The NH90 is a medium-lift, twin-turbine troop transport and anti-submarine warfare helicopter that is available with several engine choices: two General Electric T700-GE-T6E1 turboshafts rated at 2,040 shp. each or two Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-01/9 engines rated at 2,100 shp. each; or two enhanced, “hot-and-high” options in Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-01/9A engines rated at 2,544 shp. each or GE CT7-8F5 engines rated at 2,634 shp. each. There are two basic NH90 models: the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH).
The UH-145 (designated UH-72A Lakota by the U.S. Army and H-72A by the U.S. Navy) is an eight-passenger, twin-turboshaft-powered multimission helicopter based on the EC145; power comes from two Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engines rated at 738 shp. each. The selection of the UH-145 for the U.S. Army’s Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program—a requirement for at least 322 units—represents EADS North America’s first major win as a prime contractor for the U.S. military. Deliveries began in late 2006, with 96 units produced through 2009.
Indonesia intends to acquire 180 Sukhoi Flankers and also to buy Lockheed Martin F-16s, says Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, setting out plans for a massive expansion of the Southeast Asian country’s air-combat force. The announcement may bolster air-force equipment plans of Indonesia’s neighbors, depending on whether they expect the country’s future fighter fleet will really meet the government’s ambitions.
Southwest Airlines’ proposed $1.4-billion acquisition of AirTran Airways reflects a fact of life for many low-cost carriers: They may be reaching the end of their ability to grow organically. Most analysts believe the U.S. Justice Department will decide not to oppose the acquisition, given the small overlap between the carriers (see p. 28), although the government’s response is not always predictable and there are some things that make this merger different than those of Delta Air Lines with Northwest Airlines and United Airlines with Continental Airlines.
Leithen Francis (Singapore), Alon Ben-David (Seoul), Andy Nativi (Genoa)
The Republic of Singapore Air Force’s decision to select the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 puts the Italian advanced jet trainer in a strong position to secure orders from other countries.
A twin-engine, tandem-rotor, medium-/heavy-lift transport helicopter, the CH-47 first flew in 1961 and is offered in several variants, either as new-build helicopters or as conversions. The new CH-47F is powered by two 4,733-shp. Honeywell T55-GA-714A engines with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (Fadec). For the upgrade market, Honeywell supplies kits to bring the T55-L-712 engines of the U.S. Army’s CH-47Ds to the new T55-GA-714A standard.
Oct. 10-14—58th International Congress of Aviation and Space Medicine. Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Singapore. See www.icasm2010.com Oct. 13—Aerospace Components Manufacturers Trade Show. Hartford/Windsor (Conn.) Airport Marriott Hotel. See www.aerospacecomponents.org Oct. 14-15—Technology Training Institute’s Airborne Networks. Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Alexandria, Va. Also, Oct. 21-22—Unmanned Aircraft Systems Conference. Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas. Call +1 (310) 563-1223 or see www.ttcus.com.
The Hawk is a single-engine, two-seat trainer and light attack aircraft. A single-seat light fighter variant (the Hawk 200) also exists. All variants are powered by an unaugmented turbofan engine of Rolls-Royce Turbomeca’s Adour series: The Hawk T1/1A uses the Mk 151 (5,200 lb. thrust); Hawk 50, the Mk 851 (5,340 lb. thrust); Hawk 60, the Mk 861 (5,700 lb. thrust); Hawk 100/200, the Mk 871 (6,270 lb. thrust); and Hawk 128 LIFT, the Mk 951 (6,800 lb. thrust).
The PC-21 is a 1,600-shp. Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68B turboprop-powered tandem-seat trainer. Incorporated in the PC-21 design are five hardpoints, making armament training possible, as well as an electronic power management system for the engine, simulating a variety of power settings tailored to particular training needs. Development of the PC-21 began in 1998, an initial prototype made its first flight in July 2002 and certification was achieved in December 2004. The PC-21 faces competition from the Embraer Super Tucano and the Hawker Beechcraft T-6.
The piston-powered CL-215 amphibian aircraft first flew in 1967 primarily as a fire-fighting platform, though it was also used for transport, maritime surveillance, search and rescue and assorted spraying duties. Production of the dual Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CA3-powered aircraft ended in 1989, with 125 produced. Upgrades to the CL-215 are available; 17 aircraft have been converted to the CL-215T configuration, which incorporates 2,380-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprop engines and other modifications.
Scaled Composites is poised to resume captive-carry flight tests of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo with the successful return-to-flight of the WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) launch aircraft following its Aug. 19 undercarriage collapse incident. The mothership resumed flight tests at Mojave, Calif., on Sept. 13 following repairs to the left vertical tail and modifications to the main landing gear.
The B-1B is a four-engine strategic bomber produced by Rockwell International and operated by the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft evolved from a series of studies begun in 1962. Following the launch of the program with a request for proposals in 1969, the initial prototype made its first flight in 1974. The B-1B is powered by four General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engines rated at more than 30,000 lb. thrust each. In addition to four B-1A prototypes, 100 B-1Bs were built by the time production ended in 1988.
In 1990, Beech teamed with Pilatus to propose the T-6A (based on the latter’s PC-9 Mk II trainer) tandem-seat, high-performance aircraft for the U.S. Air Force/Navy Joint Primary Aircraft Trainer System (Jpats) program. The Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop-engine-powered T-6A was selected as the Jpats winner in 1995. The Air Force and Navy intend to eventually acquire 782 T-6As, of which more than 480 have been delivered. Though it was developed for a U.S. military program, the T-6 has been well received outside the U.S.
The K-8 is a tandem-seat intermediate/advanced trainer aircraft produced by Hongdu Aviation Industry Group, with 18% of components produced by design partner Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC). First flight occurred in 1990. The K-8 is powered by either a 3,600-lb.-thrust Honeywell TFE731-2-2A turbofan engine or a 3,792-lb.-thrust ZMKB Progress AI-25TL turbofan. Including prototypes, 223 K-8 aircraft were produced through 2009, with 94 forecast for production in 2010-19.
The MD Explorer series is a family of eight-place, light twin-turboshaft-driven helicopters with a single main rotor connected to a Kawasaki-designed main rotor gearbox. The aircraft incorporate the patented Notar (no tail rotor) system, including a circulation control tail boom and internal variable pitch fan. In early 2001, MD Helicopters launched the Combat Explorer armed variant, specifically targeting the air arms of Latin America. The Explorer is cleared to carry the GAU-19/A 0.50-cal. Gatling gun, the M2 0.50-cal. gun pod and 70-mm. Hydra rockets.
Frank Morring, Jr. (Prague), Michael A. Taverna (Prague)
New costs associated with the planned extension of the International Space Station could force European nations into stark choices in an era of generalized budget squeeze.
Technicians at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are ready to install a unique instrument on NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory that will allow the big rover to analyze the chemical composition of rocks and soil as far as 7 meters (23 ft.) away. Dubbed ChemCam, the U.S./French device uses a Neodymium doped Potassium-Gadolinium Tungstate (Nd:KGW) laser to vaporize a spot on its target the size of a pinhead, releasing light that can be spectrally analyzed with a technique known as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.
Boeing, with Northrop Grumman as a major subcontractor, produces the F/A-18. The F/A-18A/B/C/D models are powered by two General Electric F404-GE-400 or -402 turbofans rated at 16,000-17,600 lb. thrust each, while the new F/A-18E/F has two GE F414-GE-400 turbofans rated at 22,000 lb. thrust each. First flight of an F/A-18 prototype occurred in 1978. The current model, the E/F, features a larger fuselage, more powerful engines and additional hardpoints compared to the earlier models.
Samsung began development of the KTX-2 advanced trainer in 1992. The program was formally launched in 1997, with Lockheed Martin announced as a participant, responsible for avionics, flight control systems and wings. The first prototype flew in August 2002. Two versions were developed: the T-50 trainer and the weapons-capable A-50 lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT). T/A-50s are powered by a General Electric F404-GE-102 turbofan engine (17,700 lb. thrust). A new light fighter variant, the FA-50, is being designed, with the South Korean air force planning to acquire about 150.
Your editorial “Obama’s Transport Plan Has Promise” (AW&ST Sept. 13, p. 62) was a nice shot in the arm to the airline industry, but like the Transportation Department’s Future of Aviation Advisory Committee (FAAC), it ignores business and general aviation (GA)—an entire segment of the industry.
The Su-25 is a twin-engine, single- and tandem-seat, ground attack and weapons training aircraft powered by two Tumansky/Soyuz R-195 turbojet engines rated at 9,921 lb. thrust each. First flight of an initial prototype occurred in 1975. A number of versions have been produced, the most recent of which, the Su-25TM, included new avionics and increased fuel capacity. More than 1,200 Su-25s were built before production ended in the 1990s.
Nov. 1-3—A&D Programs Conference. Phoenix. Nov. 2-3—A&D Supply Chain Conference. Phoenix. Nov. 2-4—MRO Asia Conference and Exhibition. Singapore. You can now register ONLINEfor Aviation Week Events. Go to www.aviationweek.com/events or call Lydia Janow at+1 (212) 904-3225/+1 (800) 240-7645 ext. 5 (U.S. and Canada Only)
Airlines around the globe are roaring back to financial health faster than expected, but they are also facing the disturbing prospect that they may have already passed the high-water mark of the recovery.
It is difficult to think of any developmental effort or manufacturing program without online collaboration in its DNA. But the nature of research and development within the aerospace and defense industrial sector makes the implementation of three emerging and powerful tools—cloud computing, social networking and consumerization—a severe test case for their successful deployment, given the industry’s requirements to assure the sanctity of companies’ intellectual property rights (IPR) and meet national security and export control regulations.
Clifford Topham has been named vice president-sales and marketing and Dan Monahan vice president-finance of EMS Aviation of Atlanta. Topham was a sales and business development executive for Rolls-Royce, while Monahan was vice president-finance planning and analysis for the CDC Software Corp.
