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Aviation History
1994
1994 - 0540.PDF
ASIAN AEROSPACE '94 SHOW REPORT BR715 chosen to power MD-95 Tupolev/US firms work on Tu-144 Tupolev is working with Boeing, Rockwell and US space agency NASA to prepare the Tu-144 supersonic trans port for use as a flying testbed by September 1995. Tupolev originally proposed the aircraft as a test platform for the US research agency in 1992 and has been working on the concept ever since. Tupolev says that the "flying lab" will also be used to aid the Russian company in the development of its own supersonic-transport successor, dubbed the Tu-244. Tupolev says that the aircraft would accommodate 300 pas sengers and fly for 9,200km (5,000nm) at Mach 2.05. • Tupolev expects the Tu-334 to have its first flight in the third quarter of 1994. The 102- seat aircraft is designed to be powered by the D-436T-1 tur bofan, but Tupolev says that a feasibility study is under way with BMW Rolls-Royce to use the BR715 turbofan. Tupolev deputy general director. Gen Yuli Kashtanov, says that US Federal Aviation Administra tion certification of the Rolls- Royce RB.211-535E4-powered Tu-204 is expected by the end of the year. • McDonnell Douglas has se lected the BMW Rolls- Royce BR715 turbofan to power its proposed 105-seat twinjet, the MD-95. BMW R-R chairman Albert Schneider says that the engine was chosen as the "exclusive" propulsion system for the air craft, beating off opposition from Pratt & Whitney's JT8D family and the embryonic "Pro ject Blue" engine proposed by a consortium which includes General Electric, Snecma, MTU and P&W Israeli guided-weapons spe cialist Rafael is developing a turbofan derivative of its solid- rocket-motor Popeye 2 stand off missile which will more than double the system's range. The company showed a mock-up of the Popeye 2 for the first time at the Singapore show. The missile, a reduced- weight variant of the Popeye, is aimed primarily at operators of the Lockheed F-16. The turbofan derivative is being driven, at least in part, by Business director David Evans cautions that the selec tion does not constitute a for mal launch of the MD-95, as this will require a full pro gramme go-ahead by Douglas Aircraft. "We're looking for a launch this year, maybe by this autumn," adds Evans. Mean while, work is progressing on defining the powerplant. "We are working closely with Douglas Aircraft to freeze the engine design," says Schneider. The engine will be a higher- thrust version of the BR710, the UK Ministry of Defence's requirement for a conventional stand-off missile (CASOM), covered by Staff Requirement (Air) 1236. The CASOM cardinal points specification (CPS) calls for a maximum engagement range of over 200km (HOnm). The range of the Popeye and the Popeye 2 is about 100km. The CPS is also believed to include radar and infra-red stealth requirements, with the missile having a terrain-follow ing capability. While the Popeye 2 is some 15% lighter than the Popeye, its engagement range, in most flight regimes, has remained the same. This has been achieved by re-configuring the motor-burn profile. Other changes include up graded processors, along with a new datalink and seeker. The overall cost of the system is believed to have been reduced by up to 50%. A turbofan design is under way at the Rafael factory, with a basic motor configuration similar to that of the McDon nell Douglas AGM-84 Harpoon being adopted. One possible option being studied by Rafael is that of using a Williams/Rolls-Royce turbofan engine for the pro gramme, to strengthen its bid by increasing the UK content. The company is thought to be considering offering the UK already selected for the Gulfslream V and Canadair Global Express, and should be certificated at the end of 1997. "BMW Rolls-Royce will honour this deadline," says Schneider. The 82.3kN (18,5001b)- thrust engine differs mainly from its smaller predecessor in having a larger, (1.37m) fan and three-stage low-pressure turbine (LPT), compared with the BR710's 1.2m fan and two- stage LPT. Douglas foresees sales of 300-500 MD-95-30s. • the option of procuring the solid-motor variant of the Pop- eye 2, if a short delivery limes- cale is required, with either an exchange or upgrade to the turbofan-powered variant at a later date. • NEWS IN BRIEF FOKKERS IN INDIA Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dutch manufacturer Fokker to set up a maintenance and service centre in India. A location has not yet been selected, but HAL intends to have the cen tre operational by July. The deal covers F27s and Fokker 50s. In the next few months, more than 15 F27s and three Fokker 50s will be in service in India. The Indian company already produces Fokker 50 horizontal stabilisers at its Bangalore plant. EMB.145 SALE Embraer has received a firm order for two EMB.145 re gional jets, with options on two more, from Australian operator FlightWest. This is the first confirmed order for the EMB.145 from an opera tor in the Asia/Pacific region. Embraer holds letters of in tent covering some 130 EMB.145s. The first flight is due in early 1995. Rafael aims to double Popeye's range to FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 2 - 8 March, 1994
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