All news – Page 7453
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African Hercules
The South African Air Force is to acquire two Lockheed C-130Bs and three C-130Fs from excess US Air Force and Navy stocks. All five aircraft are in storage at the Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona. Source: Flight International
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Europeans are urged to unite against US might
SENIOR GOVERNMENT figures in the UK and Germany have warned that Europe's defence and aerospace industries will have to consolidate to face the challenge posed by restructuring in the USA. UK defence secretary Michael Portillo, speaking to the UK's Parliamentary Aerospace group, warned that industry "...faces a very ...
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Norwegian upgrade
Norway plans a $65 million upgrade of its four maritime-patrol Lockheed Martin P-3C Orions with satellite and secure communications and missile-warning systems. Loral Defense Systems will be prime contractor. Source: Flight International
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USA uses global broadcast model
A PRECURSOR TO THE US Department of Defense's planned global broadcast system (GBS) has been deployed in Europe for the distribution of classified video-imagery collected by General Atomics Predator unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) operating over Bosnia. Hughes Space & Communications, meanwhile, has received a $150 million contract to ...
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ACTIVE goes active in first F-15 vectored-thrust flight test
THE thrust-vectoring system developed for the Advanced Control Technology for Integrated Vehicles (ACTIVE) programme was activated on the McDonnell Douglas (MDC) F-15 research aircraft in flight for the first time at NASA's Dryden Research Center, Edwards AFB, California, on 27 March. The Pratt & Whitney pitch-yaw balance-beam nozzle ...
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European business aviation 'in jeopardy'
Julian Moxon/BRUSSELS A "SERIOUS DECLINE" in the number of business-aviation aircraft in Europe, and the imminent arrival of tough new regulations, is forcing the European Business Aircraft Association (EBAA) to become more vocal. Increasing difficulty over access to airports, the need to re-equip to meet forthcoming ...
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VTOL contenders line up for TUAV
BELL HELICOPTER Textron has surprised rivals by offering the Eagle Eye tilt-rotor unmanned air vehicle for the US Department of Defense's multi-billion dollar Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) competition (Flight International, 27 March -2 April). The US helicopter maker joins at least six other bidders for a two-year ...
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JAST RFP released as MDC revises design
Guy Norris/ST LOUIS THE REQUEST FOR proposals for the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) concept-demonstration phase was released on 22 March, after Lockheed Martin withdrew a protest which threatened to delay the programme (Flight International, 27 March-2 April). The protest was withdrawn after the return ...
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UPS picks Flight Dynamics head-up system
UPS Airlines is to equip its 59-strong Boeing 727 fleet with the Flight Dynamics head-up guidance system (HGS). The move will allow UPS 727 crews to fly manual Category IIIA approaches in visibility as low as 210m (700ft) and take off in visibility down to 90m. ...
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Supersonic Japanese
Japan's National Aerospace Laboratory plans to fly a remotely piloted supersonic-transport test model by 2002. It will fly at a speed of Mach 2 and be used to test fluid dynamics, structural characteristics and systems integration. The scaled 8-8.5m long vehicle, would be powered by one, or two, 4.45kN (1,000lb)-thrust ...
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Russian helicopter army in decline...
CONCERN OVER the state of combat readiness and morale of the Russian army's aviation corps has been made public in a letter sent by senior officers to Gennady Seleznev, chairman of the lower chamber of the Russian parliament. The letter says that the bulk of the helicopter fleet ...
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Thomson-CSF puts losses behind it
Gilbert Sedbon/PARIS FRENCH DEFENCE-electronics giant Thomson-CSF has swung firmly back into profit, further fuelling interest in the Thomson group's privatisation, due to take place this year. Thomson-CSF, now freed from the liabilities of its stake in the troubled Credit Lyonnais bank, produced a net profit ...
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Heavier Tu-204-200 has maiden flight at Kazan
THE FIRST TUPOLEV Tu-204-200 to be produced at the Kazan Aircraft Production Factory had its maiden flight on 21 March. The Perm PS-90A-engined aircraft, to be redesignated by Kazan as the Tu-214, has an increased maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 110t, up from the 98t of the Tu-204-100. ...
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Taiwan Lease
China Airlines (CAL) is to lease six new Boeing 737-400s, as part of its previously announced order for six 737-800s. The 737-400s will serve as an interim replacement for three 737-200s and two leased Airbus Industrie A320s, until the new -800s are delivered in 1998. The first three -400s will ...
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FAA closes account on AGATE programme
Karen Walker/TAMPA THE US FEDERAL Aviation Administration has come under fire from NASA and industry for pulling its funding from a programme aimed at rejuvenating general aviation (GA) and attracting new student pilots. NASA has warned that, without the FAA's share of funding for the ...
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NetJets to expand fleet
Julian Moxon/BRUSSELS US FRACTIONAL - ownership company NetJets, is negotiating a purchase of up to 50 business jets, virtually doubling its proposed fleet. The move "...proves the tremendous potential" of the fractional-ownership market, according to international-marketing senior vice-president Kevin Russel. NetJets has more than $1 ...
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Global Express heads for August roll-out
ASSEMBLY OF THE FIRST CANADAIR Global Express long-range business jet is almost complete, with only the engines, landing gear and empennage awaiting installation. Roll out is expected in late August, with the maiden flight in September. Delivery to the initial customer is set for December 1997 and certification (after installation ...
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USA gains more time in bilateral disputes
Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE Gilbert Sedbon/PARIS THE USA HAS temporarily headed off the threat of serious confrontations in Asia and Europe over airline traffic rights. In the last week of March, US Department of Transportation officials have secured a cargo deal with Japan and agreed with France to ...
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Sorry Business
IF THE EUROPEAN BUSINESS Aircraft Association (EBAA) is to be believed, over-regulation, over-pricing and over-restriction are placing European business aviation in jeopardy, to the point of threatening the very existence of many operators. It is true that there are looming threats to the business community's continued hassle-free use of its ...
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US helicopter operator buys into Bristow
BRISTOW HELICOPTERS, the last of the UK's big three helicopter operators to have maintained its independence, has signed a deal which would put half of the company in the hands of US giant Offshore Logistics (OLOG). A letter of intent has been signed, under which OLOG, the ...