All news – Page 6872
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Lyulka Saturn reveals 3-D vectoring nozzle
Russian engine manufacturer Lyulka Saturn has publicly revealed a three-dimensional thrust vectoring version of its AL-31 powerplant for the first time at the recent Air Show China 98 show (Flight International, 25 November-1 December). The new AL-31FP is fitted with an all-axis thrust vectoring nozzle. Lyulka Saturn says it is ...
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Germany still uncertain over FLA
The German defence ministry says it will continue to "examine every option" for the purchase of a future military transport aircraft, despite a report from DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) rejecting the Antonov An-70 as the basis for the project. The ministry says industry replies to a request for proposals (RFP) ...
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Mixed fighter purchase finds favour with Israeli air force
Arie Egozi/TEL AVIV The Israeli Air force is leaning towards a split purchase of Boeing F-15Is and Lockheed Martin F-16s, according to sources close to the combat aircraft procurement process. A decision on whether to select either or both types is expected soon. Sources say that the service ...
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HARM upgrade
The US Navy has awarded Raytheon TI Systems a $26 million contract to develop and test a precision navigation upgrade retrofit kit for the HARM anti-radiation missile. The project results from an agreement reached between the USA, Germany and Italy. Parts of the work will be carried out in each ...
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RoboCopter 300
Northrop Grumman and Schweizer have teamed up to offer an unmanned derivative of the Schweizer 300 helicopter, known as the RoboCopter 300, in a contest to meet a US Navy VTOL UAV requirement. Source: Flight International
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USN to standardise on Sikorsky
The US Navy plans to buy as many as 250 navalised Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters, designated CH-60S, for vertical replenishment, search and rescue and other missions at a total cost of $3.2 billion. The USN has decided to reduce the diverse fleet of naval rotorcraft to the ...
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USAF F-117s in line for upgrade
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Lockheed Martin plans to upgrade the US Air Force's fleet of F-117A strike aircraft to a common low observable (LO) configuration which it says will dramatically reduce maintenance costs and improve operability. The Single Configuration Fleet improvement programme will begin in October 1999 when the ...
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Raytheon and Thomson-CSF win Swiss air defence order
Raytheon Systems and Thomson-CSF have signed a SFr393 million ($290 million)contract with the Swiss defence procurement agency to implement the second and third phases of the FLORAKO air defence system upgrade. The system replaces the FLORIDA, which was supplied in the 1960s by Hughes Aircraft, now a part of ...
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RAF Tornados to get improved HOTAS cockpit
Howard Gethin/LONDON The Royal Air Force is considering the introduction of hands on throttle and stick controls (HOTAS) for the Panavia Tornado GR4/4A strike aircraft as part of a rolling upgrade to extend the aircraft's service life until 2015. The Ministry of Defence has also stated a possible ...
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U-2s upgraded for 2020 and beyond
Guy Norris/LOS ANGELES Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is beginning work on a major cockpit upgrade of the U-2S reconnaisance aircraft as part of US Air Force plans to keep the aircraft operational to 2020 and beyond. The core of the cockpit upgrade will be large (150 x 200mm) ...
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V-22's gun system comes under review
Bell-Boeing is rethinking the requirement for a nose-mounted turreted gun system for the V-22 Osprey military tiltrotor, should funding be restored for installation of the weapon. The gun issue is part of a V-22 study addressing the integration of a radar, forward looking infrared device, refuelling probe and gun-feed/ammunition ...
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Pratt & Whitney starts to test engine for Lockheed Martin JSF demonstrator
Pratt & Whitney has begun testing the JSF119-611 turbofan STOVL propulsion system for the Lockheed Martin X-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) demonstrator at the company's West Palm Beach facility. The engine, designated FX662, made its first run on November 10 with the lift fan engaged and operated to 100%. ...
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Business entertaining
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON As the global economies stimulate increased demand for air transportation, the business aviation industry is becoming hot property and the knock-on effect is being felt by all. Riding on this wave of prosperity is the in-flight cabin systems market in which original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), completions ...
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Air Forces of the World
Compiled by Stewart Penney As the end of the decade approaches, many of the world's air forces face the joint challenges of carrying out greater operational commitments, but with slimmed-down defence budgets. Although they are normally performed to keep the peace, such commitments are still costly in terms of ...
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School changes course
Gert Kromhout/ISTRES Based at Istres airbase in the south of France, the French Flight Test School EPNER (Ecole des Personnel Navigant d'Essais et de Recéption) is one of the few such governmental flight test schools in the world. Today, the school, one of France's best known aeronautical institutions, is ...
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BBJ customer deliveries start
Boeing has delivered the first two customer ultra long range Boeing Business Jets (BBJs), on schedule. BBJ joint venture partner General Electric has taken delivery of the first aircraft, while the second was claimed by an unnamed customer. The first BBJ to roll off the assembly line is being used ...
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Hartzell completes NASA tests
Hartzell Propeller has completed preliminary performance and acoustic testing of its NASA sponsored AGATE/GAP propeller concept. According to Piqua, Ohio-based Hartzell, the initial testing series on a Piper Saratoga testbed simulating the GAP engine, demonstrated a flyover noise reduction of up 6dBA without a loss in performance. Source: Flight ...
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Fractional ownership project aimed at European market
Kate Sarsfield/LONDON A fractional ownership venture aimed at the European market is scheduled to start in January, operating two Cessna CitationJets. The announcement follows hot on the heels of Bombardier's recent decision to expand its US-based FlexJet fractional programme to the Continent "by year end." Executive Jet, ...
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IAOPA appeal
The International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association (IAOPA) is pushing for the Loran-C ground-based navigation aid to be used for augmentation and back-up of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). In October, IAOPA's World Assembly supported development of a second-generation GNSS, to follow the current global positioning system and ...
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Piper Training
New Piper Aircraft has finalised an agreement with Belgium's Sabena Airlines for the purchase of 10 new aircraft to be used for ab initio training. The aircraft - five Archer IIIs, three Saratoga II HPs and two Seneca Vs - will replace Sabena's US training fleet based in Scottsdale, Arizona. ...