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Aviation History
1986
1986 - 0355.PDF
Naces second source sought DENHAM Some 13 US companies are expected to bid for a second- source contract to produce a new-generation ejection seat for the US Navy. The Navy Aircrew Common Ejection Seat (Naces) will be fitted in the Grumman A-6E Intruder, Grumman F-14D Tomcat, McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet, and the McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace T-45 Hawk. The first-source supplier is British-based Martin-Baker, which won the contract against competition from Douglas and Stencel. A condi tion of the contract, in line with current US Government policy, is that Martin-Baker finds a second-source pro ducer in order to maintain an element of competition. Martin-Baker has held a bidders' conference at which about 13 US companies expressed their interest. Martin-Baker and the US Navy will issue requests for proposals very soon, and one company should be selected by the end of this year. How ever, a contract for production will not be awarded until that company has been fully approved by Martin-Baker. The second-source producer is not expected to bid for actual production until 1990 at the earliest. Martin-Baker and the second source will then com pete for each follow-on order from the US Navy; the winner receiving 70 per cent of the work and the loser 30 per cent. Martin-Baker will begin full-scale testing of the complete seat, designated Mk 14, in the middle of this year. Deliveries for both the F-18 and the T-45 will begin in mid-1987. The US Navy has so far ordered 896 seats, of which 162 are test seats. The Mk 14 will be available in two variants: baseline and update. The baseline variant will be fitted in the F-14D and A-6E. Among the seat's features is a dual breathing system, which supplies oxygen from a bail-out bottle on ejection but also provides compressed air if the pilot opts for emergency ground egress by climbing out instead of ejecting. US Army receives 0H-58Ds FORT WORTH The first two Bell OH-58 Kiowa helicopters converted to OH-58D standard have been delivered to the US Army. Fourteen more OH-58Ds will be produced by June. Altogether, under the US Army's Helicopter Improve ment Programme (Ahip), the Army intends to have at least 578 OH-58As converted to D standard. Bell and the Army have signed contracts for the first three production lots of over 100 aircraft. A first-lot contract for $155 million calls for the production of 16 aircraft. The next contract, for $224 million, includes funding for the second pro duction lot of 44 units, plus training devices and ground support equipment. It also includes $39 million set aside for long-lead items on the third lot of aircraft. Thailand buys TH-300CS The Royal Thai Army is buying 24 Schweizer-Hughes TH-300C training helicopters. Delivery of aircraft and spares will begin in March, with final delivery due in November. Schweizer of New York, will provide technical support and a quality assurance team following arrival of the helicopters in Thailand. :.L3~: Ifa* DEFENCE Bell says that the pro gramme is on schedule and on cost. "An important near- term task will be training and support of Army pilots, instructors, observers, and maintenance crews," says Bell. "We are currently installing a number of train ing devices such as electrical, mechanical, engine, cockpit procedure trainers, and inter active video classroom systems at our Fort Worth facility. Classes will begin this spring." Among the OH-58D features are a mast-mounted sight that is fitted above the rotor to give the crew long- range vision both day and night. The OH-58D has a composite main rotor. Apaches grounded WASHINGTON DC. ~~ The US Army has grounded its fleet of AH-64 Apaches after discovering cracks in the main rotor blades of some aircraft. The Army says that the fault was discovered after one Apache experienced vibration during flight. An inspection revealed the cracks, which led the Army to examine other Apaches. Thirteen aircraft were found to have a similar problem. The entire fleet of about 70 helicopters has now been grounded pending a more in- depth inspection to establish the cause of the problem. Most of these aircraft are based at Fort Rucker and Fort Lee and are used primarily for training. "As a result, our training schedule has been disrupted," says the Army. McDonnell Douglas Heli copters stresses that in all cases the cracks have been hairline and have been on the trailing edge of the main rotor blade. "An Army team is working with our company at our Mesa plant to test some of the theories as to the cause of the cracks—but they are not in a critical part of the aircraft and there does not appear to be many blades affected," says a spokesman. Production of the Apache continues at its current rate of more than ten aircraft per month, although deliveries to the Army will cease until the grounding has been lifted. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 15 February 1986 11
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