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Aviation History
1987
1987 - 1139.PDF
Japan to restructure air force TOKYO The Japan Air Self-Defence Force has decided to restruc ture its organisation with effect from next year. The JASDF's present structure, which dates from 1954, was evolved around a sector oper ational concept to suit the short-range radars and North American F-86 Sabres then in service. In next year's reformation the present 23 direct control groups are to be unified into five major commands; Air Defence, Training, Support, Supply, and Research and Development Commands. The present Air Transport, ATC, Rescue, and Weather Groups are to be unified as Support Command. The current Training and Supply Groups are to be expanded to Command status, and the Air Proving Wing and Aero Medi cal Unit will form the nucleus of R&D Command. The details of Air Defence Command's reformation have yet to be finalised, and the decision has yet to be made on unifying the four geographical sub-commands (Northern, Central, Western, and South Western) from 1989 onwards. Israel finds A-4 customer TEL AVIV Israel Aircraft Industries has a potential launch customer for its programme to convert single-seat A-4 Skyhawks to dual-seat trainers. The work will be carried out by the Bedek Aviation division of LAI. Bedek decided to modify the ageing Skyhawks after learning that many air forces intend to use the A-4s beyond the year 2000, and because there is a shortage of the two- seat models. Yizhak Geva, general manager of Bedek, tells Flight that the programme will include a number of Israeli improvements incorporated on the IAF's A-4s over the years. The basic programme will include modifying the forward fuselage to that of a two-seat version. After modi fication the forward fuselage will be matched to the original wing, powerplant, and aft fuselage. Geva would mention only one additional improvement—30mm cannon replacing the original 20mm units. IAI is negotiating with a number of other potential customers to get enough orders to justify operating a conversion line for the A-4s. Flight understands that ten firm orders will start the pro gramme. According to Bedek, 32 months will be required to complete the development, engineering, and setting up of the conversion line. Prod uction will begin 34 months after the programme gets the green light. The Israeli A-4s were re-engined in the past, and are now powered by the uprated J52-P408. When production of the A-4 was terminated in 1979, 2,405 single-seaters and 555 two- seaters had been delivered. Tornado launches Harm MBB has conducted the first test firing of a Texas Instruments AGM-88A Harm (High-speed anti-radiation missile) from a Panavia Tornado. The Harm test series will consist of six launches from wing and fuselage stations, with various load configurations and at high angles of attack. The integration of Harm is part of the first avionics upgrade for West German IDS Tornados, and for development of the Electronic Combat Reconnaissance variant, Tornado ECR. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 11 July 1987 DEFENCE Lockheed evaluates future ASW BURBANK Lockheed-California has formed a senior management team to oversee development of a long-range anti-submarine warfare aircraft, in response to an anticipated requirement from the US Navy. Current plans call for 125 such aircraft from 1991, and the service is expected to issue a Request for Proposals in September. Heading the Long-Range Air ASW Capability Aircraft (LRAACA) programme is Lloyd Graham, Lockheed- California's executive vice- president. Graham was instrumental in developing both the S-3 Viking carrier ASW aircraft and the CP-140 Aurora for the Canadian Armed Forces. Also on the team are Edward Waller, who is in charge of Lockheed's Government programmes, and Lyle Schaefer, company chief test pilot, who is to be LRAACA proposal pro gramme manager. Ed Waller is a retired vice-admiral with 30 years' experience in airborne ASW. He joined Lockheed in 1984. KC-135 downed by B-52 wake FAIRCHILD AFB A United States Air Force inquiry has cited wake turbulence as the cause of a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker crash on March 13. The KC-135 was part of a new demonstration team known as the Thunderhawks, which intended to display a KC-135 and B-52 Strato- fortress in formation. The team was set up by the 92nd Bomb Wing at Fairchild AFB, Washington. During a prac tice the KC-135 was trailing the B-52, but appeared to witnesses to be flying lower and slower than on previous occasions. During a turn the KC-135 hit the B-52's wake turbulence and rolled from 45° bank to almost 90° before crashing near the runway. Seven people, including one on the ground, were killed. 13
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