A Georgia company has developed a video server driven by dual Pentium microprocessors that will allow up to 120 passengers on a commercial airline flight to choose from as many as 20 movies. The AirView system would use a ruggedized Cheetah server developed by The Network Connection that can store 16-20 hr. of encoded video data. Data are sent in compressed form over an Ethernet local area network (LAN) and decoded by a 486 client computer at the seat to provide full-motion images at 30 frames per sec.
Compared to their predecessors, the next generation of test pilots will be fewer in number, have more-limited opportunities to fly all-new aircraft and spend most of their careers evaluating complex airborne systems.
The BU-61582 Space Ace is a space-hardened Mil-Std 1553 data bus terminal. DDC's proprietary J'RAD application specific protocol chip and 16K of random access memory are implemented in Honeywell Solid State Electronics Center's 1.2-micron radiation-insensitive complementary metal oxides process. The device is available with DDC's Mark 2 bipolar transceivers in +5 v./-15 v. or +5 v./-12 v. It is also available as an option without the transceivers. Units with the transceivers can withstand a gamma ray dose of 100,000 rads.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is nearing completion of the assembly of Japan's first hypersonic flight experiment, called Hyflex, at its Nagoya facility for its Hope mini-shuttle program.
The Spectrapot ff signal grabber is a data collector and failure finder that can be used in aircraft, engines and other automotive applications. Traditionally used for recording signs of aircraft fatigue, the device is suitable for many other applications. It can record transients as fast as 10 KHz. and dynamic continuous multichannel signals of 1 KHz. The Spectrapot uses data compression to expand the capacity of its 8 megabyte cassettes. It can record up to 32 channels. Spectralab, Brunnenmoosstr. 7, CH-8802, Kilchberg, Switzerland.
Gulfstream Aerospace will use four test aircraft, a streamlined flight test management team and a new integrated test facility to attempt to certify the Gulfstream 5 within a year of first flight.
The flight test program for the French Dassault Aviation Rafale is entering its weapon systems validation phase, which will prepare the fighter for initial navy service in 1999 and air force operations by 2002. The Rafale M01 naval prototype is scheduled to use its Thomson-CSF/Dassault Electronique phased-array radar with a Matra radar-guided Mica missile to shoot down a target drone over the Atlantic by early this week (AW&ST June 5, p. 27).
A variety of technical and management innovations will boost efficiency of the F-22 fighter's engineering and manufacturing development flight test program. The project is relying on integrated product development teams, new computer software, intensive training and novel manufacturing techniques to contain costs and maintain schedules. The first flight of an EMD F-22 is planned for May, 1997.
Patrick L. Kelly has been appointed to the board of directors of Cox&Co. of New York. He also is vice president-operations. Thomas D. Grunbeck has been named director of business development. He was with Gulfstream Aerospace in Oklahoma City. And, Thomas F.W. Ferguson has been promoted to vice president-engineering from director of advanced development.
A JAPANESE NAVY Sikorsky MH-53E mine hunter was ditched, apparently while on fire, about 60 mi. southwest of Tokyo June 6 while on a training mission with another MH-53. All eight crewmembers were missing and presumed drowned. The crew radioed a fire mayday about 5 min. before their helicopter entered the water. Witnesses reported that an explosion about 5 min. later sunk the helicopter. It was one of 11 in the navy's 111 Air Unit, which had no major problems with the MH-53E previously.
Panel of a Learjet 35 simulator by CTA Inc.'s Simulation Systems Div. uses large video screens masked off by bezels to economically simulate aircraft instrumentation. The high-fidelity flight training device reduces simulator costs by approximately 66%, according to the Englewood, Colo.,-based company. The system, which can be combined with a full range of visual and control feel capability, provides training from aircraft power-up through flight completion.
Early and late model Piper PA-28 Arrows now can be equipped with the Top Prop high-performance three-bladed propeller under Hartzell's PA-28R-200 Supplementary Type Certificate. The prop features a blade twist distribution that maximizes low-speed thrust while maintaining or increasing cruise performance. The three-bladed design provides better acceleration, takeoff and climb performance than the original, two-bladed prop, as well as lower cabin and ground noise levels. Time between overhauls is 2,000 hr. or five years.
The third Eurofighter 2000 prototype and first one with Eurojet EJ200 engines flew for the first time June 4 from Alenia's Flight Test Center at Caselle, Italy. The aircraft, known as DA3, was flown by Napoleone Bragnolo, Alenia's flight operations director. The flight lasted 50 min. DA3 now joins the British-built second EF2000 development aircraft in the flight test program (see p. 77). DA2, which resumed flight testing May 17 after undergoing flight control system and avionics upgrades, will visit the Paris air show but not participate in the flying display.
Joe Kaeser has been appointed executive vice president/chief financial officer of Siemens Components Inc., Cupertino, Calif. He succeeds Christian Hagen, who has been named chief financial officer of Siemens Optoelectronics, Regensburg, Germany. Kaeser was chief financial officer of Siemens Optosemiconductors.
NASA'S LEWIS RESEARCH CENTER, Cleveland, Ohio, has a new microgravity research aircraft on-line. Modifications to the former passenger-carrying McDonnell Douglas DC-9 transport began last October and include a new interior and electrical system to support research equipment. A low-gravity guidance system was added to aid the flight crew in flying parabolas that yield 18-22 sec. of microgravity.
The SM Series of brushless servo motors is available in standard 16-23 frame sizes and features continuous torque output of 20-120 oz.-in. Brushless construction and slotless design is enhanced by the use of high-performance neodymium magnets. Each motor offers thermostat protection and a TENV housing. Performance features include minimal detent torque and reduced torque ripple. Parker Hannifin Corp., Computmotor Div., 5500 Business Park Drive, Rohnert Park, Calif. 94928.
Carol Snyder has been promoted to information systems manager for the Parker Hannafin Corp. of Cleveland from information systems manager of the Gas Turbine Div.
MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT will install two Differential-GPSs to provide aircraft approach guidance and ground vehicle tracking. The two systems are the Honeywell/Pelorus Satellite Landing System (SLS-2000) and the Honeywell TracLink vehicle tracking system. The Metropolitan Airports Commission of Minneapolis/St. Paul plans to use the SLS-2000 to serve all runway ends within a 30-naut.-mi. radius, giving a Category 1 instrument approach to some airports that presently do not have one, and permitting curved approaches at the international airport.
Photograph: Full-scale mockup of the European Space Agency/CNES Ariane 5 booster dominates the Paris air show at Le Bourget. The new display was funded by Arianespace and Ariane 5 contractors. Photo by Craig Covault. The recent surge of flight test activity in Europe, North America, Asia and the Far East contrasts sharply with a forecast scarcity of new aircraft as the global aerospace industry retrenches after the Cold War.
MicroStation Version 5.5 is a computer-aided design program that will run on IBM's OS/2 Warp operating system. Bentley officials said supporting OS/2 should help MicroStation's position at IBM stronghold accounts while expanding use of the 32-bit OS/2 in engineering organizations. MicroStation is used in projects such as designing and maintaining airports, communications networks and complex mechanical products. Versions for DOS, Windows and Macintosh-based personal computers and a variety of workstations also are available.
THIS SUMMER, EXPECT THE PORT AUTHORITY of New York and New Jersey's revised recommendations on improving passenger access to John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports. Original 1992 plans called for building/improving ground links between each of the region's major airports and rail, road and public transportation systems using new technologies collectively known as Automated Guideway Transit. Proponents contend a system would provide more efficient transportation for 32,000 daily travelers (a link between JFK and Manhattan would shorten a trip of up to 2 hr.
