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Aviation History
2000
2000 - 1403.PDF
Gulfstream eyes improved Tay GRAHAM WARWICK/SAVANNAH GULFSTREAM IS to power its next generation of GrV long-range business jets with an improved version of the current aircraft's Rolls-Royce Tay turbo- fan. Although every Gulfstream has been powered by R-R engines, the UK company was selected after an "intense competition", says Gulfstream president Bill Boisture. Gulfstream says it has yet to establish a schedule for introduc ing the next GrV version, but the programme could be launched at the US National Business Aviation Association convention in Oc tober. Details of the upgrade are sparse, but it will include improved avionics, propulsion, systems, reli ability and availability. Engines evaluated by Gulf stream for the new GIV included the General Electric CF34 and the R-R BR700, which powers the longer-range GV. The enhanced Tay will intro duce full-authority digital engine control (FADEC), an upgrade which is "overdue", admits R-R civil engines chief John Cheffins. "FADEC will allow us to do more with respect to altitude handling, and to optimise other things." Pres Henne, Gulfstream's senior vice-president, programmes, says the company is looking for "mod est" engine performance improve ments. Further details of the Tay upgrade are being kept under wraps. "We have two alternative specifications on the table," Cheffins says. Henne says a decision on the avionics supplier for the upgraded CTV has yet to be taken. Fie con firms the company is looking at the Primus Epic system from incum bent supplier Honeywell as well as Rockwell Collins' Pro Line 21. Both systems include large-format liquid crystal displays. Selection of R-R to power the next-generation GIV was an nounced at a ceremony on 25 April at Gulfstream's Savannah, Georgia, plant to celebrate the roll-out of its 400th GIV-SP and 100th GV. Boisture says the company has 117 orders and options for the GIV-SP and GV, valued at $3.8 billion. Gulfstream introduced the upgraded GIV-SP in 1993, having produced 214 GTVs between 1985 and 1992. The GV was introduced in 1995 - 154 have been sold, of which 79 have entered service. Q NEWS IN BRIEF Sikorsky sets August date for flight tests of redesigned S-92 Helibus SIKORSKY PLANS to begin flight testing a modified S-92 Helibus civil helicopter in August, incoqiorating the first in a series of significant design changes to the rotorcraft's empennage, fuselage and cockpit avionics suite. The lead S-92 flying prototype is being modified and will resume testing this summer fitted with a redesigned tail pylon. The main change has been to reduce the height of the vertical stabiliser by 355mm (41in) and reposition the horizontal stabiliser from the upper left side of the tail forward and to the lower right. Reducing the weight and size of the tail allows Sikorsky to add a 400mm plug to the fuselage just aft of the cockpit and correct a slight nose-up pitch angle in flight (Flight International, 18-24 April, PI7). "This moves the centre of gravity forward to get a flatter hover atti tude," says Tommy Thomason, Sikorsky vice-president for civil programmes. The fifth utility-configured pro totype, which has been completed but not yet flown, will incorporate the stretched fuselage as well as the new tail pylon. It will enter the flight test programme at the end of the year. The smaller tail has the added benefit of easier shipboard storage, which is a requirement for the Nordic Standard Helicopter FLIGHT S-92 original QARBTH BURGESS oo configuration ^-^g Programme (NSHP), for which the S-92 is competing. The NSHP could total up to 90 machines for Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, which are seeking a common helicopter to replace a range of models for transport, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue and shipborne roles. Sikorsky's revised flight sched ule calls for the fourth and final civil-configured prototype to fol low early next year equipped with the recently selected Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite incorporating four 150 x 243 mm liquid crystal displays. Certif ication will be pushed back from late 2001 to early the following year, while first delivery is on schedule for April 2002 to Canadian offshore oil operator Cougar Helicopters. The redesigned fuselage will produce a small increase in empty weight, but the standard maximum take-off weight remains constant at 11,440kg (25,2001b), with the option to go to 13,620kgwith aux iliary fuel. The fuselage plug will add two seats to the 2 2-seat military version and give the option of an extra row of seats to 19-seat civil operators.Q • AB139 ENGINE DELIVERY Pratt & Whitney Canada has delivered the first two PT6C-67C turboshafts to Agusta for the Bell Agusta Aerospace AB139 15-seat medium twin-turbine heli copter. The engines, rated from l,200kW (l,600shp) to l,565kW, will be installed in the AB139 ground test vehi cle which will prove the heli copter's systems before its first flight, set for the end of this year. • COMPLETION MERGER The UK's Trace Worldwide and Air Group (AGA) of the USA are merging their res pective completion centres at London Biggin Hill Airport and Tyler, Texas. Trace spe cialises in interior design and manufacture for commercial and business aircraft and heli copters, while AGA fabricates and installs aircraft cabin entertainment and com munications systems and avionics. • DEALER NETWORK Groen Brothers Aviation says its network of more than 50 dealers has ordered 148 Hawk 4 gyroplanes, valued at $50 million. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 2 - 8 May 2000
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