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Aviation History
1984
1984 - 0002.PDF
WORLD NEWS FEFA detailed LONDON The outline air staff target for a Future European Fighter Aircraft (FEFA) agreed by France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK in mid- December specifies a single- seat, twin-engine, agile Stol fighter of 8-5 tonnes empty weight (about 18,7501b). With 4 tonnes (about 10,0001b) of internal fuel and 4-5 tonnes (8,0001b) of external stores, FEFA would have a maximum take-off weight of around 17 tonnes (37,5001b). This places FEFA between the F-16 and the F-18 in weight class. The aircraft is expected to be a delta-canard config uration with combined air-to- air and air-to-ground capa bilities, but with emphasis on air-combat agility. A +9g/-3g manoeuvre capability is required at design combat weight (full fuel and ammuni tion plus two medium-range missiles). Maximum speed will be in excess of Mach 1-8. A look-down/shoot-down, beyond-visual-range weapon system is specified, built around a pulse-Doppler multi- mode radar with a minimum range of 50 n.m. Air-defence weaponry will be a combina tion of Amraam medium- range and Asraam/Side- winder short-range missiles, and internal cannon. The radar would enable Amraam's fire-and-forget multishot guidance to be used to full effect. France may adopt the intermediate-range Matra Mica air-to-air missile instead of the Amraam/ Asraam combination, al though the country is a signa tory of the four-power memorandum covering devel opment of these missiles. A 500m take-off and land ing run is specified for FEFA at air-combat take-off weight (full fuel and ammunition, two medium-range and two short-range missiles). An in-service date of 1995 is specified for the five customer air forces. This requires that a prototype flies in 1990-91. In 1986, experimental delta- canard aircraft will fly both in Britain and in France, testing some of the technology to be incorporated into FEFA. Fairchild's corporate 400 has topped 400 m.p.h. during flight trials in Texas SS-20s proliferate WASHINGTON D.C. _ By the end of 1983, 369 triple- warhead SS-20 ballistic missiles had been deployed by the Soviet Union, the USA claims. Of these, 252 are based west of the Urals, within range of Europe. The remain ing 117 are in the eastern Soviet Union. With more sites under construction this latter total will reach 144. Those missiles deployed in the eastern Soviet Union could be moved to within range of Europe at any time, the USA believes. Fog brings more ground collisions ANCHORAGE Visibility at Anchorage Airport, Alaska, was reported as little more than 100m when a landing Japan Air Lines Boeing 747 freighter hit a pickup truck on runway 06 right at touchdown. The incident occurred at about 001 Ohr local time on Decem ber 20, while the truck was "evaluating icing conditions on the runway", according to US National Transportation Safety Board reports. The JAL 747 crew "heard and felt a thump" on touch down and believed that it was main gear tyre failure. In fact the aircraft's entire left main body gear was destroyed, as was the truck, and a 20ft2 hole was torn in the lower fuselage skin aft of the gear. In the early afternoon of December 23 at Anchorage, also in "heavy fog", a South Central Airlines Piper PA-31 with nine people on board was cleared to line up and hold awaiting take-off on runway 06 right. It did so. Meanwhile, a Korean Air Lines DC-10 freighter with a crew of three was cleared to take off on runway 32. But the DC-10 began its take-off instead on runway 24 left, 06R's reciprocal. Immediately after the DC- 10 rotated its main gear struck the stationary PA-31's wings and tail, causing serious damage to both aircraft. The DC-10 landed straight ahead, causing damage which has made the aircraft an insur ance write-off. No one in either aircraft was killed, but people in both aircraft were injured. Also on December 23 an Ozark Air Lines DC-9-31 hit a snowplough on landing at Sioux Falls. The snow plough driver was killed, but there were no injuries aboard the aircraft. TriStars for Alia AMMAN Alia has ordered five TriStar 500s from Lockheed in a deal worth more than $200 million. The Royal Jordanian Airline wants the long-range TriStars to develop its routes to North America and the Far East. They will be the last five TriStars Lockheed will build. Alia will take delivery of the TriStars, powered by Rolls- Royce RB.211 engines, by late 1984. Fairchild tops 400 SAN ANTONIO The Fairchild 400 corporate turboprop, developed from the Metro/Merlin IVC line, has logged a sustained cruise in excess of 400 m.p.h. during company flight trials. Designed to seat up to 14 passengers, the 400 has been flown at 410 m.p.h. above 20,000ft by R. A. Bunn, head of Fairchild's flight-test department. It beat the 400 m.p.h. target on its 18th flight, and to date more than 60hr have been logged. Fairchild is provisionally talking of 1985 for certifica tion and first deliveries. Like Piper's Cheyenne IV, the 400 is powered by two Garrett TPE331-14 engines. Fairchild has a similar aim to Piper—jet-class performance but at significantly lower fuel burn. Compared with the present Merlin IVC, the 400 has a 1,5001b heavier maximum take-off weight. FAA chief resigns WASHINGTON D.C. J. Lynn Helms, head of the US Federal Aviation Admin istration, resigned on Decem ber 23. In accepting his resig nation President Reagan thanked him for helping to make the US airlines "the safest and most efficient in the world". Helms is planning to return to the private sector. FLIGHT International, 7 January l'J
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