All news – Page 6616
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Production growth puts Turbomeca on course for profit
Turbomeca hopes to report a net profit this year on the back of a possible 20% growth in production for 1998. The French turbine engine manufacturer reached break-even last year after four years of losses and is on course to improve its financial position still further this year. Deliveries ...
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French Polish
History may gloss over the fine details of how the French Government managed, in less than a year, to completely reverse its public stance that it would never privatise Aerospatiale. Recent events, not least some adroit juggling, have led to a situation in which the government will probably have a ...
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RAAF rejects ALARM lease
Peter La Franchi/ADELAIDE The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has rejected an offer of the loan of ALARM anti-radiation missiles from the UK Royal Air Force, and is proceeding with alternative plans for a new medium range stand-off weapon equipped with a dual spectrum seeker head. The missile loan proposal, ...
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Boeing proposes F-18C/D life extension programme
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Boeing has proposed an F-18C/D life extension programme for the US Navy and Australian and Canadian forces, which would replace the aircraft's entire centre and aft fuselage to extend its operational life well into the next century. The new fuselage work would also keep part of the ...
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RAF considers FLIR system for Hercules special forces flight
The Royal Air Force is considering buying a forward looking infrared (FLIR) navigation system for up to six of its Lockheed C-130K Hercules transports, likely to be intended for covert missions by its special forces flight. Marshall Aerospace will be the prime contractor for installing the uncooled 8-14,000 nanometre ...
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Indian air force training slammed
Hormuz Mama/BANGALORE Howard Gethin/LONDON A report from the Indian Government auditor general has severely criticised the safety record of the Indian air force and called for a major shake-up of the service's training system. It stops short of calling for a new advanced trainer, but gives the lack of such ...
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New Zealand F-16 lease deal decision imminent
The New Zealand Department of Defence will decide before the end of the year whether to proceed with a probable lease deal for Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters to replace the Royal New Zealand Air Force's (RNZAF) McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawks, says defence minister Max Bradford. Negotiations are in progress. ...
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Eurocopter/Daewoo eye follow-on KLH order
Eurocopter and partner Daewoo are pushing for a follow-on contract to the order for 12 BO105CBS-5 helicopters to meet the South Korean army's scout helicopter requirement. The Korean Light Helicopter (KLH) programme started in 1990 with a requirement for 100 aircraft, but has been whittled down over the years ...
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Flutter success
The Boeing F-18E/F Super Hornet integrated test team has completed the aircraft's engineering and manufacturing development flutter flight test programme. The culmination of the programme was a 1.7h flight carrying two AIM-7 Sparrow missiles, two AGM-65 Maverick missiles and AGM-154s, in which the aircraft was dived to limit speed. ...
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Fourth C-32A
The fourth and last Boeing C-32A executive transport made its maiden flight on 5 November from the company's Renton production site. The fleet of C-32As, modified 757-200s, is replacing the US Air Force's ageing C-137s (Boeing 707) which have been in service since the late 1950s. Source: Flight International
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Israel looks at new maritime
The Israeli air force is to replace its three Seascan maritime patrol aircraft and will decide soon whether to purchase a new platform or use one of its existing aircraft for the mission. A final decision is expected early next year. The Seascan is a specialised version of the ...
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Electronic warfare hitch delays Su-30 delivery to India
Howard Gethin/LONDON The Indian air force is looking for alternative suppliers for electronic warfare equipment for its second batch of 10 Sukhoi Su-30 strike aircraft, after Israeli firms were barred from supplying India following New Delhi's nuclear tests earlier this year. The Indian air force has still not made ...
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Chain reaction
Paul Seidenman/SAN FRANCISCO Fixed base operators (FBOs) will going to continue to see their industry consolidate, despite increases in business flying. While industry experts point out that the consolidation of FBOs is nothing new, the current trend has some differences compared to the last great shake-out that occurred in the ...
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The other satcom
Graham Warwick/WASHINTON DC Iridium's mobile communications network went live on 1 November, but aviation users will have a wait a few months before they can access the satellite system. AlliedSignal Aerospace plans to begin shipments of its Iridium-based Airsat-1 aeronautical satellite-communications (satcom) system on 1 March next year. Deliveries of ...
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Common theme
Graham Warwick WASHINGTON DC Can airlines agree to buy a standard aircraft, in the hope of reducing costs, or will each continue to demand hundreds of custom changes that set its aircraft apart from any other carrier's? That is the question facing an airline task force which is to ...
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Adventure star
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Lockheed Martin's venture to develop and operate a fully reusable launch vehicle has always been acknowledged as risky; just how risky was brought home by the news that engine manufacturing problems have delayed the first flight of the X-33 technology demonstrator by six months, to December ...
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Bell/Agusta tie-up made official
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Bell Helicopter Textron and Agusta have signed the agreement creating the Bell/Agusta Aerospace joint venture to be responsible for development and marketing of the BA609 civil tiltrotor and the AB319 medium twin-turbine helicopter. Bell is the majority shareholder. The agreement cements a relationship which began ...
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First 777 for private operator
Boeing has completed work on the first private 777. The aircraft, a -200ER powered by General Electric GE90s, has a VIP interior and is expected to be operated by Mid East Jet. Although Boeing declines to confirm the identity of the owner, Mid East Jet is the most likely ...
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Order boost for Italy's General Avia
The Italian Aero Club has ordered 12 single-engined General Avia F.22B Piguinos for basic training and 3 F.22Cs for instrument flight rules (IFR) training. Deliveries will run from April 1999 to the end of the year. Designed by Stelio Frati, the F.22B has fixed gear and a 160hp (120kW) Textron ...
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FR Aviation signs international corporate maintenance deals
Kate Sarsfield/BOURNEMOUTH FR Aviation (FRA) is making further inroads into the corporate aircraft market with the signing of three international business aircraft maintenance contracts. The first two deals, with Mercury Aviation of Jeddah and a US-based operator, cover the maintenance of two BAC One-Elevens. The third contract, being undertaken ...