All Helicopters articles – Page 448
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Next-X ?
From the highs of the X-15's flights at over six times the speed of sound to the lows of the early-1990s' cancellation of the over-ambitious X-30 single-stage-to-orbit aerospace plane, the USA's "X-" series of experimental vehicles has exemplified the country's drive for dominance in the aeronautical and space technology arenas. ...
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X directory
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC X is for experimental, and the USA's famous X-planes have played a key role in advancing aerospace technology over the more than 50 years since the Bell X-1 first flew. The nature of the X-series is changing, however. There is greater emphasis on ...
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USA clears Singapore for Longbow attack radar
The US Department of Defense (DoD) is preparing to release the Northrop Grumman/Lockheed Martin Longbow millimetre-wave radar to Singapore, clearing the way for the first sale of the Boeing AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopter to a South-East Asian nation. It is understood from US defence sources that a supplementary ...
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Arianespace/Globalstar secure satellite constellation deal
Tim Furniss/LONDON Arianespace has won its first contract to launch a satellite constellation after clinching a deal with Globalstar. The European launcher firm has also launched the PanAmSat 6B into geostationary transfer orbit using an Ariane 42L model from Kourou on 21 December. The Globalstar deal involves the ...
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Osprey takes to the water after design review
The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft will begin US Navy sea trials at the end of this month, as engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) nears completion and final design of the air force's CV-22 special operations version is frozen. Aircraft 10, the fourth and final EMD vehicle, will ...
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AV-8B tries out OSCAR commercial software upgrade
The US aerospace industry and military are studying the success of the Boeing AV-8B Open System Core Avionic Requirement (OSCAR), with a mind to the wider application of commercial computer software in other fighter aircraft programmes. The adoption of commercial software is set to expand with future enhancements to ...
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USAF to accept first C-130Js as utility tests are concluded
The US Air Force is finalising acceptance paperwork for its first Lockheed Martin C-130J transports, following the successful completion of utility flight tests. Tests included drops of heavy equipment weighing up to 19,000kg (42,000lb), parachute drops of up to 53 jumpers and operations from short and improvised airstrips. ...
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Greek air force gives the wink to Ericsson's Erieye system
Howard Gethin/LONDON The Greek Government has selected the Ericsson Erieye system for the Greek air force's airborne warning and control system requirement in a deal worth more than $500 million for four systems integrated with the Embraer EMB-145. The sale is the first export success for the industrial ...
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Problems stack up for US aerospace despite boom
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC The US aerospace industry will post a record $7.4 billion in profits on $140 billion in sales this year, and expects to see sales grow by $4.5 billion next year to $145 billion, according to the Aerospace Industries Association. The US trade group, however, declines ...
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BAe to manufacture Boeing 777 components
British Aerospace has secured a deal from Boeing to manufacture components for the 777 twinjet as the Airbus partner company realigns its aerostructures business. The Boeing deal follows an earlier contract to produce components for the Next Generation 737 and the 747. BAe's Aerostructures division has received a 10-year ...
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US Air Force accelerates plans for networked simulators
The US Air Force is pushing ahead with plans to acquire networked aircraft simulators under innovative "fee forservice" contracts. Air Combat Command commander Gen Richard Hawley says the Distributed Mission Training (DMT) initiative is key to plans to reorganise the USAF into 10 "expeditionary aerospace forces [EAFs]". The EAF ...
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Stretching out in the Enstrom 480 Turbine
Peter Gray/SHOREHAM The Enstrom 480 Turbine is a classic example of how a good original design can be adapted and modified for the demanding modern operating environment. It is also remarkably flexible for its size. At its maximum capacity, one passenger occupies the front right-hand seat next to ...
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P-3 sustainment study may turn into MMA
Lockheed Martin, a Raytheon Systems/Bombardier Services team, and possibly Boeing have submitted bids for the US Navy's P-3C Service Life Assessment Programme (SLAP) that would lead to major airframe modifications designed to keep the Orion aircraft flying until 2015, when the Multimission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) is expected to enter service. ...
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Airborne warning S-2 is offered to Brazil navy
Embraer and Marsh Aviation have submitted a proposal to the Brazilian navy to produce S-2F3T/E-1T Turbo Trackers to meet the service's airborne early warning (AEW) requirement. The "informal" proposal, made in November, covers the conversion of former US Navy E-1s rather than ex-Brazilian air force S-2s. "We'd rather use ...
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Lockheed urged to hurry C-130J orders
Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC Political pressure is mounting on the US Air Force to accelerate its planned purchase of additional new Lockheed Martin C-130J transports by up to four years to fill a shortfall in orders after 2000 and a threatened temporary shutdown in production. Lockheed Martin has existing ...
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Germany still uncertain over FLA
The German defence ministry says it will continue to "examine every option" for the purchase of a future military transport aircraft, despite a report from DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) rejecting the Antonov An-70 as the basis for the project. The ministry says industry replies to a request for proposals (RFP) ...
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V-22's gun system comes under review
Bell-Boeing is rethinking the requirement for a nose-mounted turreted gun system for the V-22 Osprey military tiltrotor, should funding be restored for installation of the weapon. The gun issue is part of a V-22 study addressing the integration of a radar, forward looking infrared device, refuelling probe and gun-feed/ammunition ...
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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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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 ...