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Aviation History
1988
1988 - 0340.PDF
DEFENCE Fantrainer deliveries complete MUNCHEN-GLADBACH~ MBB subsidiary RFB has completed delivery to Thai land of 47 Fantrainers in kit form, for local assembly and delivery to the Royal Thai Air Force. All 16 of the more-powerful Fantrainer 600 version are already in service, and Thai land is preparing to begin assembly of the remaining aircraft, all Fantrainer 400s. Together the two versions are expected eventually to replace both the SF.260 primary and T-37 basic trainers currently used by the Thais. Pilots may eventually graduate from the Fantrainer directly to the F-5 fighter. RFB is studying an uprated version of the Fantrainer, with a 1,000 s.h.p. turboshaft driving the ducted fan. The Fantrainer 1000, as it is called, would be used for advanced training, including weapons delivery. The company has so far built 50 Fantrainers including its three demonstrators, and is hopeful of securing further customers within the next two years. Uprated A-4 marketed SINGAPORE" Export customers are being sought for the re-engined A-4 "Super Skyhawk" developed by Singapore Aircraft Indus tries (SAI). Re-engining with the General Electric F404 costs $3 million, SAI reveals. Replacing the A-4's existing J52 turbojet with the ll,0001b-thrust unreheated F404-GE-100D turbofan gives the aircraft 30 per cent more power. The result is a 35 per cent faster climb rate, 40 per cent greater acceleration, and 15 per cent higher dash speed, says SAI. The SAI re-engining pro gramme began in May 1985, and the first of two prototypes flew in September 1986. Pro duction of the Super Skyhawk began in mid-1987, with SAI expected to re-engine some 50 aircraft for the Singaporean Air Force. SAI's conversion is now being offered to other A-4 operators by Unicorn Inter national, marketing arm of the Singapore Technology Corporation. Re-engining will double the A-4's market value to $8 million, Singapore claims. Pratt & Whitney, mean while, is offering A-4 opera tors an improved version of the J52 engine, called the PW1212. Available as a new engine or an upgrade kit, the PW1212 features improved low-pressure and high- pressure turbines, modified fuel control, and an increased- capacity fuel pump. Rated at 12,0001b thrust, the PW1212 provides 20 per cent faster engine accelera tion, increased mission range and time on station, and stall- free operation throughout the flight envelope, says P&W. Aermacchi begins 339C production VARESE ~ Aermacchi has begun pro duction of the enhanced MB.339C trainer/attack aircraft, and expects to receive its first order within the next few weeks. The first production aircraft will be ready by the autumn. The prototype MB.339C, demonstrated to the Singa poreans during the Asian Aerospace show, has embarked on a sales tour of Australia, Malaysia, and Thailand. Aermacchi sees several potential customers in the Asia/Pacific region. The 339C retains the uprated engine and extra fuel of the 339B trainer, and adds a sophisticated avionics suite including headup and head- down displays, a weapon- aiming computer, an inertial navigator, a stores manage ment system, and a radar warning receiver. Aermacchi says that the aircraft is designed for two primary roles: training, for pilots destined to fly advanced combat aircraft, and ground attack, with increased capa bility over the 339A and B. The 339C is 10-15 per cent more expensive than the B. The company confirmed that it is studying a twin- engined MB.339D designed to meet the US Air Force's primary aircrew training system requirement. The modification is feasible, says Aermacchi. Two overwing Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D turbofans would replace the Rolls-Royce Viper turbojet. AEW Defender tour planned BEMBRIDGE~ Pilatus Britten-Norman hopes to take its Defender low-cost airborne early warning aircraft on a Far East sales tour before the end of this year. Customer demonstrations are already under way in the UK in preparation for a tour of Europe and the Middle East in the near future. Thorn EMI has already begun speculative production of the AEW Defender's Skymaster radar, which is now fully operational in the demonstrator aircraft, says PB-N.. Pakistan joins Chinese trainer KAMRA Pakistan has joined China in development of a jet trainer. A team of eight engineers from the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) is working at Nanchang on the L-8 trainer unveiled at last year's Paris Air Show. Called the Karakoram-8 in Pakistan, the tandem-seat, turbofan-powered trainer is expected to fly in 1989-90. The aircraft has yet to be ordered by the Chinese or Pakistani air forces, however. Making its international debut in Singapore show was a re-engined Mushshak trainer/ observation aircraft devel oped by PAC. Intended for hot-and-high operations, the aircraft is powered by a 210 h.p. Teledyne piston engine. PAC's Aircraft Manufactur ing Factory has produced some 150 of the original Mush- shaks—licence-built Saab MFI-17s—for the Pakistan armed forces. The country requires at least 100 more of the re-engined version. With exports in mind, the uprated Mushshak will be certificated to US FAR 23 airworthiness regulations. The first production example will therefore be completed in the USA and be delivered to Pakistan by December, when production will begin. The re-engined Mushshak costs $145,000, compared with $130,000 for the basic aircraft. Pakistan's "hot-and-high" Mushshak made its international debut at Singapore's Asian Aerospace show ^wi^r7^WM| . jjjB JHIH Hk 1 •• 'flitev. ' '\v ^ \ • • '/m 1H FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 13 February 1988
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