Gulfstream 650 Taking Shape
G2 Solutions @ June 30, 2009 # No Comment Yet
Chuck Horner On The F136 War
G2 Solutions @ June 30, 2009 # No Comment Yet
Bill Sweetman in Ares on Defense this morning:
A few days ago, former Air Combat Command leader Mike Loh, who now consults for Pratt & Whitney, wrote an op-ed for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram advocating the cancellation of the F136 alternate engine for the JSF. That inspired a response to Ares from Desert Storm air commander [...]
100 Years of Airshows Celebration
G2 Solutions @ June 29, 2009 # No Comment Yet
Reims AB was the site of a massive airshow over the weekend celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first ever airshow in 1909.
Pictures: Copyright G2 Solutions-YM
India done with Kaveri?
G2 Solutions @ June 29, 2009 # No Comment Yet
This is no small news. In essence, India is prepared to abandon a major domestic, and some could say, vital program that will in turn increase its dependency on foreign sources for combat aircraft engines. Not necessarily a bad choice in the immediate term (needs vs reality), but this will perhaps prove to [...]
Le Bourget: Rafale Demo
G2 Solutions @ June 26, 2009 # No Comment Yet
For the French speaking contingent out there, here is an interesting video of the Rafale flight demonstration at Le Bourget 2009 with interesting commentaries from the demo pilot, Air Force Captain Cedric Ruet.
Video: Dassault Aviation
Acquisition of Advanced Ceramics Research Increases BAE Systems’ Tactical UAS Platform Presence
rstearns @ June 25, 2009 # No Comment Yet
This story from Defense Industry Daily along with this piece from Ceramic Tech Weekly provide some interesting information and analysis on the June 8, 2009 BAE Systems’ acquisition of Advanced Ceramics Research’s (ACR) UAV business, makers of the Silver Fox and Coyote UAVs. For its size (approx. 25 lbs. MTOW) the Silver Fox boasts [...]
MRCA Competition Outlined - Good News for C-17
G2 Solutions @ June 24, 2009 # No Comment Yet
New Delhi. The Indian Air Force is set to begin the flight trials of the six US and European aircraft for India’s Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) competition from July and finish them by March 2010.
Air Chief Marshal P V Naik told India Strategic in an interview on the [...]
Boeing’s Black Tuesday?
G2 Solutions @ June 24, 2009 # No Comment Yet
According to Aviation Week… Certainly not a good day, but perhaps a bit of an exaggeration from AvWeek. The issues described with these programs, perhaps with the slight exception of 787, are already well known. It is the timing of it all that is regrettable.
Read Boeing’s Black Tuesday
US Rep Barney Franks Misses Another Opportunity to Think Before Speaking
G2 Solutions @ June 24, 2009 # No Comment Yet
From the Dew Line
US lawmaker: End “weaponized Keynesianism”, kill F-22
Congressman Barney Frank will seek to overturn a narrow vote by the House Armed Services Committee to restore long-lead funding for 12 more F-22s in the Fiscal 2010 budget. In the recording above..continue reading
India reportedly prepared to finally sign contract for six A330 MRTT
G2 Solutions @ June 23, 2009 # No Comment Yet
Various sources report that the Indian government is ready to give its approval for the purchase of six A330 MRTT aircraft for the Indian Air Force. This follows this year’s earlier decision to drop the IL-78 from the competition.
Boeing delays 787 test program
G2 Solutions @ June 23, 2009 # No Comment Yet
Dominic Gates provides a compelling summary of the situation on the ground in Everett.
“Boeing disclosed a serious new setback to its 787 Dreamliner program just days before the airplane was to fly, announcing today that the first flight will be postponed for weeks because the plane needs structural reinforcement.
Engineers found a structural defect that dictates [...]
Le Bourget: Flight Demonstrations
G2 Solutions @ June 21, 2009 # No Comment Yet
Combat Aircraft
DASSAULT RAFALE
EUROFIGHTER
BOEING F-18F
M346
LOCKHEED MARTIN F-16C
Commercial/Military Transport
AIRBUS A380
Lockheed Martin C-130J
Lockheed Martin/Alenia C-27J
Other Fixed Wing
Boeing E-3F
Lockheed 1049 Constellation
Antonov AN-2
OV-10 Bronco
Dassault MD-312
Fouga Magister
Helicopters
Eurocopter EC725
Eurocopter AS550
Eurocopter 665 Tiger
P-8A Poseidon T-2 in Flight
G2 Solutions @ June 19, 2009 # No Comment Yet
First Flight Pictures. A very good looking aircraft indeed.
Copyright: Boeing
Copyright: Boeing
Copyright: Boeing
Top Air Force General Calls Current F-22 Plan ‘High Risk’
G2 Solutions @ June 18, 2009 # No Comment Yet
From Congressional Quarterly:
“A top Air Force general says President Obama’s plan to end production of the F-22 Raptor fighter jet puts U.S. military strategy at “high risk.”
Gen. John D.W. Corley, the four-star chief of Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base, Va., wrote a letter to Sen. Saxby Chambliss , R-Ga., about the [...]
Le Bourget 2009 roundup
G2 Solutions @ June 18, 2009 # No Comment Yet
Four interesting videos from the Financial Times
New Competitors
Tom Enders, Airbus
Scott Carson, Boeing
Defense Markets
UAVs and Fuel Cells
G2 Solutions @ June 16, 2009 # No Comment Yet
Listen to the Podcast
UAVs must have high persistence to be of optimal value. Especially smaller UAVs used by soldiers on an “over the next hill” basis. A 30 minute UAV does not help much - but 2 hours would be very useful. Powering these devices is complicated. Ron Stearns, research director at G2 Solutions, explains [...]
Heard it through the grapevine
G2 Solutions @ June 15, 2009 # No Comment Yet
It is hard to disagree with Boeing on this issue.
Randy’s Journal Entry