Newsdesk- General Aviation

Lockheed Martin is offering the US Air Force a heavily modified and upgraded version of the F-16 fighter if the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) programme is delayed or cancelled. The F-16 ‘Falcon 2000’ as proposed features a new delta wing, lengthened fuselage, 20 instead of 13 external hardpoints and twice the fuel capacity of the standard F-16. The manufacturer sees a market for the Falcon 2000 developing within the next three or four years as an alternative to further USAF acquisition of the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Eagle. The new derivative is similar to the promising F-16XL of the early 1980s. Lockheed Martin is also offering a derivative of the F-117 stealth strike aircraft to the Royal Air Force as a replacement for the Tornado GR.4 and a navalised version to the US Navy. The aircraft on offer to Britain is based on the F-117B now under study for the USAF. Aimed at meeting an RAF requirement for a deep strike aircraft, the new variant will feature a high British content with afterburning Eurojet EJ200 engines and avionics supplied by GEC-Marconi. The naval version as proposed features substantial modification including new folding wing of reduced sweep and greater span, a horizontal tail surface in addition to the existing V-tail configuration and a much lower approach speed than the current F-117. If built, it will be powered by two General Electric F414 turbofans of the type now being developed for the F/A-18E/F Hornet but with a ‘low observable’ afterburner.

Raytheon Plans Small Bizjet

Raytheon has announced plans to launch a new light business jet to supplement its existing range comprising the small to medium Beechjet and the midsize Hawker 800 and 1000. The new aircraft will be launched before the end of the year — possibly at the NBAA show in September — and is planned as an entry-level jet which will compete with the successful Cessna CitationJet. The company is also planning to increase the production rate of the Hawker 800 and 1000 to meet increased demand. Assembly of the 800 will be transferred from the UK to the USA in 1997, while production of the 1000 was due to be suspended at the same time, when the last British-built aircraft is completed. This decision is now likely to be reversed.

Longer Range Giv Delayed

Gulfstream has suspended plans to develop a longer range version of its Gulfstream IV-SP business jet. The company says that market research has indicated the current 4200nm (7780km) range of the GIV-SP is fine with most potential customers and a longer range version is not needed. Gulfstream had planned to replace the SP with the GIV-B which would have a range of 4500nm (8800km) but has now decided to put the project on hold for at least a year. The company currently holds an order backlog for 30 SPs. Gulfstream’s other new project, the very long range Gulfstream V, has passed a major milestone with the joining of the first fuselage and delivery of the first tail surfaces from Fokker and the first set of wings from Northrop Grumman. Maiden flight of the 6500nm (12,000km) range GV is scheduled for November this year.

Socata Builds Cougar

French light aircraft manufacturer Socata is to manufacture and market the first of 64 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C/Ds for Finland is now undergoing flight testing, and was formally rolled out in a special ceremony on June 7. The first Finnish Hornet, an F/A-18D, is seen here taking off from St Louis’ Lambert International Airport on its second flight on May 23. McDonnell Douglas is building the first seven F/A-18Ds in St Louis, while the 57 single-seaters will be assembled in Finland by Valmet – the first of which will be delivered in late 1996. Moree based Gwydir Air is pioneering the use of differential GPS in Australia for precision guidance for agricultural spraying. Gwydir has been using the Satloc system linked to an Ayres Turbo Thrush, allowing swath spraying accuracy of less than 1 metre. Gwydir has been using a differential signal transmitted via a subcarrier frequency provided by Moree based FM radio station NOW-FM. The Satloc system uses GPS signals for primary navigation, while the differential FM signal (whose exact point of broadcast is known) allows precise positioning down to 1m, cancelling out the deliberately introduced accuracy errors inherent in GPS. (For security reasons the US DoD deliberately introduces an error in GPS signals of between 15 and 100m.) GPS guidance for ag aircraft does away with human flagging for spraying guidance, and allows precise swath laying. Pictured is the Satloc lightbar, mounted on the coaming of a Thrush. The former Grumman American Cougar four-seat light twin. Under the name TB 320 Tangara, the aircraft will be aimed primarily at the training market, supplementing the company’s range of single-engined types which have sold well in this area. The Cougar enjoyed a brief production life in the late 1970s and although the design rights were taken over by American General Aviation, no further production was undertaken. Socata has also announced cargo versions of two of its existing single-engined range: the TB 20 Trinidad (to fill a perceived market need for a low-cost utility aircraft) and the TBM 700 turboprop. The latter will use the standard TBM 700 fuselage length, plans for a stretched freighter version having been dropped.

Can You Help?

Did you know George Campbell, a well-known aviator for nearly 60 years from 1928 till his death in 1986? Soloy intends to have its prototype twin-engine Cessna Grand Caravan conversion completed in time for display at September’s NBAA convention in Las Vegas. The Soloy Caravan conversion is centred around Soloy’s 1329shp (991kW) Dual Pac powerplant installation, which features two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6D-114A turboprops driving a single propeller through a combining gearbox. The conversion will also involve a 1.8m (6ft) fuselage stretch, an increase in gross weight to 4765kg (10,500lb) and a new engine cowl that fairs into a redesigned aluminium underbelly cargo pod. A Soloy Dual Pac powerplant has been undergoing test flying for several months now, powering a converted de Havilland Otter, and the combined engine configuration was due to be certificated this June. The Caravan will become the first aircraft certificated with the Dual Pac powerplant, and will be the first single propeller aircraft certificated as a twin approved for IFR RPT flights. George’s daughter, Lindi, is attempting to compile a family history of George and Mavis Campbell and is calling for help from any reader who may have come into contact with George. An RAAF pilot through WW2 and a distinguished and well-known civil flight instructor for several decades after, George taught scores of young eagles to soar and these are the very people that Lindi wishes to make contact with. If you can help simply call Lindi Campbell on (02) 953 1747 AH.

New Runway For Parafield?

The Federal Government is investigating building an extra runway to the north of Adelaide’s Parafield Airport following an increase in noise complaints from local residents. Transport Minister Laurie Brereton has directed his department report on the option and find out if any spare land is available. Parafield already has four runways and is home to several professional flying training establishments. These businesses quite rightly have little sympathy for the whingeing residents, who moved into the area long after the aerodrome was established. They say the airport is an important local industry and that building a new runway is impractical, a gross waste of money and would substantially increase the cost of flying training. For many years the Hawker de Havilland owned Australian Aviation College has been toying with the idea of developing a satellite facility at a nearby airport, with Gawler, Waikerie, Renmark and Murray Bridge being at one stage considered.