Fixed-wing – Page 1146
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RAF Canberras receive survivability upgrade
Tim Ripley/LONDON The Royal Air Force's five veteran BAC Canberra PR9 strategic reconnaissance aircraft are receiving a defensive aid suite (DAS) upgrade to increase their ability to penetrate hostile airspace safely. The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) at Boscombe Down designed and is fitting the upgrade, but the programme ...
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USAF plans F-16 improvements
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC The US Air Force is drawing up plans for a Falcon Star structural enhancement package to sustain the operational life of the large numbers of early Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter versions in its fleet and overseas. Falcon Star is intended as a follow-on to the ...
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India expects final version of Su-30MKI to arrive on schedule
India is expecting its first fully specified Sukhoi Su-30MKI multirole fighter to be completed almost to schedule by the middle of next year. The deliveries are planned despite delays in the provision of interim-standard Su-30MKs, which are expected at the end of this year, 12 months late. Eight Su-30s ...
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Chained to war
The US Air Force's re-engineered logistics supply chain has been tested in battle Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC The re-engineering of spare parts support - made possible by advances in information technology - was instrumental in keeping 323 USAF aircraft available in the Kosovo conflict, service officials say. The aircraft helped NATO ...
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Japan's anti-tank OH-1 study heralds further delay to AH-X
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE The Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force (JGSDF) is studying the use of the OH-1 airframe as a basis for its AH-X future attack helicopter programme, the schedule for which has slipped again. According to Japanese defence sources, the OH-1 could be modified to become a replacement for ...
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Military Aircraft Directory Part 1
Ongoing competitions and the Kosovo crisis underline the continuing need for transports, tankers and surveillance aircraft. Part two of the directory will survey fighter and trainer aircraft. Stewart Penney/LONDONTransport and support aircraft attract fewer headlines than their fighter and bomber brethren, but they play a vital part in the make-up ...
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KAL grapples with training
Korean Air's efforts to improve its operation still leave some unanswered questions about just why the airline has had such a poor record. "Korean pilots are as good as any other pilots in the world," says deputy head of flight operations and Boeing 747-400 captain, Bill Hardy. The problem ...
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Light and powerful
It may be slower than its competitors, but the power of Bell's 427 light twin turbine, simplicity of operation and overall comfort impressed Flight International's test pilot Peter Gray/MIRABEL Beginning with a clean sheet of paper, a list of desired design criteria and a rigid purchase price goal, Bell Helicopter ...
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Philippines ponders F-5 buy
The Philippines air force is considering purchasing secondhand Northrop F-5s from Taiwan to boost its fighter strength. The country's president Joseph Estrada says any such purchase could not be done directly, to avoid damaging relations with mainland China. Instead, the procurement would have to go through an intermediary. "It ...
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Israelis settle for F-16I, despite new F-15I offer
Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DCIsrael's air force has settled its long-running fighter competition by ordering 50 Lockheed Martin F-16Is for $2.5 billion, and taking options on up to a further 60. The announcement follows a last-ditch attempt by Boeing to clinch the contest, offering an F-15L version of its ...
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Brazil wins approval for P-3A/B Orions
The Brazilian Government has received US State Department authorisation for the acquisition of 12 maritime patrol Lockheed P-3A and P-3B Orions. Brazil's requirement dates back to 1994. The air force launched the PX programme to acquire a dedicated shore-based maritime patrol/anti-submarine warfare platform to replace carrier-compatible Grumman S-2Es and ...
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F-22 fights back with supercruise success
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES The US Air Force has warned Congress that failure to fund the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor in the fiscal year 2000 defence budget will have a major impact on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) project. Maj Gen Claude Bolton, USAF programme executive, fighter and bomber programmes, ...
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Italian defence and industry plan joint funding
Italy's defence and industry ministries are proposing a joint approach to the funding of key military aerospace programmes being undertaken by domestic industry. The move is aimed at meeting a defence requirement which cannot be achieved at current budget levels, while providing a boost to the Italian aerospace industry, says ...
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Thailand stalls on Alpha Jet decision
The Thai Government has shelved its go-ahead decision for the purchase of 50 ex-German air force Alpha Jets, to meet the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) trainer/light strike requirement. Prime minister and defence minister Chuan Leekpai now says more time is needed to consider the procurement, which may be ...
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Workshop
Delta Air Lines' Technical Operations division has been selected by Boeing Business Jets as the primary aircraft heavy maintenance services provider for its Boeing NetJets (BNJ) fleet. General Electric Engine Services will provide primary engine maintenance services, while Delta will also provide selected engine maintenance services for the BNJ fleet. ...
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House vote puts first nail in F-22's coffin
Congressional moves to cut funds for production of the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor took a set closer to reality on 23 July, when the House of Representatives voted to withhold $1.8 billion for the first six aircraft. US Air Force (USAF) and industry hopes to restore funding now rest ...
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Alberta gets Phoenix FanJet go-ahead
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON Alberta Aerospace (AAC) has been given the green light by a Belgian court to proceed with certification of the Phoenix FanJet. This follows a protracted battle with former investors in bankrupt manufacturer Promavia over the rights to the single-engined aircraft, formerly known as the Promavia Jet Squalus. ...
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US Marines look at Litening for Harriers
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC The US Marine Corps will decide whether to equip its Boeing AV-8B Harrier IIs with the Rafael Litening targeting and navigation pod by the end of July at the conclusion of demonstration trials. USMC planning had called for the initial funding of a pod acquisition to equip ...
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Australian airlines target degree pilots
Paul Phelan/CAIRNS Australian carriers want more airline pilot recruits to hold or obtain university degrees involving management skills. They are planning a tailored course to achieve this. Ansett and Qantas, with input from major regional carriers, are close to agreement on a scheme whereby 10-20% of pilot recruits would ...
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Boeing selected in $1.3 billion Australian AEW&C contest
Peter La Franchi/CANBERRAAustralia has become the launch customer for Boeing's mid-sized airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) system under a A$2 billion-plus ($1.3 billion) selection announced on 21 July.Boeing will deliver the first of seven B737-700 aircraft, carrying Northrop Grumman's Multirole Electronically Scanned Array (MESA) radar, by 2004-2005.The award is ...