27 September 2011

RMAF MiG-29N aircraft (photo : key aero)

GEMAS: There are no plans to purchase new military assets in the near future.

This includes replacements for the Royal Malaysian Air Force's MiG-29N Fulcrum aircraft, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.Instead, the ministry will conduct a study for possible replacements for the multi-role combat aircraft for future purposes.

Zahid said the government had more important things to focus on under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

Speaking after opening the Kompleks Mutiara Pernama at Camp Syed Sirajuddin here, yesterday, he said the Fulcrums would be replaced when the need arose. It was recently reported that the ministry was looking into replacing the MiG-29N fleet, which was purchased in 1995. Five aircraft had been identified as leading contenders for the contract -- France's Dassault Aviation's Rafale; the United States' Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet; Europe's Eurofighter Typhoon; the Swedish JAS- 39 Gripen and the Russian Sukhoi Su-35 Flanker-E.

Zahid said the ministry would continue with the other planned purchases under the 10MP, including second-generation offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Malaysian Navy.Earlier, Zahid said the new Kompleks Mutiara Pernama offered those staying there the chance to purchase goods at cheaper prices."The chain of Pernama stores nationwide sells 370 products at cheaper prices through an annual RM5 million subsidy."

The RM10 million, three-storey complex on a 0.65ha site has 22 business premises.

(New Strais Times)

First flight to Kraljevo at the end of October

Construction work on Kraljevo’s Morava Airport is coming to an end with the first promotional flight to take place next month. It is expected that a Jat Airways ATR72 will operate the promotional service at the end of October carrying government officials and others which have participated in the financing of Serbia’s newest international airport. However, scheduled and charter traffic won’t take off until March next year. Currently, the airport can facilitate smaller aircraft up to 100 seats. Work on the lengthening of the airport’s runway should be carried out over the winter months so Morava can handle larger aircraft come summer 2012. The government insists that the project is worthwhile and that the airport will be able to attract flights to Turkey and Germany. Working in the airport’s favour is its central location. Morava Airport lies between three larger cities - Kraljevo, Kragujevac and Čačak, all of which are industrial towns. Furthermore, the airport is also located close to communities which have strong links with Turkey. According to a feasibility study, the airport has a catchment area of 2 million people.

A total of 32 million Euros has been invested in the project which has seen the construction of a new control tower, terminal, apron and runway lengthening. The Government of Turkey invested 10 million into the project while the rest has been financed by the Serbian government and Belgrade Airport which will also be providing necessary equipment.

In most former Yugoslav states, airports outside of the capital city have had little success. This is particularly true for Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia. This is not to say that they do not have potential. The airport in Kraljevo is a military base and part of it will continue to be used for military purposes. The airport was badly damaged in 1999.

EVERETT, Wash., Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] celebrated the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner today to launch customer ANA during a ceremony adjacent to the factory where the airplane was assembled. More than 500 employees representing the 787 program walked alongside the all-new jetliner to present it to ANA executives as a crowd of thousands looked on.
"Today we celebrate a significant moment in the history of flight," said Jim McNerney, Boeing chairman, president and CEO. "The 787 Dreamliner is the biggest innovation in commercial aviation since the Boeing 707 introduced the world to passenger jet travel more than 50 years ago. I want to thank ANA and all the employees of Boeing and our partner companies for the talent, technology and teamwork that have brought this game-changing airplane to life."
During the ceremony, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh presented a ceremonial key to Shinichiro Ito, president and CEO of ANA.
"It's not often that we have the chance to make history, do something big and bold that will change the world in untold ways and endure long after we are gone," said Albaugh. "That's what the 787 Dreamliner is and what ANA and Boeing have done together – build what truly is the first new airplane of the 21st century."
"We are delighted to be taking delivery finally of our first 787. ANA is extremely proud to be the launch customer for the Dreamliner and to have helped Boeing so closely in the development of this state-of-the-art aircraft," said Ito. "The Dreamliner will enable us to offer unrivalled standards of service and comfort to our passengers and will play a key part in ANA's plans for international expansion."
Made from composite materials, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is the first mid-size airplane capable of flying long-range routes and will allow airlines to open new, non-stop routes preferred by the traveling public. In addition to providing airlines with unprecedented fuel economy and low operating costs, the 787 features a host of new technologies that greatly enhance the passenger experience.
"Today you join the ranks of the legends of our industry," said Pat Shanahan, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president and general manager, Airplane Programs. "I have no doubt that 30 or 40 years from now another outstanding Boeing team will be celebrating a new version of the 787 Dreamliner. They will struggle to find the words to express their deep respect and admiration for the hard work you have done in getting us to this day and laying the foundation for a strong future for Boeing and for our industry."
"I've been inspired by your passion, your commitment and your dedication. You made the 787 Dreamliner a reality," said Scott Fancher, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president and general manager, 787 program. "Your achievement we celebrate today is extraordinary, and it will be remembered for years to come."
ANA and Boeing completed the contractual delivery of the airplane on Sept. 25. ANA will fly the airplane to Tokyo Haneda Airport on Tuesday, with a scheduled departure of 6:35 a.m. (Pacific time) from Paine Field. A live webcast of the flyaway can be seen at www.newairplane.com. Video highlights of all 787 first delivery events also will be posted to the website.

Source: Boeing

Sign of the times: cut costs wherever possible.  And kudos to those LSA makers who can cut weight too!
Remos Aircraft has a lower-priced, dramatically lighter version of its flagship GX that bears closer scrutiny. 
It’s called GXeLite, and lists at $133,924.

All photos courtesy Remos Aircraft

The model is targeted at pilots, clubs and flights schools that don’t feel the need for all the latest high-tech glass and embellishments.  Typically, “loaded” models like the GX and new GXNXT models price out at well over the wallet-flattening $150K mark. 
The eLite is dramatically lighter in empty weight too: just 638 lbs. (My recent flight report on the NXT listed that model’s empty weight at 718, or 90 lbs. heavier!).  That would allow full tanks as well as some truly hefty passengers too, since the useful load is 682 lbs.!
The main steps taken to lighten the load on the eLite include reinstating the composite landing gear, using carbon fiber instead of metal wing struts, new carbon fiber seats and a new instrument panel, which is lighter as well as lower.
All of this adds up to good news for people interested in Remos.  I’ve found the GX in general to be among the easiest, most enjoyable all-around airplanes I’ve ever flown.  It has a wonderfully harmonious control balance, light, solid control feel, well-behaved takeoff and landing characteristics, and is simply a joy to fly.

This Remos panel chart also shows a FlymapL moving map.

The eLite also offers a ballistic parachute safety system as an option rather than standard equipment, along with that lower-profile panel which enhances forward visibility.
The panel still mounts a good rack of gadgets, starting off with Dynon's workhorse D-180 EFIS/EMS panel and Becker’s Com AR6201 transceiver and BXP6401 transponder.  Power comes from the proven 80 hp Rotax 912.
Even though the lower-cost electrical system eliminates interior lighting needed for night flight (something day VFR-restricted Sport Pilots don't deal with anyway), the eLite still has anti-collision, position and landing lights.
An interior storage area has been removed and there is now only one coat of paint, to help with the load-lightening engineering. 
But think about that Remos diet plan: they took an already-light weight LSA airplane and managed to trim more than 11% more! 
Owners can still opt for all the Remos options the more robust models have, but I’d like to compare this lighter version to the heavier GX to see if there’s an appreciable difference in crosswinds and turbulence. 

Bell JetRanger 11 ZK-HSG (c/n 1555) was recently captured sitting in the sun at Hokitika by Matt Hayes.
It was first registered in Canada as C-GLDR in January of 1975 and it first flew in NZ on 23-06-1982 and was registered to Whirl-Wide Helicopters Ltd at Timaru the same day. It was transferred to The Helicopter Line on 15-07-1988 which later became Tourism Holdings, and then to Anderson Helicopters Ltd at Hokitika on 18-12-1989.

26 September 2011

F-16 block 25 berbeda dengan block 52, meskipun keduanya sama-sama memakai airframe tipe C/D. Block 52 menggunakan mesin F-100 PW 229 buatan Pratt and Whitney yang lebih ringan dan kuat dibanding mesin Pratt and Whitney F100 PW 220E yang dipakai pada block 25 (photo : W Drzazgowski)

JAKARTA - Komisi I DPR memberi dua opsi kepada pemerintah terkait pengadaan pesawat tempur jenis F-16 dari Amerika Serikat (AS). Pertama, pemerintah diminta membeli enam pesawat tempur F-16 Block 52 yang merupakan pesawat jenis baru untuk menampilkan efek getar dan daya tangkal yang cukup. Kedua, menerima hibah dengan syarat bisa di-up grade dengan melibatkan BUMN industri pertahanan.

"Untuk yang pilihan pertama, kan anggarannya sudah dialokasikan sebesar 430 juta dollar AS, tinggal beli saja," kata anggota Komisi I DPR Tjahjo Kumolo ketika dihubungi di Jakarta, Minggu (25/9). Pesawat baru itu juga memungkinkan untuk mengganti pesawat F-16 lama yang saat ini dimiliki Indonesia.

Untuk opsi kedua, kalau pemerintah memilih mengambil 24 pesawat F-16 Block 24 hasil hibah dari Amerika, ada dua syarat utama yang diajukan. Pertama, pesawat tersebut harus bisa di-up grade menjadi Block 52 agar sesuai dengan rencana strategis tentang minimum essential force (MEF).

Syarat kedua, up grade harus dilakukan di Indonesia dan melibatkan BUMN industri pertahanan sesuai dengan program nasional yang bertujuan mewujudkan kemandirian sistem pertahanan Indonesia. "Kemandirian ini sesuai dengan UU Industri Pertahanan yang sedang kita buat," katanya.

Kalau dua syarat itu tak bisa dipenuhi, Tjahjo akan tegas menolak rencana hibah tersebut. Sebaliknya, DPR akan tetap mendorong pemerintah membeli enam pesawat F-16 baru yang sebelumnya memang sudah dianggarkan.

Kalaupun ada opsi lain, Tjahjo mengatakan, Indonesia sebaiknya membeli pesawat tempur jenis Sukhoi buatan Rusia sebanyak satu skuadron atau 16 pesawat. Harganya hanya 800 juta dollar AS untuk satu skuadron. "Pemerintah kan masih punya plafon pinjaman State Credit dari Rusia sebesar 1,1 miliar dollar AS. Langsung bisa terbeli," ujarnya.

Sementara itu, Kepala Dinas Penerangan TNI Angkatan Udara Azman Yunus mengatakan pihaknya menerima hibah 24 pesawat F-16 Block 24 jelas lebih menguntungkan. Selain secara kuantitas banyak, pesawat tersebut bisa di-up grade ke Block 32 dengan harga yang hampir sama dengan membeli enam pesawat F-16 Block 52.

Keuntungan lain, tambah dia, Indonesia juga akan mendapatkan enam pesawat sebagai suku cadangnya. Kondisinya jelas masih bagus, apalagi setelah nanti diadakan peningkatan kemampuan. Hibah pun memungkinkan Indonesia melakukan transfer teknologi dengan Amerika pada saat proses up grade.

Sebelumnya, Kepala Staf Angkatan Udara Marsekal Imam Sufaat mengatakan sulit melakukan up grade pesawat di Indonesia. Selain harus membawa ke-24 pesawat itu ke Indonesia, tentu biayanya sangat mahal. Kemampuan BUMN industri pertahanan pun masih meragukan. "Industri pertahanan kita belum memiliki peralatan lengkap untuk bisa meretrofit F-16," katanya.

Untuk membawa pesawat-pesawat itu ke Indonesia, sebenarnya ada dua kemungkinan, yakni membawanya memakai kapal atau meminta pilot Amerika untuk menerbangkannya ke Indonesia. "Kalau diangkut menggunakan kapal, biayanya akan sangat besar. Hampir sama dengan anggaran meretrofit pesawat itu. Kalaupun diterbangkan, pilot Amerika pasti tidak berani," katanya. way/P-3

(Koran Jakarta)

During the second half of the 1990's quite a number of US Tuna Clippers arrived in Nelson to undergo maintenance but for some reason this came to a halt. Most of these vessels carried a helicopter for fish spotting and these were generally parked at the Airport while the ship was here.

It is good to see that they have started to arrive again but most without helicopters. So far this year four have arrived but only one, the tuna purse seiner Western Pacific, with a helicopter, this aircraft has also undergone maintenance, carried out by Helicare Maintenance.

Photo was taken just prior to a test flight at Nelson Airport 31-08-2011 of Hughes 369HS N504LA (c/n 106-0862S)

It has no NZ connections to my knowledge.

Above is a pic of the Western Pacific.

Report kindly sent in by Peter Campbell of Nelson.