All news – Page 6817
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Cambodia must pay up Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) has suspended delivery of four Cambodian air force MiG-21 fighters to ensure the payment of a $1 million bill for upgrading the aircraft. The first two upgraded MiG-21s were delivered in January 1997. Work on the other four was frozen when ...
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New Chinook variant enters final assembly for October roll-out
The first improved Boeing CH-47SD Chinook is in final assembly ready for a planned October roll-out. Meanwhile, work has begun on remanufacturing the first two US Army machines to the modernised CH-47F configuration under the Improved Cargo Helicopter (ICH) programme. With the switch to the new CH-47SD, Boeing hopes ...
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F-15I ready The Israeli air force's first Boeing F-15I squadron was declared operational in January and has carried out its first combat operations with precision guided weapons against targets in Lebanon. The first attack was on 11 January, when two F-15Is attacked Hezbollah targets in Sujud in southern Lebanon. ...
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Revolutionary rotorcraft enters US race for maritime VTOL UAV
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTON DC The UK's Intora-Firebird is to offer its Firebird hydrogen peroxide-powered rotorcraft in the US Department of Defense's competition to acquire a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for the US Navy and Marine Corps. The company joins a list of contenders for the ...
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Global Hawk set for non-stop USA-Australia UAV record
Peter La Franchi/CANBERRA Teledyne Ryan's Global Hawk long endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) is poised to make aviation history in early 2001 with a non-stop flight from Edwards AFB in California to Australia, to support a trials programme funded by the Australian Defence Force. Australia will contribute $A30 ...
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Kaman completes composite rotor trials on Seasprite
Kaman Aerospace has completed development flight tests of its second generation composite main rotor blades (CMRB II) aboard an SH-2G Super Seasprite naval helicopter. The new blade is intended to meet "increasing mission equipment needs and mission performance requirements", says Kaman engineering vice-president Michael Bowes. The blades will become ...
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Daewoo plans armed scout variant of KT-1
Andrzej Jeziorski/SINGAPORE Daewoo Heavy Industries is expecting a development contract this year for an armed reconnaissance variant of its KT-1 Woong-Bee turboprop trainer, designated the KO-X (Flight International, 4-11 November, 1998). According to Kwang Jin Lee, managing director of Daewoo's aerospace and defence division, the South Korean state-run ...
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Fly by voice typhoon
Eurofighter's Typhoon - the export version of the Eurofighter - is expected to be the first production fighter to have voice control in the cockpit. Flight testing of direct voice input (DVI) is planned for next year, but the first equipment will be delivered to CASA in May for integration. ...
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Pushing the envelope
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Fight testing of the F-22 is in its busiest and most critical year, with major milestones round the corner The US Air Force test team evaluating the Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor had more reason than most to celebrate the traditional US Thanksgiving holiday last November. On the 23rd ...
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Getting a head start
Guy Norris/SEATTLE Looking like a huge airborne spaniel with its ears outstretched, Boeing's 757 flying testbed (FTB) is destined to become a distinctive sight across US skies this year. The FTB was the first 757 to be built, and has been extensively modified internally and externally to test the ...
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Export attention
Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Declining domestic markets have seen manufacturers shift their focus to fighter exports - and 'exportability' With worldwide fighter production set to hit an all-time low in the first years of the new century - fewer than 140 aircraft from all US and European manufacturers combined, according ...
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Tough choices
Paul Lewis/FORT WORTH Graham Warwick/WASHINGTON DC Rival Joint Strike Fighter teams face challenges to complete the concept demonstrator phase within budgetThe Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) competition has become a contest of diminishing resources, with both teams overspent but determined to complete the current concept development phase within budget. Neither ...
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Martian gliders
Tim Furniss/LONDON NASA hopes to deploy a fleet of small gliders to explore parts of Mars that other spacecraft cannot reachSwooping through Mars' own grand canyon, the Valles Marineris, would be the ultimate hang-gliding trip. The first aircraft to make that tantalising journey could be the $40 million Mars ...
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Multi-role Mirage
Julian Moxon/PARIS Dassault has adapted the Mirage 2000 to meet varying export requirements The Mirage 2000-5 was the first front-line fighter from Dassault Aviation that specifically responded to the demands of the export market, rather than a domestic French air force requirement. The latest version, the 2000-5MkII, incorporates ...
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Italy targets November for first A319CJ delivery
Airbus is planning to deliver the first of two A319CJ business jets to the Italian air force's 31st Wing in November. The L159 billion($90 million) deal will see the second aircraft handed over in August 2000. The aircraft will be used for government/VIP operations, and will replace the air ...
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Archedyne revamps Amjet 400 amphibian
Archedyne has redesigned its Amjet 400 single-engined amphibian business aircraft, changing the name, the number of engines and fuselage length. Now dubbed the Nautic Air 450, the aircraft will be powered by two Williams FJX-2s when they enter the market next year, and its 12.2m (40ft) fuselage has been extended ...
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Enstrom pursues China talks
Enstrom Helicopters continues to pursue long-running talks on a planned joint venture in China for local assembly of piston and turbine-powered machines. The Michigan-based light helicopter manufacturer is still awaiting final approval from the Chinese authorities after more than five years of delay. But it says plans for the ...
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Eurocopter boosts its sales in USA
Eurocopter's US arm has announced a clutch of helicopter sales to North American air medical operators and law enforcement agencies. Corporate Jets, which operates 36 emergency medical service (EMS) bases across the USA, has taken delivery of its first EC135. Five more will be delivered over the next five ...
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EJI ponders adding to NetJets fleet
Executive Jet (EJI) is considering adding new aircraft types to its NetJets Europe business jet fractional ownership programme. Chairman Richard Santulli says that EJI is looking at the Cessna Citation X and Gulfstream IV, adding that "we are also talking to Dassault". EJI plans to add medium/large Dassault Falcon ...
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News in Brief
Top of the Props Hartzell Propeller has won new certifications for its Top Prop series of three-blade propellers. The design is now approved on Cessna's A188 Agwagon as well as on Raytheon Aircraft's Bonanza A36 and B36TC. Flexjet expands Customers for Bombardier's FlexJet business jet ...