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Aviation History
2002
2002 - 2358.PDF
IN BRIEF FIRST FLIGHT Boeing flew the first increased gross weight 747-400ER on 31 July from its Everett factory at Paine Field, north of Seattle. The aircraft is one of two 747- 400ERs that will undertake a three-month, 275h test pro gramme, ahead of first deliveries to launch customer Qantas in October. The new model has a maximum take-off weight of 412,770 kg (910,0001b)- 15,870kg greater than earlier -400s. A freighter version is also offered, the first of which will be delivered in October to Air France on lease from International Lease Finance. POD EVALUATION The US Air National Guard will test fly the Rafael Reccelite elec tro-optical reconnaissance pod on a Lockheed Martin F-16 in December. The Israeli air force will also receive one sys tem for evaluation in September. The pod has both visual and infrared sensors, a solid-state recorder and datalink. AIRSHIP VENTURE Boeing and CargoLifter have signed a contract to explore stratospheric airship concepts jointly. The contract is a major boost for the troubled German airship developer, which filed for insolvency in June and last month lost its CL75 prototype to storm damage. The contract covers the study of lighter-than-air stratospheric platforms, and should allow Boeing and CargoLifter to bid jointly as air ship system suppliers for current and future communications and surveillance requirements. CargoLifter was saved in June from collapse by the injection of €4.1 million ($4 million) in preferred loans from Investitionbank des Landes Brandenburg. HELICOPTER SALE The Australian Department of Defence has placed 10 of its Eurocopter AS350BA Squirrel helicopters up for sale. The aircraft, which average 6,000h, were formally part of the Australian Defence Force helicopter training school fleet. HEADLINES BUSINESS PAUL LEWIS / WASHINGTON DC US101 programme seeks local subcontractor bids Medium-lift helicopter to be offered for range of emerging US military reguirements Bell, Boeing and Kaman Aerospace are topping the list of potential subcontractors to build the US101 version of the AgustaWestland EH101, which will be offered by Lockheed Martin for a number of US armed forces requirements. AgustaWestland and Lockheed Martin signed a 10-year agreement at last month's Farnborough air show and they now have three months to secure a deal with a US subcontractor to assemble the medium-lift machine locally. "The objective is to put together a complete team as soon as possi ble. We're not looking in any one direction, everyone is in play," says Steve Moss, president Agusta Westland USA. This will be fol lowed by a decision on which engine to offer on the US101, with the company polling potential cus tomers while looking at the growth potential of the incumbent Gen eral Electric CT7-8 and Rolls- Royce/Turbomeca RTM322. Each potential airframe builder has its advantages. There is already a strong relationship between Boeing and AgustaWestland share holder GKN, while the US com pany's Apache attack helicopter is built by Westland in the UK. Bell also has strong links to the Italian-UK venture through the Bell Potential US101 airframe assemblers will want to avoid conflicts of interest Agusta Aerospace Group, but like Boeing is sensitive to anything that could undermine the V-22 tiltrotor. Kaman is viewed as a neutral option, not having a large enough helicopter to compete against the US101, but it also does not have the same industrial or political clout as Bell or Sikorsky. The latter is another possibility, but it is diffi cult to see how the company could reconcile building the US101 with its large investment in the smaller, but competing S-92 helicopter. AgustaWestland is targeting the US101 at several emerging US military requirements, the closest of which is a replacement for the US Air Force's combat search and rescue Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawks. The company is also keen to promote the US101 as an alternative to remanufacturing or building new CH-53E heavylift machines for the US Marine Corps and MH-53Es for the navy. "Today's US101 does about 80% of the CH-53's mission. In the [ver tical onboard delivery] mission we can lift everything apart from one or two pieces of equipment. The US101, furthermore, can grow into a larger aircraft, with an upgraded gearbox, bigger landing gear and plugged fuselage," adds Moss. DEFENCE Brazil leases 12 Kfirs until F-X BR decision is made The Brazilian air force is to lease 12 Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) Kfir C-10 fighters as an interim air defence capability ahead of the delivery of new fighters to be selected in its F-X BR competition. Valued at $91.6 million, the five- year lease covers 12 Kfirs and spares. A group from the Brazilian air force has travelled to Israel to examine and select 12 Kfirs from the Israeli air force's stored fleet, to be delivered next year. Head of the Brazilian air force, Lt Brig Carlos de Almeida Baptista, says the proposed lease is a tempo rary solution and does not mean the end of the F-X competition. Delays in an F-X decision and an impending election have spurred the defence ministry to consider a lease to replace the air force's Mirage IIIEBR/DBR fleet. Even if an F-X is selected in the next few weeks, the air force does not expect to receive its new fighters before 2007, three years after the Mirage Ills are due to retire. Other options included 12 ex- Royal Netherlands Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16As and 12 Swedish air force Saab/BAE Systems Gripens. The F-16 and Gripen are also in the F-X competi tion, although the air force favours the Sukhoi Su-35 and local manu facturer Embraer is pushing the Mirage 2000BR. The Kfir was developed from the Mirage III, and it seems the air force sees the Israeli fighter as offering the least operational problems, while Israel offered the most favourable price and shortest delivery schedules. 6 6-12 AUGUST 2002 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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