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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 0012.PDF
DEFENCE RAF starts Buccaneer update LONDON ~ Royal Air Force plans to update its British Aerospace Buccaneer S.2s have been set in motion with the award of a contract to Ferranti for a new inertial navigation system. Buccaneers will be fitted with the FIN1063 INS, a derivative of the FIN1064 which equips RAF Sepecat Jaguars. The 1063 is similar to the Jaguar INS but lacks the weapon aiming system. As yet it is unclear whether the entire Buccaneer update programme has been funded by the UK Ministry of Defence. The programme (reported in Flight, February 4, page 316) calls for upgraded avionics, armaments, and electronic countermeasures, and a modified cockpit. But award of the Ferranti contract means the programme has progressed from an Air Staff Target to a full Air Staff Requirement,designatedl012. The programme is in line with the RAF's decision to convert 60 of its 65 Bucca neers into the maritime strike role, armed primarily with BAe Dynamics' Sea Eagle anti-ship missile. Four of these will be carried on upgraded Buccaneers, backed-up by the TV-guided Martel anti-ship missile. Upgraded Buccaneers could also be equipped with a new Hud and a combination of the existing Westinghouse AN/ ALQ-101-10 and the Marconi Sky Shadow ECM pods. The radar warning receiver/ electronic surveillance suite will be updated, and the Nato Link 11/14 digital datalink will be fitted for secure communications. Flight also understands that the RAF's operational requirements committee has endorsed the mid-term update of the Tornado. The RAF is understood to be dubious about Tornado's present attitude/heading reference system, and is keen to see inclusion of global positioning as well as terrain reference navigation. A leading feature of this upgrade programme will be the fitting of a twin INS system. Two options for the INS are being considered. The first is the fitting of two of the existing Ll0605s or two ring laser gyros. USAF sets up TAV office WRIGHT-PATTERSON ~ The United States Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Div ision has established a trans- atmospheric vehicle (TAV) project office at Wright- Patterson AFB. Lt Col Vince Rausch will run the project office, and Dr Jerry Arnett is TAV programme manager. The TAV is envisioned as a rocket powered aircraft which would take off and land at conventional airfields. Flying in the trans-atmospheric region, the TAV would be capable of reading any point on the globe within 90min. Phase I TAV studies started in May 1983, with a $600,000 study contract to Battelle Colambus Laboratories. X-29 flight Grumman's chief test pilot Chuck Sewell lifts the X-29 Advanced Technology Dem onstrator off from Edwards AFB for its first flight. In a lOkt wind the aircraft lifted off at 156kt—20kt slower than predicted. Grumman X-29 programme manager Glenn Spacht said: "It climbed like a homesick angel". Chuck Sewell took the aircraft up to 15,000ft, where he completed a series of turns at up to 235kt and 1 • 7g Sewell described the handling as "absolutely flawless, out standing".
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