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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 0827.PDF
award of a $601 million contract for the modifi cation of 1,200 engines in early 2001. Key pro gramme targets include a 3:1 improvement in low cycle fatigue to give a 5,400h life, a 5:1 cut in maintenance man-hours and a cut in the number of parts to maintain, from more than 850 to around 100. The Boeing-led T-38C Avionics Upgrade Programme (AUP) began in January 2001 using three LRIP aircraft, with 200 modified aircraft being delivered back to the USAF by February 2004. AUP includes installation of new Honeywell GPS/INS, air data computer and radar altimeter. IAI is supplying the display processor and HUD, while L-3 is supplying MFDs and digital engine displays. Northrop started building 55 replacement wings in 2001 as an interim step, while the company completes the design of a new extended-life wing. This is due to enter produc tion in 2006, and will be fitted to all T-38Cs. PANAVIA AIRCRAFT Panavia Aircraft, Airport Business Centre, Am Soldermoos 17, Hallbergmoos, D-85399, Germany. Tel +49 (811) 801238/9; fax+49 (811) 801386 Tornado Production of the Tornado ended in October 1998 with the delivery of the 992nd aircraft. The three partner nations, Germany, Italy and the UK, continue to upgrade the aircraft to keep it in service until at least 2018. Upgrade of 142 RAF GRl/lA/lBs to Tornado GR4 standard concluded at BAE's Warton site in June 2003. Changes include digital systems in the aircraft's cockpit, along with changes to the EW and enhanced weapons capabilities. The GR4 fleet is now in the process of receiving new cockpit dis plays under an £82 million contract. The Package 2 development programme to clear the GR4 for additional weapons including the MBDA Brimstone, Goodrich Raptor reconnaissance pod Aircraft Mission Powerplant Max power (shp) Wing span (m) Wing area (m2) Length (m) OEW (kg) MTOW (kg) Max load (kg) Range (km) Endurance Hard points Cruise (kt) MMO Ceiling (ft) Crew/passengers Internal fuel Fuel, opt ext (litre) Air refuel? PC-7 Turbo-Trainer Basic trainer 1 x P&WC PT6A-25A 650 10.4 16.6 9.78 1,330 2,700 - 2,630 3h 45min - 196 M0.6 33,000 2 474 litres - No PC-7 Mkll Basic trainer 1 x P&WC PT6A-25A 700 10.12 16.6 10.14 1,670 2,850 600 1,935 4h 30min 6 251 M0.68 M0.72 30,000 2 470 litres 310 No PC-9M Basic trainer 1 x P&WC PT6A-62 1,275 10.12 16.29 10.14 1,725 3,200 850 1,536 4h 30min 6 310 38,000 2 518 litres 496 No PC-21 Basic trainer 1 x P&WC PT6A-68B 1,600 8.8 - 11.2 2,250 4,250 2,000 - - 5 360 38,000 2 - - No mute mm •• •• Aircraft Mission Powerplant Max thrust dry/wet (lb) Wing span (m) Wing area (m2) Length (m) OEW (kg) MTOW (kg) Max load (kg) Range (km) Endurance Hardpoints Cruise (kt) MMO Ceiling (ft) Crew/passengers Internal fuel (kg) Fuel, opt ext (litre) Air refuel? Tornado ADV Air superiority 2xTurboUnion RB199-104 9,110/16,425 13.91/8.6 26.6 18.62 14,500 27,986 8,500 3h@555km 8 and MBDA Storm Shadow, which received its combat debut during the Iraq war in advance of formal clearance, is due to be concluded during this year. BAE and the UK MoD are now looking at fatigue life issues to ensure the GR4 fleet remains combat effective until its out of service date. RAF Tornado F3s went throughthe Capability Sustainment Programme, which equipped the air craft for the ASRAAM and AMRAAM missiles, JTIDS and Successor IFF. UK Tornado F3s leased to the Italian air force are being returned. German and Italian aircraft - both IDS inter- dictor strike and ECR electronic warfare/recon naissance variants - are receiving broadly similar upgrades as part of their mid-life improvement programmes. The updates include compatibility with Rafael Litening targeting pod, improved EW equipment and new PGM weapons includ ing the MBDA Storm Shadow and LGBs. The first Italian MLU aircraft was rolled out in No vember 2003. BAE is in talks with the Royal ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Saudi Air Force over a [ MLU/Sustainment project to improve the capabilities of its Tornado ADV/IDS fleet and extend air frame lives. HUH Tornado IDS Attack 2 x TurboUnion RB199-103 9,100/16,020 13.91/8.6 26.6 16.72 14,000 28,000 9,000 3,885 M2.2 50,000 2 7,270 litre 7,500 Yes M2.2 50,000 2 5,090 5,850kg Yes Pilatus Aircraft, Flugzeugwerke PO Box992,CH-6371 Stans, Switzerland. Tel +41 (41) 619 6111;fax +41(41) 610 9230; www.pila- tus-aircraft.com PC-7/PC-7Mkll/ PC-9(M) Pilatus continues to offer its family of tur boprop trainers, which, since 1997, have been built using modular PC-7/PC fuselages, adding 50kg to the empty weight. The major difference between the variants is engine power, the PC-7 being the lower-powered aircraft. Israel's Radom has given Slovenian PC-9s a new mission and weapons system, as well as a Lockheed Martin F-16-like cockpit that includes a FlightVisions HUD. Ireland and Bulgaria pur chased PC-9s over the past year. PC-21 Pilatus started development of the PC-21 trainer in the late 1990s as a replacement for the PC- 7/9. The first aircraft was rolled out in April 2002 and completed its first flight on 1 July. The company are now aggressively marketing the aircraft around the world including South America and the Far East. Swiss civil certification is planned for in 2004. Plans to build a second prototype were put on hold as Pilatus had few problems assembling the first aircraft, eliminating the need to gain production experience by building another machine. The second PC-21, "an unofficial pre- production aircraft", is planned. The aircraft resembles the PC-7/9, but the reduced-span wing is designed for higher speeds, with a combination of spoilers and ailerons to give fast-jet-like roll-rates, while Fowler flaps are intended to maintain an 80kt stall speed. The NVG-compatible glass cockpit has HOTAS controls, three MFDs for each pilot, and a HUD in the front. The PC-21 has software capable of mimicking fighters, allowing Pilatus to offer it as a flying simulator. PZL WARSZAWA-OKECIE (EAOS PZL) PZL Warszawa-Okecie, Aleja Krakowska 110/114,00-971 Warszawa, Poland. Tel + 48-22 5772 201; fax: +48-22 5772 203; www.pzl-oke- cie.com.pl 66 25-31 MAY 2004 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.flightinternational.com
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