MIDWEEK UPDATE 13 AUGUST 2014
1 Plan your weekend
2 Forthcoming events
3 First two Australian F-35s roll out of factory
4 Airbus Defence and Space delivers last P-3 Orion to Brazilian Air Force
5 Typhoon Gets a good soaking
6 Airbus eyes plans to take its E-Fan electric aircraft to production phase
7 Rate Card
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17 August: Grand Rand airshow. Contact Stuart Coetzee 011 827 8884 E-mail: Carolyn@randairport.co.za
Race of Champions - Ulundi airfield. CANCELLED Contact Mariska at AirTeam e-mail: Mariska@airteam.co.za
23 August: CANCELLED Klerksdorp Airshow. Contact Cliff Lotter E-mail: exodus@telkomsa.net or 082 855 5550
12 -14 September: EAA Chapter 322 Sun 'n Fun at Brits airfield. E-mail karlpix@icon.co.za
13 - 14 September: SAC Gauteng regionals and Judges Trophy - Vereeniging. Contact Annie Boon E-mail: change@mweb.co.za
17 -21 September: Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD2014) AFB Waterkloof South Africa. E-mail: info@aadexpo.co.za
25 - 28 September: Cirrus Migration to Namibia CDC Aviation. Contact Deon Wentzel 011 701 3835 or E-mail: sales@cdcaviation.co.za
27 September: PASASA TMG fly-in Parys airfield. Contact Marietjie van Niekerk Cell: 082 765 66
4 October: Petit Pilots Post Classic Aircraft Fly In. Contact Ivan 082 375 9180 or John 079 192 5866
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“Today, we celebrate a milestone in the U.S.-Australia partnership, a partnership built on strength, friendship, and technological innovation,” said Frank Kendall, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics. “We join Australia, as one of our original partners, to celebrate this roll out and the numerous Australian contributions to the Joint Strike Fighter program. For both our nations, this program represents an exponential leap in capability on the cutting edge of technology -- and an integral component of our ongoing joint commitment to stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific.”
Joining Mr. Kendall at the ceremony, among various distinguished guests in attendance, were Air Marshal Geoff Brown, Chief of RAAF; and Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin chairman, president and CEO.
The F-35 Lightning II aircraft will provide the Royal Australian Air Force with a transformational 5th generation fighter capability and provides significant benefits to the Australian aerospace industry, with more than $412 million (USD) already contracted and up to $6 billion (USD) in expected manufacturing orders over the life of the program.
“It's fitting that in the year Australia commemorates 100 years of military aviation, we also mark the arrival of the most advanced fighter ever developed,” said Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin chairman, president and CEO. "The F-35 Lightning II will lay the foundation for the next century of Australia's military air power.”
The aircraft, known as AU-1 and AU-2, are scheduled to undergo functional fuel system checks before being transported to the flight line for ground and flight tests in the coming months. The jets are scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force later this year, and will be based at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where they will be used for Australian and partner country pilot training.
The F-35 Lightning II is the world's most advanced military aircraft and for over a decade, the U.S. and our allies have invested in developing this fifth-generation, international, multirole fighter aircraft that will serve as a cornerstone of global security in the 21st century.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion.
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Airbus Defence and Space delivers last P-3 Orion to Brazilian Air Force © Airbus Defence & Space
The nine aircraft were acquired by the FAB from the US Navy in 2006, along with three more to be dismantled for spares, and were upgraded at facilities in Seville and Getafe, near Madrid.
In the aircraft Airbus Defence and Space installed its Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) and a completely new suite of mission sensors, communications systems and cockpit avionics. In addition, the aircraft engines and structures were updated, extending the fleet´s operational life for many years to come and providing Brazil with a modern and highly effective asset suitable for military and civic duties including anti-submarine, maritime patrol, search and rescue, and economic exclusion zone enforcement.
Under the terms of the contract, Brazil is benefitting from a comprehensive package of offsets including a range of industrial projects as well as training and research in the aerospace sector.
“This has been a large and complex programme and we are very proud of the work done in upgrading the Brazilian P-3 fleet. The FAB now has one of the most modern fleets in its class”, said Antonio Rodríguez Barberán, Head of Commercial for Military Aircraft with Airbus Defence and Space.
Airbus Defence and Space has modernised a total of 12 P-3 Orions, nine for the Brazilian Air Force and three for the Spanish Air Force.
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In the same way that a domestic car at home gets dirty, aircraft also need regular cleaning. Due to Lossiemouth's coastal position aircraft become covered in salt; if untended this can lead to corrosion and could pose a significant flight safety issue. A solution had to be found.
Sgt Julie Rowland, in charge of aircraft maintenance said:
“This was no small project to take on. We have been washing Tornado aircraft at Lossiemouth for some time but Typhoon is different due to the composite construction of the aircraft.”
Through extensive consultation with various agencies both military and civilian, Sgt Rowland eventually identified a possible solution: a Rhino Wash Rig.
After being granted authorisation to use the Rhino Wash Rig by both Tornado and Typhoon airworthiness teams, the rig was transported to Lossiemouth in preparation Typhoon gets a good soaking for installation.
Prior to operating the new equipment the civilian wash team Mr Hugh Brannigan and Mr Jim McKeown undertook extensive familiarisation training.
Mr Brannigan said:
“It's simply not as simple as washing your car at home. These jets are worth millions and have some pretty sophisticated kit on them, not to mention their size!”
Whilst waiting for the rig to be installed, trials were performed with Typhoon aircraft to check the compatibility of existing work platforms. These platforms would then be used by the wash team to access every part of the aircraft.
On Tuesday 22nd July 14 the first Typhoon aircraft was washed successfully and a planned sequence of washes put in place to rotate all aircraft from 6 Sqn through the facility over the next few months.
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Italy's Alenia Aermacchi has confirmed that the first phase of tests for the integration of the Storm Shadow long-range missile onto the Eurofighter Typhoon has been completed. Storm Shadow is a long range, all-weather, high precision, stand-off weapon already in service on Royal Air Force Tornados. It has been proven in operations to great effect in Iraq and Libya neutralising hardened command bunkers and other high value targets.
The stealthy weapon design allows it to penetrate layered air defences whilst the long range of Storm Shadow allows it to be launched outside those defences increasing the launch aircraft survivability. In the deep attack role Eurofighter Typhoon will carry two Storm Shadow missiles whilst maintaining the ability to carry 8 air-air missiles. This will enable Eurofighter Typhoon to fight its way in and out of the combat area.
Alenia Aermacchi, one of the three Eurofighter Partner Companies behind the Eurofighter Programme today (August 4th) confirmed details behind the tests confirming they first began in December 2013 with development aircraft IPA2. The tests have already covered a number of aspects of aeromechanical missile integration onto the aircraft and further flight trials are planned as the programme moves through to full integration.
The next step in the Programme will be 'inert drop-tests' followed by environmental data gathering tests. Avionic flights will then be performed to test functional integration including dedicated missile release tests. Alberto Gutierrez, Chief Executive Officer of Eurofighter, said: “After these flight tests and after the completion of the qualification process Storm Shadow will enter into the list of available payloads. This will see the realisation of a further consolidation of the Eurofighter Typhoon's air-to-ground capabilities. It is another significant step on the capability enhancement route map.”
At the Farnborough International Air Show earlier this month, Eurofighter confirmed that NETMA, the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency, had officially placed an order with it to integrate the Storm Shadow long range attack missile onto the aircraft. Under the terms of what is known as a 'Contract 4' order from NETMA, Eurofighter will work with the three Eurofighter Partner Companies (Alenia Aermacchi, Airbus Space & Defence, and BAE Systems) and their supply base - including MBDA, the makers of the Storm Shadow missile on the integration programme.
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The two-seater training aircraft, developed by Airbus Group Innovations - the corporate research and technology network of Airbus Group - received the PADA award for its demonstrated commitment to advancing technology for future aircraft and research in the field of electric aircraft.
In accepting the award, John O'Leary, Vice President of Engineering at Airbus Americas Engineering, Inc. noted, “Throughout Airbus Group we are exceedingly proud and honoured to be recognized by CAFE Foundation for the design and technology behind the E-Fan.”
“We believe the E-Fan represents the future of aviation and this award solidly reinforces our belief and commitment.”
The E-Fan is an integral part of Airbus Group´s plan for developing its vision of the future of aviation. The successful public flight test of the E-Fan demonstrator in April, 2014 marked a milestone in the research and design work by Airbus Group Innovations toward more electric and hybrid aviation.
The aircraft was also successfully demonstrated at the Farnborough Airshow in the UK before tens of thousands of attendees.
Next steps for the E-Fan design team involve ensuring the development, certification and production of the aircraft, for which a production concept, the E-Fan 2.0, has been proposed by Airbus Group and its partners.
PADA is part of the CAFE Foundation, a U.S. non-profit aviation development and flight test organization. The organization supports experimental aviation activities which promote the development of highly efficient aircraft.
Past recipients of the PADA award include Elbert "Burt" Rutan, designer of the record-breaking Voyager aircraft - the first plane to fly around the world non-stop without refuelling.
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