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Aviation History
1990
1990 - 0613.PDF
TECHNICAL: DEFENCE Rutan unveils ARES fighter contender BY CRAIG SCHMITMAN Scaled Composites has un veiled its prototype ARES (agile-response effective sup port) close-air-support/anti-heli copter fighter at Mojave, California. The privately developed air craft, designed by Burt Rutan, marked its public debut with a short demonstration flight, the fifth since ARES first flew on 19 February. ARES is designed as a highly agile, low-cost, multi-role dem onstrator platform, optimised for the anti-helicopter mission. With a projected turn rate of 36°/s, a maximum operating speed of 300kt (550km/h) and a l,400nm (1,600km) range, the prototype will test the suitability of the ARES configuration for close air support, border patrol, forward air control, drug interdiction and special operations requirements. The most unconventional fea tures of an otherwise typical Rutan canard design are the Gen eral Electric GAU-12/U 25mm cannon and single engine inlet on the aft portion of the left fuselage. The 13kN (2,9001b)- thrust Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 turbofan and inlet are offset 8° to the left of the centreline to avoid ingestion of the gases produced by firing the cannon. The aircraft can carry 220 rounds of ammu nition, two AIM-9L Sidewinders and four Sjjnger missiles. Rutan is targeting ARES at foreign governments, particu larly in the Pacific Rim, rather than at the US Air Force, which is already examining the LTV YA-7F and a version of the Gen eral Dynamics F-16 as contend ers for its close-air-support role. This is one reason why ARES is not yet equipped for infra-red suppression. Rutan says: "We are being very careful initially to not develop in this aeroplane tech nologies that could be deemed non-exportable". No particular attention was paid to other low-observable fea tures, although the main fan blade is not visible from the front of the aircraft, because of the Rutan heritage is clearly visible as ARES overflies Mojave (inset). The ojfjfset engine intake prevents gun-gas ingestion. curved inlet, with the engine mounted slightly across the centreline. The fuselage is offset to the right of the wing centreline. The fuselage shape in the gun area shields the canopy from blast pressure loads and uses these loads to offset, yaw caused by the recoil from the cannon. Director of flight operations Douglas Shane says that the all- composite aircraft handles well, although there is a slight yaw trim change when thrust is in creased. On the aircraft's third flight, there was a failure of the primary hydraulic system, but Shane says that the backup system worked "just fine". Last week's demonstration flight was flown with gear extended and speed brakes taped shut. The aircraft is not yet equipped with operational fire- control systems or avionics. After initial testing of its handling qualities is complete, ARES will be fitted with armament and a "limited avionics suite", and will "undergo evaluation to deter mine its survivability and detectability in simulated threat environments". • Pakistan ready to receive P-3s P akistan will receive the first of three Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft later this year, says the manufacturer. The three new-build aircraft will replace the four Atlantic 1 aircraft which are nominally part of the Air Force but are operated under naval control. The Pakistani purchase, re ported to be worth around $250 million, was announced in July 1988 and has caused concern in India. Adm J G Nadkarni, India's Chief of the Naval Staff, has said that the Indian Navy was consid ering ways of countering Paki stan's P-3C force. A navalised version of the Su-27 Flanker for aircraft-carrier deployment is one option thought to be under consideration (Flight, 28 Feb- ruary-6 March). • IAI scoops Chilean F-5 upgrade Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has won a $200 million con tract to upgrade the Chilean Air Force's F-5E/F Tiger II fleet. The upgrade is based on IAI's F-5 Plus package which includes the installation of central mission computer, multiplex databus with modular avionics system architecture and a pilot-friendly cockpit incorporating headout and hands-on-throttle-and-stick concepts. The upgraded cockpit features an El-Op headup dis play, two multifunction displays and the option to install a helmet-mounted display. The package also includes a new multi-mode radar, derived from the EL/M-L 2023 developed by Elta for the now-defunct Lavi, and a version of Astronautics' weapon-delivery system. The upgrading of Chile's F-5 fleet of 12 F-5Es and two F-5Fs will be carried out by the Bedek Aviation division of IAI. D Sentinel readies for flight Airship Industries (AI) expects x\to fly the Sentinel 1000, its largest lighter-than-air craft, on 1 April. It is a half-linear-scale ver sion of the proposed Sentinel 5000 for which AI and Westing- house are building an opera tional development model (ODM) for the US Navy. The Sentinel 1000 carries a Skyship 600 gondola and is to be used to obtain aerodynamic and performance projections for the larger craft. Some 70% of parts of the 1000 are already at the Westinghouse-Airship Industries plant at Weeksville, North Caro lina. The 1000 is to be powered by turbocharged piston engines driving propellers in ducts, simi lar to those proposed for the 5000 ODM. Controls will use a fly-by-light system developed from that al ready proved on a Skyship 600. The 1000 will be equipped with a set of cathode-ray tube (CRT) displays supplied by Ferranti; the 5000 will have two crew stations fitted with CRTs. The smaller trials machine will prove the 5000's general aero dynamics, as well as the pro posed diagionally configured tail fins that provide greater ground clearance than did previous cru ciform arrangements. The Sentinel 1000 is based on the planned Skyship 600S, which AI sees as leading a new genera tion of civil airships and in which it reports growing interest. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 7-13 March 1990 17
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