The AH-6i light-attack/reconnaissance helicopter is a single-engine aircraft. Boeing began work on a prototype aircraft in early 2009, with the first flight occurring in September of that year. Intended for international customers, the AH-6i features an integrated, AH-64 Apache-like digital cockpit and a communications package that enables the aircraft to connect with other aircraft and ground stations. Four weapons stations support the M-134D 7.62-mm minigun, GAU-19 12.7-mm minigun, M260 seven-shot rocket pod, laser-guided 70-mm rockets and Hellfire missiles.
The J-20 is a twin-engine fighter aircraft with apparent stealth features. It first flew in January 2011 and is scheduled to become operational in 2017-19. Little is known about Chinese aircraft programs, and the effectiveness of the low-observable features on the aircraft is a matter of debate. Analysis of the exterior features of the aircraft has tended to question its agility. The aircraft may be designed for long-range attack missions or as an aircraft that can penetrate the U.S.
The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is a long-range nuclear and conventional strike/attack aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft is powered by four 17,300-lb.-thrust GE F118-GE-100 turbofan engines. The B-2's maiden flight occurred in 1989, with the 21st and final aircraft delivered in 1997. The final two B-2s were delivered in the full Block 30 configuration, with the remaining bombers upgraded to that standard.
Thomas P. Quinly has become chief operating officer of the Curtiss-Wright Corp., Parsippany, N.J. He succeeds David C. Adams, who has been promoted to president/CEO. Quinly was president of Curtiss-Wright Controls.
The first Bombardier 415 amphibious waterbomber sold to a U.S. customer has been delivered to Tenax Aerospace and leased to firefighting operator Aero-Flite for use on a multiyear contract with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
The Rafale is available in single- or two-seat configurations, and can serve as a land- or sea-based air-superiority, air-combat and ground-attack aircraft. First flight occurred in 1986, and deliveries began in 1999. The prototype was powered by two GE F404-GE-400 augmented turbofans (16,860 lb. thrust each); production aircraft use two Snecma M88-2 augmented turbofans rated 16,400 lb. thrust each.
The Tornado is a two-seat strike and air-combat aircraft that first flew in 1974. All versions are powered by two Turbo-Union RB199 afterburning turbofan engines. Production was completed in 1998 after 992 aircraft had been built. The aircraft is in service with Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia and the U.K.
Christine Geosling (see photos) is among four Northrop Grumman Corp. employees who were honored at the recent annual conference of the Society of Women Engineers. Geosling received the Resnick Challenger Medal, named for Judith Resnick, NASA mission specialist on the Challenger space shuttle flight, “for her visionary contributions to space exploration.” Receiving Emerging Leader Awards for their “engagement in engineering and outstanding technical accomplishments” were Linh Dang, Sonja Domazet and Diane LaFortune.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries began development of the C-2 twin-engine tactical transport in 2001 as a replacement for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's C-1As and C-130Hs, with the first flight in January 2010. The C-2 is powered by two General Electric CF6-80C2 turbofans rated at 52,500 lb. thrust each and has a maximum payload of 82,892 lb. Twenty-five C-1s are forecast for production from 2013 through 2022.
First flown as a prototype in 1982, the Ka-50 is a single-seat, twin-engine, contra-rotating coaxial-rotor attack helicopter. The Ka-52 is a side-by-side, twin-seat variant of the Ka-50. Power for the Ka-50 initially came from 2,200-shp Klimov TV3-117VMA engines. Although Ka-50 production stopped in 2009, the helicopter is still being marketed, but with the same 2,400-shp Klimov VK-2500 engine that powers the Ka-52. The Ka-52 remains in production. Through 2012, Kamov built approximately 18 Ka-50s and 28 Ka-52s.
First flight of the AW129 attack helicopter occurred in 1983. The Turkish army selected the AW129 in 2007 for a requirement for 51 attack helicopters, plus 41 options. Designated the T129, the Turkish version is powered by two LHTEC CTS800 turboshaft engines. Sixty-six AW129s and five T129s were built through 2012. Some 88 T129s are forecast for production in the 2013-22 period by Turkish Aerospace Industries.
An article in the Nov. 4 issue (page 10) incorrectly reported on features of the stealthy F-16 that Lockheed Martin has proposed to South Korea. It has a supersonic diverterless inlet, but no room for a weapons bay.
Brian J. Sinnwell has been appointed deputy executive director of planning and engineering and Timothy N. Haizlip maintenance director for the Louisville (Ky.) Regional Airport Authority. Sinnwell succeeds Karen A. Scott, who has retired. Sinnwell was director of planning and facilities at the Lehigh Northampton (Pa.) Airport Authority. Haizlip held the same position for the Capital Region Airport Authority in Lansing, Mich. Lesa Seibert has been named to the board of directors. She is president of Xstreme Media in Louisville.
The L-39 family includes two-seat trainers and single-seat light-attack aircraft; all are single-engine-powered. The most recent version is the L-159 and although the aircraft is still available for order, no new ones have been produced since 2003. Power for the L-159 is provided by a 6,300-lb.-thrust ITEC (Honeywell/AIDC) F124-GA-100 turbofan engine. The maiden flight of the L-39 occurred in 1968, with the L-159 following with its first flight in 1997 and first delivery in 1999. About 2,800 of the nearly 3,000 aircraft produced remain in service worldwide.
The UH-60/S-70 Black Hawk series is a family of single-main-rotor, twin-turbine, medium-lift military transport and utility helicopters. The latest version is the UH-60M, powered by two 2,215-shp GE T700-GE-701D turboshafts. The UH-60 family also includes the new S-70i model, which undergoes final assembly at Sikorsky subsidiary PZL Mielec in Poland. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries produces the Black Hawk under license in Japan. Through 2012, Sikorsky and Mitsubishi produced more than 3,110 Black Hawks.
The Mirage 2000 is a strike/reconnaissance aircraft. First flight occurred in 1978, with production running through 2007. Early aircraft of the type were powered by a Snecma M53-5 augmented turbofan (19,840 lb. thrust), while later aircraft were fitted with an M53-P2 augmented turbofan (21,385 lb. thrust). Single-seat interceptor and two-seat nuclear strike fighter variants were available. Some 607 Mirage 2000s were produced.
The W-3 Sokol is a medium, twin-engine multirole helicopter. Since its first flight in 1979, the Sokol has been built in a variety of variants, including the W-3RM search-and-rescue and W-3WA armed-combat versions. The W-3 is powered by two PZL-Rzeszow PZL-10W turboshafts rated at 900 shp each for takeoff. Through 2012, approximately 160 W-3s were built for military and civil customers and, from 2013 through 2022, another 49 W-3s are forecast be built.
Sukhoi is developing the single-seat, twin-engine T-50 to meet the Russian air force's PAK FA requirement for a new fighter aircraft. The initial T-50 prototype made its first flight in January 2010. A second prototype joined the flight-test program in March 2011. A third prototype took to the air in November 2011, followed by a fourth in December 2012. These aircraft are fitted with the Saturn 117 turbofan engine, which is to be used on initial production T-50s. Later production T-50s are to be powered by a new engine being developed by United Engine Corp.
The A400M is a four-engine, turboprop-powered military transport aircraft whose first flight occurred in December 2009. The aircraft is powered by four Europrop International TP400-D6 turboprop engines rated at 11,000 shp each, and has a maximum payload capacity of 81,600 lb. Seven European nations are participating in the A400M program: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the U.K. The seven nations intend to acquire a total of 170 A400Ms. Malaysia joined its European counterparts in the development effort in 2005, and will acquire four A400Ms.
The A330 MRTT is a military tanker/transport version of the Airbus A330-200 commercial airliner. The twin-engine A330 MRTT is powered by either Rolls-Royce Trent 700 or General Electric CF6-80E1 turbofan engines. Eighteen green airframes were produced for conversion through August 2012. An additional 12 are forecast to be built in the 2013-22 period.
The piston-powered CL-215 amphibian aircraft first flew in 1967, finding primary use as a firefighting platform, though the aircraft could also be used in other applications such as transport, maritime surveillance and search-and-rescue. Production of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CA3-powered aircraft ended in 1989, with 125 produced. A new variant, the Bombardier 415, is currently in production and is powered by PW123AF turboprop engines. Eighty-three 415s were built through 2012. An additional 31 are forecast for production in 2013-22.
International Space Station occupancy temporarily surged to nine people on Nov. 7, with the launch and docking of the Soyuz TMA-11M spacecraft. Onboard was a crew of three, including veteran aerospace engineer Koichi Wakata, who is slated to become the first Japanese commander of the orbiting science lab in March.
The Sikorsky CH-53 and MH-53 are three-engine, heavy-lift transport and special-purpose helicopters. They were initially developed out of twin-turboshaft models. Power for the CH-53E and MH-53E models is provided by three GE T64-GE-416 or -419 turboshaft engines rated at 4,380 shp and 4,750 shp, respectively. Sikorsky produced 177 CH-53Es, 48 MH-53Es and 11 S-80s (export version) through the end of production in 1999. In January 2006, the U.S. Navy selected Sikorsky to begin preliminary design work on the CH-53K, a new model for the U.S. Marine Corps.
