By Carl Chance, Wings Over Kansas’s aviation & aerospace correspondent, former news consultant and producer for Wingspan Air & Space Channel.
This is the continuing installment bringing you aviation and aerospace news and items of interest from Wichita, the Air Capital of the World.
Boeing to Highlight Broad Range of Commercial, Defense Products and Services at Farnborough 2006:
The Boeing Company will highlight its broad range of capabilities serving customers in commercial and defense markets at the Farnborough Airshow, beginning July 17 outside London.
“Boeing enters Farnborough with terrific momentum generated by tremendous customer support for our products and services,” said Tom Downey, Boeing vice president, Corporate Communications. “Our comprehensive presence presence at the show will spotlight our strong commitment to our customers, partners and suppliers.”
The company’s military showcase will feature the first flying display in the UK by the revolutionary V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor. Also flying will be the F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet and the AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter. In addition Boeing and its customers will display the C-17 Globemaster III military transport; the ScanEagle and X-45 N-UCAS unmanned aerial vehicles; the F-15E Strike Eagle fighter; and SLAM-ER, JDAM and Harpoon missiles.
On the commercial side, EVA Air, the Taiwanese airline, will bring g one of its new wide-body 777-300ER twinjets, which will be on display throughout the show. The Boeing exhibit will also feature the interior cabin of the passenger-pleasing 787 Dreamliner, the aviation industry’s best-selling new airplane, as well as the capabilities of the new 747-8.
Boeing sends Educators from around the World to SPACE CAMP during Shuttle Mission:
While the space shuttle Discovery continues to lay the foundation for a manned mission to the moon, The Boeing Company is sending 89 public school teachers from around the world to the 15th Annual Boeing Educators to SPACE CAMP program July 10-16 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala.
President Bush recently announced two initiatives to equip new generations of Americans with the educational foundation for future studies in technical subjects through his Vision for Space Exploration and the American Competitive Advantage Initiative. The Boeing Educators to SPACE CAMP program uses space exploration initiatives to enhance teacher’s skills in presenting math, science and technology lessons that will inspire students and help ensure a skilled workforce for a globally competitive technology market. Since 1992, more than 500 teachers have participated in the annual Boeing program, reaching an estimated 27,000 students around the world.
“We want teachers to inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and space explorers,” said Jim Albaugh, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems president and CEO. “Boeing’s K-12 education strategy focuses on helping teachers improve their effectiveness by giving them an opportunity to experience hands-on math and science activities.”
The teachers, from grades 4-12, will spend their days completing workshops designed by grade level. Activities include simulated space missions, astronaut training and lectures by rocketry and space exploration experts. The teachers also will receive resources to implement in the classroom to help their student’s meet national standards for science, math and technology.
“SPACE CAMP provides a learning environment where science, math and technology are explored and practiced through the mysteries and wonders of space,” said Julie Ferriss, director of Education at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and graduate of the Space Academy for Educators. “For educators, SPACE CAMP provides a place to become a learner again and to join with other educators who share the same passions for teaching and learning.”
Boeing worked with U.S. and international school districts to select applicants for the program. This year, educators from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Washington, D.C., Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Australia, India, Japan and Singapore will learn what it takes to become an astronaut and how to inspire future engineers and scientists.
After graduating from SPACE CAMP on July 16, each teacher will return home with a workbook to create lesson plans and additional program materials to use in the classroom. The graduates also will have access to an educator training facility and a Web site offering science experiments and other curriculum information.
Boeing Scores Direct Hit in Laser JDAM Moving Target Test:
The Boeing Company successfully tested its Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) weapon system June 30 against a moving target.
“Laser JDAM’s performance continues to exceed our highest expectations,” said Boeing LJDAM Program Manager Scott Van Dyke. “LJDAM has the flexibility to engage both fixed and moving targets. This weapon will fill a significant gap in capability currently encountered by our warfighting customers.”
During the test at Elgin Air Force Base, Fla., a U.S. Air Force F-16 flying at 20,000 scored a direct hit on an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) moving at 25 mph. Using its onboard targeting pod, the F-16 laser-designated the APC and released the 500-pound LJDAM approximately four miles from the target.
The Laser JDAM sensor is a modular kit that is easily installed in the field to the front of existing JDAM weapons. The laser sensor further enhances the highly capable Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System JDAM into one of the most mission flexible, low-cost weapons available in the world today.
Boeing will complete its development of the 500-pound LJDAM in 2006. Initial production deliveries are planned to begin as early as 2007.
Cessna Unveiling Proof of Concept Aircraft at EAA AirVenture for Light Sport Aircraft Model:
Cessna will display a full-scale proof-of-concept aircraft model at this year’s Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) annual convention — known as AirVenture — in Oshkosh, Wis.
The newly-emerging Light Sport Aircraft category is the highest growth sector of general aviation. Light Sport Aircraft are defined as having a maximum gross weight of 1320 pounds, maximum level-flight speed of 120 knots, and no more than two seats.
“As the world’s largest producer of single engine piston airplanes, we believe we could bring unique capabilities to this exciting market,” said Cessna Chairman, President and CEO Jack Pelton. “Our extensive sales and service network could provide an important market advantage, which, in concert with our design and manufacturing experience, could make this an attractive extension of our product line,” he said.
“An important part of our thought process in looking at LSA is the value in terms of new pilot starts. Experience has shown that Cessna brand loyalty is a powerful force in our success, and we believe this new category of aircraft could provide a conduit for new pilots to grow through the Cessna product line in the years ahead,” he said.
The company plans to unveil its proof-of-concept LSA at a press conference at the EAA show on July 24, and will survey attendees at the show to ensure a Cessna-designed LSA would be responsive to market preferences.
Bombardier Aerospace Makes Impressive Showing At Farnborough International Airshow 2006:
Bombardier is maintaining its high profile in Europe with a significant presence at the Farnborough International Airshow 2006, July 17 to 23. In addition to presenting its wide product and services portfolio at its chalet and exhibit, the company is showcasing four of its aircraft at its static display.
Bombardier aircraft on static display at the Business Aircraft Park, from July 17 to 21, include the 86-passenger Bombardier CRJ900 regional jet, the Bombardier Q400 high-speed turboprop airliner, the super light Bombardier Learjet 45 business aircraft and the Bombardier Global Express XRS ultra long-range jet. In addition, the Bombardier Global Express jet in ASTOR zone. ASTOR is the UK Ministry of Defence’s new, highly sophisticated, long-range airborne ground surveillance system, which has been successfully installed on the aircraft.
Bombardier Business Aircraft continues to enjoy a commanding presence in Europe with both its products and services. Over the past four years, from 2001 to 2005, Bombardier’s business jets captured 20 per cent of the aircraft delivery market share. Its Challenger 600 Series widebody jets dominate the large aircraft segment on the continent, capturing 54 per cent of their product market share, or a total of 82 aircraft. In the past 10 months, Bombardier began operations at its new parts warehouse in Frankfurt and almost doubled the available maintenance area for Learjet aircraft by adding another hanger at its Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services facility in Berlin.
Kansas Aerospace Employment:
Wichita’s aviation industry is definitely moving forward in contract development and that’s good news for the aerospace workforce.
In the Sunday, July 16, 2006 issue of the Wichita Eagle, large display Ad’s for a multitude of job categories were posted by Bombardier Learjet, Cessna Aircraft, Raytheon/Beechcraft and
Spirit AeroSystems.
Additional job opportunities exist with several aerospace support groups such as, The Nordam Group, TAD Technical and Garmin.
For full listings of aerospace jobs available, click on the WingsOverKansas.com Aviation Careers menu button.
I’ll have more news and items of interest in my next report. Please keep on logging on to www.wingsoverkansas.com for weekly aviation and aerospace update stories, features, history and more.
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