All news – Page 6748

  • News

    DARPA and Frontier develop long endurance UAV rotorcraft

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has teamed with Frontier Systems to flight test a revolutionary unmanned helicopter that can stay airborne for as long as 62h and achieve an unrefuelled maximum range of 8,550km (4,600nm). The newly revealed long endurance unmanned helicopter and the rival Boeing ...

  • News

    On the prowl

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    General Atomics flew the Prowler II unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for the first time on 4 June. Reaching an altitude of 7,500ft (2,300m), the UAV flew for over 30min at 80kt (150km/h). The improved Prowler tactical UAV has an endurance of up to 20h. Plans call for the Prowler II, ...

  • News

    Canada may replace Germany for NATO project

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Technical problems that have dogged development of the Daimler-Benz Aerospace (Dasa) Seamos vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle (VTOL UAV) could force Project Group 35 of the NATO Naval Armaments Group to drop Germany from the Maritime UAV International Technology Demonstrator Programme (ITDP). Other nations involved include the ...

  • News

    Guardian crashes as rival misses deadline

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Bombardier's CL-327 Guardian vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle (VTOLUAV) crashed on 10 June at the Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona, after completing a flight test programme for the US Department of Defense (DoD). The Guardian is believed to be a total loss. Bombardier had completed the 50h of ...

  • News

    Alliant wins Delta booster contract

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

     Alliant Techsystems has received contracts worth $750 million to continue with the supply of the graphite epoxy solid rocket GEM motors for Boeing's fleet of Delta launchers. Additional production options could take the value of the contract to $1 billion, says the Salt Lake City-based company. The nine Delta ...

  • News

    India injects more funds into space

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    India is to increase the budget of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by $100 million for fiscal year 1998-9. The rise is part of a wider science budget increase of 31% for the period. The space agency's new budget of $385 million will include spending on a new ...

  • News

    New target

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    NASA's first New Millennium programme spacecraft, Deep Space 1, being built by Spectrum Astro, will be targeted for a fly-by of asteroid 1992 KD on 28 July, 1999, possibly followed by the comet Borrelly in October 1999. Source: Flight International

  • News

    OSC wins $260 million contract

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Orbital Sciences (OSC) has received a $260 million contract from New York-based VisionStar to build and procure the launch for two geostationary-orbiting broadband communications satellites. The 2,000kg-class, 30 Ka-band transponder satellites will be stationed at 113¼W and will provide high-speed Internet connections and transmissions, videoconferencing and broadcasting of programmes ...

  • News

    IAI wraps up US Shavit deal

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Tim Furniss/LONDON Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has formalised an agreement with Coleman Research in the USA to develop a commercial version of the Shavit launcher. The new booster, called the LK-1, will operate from Spaceport Florida's Cape Canaveral site or from Wallops Island, Virginia. The LK-1 will ...

  • News

    Production standstill forces Grob to reduce workforce

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Andrzej Jeziorski/MUNICH Aircraft production at Grob Aerospace's Mindelheim plant in Germany has ground to a halt through lack of orders, forcing the company to reduce its workforce to just over 40. Grob says that up to 80 engineers have been transferred to its successful machine tool manufacturing operation, but can ...

  • News

    PAL fights for survival as pilots are sacked and flights slashed

    1998-06-17T00:00:00Z

    Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Philippine Airlines (PAL) is drawing up survival plans for a massive shrinkage of its international and domestic operations, after sacking 600 pilots involved in a week-long strike that has brought the national carrier close to financial ruin. Pilots were protesting over plans to force redundancies among older ...

  • News

    Trace VIP A310

    1998-06-10T16:43:00Z

    Trace Worldwide has completed the installation of its VIP interior conversion kit in the business class section of an Airbus A310. The kit can be carried in the hold in a modified LD6 container. The Biggin Hill, UK-based firm has been discussing the concept of "quick change" kits with Airbus ...

  • News

    Rolls-Royce Xian parts

    1998-06-10T16:41:00Z

    The first engine parts to be produced by Rolls-Royce's joint venture with China's Xian Aero Engine have been delivered within a year of work starting on a new 13,000m² (140,000ft²) factory. The low-pressure nozzle guide vanes are being incorporated into Tay engines at R-R's Derby, UK, site. Source: Flight ...

  • News

    Boeing direct

    1998-06-10T16:40:00Z

    Boeing and freight carrier UPS have expanded their spare parts delivery service to cover all Boeing's distribution centres. The service was launched in 1996 and previously covered only Seattle and Atlanta - now to be joined by Beijing, London and Singapore. Boeing says the move will allow airlines to reduce ...

  • News

    Satair acquired

    1998-06-10T16:08:00Z

    Danish aircraft parts distributor Satair has acquired fastener and tools specialist Tecni matic Aéronautique in a move to strengthen its presence in France. Satair will buy two-thirds of the $6 million company immediately and the rest in 2000. Source: Flight International

  • News

    Heico/Teleflex deal

    1998-06-10T16:06:00Z

    Heico has revealed its most ambitious acquisition to date, with a deal to buy Teleflex-Lionel-Dupont, a French manufacturer of ground support equipment (GSE), in a share swap worth $63 million. The French company will bring annual sales of some $145 million, and manufacturing plants around the world, to add to ...

  • News

    Textron sells

    1998-06-10T16:06:00Z

    Textron has agreed to sell its fuel systems business to US engine controls group Woodward Governor in a $160 million deal, which comes as a further move to strip out non-core businesses. Textron says that it will consider using the cash to fund acquisitions and promises further reshuffles within its ...

  • News

    Signature adds

    1998-06-10T15:58:00Z

    Signature Flight Support has acquired the assets of the Million Air fixed based operation in Palm Springs, California, boosting its chain of flight support operations to 39 locations. Source: Flight International

  • News

    Cat III Falcon 2000

    1998-06-10T15:57:00Z

    Dassault Aviation has received US Category IIIa low-visibility approach certification for the Flight Dynamics' Head-up Guidance System in the Falcon 2000. More than half of the business jet's operators have specified the optional head-up display since European approval for the system was given in August 1996. Source: Flight International

  • News

    New Piper investor

    1998-06-10T15:56:00Z

    US finance company American Capital Strategies has invested $20 million in privately held New Piper Aircraft. American Capital bid competitively to provide the funds, which will be used for growth plans. Source: Flight International