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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 2294.PDF
TECHNOLOGY IDENTIFICATION General Atomics in 'tag' study General Atomics is working on a battlefield identification system that would respond only to spe cific fighter fire control radars. Dr John Rawls, vice-president of General Atomics' Lynx sys tems group, says the company is prime contractor for the radar "tag", a miniature transmitter/ receiver that responds only to specific radars. He says the ability to decode the tag's modified radar return is inherent to the interrogating radar and does not require extra systems to be integrated with the host aircraft. He says the system is aimed at airborne surveillance plat forms like the Northrop Grum man E-8 JSTARS and General Atomics' Predator unmanned air vehicle equipped with the Lynx synthetic aperture radar. AEROENGINE RESEARCH CHRISTINA MACKENZIE / MELUN Snecma joins agencies to improve engine design Four-year deal to focus on improved technologies to boost reliability and efficiency Snecma has signed a four-year co operation agreement with French aerospace research agency ONERA and scientific research agency CNRS with the aim of boosting the relia bility and performance of future aeroengines. The four-year Advanced Mechanical Engineering Methods (MAIA) agreement will study breakthrough technologies in several areas. The team will attempt to come up with improved design tech niques to allow a better compromise to be struck between engine perfor mance and development costs, and focus on other areas such as under standing the vibration characteris tics of parts and assemblies, leading to development of more efficient shock absorbing technologies. Also under study will be the behaviour of an engine and its com ponents under accident conditions. Certification work often involves testing components to destruction late in the development cycle, and the MAIA participants will attempt to improve computer remodelling of events such as birdstrikes and icing to avoid the risk of late design changes to address problems revealed in testing. Composite materials are another focus, and work will be carried out to deepen knowledge of the perfor mance of composites and how this is influenced by production methods. As the trend towards higher engine operating temperatures con tinues as part of the drive for better fuel efficiency and lower emissions, the team will try to model blade fatigue, distortion and oxidisation. In the "cold" section the focus will be on how to more accurately pre dict remaining component life after fissures are detected, and life predic tion for dynamic components sub ject to friction. The MAIA agreement is aimed in particular at reducing duplication in research among the agencies. The ministries of defence and civil aero nautics are also closely involved. The project, which already includes research organisations in the Walloon region of Belgium, is likely to be offered for co-operation at European level. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL GEH* Rolls-Royce Future of flight etiti Do you have a vision of the future of powered flight that you can convey to the readers of Flight International? Do you have a vision of the future of powered flight? Could you write about it in a passionate, informed and entertaining way? To mark the centennial of the Wright Brothers' first flight in December 2003, Flight International, in association with Rolls-Royce, is launching a future of flight essay competition for readers aged 21 and under. The author of the best essay in the judges' opinion will win a trip for two to the First Flight Centennial Celebrations in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA on 17 December. His or her essay will also be published in Flight International. Articles, of 1,500 words maximum, can be on any topic dealing with the "Future of flight", from supersonic propulsion to avionics, space travel to personal jets, vertical flight to airborne warfare. While technical understanding is important, the judges will be looking equally for writing ability, vision and enthusiasm. Entrants can illustrate their articles. The deadline for entries is 24 October 2003. Judges will include I Norriss and representatives of Rolls-Royce and Flight International. autical Society president Sir Peter Terms and Conditions ntries must be in English and arrive at our offices by 5pm UK time 24 October 2003 by post, fax or 4. Flight International retains the right to publish any of the entries, in print or eli mail. Mark your entries Future of Flight Essay Competition. Email: flight.internotionalG'rbi.co.uk; 5. Flight International cannot undertake to return entries. 44 (0)208 652 3840; Address: Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton. Surrey, SM2 5AS, UK 6. No purchase is necessary to enter this competition 'inners will travel tram London on 12 December 2003 for six nights. Accommodation, car hire, 7. The employees of any company within the Reed Elsevier Group or Rolls-Royce pic its and travel costs to London of up to £500 per person will be provided. eligible to enter the competition, ir nire, one of the party must be at least 21 years of age and that person must be g AH decisions of the iudqes are final t driving licence valid for use in the United Kingdom. )d directly by email or telephone during November. Winners may be asked to jch as a photograph and article in the magazine.
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