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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2312.PDF
SHOW REPO, TRAINERS Bahrain opts for Hawk Bahrain has picked the BAE Systems Hawk advanced trainer for its air force pilot academy. The Hawk's selection is part of Bahrain's go-ahead for phases three and four of its air academy plan, says BAE vice- chairman Sir Charles Masefield. Contract negotiations are due to start shortly to finalise aircraft numbers and specification. For the training role, Bahrain probably requires around six Hawks, although earlier discus sions have included replacing at least some of its ageing Northrop F-5E/Fs with the same type as an advanced trainer. Phases three and four cover acquisition of synthetic training devices, including Hawk simula tors, and the advanced trainers. Earlier this year, BAE was awarded phases one and two, for pilot selection services and the acquisition of three Slingsby T67M260 elementary trainers. At present, Bahrain pilots go overseas for training. SPACECRAFT PROPULSION Gnetiq wins deal to power ESA Mercury expedition UK research organisation's ion thruster engine in the driving seat for BepiColombo Qinetiq has won a competition to provide the ion thruster engine for the European Space Agency's (ESA) BepiColombo mission to Mercury. Qinetiq's T6 gridded ion engine will push the craft the 92.7 million km to Mercury in three-and-a-half years using only 350kg (7701b) of propellant. The research and devel opment company had already been selected to deliver a throt- tleable ion thruster for ESA's Global Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) mission. An ion thruster engine produces thrust by expelling a stream of ionised gas particles; Qinetiq's engines use xenon. Only the gas is carried into orbit, reducing the fuel mass to around 10*% that of a tradi tional chemical rocket engine. The satellite is equipped with solar pan els to generate the electricity required to ionise the gas, using electron bombardment. Qinetiq is running a series of tests of ion-thruster engines at its Famborough site, including proving that the engine can be throttled. This is a key requirement for the GOCE mission - designed to finely measure the earth's gravitational field - as the satellite will fly at a very low orbit, where it will encounter drag from the atmos phere. To overcome the drag and allow the satellite to fly at a con stant altitude, the engine will have to produce variable thrust. Most satellite engines are not throt- tleable, being either on or off. Qinetiq is also running high-tem perature tests of its ion thrusters, which are understood to be part of proving the viability of using the engine to fly a satellite to Mercury. The company says it aims to develop ion thrusters for the next generation of European communi cations satellites. The fuel weight saving will allow another 1,000kg (2,2001b) payload to be carried on the satellite, or the operational life to be extended from 10 to 15 years, says the company. The technology also offers opportunities for deep space mis sions as ion engines can constantly accelerate the craft and reduce the need for slingshot manoeuvres using the planets' gravitational pull. Throttleable engines will also make missions to fly in formation with comets easier, says Qinetiq, as the craft can be accelerated to catch the comet, then slowed to fly in formation. It will also allow sam ples to be brought back from such missions. BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS Japan Airlines plugs into Boeing Connexion Boeing has secured an Asian launch customer for its Connexion broadband communication ser vices, with Japan Airlines signing a letter of intent to install the service on 10 long-haul aircraft, plus addi tional options. Boeing expects to finalise the agreement by late this year, with the manufacturer not discounting the possibility of the Japanese car rier becoming an investor in Connexion. Boeing Connexion lost its three US airline investors - American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines - last year after the post-11 September downturn. Aircraft types for the JAL installa tions have yet to be decided, but the first is likely to be in service in the first quarter of 2004 on routes between Japan and Europe, says Scott Carson, Connexion presi dent. JAL will offer service through out the aircraft in wired and wire less modes. JAL aims to have its first aircraft wired up in the first quarter of 2004 Passengers will be charged in the region of $30 per flight sector - the same price that Connexion trial cus tomer British Airways plans to charge its premium-class passengers during its one-aircraft trial next year. Meanwhile, Boeing has received spectrum authorisation from the German telecommunications au thority for a one-aircraft Boeing 747-400 trial with launch customer Lufthansa. The three-month trial will start on 15 January next year, with the aircraft operating on the Frankfurt-Washington route. Services will be available throughout the aircraft, free of charge, via wireless local area net work or Ethernet connection. Services across the Atlantic will be provided by the Brazilian Estrela do Sol satellite, which is due to be launched by a Boeing Delta IV later this year. Lufthansa intends to equip its long-haul fleet of up to 80 aircraft, including Airbus types, from late 2003, says Burkhard Wigger, Lufthansa's general manager of onboard internet. Lufthansa is also interested in using the broadband link for other services, including aircraft health monitoring data, says Carson. Boeing, meanwhile, remains "convinced" that the three US carri ers will return to Connexion as cus tomers, says Carson. American, Delta and United are part of the group of 15 airlines that have been helping Boeing define the Con nexion services. The broadband service is flying on Boeing's Connexion One Boeing 737 demonstrator, in addi tion to 15 business aircraft. 28 30 JULY - 5 AUGUST 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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