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Aviation History
2004
2004-07 - 0013.PDF
ASIAN RESPHO°R^AER#SPACE2004 DRONES ST Aero shows off scaled version of multirole UAV Project unveiled with view to securing international partners for full-scale development Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero) has unveiled a one-third scale low-observable multirole unmanned air vehicle demonstra tor designated MAV-1, with initial test flights to start in the next two months. The Multi-role Unmanned Air Vehicle demonstrator has a 3m (10ft) wingspan and an all-up weight of 80kg (1751b), including an unspecified commercial off-the- shelf jet engine that produces 1001b (0.45kN) of thrust. The UAV has an endurance target of 30min. The subsonic air vehicle is to be used as a testbed for a more capable low-observable tactical UAV sys tem, but could evolve into an unmanned combat air vehicle depending on the outcome of trials and market interest. ST Aero says design work has been under way for two years. The programme was unveiled at Asian Aerospace with a view to securing international involvement in devel opment of the full-scale system. Ground testing of the demon strator began last year, but has so far excluded radar cross-section trials. ST Aero says the MAV-1 pro gramme has no relationship to the still-classified Singaporean Ministry of Defence Sky Blade UAV pro gramme. Singaporean press reports indicate that at least one Sky Blade prototype is now flying, with this tested in Australia last November. The MAV-1 demonstrator has a 3m wingspan and an all up weight of 80kg DEMONSTRATIONS Eagle flies into history The Israel Aircraft Industries/EADS Heron/ Eagle unmanned air vehicle has become the first unmanned system to fly at a major air show with a series of demonstrations at Asian Aerospace 2004. All air traf fic in and out of Changi International airport was suspended while the UAV flew. Show organisers say that a programme of electro magnetic interference studies was undertaken before the flights to lessen the risk of loss of control. PRODUCT LAUNCH Gulfstream announces G350 Gulfstream has confirmed the replacement of the G300 with the G350, completing the revamp of its entire range begun 18 months ago at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention in Orlando. Formally announcing the variant at Asian Aerospace, president Bryan Moss said the $27.5 million aircraft - which combines the fuselage and Rolls-Royce Tay engines of the G400 with the cockpit of the larger G500 and G550 - will allow the company to compete more strongly with the Dassault Falcon 2000EX and the Bombardier Challenger 604 in the large- cabin, mid-range segment. The G350 will be a lower-specification, shorter-range and cheaper sta- blemate of the G450, introduced at NBAA last year, which itself will replace the G400 (formerly the GIV-SP). The certification process for the two will work in parallel, with certification for the 350 likely in the fourth quarter and deliveries beginning in the third quarter of 2005. Both aircraft will feature the Honeywell Plane View flightdeck and Primus Epic avionics and pilot ratings will be the same. Unlike the G450, the G350 does not have an Enhanced Vision System, in-cabin electronics and communications systems and head up display as standard, and its range of just over 7,000km (3,800nm) is about 1,000km less than the G450's. Next in the pipeline is development of the G150 to replace the G100 (the old Galaxy Astra SPX), which enters service in 2006 with NetJets. Meanwhile, Moss has hinted that Gulfstream might have to take a more active role as a systems integrator on special-mission aircraft as it pushes to exploit the growing market for intelligence-gathering platforms. Special missions represents about 10% of Gulfstream's sales, but Gulfstream has until now acted purely as the airframe provider for its partners. "From a business standpoint, we would prefer not to be an integrator," he says. CARGO CONVERSIONS Boeing hopes to add Asian 747-400 MROs Boeing expects to appoint addi tional Asian maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) organisations over the next year, possibly includ ing two in Singapore, as conversion centres for its recently launched 747-400 Special Freighter. Boeing Commercial Airplane Services vice-president Marty Bent- rott expects several Asian airlines with MRO subsidiaries - including EVA Air, Korean Air and Singapore Airlines - to purchase kits from Boeing for $20 million apiece to convert their surplus passenger 747- 400s. Independent MROs, including Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero), are also seeking to convert 747-400S at an estimated cost of $25 million for airline customers. "There seems to be market demand for more than one conver sion centre, and I suspect that when you look at the existing air lines some will probably want to do their own," Bentrott says. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Air ways became the launch customer for the 747-400SF programme in January with six aircraft to be con verted at China's Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering (TAECO). The first conversion will be completed by TAECO, which includes both Boeing and Cathay as shareholders, in late 2005. TAECO last week signed a memorandum of understanding to become a conversion centre for Boeing's proposed MD-80/90 freighter programme, which Bentrott expects will be launched by year-end. Bentrott says Boeing is discussing with ST Aero and Israel Aircraft Industries a restructuring of the 757 conversion programme. www.fliqhtinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 2-8 MARCH 2004 11
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