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Aviation History
1986
1986 - 0932.PDF
WORLD NEWS Titan 34D loss a major setback VANDENBERG AFB ~ The loss of the second consecutive Titan 34D during launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on April 18 has struck a body blow to an American military space programme already devas tated by the loss of Shuttle Challenger, reports Tim Furniss. Like Shuttle, Titan 34D launches are now likely to be delayed for several months until the cause of the explosion, seconds after launch, is understood. The DoD was relying on the Titan 34D to fulfil the major satellite launching role until the larger Titan 34D7, capa ble of orbiting Shuttle-class payloads, becomes available in 1988. The payload on Titan's inertial upper stage was a $150 million KH-11 recon naissance satellite which was to have complemented the work of a lone, ageing KH-11 launched in 1984. The satellites should operate in pairs. An earlier attempt to launch a KH-11 failed last August 28, when one of the two engines of the Titan 2 core first stage shut down prematurely. The latest T34D failure occurred before these engines had ignited, and when the launcher was powered only by its dual oi-segment SRBs. Fifteen Titan 34D vehicles were ordered from Martin Marietta by the USAF in 1981. Airport security challenged LONDON Britain faces a more formidable airport security threat than does the USA, in the wake of the US attack on Libya, because of geographi cal reasons and because Libyan citizens have had greater freedom of entry into El Al, the security expert among the world's airlines, can claim a major success in the London Heathrow event the UK. In the light of this, the UK Department of Trans port, which is responsible for setting security levels at Bri tain's airports, has ordered all UK airport operators to raise surveillance to a level which is just below that appropriate to full-scale hostilities. Despite the high level of vigilance, on April 17 an Irish woman, almost certainly duped by her Jordanian fiancee, walked (unaccom panied by him) through the normal baggage check system at London Heathrow with 101b of plastic explosive in the false bottom of her bag. This detonator-primed material was discovered only by the checks which El Al carries out at the boarding point for its flights. If she had got on board the Tel-Aviv-bound 747 with the device a major disaster could have occurred. However, there is consid erable doubt that this attempted sabotage had anything to do with Britain being a base for US attacks on Libya—it was more likely related to the Palestinian/ Israeli conflict. What is worrying the airport authori ties, police, and the airlines themselves is the fact that an explosive device got through the main line of defence at an airport with an impeccable record for security while it was at a high state of alert. Aerospatiale leads helicopter exports COURNEUVE Aerospatiale's helicopter division clinched orders for 269 helicopters worth FFr 6,490 million during 1985, a 10 per cent rise in value compared with 1984, reports Gilbert Sedbon. Thirty per cent of the machines on order, worth FFr 5,200 million, were for over seas, making Aerospatiale the world's leading exporter, according to the firm. The Ecureuil (also known as the Squirrel or Astar), powered by a Turbomeca Arriel engine, was in most demand. The type attracted 112 orders last year. It was followed by the Gazelle with 43 orders, the Ecureuil with twin Lycomings and called the TwinStar (39), Super Puma (29), Dauphin (27), Lama (13), and Puma (6). The orders were won in a generally bearish world market for helicopters. Off shore operators, hitherto the main civil clients, are having a particularly bad time. In 1984 the helicopter division had 134 orders, including orders for 40 Super Puma helicopters, its largest and most expensive machine. Airship starts passengerservice LONDON Airship Industries was due to begin scheduled passenger flights over London with the Skyship 500 on April 23. Four flights daily, each lasting 90min, are planned, taking four passengers and two crew over London's tourist sights. Airship Industries claims that it received 3,000 calls daily in a scramble for tickets. "The staggering response demonstrates that people regard the modern airship as totally safe," says the London-based firm. A ticket costs £100, or £50 to a share holder. British Caledonian is spon soring most of the flights with advertising on the airship's hull. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 26 April 1986
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