U
P
D
A
T
E
Home | UPDATE | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Inside | Datafiles

UPDATE 
Week ending September 24, 2000
+++ Boeing X-32A flies +++ Eurocopter changes to SAS company statute +++ Shuttle returns from ISS mission +++ Sikorsky selected as Nordic Helicopter finalist +++ News in brief +++

Boeing X-32A flies
Erstflug des Boeing JSF-Modells

On September 18, the Boeing Joint Strike Fighter X-32A concept demonstrator successfully recorded a major milestone when the airplane made its initial flight, flying from Palmdale and landing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The first flight marks the X-32A's entry into a five-month flight-test program at Edwards with approximately 50 test flights totaling about 100 hours to validate the JSF's flying qualities and performance for conventional and aircraft carrier operations.
During the flight, which was cut short by an supspected oil leak, Boeing JSF Chief Test Pilot Fred Knox put the X-32A through some initial airworthiness tests, including flying qualities and sub-systems checkout. "The airplane is a pleasure to fly," Knox said. "It is already showing the precise handling qualities we expected based on the simulator work." The X-32A and X-32B carry "X" designations rather than the more familiar "Y" because they are concept demonstrators, not prototypes. As such, they will not compete in a "fly-off" competition to determine who is selected to proceed to the next phase of the program. Instead, the U.S. Department of Defense requires that the JSF X aircraft successfully demonstrate three objectives: commonality and modularity among JSF variants; low-speed carrier approach flying and handling qualities; and short takeoff, transition, hover and vertical landing.

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite


Eurocopter changes to SAS company statute
Umfirmierung bei Eurocopter

In the Special General Meeting of the Shareholders held on 18 September, the legal form of business of Eurocopter was changed from a Société Anonyme (SA) (Joint Stock Company) to a Société par Actions Simplifiée (SAS) (Simplified Stock Company). This operation was made possible by the creation of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Compagny (EADS) which has resulted from the merger of the two shareholders, Aerospatiale Matra (France) and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Germany) and the Spanish company CASA on July 10, 2000. This new entity is headed by a Chairman, Jean-François Bigay, who is assisted by an Executive Committee. EADS n.v. has a single shareholder, who sits on the Supervisory Committee, which is the surveillance body. Elected staff members also sit on this Board. This change in legal status was brought about by the need to streamline and simplify the company. As such, it represents a significant step forward in the integration process of the Eurocopter Group. Eurocopter SAS is a fully owned subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), one of the three leading aerospace companies in the world.

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite


Shuttle returns from ISS mission
Atlantis: Sichere Landung nach Flug zur Raumstation

Atlantis and its seven astronauts swooped to a predawn landing at the Kennedy Space Center on September 20, wrapping up a mission to prepare the initial living quarters of the International Space Station for its first residents. Commander Terry Wilcutt guided Atlantis to a landing at 2:56 a.m. Central time, wrapping up a 4.9 million mile mission in which more than three tons of equipment were delivered to the international outpost. Wilcutt and his crewmates, Pilot Scott Altman and Mission Specialists Ed Lu, Rick Mastracchio, Dan Burbank, Yuri Malenchenko and Boris Morukov completed the 23rd consecutive landing of a shuttle at the Florida spaceport, and the 30th landing of a shuttle at the Cape in the last 31 flights.
During their 12-day flight, the astronauts spent a week docked to the International Space Station during which they worked as movers, cleaners, plumbers, electricians and cable installers. In all, they spent 7 days, 21 hours and 54 minutes docked to the International Space Station, outfitting the new Zvezda module for the arrival of the Expedition One crew later this fall. Atlantis' landing came just two weeks before the launch of Discovery on the next assembly flight to the station, the STS-92 mission, scheduled for liftoff around October 5. Seven astronauts will install a large truss structure to the Unity node of the Station, housing motion control gear and communications equipment. The so-called Z1 truss will also serve as the mounting platform for the large U.S. solar arrays for the station which will be delivered late this year.

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite


Sikorsky selected as Nordic Helicopter finalist
S-92 im Nordic Helicopter Programm

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation has been invited to negotiate for the Nordic Standard Helicopter Program (NSHP) contract, a joint effort by Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway to procure 73 helicopters for search-and-rescue, transport and maritime missions. Sikorsky wants to fulfill the NSHP requirement with the S-92, a new helicopter that combines a stand-up cabin and high performance with the lowest direct operating and maintenance costs in its class. The NSHP office in Stockholm will be negotiating with Sikorsky and other helicopter manufacturers through the contract signing, which is expected to extend into 2001.
Two leading industries have signed Memoranda of Agreement to become members of the Sikorsky's S-92 Nordic Alliance. Patria Finavitec Oy of Finland would provide helicopter final assembly, test and some completion operations for the S-92. Saab AB of Sweden would provide NSHP systems design and integration.

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite


NEWS IN BRIEF / KURZMELDUNGEN

Boeing has been awarded a contract to develop an upgrade to the defensive systems for the U.S. Air Force B-52H bomber fleet. Work on the engineering and manufacturing development contract for the B-52 Situational Awareness Defensive Improvement (SADI), valued at approximately $48 million, will extend through the completion of developmental and operational flight testing in 2003. Through the SADI program, Boeing will replace the aging ALR-20A Electronic Countermeasures Receiver System and the ALR-46 Radar Warning Receiver on the B-52 Stratofortress. These upgrades are expected to offer up to a thirty-fold improvement in system reliability.
+++
On September 20 Boeing announced that it is increasing its free cash flow guidance from its previous projection of $3.0-$4.0 billion to greater than $4.0 billion for full-year 2000. All other guidance issued by Boeing in its second quarter earnings release issued July 19 remains unchanged. As a result of its strong cash position, the company has reaffirmed that it intends to complete its current share repurchase program by the end of 2000. The Boeing Board of Directors in August 1998 authorized the repurchase of up to 15 percent of the outstanding shares of company stock. To date, approximately 83 percent of the current board authorization has been repurchased.
+++
Boeing recently began flight-testing the F-22 Avionics Block 3.0 integrated software on its 757 flying test bed (FTB), a month ahead of schedule. Achieving this critical milestone helps to keep the program on track for software delivery by the end of the year. The U.S. Defense Department's Defense Acquisition Board requires Block 3.0 software to fly on an F-22 before year end in order for the program to receive its initial production contracts. Testing of the Block 3.0 software on the FTB will include the use of multi-sensor fusion and complete F-22 radar and electronic warfare (EW) integration. The testing of this software in a dynamic flight environment on the FTB will enable avionics engineers to identify, evaluate and resolve anomalies, as well as to make adjustments to the avionics software and hardware, prior to the software being delivered as an Operational Flight Program (OFP) to the F-22 Raptor.
+++
BAE SYSTEMS has announced half-year results with profit before interest, excluding exceptional items and goodwill amortisation, up 48% to #507million (1999 #343 million) as the company continued to perform in line with its plans. Sales rose to #5,663 million (1999 #4,092 million) with margins increasing from 8.4% to 9% and the company maintained a strong order book, which at the end of June 2000 stood at #37 billion. A strong balance sheet was underlined with net debt reduced by #302 million to #523 million. This continued progress boosted the net dividend per share by 10% for the half-year to 3.3p.BAE SYSTEMS said several major programmes were currently projected to achieve higher trading milestones and product deliveries in the second half-year. Performance benefits from actions to deliver the planned synergies of #55 million for the current year would also flow in the second half. In addition, it was anticipated that Airbus profitability would continue to improve following agreement by the Airbus partners to create the Airbus Integrated Company. The company said it was on track to meet anticipated savings from the merger of not less than #275 million in the third year. Further savings were targeted from direct procurement and the agreement with Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and B2B specialist Commerce One to form a joint e-commerce trading exchange, Exostar, was an important element in that drive.
+++
Boeing has said that Germany is the third largest market for new airliners after the US and China. In the next 20 years, airlines in Germany will order 1070 new jets worth 65 billion US-Dollars, a forecast predicts. Boeing sees a further trend towards smaller aircraft as deregulation and the desire for direct flights accelerate.
+++

Back to the top of the page / Zurück zum Anfang der Seite


Previous updates are still available:
Die News der letzten Wochen sind weiter abrufbar:

*September 17, 2000 *September 10, 2000 *September 3, 2000

*August 27, 2000 *August 20, 2000 *August 13, 2000 *August 6, 2000

*July 30, 2000 *July 23, 2000 *July 16, 2000 *July 9, 2000

*January to June 2000 *January to December 1999 *January to December 1998 *January to December 1997 *September to December 1996

Home | UPDATE | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Inside | Datafiles
Copyright 2000 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved.
Last updated 20 September 2000
FLUG REVUE, Ubierstr. 83, 53173 Bonn, Germany