USMC Lt. Gen. Terry G. Robling has been named deputy commandant for Aviation at USMC Headquarters. He was commanding general of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force/commander of Marine Corps Bases Japan/commander, Marine Forces Japan in Okinawa.
Harvey Berger (see photo) has received the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ (AIAA) Aerospace Communications Award for contributions to satellite communications link technology. Berger, a technical fellow for Northrop Grumman Corp. Aerospace Systems, Redondo Beach, Calif., was cited for contributions through analysis, design, consultation and mentoring to the satellite communications links developed by Northrop Grumman.
Commonly used in search-and-rescue and offshore duties, the AW139, a twin-engine, 15-passenger civil/commercial helicopter, is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67C turboshaft engines rated at 1,679 shp. each at takeoff. Originally named the AB139 when the AW139 was a joint venture between AgustaWestland and Bell, the name changed when Bell withdrew from the program. The AW149 is a slightly larger military transport variant powered by two 2,000-shp.-class GE CT7-2E1 engines. An AW149 prototype completed its maiden flight on Nov. 13, 2009.
The AS555 utility helicopter is a military version of the AS355 powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 1A turboshaft engines. Military applications include forward observation, light attack, reconnaissance, naval search and rescue, light anti-shipping and anti-submarine warfare. Some 773 AS355/555s were built through 2009. Though it is currently not possible to rule out further production, Eurocopter appears to have moved away from the model, with the last known produced in 2004.
The Pentagon has spelled out details of its proposal to Sweden for a new transport helicopter in a competition pitting the Sikorsky UH-60M against the Eurocopter EC725. Sweden is looking to quickly field 15 new helicopters with deliveries by April 2013.
Thai Airways International plans to go on a renewed aircraft buying spree now that it is has secured much-needed capital. The national carrier’s objective—to raise 15 billion baht ($490 million) through the issuance of new shares—will be achieved, because the share sale is already oversubscribed, says Thai’s vice president of investor relations, Raj Tanta-nanta. The new shares will start trading this month and some monies will be used for pre-delivery payments (PDP) on aircraft.
EADS, Europe’s leading aerospace/defense group, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. The cross-border group, although beset with multiple difficulties, is considered to be a robust symbol of industrial unity—standing as a testament to the fact that economic union creates power and influence. Last year, the group had nearly €43 billion ($57.9 billion) in revenues and its backlog was as high as €369 billion, but it posted €763 million in losses due to costly delays affecting two major Airbus programs, the A380 mega-transport and A400M military airlifter.
The current production model of this twin-engine, tandem-seat attack helicopter is the AH-64D, available both as a new-build aircraft and as a remanufactured upgrade (from existing AH-64As). The AH-64D Block II is generally fitted with GE T700-GE-701C engines, though some rebuilt AH-64Ds in the U.S. Army inventory retain the earlier -701 engines, while the British WAH-64D is powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 turboshafts rated at 2,100 shp. each.
The V-22 tiltrotor aircraft is a high-wing monoplane design with engines located in wingtip-mounted nacelles that rotate from full vertical for heliborne operation to full horizontal for forward, wing-borne flight. The engines are a pair of Rolls-Royce AE 1107C turboshafts rated at 6,150 shp. each. V-22s are being produced for the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force, with 134 built (including six prototypes) through 2009, and 311 V-22s expected to be produced in 2010-19.
The C-130 is a four-engine, turboprop-powered military transport. A number of variants have been produced, including the AC-130 gunship and the KC-130 tanker. First flight of a C-130 occurred in 1954, and the current production model, the C-130J, made its initial flight in 1996. The C-130J incorporates four 4,591-shp. Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 engines, new avionics and other improvements. Approximately 2,340 C-130s were produced through 2009, with 272 more C-130Js expected in 2010-19. Competition includes the Airbus A400M.
A single-engine, seven-seat light utility helicopter, the 407 is powered by a Rolls-Royce Model 250-C47B turboshaft engine rated at 813 shp. Bell entered a Honeywell HTS900-powered 407 variant in the U.S. Army’s Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) competition and that model (since dubbed the ARH-70A) was selected as the winner in July 2005. The ARH program was to involve the procurement of 512 helicopters, but the program was canceled in July 2008.
The A330 MRTT (known as KC-45 for the purposes of the KC-X U.S. tanker program) is a military tanker version of the Airbus A330 airliner. The twin-engine A330 MRTT is powered by either Rolls-Royce Trent 700 or General Electric CF6-80E1 turbofan engines. In February 2008, the U.S. Air Force selected the KC-45 as the replacement for the KC-135, beating a rival bid by Boeing. In mid-2008, however, the Government Accountability Office sustained a protest by Boeing, and USAF reopened the bidding process in September 2009.
The MB-339 was developed as a follow-on to Aermacchi’s MB-326. The first prototype flew in 1976. Propulsion is provided by a Rolls-Royce Viper Mk 632-43 engine (4,000 lb. thrust) or a Viper Mk 680 (4,400 lb. thrust). More than 220 aircraft for flight training and light air combat have been produced. The MB-339CD variant is a lead-in trainer for Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon pilots in the Italian air force. Production ended in 2004.
USAF Maj. Gen. William A. Chambers has been appointed assistant chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration at USAF Headquarters at the Pentagon. He was vice commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Ramstein AB, Germany. Maj. Gen. Douglas J. Robb has been named joint staff surgeon at the Pentagon. He was command surgeon at Headquarters Air Mobility Command, Scott AFB, Ill. Robb has been succeeded by Brig. Gen. Bart O. Iddins, who was command surgeon at Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla. Brig. Gen. Scott D.
The A-10 is a single-seat ground attack aircraft powered by a pair of General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofan engines rated at 9,065 lb. thrust each. First flight of an A-10 prototype occurred in 1972 and by 1984, when the final aircraft was delivered, 713 A-10As had been built for the U.S. Air Force. Conversion of a portion of the service’s A-10A fleet for use in forward air control was subsequently performed, resulting in the OA-10 configuration.
An anti-armor/ground attack/utility helicopter, the AW129 is powered by two Rolls-Royce GEM 1004 turboshaft engines rated at 890 shp. each, or two LHTEC CTS800 engines rated at 1,373 shp. each. First flight occurred in 1983, with Agusta delivering 66 aircraft, including prototypes, through 2003. The Turkish army selected the AW129 in 2007 for a requirement of 51 attack helicopters, plus 41 options.
The SH-2 Seasprite is a multipurpose naval helicopter. The two most modern variants are equipped with distinct engines: the SH-2F is powered by two General Electric T58-GE-8F turboshaft engines, each rated at 1,350 shp., while the SH-2G is powered by two GE T700-GE-401 turboshafts, each rated at 1,690 shp. Although the Seasprite is still marketed by Kaman, no new production aircraft have been built since the 1990s. Since SH-2 production began, 191 helicopters have been built.
The long-delayed, sixth and final Boeing 787 flight test aircraft, ZA006, could make its first flight as early as Oct. 3 following a preflight ground test planned for Oct. 2. The aircraft is the second General Electric GEnx-1B-powered 787 test aircraft and will join ZA005, which is undergoing fan duct checks. Engine work is also keeping two of the four Rolls-Royce Trent 1000-powered 787s on the ground while both ZA001 and ZA004 receive new engines. Rolls meanwhile briefed Boeing top management Sept.
A prototype of the MiG-29 twin-engine, single- and tandem-seat air superiority fighter/interceptor aircraft first flew in October 1977. The MiG-29 uses two 18,300-lb.-thrust Klimov/Sarkisov RD-33 augmented turbofan engines. Over the years, the MiG-29 has gone through several revisions, with the modern variants being known as the MiG-29SMT and MiG-29UBT, single- and tandem-seat, respectively. The MiG-29SMT has new avionics and greater range over its predecessor, while the MiG-29UBT incorporates many of the same upgrades, but in the tandem-seat configuration.
Bell has delivered approximately 2,300 variants of these single- and twin-engine, single-main-rotor attack helicopters, while Fuji has delivered about 90 units. The latest iteration in the AH-1 Cobra series and presumably the final, the AH-1Z is an improved version of the earlier AH-1W designed for the U.S. Marine Corps and for export. Powered by two GE T700-GE-401 turboshaft engines rated at 1,723 shp. each, the AH-1Z features a four-blade composite main rotor and uprated (2,625-shp.) transmission, providing 30% more power to the rotor than the AH-1W.
The Saab Gripen is a single-engine, single- and tandem-seat, multirole combat aircraft. Initial flight for a Gripen prototype was made in 1988, followed by the first flight of the initial production aircraft in 1992; deliveries began in mid-1993. Power for the Gripen comes from a single Volvo/General Electric RM12 turbofan engine rated at 18,000 lb. thrust, with afterburning. Main competitors include the Lockheed Martin F-16 and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Boeing F/A-18, Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon.
The AMX is a counter-air and close air support aircraft powered by a single 11,030-lb.-thrust Rolls-Royce Spey Mk 807 non-afterburning turbofan. Alenia and Aermacchi (then independent companies) initially pursued separate designs for Italy’s required attack/support aircraft, but began to collaborate in 1978. Embraer joined the team in 1980. The resulting single-seat aircraft made its maiden flight in 1984, with deliveries beginning in 1989; a two-seat trainer variant, the AMX-T, flew in 1990. Approximately 205 AMX aircraft have been built.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has begun building the first MRJ regional jet for affiliate Mitsubishi Aircraft. Assembly will begin next year, with the goals of a first flight in 2012 and first delivery in 2014.
David A. Fulghum (Tel Aviv), Alon Ben-David (Tel Aviv)
With no letup in Iranian ballistic missile development in sight, Israel is boosting its sensor and interceptor capabilities to bolster its ability to defend itself against more capable threats.
The SH- and MH-60 Seahawks are medium-lift, anti-submarine warfare and special-purpose maritime helicopters; the current production models, the MH-60R and -60S, are powered by two General Electric T700-GE-401C turboshaft engines rated at 3,694 shp. each at takeoff and 1,891 shp. at plus 30 sec. The MH-60R configuration combines systems and capabilities from earlier Seahawk variants, plus further upgrades. The U.S. Navy plans to eventually procure 300 new-build MH-60Rs, as well as 273 MH-60Ss.
