Page 6 - Aviation News - September 2017

MILITARY NEWS Phenom Arrives at Cranwell

Affinity Flight Training Services’ rst Embraer The rst Phenom 100 for the UKMFTS programme arrives at RAF Cranwell. Gareth Jordan
Phenom 100 arrived at RAF Cranwell, British Armed Forces as part of the United Affinity has ordered ve Phenom 100s and
Lincolnshire on July 10. The aircraft will Kingdom Ministry of Defence’s Military Flying services support and has an option for
provide Multi-Engine Pilot Training to the Training System (UKMFTS) programme. additional follow-on aircraft.

RAF Chinook HC4 Upgrade

The RAF’s eet of Chinook HC4 helicopters stability in more demanding operational achieved initial operating capability.
is to be upgraded to a new HC6A standard, environments and increase ight safety The RAF inventory includes 60
by replacing the analogue ight control in low-light levels and/or degraded visual Chinooks, comprising 38 HC4s (former
systems with the Boeing Digital Automatic environments. HC2/2As upgraded under the Project Julius
Flight Control System (DAFCS). Work will In addition, a contract has been placed programme), eight HC5s (previously HC3s),
be carried out over the next 12 months on to incorporate an Airborne Collision and 14 HC6s that were delivered as new-
all 38 HC4s now in service. The DAFCS is Avoidance System (ACAS) across the build airframes from Boeing and which are
intended to improve aircraft handling and Chinook eet, and this has already based on the CH-47F.

Typhoon and Brimstone Last Saudi

A Euro ghter Typhoon recently red a towards the realisation of Project Centurion,
MBDA Dual Mode Seeker (DMS) Brimstone which will integrate new weapons on to the Typhoon
missile at the Aberporth Range, Wales, jet to enable the retirement of the Tornado
during a mission own from BAE Systems' GR4 in RAF service in 2019. Delivered
Warton site on July 13. This was the rst live The successful trial follows completion
ring of a Brimstone from a Typhoon. The earlier this year of the ight trials programme The 72nd and nal Euro ghter Typhoon
company’s chief test pilot Steve Formoso for the MBDA Storm Shadow deep strike for the Royal Saudi Air Force was own to
launched the anti-armour weapon at a sea air-to-surface weapon and the MBDA Meteor Saudi Arabia from BAE Systems' Warton
target, after 40 captive carry trials ights beyond visual range air-to-air missile. facility on June 6.
alongside the RAF’s 41(Reserve) Test and Operational testing and evaluation of those The Kingdom ordered 72 Tranche 2
Evaluation Squadron in a Combined Test capabilities is currently ongoing with the Typhoons in 2007 at an estimated cost
Team approach. This was an important step RAF ahead of entry into service next year. of £20bn. Under the original plans, the
rst 24 aircraft were to be built by BAE
Bolivian RJ70 Arrives at Southend Systems in the UK, with the remainder
to be assembled in Saudi Arabia at the
Alsalam Aircraft Company (a joint venture
between Boeing, Saudi Arabian Airways,
and Saudi Advanced Industries Company).
This plan was dropped in 2013 and all
72 aircraft were ultimately built in the UK.
The last two aircraft to depart the Warton
plant were single-seat Typhoons, 8023
and 8024 (UK serials ZK622 and ZK623
respectively).
Initial deliveries took place in 2009 and
the ghters were provided in three batches.
Batch 1 covered the initial 24 aircraft,
including 12 two-seaters; Batch 2 comprised
Avro RJ70 FAB-107 arriving at London Southend Airport, Essex, on July 15 from Baca˘u, the next 24 aircraft, of which six were two-
Romania, as part of its delivery ight to the Bolivian Air Force (Fuerza Aérea Boliviana). seaters and Batch 3 consisted of the nal 24
Originally delivered to Turkish Airlines (THY) in 1996 as TC-THN, it is still in the colours of its aircraft, including six two-seaters.
last operator, MDLR Airlines, when it was registered as VT-MDN. Keith Burton

6 Aviation News Incorporating Jets September 2017

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