5-100 turboshaft engine for a new commercial helicopter known as the MH-2000. Mitsubishi will build three MH-2000 prototypes--two for flight tests, one for ground tests--and is assembling eight MG-5s for that program.
Elina Fuhrman has been named public relations manager for Orbital Sciences Corp., Dulles, Va. She was a senior account executive for Edelman Public Relations Worldwide.
KAWASAKI HEAVY INDUSTRIES IS SCHEDULED to roll out the first prototype of Japan's OH-X light observation helicopter next March. The Technical Research and Development Institute of the Japanese Defense Agency will begin a series of ground tests in April prior to first flight next summer. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries already has delivered seven XTS-1-10 prototype engines for the flight tests and three for ground trials. Mitsubishi developed the XTS-1 as an 800-shp. engine for the Japanese army version of the new helicopter.
DIMENSIONS INTERNATIONAL IN CONJUNCTION with the FAA has developed a new, low-cost diagnostic tool for air traffic control systems and equipment. The Portable Radar or Beacon Emulator, nicknamed Probe, has the capacity to generate thousands of dynamic, independent primary and beacon-interrogator radar screen targets. The heart of the system is a single, standard-size circuit board that can be installed in a personal computer, according to Lawrence Davis, director airspace management systems, Boulder, Colo.
John J. Stuart, Jr., has been appointed executive vice president of the Irvine Sensors Corp., Costa Mesa, Calif. He remains chief financial officer. William (Bert) Hornback has been named director of electro-optical systems. Christopher Roberts has been named director of business development for CTA Space Systems, Rockville, Md. He was manager of corporate operations.
AUSTRALIAN AND RUSSIAN space officials say they are discussing joint development of a small, liquid-fueled launch vehicle called Seagull. The rocket would use Energomash engines, launch from Australia and be capable of putting about 2,000 lb. into low Earth orbit.
