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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 0426.PDF
HEADLINES TECHNOLOGY PAUL LEWIS / ORLANDO Boeing draws up tilt-wing blueprint McDonnell Douglas YC-15 could be revived as demonstrator Boeing is studying the modification of the McDonnell Douglas YC-15 prototype into a tilt-wing technol ogy demonstrator within the next two years in support of the com pany's Phantom Works Advanced Theater Transport (ATT) concept for a super short take-off and landing (SSTOL) aircraft. The YC-15 would be an around 80%-scale ATT demonstrator, and the principal modification would be the installation of a forward- cranked wing that could rotate the trailing-edge down by up to 20°. The original Pratt & Whitney JT8D- 15 turbofans would be replaced by four off-the-shelf 2,235kW (3,000shp) class turboprops with cyclic-controlled propellers. "We would leave the tail on to start with until we demonstrate the cyclical control for yaw and pitch. Downstream we would take off the tail. Flying the vehicle would be no different. The advanced control programme we've had going with NASA Dryden routes stick and rud der pedal commands through a computer controller. We're taking it to a new extreme and rolling in the propulsion system," says George Muellner, Boeing senior vice- president air force systems. The demonstration is intended to prove the viability and utility of a tilt-wing SSTOL transport capa ble of operating within a 200- 300m (650-l,000ft) field length. The other main technology goal would be to validate cyclic controls for the first time on a fixed-wing aircraft. Active flow control over the wing for low-speed control could also be tested, as could an "opportunistic landing system" for identifying suitable landing strips. The YC-15 was conceived as a STOL replacement for the Lockheed Martin C-130 before cancellation in 1979. It is considerably smaller than the planned ATT, which would have a fuselage cross-section similar to the Boeing C-17. The ATT would be capable of carrying 36,320kg (80,0001b) over 5,550km (3,000nm) and require 8,950kW-class turbo- props, not yet available. Boeing owns the stored YC-15, but is seeking Department of Def ense and Defense Advanced Res earch Projects Agency cash to supp ort the demonstration. While the US Army puts increased importance on the need for an advanced mobil ity transport, the mission is the responsibility of the US Air Force, where it is less of a priority. DEFENCE BAE slows Nimrod schedule in bid to cut programme problems BAE Systems is to slow work on the Nimrod MRA4 and move ahead more cau tiously than previously planned in an attempt to overcome the programme's problems. Originally, BAE was to build three prototypes, and while it test-flew the air craft, another seven aircraft would be manufactured for delivery shortly after conclusion of the test programme. BAE says it will build the initial three MRA4s, ensure it has the design right and then build the remaining production aircraft. The in-service date has slipped from late 2005 to 2009. The latest problem was unearthed last year, delaying the planned first flight, when the wing structure was found to need strengthening. The company hopes to fly an aircraft this year, but it is not clear whether this will be achieved. Meanwhile, the MoD is "considering an increase in the aircraft's capability". New roles could include long-range strike and making the aircraft a key element of the UK's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance fleet. SEE BUSINESS P23 Briefing Iran crash kills 302,17 die in Pakistan ACCIDENTS An Iranian air force llyushin II-76MD crashed near Keman in the south east of the country on 19 February, killing all 284 passengers and 18 crew on board. The aircraft has an official capacity of 140 seats. The crash site is reportedly near a mountain summit at 11,500ft (3,500m) elevation. The pilot's final transmission is reported to have been: "I'll try to get closer [to the airfield] and hope the weather gets better." Meanwhile chief of the Pakistan air force Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir and two other senior officers were killed when the air force Fokker F27 they were on board crashed in mountains near the Kohat airbase in north-west Pakistan. The aircraft was carrying 17, all of whom were killed in the 20 February accident. Second carrier for Iceland LOW FARES Start-up Iceland Express is to begin services from Keflavik Airport near Reykjavik on 27 February. The airline will use a single Boeing 737-300 to operate daily return flights to Copenhagen and London Stansted. Iceland Express is the first Icelandic scheduled carrier to compete with flag carrier Icelandair year-round on what it claims are traditionally expensive routes. UK low-fares airline Go operated summer-only services between Keflavik and UK points in 2000-1. Iceland Express will wet lease the 148- seat single-class aircraft along with maintenance and insurance from UK charter carrier Astraeus. Portugal lacks funds for A400M programme TRANSPORT The Portuguese defence ministry says in its proposed procurement budget that there are insufficient funds to buy the three Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft it has committed to. The government will look into alternative options, which could include leasing other transports. It does not, however, rule out finding a "business plan" to circumvent the problem. The proposed budget must first be approved by Portugal's superior defence council and then by parliament. Airbus Military says it has known since the middle of last year that Portugal may have to withdraw, and has based its projected programme costs on 180 aircraft, not including the three Portuguese transports. Meanwhile, the German defence minister reportedly said late last week that the country will cancel its order for a second tranche of 30 Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters to help slim its budget deficit. Russia to mandate recertification of 11-86 AIRWORTHINESS The Russian interstate aviation committee MAK has agreed to conduct additional safety checks on the llyushin 11-86 following the type's first fatal crash on 28 July 2002 with the loss of a Pulkovo Airlines aircraft near Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. MAK met with the state civil aviation service GSGA, llyushin and operators of the remaining 41 aircraft in service last week before recommending further tests to the horizontal stabil iser actuators. The checks will be carried out in the next few weeks by MAK and llyushin before the committee draws up an airworthiness directive of mandatory modifications, expected to restore full certification "with minor operational changes". Ilyushin-Finance awards VASO contract SUBCONTRACTING Ilyushin-Finance (IFC) has signed an order for six llyushin II-96-300 passenger aircraft with the Voronezh aircraft production facility (VASO). The aircraft are intended for Aeroflot, which completed the specification earlier this year and is expected to take delivery of the first aircraft by the third quarter of next year. The entire project is worth around $240 million and will take 30 months. VASO had already received $10 million in credit to resume work on six incomplete airframes, of which two with extended fuselages are intended for Atlant Soyuz Airlines as II-96-400T freighters, based on a December contract. VASO is completing flight tests of a VIP variant of the II-96-300 for use by Russian president Vladimir Putin, which will be operated by state-owned airline GTK Rossiya. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 25 FEBRUARY - 3 MARCH 2003 7
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