Australian composites manufacturer Quickstep will close its U.S. facility and transfer the equipment to licensee Vector Composites of Ohio. The two companies have been working on qualifying Quickstep’s economical out-of-autoclave composites process for the Lockheed Martin F-35 program. Part of Quickstep’s business is to license its technology, which is based on using glycol to cure composites, achieving faster and more controlled changes in resin temperatures than are possible with autoclaves.
An article in the Oct. 6 issue (page 22) should have stated the cost increase of the F-35 to Norway is 5.58% and the first phase for an F-35 facility will cost $96 million.
Around 353 Earth observation (EO) satellites are expected to be launched over the next decade compared to 162 in 2004-13, according to Euroconsult. This will result in $36 billion in manufacturing revenue globally, an 85% increase over the previous decade, the consulting company said Oct. 9. In 2023, the commercial EO data market is expected to reach $3.6 billion (for an 8% compound annual growth rate for 2014‑23). Asia, Latin America and Africa are expected to grow at over 10% each.
The French defense equipment agency DGA took delivery of the first of 10 modernized Dassault Rafale fighters for the nation’s navy Oct. 3. Upgraded to the current F-3 standard, the Rafales will replace Super Etendards as of 2016, when they will become the navy’s only strike fighters. Produced hastily to the F1 standard in the late 1990s in an effort to replace aging F-8 Crusaders, these 10 navy Rafales have been limited to superiority and air defense missions.
The French defense equipment agency DGA took delivery of the first of 10 modernized Dassault Rafale fighters for the nation’s navy Oct. 3. Upgraded to the current F-3 standard, the Rafales will replace Super Etendards as of 2016, when they will become the navy’s only strike fighters. Produced hastily to the F1 standard in the late 1990s in an effort to replace aging F-8 Crusaders, these 10 navy Rafales have been limited to superiority and air defense missions.
Regional Pilot Constraints Several points in Capt. Lee Moak’s Viewpoint: “Pilot Shortage? No, It’s a Pay Shortage” ( AW&ST Sept. 15, p. 58) need clarification: •There is a pilot shortage. It has led to canceled flights, dropped routes, and what Moak mischaracterizes as attempts to “roll back safety regulations.” Regional airlines and our member carriers are experiencing high attrition levels.
The U.S. Army is refining strategies for pairing manned/unmanned air platforms, such as its new General Atomics Gray Eagle UAS and Boeing AH-64E "Echo" Apache attack helicopter, to eventually include remote weapons release.
Among this year’s milestones: the airline began its first international flights, established a new reservations system and will wrap up its operational integration with AirTran Airways, which it acquired in 2011. And perhaps most symbolically important, from Oct. 14 Southwest will be able to fly anywhere it wants in the continental U.S. from its home base at Dallas Love Field.
While Virgin America has a compelling onboard product—its 10 Airbus A319s and 43 Airbus A320s offer relatively fast onboard Internet service, seat-back televisions and mood lighting—analysts say the carrier may lack the scale needed to compete with United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines in key business markets.
The manufacturer wants to redefine rotorcraft with a configuration that offers higher speed, maneuverability and hover performance, but retains the helicopter’s defining low-speed agility while enabling unique flight characteristics.
International defense companies visiting last month’s MSPO defense exhibition in Poland are responding to the call for munitions that can strike ballistic missile launchers, long-range air defense and command-and-control centers deep in enemy territory.
A significant number of attempts to fly at hypersonic speed have failed—not due to the advanced airframe or propulsion technology being tested, but because of the rocket booster needed to reach that speed.
The announcement by Airbus Group that it was putting €2 billion in defense and space businesses up for sale is an important milestone not only for Airbus but also for European A&D.
When a Qantas A380 landed at Dallas/Fort Worth for the first time, it marked the latest escalation in the hotly contested market between North America and Australasia.
Penny-pinching politicians and those who reject the evidence that human activity is changing Earth’s climate are making it hard for scientists to continue providing the data from space needed to monitor and try to manage the effects of inaction
