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Aviation History
1991
1991 - 0469.PDF
TECHNICAL: GENERAL AVIATION Pinguino gear is tested for strength Italy's Pinguino undergoes static drop testing Italy's General Avia is con ducting static drop tests of the main undercarriage of its F.22 Pinguino two-seat primary trainer to examine aircraft weight increase options. The tests, which are being carried out at Milan University's depart ment of aeronautical engineer ing, will help determine how much extra weight can be added without strengthening the undercarriage. The design house is consider ing a larger engine of around 134kW (180shp) for the air craft. The first F.22 Pinguino has an 86.5kW Textron Lycom ing 0-235-2NC, and the second prototype, the F.22R Sprint, has a T19kW O-320-D2A engine. • US Modus rotorcraft patented Design details of a hybrid rotorcraft concept, the Modus, are available following a US patent granted to its devel opers, Modus Engineering of Cincinnati. The rotorcraft concept is based on a pair of counter- rotating disks with a series of 45cm-long blades on the pe riphery of the disk-shaped lift ing surface, where the most effective lift is created. In for ward flight, lift is created by the disks, eliminating retreating blade stall. Modus says the disk- shaped wine will make full use of the aerofoil, since laminar flow will not be disturbed by a fuselage and all the wing area generates useful lift. The counter-rotation of the disks eliminates the need for anti-torque devices such as a tail rotor. The concept's developer, Frank Black, says a scaled proof-of-concept prototype is being built, and Modus has applied to the US Department of Defense for a small business initiative research grant. The prototype's fibreglass body has been made and gearboxes are being built. The demonstrator will weigh around 410kg with a 2.1m- diameter disk. Eleven rotor blades will be fitted to the top disk and twelve to the bottom, although this can work the other way around, says Black. Ascent, hovering and descent are controlled by the power applied. Control for horizontal or forward flight is achieved by increasing the percentage of power from a pusher or puller powerplant. This is a radical departure from the transitional characteristics of a helicopter, which achives forward flight by increasing cyclic pitch and tilts into the direction of travel. In the event of engine failure, the aircraft can glide like a fixed-wing aircraft or autorotate like a helicopter. • Modus rotorcraft concept Reed Business Publishing Group Garrett APU chosen for Falcon 2000 Garrett's GTCP 36-150(F2M) auxiliary power unit (APU) has been selected for the Dassault Falcon 2000. The value of the deal is esti mated at more than $45 million over the life of the programme. The GTCP 36-150(F2M) gen erates more than 150kW (200shp). It is designed to start and operate up to 37,000ft (11,212m), higher than any other comparable business jet APU, claims the company. As of January, Dassault Avia tion and Falcon Jet had received over 30 deposits for the Falcon 2000, which can fly eight pas sengers at Mach 0.8 more than 4,800km (2,594nm) with full reserves. First deliveries of the Falcon 2000 will begin at the end of 1994. Garrett already has power units on the Falcon 50 and the Falcon 900. • SJ30 FLIES The prototype Swearingen-Jaffe SJ30 business jet made its first flight on 13 February from Stinson Field, Texas. The four- to six-seat Rolls-Royce/Wil- liams FJ44-powered aircraft did not retract its undercar riage during the 2h flight. FIRST FOR MBB CANADA MBB Helicopters Canada has received complete design au thority for the MBB BO.105LS — a first in Canada, according NEWS IN BRIEF to the company. Design trans fer, from MBB Germany, means all future developments of the helicopter will now be initi ated, completed and certified in Canada. FUEL EASY APPROVED A collapsible external-load fuel container for helicopters, Fuel Easy, has received certification from Transport Canada. The British Columbia-based manu facturer SEI Industries claims that the container, when full, is stable and predictable at speeds up to 103kt.(190km/h). LONGRANGER OXYGEN US Omniflight Helicopters has received a supplemental type certificate for the installation of a 10-litre liquid merlical oxygen system in the) Bell LongRanger. The kit incorpo rates extensive safety features, including a pilot-operated emergency shutoff. Roll out for Air Tractor AT-802 firefighter Air Tractor has rolled out its latest, and largest agricul tural aircraft, the AT-802. The aircraft has a 17.6m wingspan and a maximum gross take-off weight of 5,670kg. The prototype AT-802 is powered by a l,060kW (l,425shp) Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67R turboshaft and is to fly under contract to the California Department of Forestry as a firefighter. Air Tractor, based at Olney, Texas, says the AT-802 is its front-line competitor to the twin-engined aircraft that currently dominates the firefighting market. With a 3,140-litre capacity hopper, almost double that of other Air Tractor's such as the AT-503 and the -501, the -802 approaches or exceeds the capacity of some smaller twins in the market. • FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 27 February - 5 March, 1991 19
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