A twin-turbofan-powered, narrowbody commercial passenger transport aircraft, the C919 targets the international Airbus-Boeing duopoly in narrowbody airliner sales. Variants include the baseline C919-200, which seats up to 168 passengers; the C919-100, a 130-seat model that will compete against the Airbus A319; and the C919-300, a 190-seat model designed to compete with the A321 and Boeing 737-800/-900. Comac has selected the CFM Leap-1C engine to power the C919. Service entry has been planned for 2016, but development is taking longer than anticipated.
The ATR series are turboprop-powered regional transport aircraft. ATR is a joint venture of Alenia Aermacchi and EADS. The ATR 42 was first delivered in 1985 to Air Littoral, while the ATR 72 entered service in 1989. The latest versions are the ATR 42-600 and 72-600. The latter received EASA certification in May 2011. Both -600 variants are powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engines, rated at 2,400-2,750 shp each. A total of 969 ATR-series aircraft were produced through 2011, with production of 681 forecast for 2012-21.
Mention aircraft structures and advanced materials and it brings to mind the heavy bones—the ribs, spars, planks and beams that make up the skeleton. But developments affecting the outer layers of the aircraft's skin—just millimeters deep, microns even—promise to have a huge impact on weight, cost and efficiency. The skin of an aircraft has taken on new importance with the move to composite airframes, which brings the need to add lightning-strike protection to the non-conductive carbon-fiber materials used in the place of aluminum.
This twin-engine turboprop aircraft family initially was known as the Dash 8 series. The Q100, the original model, made its first flight in June 1983; first deliveries followed in October 1984. The Q100 carried 37-39 passengers and was equipped with 2,150-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120/121 engines. Other models have included the 37-39-passenger Q200 (with 2,150-shp PW123C/D engines) and the 50-56-seat Q300 (with 2,500-shp PW123Bs). Production of the Q100, Q200 and Q300 has ended. The 68-78-seat Q400 (with 6,000-shp PW150As) remains in production.
A 19-seat utility aircraft, the Y-12-II is equipped with Western avionics and Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 engines flat-rated to 620 shp each. The Y-12-IV has winglets, a strengthened undercarriage and redesigned seating. Another Y-12 version is the Y-12E, which is powered by 750-shp PT6A-135 engines. HAI is currently developing the Y-12F, which is substantially different from the earlier Y-12 designs. The Y-12F has a wider fuselage, retractable landing gear, and increased speed, range and payload.
Marvin R. Sambur (see photo) has been appointed president and CEO of Bethesda, Md.-based Burdeshaw Associates, succeeding U.S. Army Gen. (ret.) William W. Hartzog, who will retire but remain a member of the board. Sambur has been president and CEO of ITT Defense and assistant Air Force secretary for acquisition.
The MA60 twin-turboprop transport aircraft is a stretched version of the Xian Y7-200A, in turn a variation on the Antonov An-24. Accommodation can be provided for 52-60 passengers. The aircraft is powered by two 2,750-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127J engines. Initial flight and delivery of the MA60 took place in 2000. A freighter version, called the MA60-500, is also marketed. In May 2010, a new variant, the MA600, was awarded certification by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Malini Krishnan, a senior software quality engineer at Rockwell Collins in Hyderabad, India, has been named Rockwell Collins Volunteer for 2012. Her work includes activities to assist children in need and development of a prototype Android application that combines local emergency response systems.
In response to the editorial “To Succeed, First Dare to Fail” (AW&ST Aug. 27, p. 54), it should be noted that in the last several decades, parents have taught children to be more risk averse, and those children have grown up to be decision-makers. There are still risk takers, because what seems risky to one person is not to another with a better background. The two outcomes of risk—elapsed time and money spent—have varied in relative importance throughout aviation's history, depending on mainly uncontrollable external factors.
Your Innovation feature is just a facet of one of the best-written and most informative issues in recent times (AW&ST Sept. 3/10, p. 56). I also enjoyed “Above All, A Pilot” (p. 32) on Neil Armstrong's path to the Moon. Outstanding! Albuquerque, N.M.
James R. Asker's comprehensive tribute to Neil Armstrong was exceptional. I wanted to further comment on his contribution to the X-20 Dyna-Soar program, plus his excellent career timing.
Davert Leong has been appointed electrical engineer in production, while David Casey is the new lead embedded-software engineer and Doyle Sisson project manager at International Communications Group, Newport News, Va. Debbie Glass has been added as a technical writer. Leong has been a lab technician for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and Casey comes from a career with Rockwell Collins. Sisson was final assembly manager for the Boeing Business Jet and has been program manager at Raytheon, AIS and Laird Technologies.
The A318 is a twin-engine, 107-132-passenger narrowbody jetliner. First flight occurred in January 2002. In May 2003, the A318 (with CFM56 engines) was certificated by the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA); this was followed by FAA certification in June and deliveries began in July. The A318 is powered by two 21,600-23,800-lb.-thrust turbofan engines, either the CFM56-5B or the Pratt & Whitney PW6000. Primary competition includes the Embraer 190 and 195 and Bombardier CSeries.
While most of Washington is growing more and more pessimistic about the potential for Congress to avoid a nearly $1 trillion across-the-board federal cut, discussions about a possible deal are beginning to take shape. Then again, a $4 trillion deal on deficit reduction is still a long way off, and how that would play out is highly dependent on the results of the November election.
India successfully conducted a development test of its nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface Agni-IV missile on Sept. 19 from a military base in the eastern state of Odisha. The missile will be introduced into service next year after one more planned trial, a defense ministry official says. After climbing to an altitude of more than 800 km (500 mi.), it reportedly reentered the atmosphere and reached the pre-defined target in the Indian Ocean in about 20 min.
The An-124 is a four-engine, intercontinental-range, heavy-lift cargo transport, while the An-225 is a six-engine, heavy-lift jet designed to carry the Soviet shuttle orbiter Buran. Initial flight of a production An-124 prototype took place in 1982, and commercial operation began in 1986. The An-124 is powered by four Ivchenko-Progress D-18T turbofan engines, while the An-225 is powered by six. Fifty-five An-124s and one An-225 have been produced.
Tangible proof is finally emerging that the FAA is back on course with one of its most crucial—and most troubled—air traffic control programs. While government watchdogs caution that plenty could still go wrong with the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) effort, its accomplishments are at last beginning to outweigh the red flags.
Russian Helicopters has secured the first civil order for its Kamov Ka-226T light helicopter powered by Turbomeca Arrius 2G1 turboshafts. Gazpromavia airline, a subsidiary of Russia's gas monopolist Gazprom, ordered 18 of the helicopters on Sept. 6. The manufacturer should deliver the first six in 2013, and the others in 2014. The helicopters will be used to patrol Gazprom's distribution system, and provide corporate transportation in Arctic regions.
As CEO of EADS, Louis Gallois was repeatedly rebuffed by his board when he sought to acquire U.S. defense companies. Less than four months after Gallois' retirement, a single deal could finally make EADS a top supplier to the Pentagon—and in the process create the largest aerospace and defense (A&D) company ever.
Brent Appleby has been appointed deputy to the VP-engineering for science and technology at Draper Laboratory, Cambridge, Mass. He returns to Draper after two years at the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in Washington.
George Novak has been tapped to become assistant VP-civil aviation of the Aerospace Industries Association, Arlington, Va. He was director of safety, border and security with InterVistas Consulting.
Mars Curiosity rover's three left wheels frame the lower slopes of Mount Sharp in this two-frame mosaic collected Sept. 9 by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (Mahli) during tests of the robotic arm.
