Page 79 - World Airnews Magazine January 2020 Edition

NEWS DIGITAL

NORTHROP GRUMMAN DONATES

RETIRED TEST AIRCRAFT TO

SCHOOL

Sabreliner will be used as a training aid for high school
students pursuing careers in airframe or power plant
maintenance

Jeanie Wade, vice president, operations, APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar.
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. Distinguishable by its metallic airframe,
A Sabreliner jet operated by Northrop “N160W has played a role in every the aircraft moved to permanent display
Grumman for decades as an aerial significant Northrop Grumman air-to-air at the National Electronics Museum in
detection and characterization target for and surface-to-air radar development November.
radar development has been given another program for the past 30 years. We’re glad “The aviation industry continues to break
to see AACPS adopt it to train the next
chance to serve. generation of aviation technicians.” barriers in the skies both for military and
The aircraft was built in 1972 and retired Northrop Grumman operated two commercial applications,” said George
from the company’s Baltimore-based flight Sabreliners, which started their careers as Arlotto, Anne Arundel County Public
test fleet in 2018. former Westinghouse executive transport Schools Superintendent.
But instead of being scrapped, the aircraft before being repurposed as flight “Our students want to be a part of that
twin-engine, mid-size jet has been donated test assets. They were part of Northrop innovation, we want to help them be a part
to Maryland’s Anne Arundel County Public Grumman’s fleet of modified commercial of it, and our partnership with Northrop
Schools (AACPS) for use as an aviation aircraft used for hardware and software Grumman and Tipton Airport is a key part
training aid. development. of making that a reality. Our students
The aircraft will now reside at Tipton The white aircraft (N160W) given to thrive when we and our partners provide
Airport near Fort Meade to support AACPS’ AACPS was slightly modified to provide opportunity and access.”
new Aviation Maintenance Technician airborne testing support with electronic A ceremony marking the transfer of
program for high school students pursuing jamming and countermeasures capability. aircraft N160W to AACPS was held at the
formal certification in airframe or power Being closer to the original Sabreliner Northrop Grumman flight test facility in
plant maintenance. configuration, it is well-suited for the role Linthicum, Maryland. The two Sabreliners
“This particular Sabreliner has both of training aid. had been a common sight in the sky over
historical significance to Northrop The second ‘Silver Sabreliner’ (N168W) Maryland until their retirement, but the
Grumman and practical applications as a was heavily modified to fly F-16 fighter baton has now passed to a newer fleet of
training aid for AACPS - so its preservation aircraft radars for the U.S. and its allies, test bed aircraft now supporting Northrop
is a win-win for us and the county,” said from the AN/APG-66/68 up to the new AN/ Grumman’s radar development work. Q

World Airnews | January Extra 2020
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