Classic Airplanes and Modern Jets Share the Spotlight

Airplanes enthusiasts in New Zealand are in for a treat! The Royal New Zealand Air Force will celebrate its 75^th anniversary with an airshow at Ohakea on the 31^st of March. Airplane models from the “Classics in the Sky” Tauraga air show will mix with the world’s top military aircraft where “modern world will meet history” in an exciting extravaganza.

A number of vintage aircraft from Tauraga City are expected to be displayed at the event. Classic Flyers director Andrew shared that preparations for the classic airplanes to attend the event are under way, but everything is still very dependent on the weather. However, he is looking forward that Boeing Stearman, Hawk Hunter, CT4 and Dragonfly will be at the airshow.

The Royal New Zealan Air Force will display their past, present and future aircraft. They will show their vintage airplane models like the Spitfire and Mustang. The Air Force will also showcase their newest acquisition like the A109 and NH90 helicopters plus the upgraded C-130 Hercules and P-3 Orions among other military aircraft. The Red Checkers, the aerobatic/precision flying team of the RNZAF will also demonstrate their expertise.

RNZAF Air Commodore Steve Moore says, “It’s the perfect way to celebrate the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s birthday.”

Air Forces from different nations will also participate in the event. The Royal Australian Air Force will send their F-18 fighter jet, which are very rare in New Zealand, and their C-130J Hercules and a Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft.

US Air Force will bring a C-17 Globemaster while the US Marines Corps will display the KC-130 Hercules air-to-air refuelling aircraft. The French Armed Forces of New Caledonia will have the CASA 235 twin-engine transport aircraft at the event while the Singapore Air Force will display one of their C-130.

Seeing the astounding display of modern and classic airplane models will be an incredible experience for every airplane afficionado.

source: http://www.sunlive.co.nz

Orion Simulator Connects Virtually with Seahawk Trainer

A P-3 Orion simulator connected virtually to an SH-60B Seahawk trainer for the first time during a “peer to peer connectivity” trial July 1 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH), Kaneohe Bay.

Using its own simulation mode, the P-3‘s Tactical Operational Readiness Trainer, also known (TORT) successfully linked with an SH-60B Tactical Operational Flight Trainern (TOFT) in a synthetic environment. Referred to as “peer-to-peer connectivity,” this virtual linkage eliminates the need for a third party to facilitate the connection or act as a conduit.

“This landmark event comes at a time when technological innovations are advancing aviation training and readiness,” said Capt. John Feeney, Naval Aviation Training Systems (PMA-205), program manager.

During test and evaluation, P-3 aircrews communicated via the TORT with SH-60B aviators operating their TOFT. Through the TORT, the P-3 crew observed the SH-60B pilots maneuver the helicopter, as well as deploy buoys and launch multiple missiles in the synthetic environment. The P-3 operators were also able to check acoustic and radar signals during the training session, Feeney added.

“Both the P-3 and the SH-60B aircraft are designed for maritime patrol and reconnaissance missions, specifically anti-submarine warfare (ASW),” said Lt. Richard Holt, Commander Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 2, Weapon Tactics Unit, training facilities officer in charge. “Since the two platforms continuously work together when deployed, it was only logical to integrate them now for coordinated ASW synthetic training.”

Within the next six months, the TORT and TOFT will participate in a simulated training event with a single Navy ship. Once both systems have successfully completed training with one ship, they will participate in a full-scale Fleet Synthetic Training (FST) event involving multiple ships, submarines and aircraft FST events provide real world mission rehearsal in a synthetic environment.

Source: ASD News

First Production Boeing P-8A Completes First Flight

The first Boeing P-8A Poseidon production aircraft completed its first flight on July 7, taking off from Renton Field and landing three hours later at Boeing Field in Seattle. The P-8A is the first of six low-rate initial production (LRIP) aircraft Boeing is building for the U.S. Navy as part of a $1.6 billion contract awarded in January.

“This is the first P-8 that will go directly to the fleet in Jacksonville, Fla., so the aircraft’s first flight is an important milestone for the Boeing team and our Navy customer,” said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager.

The Navy plans to purchase 117 of the Boeing Next-Generation 737-based P-8A anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to replace its P-3 fleet.

“As the Navy’s replacement for the P-3 Orion, the P-8A Poseidon represents the next generation of maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft,” said Capt. Michael Moran, program manager for Naval Air Systems Command’s Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft program office.

This is the first P-8A to include a new CFM56-7BE engine configuration that is now standard on all delivered Next-Generation 737s. The configuration is an improved design that includes high- and low-pressure turbine modifications. Coupled with drag reduction improvements that Boeing started phasing into 737 production earlier this year, it will result in lower fuel consumption and maintenance cost savings.

Source: ASD News

Boeing propose P-8A to replace E-8A

Boeing has proposed the P-8 Airborne Ground Surveillance (AGS) to replace the aging E-8A Joint STARS. Its pre-Paris media tour reached Seattle Wednesday, with a series of briefings that focused on the Navy’s P-8A Poseidon multi-role maritime aircraft – and its planned derivatives.

On the surface, Boeing is optimistic, listing opportunities to sell 150-plus more aircraft based on the 737 platform — comprising straightforward P-8s, versions of that design and 737 Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft. However, there are a couple of challenges.

The first is that the global intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance market is trending smaller. Only India has bought a P-8-class aircraft in recent years, while ATR has been doing a small but lively business in CN-235 maritime developments. Boeing’s second challenge is that it needs to exploit the 737-base market quickly because — in the not-too-distant future — the 737 itself will be either drastically modernized or replaced, reducing a key advantage: the fact that the military 737s share a production and supply base with hundreds of 737s per year.

This explains why Boeing is making an aggressive pitch to the USAF to buy P-8A Airborne Ground Surveillance (AGS) variants rather than extending the life of its Northrop Grumman E-8A Joint STARS fleet. The USAF has an analysis of alternatives under way, with Northrop Grumman pushing a re-engined Joint STARS with a new radar antenna.

Boeing argues that P-8A AGS would have lower nonrecurring costs as well as be less expensive to operate and start with a zero-life airframe. Boeing argues that because of the age of the airframe and other factors, updating the E-8A would involve a $10-$15 billion non-recurring cost (a number that Northrop Grumman energetically disputes.)

The Boeing AGS proposal has its quirks. The company is proposing a minimum-change version of the P-8A — heavily reinforced low-altitude structure, weapons bay and pylons, maritime radar and all. (The biggest change would be the removal of the sonobuoy launchers.) Boeing argues that a weapons capability on the AGS would be useful, but it would be a change to USAF doctrine.

The oddest feature of the proposal, though, is that the main surveillance radar is unnamed, even though it is now clear what it is most likely to be. Company officials in Seattle Wednesday finally confirmed what we concluded here four years ago: That the P-8A was designed from the outset to carry a version of the then-classified Raytheon APS-149 Littoral Surveillance Radar System (LSRS), now in service on Navy P-3 Orions. That was why Boeing switched, late in the proposal stage, to a 737-800 fuselage with an aft weapons bay, and that is also why the design has an anomalous pair of hardpoints under the forward fuselage.

Source: AVIATION WEEK

Newly re-winged P3, delivered

Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion

The first Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion with new Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) enhancements was delivered to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in ceremonies last Wednesday in GREENVILLE, S.C.

This aircraft is the first of many that will benefit with increased availability and reliability for critical homeland security missions. It will soon make its first flight and will immediately be a game-changer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

“The P-3 Orion is unsurpassed in its flexibility in maritime patrol and reconnaissance,” said Ralph Heath, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. “The Mid-Life Upgrade will ensure this national asset continues to provide second-to-none service for the next 20 years.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will receive up to 14 upgraded P-3s for deliveries planned through 2015.

“We are excited about our partnership with Customs and Border Protection,” said Ray Burick, Lockheed Martin P-3 Programs vice president, “and we are committed to providing them with modernization enhancements to sustain the P-3 for decades to come.”

P-3 Orion is the standard for maritime patrol and reconnaissance, and is used for homeland security, hurricane reconnaissance, anti-piracy operations, humanitarian relief, search and rescue, intelligence gathering, antisubmarine warfare and, recently, to assist in air traffic control and data gathering over the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

- http://www.lockheedmartin.com