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Thursday, June 12, 2008 Sikorsky Aircraft Fully Equips First U.S. Army Unit With UH-60M BLACK HAWK Helicopters By FlyingNews @ 3:28 PM :: 570 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Helicopters Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. today delivered the 30th UH-60M BLACK HAWK helicopter to the U.S. Army for the 4-101 Assault Battalion, making it the First Unit Equipped (FUE) with the aircraft. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX). The new aircraft provide the Army with many enhancements critical to supporting its missions. These enhancements include a new fully digitized cockpit with four multi-function displays, a four-axis fully coupled flight director, digital map, dual embedded global positioning/inertial navigation system, and an integrated vehicle health management system (IVHMS). The model also features wide chord composite blades and an increased shaft horsepower performance engine. Read More..

Thursday, June 12, 2008 Boeing Delivers 6th C-17 to Royal Air Force By FlyingNews @ 3:19 PM :: 363 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] delivered the United Kingdom's sixth C-17 Globemaster III to the Royal Air Force (RAF) today during a ceremony at the company's Long Beach, Calif., C-17 manufacturing facility. The delivery completes the RAF's initial order for the world's most advanced airlifter. "We congratulate you not only on the acquisition of your sixth C-17 Globemaster III, but also for the amazing accomplishments you've had over the past seven years with the five already in your fleet," said Jean Chamberlin, Boeing vice president and C-17 program manager. "The RAF has repeatedly demonstrated the C-17's advanced capabilities in support of U.K. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and by providing critical humanitarian aid in numerous locations around the world." Read More..

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 Northrop Grumman Applauds First Flight of First F-35 STOVL Aircraft By FlyingNews @ 1:19 PM :: 380 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) today congratulated F-35 Lightning II prime contractor Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) for successfully completing the inaugural flight of the first F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) jet. The flight of the F-35 aircraft designated BF-1 commenced today at 10:17 a.m. CDT from Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Texas, and lasted approximately 45 minutes. It was piloted by BAE Systems test pilot Graham Tomlinson. "This historic flight marks the second stage in fulfilling the vision of an international, three-variant family of next-generation fighters derived from a common design that can be serviced and maintained by a common infrastructure worldwide," said Mark A. Tucker, vice president of tactical systems and F-35 program manager for Northrop Grumman's Integrated Systems sector. "We applaud the international collaboration that has enabled a British pilot to be the first to fly a new jet developed by a multi-national team to serve the needs of the U.S. Marine Corps, the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and Royal Navy, and the Italian Air Force and Navy." Read More..

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 EADS North America Begins UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter Deliveries to the U.S. Army National Guard By FlyingNews @ 10:44 AM :: 456 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Helicopters EADS North America’s first two UH-72A Lakota Light Utility Helicopters for the U.S. Army National Guard were formally presented to the 1-114 Security & Support Battalion, which performs homeland security, counter-drug and other operations from its base at Mississippi’s Tupelo Regional Airport. Army National Guard units will be the primary operators of UH-72As, ultimately receiving 200 of the total 345 Lakotas planned for acquisition through 2017. “Today’s UH-72A presentation to the Mississippi Army National Guard marks an important milestone for EADS North America as we meet – and exceed – our company’s commitments to those in uniform who protect America and ensure its national security,” said David R. Oliver, Jr., EADS North America’s Executive Vice President, at this morning’s Tupelo, Mississippi handover ceremony. Read More..

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 LOCKHEED MARTIN F-22 RAPTOR AIR DOMINANCE FIGHTERS BEGIN OPERATIONS IN NEW MEXICO By FlyingNews @ 10:33 AM :: 331 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation Ceremonies held at Holloman AFB, N.M., today marked the formal beginning of operations for the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-22 Raptor with the United States Air Force’s 49th Fighter Wing. "The F-22 is the most advanced and capable fighter in the world," said Larry Lawson, executive vice president and F-22 program general manager for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "Now it stands ready at a key location in the United States, prepared to defend America and our allies. The pilots of the 7th, 8th and 301st Fighter Squadrons will fly a weapon system that has the capabilities essential to dominate the air for the next three decades." Read More..

Friday, June 06, 2008 B-2 accident report released By FlyingNews @ 11:59 AM :: 557 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Flying Accidents Distorted data introduced by a B-2 Spirit's air data system skewed information entering the bomber's flight control computers ultimately causing the crash of the aircraft on takeoff at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 23, according to an Air Combat Command accident investigation report released June 5. Moisture in the aircraft's Port Transducer Units during air data calibration distorted the information in the bomber's air data system, causing the flight control computers to calculate an inaccurate airspeed and a negative angle of attack upon takeoff. According to the report, this caused an, "uncommanded 30 degree nose-high pitch-up on takeoff, causing the aircraft to stall and its subsequent crash." Read More..

Tuesday, June 03, 2008 EXERCISE PITCH BLACK 2008 GEARS UP NORTHERN TERRITORY FOR AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT By FlyingNews @ 5:33 PM :: 514 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Flying Events Final preparations have begun for the most complex air combat training scenarios above the skies of the Northern Territory. From 6-27 June, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will host an array of international Air Force participants in Exercise Pitch Black 08. Pitch Black is a regular RAAF exercise held every two years in the Northern Territory. Up to 3000 service men and women from Australia and countries including the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and France will support the exercise, with ground crews and aircrews operating some of the most sophisticated military systems employed in the world. An additional 60 aircraft from the RAAF and participating Forces will deploy to RAAF Base Darwin and RAAF Base Tindal, near Katherine. Fighter, strike, early warning, air-to-air refuelling and transport aircraft will combine with selected surface forces and systems to simulate and evaluate operational planning and tactics in war-like conditions. You can read the entire article here.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008 Fighter engine fuel test ends, prepares for first flight By FlyingNews @ 5:31 PM :: 420 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Aircraft Engines The first fighter jet engine completed alternative synthetic fuel testing at the U.S. Air Force's Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC), Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., in May. The fuel was tested on a Pratt & Whitney F100 engine, the powerplant for the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon in a simulated altitude jet engine test cell. The F100 engine went through the same-type testing the F101 underwent at AEDC last fall. The F101 is the powerplant for the B-1 Lancer bomber. Tests included operability, augmentor and performance testing. You can read the entire article here.

Thursday, May 22, 2008 Boeing Flies A160T Hummingbird Unmanned Rotorcraft for 18 Hours By FlyingNews @ 12:47 PM :: 345 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Helicopters The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] successfully flew its A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft for 18.7 hours May 14-15, claiming an unofficial world endurance record for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) weighing between 1,102 and 5,511 pounds (500 to 2,500 kilograms). "We didn't set out to establish a world record, but it was a great accomplishment," said Jim Martin, Boeing Advanced Systems A160T program manager. "This 18-hour endurance flight is the culmination of thousands of hours of systems, ground and flight testing. The aircraft performed flawlessly, flying un-refueled longer than any other current unmanned rotorcraft. Our customers are excited about this important flight, the needs the A160T fills and the many options it gives warfighters." Read More..

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Pratt & Whitney F135 Team Receives STOVL Flight Qualification By FlyingNews @ 10:13 AM :: 423 Views :: 0 Comments :: Military Aviation, Aircraft Engines Pratt & Whitney received a statement of qualification for the F135 short-takeoff/vertical-landing (STOVL) propulsion system from the F-35 Joint Program Office. This statement certifies Pratt & Whitney’s F135-PW-600 STOVL propulsion system for up-and-away flight operations. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company. “This certification letter is a step on the critical path to flying the aircraft and brings us closer to powering the first flight of the F-35 Lightning II STOVL variant this spring,” said Bill Gostic, Pratt & Whitney vice president, F135 engine programs. Read More..

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