U.S. Navy Rear Adm. (ret.) Edward “Sonny” Masso has been named chairman of Washington-based Not Alone, a not-for-profit organization chartered to increase awareness and treat post-traumatic stress disorder and reduce suicide rates of returning veterans and their families. He was deputy chief and commander of naval personnel in his final flag assignment.
An increasing number of airlines will be coming to loggerheads with lessors regarding maintenance reserves and conditions for return of leased aircraft, now that more carriers are tapping the lease market. Airlines are responsible for aircraft line maintenance, such as A checks. But C and D checks, the heavier checkups, are far more expensive, so lessors usually require maintenance reserves—monthly installments the airlines must pay to cover the cost of these future, pricey checks.
The H-92 is the military variant of Sikorsky's S-92 civil model. It is powered by two GE CT7-8C turboshaft engines rated at 2,550 shp each. When configured for the land assault mission, the H-92 provides a 200-nm radius of action and the ability to carry 22 troops at 3,000 ft. on a 91.5F day. Five H-92s were produced through 2010, with approximately 70 units forecast for production in 2011-20.
A U.S.-India joint study group cosponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington and the Aspen Institute India in New Delhi says the U.S. should train and provide expertise to the Indian military in areas such as space and cyberspace operations, “where India's defense establishment is currently weak, but its civil and private sector has strengths.” The U.S. also should help strengthen India's indigenous defense industry, the think tanks assert.
In 2001, Kawasaki began development of the C-2 to provide a replacement for the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force's C-1As and C-130Hs. The C-2 is a twin-engine tactical transport aircraft powered by two General Electric CF6-80C2 turbofans rated at 52,500 lb. thrust each. Maximum payload is 82,892 lb. First flight occurred in January 2010. Twenty-four C-1s are forecast to be produced in 2011-20.
Cape Town, South Africa—On the surface, the African continent seems custom-made for putting spacecraft to work solving problems on the ground. Desperately poor people are scattered across 55 nations, linked—if at all—by substandard roads and communications networks. Resources as basic as food and water are often in short supply, and the legacy of colonialism casts a shadow over a populace ill-equipped by education and skills to address the structural problems that it left behind.
In 1990, Beech teamed with Pilatus to propose the T-6 tandem-seat trainer (based on the Pilatus PC-9 Mk II) for the U.S. Air Force/Navy Joint Primary Aircraft Trainer System program. The T-6, which is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop, was selected as the Jpats winner in 1995. The Air Force and Navy intend to eventually acquire 782 T-6s, of which more than 513 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 U.S. Central Command's investigation into the Aug. 6 Boeing CH-47 Chinook crash in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, confirms the primary cause of the accident was an insurgent-fired rocket-propelled grenade strike to the aft rotor blade as the helicopter approached its combat landing zone.
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 was 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 in November 2009.
Two quarters do not make a trend, but a new mid-year report from Aviation Week's Top-Performing Companies (TPC) study provides fresh clues about the effects leaner defense budgets and rising demand for commercial jets are having on the aerospace and defense industry's publicly traded corporations. The results are worth a close look, because while stock prices reflect the direction investors think a company is heading, the TPC study provides a snapshot of its operational performance.
The Mi-28 is a twin-engine, tandem-seat attack helicopter. In Russian military use, the Mi-28 has become the successor to the Mi-24. First flight occurred in 1982. The current version is the all-weather/night-capable Mi-28N; deliveries began in 2006. The Mi-28N is powered by 2,194-shp Klimov TV3-117VMA turboshafts. Through 2010, 34 Mi-28s were built. A further 91 are forecast for production in 2011-20.
No Singaporean has gone into space and the government has no desire to spend billions to change that, but the city-state is seeking to further develop as a space industry center in the Asia-Pacific region. Astrium Satellite Services, Arianespace, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Intelsat and Iridium are just some of the global players that have Singapore offices, mostly their Asia-Pacific headquarters.
The V-22 tiltrotor aircraft has two Rolls-Royce AE 1107C turboshaft engines housed in wingtip-mounted nacelles that can rotate from full vertical for heliborne operation to full horizontal for forward, wing-borne flight. The MV-22 version is in production for the U.S. Marine Corps, while the CV-22 is in production for the U.S. Air Force. Approximately 150 V-22s were built through 2010; 296 more are forecast to be built in 2011-20.
The F-22 is a single-seat air superiority and ground attack aircraft selected in 1991 as the U.S. Air Force's next air superiority fighter. Initial flight occurred in 1997. Propulsion is provided by two 35,000-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning turbofan engines. Some 172 F-22s were produced through 2010, including test aircraft. Planned USAF procurement is for an additional 24 aircraft through 2012, when production will stop. The U.S. government prohibits the export of the F-22.
The Saab Gripen is a single-engine multirole fighter built in Sweden. A prototype made its first flight in 1988, and deliveries began in mid-1993. Power comes from a single Volvo/GE RM12 turbofan rated at 18,000 lb. thrust with afterburning. Some 227 Gripens (including prototypes) were produced through 2010, with another 53 forecast to be built in 2011-20. Saab is currently developing the improved 22,000-lb.-thrust GE F414G-powered Gripen NG (Next Generation); the demonstrator made its first flight in 2008.
The single-engine AS550 utility helicopter is a military version of the AS350. It is powered by the Turbomeca Arriel turboshaft engine. Some 4,046 AS350/550/EC130s were produced through 2010, including civil and military variants as well as those assembled under license. Another 2,153 units are forecast to be produced in 2011-20.
As Norway sets a slightly increased level of defense spending for 2012, it is allocating the first funding for an initial batch of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to be used for training. Norway expects to see defense spending increase by 1.3 billion krone ($231 million) over 2011 levels, with the top line reaching 40.6 billion krone. For the four JSFs, Norway is budgeting around 4.9 billion krone, although the money will not be spent until later years.
In a taste of choices to come as budget cuts bite, the U.S. Army is curbing its appetite for a new aircraft program, in the hopes of preserving funds for future advanced rotorcraft by considering off-the-shelf replacements for its hard-flown armed scout helicopters. Surprising industry, the Army says it plans a flight demonstration of available aircraft as early as April of next year and, if they offer a worthwhile improvement in capability, will move immediately into a competition to replace its Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warriors.
Northrop Grumman will forego exhibiting at next year's Farnborough International Airshow. The move comes as the company tries to control costs in light of anticipated defense spending cuts in the U.S., the company's largest market. U.S. manufacturers have curtailed their presence at Farnborough and its French counterpart—the Paris air show—in recent years, citing the high cost of attendance. Boeing's defense group limited the executives attending the Paris air show this year to a minimum.
The NH90 is a medium-lift, twin-turbine troop transport and maritime helicopter. It is available with either the GE T700/CT7 or the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines. The NH90 comes in two standard models, the Tactical Transport Helicopter (TTH) and the NATO Frigate Helicopter (NFH), though extensive customization is available. The TTH functions as a tactical troop assault, transport and ground support aircraft; it is capable of hauling 14-20 fully equipped troops, more than 5,511 lb. of cargo, up to 12 stretchers, or one light transport vehicle with crew.
Peter R. Ingram (see photo) has been named executive VP and chief commercial officer at Hawaiian Airlines. He had been executive VP and CFO. His successor is Scott E. Topping, who will also add the title of treasurer. Topping comes from Southwest Airlines, where he directed corporate finance, fleet planning and risk management strategies.
This family of single-main-rotor, single- and twin-engine utility helicopters from Bell has been produced in a wide variety of models since its launch in 1958. The T700-GE-401C-powered UH-1Y variant is the only dedicated military model currently in production. More than 14,955 were produced through 2010, with another 411 forecast in 2011-20.
Boeing, with Northrop Grumman as a major subcontractor, produces the F/A-18. The F/A-18A/B/C/D models were powered by two GE F404-GE-400/402 turbofans (16,000-17,600 lb. thrust each), while the F/A-18E/F has two GE F414-GE-400 turbofans (22,000 lb. thrust each). First flight of an F/A-18 prototype occurred in 1978. The current production model, the E/F, features a larger fuselage, more powerful engines and additional hardpoints compared to the earlier models. An F/A-18F variant, the EA-18G, is replacing the EA-6B Prowler in electronic warfare duty for the U.S.
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 783 AS355/555s were built through 2010.
The KC-390 is a twin-engine, high-wing military transport under development by Embraer. As envisioned, the KC-390 will be able to carry a payload of 50,705 lb. Embraer has selected the International Aero Engines V2500-E5 turbofan (27,000-29,000 lb. thrust). First flight is planned for 2014, with service entry in 2016. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the Czech Republic and Portugal have all committed to acquiring the KC-390, with the Brazilian air force the program's prime sponsor. In 2014-20, 77 KC-390s are expected to be produced.
