A Sample Feature From Aviation News Farnborough Report
For the first time since the start of development, four Eurofighters were presented in public at Farnborough, but only on the Tuesday. The four-ship was led by IPA-1 with the all-black DA2, DA4 (above right) and the German DA1. Earlier, ZJ699 alias IPA-1, was officially named Typhoon and is seen above behind Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon (centre), test pilot Craig Penrice, (left) and Wg Cdr ‘Charlie’ Chan (right), CO of the RAF Typhoon OCU. (Photos, Neville Beckett). An upbeat appraisal by the Director General of the Society of British Aerospace Companies, David Marshall, at the end of the five-day trade show could not hide the absence of major announcements at the 52nd Farnborough International Air Show. This wasn’t the fault of the organisers and attendance during the trade days was reported as 150,000, but for those tramping the exhibition site, the lack of people was noticeable compared with previous shows. Personalities helped make the first day (July 22) with Prince Andrew, the Duke of York opening the Show and Richard Branson arriving in characteristic show-biz style with his first Airbus A340-600. With much of the aerospace industries of the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain, now relying heavily on the Eurofighter programme, it was important that this highly expensive aircraft should gain some positive publicity from Farnborough and Tuesday was its day to try for the headlines. For the first time four Eurofighters, including the prototype DA1, flown from Germany, flew a tight formation along the show line as a finale to the official naming ceremony of the RAF version, unsurprisingly adopting the name Typhoon. A collective sigh of relief was almost audible around the BAE Systems display when the group safely departed. Thankfully, it had gone off rather well. While Airbus fielded the smallest and largest of its range, Boeing remained aloof about exhibiting its products at displays, ‘it doesn’t sell airplanes’ said CEO Phil Condit. Pursued about the Sonic Cruiser project, Condit would only say that work was continuing on ‘a program that will have broad attractiveness and a long life’, but some in the industry argue that the the whole idea is a smoke screen for another type of aircraft altogether. Trends at the Show? Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) was one. Northrop Grumman displayed again, its big Global Hawk mock-up, this time in the colours worn during recent operations over Afghanistan and in the guarded DoD compound a General Atomics Predator sat on its stalky undercarriage. Around the chalets, the UK’s Watchkeeper future UAV programme is gaining pace as four teams prepare to submit their bids, that from Northrop Grumman being initially centred on the company’s Firescout rotary-wing system. With a planned in-service date of around 2006, the UK forces may yet gain a capable reconnaissance system to move the Services’ towards where the US is now. Among new aircraft seen in the display for the first time was the Airbus A318 and A340-500 (followed later by a new Qatar Airways A330), the Agusta-Bell AB139, Antonov An-140 and Embraer 170. By the weekend, some of the debutantes had gone, including the An-140, Embraer 170 and Pilatus PC-21. This left visitors with a flying display comprising a spread of modern and vintage aircraft which could have done with reducing in length to maintain the feel of a fast-paced show instead of repeating items to fill the time allotted. Reverting to the tried and tested 1400hr to 1730hr of earlier flying displays would have helped. Was Farnborough 2002 a memorable event? For newcomers, yes. But for older hands, probably not. This report was compiled by the editorial team with valued assistance from Neville Beckett, Bob Millichap, Mike Stroud and Richard Ward. AERO Vodochody’s new private venture two-seat L-159B was displayed only statically at Farnborough as it made its first flight on June 1, 2002, only completing some 23 flights before flying to the UK. Similar to the single-seat L-159A, of which 72 are being built for the Czech Air Force with some 45 received to date, the B has an attack capability with various armament options. An order was signed at the show for two L-159Bs for the Czech AF. With Eurocopter and Sikorsky almost unseen at Farnborough, AgustaWestland were the ‘top dogs’ in the helicopter stakes at the Show. They kicked off with the unveiling, by the Malaysian defence minister Yang Tun Razak, of the second of six Super Lynx 300s for the Royal Malaysian Navy and followed this with the announcement that a Future Lynx was to be studied under a £10m MoD programme called the Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft (SCMR). Future Lynx, for deployment from RN frigates and destroyers, is a development of the Super Lynx 300 with an improved airframe designed to last at least 25 years, a new engine and a modern avionics suite. The latter involves Thales Avionics which is already developing the Saturn system upgrade for the RN’s Lynx HMA.8. The study will run parallel with a similar one already underway for the development of a future Army Lynx. AgustaWestland also announced that they had now firmly teamed with Lockheed Martin to promote the EH101 for US military requirements. Being offered as the US101, the helicopter would be built in the USA, but probably not by LM, and to woo sales would adopt a large amount of US equipment and systems. It will be in the ring with the Sikorsky S-92 for a number of competitions including combat rescue as well as VIP transport, both undertaken by the US Air Force.
While Airbus airliners were strongly represented at the Show, the military component of the organisation was still stalled on the launch of work on the A400M transport. This was due to a lack of firm funding from the German parliamentary budget committee which failed to allocate any cash to the project at its July 3 meeting. With a stated requirement for 73 aircraft, Germany is in the driving seat of production of the aircraft. With no engine yet selected and increasing signs of frustration over the lack of progress from the air forces destined to take the type, the programme appears to be as far away as ever from achieving its 2007 first flight date. An Antonov spokesperson confirmed to Aviation News that the Czech Air Force had placed an order for three An-70 transports following a series of demonstration flights earlier this year. The aircraft was nearing certification which was expected ‘by the end of the year.’
Despite a lack of different aircraft types, BAE Systems still managed to provide much of the news during Farnborough week. As a partner in Airbus it was at the forefront of the handover of Virgin Atlantic’s first A340-600 on the opening day, while on the Tuesday, the official naming ceremony for the RAF Typhoon was followed by four Eurofighters flying a short formation display. Later in the week, the Hawk gained the headlines with the announcement of an order, believed to be for an initial six aircraft, for Bahrain. Fortunately, the daily display by the development Hawk ZJ100 managed to keep some national pride in the air, being the only current totally British-designed aircraft still in production and winning sales. A Nimrod MR.2 also performed to help underline the present work on the upcoming MRA.4 version. Speaking on the eve of the Show, BAE Systems chief executive Mike Turner, said that it was important for the company to extend its operations in the USA and he was saddened that they had failed to win control of industry giant TRW. That acquisition would have helped to make BAE Systems an even greater player in North America, notwithstanding the $4bn turnover on the British company’s operations in the USA. On Europe, Turner noted that while opportunities undoubtedly existed there, the company’s strong involvement in the USA was underlined by the fact that just the projected defence increase in America was the equivalent to the total present military ‘spend’ by Europe. Using the latest buzz word, network-centric, Turner said maintaining close links with the UK Ministry of Defence was vital. He said that the company got the Nimrod MRA.4 programme costing completely wrong and as a fixed-price contract they were having to foot the bill to correct it and meet the RAF’s requirement. Turner emphasised that the key to the success of Eurofighter was to keep developing the aircraft and with the Meteor air-to-air missile moving into the contract stage and the ground-attack capability now being tested, ‘the programme is looking good’. On Hawk, Turner is confident that new versions ‘will, we hope, replace [earlier] Hawk in the future’. Below: The new TAG hangars were favourably commented on for their design. In front, the A340-500. (Photos, Dick Ward/N Beckett).
Connexion by Boeing is aimed at broadband communications for business travellers, the service being demonstrated aboard the brightly-coloured 737-400 in the static park, the only Boeing commercial jet on display. To date, British Airways, Japan Airlines and Lufthansa have signed up for the Internet service offered by Connexion by Boeing. The plans include video conferencing in flight as well as the ability to surf the net from personal laptops. Lufthansa will start a three-month trial with the system aboard a 747-400 on the Frankfurt-Washington route, beginning on January 15, 2003.
Above: Just before departing for Farnborough, the ‘Connexion by Boeing’ 737-400 N60669 was posed with Mt Rainier in the background, a familiar feature in many Boeing photos. The Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet made its presence felt at Farnborough with an impressive display by Boeing test pilot Ricardo Traven. Emphasising the progress of the programme he was flying a two-seat ‘F’ model wearing the markings of a squadron which had recently converted to the type, VFA-41 ‘Black Aces’. This was previously a Tomcat squadron, as was the squadron of the second ‘F’ model in the static park assigned to VFA-102 ‘Diamondbacks’. Coincidentally, during Farnborough week on July 24 the first operational carrier deployment of the type got underway when VFA-115 landed 12 Super Hornets from NAS Lemoore onto the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) for a Pacific cruise. The only other unit to have converted to the new type by training squadron, VFA-122 is VFA-14 ‘Tophatters’. The CO of the former, Cmdr Mark Adamshick stated a Flight Leader with three years experience on the F/A-18A/B/C or D Hornet requires 25hr to transition whereas an F-14 pilot requires a 100 flight hours to convert which highlights the leap in technology from the Tomcat to the new Hornet. Another milestone was recently passed when the company delivered the 100th Super Hornet on June 14 this year. So far 284 aircraft have been ordered in total with the current multi-year deal signed in June 2000 for 222 aircraft to run to 2004 and worth £8.9bn. It is hoping to secure a second multi-year contract with the eventual requirement between 548 and 785 aircraft. Three test flights have been conducted in relation to the supression of enemy air defences EA-18G development with two more planned for this year. A decision on the future of the Grumman EA-6B Prowler is expected in FY04, with a potential purchase of between 90 to 150 aircraft. Pat Finneran, Boeing’s Vice President and General Manager for the programme sees a potential overseas market of between 150 and 200 Super Hornets. Boeing took the opportunity at Farnborough to provide a briefing on their 767 Tanker Transport programme. Proximity tests were conducted from NAS Patuxent River using a Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and Lockheed S-3 Viking in 2000. These two aircraft types were specifically chosen for their size, the former representing a small aircraft and the latter a medium sized one. This year trials were also conducted with a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III over California to assess the effects on a large aircraft as well as one with a T-tail. Already, orders from two overseas customers have been won. Italy selected four of the Convertible Combi variant Boeing 767-200ERs in July 2001 with a contract signing expected in September this year. The first delivery is scheduled to take place in early 2005. Japan selected the 767-200ER in December last year with contract finalisation expected in early 2003. Four Convertible Freighter versions (able to be used for passengers also) will be ordered with the first delivery in 2006. The USAF has been negotiating a lease deal with Boeing for 100 767 tankers. The aim is to replace the oldest of the KC-135s, the E models, most of which are with Air National Guard (ANG) units. R models would be transferred from regular units to take their place with the Convertible Combi 767-200ERs entering the front-line squadrons. For Spiral 2, the USAF’s second stage development, wing-mounted air-to-air refuelling pods would be added along with intelligence-gathering sensors to create a ‘smart tanker’. Boeing expects a deal to be completed in the last quarter of this year. The Boeing 767 also features in the UK’s Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft project with the Tanker and Transport Service Company proposing using the British Airways fleet of 767-300ER aircraft with a contract for 27 years to be awarded in 2004 and entry into service in 2008. (See page 561 in the August issue for more details.) Boeing also revealed it has been having informal discussions with Australia on its requirements. It also stated it has a contract from the USAF to develop systems to allow UAVs to be in-flight refuelled. Below: Artist’s impression of the Boeing 767-300ER tanker in RAF markings. It is competing with the Airbus A330 for the UK’s FSTA requirement. (Photo, Tanker and Transport Service Company).
Bombardier unveiled the Learjet 40 and 45XR at Farnborough. The former is planned to succeed the 31A and with a reduction in cabin length of just over 2ft, the new design will carry seven passengers 1,660 miles. It will have single-point refuelling and a Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics suite. First flight is due around this month (September) with customer deliveries in early 2004. The 45XR has a higher take-off weight (21,500lb) and with full fuel and eight passengers will fly 1,855 miles with reserves. It will have 3,500lb-thrust Honeywell TFE731-20BR engines. The Embraer 170 airliner (PP-XJA) and the Legacy business jet (PT-SAB) were both newcomers to Farnborough. At the Show, Aviation News was on the first Press flight of the 170 and can report that the aircraft exhibited a quiet, comfortable style of travel well in advance of similar types of airliner currently flying. If the furnishing installed in this fifth prototype is maintained through production aircraft it should be much appreciated by passengers and crew alike. In a two by two layout across the 9ft wide, 68-seat cabin, the aircraft’s ‘double-bubble’ fuselage gave both height and leg-room in a bright, well-lit interior. The luggage lockers were large enough for the wheeled-type of carry-on case so prevalent among today’s travellers, while up front, the modern cockpit had ample room for the two pilots who face a line of five multi-coloured displays. The standard control yoke is retained, Embraer preferring to shun the trendy sidestick controllers. The aircraft had completed 70hr flying to date and just before the end of the Show, it departed on a ten-nation European sales tour, beginning not far away at Exeter to demonstrate the aircraft to flybe.com (formerly British European), before returning to Brazil to continue the 1,800hr programme required for certification in April 2003. Embraer’s major announcement at Farnborough was that Jet Airways of India is the launch customer for the 175 airliner. The order for ten plus ten options is listed separately with others in this report, but company CEO Mauricio Botelho, noted that he was confident that this contract heralded others in Asia, but excluding China, amounting to more than 300 aircraft. The Embraer 175 was launched nine months ago and following certification later next year, the first delivery is expected in June 2004. The stretched 190 will begin deliveries in December 2005. Botelho stated that Lufthansa was now reviewing aircraft types in the 70-100-seat range with an order expected soon. This follows the collapse of the Fairchild Dornier 728 which the German flag-carrier had ordered.
Above: In Greek colours is the first of four Embraer 145s fitted with an Ericsson Erieye AEW radar and what are believed to be antenna on the tailplane rather than aerodynamic fins. (Photo, Ericsson). RAF adopts Typhoon name for Eurofighter Typhoon became the official name for the RAF’s Eurofighter when IPA-1, the first Instrumented Production Aircraft, received the title at a naming ceremony on the second day of the Show. The event was attended by the UK Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and Wg Cdr David ‘Charlie’ Chan, the CO of the reformed No 17 Sqn which will be the Typhoon Operation Evaluation Unit. Eurofighter received the name Typhoon at a similar ceremony at the 1998 Farnborough Show, but the aim then was for the name to apply to export versions of the aircraft. However, only the UK embraced the name with any degree of enthusiasm. Carefree handling trials involving Eurofighter DA2 fitted with an antispin gantry and an emergency power unit were completed recently. The black-painted ZH588 was flown by project pilot Craig Pearice, and involved asymetric weapons carriage (ie, AMRAAM and Sidewinder on the starboard side only) to evaluate the flight control system (FCS) under these conditions. It was also to ensure that the aircraft performs whatever action the pilot requires with the FCS responding to protect the pilot and the aircraft by limiting parameters such as angle of attack, g-force and roll-rate to a safe level. As Eurofighter moves into the production phase, the company has been reorganised with a new management structure established to better tackle the export side of Eurofighter GmbH. The new chief executive officer is Filippo Bagnato, currently CEO of Alenia.
Above: Eurofighter mock-up with conformal tanks. (Photo, Av News - Dino Carrara). Outside the Lockheed Martin pavilion was a hard-to-tell mock-up of the Korean Aerospace/LM T-50 Golden Eagle lead-in trainer. However, by the time these words are read, the first aircraft should have flown at the beginning of August. Six aircraft are being built, four flying prototypes and two static test examples. The second aircraft will fly in November and the last in August 2003. South Korea is expected to order up to 100 T-50s, with deliveries due to start in 2005, plus another batch in the future. For the rest of this article please see the September issue. |
