Fixed-wing – Page 1179
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Mixed fighter purchase finds favour with Israeli air force
Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV The Israeli Air force is leaning towards a split purchase of Boeing F-15Is and Lockheed Martin F-16s, according to sources close to the combat aircraft procurement process. A decision on whether to select either or both types is expected soon. Sources say that the service ...
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USN to standardise on Sikorsky
The US Navy plans to buy as many as 250 navalised Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters, designated CH-60S, for vertical replenishment, search and rescue and other missions at a total cost of $3.2 billion. The USN has decided to reduce the diverse fleet of naval rotorcraft to the ...
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USAF F-117s in line for upgrade
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Lockheed Martin plans to upgrade the US Air Force's fleet of F-117A strike aircraft to a common low observable (LO) configuration which it says will dramatically reduce maintenance costs and improve operability. The Single Configuration Fleet improvement programme will begin in October 1999 when the ...
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RAF Tornados to get improved HOTAS cockpit
Howard Gethin/LONDON The Royal Air Force is considering the introduction of hands on throttle and stick controls (HOTAS) for the Panavia Tornado GR4/4A strike aircraft as part of a rolling upgrade to extend the aircraft's service life until 2015. The Ministry of Defence has also stated a possible ...
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U-2s upgraded for 2020 and beyond
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is beginning work on a major cockpit upgrade of the U-2S reconnaisance aircraft as part of US Air Force plans to keep the aircraft operational to 2020 and beyond. The core of the cockpit upgrade will be large (150 x 200mm) ...
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Pratt & Whitney starts to test engine for Lockheed Martin JSF demonstrator
Pratt & Whitney has begun testing the JSF119-611 turbofan STOVL propulsion system for the Lockheed Martin X-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) demonstrator at the company's West Palm Beach facility. The engine, designated FX662, made its first run on November 10 with the lift fan engaged and operated to 100%. ...
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Air Forces of the World
Compiled by Stewart Penney As the end of the decade approaches, many of the world's air forces face the joint challenges of carrying out greater operational commitments, but with slimmed-down defence budgets. Although they are normally performed to keep the peace, such commitments are still costly in terms of ...
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School changes course
Gert Kromhout/ISTRES Based at Istres airbase in the south of France, the French Flight Test School EPNER (Ecole des Personnel Navigant d'Essais et de Recéption) is one of the few such governmental flight test schools in the world. Today, the school, one of France's best known aeronautical institutions, is ...
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Pilatus Aircraft seeks new owner in restructure move
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON Switzerland's Pilatus Aircraft is being sold by parent company Oerlikon-Burhle Holding as part of the company's wider restructuring plans. "We would like to concentrate on our core high technology business and our intention is to separate Pilatus [and its luxury goods and real estate businesses] from ...
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Lockheed Martin team agrees on JSF work
Carol Reed/FORT WORTH The Lockheed Martin-led Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) team has reached initial agreement with its partners over workshare should its design be selected as the baseline for the next generation of aircraft for the US Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and potential international partners. Frank Cappuccio, ...
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Agusta takes Dutch NH90 assembly share
Agusta is to produce all 20 naval NH Industries NH90 helicopters for the Netherlands, following a Dutch decision not to proceed with local production. The deal is part of larger success for the Italian company, which now shares 32% of the production for the utility helicopter. The NH90 will ...
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Seven sign up as Awards sponsors
Seven of the world's leading aerospace companies have now signed up as sponsors for The 1999 Aerospace Industry Awards, organised by Flight International. Bombardier, CFM International, Lockheed Martin, Lucas Aerospace, Rockwell Collins, Sextant Avionique and Smiths Industries have committed to supporting the event, scheduled to culminate in a gala dinner ...
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Bold endeavour
Tim Furniss/LONDON Russia has done its bit, now its NASA's turn. The Russian Zarya control module is in its planned orbit, ready and waiting. NASA's space shuttle Endeavour/ STS 88 is poised on launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida to embark on the first mission ...
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Precise mapping
Tim Furniss/LONDONOne of the few Space Shuttle flights guaranteed a launch date next year is the 11-day mission of the STS99/Endeavour.Because the flight is not related to the International Space Station (ISS) project, it is not subject to the schedule uncertainties that have plagued the ISS.The STS99 will be dedicated ...
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Dasa/Hyundai team to bid on sensor
DaimlerChrysler Aero- space (Dasa) is to offer its AN/AAR-60 missile warning sensor in partnership with Hyundai to meet an emerging South Korean air requirement to equip combat aircraft. The sensor is already to be integrated into the NH Industries NH90 multirole medium helicopter and will probably also be fitted in ...
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Training trends
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DCChanges in the military flight simulation industry in recent years have been as much about the way it does business as the technology it uses. Customers are increasingly viewing training as something that is paid for when needed, rather than requiring up-front investment.Whether it is called fee-for-service, "private ...
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Turkey's $3bn helicopter buy held up by flight test delays
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC Delays in completing flight demonstrations have held up a decision on Turkey's $3 billion project to procure 145 attack helicopters. A shortlist of two or three finalists is not expected until early next year. The final contract award is now expected to be concluded in June or ...
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Airfield support goes out to tender for UK services
The UK ministry of defence has selected seven companies to submit proposals to provide airfield support services for all the UK armed services airfields, in a long-term deal that could be worth at least £1 billion ($1.64 billion)over 10 years, according to one industry estimate. The tender, which will be ...
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P&W simulates JSF
Englewood, Colorado-based SymSystems is to supply mission verification benches for both the Boeing X-32 and Lockheed Martin X-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) concept demonstrators to engine supplier Pratt & Whitney. The simulators, incorporating aircraft and associated engine models, will be used to verify mission performance. Source: Flight International
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Radom offers PC-9 upgrade for training and combat
Israeli engineering and design company Radom is offering the avionics suite developed for the Slovenian air force's Pilatus PC-9s to other PC-7 and PC-9 operators for training and combat missions. Radom recently won a contract to upgrade 10 Slovenian air force PC-9s with new avionics, including a new mission computer, ...