Helicopters – Page 463
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News
UAVs and air expeditionary force top USAF priorities
Increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and the adoption of an Air Expeditionary Force Concept (AEFC) are among the priorities for the US Air Force for the millennium, according to Gen Ronald Fogelman, the United States Air Force Chief of Staff. Speaking at the USAF's 50th anniversary ...
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Royal Navy begins process to replace Sea King Commando
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is considering a replacement for the Royal Navy Westland Sea King HC4 Commando assault helicopter under the auspices of the Future Amphibious Support Helicopter (FASH) project. The MoD is looking to introduce a replacement for the HC4 into service around 2008, according ...
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Airport role-reversal
On 1 January, 1998, the two main airports of Italy's second city will start a process of gradual role-reversal. Linate, which has always been Milan's main airport, is almost logjammed, while Milan Malpensa opens the first stage of a development which will give it more than twice Linate's capacity, both ...
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Unmanned U-2 pitched at USAF
LOCKHEED Martin Skunk Works is studying an unmanned variant of the U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, which it believes could meet various US Air Force requirements. The firm outlined its concept in an unsolicited proposal to the USAF in March. The U-2U variant would augment the manned U-2S for ...
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Tilt-rotor arrives at initial-production hurdle
The Bell/Boeing V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft is expected to be cleared for low-rate initial production before the end of April, but a production increase is dependent on US Congress decisions. Backers of the Osprey military tilt-rotor were disappointed late in 1996, when the US Government rejected a proposal for ...
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Boeing and MDC line up to replace C-9
McDONNELL Douglas (MDC) and Boeing have declared their intention to compete to replace as many as 29 MDC C-9B support aircraft operated by the US Department of Defense for special missions. The US Navy Reserve operates the ageing C-9Bs for the Navy Unique Fleet Essential Airlift mission. The ...
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UK fails to deliver Boeing/GEC pact
UK Government attempts to massage a critical ú1 billion ($1.64 billion) Royal Air Force procurement programme to acquire a new maritime-patrol aircraft have ended in near farce. The ministerial promise of a "strategic partnership" between competitors Boeing and GEC has failed to materialise. When the Ministry of Defence ...
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Pentagon discloses JSF and B-2 costs
THE US DEPARTMENT of Defense has disclosed the total cost of the Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bomber programme and the cost estimate for research and development for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). The latest Selected Acquisition Report (SAR), which helps US lawmakers track the cost of major US ...
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Centre of excellence
The market for cargo conversion of widebodied aircraft has been booming recently, as suitable aircraft have become available at the "right price" to make conversion programmes cost-effective. Although the Boeing 747 has been the prime candidate, the European specialists have developed conversions for the smaller, twin and tri-jet widebodies, the ...
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R-R, Boeing to draw up -524HT test plans
Rolls-Royce has signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing covering the formulation of a flight-test schedule for the RB.211-524HT "hybrid" turbofan, although the timing of the programme remains uncertain as the UK manufacturer works to locate a suitable testbed aircraft. The -524HT, which uses the core of the ...
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News
Information on impulse de-icing...
Following publication of the article "Electro-impulse de-icing is selected for Premier I" (Flight International 1-7 May, 1996, P24) Peter Hartman, of Bombardier Regional Aircraft, Ontario, Canada, requested information (Letters, Flight International, 17-23 July, 1996) about developments in the field of electric-impulse de-icing systems (EDIS) being undertaken, he believed, in Russia. ...
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Engineering dominance
LOOK AT FIGHTER evolution in 25-year steps, and the technological advance which can occur in a quarter-century is obvious. The 1915 Fokker DVII, 1940 North American P-51 and 1965 McDonnell Douglas F-4 were each the dominant fighters of their age, and illustrate the advances that have been achieved. Another 25 ...
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Last of a breed
THE ROLL-OUT OF THE Lockheed Martin F-22 marks the end of an era. It is the last of the "cold-war" fighters; probably the last brand-new combat airframe with a brand-new engine to be flown this century; probably the last to embody "all the technology we could afford" instead of the ...
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Working together
THREE COMPANIES came together to develop the F-22 in the belief that their combined resources would be required to see the programme through to production. They are being proved right. So far, the F-22 industry team has invested about $2 billion on the programme, estimates programme ...
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Back from the brink
AN AIRFORCE is rarely satisfied with its allotted budget, and many military air wings have fine-tuned the art of pleading poverty into a way of lobbying for extra cash. The Philippine Air Force, however, has been forced to endure more hardships than most. Years of financial neglect have been compounded ...
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Indonesia turns to MiG-29 as F-16 delay continues
The Indonesian military is beginning to show interest in the MAPO-MiG Mikoyan MiG-29 Fulcrum, in the wake of its continued failure to obtain an additional batch of nine Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs from the USA. According to local sources, Indonesian officials have begun obtaining initial information on the Russian ...
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USNavy may advance Common Support Aircraft programme
THEUSNAVY is evaluating industry responses to a request for information on whether a new Common Support Aircraft (CSA) could be developed with the funds it would otherwise spend extending the service lives of the Northrop Grumman E-2 and Lockheed S-3. Industry was asked what type of aircraft could ...
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US Air Force considers broad re-engineing
BOEING AND ROLLS-Royce/Allison Engine could win a major US Air Force contract to re-engine not only the Boeing B-52H bomber, but other aircraft derived from the Boeing 707. A final decision on whether to re-engine the B-52H fleet is pending as a Congressional committee looking at the issue ...
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C-17 is capable of all envisaged roles
Sir - We agree with Comment "Strategic retreat" (Flight International, 12-18 February, P3), which says that the US armed forces must replace the Lockheed C-141 in the early 2000s. That replacement, the McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III, already exists. We recently delivered aircraft No 30 to the Air ...