AIR International of the New Year

BIRDSTRIKE BATTLE HOW TECH TACKLES DEADLY THREAT

HARRIER’S LAST JUMP AN ICON’S DEMISE TEN YEARS ON

NEO HOPES FOR AIRBUS FRESH LIGHTNING A330-800 ENTERS SERVICE £5.30 NEW F-35s AT FORT WORTH

FRENCH RAFALE F3R TAKING ON THE TERRORISTS 100 No1 Vol 2021 JANUARY Orbx_OBC.indd 1 09/11/2020 12:23:57 Welcome

ello and a warm welcome to the first to 36% of that extra funding immediately, so effectively The fi rst Irkut MC-21 AIR International of the New Year. only leaving £10.5bn?” he queried. powered by indigenously In December, low-cost airline Ryanair “Many of the big defence contracts are awarded to produced Russian engines (replacing the gave Boeing an early Christmas present international companies such as Boeing, Airbus and PW1431G-JMs in the in the form of a bumper new order for Leonardo, which generally have their own international prototype, above) is its beleaguered 737 MAX programme. supply chains with little UK content. Mr Johnson said expected to fl y before The Dublin-based carrier placed a firm he would be setting up an office to ensure the money the end of this year, with order for 75 of the narrowbody jets, boosting its overall does provide the UK economy with a boost. Let’s hope deliveries to launch- H customer Aerofl ot commitment to 210 examples. he does.” Our commercial group editor, Gordon Smith, observes: But it’s a positive pledge for the Tempest future beginning before 2022 AirTeamImages.com/ “With deliveries due to begin in the spring and continue combat air system, and the Team Tempest partners, Dmitry Terekhov until December 2024, Michael O’Leary, the savvy BAE Systems, MBDA UK, Leonardo UK and Ryanair CEO, has once again been able to spot shrewd Rolls-Royce. Securing finance for this important opportunities during the most challenging of times. asset will also be a boost to the Italian and Swedish “The deal has echoes of the airline’s January 2002 governments, which are currently collaborating with spending spree, when it snapped up more than 100 the UK on the sixth-generation fighter. 737-800s as Boeing – and the wider industry – was “We are definitely seeing a massive uptick in the reeling from the fallout of the September 11 attacks. government’s commitment to its armed forces – which It is a bold reminder that this traumatic period for is well overdue,” Alan concluded. commercial aviation will pass and represents an Whether your interests lie in military or commercial enormous vote of confidence in Boeing’s flagship aviation, as we move into the new year – with renewed single-aisle aircraft.” optimism – the AIR International team will continue to As the UK became the first nation in the world to roll bring you a ‘selection box’ of detail and data, as we out a mass vaccination programme – widely dubbed as delve behind the industry headlines of the moment. V-day – airline companies and airports are hoping that As always, we welcome your feedback at the immense logistical effort of a global immunisation [email protected] or comment via project will bring a welcome shot in the arm for cargo our Checking In invitations throughout the magazine. carriers and eventually restore revenue-making routes as Until then, enjoy the issue. passengers cautiously take to the skies again. An injection of the cash kind, the £16.5bn in additional Carol Randall defence spending recently announced by UK Prime Associate Editor, Commercial Aviation Minister Boris Johnson, was generally welcome news too for the UK’s military. But the true value of the announcement, and its worth to UK supply chains, raised questions from Alan Warnes, our modern military editor-at-large: “The MoD is currently facing a £6bn budget shortfall, due partly to big-ticket purchases such as the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail. Does this mean we can wave goodbye

COVER IMAGE: Cargolux is the world’s second-biggest Boeing 747 operator, ﬁ elding 16 examples of the 747-400F and 14 747-8Fs AirTeamImages.com/John Kilmer

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two more examples, the maiden customer for the Learjet 75 Liberty puts it into service, and the three major business jet manufacturers report a slump in Q3 2020 delivery figures. Contents 20 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS 06 COMMERCIAL NEWS A recently retired US Marine Corps AH-1W Super Cobra has Boeing’s 737 MAX returns to flight after the FAA grounding gained a new lease of life following its transfer to the US Army order is lifted, cargo carriers gear up for the impending as a trials helicopter, having previously been operated by coronavirus vaccine transportation, UK air traffic controllers Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773. Elsewhere, US contribute to emission cuts, and Embraer examines new company Aerion completes wind tunnel validation of its AS2 aircraft deliveries over the next decade. supersonic business jet.

10 MILITARY NEWS 22 GA FOCUS A massive arms package sale to the United Arab Emirates, Mahindra halts Airvan 8 production and puts GippsAero up worth $23bn, has been approved by the US State for sale, a Pipistrel Alpha Electro completes the world’s first Department, including F-35A Lightning IIs and MQ-9B UAVs. solar powered flight in a production electric aircraft, and the Meanwhile, in the UK, a milestone has been reached in the UK’s Light Aircraft Association (LAA) plans to mark its 75th Army Air Corps (AAC) AH-64E Apache programme, with the anniversary with a ten-day tour in May. arrival of its first two helicopters at RAF Brize Norton. 24 RUSSIAN REVIEW 14 UAV FOCUS Our Russia correspondent, Piotr Butowski, explains the UK-based Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL) is country’s helicopter deployment to the ongoing developing a high-altitude, hydrogen-powered platform for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Elsewhere, the Russian United telecom connectivity, NASA and Wisk partner up to work on Aircraft Corporation announces the modernised Tu-160M autonomous flight in US civil airspace, and General Atomics strategic bomber has completed its first flight with new Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) is awarded a US$93m engines. contract to enhance the autonomous sensing capabilities of unmanned aircraft. 28 COUNTING ON A COMMERCIAL COMEBACK Twelve months ago, AIR International’s aviation experts 16 ROTARY FOCUS presented “considered observations about the key issues The German Bundeswehr select the NHIndustries NH90 NFH facing the industry” for 2020. Then COVID-19 struck and to replace its Sea Lynx Mk88As for shipborne operations; the all conjecture was consigned to history. Mark Broadbent Bell/Boeing CMV-22B Osprey touches down on an aircraft highlights encouraging aerospace developments as the carrier, and the Brazilian highway police is set to introduce its industry looks to better times. first of six Leonardo AW119Kx examples from 2021. 32 THE DAY THE HARRIER DIED: TEN YEARS ON 18 BUSINESS FOCUS Ten years ago, on a typically cold winter’s day, the UK military’s Gulfstream bolsters its G700 test fleet with the introduction of majestic BAE Harrier jump-jet was finally killed off. Alan Warnes

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SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE! 28 A subscription to AIR International offers great savings on the cover price takes an up-close-and-personal look at the See pages 26 and 66 KNIGHTS OVER CROATIA decision that ended the iconic fighter’s career. 27 for details With the third decade of the 21st century upon us, Croatia is still flying the Soviet MiG-21, the delta-winged 42 MC-21 COMES OF AGE icon of the Cold War era. Vladimir Trendafilovski assesses the International trade sanctions imposed by the West have itinerary of the Croatian Air Force’s robust MiG-21 fleet. prompted Russia to further develop its own civilian aircraft. Piotr Butowski assesses the facts and fantasy around the 74 LIFE IN THE JUMBO YET COVER STORY Irkut MC-21. Once the supreme widebody airliner, the emblematic Boeing 747 seemed an endangered type as its retirement was 44 BRANDENBURG FINALLY TAKES FLIGHT hastened recently but hundreds are continuing to ply the After almost a decade of delays and disasters, and billions skies. Mark Broadbent examines why. over budget, Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt is open for paying passengers. AIR International considers the 80 THE HERO OF AERO technology and operations behind the ill-fated project. During his short tenure as CEO of Prague-based Aero Vodochody, Dieter John achieved some remarkable results. In 50 CONCEPT INSIGHT this candid and revealing interview, Alan Warnes learns how Slovenia-based light aircraft manufacturer, Pipistrel, unveils John re-energised the company, and discovers the secrets of its Nuuva series of autonomous electric vertical take-off and his success. landing (eVTOL) unmanned aerial vehicles, with the aim of revolutionising future aerial cargo delivery missions. 84 TACKLING A DEADLY THREAT The challenge of bird strikes is almost as old as powered 52 SNAP DECISIONS flight itself, but while technology and management measures Germany demonstrated its combat readiness capabilities at intended to reduce these incidents have made great Nörvenich Air Base in 2020 with a large-scale SNAP exercise progress, there are still thousands of occurrences reported (Significance of National Air Power). Babak Taghvaee was present each year, as Tom Batchelor explains. to see how the nation’s military aviation services responded. 90 THE GREAT AMERICAN BONEYARD 56 FRESH LIGHTNINGS AT FORT WORTH Photographer Matt Ellis flies over the Aerospace Maintenance Matt Ellis visits Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan AFB in Base, a vast military complex located in Texas, that serves Tucson, Arizona – a retirement home for over 4,000 planes, as a prime location for photographing Lockheed Martin’s and one of the largest aircraft boneyards in the world. spanking new F-35 Lightning II fighters. 92 FRANCE IN MIDDLE EAST 60 NEW TIME FOR NEO The Dassault Rafale has proved itself in many theatres, Airbus did far more than re-engine the A330 when it created but lately its focus has been combatting terrorism in the the new engine option – neo – A330-800 and A330-900. With Middle East. Jean François Auran details how the French the latter well established and the former only just delivered, Air and Space Force operates the Rafales in the Paul Eden assesses the neo’s place in a transformed market. turbulent region.

January2021 5 COMMERCIAL News by Mark Broadbent ATC measures cut carbon A controller at Cardiff AIR TRAFFIC controllers helped save 2019/20 financial year, according to efficiency through measures such as Airport pictured in more than 30,000 tonnes of carbon NATS. The UK’s air navigation services more direct routings and smoother February 2020 NATS dioxide (CO2) in UK skies during the provider cites improving airspace climbs and descents. In December the agency stated it has enabled fuel and CO2 savings of an average 7% per flight since 2008. Ian Jopson, NATS head of sustainable operations, hailed the “further progress improving the environmental efficiency of our operation”, but acknowledged that with the UK’s net-zero carbon by 2050 target, “more demonstrable action is expected of us”. Current historically low traffic levels due to the COVID-19 pandemic present an opportunity, said NATS operations director, Juliet Kennedy: “The pressures of our very high traffic levels normally constrain our ability to try out new things, but we have the chance to do that now.” Various research projects to help boost efficiency continue, including demand capacity balancing, cross-border queue management, time-based separation and point merge. Cranfield preps for ‘flying lab’ CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY is preparing to replacing Jetstream 31, G-NFLA (c/n 637). Authority. Previously on the US register as This Saab 340B has replaced the Jetstream 31 receive its new Saab 340B, to be used by the The Bedfordshire university acquired the Saab N456XJ, it was operated from new in 1998 as Cranfield’s ‘flying lab’ National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC) for in 2019 and has now received its registration, by now-defunct Mesaba Airlines on regional Cranfield University aerospace research and development activities, G-NFLB (c/n 456), from the Civil Aviation routes for Northwest Airlines and Delta. All Cranfield’s aircraft support teaching, research and consultancy. The university describes the Saab, known as the flying engineering laboratory or flying classroom, as “a facility virtually unique in the European academic sector”. Cranfield alumni and friends have been progressing towards a £3 million fundraising target since April 2019, enabling them to purchase the aircraft and begin modifications to transform it into a bespoke research platform. Students will have access to an improved interface. Flight and aircraft performance data will be displayed on a computer tablet mounted into the headrest of the seat in front of them so they can validate their theoretical studies. Cranfield pilot, Rob Harrison, commented: “The Saab provides a significant increase in capability. It is a larger aircraft and will allow us to fly more students as part of their engineering and aerospace courses. It also allows us to carry out more research and industrial collaboration work.”

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERS Inc has received a US Federal Aviation EMBRAER NOW has a Service Bulletin that enables operators of its Administration supplementary type certificate authorising it to add the Split 50-seat ERJ145 regional jet to retrofit high-efficiency particulate air Scimitar Winglets to its Boeing 737-800SF freighter conversions. Developed (HEPA) filters to the passenger cabin to prevent potential transmission by Aviation Partners Boeing, the Split Scimitar has been a production line-fit of viruses on board. Installation of filters is under way and Embraer is and retrofit for 737NGs since 2014 to help operators reduce fuel burn. expecting to complete the same initiative for the ERJ135/140 soon. 6 January2021 News COMMERCIAL

Airlines are preparing to distribute billions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines Delta Air Lines

Air cargo in crucial vaccine role COVID-19 AS GLOBAL COVID-19 vaccinations sector include the availability of temperature-controlled Miami to South America using a Boeing 777-200 in order begin – with the UK becoming the facilities and monitoring equipment at airports as well as to, the airline stated, “stress-test the thermal packaging first country to start mass immunisation – air cargo is efficient routings for flights carrying the vaccine. Other and operational handling process”. gearing up to distribute consignments. issues identified by IATA are the need to operate curfews Delta has opened dedicated warehouses facilities at its Cargo aircraft availability should not be a problem, so that flights can land, granting ground handling priority US hubs, co-ordinated with cargo partners according to an HSBC Global Banking and Markets and staff training. Air France-KLM and Virgin Atlantic, enhanced briefing note, which said: “The world’s top 20 air-cargo Brandon Fried, the executive director of the pharmaceutical delivery protocols and introduced flyers alone operate nearly 1,000 widebody freighters.” Airforwarders Association, reflected in a December “pharma-ready cargo-only charter options”. Airlines routinely transport medicines, but the scale 2020 Air Cargo News column: “Successful distribution Emirates SkyCargo will reopen its freight terminal at involved and the need to maintain consistently cold of billions of doses will depend on how well all the Dubai World Central to serve as a hub for cold chain temperatures on many supplies (down to -80ºC on the stakeholders can co-ordinate…so the vaccine is delivered storage and distribution. Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that has been approved in the with minimum risk.” In Asia, Indian carrier SpiceJet’s freight division, UK) makes the logistics challenging. Major airlines have already acted. Although a vaccine SpiceXpress, has also responded by launching a new The International Air Transport Association (IATA) was yet to be approved in the US in early December, service that aims to deliver “reliable, fast and secure” states that key distribution considerations for the aviation American Airlines’ cargo team conducted trial flights from transportation of temperature-sensitive goods. Airlines pin recovery hope on V-days - THE COVID-19 pandemic a US Congress bill proposed by 30 Democrat and financial outlook, also issued in November, forecasts COVID 19 continues to have a bruising Republican senators has earmarked around US$17bn a combined US$22bn loss for European and North impact on carriers worldwide. For example, easyJet for payroll support for US airlines. At the same time, American airlines in 2021, and easyJet said it posted the first annual loss in its 25-year history in the AirAsia Group disclosed in its Q3 results it will cut expects to fly no more than 20% of its planned November as revenues fell 52.9% and passenger its fleet by 23 aircraft. capacity in the first three months of 2021. numbers dropped by 50% to 48.1 million. Elsewhere, The International Air Transport Association’s latest Some remain more optimistic, relying on the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to help operators restore flight Carriers are confident that air travel schedules. Norwegian CEO, Jacob Schram, reported demand will bounce back NATS in the carrier’s November results that “bookings are increasing” and Fritz Joussen, CEO of leisure group TUI, believes “the market is intact, the demand is there”. Steven Udvár-Hazy, CEO of the lessor Air Lease, told Flightglobal: “The demand could be satisfied if people feel comfortable [that] they can get through the airport experience and the onboard experience… without a high degree of risk.” Speaking during the signing ceremony for more Boeing 737s, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, said: “We have got to look forward with confidence. Vaccines are coming in the first quarter of next year. There will be a very strong recovery.” January2021 7 COMMERCIAL News by Mark Broadbent Alliance approval for Aer Lingus of the joint business, known as the oneworld Lingus to the joint venture would increase Immunised Alliance. In a statement it said: oneworld’s share to 59%. “Our analysis indicates that adding Aer Lingus However, it stated that competition exists to the existing joint business will result in (United Airlines and Delta Air Lines also public benefits that are greater than any operate in the US-Ireland market) and said potential competitive harm stemming from the barriers for further entrants are limited. A proposed joint business.” DOT statement added: “The Department is Aer Lingus has been owned by the proposing, as a condition of approval, that International Airlines Group (IAG), also the the carriers continue to comply with certain parent company of BA and Iberia, and applied slot remedies at London airports that were Aer Lingus’ membership IRISH FLAG carrier, Aer Lingus, has received to be part of the joint venture in December imposed when the oneworld alliance was of a transatlantic joint tentative approval from the US Department 2018. Both Delta Air Lines and JetBlue initially approved in 2010, and as have business venture has of Transportation (DOT) to join the existing Airways made representations to the DOT been extended by the UK’s Competition and been approved Airbus antitrust-immune transatlantic alliance that outlining concerns about the potential impact Markets Authority while it completes its own includes American Airlines, British Airways, on transatlantic competition. investigation into the oneworld alliance. Iberia and Finnair. In November, the DOT noted that Aer Lingus “The Department is also proposing that The DOT said its provisional ruling would was the largest player in the US-Ireland air the carriers remove exclusivity clauses in enable Aer Lingus to be integrated into the travel market with a 44% share before the their alliance agreements and to review the network planning, pricing and sales activities impact of COVID-19 and that adding Aer alliance after five years.”

MAX takes to skies again The Rio de Janeiro-based THE MAX 737 returned to commercial flight Boeing to address factors cited as registered with US operators and other carrier was the first to fly on December 9, soon after a worldwide contributing to the October 2018 Lion regulators must authorise the jet to fly fare-paying passengers ban was lifted by regulators. Air and March 2019 Ethiopian Airlines again within their jurisdictions. In its FAQs on the Boeing 737 MAX Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes operated accidents. Software enhancements, wire Boeing notes: “We continue to work with in nearly two years AirTeamImages.com/ the first flight between the Brazilian cities separation modifications and pilot training these regulators as they take their own Steven Marquez of Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre, according to are mandated in the directive. actions to return the airplane to service for data from FlightRadar24. Operators will have to upgrade their their air carriers.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aircraft and train crews accordingly and On November 25 the Brazilian regulator, had issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) Boeing must install the software changes ANAC, rescinded its AD on grounded 2020-24-02, rescinding the March 2019 to completed but undelivered jets. commercial operations of the jet in its grounding order on the aircraft following As AIR International went to press, country – GOL restarted MAX-operated links two fatal crashes just months apart (see uncertainty surrounded when the 737 MAX in December. also pages 42-43). would return to wider revenue service, Meanwhile, EASA issued a safety directive Clearance followed extensive testing although American Airlines had tentatively saying it will parallel the FAA’s technical and comprehensive reviews of updates scheduled December 29, 2020 as a date for requirements and that it considers the to the aircraft’s software, training and the resumption of operations. corrective actions “adequately address” maintenance that were developed by The AD covers only 737 MAX aircraft issues that led to the grounding.

THE SEOUL Central District Court has declined a request to bar RYANAIR ORDERED another 75 Boeing 737 MAX 8-200s in December 2020, Korean Air’s parent, Hanjin HAL, from issuing new shares to the becoming the first airline to sign for the type since the jet’s return to service state-run Korea Development Bank. The move marks a step forward was cleared recently. The Dublin-headquartered carrier is now committed in Korean Air’s plans to become Asiana Airlines’ top shareholder to 210 examples of the MAX 8-200, a higher-density 200-seat version, and and take control of its fellow South Korean carrier. hopes to receive up to 30 deliveries by summer 2021.

8 January2021 News COMMERCIAL

Right-sizing returns to the market

EMBRAER’S LATEST Commercial Market of jets will go to North America (1,520 Embraer Commercial Aviation president and Despite developing the Outlook examines new aircraft deliveries units) and Asia-Pacific (1,220) and most CEO, Arjan Meijer, said: “What goes around E195-E2 (pictured) the over the next decade, focusing on the turboprops to Asia-Pacific (490 units) and comes around. If you look back 20 years we Brazilian manufacturer is set to focus on smaller Brazilian manufacturer’s market segment: Europe (190). talked about right-sizing. In the growth from regional jets Embraer regional aircraft with up to 150 seats. The manufacturer sees several trends 2008 to 2019 we saw a trend of adding more The late November-issued report shaping future regional aircraft demand: seats into the market and bigger aircraft, but forecasts 5,500 new regional aircraft post-COVID-19 recovery, regionalisation we really see that trend is going to change. We deliveries to 2029 comprising 4,420 jets generating new traffic flows, passenger see much more focus on right-sizing again in and 1,080 turboprops. Three-quarters of preference for shorter-haul flights and a the sub-150 seats segment.” the jets will be replacements for older renewed focus on efficiency. It also sees Meijer said Embraer Commercial Aviation aircraft and the remainder for market more focus on ‘right-sizing’, using aircraft is no longer for sale and the division had growth, Embraer predicts. with appropriate seat counts for missions been “reintegrated” back into Embraer; the The company forecasts the majority in certain markets. During a presentation, company restructuring in 2020. Fireliners aim to boost US Forest Service MAX takes to skies again COULSON AVIATION has received a five-year contract with the United States Forest Service (USFS) to provide aerial firefighting capabilities to the service with its 737 Fireliner. A Boeing 737-300 converted into an aerial firefighter, the Fireliner has a 4,000 US gal tank able to carry water or retardant, and a new advanced delivery system called the RADS-XXL/2 designed, manufactured and installed by the Coulson Group. This is the first such conversion for a 737. Coulson has undertaken three so far, all on ex-Southwest Airlines aircraft: on N137CG (c/n 27700, ex-Southwest N617SW, aka Tanker 137), then N138CG (c/n 27928, previously N608SW, aka Tanker 138) and N619SW (c/n 28035). initially leasing it in the 2018/19 Australian colour scheme ahead of conducting missions Boeing 737 Fireliners are Tanker 138 is now with the New South summer. Now known as Bomber 210, the jet in New South Wales and Victoria operated by now contracted to the US Wales Government Rural Fire Service after was repainted in October 2020 into a new Coulson’s Australian subsidiary. Forest Service Coulson Group

SERVICE INTRODUCTION of the smallest Embraer E-Jets E2 regional SOME AIRLINERS continue operating as temporary freighters offering jet model, the E175-E2, is now planned for the second half of 2023. additional cargo capacity. The International Airlines Group (IAG) has Embraer Commercial Aviation president and CEO, Arjan Meijer, converted an Iberia Airbus A330 with 33 cargo positions. Netting fastened confirmed the variant’s service entry has been delayed but insisted there to floor rails, where the seats were anchored, offers 200m2 cargo volume. is a “good market” despite there being no orders in the backlog. Emirates A380s are now operating as what it calls ‘mini freighters’ on links. January2021 9 MILITARY News by Dave Allport Japan retires its final Phantoms Japan Air Self-Defense Force/301 Squadron McDonnell-Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, serial number 07-8436, is pictured here ready for the type’s retirement ceremony in a hangar at Hyakuri Air Base, Omitama, on November 20. There was a final flight earlier in the day by the last two operational examples, although a few will continue flying on trials work with the air development and test wing at Gifu in central Japan. In due course, 301 Squadron will re-form as the second JASDF Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II unit JASDF/Hyakuri Air Base Brazil receives first upgraded E-99M FAB at Gavião Peixoto on November 27. All five of the FAB’s E-99s, which are based on the ERJ145 regional airliner, are being modernised under the programme. Work is being co-ordinated by the Comissão Coordenadora do Programa Aeronave de Combate (COPAC – Combat Aircraft Programme Co-ordinating Committee) in conjunction with major suppliers including Embraer, Saab, Aeroelectronica International and Rohde & Schwarz. As part of this process, the aircraft has been equipped with Saab’s Erieye-ER active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which has been adapted to meet specific FAB requirements. Newly upgraded EMBRAER HAS delivered the Brazilian Air from the company’s Gavião Peixoto facility to The E-99M also features updated mission Brazilian Air Force E-99M Force’s (FAB’s) first upgraded Embraer 2 Wing at Anápolis, where it will be operated systems and related subsystems, including serial number 6702 E-99M Guardiäo (‘Guardian’) airborne early by the Second Squadron of the Sixth Aviation new communication, command and arriving at Anápolis to rejoin 2°/6° GAV – the warning and control aircraft. On December 3, Group (2°/6° GAV) – the ‘Guardian’ Squadron. control, electronic warfare and electronic ‘Guardian’ Squadron FAB the aircraft, serial number 6702, was flown It had been formally handed over to the countermeasure equipment. French Navy eyes Falcon 2000 DURING A visit to the Dassault Aviation plant communications, Link 22 tactical data link, The 12 new Albatros will replace the eight in Seclin, northern France, on November 19, observation windows and a search and rescue Falcon 50M and the five Falcon 200 Guardian the French Minister of the Armed Forces, beacon detector, plus the capability to drop operated by the French Navy. The first three Florence Parly announced planned purchase of life-rafts and smoke markers. are scheduled for delivery by 2025, enabling a new Avion de Surveillance et d'Intervention A total of 12 will be acquired; a contract for the older Falcons to be withdrawn between Maritime (AVSIMAR – Maritime Surveillance and the first seven was due to be signed before the 2025 and 2030. Parly said that the Albatros Intervention Aircraft), dubbed the Albatros. end of 2020. The first 2000LXS will be built in will be based in New Caledonia and Tahiti, as It will be based on the Dassault Falcon France; the rest produced in India under a 2016 well as at Lann-Bihoué in France. They will also 2000LXS, fitted with a Thales SearchMaster Rafale contract offset arrangement. However, the operate from Dakar, Sénégal and occasionally surface surveillance radar, Safran Euroflir conversion work for all 12 Falcon 2000LXS into from the West Indies, Guyana and French 410 electro-optical infra-red turret, satellite the Albatros configuration will be in France. bases in the Indian Ocean.

A FURTHER three F-35B Lightning IIs have been delivered to the Royal MALI HAS placed an order for a second C295M military transport aircraft. Air Force. The aircraft, ZM153, ZM154 and ZM155, were flown from Airbus Defence and Space announced the order for the aircraft on December the factory in Fort Worth, Texas, to RAF Marham, Norfolk, where they 2, stating that it will join the Malian Republic Air Force fleet in 2021. The first arrived on November 30. This brings the UK-based fleet to 21 aircraft. C295M, in service since December 2016, has accumulated 1,770 flight hours, transporting more than 38,000 passengers and 900 tonnes of cargo. 10 January2021 News MILITARY US approves $23bn arms package to UAE A MASSIVE proposed sale to the United Arab including associated equipment. The deal would Stand Off Weapons (JSOW); 50 AGM-154E JSOW- Emirates, worth $23bn, including F-35A Lightning include four spare Pratt & Whitney F-135 engines, Extended Range; 150 AGM-88E Advanced Anti- IIs, MQ-9B UAVs and a whole host of weapons, has electronic warfare systems; Command, Control, Radiation Guided Missile tactical missiles; and much been approved by the US State Department. Details Communications, Computer and Intelligence/ associated equipment. of the planned acquisitions were revealed by the US Communications, Navigational and Identification (C4I/ The UAV requirement, valued at an estimated Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) on CNI); Autonomic Logistics Global Support System total of $2.97bn, comprises 18 weapons-ready November 10, when the DSCA confirmed approval (ALGS) and Operational Data Integrated Network MQ-9Bs, plus equipment that includes 25 Raytheon had been granted and Congress notified. (ODIN), along with training, spares and support. Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems-D (MTS-D) EO/ As the DSCA notes, these proposed sales represent The armament request is valued at approximately IR Sensors; 19 Lynx AN/APY-8 Synthetic Aperture a significant increase in capability for the UAE and $10bn and covers a wide range of munitions. These Radars (SAR) with Ground Moving Target Indicator will alter the regional military balance. In the case of include 802 AIM-120C8 Advanced Medium Range (GTMI); 18 RIOTM Communication Intelligence each sale, the DSCA states: “This proposed sale will Air-to-Air Missiles; 2,004 Mk 82 500lb General Systems; and a wide range of other equipment. support the foreign policy and national security of Purpose (GP) bombs; 72 Mk 82 Inert 500lb GP Weapons requested include 515 AGM-114R the United States by helping to improve the security Bombs; 1,000 Mk 84 2,000lb GP Bombs; 1,002 Mk Hellfire missiles and small numbers of various of an important regional partner. The UAE has been, 83 1,000lb GP Bombs; and 2,500 Small Diameter other armaments. The DSCA says the MQ-9Bs will and continues to be, a vital US partner for political Bomb Increment 1 (SDB-1); 2,000 Joint Direct Attack be used for timely Intelligence, Surveillance and stability and economic progress in the Middle East.” Munition (JDAM) Tail Kits for 500lb bombs; 1,000 Reconnaissance (ISR), target acquisition, locating The most significant element is a request to JDAM Tail Kits for 2,000lb bombs; and 1,000 JDAM submarines and counter-land and counter-surface purchase 50 F-35As, at an estimated cost of $10.4bn, Tail Kit for 1,000lb bombs; 650 AGM-154C Joint sea capabilities for its security and defence. First AH-64Es Apaches arrive in UK A MILESTONE has been reached in the Army Air Corps (AAC) AH-64E Apache programme with the arrival of the first two helicopters in the UK. Both of them, ZM704 and ZM705, arrived on board an RAF C-17A Globemaster III at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire on November 24. They were transported from there by road to Wattisham Flying Station, Suffolk, the AAC’s main operational Apache base. These AH-64Es, which are to the latest Version 6 standard, are not expected to begin flying in the UK until July 2021. Initially, these will be flight trials, followed by instructional technique development for the aircrews’ transition from the AH1. The focus will then change to the full rate conversion training of 3 Regiment, the first unit to re-equip with Army Air Corps AH-64E ZM704 being unloaded from RAF C-17A Globemaster III ZZ177 at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, the new variant. A total of 50 of the new on November 24. The helicopter was one of two arriving on that date, both of which were moved by road to the helicopters are on order. AAC base at Wattisham, Suffolk, two days later British Army USMC’s first F-35C sqn ready to deploy MARINE FIGHTER Attack Squadron 314 Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, arrived on January 21, 2020. To receive the (VMFA-314) ‘Black Knights’ declared as part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. IOC qualification, squadrons had to meet initial operational capability (IOC) with the The IOC declaration is a major milestone, the Headquarters Marine Corps standards. Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II on enabling VMFA-314 to deploy its F-35Cs to These define the minimum number of December 2. VMFA-314 is the first US Marine US Navy aircraft carriers to support combat trained marines, mission-ready aircraft and Corps unit to be equipped with the F-35C operations anywhere in the world. The Black trained pilots needed in order for a squadron carrier variant. The squadron is based at Knights squadron’s first F-35C at Miramar to be designated as IOC complete.

A SECOND Mi-171E, serial number NAF582, was delivered to the FRANCE’S MINISTER for the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, confirmed Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on December 2. It is the final example of two on November 20 that three more E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes are being brand-new examples ordered by the Federal Government and arrived purchased for the French Navy. The acquisition had been approved by the at NAF Base Makurdi on board a commercial Il-76TD. This follows entry defence ministry on November 4. First delivery is expected in 2027 and they into service of the first helicopter, NAF581, on February 6, 2020. will replace the French Navy’s three older model E-2Cs. January2021 11 MILITARY News by Dave Allport Private firm to train German Orion crew

Four of the five former Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orions, now owned by MHD-Rockland, at their base at Keystone Heights Airport, Florida, where they are to be used for training German Navy P-3C Orion crews MHD-Rockland ESG AEROSYSTEMS of Starke, Florida, engineer, instructor flight engineer and that MHD-Rockland (MHD-R) will act as was awarded a $64.7m firm-fixed-price, flight currency training. sole-source sub-contractor to provide the indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity This work is in support of US Naval aircraft. The training was due to start in foreign military sales (FMS) contract on Education and Training Security Assistance December 2020 at the ESG Aerosystems November 9 for training of German Navy Field Activity’s applicable field units and training facility within the MHD-R Flight P-3C Orion crews. other programme offices and stakeholders. Operations Facilities located at Keystone The award by the Contracting Department The contract includes a five-year ordering Heights Airport, Florida. of US Naval Supply Systems Command period with no options and is expected The airfield is home to five MHD-R AP-3C Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, involves to be completed by November 2025. This Orions acquired in 2018 from the Royal development of a curriculum and contract is 100% financed by Federal Australian Air Force. The new commercial facilitating training for P-3 aircrew Republic of Germany funds under the FMS P-3 aircrew training programme aims to positions including co-pilots, patrol programme. Providing more details in an fill the gap left by closure of US Navy P-3C plane commander, instructor pilot, flight announcement on November 26, ESG said training unit, VP-30. Dutch Apaches depart for upgrade One of the RNLAF AH-64Ds years per helicopter. Prior to shipment, the at Woensdrecht after being helicopters had been delivered to the RNLAF stripped and prepared for Logistics Centre at Woensdrecht, where they shipment to the US for upgrade to the AH-64E were dismantled and prepared for shipment. Dutch Ministry of Defence Once this was completed, they were loaded onto trucks and driven by road to Antwerp on November 15 to be loaded onto the ship. They were due to arrive in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 4. From there they will continue by road to Huntsville, Alabama, before finally arriving at Mesa. Over the next few years, all 28 of the RNLAF’s AH-64D will go through this same process so that, ultimately, the entire fleet will be in AH-64E configuration. The next batch is due for shipment to the US in February 2021. The first to be upgraded are due to be returned to Defence Helicopter Command in the Netherlands in mid-2023, THE FIRST three Royal Netherlands Air Force November 19. They are being delivered back while the final examples should arrive back (RNLAF) AH-64D Apaches for remanufacture to the manufacturer’s facility in Mesa, Arizona, in early 2025. to AH-64E standard departed by ship from where they will undergo a complete rebuild and The upgrade is expected to see the type the port of Antwerp, Belgium, for the USA on overhaul, a process that will take about two remain in RNLAF service into the 2050s.

TRAINING OF aircrew on the Lockheed Martin AC-130J Ghostrider RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES was awarded a $235m multi-year is to move to Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The decision to procurement contract by US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) transfer the AC-130J Formal Training Unit from Hurlburt Field, Florida, for the production and delivery of the Silent Knight radar on December was announced by the Secretary of the Air Force on November 20. The 1. Completion is expected by July 2025. This terrain-following/terrain- transfer is scheduled to begin in summer 2022. avoidance radar, with initial production ordered in June 2019, will be 12 January2021 integrated onto USSOCOM aircraft. News MILITARY

Second King Air 350ER VADER arrives

The second French Air Force King Air 450ER VADOR special mission aircraft, 1030/F-RACH was delivered on December 2 to Escadron Électronique Aéroporté 01.54 Dunkerque at Base Aérienne 105 Évreux/Fauville. The fi rst had been delivered on August 5 French AF Offutt bids farewell to Constant Phoenix OFFUTT AIR Force Base, Nebraska, bid farewell to Boeing WC-135C Constant Phoenix ‘Nuke Sniffer’ serial number 62-3582 on November 16, when it departed the base for the final time. It was flown initially to Greenville-Majors Airport, Texas, where equipment that can be re-used will be removed before it makes its final flight to be placed in storage with the 309th Aerospace USAF/45th Reconnaissance Regeneration and Maintenance Group at Squadron WC-135C 62- Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. 3582 receives a send-off The 45th Reconnaissance Squadron had as it departs from Offutt flown the aircraft more than 1,300 times AFB, Nebraska, for the fi nal to include over 29,000 flight hours, with time on November 16 USAF/Tech Sgt William O’Brien members of Detachment 1, Air Force Technical Applications Center, serving as special the air force as a KC-135A Stratotanker, the the fleet is scheduled to be replaced by the equipment operators collecting particulates aircraft was first converted to an EC-135C end of 2022 by three new WC-135Rs, which and gaseous effluents and debris across the Looking Glass before its transition into its are being converted from KC-135R tankers. globe. Prior to leaving, it had flown its last WC-135 configuration in 1998. In its various The parts stripped from the retired WC-135C, mission from Offutt on November 2, which was guises, it flew more than 29,689 hours, which including air foils and some other mission followed by an official retirement ceremony on included 72,251 landings. equipment, will be incorporated into the new November 13. One of only two WC-135s in the entire USAF WC-135Rs, which are shortly due for delivery Originally built in 1962 and delivered to inventory (the other is WC-135W 61-2667), from the Big Safari team. Indian Navy receives more P-8I aircraft BOEING HAS begun delivery of a batch of as part of the Western Naval Command four additional P-8I maritime patrol aircraft fleet. All eight of the previously delivered to the Indian Navy. The first of these, IN328 P-8Is carry ‘ARK’ tail codes and are ‘DAB’ (c/n 64890), departed from Boeing operated by Indian Naval Air Squadron Field, Seattle, Washington, on November 14 312 at INS Rajali, Arakkonam, as part of on its delivery flight. Eastern Naval Command. The new batch Of note is the ‘DAB’ tail code, indicating of four were held as options on the original that it will be the first to be based at Indian contract and have been turned into firm The ninth Indian Navy P-8I, IN328 ‘DAB’, climbs away from Boeing Field Naval Station (INS) Hansa in Dabolim, Goa, orders, bringing the fleet to 12 aircraft. to begin its delivery fl ight on November 14 Boeing

BELL TEXTRON was awarded a $21.6m ﬁ rm-ﬁ xed-price contract by the LOCKHEED MARTIN was awarded a $193.9m US Naval Air Systems US Army on December 3 to procure commercial Bell 407, 412, 429, 505 Command contract on October 26 for the production and delivery of and Huey II basic aircraft. Bids were solicited via the internet, but only four MH-60R helicopters to the Government of Greece for operation by one was received. Work locations and funding will be determined with the Hellenic Navy. The award also exercises a $13.9m option to procure each order, with an estimated completion date of December 30, 2021. three airborne low frequency sonars. Contract completion is anticipated in February 2025. January2021 13 UAV FOCUS by Mark Broadbent TriFan 200 targets faster deliveries TWO UNITED States developers, XTI Aircraft of cargo more than 200nm and speed up the and the city centres. The XTI TriFan 200 will and VerdeGo Aero, are working on an last few miles of delivery. enable significant time to be removed from unmanned and autonomous rotary-wing A statement revealed: “Surface transportation both ends of the journey.” aircraft for cargo delivery. in highly congested global cities currently takes The developers add the TriFan 200 will be Denver, Colorado-based XTI, and VerdeGo in up to 90 to 120 minutes for urgent cargo to applicable for longer-range transportation Florida will develop the TriFan 200 to fly 227kg travel between air cargo hubs at major airports in remote locations without infrastructure, including military logistics. Combining VerdeGo’s An artist’s impression of 180kW diesel hybrid-electric generator with the TriFan 200 XTI/VerdeGo the firm’s high-power battery pack will reduce emissions and fuel burn by 35% compared with conventional turbine powertrains. According to both of the companies: “Utilising globally available Jet-A fuel means no new infrastructure is necessary, and aircraft utilising VerdeGo’s hybrid systems are ready for the biofuel Jet-A substitutes now [currently] under development.” VerdeGo Aero has performed initial tests to validate its hybrid-electric powertrain at power output levels above 150kW. Its hybrid generator can be combined with battery packs to enable peak power output up to 0.5MW and modular twin generator systems stacked for 360kW continuous and 1MW peak output, the companies reported. AI for the Reaper GENERAL ATOMICS Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) has been awarded a US$93.3m contract from the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) to enhance the autonomous sensing capabilities of unmanned aircraft. Artificial intelligence will The JAIC Smart Sensor project aims be tested on the MQ-9 to advance artificial intelligence (AI) US Air Force/Senior Airman Isaiah J Soliz technology by demonstrating object recognition algorithms using an unmanned aircraft, as well as employing AI on board the UAV to control the aircraft’s sensors and direct autonomous flight. The technology will be tested on the MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft configured with multiple sensors, including GA-ASI’s Reaper Defense Electronic Support System and Lynx synthetic aperture radar. GA-ASI’s Metis system, an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tasking/ intelligence-sharing application, will command the MQ-9. Vice-president of strategic development at GA-ASI, J R Reid, said the technology will provide “a tremendous increase in unmanned systems capabilities for applications across the full range of military operations”.

ALL FIVE NATO Northrop Grumman RQ-4D Phoenix Alliance Ground THE US Navy recently achieved a first: delivering cargo to a submarine Surveillance (AGS) aircraft are now at their Sigonella, Sicily main operating by UAV. A small rotary-winged system from Californian developer, base. The system will be handed over to the NATO AGS Force “in the coming Skyfront, dropped a payload to the USS ‘Henry M Jackson’ near the months”, a NATO statement said. The first pair of Phoenix examples arrived in Hawaiian Islands. The flight was part of efforts to test techniques and late 2019 followed by two more in July 2020. procedures for using UAVs to replenish vessels underway at sea.

14 January2021 UAV FOCUS ‘Mast in the sky’

A CAMBRIDGE-BASED company has Unlike other HAP/HAPS aircraft such as the The UK company called the flight “the Stratospheric Platforms’ joined the high-altitude platform/pseudo Airbus Zephyr and HAPSMobile Sunglider, the world’s first successful demonstration of high high-flying telecoms satellite (HAP/HAPS) stable as connectivity SPL platform will not be powered by solar speed 4G data and voice connectivity via a platform will take flight in 2022 via stratosphere level unmanned flights energy. Instead it will use hydrogen fuel cells, remotely piloted aircraft operating [within] Stratospheric Platforms continues to grow. which Deakin said meets high energy and the stratosphere”. Stratospheric Platforms Limited (SPL) is low weight requirements. The power system Further flights will test an advanced developing a long endurance unmanned has been adapted from the automotive 5G-capable antenna design offering platform powered by hydrogen fuel cells industry and features an insulated tank to coverage of up to 140km diameter in various to operate as a telecoms mast in the high store fuel for long flights. frequencies and wavelengths, as well as altitudes of the stratosphere. Described as a “mast in the sky” the 9m² aircraft installation and environmental Cambridge Consultants’ offshoot SPL antenna carried by the aircraft can create any regulatory requirements. is working on the project with Deutsche cell pattern on the ground. Initial prototype A statement from the firm said its Telekom AG’s T-Mobile division and familiar testing is planned for 2022 and initial technology “will deliver high quality 4G and aerospace names Scaled Composites, Thales operational deployment around two years later. 5G ubiquitous coverage more and Northrop Grumman, among others. SPL undertook proof-of-concept testing by cost-effectively” than ground masts, According to a presentation by SPL chief mounting its antenna on Grob G520T Egrett, improving broadband and mobile connectivity executive officer, Richard Deakin, the D-FHHH (c/n 10200), which flew remotely up in rural or unserved areas. airframe will be produced from lightweight to 45,000ft above Bavaria, from where voice, Deakin added: “We have operated quietly carbon fibre, have a 60m wingspan, be able video and data calls and video streaming to for the last five years to ensure that we to carry a 140kg payload, operate at 60,000ft a standard smartphone linked into the DT significantly de-risked the key technologies and remain airborne for up to nine days. terrestrial network were demonstrated. before revealing the company to the world.” Wisk and NASA team up MOUNTAIN HOME, California-based urban air mobility (UAM) developer, Wisk, is to work with NASA on integrating autonomous aircraft into the United States’ civil airspace. Wisk is developing an all-electric self-flying air taxi and the company’s contribution in NASA’s Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign will involve development of key guidance for UAM and addressing certification challenges. Critical safety scenarios are a key area in the partnership, as emphasised in a Wisk statement saying there will be “a focus on autonomous flight and contingency management, including collision avoidance and flight path management”. Through the partnership, NASA and Wisk intend and flight procedures, minimum performance public confidence and accelerate the Wisk and NASA are to to evaluate architectures, perform simulation requirements and standards. realisation of emerging aviation markets for jointly explore autonomous studies and develop a framework to assess the NASA launched the Advanced Air Mobility passenger and cargo transportation in urban, flight Wisk impact of autonomous flight on airspace structure National Campaign in August to “promote suburban, rural and regional environments”.

KAWASAKI HEAVY Industries successfully flight-tested its K-RACER DRONE DELIVERIES of goods and services are “a step closer”, claim unmanned compound helicopter at Taiki Aerospace Research Field in Vodafone and Ericsson, after a trial at Vodafone’s Aldenhoven, Germany Hokkaido, Japan. According to the company: “The test proved stable innovation centre. A statement explained the flights ensured “drone flight was possible under autonomous control.” Developed by Kawasaki’s paths avoided areas of poorer network coverage or heavily loaded cells. Aerospace Systems Company, the K-ROTOR has the same supercharged By doing so the drone is guaranteed connectivity from departure point engine used in the company’s Ninja H2R motorcycle. to destination”. January2021 15 ROTARY FOCUS by Mark Broadbent Carrier landing for CMV-22B Osprey

A CMV-22B from VRM THE US Navy landed its Bell/Boeing CMV-22B carrier onboard delivery, retrieval of special V-22 flight from Kisarazu Air Field. The JGSDF 30 lands on the aircraft Osprey tiltrotor on an aircraft carrier for the warfare teams and fleet logistics support had received its first two examples from a carrier USS ‘Carl Vinson’ first time in late November. transport. The US Navy is the third American 17-aircraft order in May. US Navy/Mass An aircraft from the ‘Titans’ of Fleet Logistics service to operate the Osprey – the US Marine Japan is the only non-US customer for the Communication Specialist 3rd Class Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 put down on Corps operates MV-22Bs in the transport role V-22 so far, although last July the US State Aaron T Smith the flight deck of Nimitz-class USS Carl Vinson and the US Air Force has the CV-22B. Department approved a possible Foreign (CVN 70) while the vessel was conducting In the same month, but separately in the Military Sale to Indonesia of eight MV-22 Block routine maritime operations. The CMV-22B V-22 programme, the Japanese Ground Self C Osprey aircraft and related equipment. The will provide combat search and rescue (SAR), Defense Force (JGSDF) conducted its first order has yet to be placed. Police AW119s in Brazil More than 190 Leonardo SIX LEONARDO AW119Kx single-engine helicopters of various helicopters are to be used by the Polícia types operate in Brazil Rodoviária Federal (PRF; Brazilian in private transport, offshore and parapublIc highway police). The first aircraft is roles Leonardo expected to be introduced in Brazil early in 2021, with delivery of the remainder planned for completion by mid-year. Intended for use by the police’s Air Operations Division (DOA) from its bases in the five regions of Brazil, the AW119Kxs will be tasked with various missions, including: transport, rescue, emergency medical service, firefighting, surveillance and law enforcement. The helicopters feature an advanced customised configuration, incorporating a Garmin G1000NXi glass cockpit, an infrared-capable electro-optical system, rescue hoist, cargo hook, a Bambi bucket for firefighting, a rappelling kit on both sides for special forces operations and advanced communication systems.

EXXONMOBIL IS to operate two Airbus H145 helicopters to support THE LITHUANIAN Government has signed a contract for four Sikorsky the Papua New Guinea (PNG) liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. UH-60M Black Hawks plus equipment, spares, training, maintenance and The aircraft will be based at the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant in Hela logistical support. Initial delivery is expected in late 2024. The UH-60Ms will Province of the PNG Highlands and will be used to transport personnel replace the country’s ageing Mi-8Ts, whose operation is “difficult” due to and equipment supporting LNG project operations. “expensive maintenance and complicated” spares provision. 16 January2021 ROTARY FOCUS

Tiger outruns Lynx at sea THE GERMAN Bundeswehr has selected anti-submarine warfare (ASuW/ASW) roles. as an active dipping sonar and passive sonar Germany is due to receive the NHIndustries NH90 NFH (NATO Frigate Eighteen TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) buoys, as well as torpedoes and missiles. 31 of the NHIndustries Helicopter) for shipborne operations with the variants of the NH90 were previously ordered No further details were provided about the NH90 Sea Tigers Airbus Helicopters German Navy. Thirty-one have been ordered, by the Bundeswehr for the German Navy to equipment fit or sensors. with deliveries due to start in 2025. replace Sea Kings. Seven of those helicopters, Other operators of the NH90 NFH are the To be known as the Sea Tiger in German known as the Sea Lion, have been delivered. Marine Nationale (French Navy), which calls service, the helicopter will replace its navy’s The Sea Tiger is based on the Sea Lion it the Caïman, and L’Aviazione per la Marina ageing Sea Lynx Mk88As, which have been configuration, but for ASuW/ASW missions Militare (Italian Naval Aviation), where it is in service since 1981, in the anti-surface/ it will have additional equipment fitted, such known as the SH-90A. Countries collaborate on future lift DEFENCE MINISTERS from France, Germany, Greece, the subsequent need for replacements... The Next concepts”, as reported in the NATO statement, the Italy and the UK recently signed a letter of intent (LOI) on Generation Rotorcraft project aims to develop a project will develop what it refers to as “an entirely the Next Generation Rotorcraft project to jointly develop a solution for these upcoming requirements. In coming new helicopter capability”. new medium multirole helicopter. years, experts from all five nations will cover an NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana A NATO statement read: “A significant number of exhaustive programme of work, starting with defining commented: “By investing our resources and channelling medium multirole helicopter capabilities currently a robust Statement of Requirements and a multi-phase our development initiatives through a multinational operated by allies will reach the end of their life cooperation plan.” Intended to use “recent advances in framework, we are making sure allies are equipped cycle in the 2035-2040 period and beyond, with technology, production methods, as well as operational with the best available capabilities.” EHang 216 in South Korea EXAMPLES OF the two-seater EHang 216 have completed trial flights in three South Korean cities – Seoul, Daegu and Jeju City – as the Chinese developer further urban air mobility (UAM) to ease traffic congestion. The EHang 216 is an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) designed to carry passengers for transportation, emergency medical service and aerial sightseeing. In Seoul, the system took off from Yeouido Island for an autonomous flight over a densely populated area. The second flight, in Suseong District, Daegu selected as pilot sites for the Korean Urban Air using the EHang 216 is planned in the Two-seat EHang 216 urban City involved delivering a fire emergency kit Mobility Roadmap, a Korean Government land, Suseong District, Daegu. Kim Dae-Gweon, mobility vehicles being package. In the last flight on Jeju Island, the infrastructure and transport ministry project the district’s mayor, commented: “To tackle trialled in South Korea as part of efforts to ease system overflew the coast to demonstrate the that aims to commercialise UAM services in the the traffic congestion, we will try our best to traffic congestion EHang case for aerial sightseeing. nation by 2023-2025. develop UAM and turn it into a new engine Seoul, Daegu and Jeju Island were all The launch of more aerial routes in stages for our economic development.”

MAXWELL AFB in Alabama is the preferred location to host the US Air LEONARDO WILL supply an additional 36 TH-73As to the US Navy for the Force Leonardo MH-139A Grey Wolf Formal Training Unit. The MH-139 service’s Advanced Helicopter Training System. The order exercises an will train pilots in providing security for intercontinental ballistic missile option on a firm-fixed-price contract awarded by the US Department of facilities covering parts of the US Midwest. A final basing decision is due Defense in January 2020 for the production and delivery of 32 TH-73As to next winter with the first helicopters arriving in 2023. train US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard pilots. January2021 17 BUSINESS FOCUS by Dave Willis Deliveries slump in third quarter reveal STATISTICS RELEASED by the General aircraft of all types, compared to A total of 24 aircraft were shipped has been less severe. Eight Pilatus Aviation Manufacturers Association on 385 in the same period in 2019. This by Bombardier in the third quarter, PC-24s were handed over in the third November 18 underline the decline in new relatively modest drop in the total hides comprising two Learjet 75s, nine quarter (compared to 11 in the same aircraft deliveries resulting from the global the decrease in the more financially Challenger 350/650s and 13 of its Global period last year), for 24 so far (three COVID-19 pandemic. The data detailed lucrative Citation range, from 135 in family. Demand for the new Global fewer than 2019). Honda Aircraft the industry’s third quarter activity, with the first three quarters of 2019 to 71 models, the 5500, 6500 and 7500, has Company delivered eight HA-420 deliveries in 2020 to September 30 falling in the same period in 2020, and an propped up deliveries (31 so far this HondaJets in the third quarters of both by 12.6% in comparison with the same increase in shipments of the cheaper, year, two more than 2019). The largest 2019 and 2020, although in total it had period last year. The decline was even light, single-engined Cessna 172S, reduction was in the Challenger range: handed over eight more by the end of more marked in the narrower business jet 182T and T206Hs, from 121 to 220. A Bombardier delivered 16 fewer this year. September last year. Deliveries of the segment, which has decreased by 26.7% consequence of this shift in deliveries Gulfstream reported that activity Cirrus SF50 Vision Jet light aircraft are over 2019’s figure. A total of 378 business has been that billings for Textron’s picked up from July, recording “solid” down just five (52 to 47) over last year. jets had been shipped by the end of this fixed-wing aircraft in the first three sales during the third quarter, which is None of the large airliner-derived third quarter, down from 516 in 2019. quarters has nearly halved. continuing into the fourth as discussions business aircraft offered by Airbus Textron Aviation’s Cessna Citation Embraer Executive Jets delivered 21 about sales, flight demonstrations and Corporate Jets and Boeing Business range suffered the greatest reduction aircraft (three Phenom 100s, a single factory visits increase. It handed over 32 Jets (BBJ) were delivered during the in the number of deliveries, accounting Phenom 300 and 15 300Es, and two business jets (seven G280s and third quarter. So far this year, only for only 25 (four Citation M2s, seven Praetor 500s) in the third quarter, just 24 large-cabin 500/550/600/650/650ERs), Airbus has delivered aircraft in the Citation CJ3+s and five CJ4s, three under half of the total it has shipped this down from 38 year-on-year. So far in sector, comprising an ACJ320ceo, an Citation XLS+s, three Latitudes, two year, as it adjusted to the effects of the 2020, the Savannah, Georgia-based ACJ320neo and an ACJ350XWB (the Longitudes, and a single Citation X+) pandemic. So far in 2020, the Brazilian company has shipped 87 aircraft, latter to the German state). Boeing’s of the 167 aircraft it shipped in the manufacturer has handed over 43 compared to 103 during 2019. difficulties with the 737 MAX has third quarter. Over the three quarters aircraft, compared to 63 in 2019, a fall The impact on deliveries at the lighter prevented handover of any BBJ versions of this year, Textron shipped 358 of just under a third. end of the business aircraft spectrum of the airliner. Citations adopted to tackle blazes AERIAL FIREFIGHTING contractor, Coulson Purchased in the summer of 2020, the former US AN/AAS-36 infrared detectors set in an under BELOW: A Cessna 550 Aviation, has acquired four Cessna 550 Citation Customs and Border Protection (CBP) aircraft were fuselage pannier, specialised communications Citation II in Coulson colours at the company’s Port IIs. They will be used to gather and disseminate previously used to detect, track and intercept illegal and mission systems in the cabin and a Universal Alberni facility in information on wildfires to commanders on flights crossing the US border. Most of the CBP Avionics ‘glass cockpit’. British Columbia, Canada the ground and act as lead-in aircraft during fleet was equipped with a Northrop Grumman AN/ Coulson opted to acquire the Citation IIs because Coulson Aviation firefighting operations. APG-66 fire control radar in the nose, Raytheon of the type’s good low and slow flight performance, speed, range and special missions configuration. The alterations made to the airframes for the CBP, approved by the manufacturer and regulatory authorities, make them easier to optimise in the role envisaged by Coulson. They will enter service equipped with a satellite uplink, an FLIR Star SAFIRE 380-HD forward-looking infrared system and a linescan unit. The four aircraft last served the CBP as N4614N (c/n 550-0659), N6775C (c/n 550-0677), N6776T (c/n 550-0680) and N1200N (c/n 550-0681). During September and October, the first three listed had the new registrations N552CG, N550CG and N554CG reserved. The initial aircraft was due to go to Australia on wet-lease by the end of November and is understood to be destined for the New South Wales Rural Fire Service fleet. The second is bound for Chile on fire mapping and lead plane operations, and the third is thought to be a second for Australia, anticipated to be ready in early January. The destination of the fourth aircraft was unknown at the time of writing. 18 January2021 BUSINESS FOCUS

Gulfstreams go further Service Experience has demonstrated an increase of 100nm in the range of the Gulfstream G500 and G600 large cabin, long-range business jets. The company states its G500 can fly 5,300nm at Mach 0.85 and 4,500nm at Mach 0.90; while the G600 can travel 6,600nm and 5,600nm at the same speeds. In addition, the basic operating weight of the G600 has been reduced by 259kg, increasing its full fuel payload to 1,179kg. The G500 entered service in September 2018 and the G600 in August 2019 Gulfstream ‘Commuter’ PC-24 introduced Service Bulletin 42-002. When carrying ten passengers, maximum range at cruise speed drops to 1,400nm from 2,000nm with four passengers. The maiden PC-24 in the revised configuration is due to be delivered to an undisclosed customer based in the United States of America. European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Federal Aviation Administration authorisations LEFT: Certification for ten for the changes were granted in early passengers increases the November 2020. The approval widens the utility and appeal of the appeal of the PC-24 – marketed by the Pilatus PC-24 Pilatus Aircraft manufacturer as the super versatile jet – in PILATUS AIRCRAFT of Stans, Switzerland provides for two additional passengers the light transport and business markets. recently received approval from US to the ‘executive’ version. The aircraft’s Pilatus also offers the PC-24 equipped for an and European authorities for a ten-seat maximum take-off weight remains constant aeromedical evacuation role, having delivered configuration for its PC-24 super-midsize at 8,300kg, which became standard in late such aircraft to the Royal Flying Doctor business jet. The ‘commuter’ layout 2018 following the increase introduced via Service of Australia and other operators. Flexjet receives Praetor 600 FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP company, Flexjet, announced on November 30 that it had added its first Embraer Praetor 600 to its European fleet. The aircraft is offered as part of Flexjet’s Red Label programme, which customises the cabin interior and assigns a flight crew to each aircraft. The jet, G-FHFX, (c/n 55020121), was ordered in October 2019 as part of the operator’s US$1.4bn contract with Embraer Executive Jets for 64 Praetor 500s and 600s, and Phenom 300Es, plus the conversion of Legacy 450s as Praetor 500s. Flexjet became the fleet launch customer for both Praetors, having put the 500 into service in late 2019. The company’s European arm currently operates just more than a dozen aircraft, with the majority of the fleet An Embraer Praetor 600 destined for Flexjet in Europe, outside Embraer Executive Jet’s comprising Nextant 400XTis, plus some Legacy facility in Melbourne, Florida awaiting its delivery flight across the Atlantic Embraer 450s and 600s. January2021 19 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS by Dave Allport

Retired Super Cobra used for research

Former US Marine Corps A RECENTLY-retired US Marine Corps ‘MM-21’ has become the first aircraft Knowledge gained will be integrated into an AH-1W Super Cobra AH-1W Super Cobra has gained a new to be housed at Picatinny for research and AH-1Z for later flights and demonstrations. 160113 ‘MM-21’ arrives lease of life following its transfer to the US development purposes at the US Army There are plans to use the AH-1W to at Picatinny Arsenal, New Army as a trials helicopter. Details of plans Combat Capabilities Development Command prepare the XM915 20mm Gatling weapon, Jersey, for future research and development use for its future use were revealed by the US (CCDC) Armaments Center, also known as under development for the Future Attack at the US Army CCDC Army on November 3. DEVCOM. Prior to being flown in, all sensitive Reconnaissance Aircraft Competitive Armaments Center The helicopter is BuNo 160113 system components and hardware were Prototype (FARA CP), for demonstration US Army/Jesse Glass ‘MM-21’, previously operated by Marine removed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Project Convergence. This is a series of Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773 in New Jersey. continuous demonstrations for the Army (HMLA-773) Detachment A ‘Nomads’ at It will now be used for the engineering to rapidly learn from any new technology Naval Air Station New Orleans, Louisiana. development process, supporting the US in development, and use those lessons Having replaced HMLA-773’s AH-1Ws with Army's Future Vertical Lift (FVL) modernisation to shape the way it fights. Aviation fire new AH-1Z Vipers, the surplus helicopter priority. Although it will not be flown and only control engineers are planning to integrate became available and, on September 17, kept in a lab, it will be used for armament the XM915 weapon, fire control software it was transferred to Picatinny Arsenal in system integration, engineering lessons and computers to build an operational test New Jersey. and research and development projects. environment for the system. Reaper test-fires AIM-9X Block 2 US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper ‘08-4050 ‘OT’, assigned to the 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron, on the ramp at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, on September 3, carrying an AIM-9X Block 2 air-to-air missile. During test firing of the weapon, it was successfully employed against a BQM-167 target drone simulating a cruise missile. This was only the second time an AIM-9 had been launched from a Reaper, the first being in November 2017. Another recent Reaper weapons upgrade has involved the incorporation of new software that allows doubling of AGM-114 Hellfire capacity to enable it to carry eight of those missiles USAF/ Senior Airman Haley Stevens

20 January2021 TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Aerion AS2 wind tunnel testing

US SUPERSONIC aircraft development the Italian border. Using the extensive subsidiary company, Aerion Technologies A model of the Aerion AS2 company, Aerion, has completed wind- testing expertise and facilities at ONERA, – and the wind tunnel testing programme supersonic business jet in tunnel validation of its proposed AS2 Aerion evaluated the aircraft’s high-speed will enable Aerion to negate the need the high-speed wind tunnel at the ONERA facility in business jet. Behind-the-scenes video performance, loads, stability and control at for costly demonstrator aircraft. In turn, France Aerion footage of the tests was released by the both transonic and supersonic velocities. this will accelerate the programme to the company on December 2, after it had Both high- and low-speed wind tunnel final stages of validation ahead of a full earlier announced completion of the tests testing amassed hundreds of simulated production start in 2023. on November 10, 2020. flight hours, representing the equivalent of Manufacturing will take place at the Aerion’s high-speed testing was 78,000nm being flown. company’s new headquarters at Aerion completed in conjunction with French The manufacturer said that a combination Park in Melbourne, Florida, where 300 aerospace research experts ONERA at the of digital modelling – using aerodynamic AS2s are being optimistically planned for latter’s facility in Modane, France, near optimisation tools developed in-house by the first decade of production. C-21A with ‘Delta Fins’ back in service

US AIR Force Materiel Command announced on The aircraft, serial number 84-0135, was programme team had begun to seek funding, US Air Force C-21A Learjet November 25 that the first C-21A Learjet to be modified by Avcon Industries in its facility it took only two days for the modification to be 84-0135, the first with the fitted with new ‘Delta Fins’ on the underside of at Newton City Airport, Kansas. Following approved and made available. Just nine days new Delta Fins, which are clearly visible under the the rear fuselage has been returned to service. completion, it departed from Newton on later, a contract was awarded and then it took rear fuselage, taxies out The decision to carry out the modification came November 10 for Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, only two months from the contract award until the for departure from Newton after several aircraft in the C-21A fleet incurred where it rejoined the 375th Air Mobility Wing’s 375th Operations Group successfully completed City Airport on November flight restrictions due to issues with wing rock/ 458th Airlift Squadron. Having completed the the first flight check – an incredibly rapid 10. After completion of the Dutch roll or ‘tail wagging’, on approach to initial conversion, a similar upgrade is now being acquisition process. modifications, it returned landing. The fitting of the the new fins has been planned for the rest of the C-21A fleet, enabling it Installation will take approximately three weeks to Scott Air Force Base, found to overcome the problem, providing lateral to remain in service for years to come. per aircraft and is expected to be completed on all Illinois, to rejoin the 458th Airlift Squadron USAF/Airman stability. As a bonus, they also increase aircraft The Delta Fin solution has already been certified 19 aircraft in the fleet by October 2021. The total 1st Class Zachary Willis take-off and landing weight capacity. by the Federal Aviation Administration. Once the cost of the installation is $3.5m. January2021 21 GA FOCUS by Martin Needham and Thomas Haynes

RIGHT: Most famous for its appearance in children’s TV show Come Outside which starred Lynda Baron, the René Fournier- Swift transfer for designed type remains popular with GA pilots Martin Needham Firefly support

Small Fly! Just weeks after receiving certification for the Beechcraft King Air 360 and 360ER, Textron Aviation has handed over the maiden example to the type’s launch customer, the Stamoules Produce Company. NORFOLK-BASED SWIFT Aircraft has taken alternatives through the established and “allow owners to operate their aircraft Speaking as the over the support and service provision for the supplemental type certificate process. without disturbance”. California-based business Slingsby T67 Firefly. In a statement released on November 13, The T67 is likely in safe hands with the firm accepted the King Air Swift Aircraft will not own the type the company advised that it was “in the as it previously maintained the Royal Jordanian 360 – its first-ever aircraft certificate for the aircraft as it was process of transferring relevant design Air Force fleet prior to their replacement with purchase – on November surrendered by Marshalls of Cambridge information, moulds and jigs from Marshalls”. It Grob 120TPs. Additionally, it refurbished 22 12, Textron Aviation’s on May 13, 2019 and this process cannot added that it was in communication with former Babcock Defence Services Slingsby senior vice president of be reversed. However, the ownership of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency T67M260s following their retirement from the Sales and flight operations the original design data will enable the (EASA) and the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority to RAF’s Barkston Heath-based No.1 Elementary Rob Scholl said: “This is a company to supply original parts or provide “ensure the transition is as smooth as possible” Flying Training School in 2010. special day for Beechcraft King Air turboprops as we begin a new era for such a beloved aircraft. We are privileged to welcome Stamoules Flying on sunshine Produce Company to the Beechcraft family.” For SAN DIEGO-BASED electric charging allow for longer cross-country flights. handover of its maiden Pipistrel Velis more on the King Air 360, infrastructure firm Beam Global Beam hopes this milestone will show how Electro in November. see ‘Long Live the King’ in successfully completed the world’s first investment in charging infrastructure for The company is poised to begin a zero the November 2020 issue solar powered flight in a production electric ground vehicles can also support emissions micro air service trial with of AIR International. electric aircraft. Using a Pipistrel Alpha expansion of electric aircraft operations. the aircraft and is currently working Electro, the company was able to provide Meanwhile, UK start-up NEBOair has with aviation regulators and insurers to Embraer has joined off-grid, sustainably generated and locally taken delivery of the country’s first obtain a certificate of airworthiness and forces with EDP Brasil, a stored energy to charge the light aircraft. certified electric aircraft following the coverage for the type. subsidiary of Energias de The maiden flight took place at Reedley Portugal and one of the Municipal Airport in Fresno County, largest Brazilian electric California with local officials present. companies, to further Desmond Wheatley, Beam Global CEO, electric aircraft research. said: “The electrification of transportation Through its EDP Smart is taking to the skies… With 40% of division, the Portuguese- greenhouse gas emissions coming from based multinational transportation in California, it’s imperative is to help fund energy to push the envelope in every form of storage and battery mobility. Whether it has two, four or 18 charging technologies wheels, a propeller or four rotors, Beam is for Embraer’s all-electric developing sustainable solutions to deliver demonstrator aircraft project, utilising the clean mobility to all.” EMB-203 Ipanema Joseph Oldham, the aircraft owner, also agricultural aircraft as its brought along his electric Tesla Model 3 test bed. The prototype, car and Zero SR/S motorbike, which were which is already in charged by the Beam unit. development, is due to According to the company, the charging make its maiden flight demonstration has successfully set the during 2021. scene for deployment of similar units at The first solar-powered flight in a production electric aircraft departed from Reedley Municipal strategic airports in San Joaquin Valley to Airport, California Beam 22 January2021 GA FOCUS

Small Fly! Italian manufacturer Mahindra Aerospace Tecnam has been issued a type certificate for its P2010 TDI, a Continental CD-170-powered version of its sleek, high-wing to sell GippsAero four-seater aircraft. Around 250 examples of The TDI variant can be the GippsAero Airvan have fuelled using either diesel been produced since 2000 or JET-A1 and broadens Martin Needham the P2010 range, which includes 180hp and 215hp Avgas and Mogas-powered options. Its four-cylinder CD-170 engine offers cruise-fuel burn ranging from 17 litres/hr at 55% power to 27 litres/hr at 75% power, providing consistent performance up to 8,000ft and allowing operations up to 18,000ft. The CD-170 is the most recently designed and most powerful engine in the CD-100 series. More than 6,000 CD-100s have been delivered and have undertaken around 7.1 million service flight hours. PRODUCTION OF the Mahindra Airvan 8 the move slashed GippsAero’s workforce Mahindra Aerospace has been tight-lipped (formerly the GippsAero Airvan 8) has been from 58 to just 13 by September 20, with about its plans to sell the manufacturer. The US Federal halted and its manufacturer, GippsAero, put the company restructuring to “provide spare However, Australian Flying has reported Aviation Administration up for sale by owner Mahindra Aerospace. parts, technical and maintenance support.” that the Indian company is trying to (FAA) has issued an The Melbourne, Victoria-based airframer The manufacturer’s CEO, Keith Douglas, recoup losses of around AUS$100m and airworthiness directive had advised in August that it would be attributed the decision to a collapse in has priced the airframer accordingly. The (AD) concerning several dramatically reducing its workforce and demand for general aviation utility aircraft magazine also states that it is aware of “at Piper Aircraft PA-28 ceasing production of its eight-seat, during the first half of 2020, adding that least two US-based companies and one and PA-32 models. Lycoming IO-540-powered utility aircraft. it may take three years for the market to Australian organisation [which have] made The AD, which is due Smart Aviation Asia-Pacific reported that return to pre-COVID-19 levels. representations to Mahindra.” to take effect from December 28, was published after the regulator received reports of corrosion in an area of the main LAA to mark 75th wing spar that is not easily accessible for inspection. It requires close scrutiny of both anniversary with tour left and right main spars and, should THE UK’S Light Aircraft Association (LAA) of stops at Shobdon, Wolverhampton/ 31, with the last leg of the trip calling in at corrosion be found, has outlined plans for a ten-day tour taking in Halfpenny Green or Caernarfon Airport Leicester Airport – which hosted the 1979 necessary corrective airfields across England, Scotland and Wales before under-wing camping at City Airport and 1980 Popular Flying Association rallies actions must be taken. between May 22 and 31, 2021 to celebrate Manchester (Barton). – before returning to Sywell. The FAA has advised its 75th anniversary. On its fourth day, the tour crosses into In a statement outlining the tour’s planned the PA-28-140, The tour will begin from Sywell, Scotland, with a night stop at the picturesque route, the LAA said: “The bywords for the PA-28-150, PA-28-160, Northamptonshire, home of the annual LAA Glenforsa airfield on the Isle of Mull after tour are fun and flexibility. It is designed so PA-28-180, Rally, and will depart for Rougham in Suffolk popping into Carlisle/Lake District. The LAA that participants can fly the entire route, or PA-28-235, PA-32-260, before an overnight stop at Headcorn, Kent. then bases itself at Perth Airport for the next duck in and out for as long or short a period and PA-32-300 models The following night will be spent at Bodmin, three days, with events including a Meet the as their time allows. Each individual pilot will are affected and the Cornwall, following visits to the LAA’s former LAA Day, a fly-in and a visit to the National be responsible for their own flight planning US AD also extends Shoreham base and Goodwood, both in West Museum of Flight at East Fortune. but, as in the previous round-Britain tour in to examples based in Sussex, as well as Henstridge or Dunkeswell From Perth, the tour heads south down 2016, there will be plenty of experienced Europe and the UK. in Somerset and Devon, respectively. the East Coast, calling in at Eshott in pilots who will be very willing to assist The planned route then heads north, Northumberland before another night under the less experienced. The intention is for following the west coast to Cotswold canvas, this time at Breighton, home of the participants to go at their own pace as there Airport in Cirencester, previously the site Real Aeroplane Company, in the East Riding is likely to be everything from [Van’s Aircraft] of RAF Kemble, with pilots offered a choice of Yorkshire. The tour concludes on May RVs to Austers taking part.”

January2021 23 RUSSIAN REVIEW

Russian aviation journalist and photographer Piotr Butowski reports on the latest aerospace news and technology developments from the Russian Federation Russia deploys helicopters to Nagorno-Karabakh

The Mi-24P ‘25 yellow’ (RF-93575) helicopter from 337th OVP based at Novosibirsk in the Central Military District aboard the An-124 transport aircraft, hen the ceasefire agreement between ready for delivery to Nagorno-Karabakh on November 10, 2020 Russian MoD Armenia and Azerbaijan was signed on November 10, 2020, Russia began to deploy helicopters to the region. The military contingent from Ulyanovsk, Russia, flew to the Erebuni base near Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, and from thereW a further 300km to Nagorno-Karabakh. During the first day, 23 Il-76 and four An-124 transport aircraft of the Russian military transport aviation performed 27 flights, transferring 414 soldiers, 54 vehicles and other equipment. The following day saw the same 23 Il-76s with two An-124s fly to Armenia. According to the ceasefire agreement, the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh will have 1,960 soldiers, 90 armoured personnel carriers and 380 other vehicles and special equipment. The contingent is formed from the 15th Independent Mechanised Infantry Brigade belonging to the Central Military District of Russia. The Air Group supporting the Russian peacekeeping forces comprises eight Mi-24P combat helicopters and Mi-8 transport helicopters with 52 personnel; all of them were transferred to Mi-24P RF-91855 was shot down by Azerbaijan on November 9, 2020 via Piotr Butowski Erebuni on November 10 aboard four heavy transport An-124-

24 January2021 RUSSIAN REVIEW

100s. These helicopters belong to the 337th Independent Since early 1990s, Russia has maintained the 102nd Military Helicopter Regiment (OVP) stationed in Novosibirsk in the Central Base in the town of Gyumri in Armenian territory. The base Military District (MD). A day earlier, on November 9, Azerbaijani is subordinated to Russia’s Southern MD and, as part of an forces shot down a Russian Mi-24P combat helicopter flying over agreement made in 2010, Russia is entitled to retain forces Armenia near the Azerbaijan border, possibly with a portable there until 2044. The air component at Erebuni originally anti-aircraft missile system. Two crew members were killed and flew six MiG-23 fighters, which were later replaced by MiG- the third was wounded. Judging from the RF-91855 registration 29s. In July 2001, the group expanded to become the 3624th visible on the wreckage, it was Mi-24P ’02 yellow’ belonging to Aviation Base and now has a squadron of 18 MiG-29 fighters the 337th OVP from Novosibirsk. Azerbaijan apologised for the and another of about 20 Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters. An incident, explaining that it was a mistake as the helicopter had announcement in April 2019 stated the MiG-29s at Erebuni not been recognised as Russian. would be replaced by 18 Su-30SM fighters in 2020-2021. Tu-160M trials with new engines n November 3, 2020, the Russian United Aircraft Corporation announced that the modernised Tu-160M strategic bomber had successfully completed its first flight with new-production NK-32-02 engines. Led by Tupolev’s test pilot Anri Naskidiants, the aircraft departed the Kazan plant on a Omission that lasted for two hours and 20 minutes, reaching an altitude of 19,700ft. Resumption of the Kuznetsov NK-32 engine production at Samara is one of the most ambitious stages of restarting the Tu-160 Blackjack bomber programme, in addition to modernising the current fleet. Samara’s Kuznetsov company was awarded a contract for the new NK-32-02 turbofan engines in 2014, after an almost 25-year hiatus. The current powerplant – a modernised NK-32-02 (or NK-32 series 02) – was built in 1987, but due to a lack of money it did not undergo a full test programme or enter production. The improvements to the NK-32-02 include new blade profiles, both of the compressor and the turbine, as well as improved internal aerodynamics and more efficient cooling. As a result, the fuel consumption has been reduced, although the 25-tonne thrust remains unchanged. Tupolev claimed during tests with the new engine back in the 1980s that a Tu-160 achieved a A regular Tu-160 is seen powered by four NK-32 engines. Images of the Tu-160M range of 13,950km, with a nominal load of six cruise missiles with its new NK-32-02 engines have yet to be released Piotr Butowski dropped midway. That is more than 1,650km further than the basic version of the bomber. the construction began of a new hall in Kazan for the Tu-160M The gas generator of the NK-32-02 (izdeliye R) is set to and subsequent PAK DA assembly. become part of a new ‘izdeliye RF’ engine being designed Other companies have been awarded contracts to supply for a future PAK DA strategic bomber. A decision to resume components for the Tu-160M (‘14’, registration RF-94103, ‘Igor serial production of the Tu-160 strategic bomber was Sikorsky’). Aerosila will resume production of gears for the made in early 2015, but was not publicly announced by the wing-sweep change, while Hydromash secured an order for Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoygu, until his visit to the landing gears. The Tu-160M’s new NV1.70 radar, designed Kazan on April 29, 2015. by the Novella family, is being made by the Zaslon Company As Deputy Prime Minister responsible for the Russian arms (former Leninets) in St Petersburg, while the UKBP Design industry, Yuri Borisov explained that Russia decided to Bureau in Ulyanovsk is developing a new data display system, resume Tu-160 production because the level of technical risk and Polyot from Nizhny Novgorod is making the S-505-70 was lower than that of the new generation PAK DA strategic communication suite. bomber. “We postponed development of the PAK DA to The aircraft will be equipped with a new ABSU-200MTs gain experience and recreate technologies that would be autopilot and the K-042KM (NO-70M) computerised needed,” he said. navigation suite with BINS-SP-1 inertial navigation, ANS- According to Borisov, the modernised Tu-160M will satisfy “the 2009M astronavigation, DISS-021-70 navigation radar Armed Forces’ requirements to the 2050s, and perhaps even and A737DP satellite navigation receiver. An entirely new the 2060s.” On January 25, 2018, at Kazan, in the presence Redut-70M self-defence suite is currently being designed of President Vladimir Putin, the MoD inked an order for ten for the Tu-160M, and NII Kulon is developing the BKR-70M new Tu-160 bombers at a cost of 15bn roubles each. The reconnaissance system. announcement said the first completely new Tu-160M would A significant aspect of the new equipment is that part of the begin flight trials in 2021, with serial production commencing in system is being integrated into the upgraded Tu-22M3M Backfire 2023, at a rate of three aircraft per year. bomber, which began flight testing on December 28, 2018. The Resumption of the Tu-160 programme requires a new Tu-160 production resumption is the most ambitious programme production tooling plant at Kazan to build large-size titanium of the Russian military aviation industry to date, next to the start panels needed for the Tu-160’s variable-geometry wing. In 2018, of production of the Su-57 fighter.

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560 AI subs dps.indd 27 10/12/2020 11:57 Counting on a comebackcommercial Twelve months ago, AIR International’s aviation experts presented their “considered observations about the key issues facing the industry” for 2020. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck and all conjecture was consigned to history. Here, Mark Broadbent highlights encouraging aerospace developments as a new year dawns and the industry looks to better times

Boeing has resumed MAX deliveries, 1 An injection of hope with two aircraft handed over to November 2020 brought welcome news United Airlines on December 9 Boeing of breakthroughs in several vaccines in the ongoing global fight against the spread of COVID-19. Days before her 91st birthday, Margaret Keenan became the first person in the world to receive the newly regulator-approved Pfizer/ BioNTech coronavirus jab on December 8 in Coventry, England. The vaccine is said to be around 95% effective in preventing the disease, with 50 million doses potentially available by the end of 2020 and 1.3 billion by the end of 2021, according to Pfizer. Shares in large airlines worldwide soared on the announcement, bringing

Au revoir 2021 Paris Air Show, cancelled due to fears about the continuing impact of COVID-19 Airbus some hope to a commercial aviation sector decimated by the collapse in passenger demand for most of 2020 as pandemic-imposed travel restrictions took their toll. In the financial news resource Barron’s, Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, said: “We’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel. There won’t be a big surge of travel, but confidence is being built. The surge in the virus is a cause for concern, but all the improvements we’re seeing from the medical field is a source of encouragement.” Speaking at the Virtual World Travel Market event in November, which took place in the aftermath of the vaccine news, Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said there is “reasonable optimism now, 3 that summer 2021 will get back to some

28 January2021 degree of normality. There’s going to be than five months later. Steve Dickson, the first MAX 200 delivery in late January an enormous snap-back in travel the regulator’s administrator, signed the or early February 2021. The carrier hopes demand. We’re keeping the pilots current, order paving the way for the jet’s return to take delivery of multiple MAX 200s in we’re keeping the cabin crew current, to service. An FAA statement read: “The time for the summer 2021 schedule, with a we’re keeping the aircraft current, so we design and certification of this aircraft target to take on 30 examples for the peak can pounce on growth.” included an unprecedented level of of the season. Describing the aircraft as a collaborative and independent reviews game changer, O’Leary said the MAX 200 2 MAX bygones by aviation authorities around the world. will offer a 16% fuel burn reduction, 16% Brazil became the first country in the Those regulators have indicated that lower emissions, and 40% less noise. He world to restart commercial flights of the Boeing’s design changes, together with added: “This lower-cost MAX aircraft will Boeing 737 MAX on December 9, more the changes to crew procedures and drive Ryanair’s EU market share gains in a than 20 months after regulators ordered training enhancements, will give them the post-COVID-19 world.” a worldwide grounding in the wake of confidence to validate the aircraft as safe two fatal crashes just months apart. GOL to fly in their respective countries.” 3 No springtime in Paris Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes operated the New crew procedures and updates The organisers of the Paris Air Show first flight between the Brazilian cities of to the Manoeuvring Characteristics cancelled the 2021 event on December Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre, according to Augmentation System (MCAS) will ensure 7, dashing aerospace industry hopes data from FlightRadar24. additional layers of protection if the that the pivotal event would build on a As AIR International went to press, aircraft’s angle-of-attack sensors provide spring recovery. The 54th International Air December 29 was mooted as a further erroneous data. Boeing said the revised Salon had been scheduled for June 21 major milestone for another scheduled MCAS design has received intensive to 27 at Le Bourget. The biennial show MAX flight. American Airlines plans a internal and regulatory review. that enables sector employees from large round trip between Miami-New York/ A more widespread return to commercial manufacturers and business specialists in LaGuardia and anticipates ramping up flights is expected early in 2021 following supply chains to meet and network was to at least 36 departures throughout changes to the flight control software eagerly awaited after most of the trade January from its southern Florida hub. judged responsible for crashes. Bosses at shows of 2020 were axed. On November 18, the US Federal Ryanair, the launch operator of a It remains uncertain whether other shows Aviation Administration (FAA) cleared the higher-capacity variant of the 737 MAX 8 planned for early 2021 will go ahead, but aircraft to fly again, lifting the grounding called the MAX 200, are optimistic. the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF order in place after the fatal crashes Speaking during the airline’s FY2021 Fairford, a major expo for civil and military of Lion Air Flight 610 in October 2018 first-half earnings call in 2020, CEO interests, remains set for July 16 to 18. and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 less Michael O’Leary said the carrier expects The Dubai Air Show, the biggest industry gathering after Paris to be staged in

1 Airlines such as Delta are optimistic about the prospects for recovery in 2021 Airbus/A Doumenjou January2021 29 odd-numbered years, remains in the calendar for November 14 to 18, while Bristol-based Vertical Aerospace’s VA-1X is one of several eVTOL projects Vertical Aerospace the Australian International Airshow at Avalon in Australia, has been rescheduled for November 21 to 23 (it was one of the first aerospace events to be cancelled because of the pandemic). Cancelled in 2020 as the second wave of COVID-19 struck Germany, the new EUROPEAN ROTORS event will now be taking place in Cologne from November 16 to 18. Helitech, another event for the vertical take-off and landing community, is scheduled at London’s ExCeL Centre between March 10 and 11. A totally new event, Space-Comm Expo, is lined up for May 25 to 26 at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre. It is promoted as a “showcase of technology, thought-leadership, debate, analysis and business growth opportunities” for the 4 emerging commercial space sector. have expertise in lightweight 6,000 test cells, the ACCEL aircraft will 4 Droning on high-performance materials. A use three lightweight 750R motors and A plethora of radical-looking designs and spokesperson said: “With the aim of is designed to fly at more than 260kts. fresh technologies have emerged in the getting the aircraft fully certified in 2024 Rolls-Royce has finished ground testing past couple of years in the expanding still very much in sight, Vertical are also the powertrain, which will be mounted on urban air mobility (UAM) segment, a currently in an investment round which is what it says will be the “world’s fastest sector that spans commercial, military, looking extremely positive.” all-electric plane.” rotary-wing and unmanned aircraft. The consultancy Roland Berger Elsewhere, the new year is due to see Numerous start-up developers, predicted in a November 2020 report that the US Air Force conducting experimental especially in North America and Asia, the UAM sector could be worth US$90 flight trials for its Skyborg Vanguard along with industry heavyweights Airbus, billion by 2050, with a global fleet of Programme, an effort to integrate Boeing, Honeywell and Embraer and 160,000 aircraft in operation. autonomous attritable unmanned air other sector names, such as Hyundai and vehicle technology with open missions Uber, have all entered the fray, with the 5 Faster, cleaner, better systems to enable manned-unmanned last of these firms selling off its vertical In the supersonic commercial aircraft teaming. In 2020, the Air Force Research start-up, Elevate, to California-based arena, Boom Supersonic plans to begin Laboratory awarded contracts to Boeing, Job Aviation in early December. flight testing its new demonstrator, the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Progress on various projects for XB-1 ‘Baby Boom’, although a precise Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems and all-electric air taxis and cargo drones is date has yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman to begin developing expected to continue in 2021. NASA plans to complete assembly of the prototypes. Germany-based developer Volocopter its X-59 Quiet Supersonic Technology is planning trial flights of its air taxi, the demonstrator in 2021, ahead of a plan to 6 TwoTwenty in ’21 VoloCity, in June, while China is preparing fly it in 2022. New business jets will take to the skies further demonstrations of its EHang 216 Exploration by manufacturers and in 2021, perhaps most notably Airbus autonomous air vehicle. research institutes continues into new Corporate Jets’ (ACJ) TwoTwenty, a bizjet Another developer, Bristol-based forms of propulsion. Airbus is set to begin version of the A220-100 airliner. Launched Vertical Aerospace, aims to fly its next initial ground tests of a hydrogen-powered in October, the TwoTwenty – which the eVTOL demonstrator, the VA-1X, from an ground demonstrator to investigate company promotes as “the Xtra Large undisclosed location this summer. Vertical hydrogen storage aboard an aircraft. The Bizjet” – will carry up to 18 passengers has been expanding in the last couple of company recently launched its ambitious and its cabin will have 73m² of floor space years, maturing its eVTOL technology and ZEROe project to introduce a new “distributed over six wide VIP living areas.” growing its engineering team, recruiting generation of hydrogen-powered airliners. The aircraft boasts a range of 5,650nm specialists from Formula One racing who Rolls-Royce will attempt to beat the (equivalent to more than 12 hours’ flight world speed record for an all-electric time), enabling it to connect city pairs flight in its Accelerating the Electrification such as London and Los Angeles, of Flight (ACCEL) initiative. Featuring Moscow and Jakarta, Tokyo and Dubai, A new-generation of Sikorsky HH-60s joins the USAF Sikorsky

30 January2021 Checking In What are your greatest hopes for the future of aviation in 2021? Whether you work in the industry or share our enthusiasm for the people and projects that make it, let us know.

Share your views at [email protected] under the subject heading Checking In.

Boom Supersonic is due to start ﬂ ight testing the XB-1 Boom Supersonic

Airbus is set to launch a bizjet variant of the A220 Airbus 6 5 and Beijing and Melbourne. Airbus has Helicopter features additional fuel tanks 8 Back from the brink selected Comlux for outfitting the first that double its fuel capacity, as well as a Flybe plans to resume flights in 2021 15 TwoTwenty cabins. range of improved defensive systems and after being resurrected by a former Elsewhere in the business jet market, sensors including digital radar warning shareholder. In October, administrators Dassault Aviation is due to test-fly its receivers, a missile and hostile fire Ernst and Young announced the sale of newest Falcon business jet, the 6X, during warning system, and protection against the UK airline’s “business and assets, the year. Fuselage components for the surface-to-air missiles. including the brand, intellectual property, first test aircraft arrived at the company’s Named the Jolly Green II last February, stock and equipment” to Thyme Opco, Bordeaux/Mérignac facility in Q1 2020, to follow the tradition of the Vietnam-era a company affiliated with former Flybe with the forward, central and rear fuselage HH-3E Jolly Green and HH-53 Super shareholder, Cyrus Capital. sections having been assembled by Jolly Green crews who pioneered CSAR, The sale remains subject to Civil Aviation Dassault at its Biarritz factory. Promoted the HH-60W also features improved hover Authority approvals and regulatory by Dassault as the first “ultra-widebody performance, electrical capacity and requirements, but the administrators said business jet”, the 6X will have 5,500nm avionics compared with the HH-60G. the deal is expected to allow the business range and a Mach 0.90 cruise speed. Affectionately known as the ‘Whiskey’, to restart operations as a “smaller Certification and customer delivery are the HH-60W is designed to replace the regional airline in the UK” under the Flybe scheduled for 2022. HH-60G Pave Hawk in the CSAR role and brand in early 2021. Ernst and Young said Meanwhile, Gulfstream Aerospace other special missions such as medical it would be working with Thyme Opco, plans certification and the first customer evacuation, humanitarian assistance and the Flybe management team and the CAA delivery of its new flagship rescue command and control. to prepare for the relaunch. ultra-long-range model, the G700. A The US Air Force Programme of Record Joint administrator, Simon Edel, fourth example joined the flight and calls for the delivery of 113 HH-60Ws. said: "Today’s announcement, and the certification testing effort last October. The initial operational unit, the 41st upcoming completion of this sale, will In its latest edition of Global Business Rescue Squadron at Moody Air Force be great news to communities around Aviation Outlook, Honeywell forecast a Base, Georgia received its first two the country that were previously served 13% increase in business jet deliveries in examples on November 5. Aircrew from by Flybe. The restart of this iconic 2021, with global bizjet usage returning to the 41st Rescue Squadron and the 413th brand, which was once Europe's largest 2019 levels by the middle of the year. Flight Test Squadron and 88th Test and regional airline, will provide a potentially Evaluation Squadron, both at Duke Field, significant boost to aviation jobs, regional 7 Jolly Green giant Florida flew the aircraft from Lockheed connectivity and local economies.” The A new-generation combat search Martin’s Sikorsky Training Academy in joint administrators were appointed to and rescue (CSAR) is set to become Stuart, Florida. Flybe on March 5 as COVID-19 began to operational with the US Air Force during Testing work will continue as the 41st RS exact a price on carriers. 2021. An enhanced version of the builds up to declare an initial operational Prior to administration, Flybe served US Army’s UH-60M Black Hawk, the capability during the new year. Full-rate more than 80 airports across the UK and HH-60W Jolly Green II Combat Rescue production is planned to follow in 2023. Europe. It carried around eight million passengers a year and accounted for 40% of domestic UK flights. 8

Hopes are pinned on the return of Flybe as a regional carrier Flybe

January2021 31 Ten years ago, on December 15, 2010, the BAE Harrier was silenced in the UK. Alan Warnes scrutinises the decision that killed the jet’s career, and how the pilots that flew it have fared

Harriers on the ﬂ ight line at RAF Cottesmore on December 15, 2010, the day a legend died All images by Alan Warnes

The day Harrier 32 January2021 the died decade ago, on a which was already strained due to infighting GR7/9 pilot who had spent two years as typically cold December between senior commanders. The Harrier JFH Deputy Commander from 2007-2008, day, the UK military’s was the spearhead of the Navy’s HMS Ark said: “I was actually working on the naval charismatic BAE Harrier Royal aircraft carrier and, as a part-owner of staff during the defence review, putting the jump-jet was killed off. Joint Force Harrier with its two operational case forward from the navy’s perspective The abrupt end came squadrons, the loss of the Harrier meant the in support of the Harrier, so I was deep in after then British Prime Ark Royal had to go too. the heart of it all.” MinisterA David Cameron announced the It was a bitter pill to swallow. The Harrier Commodore Orchard, who wrote the findings of his government’s Strategic had come off second best in a showdown acclaimed book Joint Force Harrier i n 20 07, Defence and Security Review (SDSR) on with the Tornado, as the government looked added: “By Friday [October 15], we believed Tuesday, October 19, 2010. to save public money. a sufficiently strong argument had been The outcome resulted in an even deeper Royal Navy Commodore Ade Orchard, put forward to keep the Harrier. My RAF rift between the RAF and Royal Navy, an experienced Sea Harrier and Harrier Tornado colleagues even thought so.”

‘The Harriers were sold to the USMC for a paltry $500m and ended up in the Arizona desert. Today, most are still there – at AMARG – being used as a spares source. What a waste’

The day theHarrierdiedJanuary2021 33 December 15, 2010: The final flypast Ninja - Force Executives/41 (R)Test and Evaluation Sqn Ninja 01 Gp Capt Gary Waterfall, JFH Commander Ninja 02 Wg Cdr Dave ‘Bradders’ Bradshaw, Chief of Staff, RAF Wittering Ninja 03 Flt Lt Will Collins, 41(R) TES Ninja 04 Lt Cdr Steve Kenworthy Jedi – 1(F) Sqn Jedi 01 Wg Cdr Dave Haines (OC) Jedi 02 Flt Lt Mertin Pert Jedi 03 Lt Cdr James ‘Blackers’ Blackmore, Navy Jedi 04 Sqn Ldr Paul Laugharne Cougar – 800 Naval Air Squadron Cougar 01 Cdr David ‘Tinsel’ Lindsay (CO) Cougar 02 Sqn Ldr Chris Rogers, RAF Cougar 03 Sqn Ldr Andy Edgell, RAF Cougar 04 Major Rob Fenwick, Royal Marines Poison – IV (R) Sqn (Harrier OCU) Poison 01 Wg Cdr Simon Jessett (OC) Poison 02 Sqn Ldr Andy Chisholm, Flt Lt Darren ‘Kupsy’ Kupps Poison 03 Lt Cdr Paul Francis, Sqn Ldr Andy Tagg Poison 04 Lt Adam ‘Hoggy’ Hogg, Lt Cdr Si ‘Scranbag’ Rawlins

THIS IMAGE: The Harrier operational conversion unit 4 (R) Sqn stopped training pilots immediately after the announcement in December 2010. Instead, they practiced for the flypast at RAF Wittering with other Harrier pilots

INSET: Flt Lt Richard ‘Heapy’ Heap lands a Harrier for the last time on the HMS ‘Ark Royal’ on November 19, 2010

However, over that weekend, the Of that fateful decision, Commodore informed of the Harrier’s fate and was told two most senior RAF officers, Chief of Orchard said: “Beyond the Storm Shadow it had to be kept secret until 3.30pm on the Defence Staff Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup argument, I fully understand why the Tuesday [October 19].” and Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Sir Stephen decision was made. It was all about But by Tuesday morning, the UK media Dalton, had convinced Cameron at the mass, both in numbers of combat aircraft were already headlining the story. Wg last minute that the Tornado should stay. and RAF personnel structures. Keep the Cdr Dave Haines, the OC 1(F) Sqn, was Both, incidentally, had connections with bigger Tornado Force and the hundreds just getting up at his married quarter at the Tornado – Dalton as OC, XIII Sqn from of RAF personnel, and because the RAF Cottesmore when his future wife told 1990-1992, and Stirrup as RAF Marham Harrier was a joint force there would be him about the breaking news: the Harrier Station Commander in the same period. less RAF reductions.” was being scrapped. Dalton and Stirrup’s main argument Heading up the Joint Force Harrier back “Well, I was gobsmacked,” he said. “I was that the Tornado, armed with the then was the RAF Cottesmore Station jumped on my bike and cycled to the JFH Storm Shadow cruise missile, was more Commander, Group Captain Gary Waterfall, Commander’s office, meeting him in his important to the defence of the UK. who retired as an Air Vice Marshal from the car en route. When we got to his office They might have faced a more stubborn RAF in December 2019. Other than two he told me he had been sworn to secrecy resistance had ACM Sir Chris Moran slots flying Hawk T1s with the world-famous the previous day.” still been alive. A career Harrier pilot, Red Arrows aerobatics team, AVM (ret) Haines, along with the rest of Harrier Moran was Commander-in-Chief of Air Waterfall had flown the Harrier for most of community at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland Command at the time of his unexpected his career. Speaking recently, he revealed: “I and RAF Wittering in Cambridgeshire and death in May 2010. was called in by the Chief of Air Staff to be Northamptonshire was stunned. After

34 January2021 a Tornado can’t fly from a carrier. It was a within limited bands of operations – ‘Flt Lt Richard ‘Heapy’ stupid argument.” no night-flying, ground the OCU and After completing his 1(F) Sqn command, instead concentrate on digging into air- Heap (‘Jedi 4’) made Wg Cdr Haines was posted to J5 Plans land integration training, getting people history by becoming at the Permanent Joint Headquarters to combat ready and ensuring aviators, in Northwood, London. A few weeks engineers and air traffickers completed the last ever Harrier into his new job, he was asked to come their qualifications. Basically, use the up with a plan for a UK air campaign two months wisely, and that’s how we pilot to land over Libya as plots to unseat its leader, were allowed to carry on flying until mid- Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, thickened. December to give the jet a dignified end.” on a ship’ “It’s simple,” he told the Air Commodore, tongue-in-cheek, “Twelve Harriers and the No 41 loses Harriers HMS Ark Royal!” The beginning of the end came on With their new Brimstone air-to-ground November 4. No 41(R) Test and Evaluation weapons, along with the Paveway IV and Squadron, which had been working on Sniper targeting pod, they would have the latest Harrier developments, lost its been the ideal solution, operating from aircraft. On a miserably cold day, the

Harriers for sale? A pilot’s jest proves true

Lt Chris ‘Casper’ Roy landing his Harrier GR9A on the deck of HMS ‘Ark Royal’, with his infamous ‘For Sale’ sign visible in the cockpit. He went on to fly AV-8Bs with the USMC at MCAS Yuma For Lt Chris ‘Casper’ Roy, his sortie with the famous ‘For Sale’ sign was his last. It’s unclear whether his actions that day were the cause of this or whether he was simply moved to another position, as was the practice of the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) towards the end of the Harrier days. Some key people, however, didn’t see the funny side of his actions. The JFH Commander, AVM (Ret) Gary Waterfall, was not one of them, but he still felt it was wrong because he had given his word to upper command that the entire Harrier phase-out would pass without controversy. “It didn’t go down well!” he admitted recently. “That funny action had strategic implications and added ammunition to those people who didn’t want us to carry on. Fortunately, they believed me when I told them they could trust us.” consultation with higher command, Waterfall the carrier in the Mediterranean. The unit’s three jets departed RAF Coningsby cancelled flying for the day as the station Tornados were used instead. in Lincolnshire with a Tornado GR4 flown prepared itself for the formal announcement. Ten years after the Harrier was axed, by the unit’s CO, Wg Cdr Rich Davies, Commodore Orchard, now Head of the AVM (Ret) Waterfall recalled: “I didn’t for a four-shipflypast over the base. The Military Aviation Authority after a short time even know that day if we were allowed to Harriers then went to Boscombe Down as Commodore Fleet Air Arm, doesn’t carry on flying. Some in the RAF wanted before returning to RAF Cottesmore. dispute that having such a weapon like us to stop immediately, and I needed There were four Harrier pilots on the Storm Shadow is a great advantage, but to balance the risk of continued flying squadron. Two of them converted to the at the time the UK military was fighting against the benefit.” Tornado, including Sqn Ldr Steve ‘Raz’ counter insurgency campaigns. One of the hardest jobs he faced was Berry. One of the other pilots, Flt Lt Will Haines, who retired as a Wing telling young pilots going through the Collins, returned to the JFH. Sqn Ldr Commander in 2013, went even further, Harrier OCU (Operational Conversion Berry eventually converted to the Typhoon saying of Storm Shadow: “It was like unit), No IV(R) Sqn at RAF Wittering, that and went on to become OC, 41 (R) Sqn, a comparing apples with bicycles! Each they were all being chopped. “It was post he vacated on September 15, 2017. aircraft had its own set of unique awful, but we had no other choice.” Remembering that day in November, he capabilities which couldn’t be copied by The Harrier community was deeply said: “We were four days away from flying the other. The Harrier was VTOL [vertical woven, and the jet deserved a proud the Capability EB software. The pain is we take-off and landing] and operated off ending after 42 years of service, which had tasted the future, we’d seen it and it was the carrier. The argument was Harrier the then Group Captain devised: “We looking really shiny, but the front-line would could not carry Storm Shadow. Yes, but came up with an agreement to remain never see what had been whipped away.”

January2021 35 Final debrief December14, 2010

FRONT ROW: Wg Cdr Dave Haines (1(F) Sqn OC) was at Monarch Airlines, then SECOND ROW: Gp Capt Gary Waterfall (JFH Cdr) led the fi nal 16-ship fl ypast when Virgin Atlantic, now back with the RAF. Cdr Dave ‘Tinsel’ Lindsay (NSW CO) left the Harriers retired from service – Air Vice Marshal, AOC 1 Group. Also Chief of the military and now works as BD lead for MASS; Wg Cdr Si Jessett (IV(R) Sqn Staff (Ops) in PJHQ he retired on Dec 31, 2019 and now runs his own business OC) departed the military after leaving 736 NAS fl ying Hawks, to join Cobham advising defence-facing companies; Lt Cdr James ‘Blackers’ Blackmore (1(F) Sqn) Aviation, Bournemouth and is now back in the RAF as reserve Sqn Ldr on 3(F) had a three-year US Navy exchange on Super Hornets Royal Navy Fixed Wing at Sqn RAF Coningsby; Wg Cdr Dave Bradshaw, (OC Ops Wittering) is now Air Cdre RNAS Culdrose and is now a Captain and Air Commander on HMS Queen Elizabeth; in Air Capability; Flt Lt Will Collins (1(F) Sqn) RAF Valley, Typhoon, then Hawk T2 Lt Paul Laugharne went to 100 Sqn as a Flt Cdr, then Typhoon Force HQ before instructor; Sqn Ldr Steve Kenworthy went to PJHQ and converted to Typhoon, Flt leaving the RAF in 2015 for Monarch and is now FTRS at Barkston Heath fl ying Cdr on 3(F) Sqn at Coningsby, now OC 3(F) Sqn at Coningsby; Flt Lt Martin Pert Grob 120TP Prefect; Sqn Ldr Chris Rogers (NSW) joined the RAAF and is fl ying (1(F) Sqn) became a Sqn Ldr Typhoons with II(AC) Sqn after Red Arrows (then back Hawks at RAAF Williamstown; Flt Lt Andy Edgell (NSW) was an F-35B test pilot at to Red Arrows) and is now on a staff course Patuxtent River and left the military to be an instructor at the National Test Pilot

36 January2021 Final debrief December14, 2010

School in Mojave; Sqn Ldr Andy Chisholm (IV(R) Sqn) fl ew F-35 JSF at Washington, now working for BAE Systems as an F-35 simulator instructor at Marham then OC 29(F) Sqn, Typhoon OCU until 2020; Flt Lt Darren ‘Kupsy’ Kupps (IV(R) Sqn) was Sqn Ldr in Typhoon Headquarters then went to 617 Sqn fl ying F-35Bs and has BACK ROW: Flt Lt Mark Robertson (1(F) Sqn) was Sqn Ldr on Typhoon and is now a now left service to work for Inzpire; Major (Marines) Rob Fenwick (NSW) left the career manager serving the RAF; Lt Matt Fooks-Bale (NSW) is now a Lt Cdr with 17 military to join Cobham Aviation Sqn at Edwards AFB, California; Sqn Ldr Duncan Mason (Staneval) became OC Battle of Britain Flight (BBMF) fl ying Hurricanes and Spitfi res, now FTRS at Cranwell fl ying THIRD ROW: Lt Cdr Paul Francis (NSW) left the military to join 2Excel; Sqn Ldr Grob 120TP Prefect; Sqn Ldr Chris Cartmell (XO, 1(F) Sqn) was Wg Cdr, OC, 72 Sqn Andy Tagg (IV Sqn) was OC East Midlands UAS fl ying Grob Tutors, and is now OC fl ying Tucanos is now a civilian instructor fl ying T-6C Texan II at RAF Valley; Lt Kieron 115 Sqn at RAF Wittering (FTRS from Apr 2021 at 115 Sqn); Lt Adam Hogg (IV Sqn) Steen (NSW) initially fl ew Islanders with AAC, now a PC-21 Instructor with Qatar Air initially fl ew F-35B, VMFT-501/USMC, then XO 617 Sqn, and is now on a ground Force; Cdr ‘Stinger’ Rae (Deputy Force Commander, taking over from Ade Orchard) tour as a Cdr at Navy HQ; Lt Si Rawlins (NSW) was VX-9/USMC fl ying F-18C/Ds, left the military and is now chairman of 2Excel management board

January2021 37 Wg Cdr Davies, a 3,000hr+ Tornado pilot RIGHT: The three 41 (T&E) Sqn Harrier pilots prior to and now Commandant Air and Space stepping into the aircraft at RAF Coningsby for the Warfare Centre, was gutted at losing the last time. From left: Sqn Ldr Steve Riley, Flt Lt Lee ‘Flash’ Gordon and Sqn Ldr Steve ‘Raz’ Berry. Harriers and half of his staff: “I wouldn’t ‘Raz’ converted to the Tornado, then the like to comment why the Harrier was Typhoon, and eventually became the OC of 41 axed, but if it was capability-based you couldn’t get a better platform for the role BELOW MIDDLE: The Naval Strike Wing (callsign it was operating in the RAF. However, I’m ‘Cougar’) representing the RAF, Royal Navy and Royal not sure capability was the driving force Marines. From left: (Cougar 03) Sqn Ldr Andy Edgell, RAF, (Cougar 02) Sqn Ldr Chris Rogers, RAF,(Cougar behind the decision.” 01) Cdr David ‘Tinsel’ Lindsay (NSW CO), Navy and (Cougar 04) Major Rob Fenwick, Royal Marines Farewell HMS ‘Ark Royal’ Sandwiched between 41’s Harrier loss BELOW: Toasting the Harrier’s last landing on HMS and its retirement day was another big ‘Ark Royal’, from left: Sqn Ldr Chris Cartmell (XO 1 occasion: the farewell of the Royal Navy’s [F] Sqn), Wg Cdr Dave Haines (OC 1 [F] Sqn), Deputy Air Cdr Lt Cdr Phil ‘K’ Michelson, Air Cdr ‘Rocky’ flagship, HMS Ark Royal, and the last Salmon, Lt Chris ‘Casper’ Roy (800 NAS) landing of a Harrier on her deck. and Flt Lt Richard ‘Heapy’ Heap (800 NAS) The carrier had left Portsmouth on November 9, then headed up the west coast, arriving at Glen Mallon, near Glasgow, on November 12. While there, she was de-armed. Off went 140 Paveway IV laser guided/GPS bombs, as well as AIM-9 Sidewinders, AGM- 65 Mavericks, torpedoes and other ammunition that had made up the Ark Royal’s weapons stockpile. When she departed five days later, on November 17, it was a rough voyage around the top of Scotland as the ship, devoid of heavy weapons, bobbed about like a cork in the rough conditions, with winds of 50 knots and Sea State 6. The following day four Harriers were supposed to arrive, but despite heading into calmer waters, it didn’t work out. Regardless, two 1(F) Sqn GR9As did a low and fast flyby to distract some of the ship’s crew from their troubled stomachs. Come the morning, with the weather looking better, the four Harriers were more successful. At around 10.30am, the 1(F) Sqn jets (callsign ‘Jedi 1-2’) appeared out of the gloom, heading straight to the carrier. The first to come in was the specially marked ZG477 with the OC, Wg Cdr Dave Haines, at the controls. After coming alongside, he moved the nozzles of his Pegasus 107 engine and then slid his jet sideways towards the deck before landing, then taxied out of the way. Next was Sqn Ldr Chris Cartmell, the Executive Officer of 1(F) Sqn who went through the same procedures and then rolled his jet up to where the ‘Boss’ had parked. Then came the Naval Strike Wing (NSW) contingent. Leading the way was Lt Chris ‘Casper’ Roy flying ZG506/’77A’ (‘Jedi 3’). On approach, what looked like a sign could be seen on his cockpit window. As he hovered closer to the carrier, the ship’s crew let out a roar of delight as the words ‘For Sale’ became visible. A Royal Navy Sea Harrier F/A2 pilot and former Hawk T1 instructor pilot, Casper was a great character. After him, Flt Lt Richard ‘Heapy’ Heap (‘Jedi 4’) made history by becoming the Joint Force Harrier was disbanded with a parade at RAF Wittering on January 28, 2011. All three squadrons and the last ever Harrier pilot to land his aircraft JFH Commander were present. From left: Wg Cdr Dave Haines (OC, 1(F) Sqn), Gp Capt Gary Waterfall (Joint Force on a ship. Harrier Commander), Wg Cdr Si Jessett (OC, IV (R) Sqn) and Cdr Dave ‘Tinsel’ Lindsay (CO, Naval Strike Wing)

38 January2021 A Navy jet flown by the RAF While their superiors continued to argue The Harrier that never was Having served with the RAF since April 1968, the characteristic VTOL jet had originally been set for over the wrongs and rights of the Harrier another ten years in service. Having been continuously upgraded over the previous six years, the axing, the airmen at the coal face were Harrier GR9A was in the final stages of a comprehensive modification programme, with Capability exiting with a lot of dignity. EB now about to come to fruition. The highlight of this upgrade would have been integration of the The occasion was not lost on the Air Brimstone air-to-ground missile and the fitting of a helmet-mounted cueing system. Boss, Commander ‘Rocky’ Salmon, who greeted the four pilots on the Ark Royal bridge with a bottle of champagne. They were joined by IV(R) Sqn Harrier pilot and Qualified Weapons Instructor, Lt Adam ‘Hoggy’ Hogg, and Lt Cdr Phil Richardson, Deputy Air Commander, to toast the Harrier’s carrier achievements. The HMS Ark Royal was now heading to Newcastle and was cheered on by hundreds of well-wishers as it passed down the Tyne estuary towards its berth. It was a fitting finale, bringing the carrier to Tyneside, where it had been built by Swan Hunter and launched in 1981. Nearly a week later, on November 24, the ship left for Hamburg before heading to Portsmouth, and four pilots flew the Harriers off for the last time. The NSW Two weeks after the announcement to axe the Harrier, No 41 (R) Test and Evaluation Sqn lost its three Harrier pair were the first jets to go. Royal GR9As. On November 4, 2010, they departed RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire for the last time Marine, Captain Mike Carty wasin ZD351, followed by Lt Matt Fooks-Bale in the Captain Gary Waterfall, ensured it had a out and departed, with the rest of the specially marked NSW jet ZG506/’77A’. dignified goodbye, with a planned formation formation following. The Harriers bellowed Then 1(F) Sqn departed, with Flt flypast across many parts of the UK. up spray as they roared down the runway, Lt Emily Rickards in ZD467/’57A’ Unfortunately, ice was lingering on the until the last aircraft disappeared into and, finally, Lt Cdr James ‘Blackers’ runway on the morning of December the low clouds. AVM (ret) Waterfall said: Blackmore in specially marked ZG477. 9, which meant that pilots who weren’t “All 16 Harriers flew in formation for ten The last Harrier pilot to take off from a directly involved in the 16-ship flypast minutes above the clouds, then we split ship, Blackers is now the Air Boss with could not make their own last flight. Both into fours and returned to land.” HMS Queen Elizabeth and will supervise 800 NAS and 1(F) Sqn had hoped to As the JFH Commander, Steen took air operations during the ship’s debut make their own formation fly-bys over RAF centre stage and hovered ZG506 at operation, Combat Strike Group 21. Cottesmore, but instead the jets sat on the around 100ft while the crowd below Some Harrier pilots who were not flying ramps, doing nothing. watched in silence at what was unfolding operationally had an opportunity to bid On December 13, continued poor in front of their eyes. The Harrier’s final farewell to the type with a last sortie in a weather meant that only the four special flight had come at 2.41pm. Afterwards, dual seater at RAF Wittering on December marked aircraft flew for a photo sortie. the JFH Commander described it as “a 8-9. Then, on a cold December 10, most Come rehearsal day on December 14, very emotional moment.” ‘ZG506 hovered while the crowd below watched in silence at what was unfolding. The Harrier’s final flight had come, at 2.41pm on Wednesday, December 15’ of the IV(R) Sqn Harriers with qualified flying the weather conditions had not improved, All the groundcrews and pilots then instructors on board left their base, which but the rehearsal was flown with all the walked off the ramp for the last time, had reverberated with the sound of Harriers aircraft joining up at medium level to bid through two walls of pipers. It was an since 1968. farewell to some Harrier landmarks. The extremely moving and dignified end to an However, before moving across to the JFH Commander recalls: “We flew aircraft that had served the country so Rutland base, No IV, commanded by Wg over RAF Marham, Duxford, RAF well and in so many conflicts. Cdr Si Jessett, made a final seven-ship Wyton, RAF Wittering, Stamford The Harriers were subsequently sold to formation salute to the VTOL’s base. Wg town centre, RAF Waddington, RAF the US Marine Corps for a paltry $500m. Cdr Jessett left JFH to join Cobham and Scampton and RAF Coningsby, but then Fortunately, most of the aircrews fared fly Hawk T1s with 736 NAS, but obviously had to abort due to bad weather before better. “Generally, everybody did well,” never got the fast jet bug out of his returning to RAF Cottesmore.” admitted AVM (Ret) Waterfall. “When I system. Today, he is flying Typhoons as a When the day arrived for the 16-jet look across the Typhoon Force and reserve Sqn Ldr with 29 Sqn . formation on December 15, the weather F-35 Force, I feel quite proud to see was still terrible. Lt Cdr Keiron Steen took where people had gone, where they Gone but not forgotten the weather-jet ‘Satan 01’ up to look for were recognised.” With the 60-strong Harrier GR9/9A fleet breaks in the clouds. A decision was HMS Ark Royal was eventually scrapped now assembled at RAF Cottesmore, made to delay the departure by an hour in in Turkey. RAF Cottesmore is no more, preparations were made for the 16-ship the hope the weather would improve, but and the once proud fleet of British flypast. A hasty retirement would have as the former JFH Commander recalled: Harriers now lies at the Aerospace been unbefitting for such a characteristic “It didn’t, so we all launched!” Maintenance and Regeneration Group aircraft. The RAF and Royal Navy’s Joint In his specially retro-marked Harrier boneyard in the Arizona desert. Force Harrier, led by its Commander, Group ZG506, callsign ‘Ninja 01’, he taxied It could have all been so different.

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561 Mixed subs dps.indd 41 10/12/2020 11:59 Trade sanctions imposed by the West have prompted Russia to further develop its own civilian aircraft. MC-21 Piotr Butowski assesses the facts comes of age and fantasy around the Irkut MC-21

ussia’s pledge to fly its first skies although the four previous prototypes post-Soviet era. The PowerJet SaM146 Irkut MC-21-310 powered currently use the American Pratt & Whitney engine, which was created in a joint by domestically built PW1431G-JM engines. The base venture with the French for the Superjet, engines by the end of 2020 MC-21-300 variant with the US is considered more French than Russian. remains on course after powerplants is expected to obtain Russian With a conventional, not geared, the aircraft rolled off the certification by mid-2021, according to an twin-spool turbofan, the PD-14 has a production line recently. announcement by the country’s industry moderate bypass ratio of 8.5:1 (the geared RThe first MC-21-310, 73057 (c/n 21007), and trade minister, Denis Manturov. PW1400G has 12:1) and generates 14 fitted with Russian PD-14 engines left the tonnes of thrust. Alexander Inozemtsev, the production hall of the Irkut plant in Irkutsk Crucial PD-14 decisions designer general of Aviadvigatel, said gears on November 6 and was due to undergo The Aviadvigatel PD-14 (PD stands for caused “serious problems” in operation. He final checks and ground tests as AIR Perspektivnyi Dvigatel, or ‘prospective claimed the PD-14’s 60- to International went to press. engine’) turbofan is the first Russian civil 80-degree-lower turbine entry temperature It will be the fifth MC-21 to take to the aviation engine made in the country in the gives it an advantage over its competitors,

42 January2021 the PW1000G and CFMI Leap-1. “It makes of the aircraft because of trade sanctions These companies make the composite us lose a bit in efficiency, but we win in imposed by the West. As a civilian wing and tail for the MC-21 using fibres the cost of the life cycle,” he said. The project, the MC-21 is not sanctioned and prepregs (composite materials manufacturer has calculated that the life and shipments of US engines are made from ‘pre-impregnated’ fibres cycle cost of the Russian engine will be allowed. However, among the US list of and a partially cured polymer) by Hexcel 2.5-3% lower. The PD-14’s core (hot Russian companies that should not be Corporation from the USA and Toray section) features an eight-stage compressor dealt with are AeroKompozit and ONPP Industries from Japan. Materials from the with compression ratio of 17:1, an annular Tekhnologiya, which also manufacture USA and Japan have become unavailable, combustion chamber and a two-stage composite materials for military aircraft. and the Russians are starting to produce turbine. The outer (cold) section comprises their own analogues. The all-Russian a single-stage fan, three-stage low-pressure composite wing is currently undergoing compressor and six-stage low-pressure bench tests by TsAGI (Moscow’s Central turbine. A significant feature of the PD-14’s Aerohydrodynamic Institute), but the results new technology is its wide, hollow titanium are unknown. fan blade. Hollow blades are also used in The second challenge facing the Russian all six stages of the low-pressure turbine. government is even more significant: The engine nacelle is short, made of 65% to replace all foreign manufactured composites, with a lattice thrust reverser. components with Russian ones. The fear Work on the PD-14 began in 2008 when of future sanctions, and the desire to use the Russian government assigned 15bn the potential of Russian companies is roubles (equivalent to US$500m at the time) driving the move towards less dependency for development of key technologies for on foreign companies. the new engine. The first prototype engine There are plans to replace 54 units of core ‘100GG-01’ was started on a ground the MC-21-300 equipment, including the bench in November 2010 and the first auxiliary power unit, tail plane adjustment demonstrator of the entire engine ‘100-01’ mechanism, avionics devices, fuel on June 9, 2012. On October 30, 2015 the system and hydraulic hoses. By 2022, engine ‘100-07’ made its airborne debut on the government is aiming for the share of the Ilyushin Il-76LL flying testbed. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: foreign components in the MC-21 to be The PD-14 powerplants installed on the The first MC-21-310 fitted with Russian PD-14 reduced to 3%, compared with 62% today. MC-21-310 ‘73057’ aircraft are ‘100-14’ engines after leaving the production hall in Irkutsk Despite the large, dedicated funding, this is and ‘100-15’ plus ‘100-16’ as a spare. in November 2020 UAC an unrealistic goal. PD-14 engines are to be installed on the Another critical uncertainty facing the Russian PD-14s on the first ‘home grown’ MC-21-310. first prototype of the MC-21 in 2021, after The initial flight was due within weeks UAC MC-21 programme is a lack of customers. it completes the test programme with the Apart from several hundred letters of current P&W engines. The MC-21-310 Aviadvigatel’s PD-14 is the first new civil aircraft intent, the MC-21 has 175 firm orders version is expected to be certified and engine made in post-Soviet Russia Piotr Butowski from leasing companies in Russia and that ready for delivery in 2022. number has not changed for years. The A PD-14 engine undergoing tests on an Ilyushin most recent was in 2013. Il-76LL airborne testbed Piotr Butowski Challenges ahead Aeroflot has the greatest order, for an The MC-21 project faces two major The first MC-21-300 test aircraft, 73051 (c/n 21001), intended 50 aircraft. It’s enough to start challenges. The first is to replace the which currently uses Pratt & Whitney engines, is set production, but whether it will be sufficient composite materials that form the wings to fly with PD-14 powerplants in 2021 Piotr Butowski to make it profitable is debatable.

January2021 43 BRANDENBURG finally takes flight t’s official. After almost a decade After almost a decade of delays and setbacks of setbacks and false starts, that left it billions over budget, Berlin Brandenburg Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER) is open for business. Airport Willy Brandt is open for paying passengers. Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, head AIR International considers the technology and of the airport operating company Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg (FBB), operations behind the troubled project Iwelcomed the first two aircraft to the new terminal on October 31, 2020. Operated by easyJet and Lufthansa, their passengers included easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren and Lufthansa CEO Lufthansa and easyJet were the first two carriers Carsten Spohr. The first commercial to land at the newly opened gateway FBB/Günter Wicker flights arrived at Terminal 1 the same

44 January2021 BRANDENBURG finally takes flight afternoon, while the maiden departure and Schönefeld was the gateway to the Brandenburg – and Germany as a whole – flown by easyJet to London/Gatwick world for the GDR [German Democratic – can be proud of this.” – left BER the following morning. Republic], despite travel restrictions.” While there is plenty of goodwill for the “The people here in the German capital In his opening remarks, Daldrup also late Willy Brandt as a politician, his airport region have had to wait a long time for offered insight into why the new complex namesake doesn’t yield quite the same this day,” said Daldrup, in what was bears the name of the city’s former public acclaim. The last nine years saw arguably 2020’s biggest understatement. mayor: “The blockade of West Berlin in BER’s opening announced – then delayed “With Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy 1948 left its mark on Willy Brandt and – several times. The reasons given by Brandt, eastern Germany can now rely later determined his actions as governing FBB include the extension of Terminal on airport infrastructure that will serve as mayor of the city. Freedom, as defined 1, construction of an intermediate level a solid basis for the coming decades… by Willy Brandt, also includes freedom of and expansion of taxiways and aprons. Berlin’s three airports in Tempelhof, movement and the ability to travel without EU safety regulations also played a part, Tegel and Gatow have stood for the restrictions. Naming the new airport after requiring the addition of the pavilions on freedom of West Berlin since the Airlift, Willy Brandt is the ideal choice. Berlin and either side of the terminal.

January2021 45 Technological headaches a year, 25 million of them at Terminal 1. The Brandenburg project was beset The operating company expects more by a number of errors, oversights and passengers to board and disembark at mishaps, including the insolvency of the BER than any other location in Germany engineering office responsible for the and predicts that its infrastructure will technical building systems. Following facilitate a significant increase in the shock cancellation of BER’s planned long-haul services and connecting traffic, inauguration in 2012, the contract with something that almost any Berliner will tell the general planner was terminated and you is desperately needed. Construction construction work came to a standstill. costs alone came to €5.9bn, financed It would be another five years before the by Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg airport company felt confident enough to (15%), shareholder funds, equity and publish a revised date of October 2020. shareholder loans (39%) and guaranteed The opening follows 27 days of intensive bank loans (47%). trial runs involving 24,000 BER employees and almost 10,000 ‘extras’. In total, these Location, location, location tests used 279,000 items of prop luggage BER covers 1,470 hectares and is situated and 54,000 bookings for 2,530 dummy 20km southeast of Berlin city centre. flights. Among the changes made following Terminals 1 and 2 are located between two feedback were adjustments to airport parallel runways, while Terminal 5, with an signage, the introduction of bigger bins and annual passenger capacity of eight-to-ten the installation of extra charging points. million, is in the northern part of the site. The ‘new’ airport – which was originally While T5 sounds like a shiny state-of-the-art due to open on October 30, 2011 – is complex, it is actually the new name for the capable of handling 40 million passengers former Schönefeld Airport – a rather nasty

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: One of the artistic highlights of the new facility is a mural dedicated to Berlin’s former mayor, Willy Brandt FBB Flight procedures The former Berlin Schönefeld Airport is now known as BER Terminal 5 FBB More than 90 air traffic controllers, aerodrome co-ordinators and apron controllers are responsible Trials took place on the apron for traffic at BER. With both of the runways at as well as in the terminal BER now in operation, a number of new flight FBB/Ekaterina Zershchikova procedures have been implemented. Developed by DFS, the German air navigation service provider, for the planned opening of the airport in 2012, these new procedures reflect the independent operation of the two runways. For example, aircraft that will be landing in parallel on the northern and southern runways must maintain different altitudes when turning on to final approach. Aircraft heading for the northern runway, therefore, make a turn on to final approach at an altitude of between 3,937 and 4,921ft, while aircraft heading for the southern runway make a turn at an altitude of around 2,952ft. The public were closely involved in planning these revised flight procedures, with DFS discussing more than 100 different potential route options with the airport’s Noise Abatement Commission.

46 January2021 labyrinth of Soviet-era corridors that will be tonnes of reinforced steel along with baggage handling, with each airline having all-too-familiar to anyone who has flown out around 9,000 tonnes of mild steel. contractual ties with independent service of the German capital on a low-cost airline According to GMP, the design was based providers on site. in recent years. on a horizontal grid of 6.25m, multiplied Of course, when BER was first envisaged, The two runways can be operated by seven. This gives a ‘supermodule’ of low-cost airlines were in their infancy independently, with the first flights leaving 43.75m, the parking width required for and designers believed the airport would from the southern runway on November 4. a category C aircraft such as the Airbus become a major hub for legacy operators Terminal 2, designed to handle six million A320, the most frequently used type such as Lufthansa. Also, airberlin – at one passengers a year, is expected to open at Berlin’s airports. This 43.75m grid time expected to be the site’s biggest for the 2021 summer flight schedule, as determined the spacing of Terminal 1’s tenant – filed for bankruptcy in October the travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 main piers and their distinctive passenger 2017 and with it went the only airline pandemic have meant that the additional bridges, as well as that of the columns in planning to use BER as a connecting hub. capacity is not required at present. the check-in hall. Although Lufthansa agreed to take over Designed by Hamburg architects Gerkan, Modularity and flexibility were also central some of the now-vacant routes, it would Marg and Partners (GMP), Terminal 1 is the to the terminal’s design, according to not make BER a major base similar to its largest of the BER facilities, with echoes the architects. The high, airy main hall operations at Munich and Frankfurt. This led of the Schinkel and Bauhaus architectural accommodates check-in and baggage to questions being raised as to why Berlin schools in its geometric shapes and handling, while three-storey bridges to would need such a large airport further structured façades. Facilities include the gates take passengers to distinct outside the city (compared to Tegel), forcing ten check-in islands with 118 desks, 36 arrivals and departure areas, channelling many residents to make lengthy journeys security screening lines for departures and Schengen and non-Schengen passengers for flights. While it is not uncommon for a an additional five for transfer passengers, along separate routes. Notably, the capital city’s major gateway to be far from and a baggage reclaim hall with eight airport operator does not provide any the centre, they tend to be destinations that carousels. Its construction required 30,000 in-house services for passenger or serve as hubs with many thousands of

January2021 47 CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The airy main hall is in stark contrast to the austere facilities at Tegel in the past FBB/Marcus Bredt

The airport’s railway station is located directly underneath Terminal 1 FBB/Anikka Bauer

Thousands of bags were used to put the airport and its supporting systems through their paces FBB

Low-cost giant, easyJet, is expected to be one of BER’s biggest airline clients FBB/Anikka Bauer

All scheduled flight operations at Tegel have now transferred to the new airport FBB/Anikka Bauer

Qatar Airways was the first long-haul operator to use the new site FBB/Günter Wicker

daily transit passengers. Even during the Main Pier has 16 jetways, the North Pier Destination focus final stages of the project, calls came for (350m long) has 12 walk-boarding stands Serving an urban population of 6.5 million BER to serve as a point-to-point airport and and the South Pier, also 350m long, has and with a total catchment population Tegel to become a business nine jetways. To the right and left of the of 22.2 million, BER is officially due to traveller-focused facility. terminal are the north and south pavilions, serve 183 direct destinations, working Overall, the feeling among many industry providing space for additional security with 86 airlines, the most important analysts is that the BER project failed to screening lines and check-in desks. being easyJet, Lufthansa, Ryanair and keep up with the times, an oversight which In line with its anticipated post-pandemic Eurowings. Night flight regulations, could have resulted in a terminal with capacity, bosses at T1 have invested heavily confirmed by the Federal Administrative boarding gates equipped with airbridges in retail, with 120 shops, restaurants and Court in October 2011, forbid regular only. The move over the past two decades other service facilities across more than scheduled rotations between midnight towards no-frills flights has given carriers 20,000m2, comprising a fifth of its retail and 5.00am. Early arrivals and delayed such as Ryanair and easyJet increased space landside. Among the brands include starts, as well as an officially stipulated sway with airports and BER is no exception. Relay, Marc O’Polo and Ampelmann, Berlin’s quota of flights, are possible at off-peak To cater to the demands of low-cost much-loved traffic light figure. At the food times between 10.00pm and midnight carriers, a new pier was planned with no court, the focus is on classic fast food. In and from 5.00am to 6.00am. airbridges and direct apron access for total, more than half of the service providers Before the COVID-19 pandemic, almost boarding and coaching. The 715m-long are from the Berlin-Brandenburg region. 150 cities were linked directly from Berlin

Noise impact in Berlin noise commission and representatives from neighbouring municipalities. Even before the opening of BER, the airport authorities were obligated by In addition to these stationary measuring points, two mobile measuring law to operate measuring points in and around airfields to analyse aircraft stations are in operation at alternating locations. This means that FBB noise. FBB, the airport operating company in the German capital, installed can carry out aircraft noise measurements that are not covered by the 30 stationary measuring points around Schönefeld and Tegel. The results stationary measuring stations where a special need arises. Through are transmitted monthly to the relevant authorities and the aircraft noise this form of aircraft noise monitoring, FBB is able to provide information commission, as well as being published online. The locations for the about the noise emissions of each flight movement, as well as reliably stationary measuring points are stipulated by consultation with the aircraft and continuously documenting the development of aircraft noise.

48 January2021 by approximately 70 airlines. This included a spattering of long-haul connections to Beijing (Hainan Airlines), Ulaanbaatar (MIAT Mongolian Airlines), Singapore (Scoot), Doha (Qatar Airways), New York (United Airlines and Delta Air Lines), Toronto (Air Canada Rouge) and Philadelphia (American Airlines). As of December 2020, Qatar Airways’ service to Doha remains the only active long-haul connection, but even in the boom times pre-coronavirus, no carrier had the practical means of operating the Airbus A380 into Berlin. Despite lacklustre interest among airlines, politicians overseeing construction of BER insisted more gates be built to accommodate the super jumbo. According to some local media reports, newly built terminal walls were demolished to facilitate these additions. Compounding the problem was Airbus’ announcement in Reasons for optimism? Among those attending the opening was February 2019 that A380 production would Another positive aspect is that BER Dietmar Woidke, Minister-President of the soon come to an end. is expected to be a strong driver for State of Brandenburg. “I am delighted With only Dubai-based Emirates – a economic growth and employment in that BER is finally ready to start,” he said. carrier that doesn’t offer scheduled the Brandenburg region and eastern “With the opening of the airport, the passenger services to Berlin – using Germany. It is hoped that within 15 years time has come to regain lost confidence. the double-decker jet in any meaningful around 40,000 people will make a living Now it is time to look ahead,” – in these way, it seems extremely unlikely that through working at BER, double the uncertain times for global aviation, passengers at BER will be boarding an number previously employed by Tegel and Woidke’s words are likely to resonate far A380 anytime soon. With the current Schönefeld airports combined. beyond the German capital. significant downturn in commercial aviation and many A380 operators electing to reduce or even retire their aircraft, this may prove to be another costly error, particularly while Berlin’s long-haul links remain meagre. On a more positive note, the new airport is well connected. Flughafen BER Terminal 1-2, a new six-track railway station beneath Terminal 1, was commissioned on October 25, 2020 with around two-thirds of passengers expected to travel to the site by train. In addition to a dedicated autobahn link, numerous bus lines connect the airport with Berlin and the surrounding area. BER’s opening also signalled the end of operations for Berlin/Tegel, with airlines moving to the new facility over the course of a week. Scheduled flight operations ended at Tegel on November 8, with the final flight taking off from the 72-year-old facility by an Air France A320ceo to Paris.

January2021 49 PipistrelNuuvaV300 Pipistrel seeks to revolutionise future logistics and aerial cargo delivery missions with its Nuuva V300 concept, as Khalem Chapman explains

Nuuva V300, with its efﬁ ciency and autonomy, is targeting to deliver a 10x improvement in economics to the operator Pipistrel

Pipistrel has incorporated a hybrid-electric powertrain with dedicated lift and cruise propulsion systems into the Nuuva V300. For take-off and landing, the UAV employs eight type-certifi ed independent lithium battery- powered E-811 electric engines – which are manufactured by Pipistrel. The aircraft’s batteries can be charged by plugging the system into the company’s SkyCharge and Green Motion charging stations. Alongside the E-811s, the V300 also features an internal combustion engine, located in the aft fuselage, that powers a pusher propeller for cruising in fl ight. The fi rm adds that this offers “unbeatable fuel economy and low maintenance costs”. The V300 has a maximum speed of 220km/h and an ‘economy’ cruising speed of 165km/h. It has a cruising altitude of up to 19,700ft and a total endurance of 12 hours. The system features an integrated health self-monitoring system that provides operators with alerts of potential The V300’s nose section lifts to create a large opening for cargo loading, which can be done malfunctions before they occur. This has using a regular forklift. In its standard confi guration, the UAV can carry up to three Euro-pallets, been included to enhance the reliability and although the company states other types of containers can be loaded and the platform is safety of the UAV. customisable to suit operator requirements. The fi rm adds that the “revolutionary During transportation, cargo is secured using straps and restraint nets, combined with fuselage zero-emission powertrain is entirely liquid- hatches that ensure the freight is tied down correctly. cooled, including the batteries, and has Pipistrel states that the V300 can transport a 50kg payload as far as 2,500km, “without demonstrated the ability to withstand faults, compromising the ability to take-off and land vertically from altitudes as high as 8,000ft”. It adds battery thermal runaway events, and crash that a typical mission payload is 300kg, but at the expense of its range and altitude threshold, it loads as part of the [European Union Aviation can carry a maximum payload of 460kg, which would prove benefi cial for shorter missions. For Safety Agency’s] certifi cation process”. comparison, the more lightweight V20 can carry up to 20kg of cargo.

50 January2021 Concept PipistrelNuuvaV300 Insight ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2020, Slovenia-based light aircraft manufacturer, Pipistrel, unveiled its A cheaper cargo courier Nuuva series of autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) unmanned aerial At present, aerial cargo is delivered largely vehicles (UAVs). The fl agship of this family is the V300, which is described by the company by rotorcraft. Pipistrel states that although as a long-range, large-capacity, heavyweight autonomous platform that will be used in helicopters are “excellent for hovering, [they] support of logistics and aerial cargo delivery operations. become much less effi cient in cruise fl ight”. Pipistrel has identifi ed the air cargo market as a business area that could benefi t greatly This is because they completely rely on their from eVTOL UAVs, adding that it believes it “is ripe for disruption with highly effi cient and rotors to generate lift, and require frequent economical vehicles, such as the Nuuva V300”. The design and development of this family maintenance and inspection due to their of systems has been heavily informed by the experience the company gained during its 801 complex fl ight mechanics, which increases eVTOL urban air mobility (UAM) project. operational costs. The fi rm states that the V300 “operates 10x more economically than today’s helicopters, Pipistrel adds: “The Nuuva V300 combines requires no runways and brings enhanced safety and reliability using Pipistrel’s the best of both aeroplane and helicopter type-certifi ed electric engines”. air cargo transportation principles. The To complement the V300, the Slovenian company is also developing the V20 for ‘last-mile unmanned eVTOL capability enables it to delivery’ missions. Although it is smaller and more lightweight, the V20 has a high degree go where no aeroplane is able to, while of commonality with its larger counterpart, including the same architecture and cargo operating at a fraction of the cost of a delivery advantages. helicopter on an equivalent mission. Nuuva The fi rm intends to hand over its fi rst examples of the V20 to customers this year and V300, with its effi ciency and autonomy, is anticipates that the V300 will enter service in the second half of 2023. targeting to deliver a 10x improvement in economics to the operator.”

A digital rendering of Pipistrel’s Nuuva V300 hybrid-electric, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), unmanned cargo aircraft in ﬂ ight Pipistrel Aircraft

The Slovenian fi rm has selected Honeywell to provide a highly reliable, triple-redundant compact fl ight control system for the Nuuva series of eVTOL UAVs. Ivo Boscarol, founder and CEO of Pipistrel Group, announced last October: “Honeywell’s The Nuuva V300 has been designed expertise and the proven capabilities of its compact fl y-by-wire system will provide airliner levels with a tandem-wing confi guration, of safety for our novel air vehicles.” which employs fl y-by-wire The system that will be featured in Pipistrel’s Nuuva V300/V20 is roughly the size of a control surfaces to enhance the paperback book. It is intended for use in smaller autonomous cargo platforms and UAM vehicles UAV’s aerodynamics and boost its and provides stability and performance for the aircraft’s fl ight controls electrically, negating the overall effi ciency. need for heavier hydraulics, control cables and push rods. Pipistrel adds that this During operations, the V300 receives a preloaded fl ight plan at a ground control station before tandem-wing confi guration also take-off. After it has departed, the UAV fl ies to its destination fully autonomously using the “reduces the landing footprint of the Honeywell system. The platform will be in continuous communication with a ground operator, vehicle and assures a wider who will manage the aircraft and can take ultimate control of the platform if the fl ight is centre-of-gravity margin”. cancelled or the fl ight plan changes.

January2021 51 SNAP decisions oth the German Air Force evacuation of civilians and the rescue Rehearsals took place on the first and German Army Aviation of downed aircrews from crisis and day, with all the participants involved. (Heeresflieger, or Heer for war zones. Between 09.37am and 11.20am on short) recently showed A total of 24 airplanes and three September 8, there were 16 aircraft and off their capabilities at the helicopters were involved, among three helicopters carrying out a variety Norvenich Air Base them five civilian aircraft to provide of missions. A veteran Heer UH-1D Huey in the state of North air adversary or ‘Red Air’ services for helicopter from Transport Hubschrauber BRhine-Westphalia. The joint manoeuvre, the participants. Included among the Regiment 30 (THR30) serialled 71+40 known as Significance of National missions were FORCAP (Force Combat acted as a search and rescue (SAR) Air Power – SNAP – showed during Air Patrol), RESCAP (Rescue Combat Air cover, operating to the south of the base a series of combined air operations Patrol), CAS (Close Air Support), CSAR in case of any accidents. The unit has a how the two services honed their (Combat Search and Rescue) and single UH-1D permanently assigned at skills for counter-terrorism operations, Medevac (Medical Evacuation). the base. On a recent visit to Germany’s Nörvenich Air Base, Babak Taghvaee watched how the nation’s military aviation services responded to a ‘Significance of Air Power’ demonstration

52 January2021 SNAP decisions The manoeuvres began after two After the A400M and C-160D, came six The next two were EF2000 Tranche 3As Luftwaffe transport aircraft departed, single-seater Eurofighters of Taktisches (31+33 and 31+47), with a single IRIS-T an Airbus A400M Atlas of Lufttransport Luftwaffen Geschwader (TLG) 31 CATM. An additional pair of Typhoons Geschwader 62 (LTG62) serialled 54+33 ‘Boelcke’ (Tactical Air Force Wing 31) that (31+34 and 30+52) left to intercept the and a C-160D Transall, 50+40, of departed in pairs. Airbus A400M. The Eurofighters were Lufttransport Geschwader 63 (LTG63). The first pair were Tranche 1 jets (30+29 used to simulate air-to-surface missions, They left Nörvenich at 9.37am and and 30+11), each armed with a single such as close air support and to gain 9.39am local time, returning at 11.20am IRIS-T infrared captive air training air air superiority over the war zone, airfield and 11.19am, respectively. Their role was missile (CATM). Then came a Tranche and areas where civilians and military to simulate the transfer of German Special 3A (31+32) and a Tranche 2 (30+97), personnel were being evacuated. Forces and the evacuation of German both carrying a pair of IRIS-T CATMs and Downed pilots were also rescued. soldiers, pilots and civilians from enemy their pilots donning the Helmet Mounted Two more Eurofighters were tasked to territory or the war zone. Symbology System. engage a pair of A-4N Skyhawks from

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A TLG-33 Tornado simulates a close air support mission on September 9, 2020 All images by Babak Taghvaee

A German Air Force A400M leads a formation of four TLG-31 Euroﬁ ghters over Nörvenich Air Base

Six of the eight Typhoons of TLG-31 on the runway on September 8, 2020

January2021 53 to the exercise took place when two Typhoon Tranche 3As (31+41 and 31+43) of TLG-31 armed with a pair of IRIS-T captive training missiles departed. They escorted an Airbus A310-304MRTT (10+23) of Flugbereitschaft des Bundesministeriums der Verteidigung (FBS BMVg; the flight readiness service for the defence ministry) acting as a passenger aircraft for evacuation of civilians. It landed at Nörvenich while being escorted by the Typhoons. Time for action The operational phase of the exercise began on September 9, when the same Airbus A400M and C-160D Transall of the previous day departed. Before they did so, the SAR UH-1D left to provide cover to the west and southwest of the air base until just after midday. As one can imagine, the scenario pretty much followed what happened on rehearsal day. Eight Typhoons left with IRIS-T CATMs, although one was loaded with a Litening III targeting pod. After take-off, the Typhoons were kept holding on the west and southwest of the air base at an altitude of 5,800ft to 6,200ft. The CH-53GS and H-145M Canadian defence contractor Top Aces During the exercise, the base played the departed as did the A310MRTT. To add acting as ‘Red Air’ over the base, which role of a facility located in a war zone a bit of excitement on the ground, the had flown from Wittmundhafen, Germany. and its Eurofighters were tasked with H145M subsequently returned and landed At the same time, two Tornados from preventing attacks by enemy aircraft; near the control tower, with the crew TLG-33 from Büchel simulated a close that role being played out by Learjet 35s dropping yellow smoke canisters close to air support mission over Nörvenich of GFD GmbH (Society for Aerial Target the helicopter to simulate a fire. base. During this busy spell, two GAF Representation) from Hohn and Top Aces Firefighters rushed to the scene to helicopters – a CH-53GS (serial 84+42) A-4N Skyhawks. extinguish it and, at the same time, a and a Special Operations Forces-tasked In the afternoon of September 8, the group of special forces personnel exited (SOF) H145M light utility helicopter (76+15) Typhoons of TLG-31 were scrambled the CH-53GS that had landed near the both from Hubschrauber Geschwader twice to intercept and fulfil a dissimilar H145M to evacuate crews of the ‘burning’ 64 (HSG64) – departed carrying German air combat mission against enemy helicopter. They then came under attack Army SOF. They simulated the CSAR aircraft over the Baumholder Training by enemy forces, which had a group of mission, airlifting downed pilots in enemy Area (BTA). The first pair engaged in air Dingo 1 Infantry mobility vehicles. territory and the medevac of civilians. combat against a Learjet 35 of GFD, then a dogfight against an A-4N Skyhawk. Friends and enemies Quick reaction alert Two more Eurofighters later departed The A400M played the role of an The rehearsal finished at 11.20am after Nörvenich to intercept and dogfight with unidentified aircraft that couldn’t all eight Typhoons, the C-160D and the an A-4N at an altitude of about 3,500ft. communicate with the control tower. It A400M had landed back at Nörvenich. The last and final zulu scramble prior circled back overhead and made a low pass over the Nörvenich runway, while a pair of Typhoons waited for air traffic control to grant permission for take-off. As the A400M passed over the runway, the Eurofighters made a full after-burner take-off and within seconds had joined the A400M. One Typhoon was positioned on the left wing of the transport aircraft while the pilot of the second jet positioned it further back to get visuals on both aircraft. They made two low passes over the base at an altitude of almost 3,000ft. During the second low pass, the Typhoon pilots waved their wings signalling to the A400M pilots that they could land. It subsequently descended and carried out a low approach down the runway, with extended landing gears simulating an emergency landing, and then flew west, still being escorted by the Eurofighters.

54 January2021 Two Top Aces A-4N Skyhawks then subsequently landed, as did the A400M CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: simulated attacks on Nörvenich from the and C-160D. One of the Eurofighters had to A Sikorsky CH-53GS of HSG64 and a Special north, but were quickly confronted by divert to Büchel due to a technical failure. Operations Forces Airbus H145M light utility two Eurofighters. Both pilots, wearing helicopter of the same unit circle over Nörvenich on September 9 a Helmet Mounted Symbology System Ready for war (HMSS), engaged in a dogfight against The annual SNAP exercise is an Eurofighter 31+34 fitted with a Litening III targeting the Skyhawks, scoring kills with their opportunity for Luftwaffe aircrews to pod and an IRIS-T captive training missile, seen over IRIS-T CATMs. practise interoperability. During the Nörvenich Air Base exercise, ten TLG-31 Eurofighter pilots Close air support practised a variety of missions. Out of A former F-4F Phantom II pilot, Colonel Danilo Schlag, commander of TLG-31, can be seen in Two Eurofighter Tranche 3As then the 44 sorties logged by the 24 aircraft the cockpit of his specially painted Eurofighter appeared over Nörvenich air base from and three helicopters, 22 came from nicknamed Sword of Boelcke on September 9 the west, while two Tornados (46+02 and the base’s Typhoons. These pilots had 46+10) flew from the south to provide also participated in the German-Israeli One of the last seven operational C-160Ds of the top cover for a group of German Army Blue Wings 2020 and NATO’s MAGDAY German Air Force is seen here back-tracking down Special Forces personnel. exercises in August, honing their skills runway 25 at Nörvenich Air Base

They had been inserted onto the base prior to SNAP 2020. from the CH-53GS escorted by the H145M. After special forces exited the helicopter, they engaged in a gunfight with a group of ‘enemy’ soldiers. Then, the two Eurofighters and Tornados swept in to provide close air support against the enemy forces. Pyrotechnics were used for simulation of explosions by bombs being dropped by both sets of jets. After the German special forces onboard the CH-53GS secured Nörvenich’s runway, the C-160D landed. The CH53GS and the H145M then circled over the aircraft and their door gunners checked over the area around it. After picking up special forces and their captured terrorists, the C-160D departed the base. This signalled the end of the demonstration and the start of a parade. Four Typhoons flew in formation with the Airbus A400M, and three fighters

January2021 55 Located in north Texas, Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base (or NAS Fort Worth JRB) is a vast military complex that includes Carswell Field, a Fresh Lightnings prime location for spotting Lockheed Martin’s newest F-35 fighters. at Fort Worth Photography by Matt Ellis

56 January2021 Fresh Lightnings

MAIN IMAGE: Pictured during its fi rst fl ight on November 12 is Royal Australian Air Force F-35A A35-032 (MSN AU-32), bound for the 2nd Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) at RAAF Base Williamtown in New South Wales, Australia. The unit lost its F/A-18A/B Hornets in December 2019 and has been re-equipping with F-35As since early in 2020. Although not visible in this photo, the fi ghter (callsign ‘Strike 61’) carries the FMS serial no 18-5403 on the nose-wheel door

BELOW: This F-35A 18-5420/’LF’ is destined for the 56th Fighter Wing/62nd Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, Arizona, and was temporarily loaned to Lockheed Martin on November 10 for chase duties, using the callsign ‘Lightning 12’. For maiden ﬂ ights, two F-35s will launch with the second aircraft acting as chase. This has been caused by withdrawal of the two Lockheed Martin F-16s that had been used for chase duties

January2021 57 58 January2021 CLOCKWISE FROM MAIN IMAGE: Three more Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightnings destined for the UK left Fort Worth on November 27. The first of these, ZM154 (MSN BK-20), is seen here during a pre-delivery flight (callsign ‘Strike 61’) on November 12. The ‘Strike’ callsign denotes a pre- Meacham Field delivery customer test flight, while ‘Lightning’ is reserved for Lockheed Martin Test flights

An unmarked F-35B, landing at NAS Fort Worth JRB on November 10 using callsign ‘Strike 21’ and thought to be destined for the UK. Seeing an unmarked F-35 is rare, so identification is difficult

The F-35A 18-5373 prepares to depart NAS Fort Worth JRB for a test flight, as ‘Strike 91’ on November 10. Wearing the markings of the 354th FW/356th FS, it was due to be delivered to Eielson AFB in Alaska by the end of December

The Texas ANG’s resident 301st FW/457th FS is operating a single Have Glass V F-16C, serial no 86- 0222. It was seen landing at Fort Worth’s Carswell Field on November 10 after an air-to-air sortie. The Have Glass V special radar-absorbing paint helps to reduce the aircraft’s radar cross section

The Texas ‘Lone Star’ state flag was painted on US Marine Corps’ AH-1Z, 168516 was seen at Fort Worth’s Meacham Airport on November 6 F-16C 86-0246 of the 301st FW, 457th FS to celebrate Wearing no unit markings, the Zulu had been assigned to HX-21 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, the unit’s 75th anniversary. Painted at TSCS Waco by L3 Technologies, it was delivered to the unit during but it’s unclear if the helicopter is still assigned to the unit October 2020 and seen here on November 12

January2021 59 New time for

neoAirbus did far more than re-engine the A330 when it created the new engine option – neo – A330-800 and A330-900. With the latter well established and the former only just delivered, Paul Eden assesses the neo’s place in a transformed market

60 January2021 This Airbus A330-800, 9K-APF (c/n 1964) – seen departing Toulouse, France for the Middle East – was one of two delivered to Kuwait Airways on October 29, 2020. The airline is the first to place the shorter A330neo variant into revenue serviceAll images Airbus

n October 29, Kuwait has a clear strategy across its broader within reach for more passengers. Both Airways received medium- and long-haul portfolio which, a variants may be configured for the the first two of eight spokesperson explained “allows operators same MTOW, originally baselined at 242 Airbus A330-800s, to perfectly match size to market tonnes but with a 251-tonne option for 9K-APF (c/n 1964) demand and airline network development the A330-800, while since last May, all and 9K-APG (c/n needs in the most profitable way. The -900s have been built with provision for 1969), it has on order. two A330neo models sit between the the higher weight, including a degree of OIt was a significant event for the airline, A321LR/XLR and the A350-900, going structural reinforcement. At the same but perhaps even more so for Airbus, up in even seating capacity steps. They time, undercarriage modifications have since the A330-900 has so far outsold are our latest small/medium long-range enabled the time between overhauls to be its shorter sibling by almost 23:1. One widebody aircraft, covering the large 220- extended from ten to 12 years. A serious might conclude at this early stage in 300 seater market.” undertaking, overhaul requires removal the A330neo’s career that the airframer Fundamentally, the A330neo offers of the entire assembly, and airlines miscalculated its medium twinjet offer. customers the choice of longer range appreciate the considerable cost saving. It wouldn’t be the first time that a with fewer passengers (-800), or shorter manufacturer had made such an error or range with more (-900). ‘Shorter’, Neo genesis fallen victim to changes in the market; the however, means 7,200nm for the A330- Airbus Industrie, as it was then known, A330neo had the misfortune to appear as 900 now that A330neo maximum take- had begun considering a larger a slowing down of long-haul demand was off weight (MTOW) has increased to 251 development of its pioneering A300 early becoming apparent after 2015. But Airbus tonnes, bringing the majority of routes in the 1970s. The eventual success of

January2021 61 that type provided the financial security for the airframer to beginning looking in earnest at its successor in 1980, with further concept definition taking place before the designation A330 was allocated in 1986. The new twinjet, and very similar, four-engined A340, were officially launched in spring 1987. History will record the A340 as little more than a developmental dead end. Compared with the A330 it sold badly, the concept of four engines for long range quickly being overtaken by improving engine technology for twins. The avoidance of Extended-range Twin Operational Performance Standards (ETOPS) restrictions, which enables more direct routing for four- or even three- engined types on a select few services was easily outweighed by the fuel savings guaranteed by using half as many engines on the majority of flights. The A330 and A340 employed a common wing design, the hardpoints for the latter’s outer engine pylons today mounting the underwing refuelling pods on the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) variants. The A330neo might, therefore, be considered a paradigm for applying modern technologies to legacy airframes in pursuit of efficiency benefits. Airbus had originally offered a re-engined A330 in response to Boeing’s all-new 787, but the airlines were apathetic over the suggestion, causing a major rethink. The result was the A350XWB, an altogether more advanced machine than the A330. Excellent though it is, the A350 does not serve the types of long, thin route (those over long range, with relatively few passengers) at which the A330 excelled. It is a larger, heavier aircraft, which left the airlines without a cost-effective alternative to the 787-8 and 787-9, other than the A330. Eventually, Airbus responded with the A330neo – neo standing for ‘new engine option’. The original A330 became the A330ceo (current engine option) and the Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 the core of

THIS PAGE FROM TOP: Airbus announced receipt of EASA certification for the 251-tonne MTOW on October 8, 2020. This was the first flight of the revised aircraft, on February 28, 2020

Garuda Indonesia has 12 Airbus A330-900s on order, with three delivered

Comparing an Egyptair Airbus A330-200F with the first ever customer of the A330-900, delivered to TAP Air Portugal, reveals the essential physical differences between the A330ceo and neo. The larger engine nacelles, held much higher, are particularly notable, as is the revised windscreen

62 January2021 the new offering. A bleed air derivative of the Trent 1000 developed for the 787, the Trent 7000 abandons the electric architecture employed on the Boeing; re-engineering the A330’s traditional bleed air systems for electrical power would have required too large an investment. Even without the electric systems, Airbus reported early on that the Trent 7000 offered an 11% improvement in fuel efficiency over the Trent 700-engined ceo. The new engine’s 284cm diameter fan, compared with 247cm for the Trent 700, required redesigned engine pylons. These carry the larger engine higher than on the A330ceo to provide adequate ground clearance, obliging Airbus to conduct extensive computer analysis and testing to confirm the new installation. The larger fan causes more drag and the engine is heavier than the Trent 700, eroding the fuel saving somewhat. Improvements to the aerodynamics and a general cleaning up of the wing and its furniture partially compensated for the fuel-save lost because of the larger engine. Further efficiencies were made through the adoption of sharklets, essentially optimised winglets informed by the A350’s design and representing a considerable improvement over the A330’s more traditional installation. Airbus looked to its latest cabin by a couple of years, the larger aircraft more regular long-haul operations by those products, Space-Flex and Smart-Lav, having received EASA type certification serving smaller markets. On this basis, and cascaded technology and concepts in 2018 for a first delivery, to TAP Air the A330-800 might be seen as a useful down from the A350 to produce the Portugal, in November that year. The revenue-generator alongside the -900, A330neo’s ‘Airspace’ cabin and advanced A330-800 was similarly certified, as but always a niche model destined to sell cockpit. The cabin ensures enhanced planned early in 2020 and has only just fewer airframes. passenger experience while saving weight entered service. Meanwhile, Boeing appears to have hit and accommodating more passengers On paper, the -800 ought to appeal a particularly sweet spot with its 787-9, in the same area, effectively reducing particularly to carriers operating unusually striking a popular balance between range fuel burn per passenger even further. long, thin routes. These might be specialist and passenger capacity. The A330-800 Combined with the new engine and missions flown by mainline airlines, or sits between the 787-8 and -9 in cost airframe measures it delivers, according to Airbus, an overall 25% improvement in fuel burn compared with the ceo. In the THIS PAGE FROM TOP: cockpit, the A330neo features equipment AirAsia was particularly vociferous in its call for a re-engined Airbus A330 developed for and matured on the A350, On May 13, 2019 Azul became the first Airbus A330neo operator including the Electronic-Based Anti-icing in the Americas. The Brazilian airline has four A330-900s in service, System (EBAS) and Runway Overrun of which, PR-ANZ (c/n 1876), was the first Prevention System (ROPS). Thai AirAsiaX results from a joint Coming to market venture between the Malaysian carrier and Asia Aviation; AirAsia has ordered 78 Airbus has effectively taken a legacy Airbus A330-900s, with two in service airframe and done more than re-engine by the end of October 2020 it to improve efficiency. Paying careful attention to its aerodynamics and adapting technologies developed for other programmes it has successfully made small, incremental gains in fuel efficiency, which add up on the 251-tonne A330-900, which represents a significant financial saving for operators and decent reduction in emissions. So far, the A330-900 has won the majority of A330neo orders. Meanwhile, even though the A330-800 is a natural successor to the A330-200 and Boeing 767, it has struggled to find favour. Airbus noted that the -800 trails the -900

January2021 63 A330neo Specifications A330-800 A330-900 Overall length 58.82m/193ft 63.66m/208ft 10in Wing span (m/ft) 64m/210ft 64m/210ft Height (m/ft) 17.39m/57ft 1in 16.79m/55ft 1in Maximum passengers 406 440 Typical passengers 220-260 260-300 THIS PICTURE: Maximum range 15,094km/8,150nm 13,334km/7,200nm Although its fuselage is just 5m shorter than that of the Airbus A330-900, the -800 Maximum Mach 0.86 0.86 has the appearance of an altogether more compact machine. With the same weights MTOW 251 tonnes/553,400lb 251 tonnes/553,400lb and fuel as a -900, the -800 is able to fly considerably further Engine Trent 7000 Trent 7000 BELOW: HiFly’s Airbus A330-900 business class cabin Thrust (kN/lb st) 300/68,000 to 320/72,000 300/68,000 to 320/72,000

and seating capacity, but at the 251-tonne will find themselves operating a plethora direct operating costs than the 787 and MTOW, offers considerably longer range, of long, thin routes – which is what the represents a lower-risk solution. No doubt while the A330-900 offers similar capacity A330-800 does exceptionally well. convincing arguments can be made for to the 787-9, but with reduced range. Pricing will be fiercely competitive, of and against both suggestions, but the Pricing is, of course, a key factor in any course, but for airlines looking to re-equip extensive commonality within the wider buying decision, but published prices mean from 767s or A330ceos in the near-term Airbus product line is unquestionable. For very little without detailed knowledge of and which might have looked at the 787, carriers already operating A320 Family, discounts offered in individual deals. The A350 or even 777 previously, the A330- A330ceo, A340, A350 or A380 aircraft, combinations of range and capacity for an 800 is suddenly a very attractive option. It similarities in cockpits and operating airline attempting to match its requirements is a carefully updated legacy airframe and philosophy simplify pilot conversion. For to any of the A330-800/-900 or therefore largely familiar to maintenance those replacing the A330ceo with the 787-8/-9/-10, and even the A350-900, make providers and pilots. It nonetheless offers neo, the benefits go further, with only a for complex analysis and while published double-digit improvements in fuel burn and half-day’s training required for pilots and prices might suggest that, in some cases, a emissions and, as Airbus openly describes 90% commonality in spare parts. Boeing purchase would be cheaper, Airbus it, is an ideal entry level widebody. But then there is the question of fuel is documented as stating that it was beaten According to the Airbus spokesperson, price. Traditionally, aircraft operators on price when Hawaiian Airlines cancelled a the A330neo Family has 10% lower have pushed for improved fuel efficiency six-aircraft A330-800 order in favour of ten 787-9s in March 2018. Price points In the post-COVID world, the A330-800 looks quite different. Airline executives appear to agree that the industry will be well on its way towards recovery two or three years from now. There is also a perception that in the short- to medium-term, regional and short-haul routes will recover faster; there will be long-haul traffic, but it will be slow to return to pre-COVID levels. And that means airlines, even those used to flying multiple transatlantic schedules every day,

64 January2021 Airbus A330/A350 and Boeing 787 Data at October 31, 2020 (*cancelled) Type Range (nm) Typical passengers MTOW (tonnes) Engine Orders Deliveries A330-200 7,250 210-250 242 CF6, PW4000, Trent 700 660 644 A330-300 6,350 250-290 242 CF6, PW4000, Trent 700 785 771 A330-800 8,150 220-260 251 Trent 7000 14 2 A330-900 7,200 260-300 251 Trent 7000 318 50 A350-800* 8,300 270 248 Trent XWB N/A N/A A350-900 8,100 300-350 280 Trent XWB 762 341 A350-1000 8,700 350-410 319 Trent XWB 168 50 787-8 7,305 248 228 GEnx-1B or Trent 1000 661 375 787-9 7,530 296 254 GEnx-1B or Trent 1000 1,009 556 787-10 6,345 336 254 GEnx-1B or Trent 1000 212 61 to either save costs on their established Parallel production already switched to the new model and routes, or enable them to fly further on Airbus reported that approximately offers the 10,050nm-range ACJ330neo. the same amount of Jet A. Many in the 1,300 A330s serve with more than 110 In a difficult passenger market, the industry now consider the ‘stop’ imposed operators, for the “largest customer base short-term prospects of a new by COVID-19 as an opportunity to of any widebody aircraft today”. While factory-built freighter may be slim, reconsider and reset the aviation industry acknowledging that the A330ceo remains especially if Airbus’ plan to replace for a new, sustainable future. However, in production, the spokesperson also A330ceos with neos is as successful fuel costs are currently low and airlines stated: “The A330neo is a as hoped. By its own admission, retired generally feel less inclination to upgrade longer-term commitment to cost-effective, airliner A330ceos are a fine option for to more efficient types when fuel is cheap more sustainable operations. Since the passenger to freighter (P2F) conversion, – why spend money buying efficiency A330neo launch we have sold more than a market well served after Airbus when remaining relatively inefficient 500 A330 Family aircraft, which is 100 formed a strategic P2F partnership with costs less than it did a few months ago? aircraft on average per year.” ST Aerospace in Singapore and EFW Especially if you’re fighting for survival. Meanwhile, common production means (Dresden) in 2012; the A330-300P2F The A330ceo is by no means inefficient, Airbus can respond to demand for either entered service in December 2017 even though operators might see a ceo or neo, providing essential flexibility in and the A330-200P2F in August 2018. 25% fuel saving with the neo. Airbus is unpredictable times. “The A330ceo and In the final analysis, Airbus’ proposal cognisant both of these market pressures A330neo share assembly facilities. We to re-engine the A330 in response to and the qualities of the aircraft it has have put all measures in place internally Boeing’s 787 failed to pass muster. ultimately set out to replace. “The current and with our suppliers to ensure we meet Instead it built the A350, challenging the A330-200 global fleet is only ten years our production rate, be it assembling neos upper end of 787 capability and taking on old,” the spokesperson noted, “and the or ceos. All A330 variants are produced the 777. A gap was left for an entry level replacement wave for these aircraft is still on the same final assembly line and widebody, which the market asked that four to five years away. The A330-800 will we are used to matching demand with Airbus fill… with a re-engined A330. The be the perfect replacement aircraft. production,” the spokesperson confirmed. A330neo is more than a re-engined legacy “The A330-800 is the lowest financial Right now, continuing A330ceo aircraft; it embodies new technology and risk entry-level widebody and therefore production primarily supports the delivers substantial fuel burn savings. The well positioned to be, like its predecessor A330-200F and MRTT variants, however. market had shown enthusiasm for the the A330-200, the preferred long-range Airbus confirms that careful market studies type, especially in A330-900 form, but in a route opener, as well as a very pertinent will decide the viability of new freighter post-COVID world, both A330neo models, aircraft to help strive beyond the and MRTT variants, based on the neo, but especially the A330-800, could be post-COVID recovery. The A330-800 has while the niche, yet significant VIP market, seen in an entirely new light. Airbus may more range than any of the 787 models.” served by Airbus Corporate Jets, has yet have calculated brilliantly.

January2021 65 Knights over

It started with a sole aircraft in 1992, but since then the Croatian Air Force MiG-21 fleet has ballooned to a robust 39. It hasn’t been an easy ride, as Vladimir Trendafilovski discovers

ith the third to operate the legendary jet – the other Lovacˇkih Aviona (ELA - 191st Fighter decade of the being Romania with its Israeli-modified Aircraft Squadron). The unit, based at 21st century upon MiG-21 LanceR Cs. Franjo Tudjman Airport, which is also us, Croatia is still There are 12 modernised MiG-21s known as Pleso and which is near the flying the Soviet (eight single-seat MiG-21bisD and four country’s capital Zagreb, is subordinated MiG-21 Fishbed, MiG-21UMD two-seat trainers) currently to the local 91 Krilo (91st Wing). the delta-winged on strength with the Croatian Air Force The MiG-21bis (Fishbed-L/N) was the iconW of the Cold War era. There are just (Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo or HRZ) – definitive MiG-21 variant, entering service two European NATO air forces continuing or, more precisely, with the 191 Eskadrila in 1972. It remained in production until

66 January2021 Knights overCroatia

MAIN IMAGE: MiG-21bisD s/n 117 and 118 in a dramatic take- off as a pair with full afterburner on during the air-to-ground training in September 2020. Both carry four 16-shot UB-16-57UMP-73 rocket pods under their wings, but interestingly, there is nothing in them All images by Chris Lofting unless stated

INSET: The Knights emblem found on the nose of the MiG-21 is a combination of the old 21 ELZ/EBA and 22 ELZ/EBA motifs Morana Bencal/MORH

1985, with licence production in India Croatia’s first MiG-21s on February 4, 1992, it received its first continuing up to 1987. The two-seat In mid-1991, Croatia proclaimed proper combat aircraft – a MiG-21bis MiG-21UM (Mongol-B) was produced its independence from the former piloted by a Croatian-born Yugoslavian in the same period so, not surprisingly, Yugoslavian federation and soon found Army pilot defecting to Croatia from an many of the active HRZ MiG-21 pilots are itself at war with the Yugoslavian Army airbase in neighbouring Bosnia. On May actually younger than the aircraft they are that backed the Croatian Serbs in 15, two additional MiG-21bis aircraft flying. Nonetheless, HRZ continues to occupying a portion of Croatia. By the arrived from Serbia with another pair of operate them successfully, as it has done end of the year, the fledgling HRZ was defecting pilots, with the three jets being for the past 29 years. formed as part of the Croatian Army and allocated HRZ serials 101 to 103.

January2021 67 CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: MiG-21bisD s/n 118 just moments before touching down at Pleso as it returns from an air-to-ground training flight in September 2020. It has four 16-shot UB-16-57UMP-73 rocket pods under the wings, all of them empty

The business end of the two-seat MiG-21UMD s/n 167 as it taxies at Pleso after returning from a training flight in August 2020. Note the instructor’s periscope in the extended position on top of the rear canopy

Another view of MiG-21bisD s/n 118 as it taxies at Pleso on March 7, 2018, on this occasion armed with R-60MK air-to-air missiles

Having inherited a MiG-21 overhaul squadrons of the MiG-21 – 21 ELZ (21st plant at Velika Gorica, with trained Fighter Aircraft Squadron, originally maintenance personnel and a substantial 1 ELZ) at Pleso and 22 ELZ at Pula, pool of trained MiG-21 pilots from the making it the main HRZ combat aircraft. former Yugoslavian Army, Croatia came It was not only used for air defence, to a logical decision – to amass more but also in a ground support role, MiG-21s for HRZ. Thus, despite the where it proved to be decisive in the international arms embargo, a total of 23 closing operations of Croatia’s civil war MiG-21bis, one MiG-21US and three MiG- in 1995, ultimately leading to the end 21UM aircraft arrived in the 1993-1994 of hostilities and repatriation of all period – acquired from one of the former Serb-held territories. Soviet training facilities located in what is now Kyrgyzstan. The HRZ allocated A new century serials 104 to 126 to the MiG-21bis At the start of the new millennium, Croatia aircraft, while the trainer aircraft received was faced with a decision, what to do serials 160 to 163, but unlike the three with its MiG-21 fleet – whether to retire ex-Yugoslavian aircraft none of these it (as most of its European users did or actually wore proper serials during the were about to do) or to continue using it. war in order to conceal the real quantity Having relatively new aircraft (including of MiG-21s in HRZ service. 11 MiG-21bis aircraft built in the 1980s, There were enough to form two full some with less than 1,000 flight hours),

MiG-21s in service with 191. ELA Croatia opted to continue using them. Serial Type c/n Built Status Remark At this point, the two MiG-21 units were 116 MiG-21bisD 75057500 1977 Active Acquired from Kyrgyzstan in 1993 relabelled 21 EBA (21st Combat Aircraft Squadron) and 22 EBA respectively, in 117 MiG-21bisD 75092923 1981 Active Acquired from Kyrgyzstan in 1993 order to emphasise the secondary ground 118 MiG-21bisD 75092905 1981 Active Acquired from Kyrgyzstan in 1993 support role (still being regularly trained by Croatian MiG-21 pilots). 131 MiG-21bisD 75038327¹ 1976 Stored Acquired from Ukraine in 2013 As most of the aircraft were overhauled in 132 MiG-21bisD 75038147² 1976 Stored Acquired from Ukraine in 2013 the 1989-1993 period, they were now due for another overhaul, scheduled ten years 133 MiG-21bisD 75036406³ 1976 Active Acquired from Ukraine in 2013 after their last one. 134 MiG-21bisD 75038399* 1976 Stored Acquired from Ukraine in 2013 With entry into NATO imminent and the aircraft requiring work, the Croatian MoD 135 MiG-21bisD 75038314** 1976 Stored Acquired from Ukraine in 2013 in 2002 awarded the work to Romania’s 164 MiG-21UMD 516969001 1976 Active Acquired from Kyrgyzstan in 2003 Aerostar SA overhaul plant at Bacau. The company was also contracted to fit NATO/ 165 MiG-21UMD 516911036 1974 Repair Acquired from Kyrgyzstan in 2003 ICAO-compatible navigation, identification 166 MiG-21UMD 516951031 1975 Active Acquired from Kyrgyzstan in 2003 and communications equipment during the process, elevating them to a new MiG- 167 MiG-21UMD 516987091 1977 Active Acquired from Kyrgyzstan in 2003 21bisD and MiG-21UMD standard (D for 1 Originally assigned Yemeni s/n 2234. In reality c/n 75019927 (ex-Bulgarian s/n 83), built in 1974. ‘doradjen’ – modified). 2 Originally assigned Yemeni s/n 2230. In reality c/n 75003117 (ex-Bulgarian s/n 82), built in 1973. With the squadron size set at eight 3 Originally assigned Yemeni s/n 2236. This is the only ex-Algerian aircraft with its original identity. single-seat fighters and four two-seat *Originally assigned Yemeni s/n 2235. In reality c/n 75080601 (ex-Bulgarian s/n 94), built in 1980. trainers, the first batch of eight HRZ MiG- ** Originally assigned Yemeni s/n 2233. In reality c/n 75003092 (ex-Bulgarian s/n 81), built in 1973. 21bis (predominantly older aircraft, built in

68 January2021 the 1970s) went for overhaul in Romania. Here they were joined by four new MiG- 21UMs (also built in the 1970s) acquired from Kyrgyzstan via Aerostar. These were required to top up the number of trainers for the first squadron, receiving HRZ serials 164 through to 167. This first batch returned to Croatia in 2003, when the MoD decided not to overhaul the additional 12 aircraft required for its second squadron as a cost-cutting measure. Consequently, all the remaining MiG- 21s were retired as soon as their next overhaul was needed, most being left out in the open, exposed to the elements. Unfortunately, many were newer than those in the first batch, with some not having used even half of their flying time. The reasoning was that the 12 overhauled

aircraft type) and Croatia’s unfavourable (which represented the OAZ repair plant financial situation at the time, the MoD from Odesa) to overhaul and modernise decided to continue using the MiG-21, 12 MiG-21 aircraft. This comprised four which it viewed as a relatively cheap two-seat MiG-21UMD and eight MiG- platform for basic air policing and ground 21bisD, five of which would be provided support tasks. by OAZ as part of the contract. The latter However, most of the active MiG-21bisD would come from a batch of eight jets turned out to be too old and unsuitable for originally destined for Yemen in a contract overhaul, because they had depleted their signed in 2005, but due to certain issues service life. In the end only two (s/n 116 (reportedly Yemen could not pay for them) and 117) of the remaining six continued these remained undelivered and had been in service. Meanwhile, most of the newer stored at OAZ since 2009. They would aircraft that were withdrawn from use in receive HRZ serials 131 to 135, leaving 2003 were also unsuitable for overhaul as serials in the 127-130 range unallocated. they were not stored properly, except for The first overhauled aircraft did not arrive a single aircraft (s/n 118) that remained at from Ukraine until mid-April 2014, the Pula. With only three MiG-21bis suitable for delays stemming mainly from problems the work, it meant the HRZ was again in encountered with the integration of their the market for MiG-21s. new NATO/ICAO-compatible equipment. In 2013 a contract was awarded to The designation remained unchanged, the Ukrainian Ukrspetsexport company despite the aircraft being fitted with

Croatian MiG-21s: The statistics aircraft would be enough to keep HRZ Since it took over its first MiG-21 on February 4, 1992, the HRZ has acquired a total of 39 aircraft fighter pilots current and take care of the of this type, with only 12 remaining in service – seven of these being active, the remainder in regular air policing and support tasks storage or under maintenance. until 2013, when it was planned to A total of 31 single-seat MiG-21bis, one two-seat MiG-21US and seven two-seat MiG-21UM aircraft retire the MiG-21s and replace them with were inducted into service; two never actually flew (MiG-21bis s/n 111 and MiG-21US s/n 161). a new type. Three of the aircraft were ex-Yugoslavian (MiG-21bis s/n 101-103, all flown by defecting Croatian Of course, if everything had gone as pilots), 31 were ex-Soviet from Kyrgyzstan (MiG-21bis s/n 104-126, MiG-21US s/n 161 and planned, this would not have been a MiG-21UM s/n 160, 162 and 163 arrived in 1993-1994 and MiG-21UMD s/n 164-167 later on in problem, but this decision, as we will see, 2003), four were ex-Bulgarian (MiG-21bisD s/n 131, 132, 134 and 135 – all being ex-Soviet aircraft eventually backfired. delivered to Bulgaria second-hand in 1990) and, finally, one was ex-Algerian (MiG-21bisD s/n 133). Ultimately, at the end of 2003, HRZ The last five arrived in 2014 from Ukraine, from a batch of eight aircraft originally destined for Yemen. had only 12 operational aircraft shared A total of nine aircraft and five pilots were lost during service. Three aircraft (s/n 101, 103 and between two squadrons until 2008, when 119 – all with pilots on board) were shot down in combat during the civil war, two (s/n 114 and 22 EBA disbanded and 21 EBA was 121 – with no pilot fatalities) were lost due to technical malfunctions and four (s/n 104, 108, 109 simply renamed EBA to reflect its status and 120 – two with pilots on board) crashed due to pilot error. as the sole MiG-21 unit. The aircraft withdrawn from HRZ service in 2003, being deemed unfit for overhaul, have gradually found their way into various public and military institutions or facilities as static exhibits, Overhaul in Ukraine gate guardians or pole-mounted monuments. No less than ten aircraft have ended up this way By 2012 the ten-year post-overhaul – the latest being MiG-21bis s/n 102 (the newest Croatian MiG-21, built in 1982) – fully restored service life of the ten remaining MiG- and placed as a static exhibit at the ZTC repair depot in Velika Gorica in September 2020. 21s (two MiG-21bisD were lost in a mid- Meanwhile, out of the three older aircraft modernised in Romania and withdrawn from service in 2014, air collision on September 23, 2010) only MiG-21bisD s/n 110 has left Pleso. In May 2019 it was transported to the Military Aviation Museum was again near its end. After carefully in Zeltweg air base, Austria, in exchange for an ex-Yugoslavian MiG-21R s/n 26112 that was used by a reviewing all available options (including famous HRZ pilot (later killed in combat during the civil war) to defect to Austria in October 1991. the acquisition of a new or second-hand

January2021 69 CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: MiG-21UMD s/n 164 cycles its landing gear shortly after it took off from Pleso on an air-to-ground training flight in September 2020 armed with a pair of VAB-250 practice bombs

This image, taken in early August 2014, shows MiG-21UMD s/n 165 in the display scheme a few days after it was officially accepted into service following the overhaul in Ukraine. It has been ‘undergoing maintenance’ since August 2017 and is unlikely to return to service

One of the five aircraft acquired from Ukraine in 2014 s/n 134 departs Pleso in August 2015. Originally sold to HRZ as an ex-Algerian Air Force aircraft, it was found to be an ex-Bulgarian aircraft, explaining why this aircraft sported a windshield found on aircraft produced in the 1980s

The last two original modernised MiG-21bisD aircraft to remain in active service were s/n 121 and 122. The latter is the oldest HRZ MiG-21bis, seen here decelerating at Pleso in early May 2014. It is armed with a pair of R-60MK air-to-air missiles

RIGHT: A fine study of MiG-21bisD s/n 116 preparing to land at Pleso after a training flight. Note its special tail marking, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the HRZ, applied in December 2016

70 January2021 a new set of equipment, that differed with falsified papers. They were portrayed from those found on the original aircraft as ex-Algerian aircraft but were actually modernised in Romania. ex-Bulgarian (second-hand ex-Soviet!) Even when the aircraft finally arrived, aircraft, which were officially withdrawn the troubles were not yet over. A lengthy from service and scrapped. After verifying acceptance process began, finally ending this HRZ had no choice but to withdraw in July 2015 when the last of the 12 them and put them in storage in 2017. aircraft was accepted into HRZ service. The fleet suffered again in August 2017 As a consequence, a few old MiG-21bisD when the MiG-21UMD trainer s/n 165, aircraft had to remain well after their sporting the patriotic red and white planned retirement date to cover QRA checkerboard scheme, was found to have duty. One of these (s/n 121) was lost in a problem with its fuel tanks while on a August 2014, due to a technical failure, regular 200-hour maintenance check. just a few weeks before it would have Today the aircraft is still ‘undergoing notched up 40 years in service. maintenance’ and unofficially the problem Still the troubles involving the ex-Ukraine persists even after numerous attempts aircraft continued. It turned out that four to rectify it, so effectively this aircraft is of the five aircraft supplied by OAZ arrived now out of service.

January2021 71 Since 2017, EBA has been left with only seven serviceable aircraft – four MiG- 21bisDs (116, 117, 118 and 133 – the latter being the only real ex-Algerian aircraft acquired from Ukraine) and three MiG- 21UMDs (164, 166 and 167).

Today’s state of affairs In 2019, with a new round of renaming HRZ units, the EBA became 191 ELA, but in reality this brought no changes in terms of tasks and structure. Conducting air policing duty under NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence System However, the United States blocked the THIS PAGE FROM ABOVE: (NATINAMDS) remains its primary task. sale as it was in breach of the Third Party MiG-21bisD s/n 133, seen here returning to Pleso after For this purpose, it maintains an armed Transfer process (all Israeli upgrades had a training flight as part of the QRA pair, was the single original ex-Algerian aircraft from the five acquired in QRA pair 24/7 housed at a specialised to be removed from the aircraft before Ukraine during 2014 and the last remaining in active facility at the military part of Pleso. The they could be passed on to a new user) service, the rest having been withdrawn in 2017 two aircraft always use the ‘Knight 01’ and in January 2019 Croatia was forced and ‘Knight 02’ call-signs, the unit’s to cancel the deal. In July 2016, MiG-21bis s/n 105 took on the role of nickname. Interestingly, aircraft assigned A new RFP was launched in December a pole-mounted exhibit in the memorial park at the on other duties (such as training flights) 2019, but the deadline was postponed due military barracks in Velika Buna, near Zagreb, seen here in 2020. Note its spurious three-tone paint scheme and carry the ‘Vitez’ call-signs (‘Knight’ in to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the new the s/n 153 – the latter was the numerical designator of Croatian), with numerical designations offers being received in September 2020. the wartime unit that used to be based here starting from 03. In addition to the Lockheed Martin F-16 – Additionally, 191 ELA is tasked with offered both as new aircraft by the United MiG-21bis s/n 105 of 21 EBA, photographed at its supporting the regular activities of the States and as second-hand aircraft by home base of Pleso in May 2002, shows the typical Croatian Armed Forces including close Israel – the potential MiG-21 replacements paint scheme found on ex-Soviet MiG-21s acquired from Kyrgyzstan in 1993-1994. Note the absence of air support (CAS) and aerial target towing include the Rafale from France and Gripen serials. This aircraft was withdrawn from service for its naval and ground elements. CAS from Sweden. in February 2003 was practised in early September 2020, with live firing conducted at the Slunj range – the weapons of choice including concrete practice bombs and the on-board cannon. Last but not least, the 191 ELA aircraft regularly take part in joint training missions with the allied NATO air forces. A good example of this was the ‘Allied Sky’ operation on August 28, 2020, when USAF B-52 Stratofortress bombers of the 5th Bomb Wing stationed at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota overflew all 30 NATO allies that day, simultaneously interacting with around 80 fighter aircraft from 20 NATO countries. Two three-ship flights of the 191 ELA interacted with the B-52 that flew over Croatia, the first comprised an armed QRA pair (s/n 116 and 133) and s/n 164, while the second consisted of s/n 117, 118 and 167.

Replacing the MiG Needless to say, the days of the Croatian MiG-21s are numbered. Officially they remain in service until 2024, when they are expected to be replaced with a squadron of 12 new multi-role fighter aircraft. However, the process of acquiring the MiG-21 replacement has proved to be a complicated one. In March 2018, Croatia accepted an Israeli offer of 12 second-hand F-16C/D Block 30 Barak aircraft. This deal was worth around US$500m and included training for HRZ pilots and groundcrew as well as a full set of ground support equipment, a flight simulator, initial set of spare parts and weapons and adaptation of the unit’s existing infrastructure at Pleso.

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551 Historic Specs fp.indd 89 07/12/2020 14:48 Life in the Jumbo yet Once the supreme widebody airliner, the iconic Boeing 747 seemed an endangered type when COVID-19 hastened its retirement. So why are so many still flying, asks Mark Broadbent?

gap between passing unthinkable pre-COVID-19. The year Jets were sent into storage and it pulses of rain enabled marked the half-century since the became apparent relatively quickly Boeing 747-436 G-CIVB first-generation -100-series aircraft that the type would not return to many (c/n 25811) to conduct its entered service with Pan American operator fleets. Qantas and Corsair bade final landing on October 8, Airways in January 1970, but now will be farewell to their last aircraft in the spring 2020. Cotswold Airport in remembered as the year many carriers and summer, while KLM and BA followed Kemble, Gloucestershire stopped flying the classic type. suit in October. isA this jumbo’s new home after its early Thanks to the collapse in travel demand The hastening of 747 retirements retirement by British Airways. during the relentless global spread of the reflected the airlines’ urgency to save One of the four 747-400s painted as pandemic and the flight restrictions that cash. As the analysts IBA noted in an retro jets in 2019 to mark BA’s centenary followed, operating airliners with hundreds October 2020 market update, retiring – it wears the Negus livery used from of seats were commercially at odds with older aircraft is an easy way to cut costs 1974 to 1984 – it will now assume a fresh plummeting passenger numbers. because they are less fuel efficient. multifaceted life as a museum exhibit, When the depth of the crisis became Phased-out 747s have ended up in a school educational resource and a clear last spring, major network airlines storage at various locations around the conference venue. acted fast to suspend operations with world. These include Castellón, Ciudad their largest aircraft. BA, French leisure Real and Teruel airports in Spain, Kansas Put out to pasture airline Corsair, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, City, Mojave, San Bernardino, Victorville An accelerated fleet retirement in 2020 Lufthansa, Qantas Airways and Virgin and Pinal Air Park in the United States, – a year that should have been cause Atlantic Airways were among those who and Cotswold Airport, Newquay Airport for 747 celebrations – would have been grounded their remaining 747-400s. and St Athan in the UK.

74 January2021 Life in the Jumbo yet

They will be the final moves for some Condsolidated Airlines Group (IAG), BA’s BA retired Boeing 747-436 G-CIVB to Cotswold aircraft. Two BA jets retired to Newquay, parent company, had told the IAG Capital Airport, Kemble in October 2020 G-CIVF (c/n 25434) and G-CIVZ (c/n Markets Day in November 2019: “We will Neil Porter 28854), will be parted-out by STS Aviation be out of the 747s in early 2024.” Group. Meanwhile, in early December, it More broadly, the 747’s demise reflects was reported that BA’s Landor and BOAC the shift by network airlines over the past liveried 747s will be saved at Dunsfold and 25 years to buying twin-engine airliners St Athan respectively. such as Boeing 777-300ERs and Airbus A350s, and slightly smaller capacity Unable to rival ‘big twins’ Boeing 787s and Airbus A330s, for their The speed of 747 retirements was long-haul flying needs. unsurprising amid the pandemic, but it Put simply, modern twins do what was really only hastening a process that quad-jets did, only more efficiently. was already under way. They have extensive range and plentiful Several operators have been underfloor revenue cargo capacity for progressively retiring their Jumbos. two fewer engines and a lower fuel burn. Both Qantas and KLM were planning When BA announced the 747 retirement their last 747-400 flights by the end of last July, it disclosed its A350s and 787s 2020. Virgin was set to withdraw its last use 25% less fuel than a 747. examples in 2021, and, as Steve Gunning, These trends meant sales of chief financial officer of International four-engine jets were low for years.

January2021 75 Boeing sold just 47 examples of “We will continue building 747s at the Lufthansa, the lead -8I operator with 19 the 747-8 Intercontinental (-8I), the current rate [0.5 aircraft a month] as aircraft, recently gave the Jumbo a ringing passenger version of the 747-8, after we deliver on our commitments to key endorsement. Although the German its 2005 launch – Air China placed the customers... we anticipate completing carrier unveiled a major restructure in its last order in 2012 – and there were only production of the iconic 747 in 2022.” third-quarter 2020 results to cope with 103 orders for the 747-8 Freighter (-8F) The remaining new-build Jumbos the COVID-19 crisis, confirming plans to variant. Meanwhile, Airbus sold just 290 comprise ten -8Fs for UPS Airlines – withdraw 150 aircraft by the middle of this examples of the A380. which with an eventual fleet of 28 will decade, the 747-8s will not be axed. The twin-jet success meant there was an operate more ‘Dash Eight’ Jumbos During the World Aviation Festival in inevitability about Airbus’ February 2019 than any other operator – while two jets September 2020, the German carrier’s announcement to end A380 production in intended for defunct Russian carrier CEO, Carsten Spohr, said “we love to 2021, while Boeing disclosed last July that Transaero are to be modified for the USAF operate” the jet and hailed it as “our it would build the 747-8 for two more years and used as presidential transports. flagship… after the crisis.” while the orders backlog was cleared. His endorsement contrasts starkly with Speaking during Boeing’s Lufthansa’s new flagship the airline’s plan for its A380 fleet. After second-quarter 2020 earnings conference In addition, the relative youth of the -8I/Fs sending all 14 of its A380s into storage call, Boeing Commercial Airplanes – the first -8F entered service with when the pandemic struck, Lufthansa president and CEO David Calhoun said: Cargolux in 2011 and the initial -8I with permanently retired six examples with

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Lufthansa the following year – along with immediate effect and, in the Q3 earnings, UPS Airlines will eventually operate continued use of some -400s, means the disclosed the other eight have been 28 of the 747-8F types Jumbo will continue to grace the skies for “transferred to long-term parking and UPS Airlines years to come. taken out of the [airline’s] planning.” A former Qantas 747-400 is under Most 747-8s flying with airlines are likely Lufthansa’s 747-8Is and A380s are of conversion to become an engine to have two decades of operations ahead comparable vintage. The carrier began testbed for Rolls-Royce of them and, based on the lifespans receiving the latter type in 2010 and the Rolls-Royce of previous US presidential aircraft, it former two years later, but Spohr has been is conceivable the VC-25Bs will be in quoted as saying the 747-8 is the “most Normally used to transport 787 sub-assemblies, last July Boeing 747 service until the middle of this century. efficient aircraft” in the airline’s fleet. Dreamlifters were used to transport As Calhoun reflected in the July 2020 Key in the decision to retain the personal protection face masks, as earnings call: “These airplanes will be 747-8s, perhaps, is revenue cargo seen here at Salt Lake City, Utah Boeing flying for decades and [Boeing] will capability. The American jet edges its continue to support the 747 franchise, its European counterpart on cargo volume, operations and sustainment well into the offering 176m3 capacity compared to future.” the A380’s 175m3. Boeing’s Airplane

76 January2021 Who still flies the 747-400? Operator Number AAR Corporation 1 ACT Airlines 5 Aerotranscargo 6 AerSale Inc 1 Air Atlanta Icelandic 14* AirBridgeCargo 4 Air China 6* Air India 4* Alta Airlines 2* Asiana Airlines 12 ASL Airlines Belgium 5 Astral Aviation 2 Atlas Air 5* Bahrain Royal Flight 2 Boeing 4 (747-400LCFs used for 787 production) CAL Cargo Air Lines 3 Cargologicair 2 Cargolux 16 Cargolux Italia 4 Cathay Pacific Cargo 6* Challenge Airlines 2 China Airlines 18* China Cargo Airlines 2 China Southern Airlines 2* DHL 6 Who flies the 747-8? Dubai Royal Flight 5 Airline Orders Deliveries Eagleexpress Air 1* AirBridgeCargo 7 7 General Electric 1 Air China 7 7 Global SuperTanker Services 1 Atlas Air 10 10 Iraqi Airways 2* Business jet/VIP 8 8 Jet Midwest Group 1* Cargolux 16 16 Kabo Air 1* Cathay Pacific Cargo 14 14 Kalitta Air 24 Korean Air 17 17 Kingdom Aircraft II LLC 1 Lufthansa 19 19 KLM Cargo 4 (inc Martinair Holland) Nippon Cargo Airlines 8 8 Korean Air Cargo 6* Silk Way West Airlines 5 5 Korean Government 1 Volga-Dnepr Airlines 9 6 Longtail Aviation 2* Unidentified 4 4 Lufthansa 12* UPS Airlines 28 18 Magma Aviation 4 US Air Force 2 Due 2024 Mahan Airlines 1* Max Air 4* Morocco Government 1 National Airlines 5* One Caribbean 1* Pacific Air Cargo 1 Polar Air Cargo 5 Rolls-Royce 1 Rossiya 9 Royal Flight of Oman 1 Saudi Arabian Airlines 7* Saudi Arabian Government 1 ShunFeng Airlines 2 Silk Way West Airlines 5 Singapore Airlines 7 Sky Gates Airlines 2 Sky KG Airlines 1 Sky Lease Cargo 2 Suparna Airlines 3 Terra Avia 3* UPS Airlines 13 Virgin Orbit 1 Wamos Air 4 Western Global Airlines 3 * denotes all or some of fleet parked/stored due to COVID-19 pandemic

January2021 77 Dropping rockets and testing engines Despite the Boeing 747-400’s diminishing use as a passenger aircraft, A former Qantas 747-400 , VH-OJU (c/n 25566), was acquired by some converted examples remain active as freighters. Rolls-Royce in October 2019. This aircraft is currently at the AeroTEC Others have more unusual applications. Atlas Air flies four highly modified facility in Moses Lake, Washington, undergoing conversion to a examples on behalf of Boeing to transport 787 sub-assemblies between specialist engine testbed for the company’s new turbofans. In an subcontractors’ facilities and its production lines, and Virgin Orbit uses industry first, the 747 will be configured to both commercial and one as an air-launch-to-orbit platform for its LauncherOne rocket. business aircraft powerplants.

Characteristics for Airport Planning 34 main-deck and 12 lower-deck pallet to Dubai, then Shenzen and Anchorage, document shows a -8I can carry 12 positions, while offering 4,200nm range. before returning to Louisville. full-width freight containers (seven in the For specialist cargo airlines such as The boss of Cargolux, which in forward compartment ahead of the wings AirBridgeCargo, Atlas Air, Cargolux and September 2020 started a service and five aft) plus bulk cargo. UPS Airlines, all of whom use the type, connecting Luxembourg with Shenzen the -8F is ideal for flying large loads on via Bangkok, also recently praised the High-capacity hauling trunk routes between the key air freight 747’s capability. The airline’s CEO Richard Meanwhile, the -8F continues to provide hubs worldwide. Forson was quoted by Air Cargo News a valuable capability for cargo airlines One operator using the payload/range as saying during a November 2020 event with its high volume and long range. capability to the full is UPS, which flies at the Aviation Club: “There is not a Distinguished by its upwards-swinging -8Fs on a round-the-world route linking comparable aircraft with the capabilities nose door, the -8F can transport North America, the Middle East and Asia, of the 747, especially in terms of the 292,400lb payloads using its routing from the company’s Louisville hub movement of outsize shipments.” Cargo trends Boeing’s latest World Air Cargo Forecast, issued in November, noted: “Many airlines with dedicated freighter fleets have seen volume and revenue increases. Accelerated e-commerce adoption because of COVID-19 looks likely to extend express market growth trends. International express markets have outpaced the overall market, averaging 17% annual growth over the last five years.” But if future freighter aircraft demand is forecast to be so solid, why then did Boeing axe the -8F? Only so many airlines require the lift and range capabilities the -8F can provide,

78 January2021 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: This ex-Virgin Atlantic 747-400 will drop Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket Virgin Orbit

The 747’s high volume freight capacity gives it a pivotal role in air cargo UPS Airlines

Just 47 747-8 Intercontinentals were sold Boeing

The 747-8 is Lufthansa’s new flagship Lufthansa

and with major cargo specialists having 777-300ERs in the market that will “wondering if the whole freighter concept already introduced the type (see panel, also be looking for a home one day.” is now going full circle, where initially it Who flies the 747-8?) the aircraft has Aware of the possibilities for converted started off as conversion of passenger arguably already filled the niche in the air Triple Sevens in air cargo, Israel aircraft and then it went into production cargo market it was designed to serve. Aerospace Industries launched its own freighters. Maybe we’re getting back to a Twin jets’ efficiency is another key factor. -300ER conversion programme in situation where manufacturers are going Boeing itself already offers the production October 2019, the first such modification to say the risk is too high.” However, 777 Freighter (based on the 777-200LR for the 777. Lessor GECAS placed a Cargolux has “taken the necessary variant), which has been purchased by the launch order for 15 firm conversions and steps to ensure the longevity other major cargo specialists, including 15 options. There has also been some of our 747 fleet as long as possible.” AeroLogic, Air France Cargo, DHL, Emirates conjecture among industry analysts for a Remarking on the end of 747 production, SkyCargo, FedEx Express, Lufthansa few years about whether or not Boeing Forson continued: “A significant capability Cargo and Qatar Airways Cargo. is planning to launch its own 777-300ER will be lost to the logistics market. I don’t Furthermore, with early to the freighter conversion. ever see another four-engined freighter mid-2000s-vintage -300ERs reaching the Forson was quoted as saying at the being developed by any manufacturer.” end of their lives as passenger airliners, Aviation Club that Cargolux is “keeping an These telling comments highlight the there is a ready supply of ‘big twins’ ripe eye” on developments, including the IAI esteem in which cargo airlines hold the for conversion to efficient substitutes for 777-300ER conversion. 747 despite the efficiency of twin-jets. older cargo aircraft, including any Fielding 16 747-400 freighters, the The Jumbo’s capabilities mean its 747-400s, that might need to be replaced firm has decisions to make about a operators, and anyone who appreciates in the coming years. As Forson admitted: replacement, as do other 747-400F users. the iconic type, will cherish the 747s that “There’s a huge feedstock of Forson observed that Cargolux is continue to fly.

January2021 79 TheheroofAero

During his short tenure as CEO of Prague-based Aero Vodochody, Dieter John has achieved remarkable results. In this candid interview, Alan Warnes discovers the secrets of his success

Dieter John has stabilised Prague-based Aero Vodochody since taking over as the company's CEO in March 2019 Aero

ieter John took over as just three years after appointing a new Dieter will leave when the deal is finally Chief Executive Officer Italian management team. sealed, having accomplished his mission. at Prague-based Aero In June 2020, a mere 15 months after I asked Dieter what had been the Vodochody in March 2019. Dieter joined, and with the company now highlights of his almost two years’ stay It was a troubling time on a sounder footing, Penta announced with the Czech Republic’s biggest for the company then, it was selling Aero to a Czech-Hungarian aerospace company. “There are three with a lot of cash being joint venture. Omnipol, one of the main areas I am most proud of,” he answered. Dpoured into the new L-39NG advanced defence companies in the Czech Republic “The first was managing to assure the jet trainer, which had made its first flight and which already has a 50% share in going-concern of the company, making only three months earlier, but no revenue the L-39NG, is set to buy 49% of Aero. sure it survived. The second was was coming in. Penta, the owners of Aero Hungarian entrepreneur András Tombor manoeuvring extremely well through Vodochody, needed a change at the top, will acquire the 51% controlling interest. COVID-19 wave one and now through

80 January2021 TheheroofAero L-39NG. “Certification is an extremely important step for the L-39NG, and this demonstrates to the world it can operate safely in the European air space,” he said. “It proves the concept and gives out a strong signal to the market that the aircraft is mature. “We have certified the aircraft to the EMAR 21 [European Military Airworthiness Requirements] and EMACC [European Military Airworthiness Certification Criteria], so the aircraft are now acceptable to the EU and NATO customers, and shows that the Czech OEM [Original Equipment Manufacturer] can fit into the bigger EU framework. So, certification was pretty important.” He continued: “To be clear, certification isn’t the end of the story, it’s an important step but we now have to certify the light attack version within a year and kick- ‘Today, Aero enjoys an start the serialisation of the L-39NG. Building four prototypes is a lot different extraordinarily high from building upwards of 20 aircraft a year and probably 40 in the long term. reputation in its after- Different tooling, different technologies, different processes and so on, are market service globally’ needed because we need to standardise the aircraft. Dieter John, CEO, Aero Vodochody “Two flying prototypes, 7001 and 7004, were used in the certification process, with close to 300 test flights in addition to those of our technological demonstrator [L-39CW 2626], as well as static test aircraft 7002 and fatigue tester, 7003. Both of the latter played a significant part at VZLU (both at the Czech Aerospace Research Centre, VZLU). MSN 7001 is being converted into a light attack variant for the next step in the NG’s evolution.

Sights on sales All it needs now is the first sale of the advanced jet trainer. It’s a source of frustration for the Aero CEO because the saga of selling four L-39NGs to state-owned LOM Praha, which runs the CLV (Centrum leteckého výcviku – Flight Training Centre), continues to wave two. We didn’t shut the company despite the efforts of COVID-19. It was a rumble on. CLV is responsible for training a single day and still operated at 75% huge achievement by all the employees. Czech Air Force pilots. “We hoped the capacity – some areas were working at I believed we succeeded because we contract would be signed by the end of weekends during wave one. It was a great identified a range of processes that could June. It’s very frustrating,” he said. “Our achievement by all the people. be actioned by a medium-sized company shareholders have done everything, and not a large one, where flexibility is including the financing of the aircraft to Certification milestone sometimes difficult.” enable the deal. It will come – we just “The third was certification of the L-39NG Dieter served Airbus for 25 years, a time don’t know when!” in September. It was the company’s which encompassed, among others, The issue appears to be the monetary primary target for 2020 and not everyone the certification of the NH90 and Tigre viability of LOM Praha, which is struggling believed we could achieve it. But we helicopters, so he knows a thing or two to get the financing in place. While the MoD were focused and achieved our goal, about the huge task of certifying the or Czech Air Force cannot step in due to

January2021 81 legislation, it means when the CLV L-39Cs aircraft. But we have made it clear that we Overhaul recovery retire in 2021, the Czech Air Force pilots are will serve our customers one by one and When Dieter arrived in early 2019, the in danger of not being able to train. LOM cannot jump the queue if customers MRO (Maintenance Repair and Overhaul) Extraordinarily, Penta and Omnipol have sign up before them. I will not allow business had all but gone. Fortunately, it been funding production of the aircraft discrimination of an international partner. is now one of Aero’s strongest pillars of with billions of Czech koruna since 2014. Dieter sees air forces moving away from revenue. “You don’t build customer trust “Normally the launch customer would turboprops to train pilots in the future when you sell the aircraft, you build that pay for that, but unfortunately we have because the life cycle cost of the L-39NG after delivery, after its life cycle points until not done a deal yet, so we are not in is comparable to a turboprop trainer. it is retired,” he said. this position. It shows the belief, both I asked him to contrast the price of the “There have been customers who send companies have in the aircraft,” he said. L-39NG with the Leonardo M345 HET their aircraft to low-cost countries like “It’s a big investment, solely private; (High Efficiency Trainer) which received Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine, but what we don’t have a launch customer and its initial certification in May 2020. “We they didn’t recognise at the time is you no public investment so it meant a lot are talking about a significant double- get what you pay for. You won’t get OEM of entrepreneurial courage. There was a digit percentage; we are much more service and OEM depth of work. One strong business case and there was a lot economic,” he stated. “If you look at the example is the Uzbekistan Air Force, who of trust in the company based on its track price per unit and the five-year logistics had never been to us before and we have record and the ‘will do’ philosophy of its package that the Italian Air Force paid just completed the overhaul of six L-39Cs. leadership. Any investment is a risk, but it for the latest batch of 13 M345s, we are They will tell you what a difference it was probably a reasonable risk. cheaper by dozens of percent. makes to give the aircraft to a certified “From a marketing and sales effort, “Our image in the jet training world is OEM who knows the aircraft inside out.

At the end of the Cold War and the Velvet Revolution in the Czech Republic, Russia turned its back on Aero Vodochody. Delivering aircraft at such an epic pace to so-called Russian pact countries would be a thing of the past and Aero would instead need to find its own place in the market. The more advanced L-39MS with a more powerful 4,850lb thrust Ivchenko-Progress DV-2 came at the wrong time in the late-1980s. Only five were built for the Czechoslovak Air force and when the country split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, two went to the Slovak Air force and the other three to a US civilian operator. After a rethink, Aero worked with US-based Flight Visions to integrate a new weapons delivery and navigation system to launch the L-59, but only 60 were sold – 48 to Egypt and 12 to Tunisia. Next was the L-159 Advanced Light Combat Aircraft (ALCA) with the Czech MoD ordering 72 single-seat L-159s on July 4, 1997, to replace the big fleets of MiG-23BN Floggers, Su-22M4 Fitters and Su-25 Frogfoots. Within a few years it became obvious that the Czech Air Force did not need so many L-159s, so only 24 were initially delivered between 2000 and 2004, with the rest being put in storage after flight test. Draken International acquired 21 and are using them very successfully L-39NG 7002 was used as a static test aircraft at the national VZLU (Czech Aerospace Research Centre) during type certification in the United States in a ‘red air’ role with the US military. Iraq also acquired 12, including two dual seaters, with the single-seaters used in Aero: A brief overview the war effort against Islamic State. Aero Vodochody built its reputation on designing and manufacturing jet All the Czech Air Force L-159s are now set to go through the so-called trainers for communist Russia and its allies during the Cold War. More PP16 contract to refresh their airframes and modify some parts. The L-29 Delfins (3,665) and L-39 Albatros (2,937) were delivered to air company also has a good healthy backlog of L-39 MRO work, as it seeks forces all over the world than any other jet trainer. to sell the new L-39NG with serial production now starting.

potential buyers always asked when outstanding, whereas if you look at the Who can know them better than the the L-39NG would be certified. It’s an predecessors of the M345, there were company that developed and produced important step and for the customer it a few sales abroad of the S211 [61 to them! You get a completely different is easier to get the budget to purchase Singapore, Philippines and Haiti] and none service, and it’s a strong argument that the aircraft. It’s much better for the of the M311. In addition, Aero today enjoys more customers recognise.” stakeholder that the aircraft is certified an extraordinarily high reputation in its Dieter then explained the current than risk their purchase order on an after-market service globally. So, if you put situation with the MRO business: “We aircraft that isn’t. all these points together, we have strong did have a backlog of 39 aircraft being “It’s difficult to explain to potential advantages and unique selling points.” worked on in our own premises here or international customers why the domestic So how many L-39NGs did Dieter at our customer’s facilities. Some have user hasn’t purchased the aircraft. The think Aero could reasonably sell over now been delivered. The work included L-39s will be out of service soon, and the next ten years? After totalling up 16 L-159s for the Czech Air Force under surely the government won’t waste some numbers in his head, he replied: a PP16 overhaul contract signed in May taxpayers’ money by sending the pilot’s ”Two hundred plus, and within three 2019, which saw the first aircraft (6052) abroad? We could alternatively offer our years L-39NG production will have been redelivered back on September 16. There air training services as we have an ATO ramped up to 20 aircraft a year, based are also 20 L-39s for general overhauls [Air Training Organisation] licence but we on successes in the 12 or so sales with GenesyS avionics upgrade.” haven’t been asked so far. campaigns in various stages of maturity. Aero do not comment on its MRO “Fortunately, the outside market, isn’t Central Europe is our main focus right customers, but based on unofficial waiting for LOM Praha to buy their four now, closely followed by Asia and Africa”. information, there are L-39s from Nigeria,

82 January2021 Kazakhstan, and Ethiopia (with work FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: All images by Alan Warnes unless stated of the Ethiopian L-39s being done at The second L-39NG 7004 (0476) made its first flight in December 2019, a year after the prototype Debre Zeit in Ethiopia). The return of six One of the six Uzbekistan Air Force L-39Cs to be overhauled by Aero comes into land at the examples for Uzbekistan was completed company’s airfield in August on October 8 when the last pair were flown out of Pardubice on an Uzbek Air The first PP16 L-159 undergoes a flight test on June 31, 2020. It was delivered back to its home base Force Il-76MD. at Cáslav in the middle of the Czech Republic September 16 “We believe we can sustain a high level of L-39 MRO business over the Prototype L-39NG 7001 (Czech MoD no 0475) lifts off the grass strip at Aero Vodochody during next two to three years. After that there unprepared runway tests in August 2020 will be a gradual downturn before most L-39 and L-159 work finishes in 2030. Most L-39s are now on their fourth overhaul and it is impossible to sustain their airworthiness past that.” Ready for the NG Upgrades are part of the plan. Dieter continued: “We have a good step-up between L-39C and L-39NG, because the L-39C’s avionics can be upgraded with the likes of the GenesyS systems. This will give the aircraft a significant extra few hundred flight hours until the time the customers can afford the NG. We see the last L-39 being phased out in 2035. “Our target has been to pull in the MRO work and seamlessly progress to the NG. Then after a few years the NG MRO will kick in. We offer all customers who buy L-39NG a power by the hour service. It’s the future because it gives you ‘budget-ability’, and availability to the air forces. We provide that not just for the aircraft but the Williams FJ-44- 4M engine too. The feedback we have so far is good.” Dieter revealed that he has also proposed an interim training solution to the Austrian Air Force. “Their Saab 105s are being phased out and we are offering them a G2G solution. In partnership with the CzAF they could use L-159s (double- seat L-159T1+ and L-159T2) to train Austrian pilots for a certain number of hours [which he did not want to disclose]. We are not doing it conditionally on purchase of NG, but we trust they would buy it. The pilots would probably come to Czech Republic – Cáslav and Pardubice, where the tactical training simulator is housed, and we could start in 2021.” Undoubtedly, Dieter has done a great job turning the company’s fortunes around, although that first advanced jet order looks to have eluded him. He will have left Aero before that happens, but let’s hope the new CEO will build on the foundations the German has laid during his term

January2021 83 Tackling a

S Airways flight 1549 The challenge to aviation of birdstrikes is wasn’t the first to suffer almost as old as powered flight itself. But while a birdstrike, but it was arguably the highest profile technology and management measures have occurrence. Images of made great progress in reducing such incidents, the downed Airbus A320 floating in the Hudson there are still thousands of occurrences reported URiver off Manhattan made the front pages each year, as Tom Batchelor explains of newspapers around world, highlighting the very real dangers of birdstrikes to even the most reliable modern aircraft.

84 January2021 CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Pilots are specially trained to respond to any birdstrike event AirTeamImages.com/Andrew Hunt

East Sussex-based Scarecrow uses technology to help airports to avoid airborne threats Scarecrow

While engine technology has improved greatly in recent decades, a birdstrike can still cause significant damage Pratt & Whitney

The January 2009 incident, during which ‘Miracle on the Hudson’, transformed Sully 100,000 such occurrences from 91 the aircraft struck a flock of Canada geese into a national hero and was hailed by the different countries between 2008 and shortly after departure from New York’s US National Transportation Safety Board 2015. The Federal Aviation Administration LaGuardia Airport, was remarkable. All 155 (NTSB) as “the most successful ditching in (FAA) received reports of more than 8,400 passengers and crew survived with few aviation history.” collisions between aircraft and animals serious injuries, despite the jet suffering The circumstances and outcome of the between January and November 2020 dual engine failure and then crash landing US Airways episode were unique, but alone, which amounts to an average of into the freezing river, an astonishing feat thousands of similar incidents happen 27 per day. of airmanship shown by pilot in command each year. The International Civil Aviation Such strikes have been linked to more Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger III and Organization’s (ICAO) most recent Wildlife than 200 civilian deaths worldwide over his crew. It was widely described as the Strike Analysis contains data on almost the last 20 years and cost an estimated

January2021 85 £1bn in damage annually. While studies An age-old threat European Union Aviation Safety Agency, suggest most collisions between aircraft The issue of birdstrikes is almost as old 96% of strikes occur during take-off, and wildlife result in no harm to plane or as powered flight itself. The first such climb, approach and landing – but passenger, several high-profile incidents instance was recorded by the Wright the danger remains ever present. On in recent years – including the ‘Miracle on Brothers in 1905, while the earliest known November 23, 1962 a United Airlines the Hudson’ – have led airlines, airports, fatality is Calbraith ‘Cal’ Rodgers, famed Vickers Viscount lost control and crashed manufacturers and regulators to double for his transcontinental crossing of the after striking whistling swans while down their efforts to reduce the threat US in 1911 and killed just five months cruising at 6,000ft. The highest altitude and limit the likelihood of such events later when his Wright Model EX flew into birdstrike ever recorded was at 37,000ft in the future. a flock of seagulls, over the Ivory Coast, the culprit later dislodging the engine, identified as a Rüppell’s griffon vulture. which in turn struck Thankfully fatalities are relatively rare. a fatal blow to the However, on October 4, 1960 an Eastern unfortunate pilot. Air Lines Lockheed L-188 Electra collided Statistically, most with a flock of common starlings during birdstrikes occur take-off, damaging all four engines. The relatively low above aircraft crashed into Boston harbour the ground and in with the lost of 62 of the 72 passengers the vicinity of airports and crew on board. It remains the single – according to the greatest loss of life directly linked to a

86 January2021 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Birds can cause headaches for pilots, even at busy international hubs NMOS332/Wikimedia Commons

An easyJet Airbus A320 on the apron at Tel Aviv/Ben Gurion in March 2019, showing the damage caused by a birdstrike AirTeamImages.com/Yochai

All passengers and crew onboard the US Airways ﬂ ight 1549 survived the accident dubbed the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ GregL/Wikimedia Commons

The aftermath of the US Airways crash into the Hudson River in New York on January 15, 2009 Mario Tama/Getty Images

Eastern Air Lines Flight 375 was brought down by a bird strike in Boston, Massachusetts in October 1960 Civil Aeronautics Board/Wikimedia Commons

US aviation pioneer, Calbraith Perry Rodgers, had the dubious honour of being the ﬁ rst pilot killed as a result of a bird strike Getty Images/Bettmann

Rodgers’ aircraft crashed into the ocean off Long Beach, California after striking a ﬂ ock of seagulls on April 3, 1912 Smithsonian 2003-44325/Wikimedia birdstrike, but it prompted the FAA to start a Royal Air Force Airbus A400M tactical Problem solving researching ways to reduce the damage of transporter suffered substantial damage Airlines have long sought innovative ways such ingestions on turbine engines after striking a bird while on operations to tackle birdstrikes. In 1986, Japan’s All Design options for manufacturers are in Spain. This included a sizeable tear in Nippon Airways (ANA) discovered that limited. Grilles to protect engine intakes, the forward fuselage which left blood and painting ‘eyes’ on its jet engines could for example, are not feasible due to the feathers strewn across the flight deck. frighten away birds and potentially prevent size and weight of mesh required and the Safety requirements are also in place collisions. To test this theory, the carrier impact this would have on aerodynamics for commercial jet engine manufacturers. embarked on a and airflow. Aircraft and engines must meet At typical initial climb speed and at take- year-long trial during which it applied stringent global safety standards. A large off thrust, powerplants must be capable special markings to 26 of its Boeing 747s commercial aircraft flying at cruising speed of ingesting a single bird of between 4 and 767s. The outcome was startling: at mean sea level must be able to withstand and 8lb without catching fire, suffering the trial aircraft suffered an average a collision with a bird weighing 4lb. This an uncontained failure or become of just one birdstrike per engine, while also applies to the windshield, which must impossible to shut down, and must be unmodified examples recorded an survive intact without penetration, while the able to maintain 50% thrust for at least average of nine occurrences over the tailfin should be strong enough to cope with 14 minutes after ingestion. same period. a direct strike from an 8lb bird. The airline suggested at the time it These measures have undoubtedly intended to apply these ‘eyes’ improved aircraft survivability, but to its entire fleet, although they are not infallible. In June 2020, there’s little evidence this ever occurred. An ANA spokesperson confirmed to AIR International that the carrier had not used such markings “for a long time.” They added: “Some of our aircraft have a spiral pattern [painted in the centre of the fan] which help to identify the engine's movement at a greater distance or in low-light conditions. It also helps to deter birdstrikes and dissuades birds from flying near the aircraft.” The trial did raise the question as to what role visibility plays in birdstrikes. According to one study, birds are less able to perceive the red navigation light affixed to the port wing of an aircraft which, the researchers claim, may explain why birds strike the left wing more often than the right. The authors of the 2017 study, Richard Dolbeer, a retired US Agriculture Department scientist, and William Barnes, an expert in birdstrike–reduction technologies, recommended modifying

January2021 87 strikes occur within close proximity of the airport, so aircraft will be either on final approach or take-off. At that point in time, it’s down to the pilot: ie, if there is a heavy bird presence, do I circle once again before landing or maybe delay take-off? “I know in the past that airlines have tried to adapt their aircraft with ‘built in’ deterrents but, frankly, the speed of aircraft means that by the time these devices are within effective range, birds would stand little chance of getting out of the way.” Consequently, airports are primarily responsible for tackling the problem but, according to Randell, there’s no one technique that guarantees safety: “The fact is not one manufacturer can claim to have the silver bullet, so airports should have a range of dispersal methods within their armoury. Birds are not silly – they learn and adapt – so it’s probably more aircraft lights to make them more visible Russian media quickly pointed the finger a case of how the various dispersal to birds. The report concluded: “Simple at an illegal rubbish dump on the outskirts methods are applied that counts.” operational changes in commercial aircraft of the airfield that attracted a significant procedures, such as using the concentration of gulls. Pandemic impact leading-edge wing illumination lights Some mitigation measures centre on the The threats posed by wildlife in and at night, especially during periods of modification of habitats on and around around airports are likely to be heightened nocturnal bird migration, could enhance airports or the removal of food sources by the hiatus in air travel triggered by bird avoidance of the aircraft.” such as plants and ponds. More radical COVID-19, according to Dai Whittingham, Separate research carried out in 2011 by deterrents can also be deployed to CEO of the UK Flight Safety Committee Purdue University in Indiana suggested disperse birds or deter them from nesting (UKFSC), a not-for-profit association birds were more likely to collide with in the first place, such as lasers, gas that works to improve standards of aircraft painted in darker liveries. The cannons, acoustic systems, drones or commercial aviation safety. study found brighter fuselages had fewer trained birds of prey. In a study undertaken on behalf of the strikes and suggested this may be a result One company working on such Flight Safety Foundation, Whittingham of increased contrast between the aircraft deterrents is Scarecrow, which uses highlighted animals nesting in aircraft and the sky, which enhanced detection bio-acoustic technology – the parked for long term storage, and the risk and avoidance behaviour by birds. communication method used by birds to posed by the inadequate resumption of warn of immediate danger – to manage wildlife control measures, many of which Deterrent technology wildlife. The firm claims airports are have been paused due to the pandemic. The most obvious way of preventing or attractive places for wildlife, despite As he explained to AIR International: reducing the likelihood of collisions is by the noise and risk to their own safety, “Aircraft that are left parked for long keeping wildlife and aircraft apart. The because they generally lie on the edge periods tend to become attractive nesting crash landing of a Ural Airlines A321 into a of urban areas and are surrounded by sites for birds, so there is a need to ensure cornfield near Moscow’s Zhukovsky airport undeveloped land that “is often the only that all orifices, including engines, are in August 2019 was caused by a birdstrike usable nesting space for miles around.” suitably covered. that led to a double engine failure. All David Randell, director of the East “One of the problems is that when activity 233 passengers and crew survived, but Sussex-based company, said: “Most levels are reduced in the way we saw earlier this year, there is a temptation to cut back on wildlife management, and nature abhors a vacuum. There have been some birdstrike incidents since flying rates started to pick up again, and there is now some more attention being paid to it both because it is a safety risk and because birdstrike damage is expensive.” Whittingham said significant improvements in the techniques airports and airlines use to reduce the threat of a birdstrike had been made, particularly in terms of grass management. “You want some longer grass stems which spook some of the birds and make them uncomfortable, but you don’t want under-thatch because that attracts insects, which attracts small birds, which attract bigger birds,” he said. “Scaring systems now include laser dazzlers, which the birds don’t like and there is now a sophisticated array of digital distress calls that can be tailored to local

88 January2021 speciation. That all needs training for the wildlife managers, which has been an issue in the past.”

Management measures While there are still thousands of birdstrikes reported each year, the FAA insists tactics aimed at reducing them “have relentlessly improved in the last two decades.” The regulator told AIR International: “There are more wildlife professionals assisting airports today than at any time in history.” In the 11 years since the ‘Miracle on the Hudson’, it has allocated more than US$350m from its Airport Improvement Programme on projects such as wildlife hazard assessments and management plans, perimeter fencing and habitat modification. The FAA has also run an awareness campaign with videos and posters hours and an expansion of the overall CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: distributed to airports, flight schools, operational hours from early morning to Despite numerous advances in technology, birds airlines and engine manufacturers warning late evening to meet the demand,” an FAA continue to pose a threat to commercial aircraft AirTeamImages.com/Valentin YVON of wildlife hazards, as well as developing spokesperson explained. “The continuous software to make strike reporting easier. rise in our population means more The airport operations team at Amsterdam/Schiphol Elsewhere, the authority has dedicated development, more habitat modification deploy a variety of measures to counter the potential more than US$25m in research funds and therefore less acceptable habitat for threat of birdstrikes AirTeamImages.com/Tim de Groot over the last decade to better understand animals. In turn, this can force habituation the capabilities of advanced detection and of hazardous wildlife that can increase The aftermath of the birdstike involving Ural Airlines monitoring systems such as avian and the chance of conflict and reduce the Flight 178 Sergei Bobylev/TASS via Getty Images foreign object debris (FOD) radars and effectiveness of harassment techniques. Nika Ryzhova-Alenicheva holds a goshawk at infrared/electro-optical scanning systems. Therefore, the realistic goal for an Moscow/Domodedovo. The airport employs the Other research initiatives currently being airport is not to eliminate all strikes from raptors to deter other birds from the site explored include making changes to occurring at all times. The goal must be to Mikhail Japaridze/TASS/Getty Images aircraft lighting and performing analysis of reduce those strikes the airport can affect Canada geese movements. within a minimum five-mile separation “A growing human population means distance and eliminate damaging strikes increased flights, broader peak flying from within its airspace.”

January2021 89 In October, Matt Ellis flew over the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Arizona. Home to more than 4,000 retired aircraft, mainly from the US military, it’s one of the largest aviation boneyards in the world

The great American boneyard The great American boneyard

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Five US Navy C-2A Greyhounds lie in AMARG’s Area 24. They are 152794/33, A mixture of USAF, Navy and USMC C-9s parked in Area 22. The last active C-9s 148148/30, 152791/32, 162151/44 and the fifth should be 152790. With the – USMC 160046/47 – arrived here in 2014. A total of 19 of the type are stored in impending introduction of the CMV-22 Osprey to replace the aging Greyhounds in the Arizona sun, including a NASA example All images by Matt Ellis the Carrier Onboard Delivery role, further C-2s will be heading to Tucson soon

Rows of A-10s, F-15s, F-16s and T-38s. Note the contingent of MQ-1 Predators, B-52s have been broken up at the facility since 1991 as part of the Strategic Arms which started being inducted into AMARG in August 2018 following their Reductions Treaty (START) and, more recently, New START, which is scheduled to retirement from the USAF in March that year. More than 70 Predators have been expire in February 2021. Surrounded by chopped B-52Gs, the seven B-52H models retired to date, although their numbers are decreasing. VX-30, the Navy’s West (60-0019, 60-0020, 60-0030, 60-0043, 60-0046 61-0023, and 61-0027) have been Coast test facility for unmanned air systems (UAS), now takes many of them moved to Area 26 to join their brethren and await their fate

NATO E-3 LX-N90458 arrived at AMARG on September 12, 2018, to join LX-90449, which had been parked there since June 2015. In a special Tiger colour scheme, the early warning and control system aircraft has been stripped of its many major parts. The meaning of ‘M.D/C.H’ on the wing is unknown

January2021 91 French Rafales The Dassault Rafale has proved itself in many theatres, but lately its focus has been combatting terrorism in the Middle East, as over the Levant Jean François Auran explains

Two Rafales taxi at H5 base in Jordan in June 2019 for an offensive mission. The ﬁ rst aircraft is equipped with AASM while the second has laser guided bombs All images by État-Major des Armées – Ministère des Armées unless stated

n recent years, the Dassault Rafale five cargo aircraft at one time, and since every two months. This base is only has proved itself in operations, notably 2016, six Rafales of 1/7 Provence Fighter 40km from the Middle Euphrates River in Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Squadron have been stationed there. Valley (MERV) and plays a vital role in the Syria. Since June 2016, the Armée The first Chammal mission, as the logistic process, receiving approximately de l'Air et de l'Espace (French Air and French detachments in the UAE and two A400Ms per week. During its first Space Force, FASF) has deployed Jordan are known, was not an offensive four years of service, the base carried Rafales exclusively in the Middle East, but dropped humanitarian aid in August out more than 6,000 sorties, made up Iwhile Mirage 2000s are now operating 2014. Chammal is the French contribution of approximately 28,000 flight hours and in Africa’s Sahel region (under Operation to Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR), an 1,500 strikes. Barkhane) with the newly armed Reapers. international coalition fighting against Daesh in Syria and Iraq. Current operations Middle East deployment Since September 2014, the FASF has Operation Chammal includes an aerial There are currently ten Dassault Rafales, been using Prince Hassan Air Base (H-5), and training component reinforced by working alongside an E-3F AWACS a Royal Jordanian Air Force facility in the artillery (2016-2019). Air operations (Airborne Early Warning and Control the desert. Creating the base aérienne cover the support of Iraqi loyalist forces System), a tanker and an Atlantique 2 that projetée (BAP) was a response to the on the ground, intel-gathering missions to regularly strengthen the coalition. French emergence of the Islamic State caliphate create target files, and carrying out strike authorities deployed the assets to two air in the region. It soon became an essential missions against identified objectives. bases (bases aériennes) in Jordan and element of the French response to the French air operations began on the UAE. attacks on November 13, 2015, in Paris September 19, 2014, from Al Dhafra while Aérienne 104, located within the northwest and its suburbs, when 130 civilians were the naval aviation (Aéronavale) conducted corner of Al Dhafra, the Emirati base (30km killed by terrorists. its first engagement on February 25, south of Abu Dhabi), has been a home The Jordanian BAP has 306 personnel 2015. Reinforcements from the Saint to the French since October 2008. The present, mainly airmen, with a permanent Dizier-based 4e Escadre de Chasse (EC) facility can manage up to 14 fighters and detachment of four aircraft, relieved arrived in October. The pace of activities

92 January2021 French Rafales over the Levant

over the intervening years was very Mountains, and Raqqa in Syria. The and two E-2C Hawkeye belonging to the demanding, with the French conducting subsequent strikes are carried out with Groupe Aérien embarqué (GAé) achieved initial reconnaissance flights over Syria the support of French Special Operations 667 hours in operational flights. On in September 2015, when the area of Forces (SOF) and intel provided by the January 29, the Rafale Marine with the operations was extended, and their first Bréguet Atlantique 2. new F3-R standard began active service air raid against Daesh on September 27 Since Daesh's military defeat in 2018 from the flagship aircraft carrier Charles that year. and the fall of the last stronghold in Syria de Gaulle. On February 3, Operation Two jets usually conduct the patrol at Baghouz in March 2019, the coalition's Chammal reached 10,000 aerial missions missions but, on a few occasions, bigger activity has declined, even though several (all aircraft combined) since 2014. formations have carried out raids. On areas of Iraq and Syria may still be under November 15, 2015, two days after the jihadist influence. High performance Paris terrorist attacks, a large COMAO In 2019, the Rafales participated in 840 Since the end of March 2020, the air (Composite Air Operation) comprising 12 sorties and dropped 84 munitions (one detachment in Jordan has operated the aircraft from the two air bases struck every ten sorties) against an enemy who RECO-NG (new generation reconnaissance jihadi targets. was supposed to have disappeared. nacelle) pod. Thanks to this high The first attack with stand-off SCALP During the start of 2020 there was more performance equipment, intelligence (Système de croisière conventionnel limited activity with 15 weekly sorties from specialists can assess almost 100 objectives autonome à longue portée) missiles took the BAP in Jordan and the UAE base, per week. In early May, the Rafale B relieved place a month later. By the end of the mainly reconnaissance missions over the Rafale C, which had been deployed year, 348 strikes in Iraq and 14 in Syria Syria and Iraq. since late October 2019. The single-seat had been registered. The naval aviation group engagement Rafale Cs of EC 30 carried out nearly 220 Air force detachments experience peaks in the eastern Mediterranean (Mission sorties in support of local partners. During of activity during ops, particularly over Foch) saw a massive participation this rotation, the French aircraft flew the Iraqi cities of Kirkuk, Tikrit, Mosul and by Aéronavale aircraft between 30,000 hours. Bayji, as well as Iraq’s northwest Sinjar January-February 2020. Twenty Rafales Only two days after the arrival of the

January2021 93 Even if French fighters have a mission planned, the CAOC can modify the orders if a potential threat has been spotted in the area. The Link 16 tactical data link allows mission control to know the weapon status and fuel level of each aircraft. The aircraft uses the Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver (ROVER) system for co-ordination with all JTACs (Joint Terminal Attack Controllers) in the area – the device enabling ground controllers to share the picture with pilots.

The Rafale F3-R The first Rafale F3 was delivered to the Air Force Operational Evaluation Centre in mid-2008 at Mont-de-Marsan airbase in southwestern France. The F3-R standard is the fighter's latest evolution – development began in 2014. On December 6, 2019, the FASF strike that obliterated Daesh shelters and declared the first operational capability defensive positions. French jets carried of F3-R standard. This decision followed out five attacks between July 11 and 13 in several months of training for crews and northern Iraq, destroying weapons caches technicians in this standard since its and groups of fighters. adoption in July. For the first seven months of 2020, The transition of the naval aviation Rafale these aviators carried out 2,000 flight to standard F3-R will be completed by hours and 900 air-to-air refuellings. On summer 2021 with 11F first, then 17F and August 30, four single-seater Rafale finally the 12F. F3-Rs arrived at the Jordan air base. The F3-R standard marks a significant The first air-to-ground strike of a Rafale evolution, with integration of the Meteor F3-R occurred on September 12 when a BVRAAM (beyond-visual-range air-to-air patrol destroyed several terrorist facilities. missile). The new version is fitted with an Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance Effective integration System (AGCAS) and Mode 5/S compatible As part of Operation Chammal, a French IFF (Interrogator Friend or Foe) and Rafale Bs, on May 10, the new Rafale B detachment is attached to the allies’ improved on-board sensors; the RBE2 detachment performed their first mission CAOC (Combined Air Operations Centre) radar, the SPECTRA electronic warfare against Daesh, and on May 20, a patrol located in Al Udeid, Qatar. system and the data link. of two Rafales launched an AASM bomb Their mission is to enable French aircraft The Rafale M F3-R allows the attack against a position southeast of to integrate effectively in the overall implementation of the new generation Mosul. The next month, a patrol of three framework and allow them to exploit the TALIOS (Targeting Long-range Rafales B destroyed a Daesh sanctuary full range of capabilities. Identification Optronic System) as part of Operation Heroes of Iraq. On In the War Room, the National Approval designation pod and the RECO-NG June 27, Rafales from EC 4 took over Authority is a French lieutenant colonel nacelle Areos. the mission. who ensures targets are legitimate and in The limitations of the Damocles Ten days later, two aircraft launched a accordance with French regulations. targeting pod have long been identified.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A Rafale along with two inertial guided AASMs and a Damocles pod await the next mission Sébastien Lafargue/Armée de l’air

A French Dassault Rafale receives fuel from a USAF KC-10 Extender assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron out of Al Dhafra Air Base, UAE, on August 28, 2019 USAF/Staff Sgt Chris Drzazgowski

The base armourers load two GBU-49s at H5. The sustained need for weapons means sufficient stocks have to be kept, but getting them into theatre can be complicated due to the necessary overflight authorisation Sébastien Lafargue/Armée de l’air

Armourers install a GBU-24 in February 2017

The RECO-NG pod provides many options. Imagery from extremely low or high altitude, at short or long distances, at high speed or at very high speed. It allows unprecedented aerial reconnaissance for the FASF ©Benoit Arcizet/Armée de l’air

94 January2021 It will be partially replaced by the TALIOS operational capability of the TALIOS on clients like the French Armed Forces and pod, with TV and IR sensors providing the F3-R. It is now possible to make has a range of 30km for high-altitude new tracking (fixed and mobile), modern weapon adjustments from the cockpit, to shooting. The FASF also used the interface and controls. increase operational efficiency. GBU-49 guided bomb integrated into the Pilots will be able to launch the Block F3-R in 2019. It comprises a 250kg Mk 3 AASM Armement Air-Sol Modulaire Armament in the Middle East 82 bomb with an Enhanced Paveway II kit (AASM, Air-to-Ground Modular Weapon) The Rafale carries two MICA missiles for and is preferred to the GBU-12 in adverse also known as Hammer, which allows self-defence. The FASF uses part of its weather conditions. real-time adjustments and the destruction available armament in the Middle East Significant quantities of the AASM, of moving targets. – the bomb usually used is the 250kg or Hammer (Highly Agile Modular TALIOS is interoperable with all GBU-12 with the Paveway guidance Munition Extended Range), built by laser-guided weapons and will be system. The newer GBU-22 is an Safran Electronics & Defense, have been soon deployed in the Middle East. improvement of the GBU-12, with the launched. There are three guidance As recently as October 29, 2020, air Paveway III kit. modes, which can adapt to different force headquarters declared the first The GBU-22 was designed for export bomb bodies (125, 250, 500 and 1000kg). The SBU-64 laser version makes it possible to strike targets with high mobility. The infrared imager version (SBU-54) allows a terminal update before impact. The weapon routinely used is the GPS-reset inertial hybrid guided AASM (SBU-38). The motor gives it a range of more than 50km, but is not used in the region due to the lower air defence threat. Improving efficiency In 2017, the French government defence procurement and technology agency (DGA) and Safran launched a new version: AASM Evolution, as it is termed, aims to reduce the unit price of armaments and improve efficiency. Since 2019, the ‘optimised mobile target’ model has been in service. For the past five years, Rafale pilots have been slamming the powerful 1,164kg GBU-24 into hardened targets. In 2015, the air force started using the BLU-126

January2021 95 CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The CAOC comprises joint and coalition teams that among many other duties execute the day-to-day operations, provide rapid reaction and the deconfliction of airborne assets USAF/Staff Sgt Alexander W Riedel

The Atlantique 2 has turned out to be a crucial asset for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) missions. It is also capable of conducting strikes of opportunity, thanks to its laser-guided bomb-drop capability Sébastien Lafargue/Armée de l’air

A Rafale Marine, serial 26, takes off from Jordan’s H5 base, being regularly deployed ashore in the Middle East

(low collateral damage bomb) – a 250kg role when the carrier strike group was On July 6, 2020, Operation Inherent munition with a minimal explosive operating in the neighbourhood. French Resolve entered the last phase of its payload (13kg). The SCALP cruise missile aircraft participated in the training of Iraqi execution plan – the ‘normalisation’ has been successfully used in Iraq and JTACs in March 2018 with real fire and phase. The various terrorist organisations Syria against high-value targets. A strike the implementation of NATO procedures. have now gone underground, but the on December 15, 2015, against Islamic The CAOC produces the In-flight FASF continues to fight although the State’s headquarters, training centre and refuelling plan at the coalition level. USAF operating pace is slower. logistics depots proved the case. KC-10s, KC-135s or KC-30s as well as The Rafale has shown its ability to Air force Rafales can carry two SCALPs German A400M or French MRTT perform strikes with precision. Units under the wings, while the Aéronavale (Multi-Role Tanker Transports) regularly engaged in the Middle East unofficially Rafale Ms only have a single missile under refuel French assets. The new MRTT named their squadron ‘Bombardment the fuselage. Phénix deployed in October 2020 and Group 43 Levant’ – a reflection of the completed around 100 hours of flight, first nucleus of Free French Air Forces Supporting aircraft refuelling 47 coalition aircraft during that organised in Egypt during World War Two. On multiple occasions, France has time. As of August 31, 2020, the aircraft Free French Flight Nos 1, 2 and 3 carried deployed the Atlantique 2 (ATL 2) maritime based in Jordan had flown more than out numerous support and combat patrol aircraft, initially designed for 35,000 hours, representing 71,000 sorties missions in the same region. Today, the anti-submarine warfare. This platform is and delivering more than 2,000 munitions. FASF is emulating its predecessors. used for intelligence gathering and the illumination of targets through several sensors, including the Wescam MX-20D FLIR turret, observation posts and a radar emission detection system. There is also the capability of carrying out its own autonomous airstrikes with GBU-12 bombs. With a duration of 14 hours, the ATL 2 can locate weapon caches and intercept communications from the last pockets of Daesh resistance. Having deployed in 2015, the ATL 2 conducted its first GBU-12 strike on August 19 to neutralise a command post. Occasionally, an ATL 2 is tasked with the SCAR-C role (Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance – Coordinator). The maritime patroller is also tasked for Airborne On-Call Interdiction Missions, known as XINT in the air tasking order. The FASF deployed an AWACS during the most active phases of operations from Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The E-3F can monitor all air movements throughout the AOR (area of responsibility) and, with its 20 radio stations, is continuously scanned by operators, offering the possibility of communicating in all ranges of frequencies, encrypted or not. These valuable assets accumulated 1,000 flight hours between 2014 and 2017; in 2019, AWACS achieved their 12th detachment. The E-2C Hawkeye played the same

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