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2000-08-11, Dron: Two bodies have been recovered and two people are missing following the crash Thursday of a U.S. Navy helicopter in the Gulf of Mexico some 15 miles south of Corpus Christi, Texas, a Navy spokeswoman told CNN. Two other crewmembers were rescued from the water shortly after the crash of their MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter, the Navy said. One crewman was rescued almost immediately after the crash by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and the second was plucked from the water by another Navy MH-53E flying from a minesweeping ship operating in the area, according to the Navy. The rescued crewmembers were taken to Spohn Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi. Their condition was said only to be "stable," according to the Navy. Navy search and rescue teams, assisted by the Coast Guard and the USS Gladiator, a mine countermeasure ship that was in the vicinity, were searching for the missing crewmembers. The downed helicopter, used primarily for airborne minesweeping and mine hunting, was on a "routine training mission" when…

2000-08-09, Dron: LAS VEGAS (AP) - An F-16 jet crashed in the Nevada desert Tuesday after apparently clipping another jet during a training exercise, military officials said. The lone pilot ejected safely and the other plane landed without incident. The plane crashed about 5 p.m. some 70 miles north of Nellis Air Force Base, base spokesman Lt. Allan Herritage said. Another F-16 landed a short time later with minor damage, leading investigators to speculate the planes struck each other in midair, he said. The extent of damage to the second plane was not released, but Herritage said the pilot was not hurt. A helicopter crew was dispatched to rescue the downed pilot, who suffered scrapes and bruises. It was the second jet crash in a week for the base. An F-15 crashed north of Rachel, Nev., on Thursday while the pilot was leading seven other planes in a training exercise. The pilot ejected and was not injured. His plane crashed into a dry lake bed 125 miles north of Las Vegas. copyright Associated Press Note: It was 6th F-16 loss…

2000-08-01, Dron: In the past 7 days there were 3 incidents involving American military aircraft taking lives of 14 people. - On July 25, Lockheed C-130 of the Jordanian airforce carrying 14 troops on board smashed into the desertous land killing all of its passengers. In the official statement, Jordanian authorities mentioned that the cause of the crash was technical failure of some of the vital systems of the aircraft. - Two days later, US Navy F-14D Tomcat carrying 2 pilots on board lost control during the ordinary training mission and smashed into the waters of the Red Sea. No official statement on the accident followed with the only note that both pilots ejected and are now in hospital. - August 1, 2000. The F-16C of the Israeli Air Force crashed shortly after the take off. Pilot ejected safely. He reported after that within minutes after the take-off he noticed that the engine was on fire and seconds later the decision to eject was made. So far this is only fifth crash of the F-16 series this year with 4 pilots killed…

2000-08-01, Serge Pod: Sea Launch Places Communications Satellite in Orbit A Zenit 3SL rocket successfully launched an American communications satellite for the multinational Sea Launch company Friday, the first since a failed launch in March. The Zenit lifted off on schedule at 6:42 pm EDT (2242 UT) Friday, July 28, from Sea Launch's mobile, floating launch platform, located on the Equator at 154 degrees west longitude in the Pacific Ocean. Its payload, the PAS-9 satellite for PanAmSat, was placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit about one hour and 45 minutes after launch. "Today's success clearly establishes Sea Launch's position as a proven launch services provider," said Sea Launch president Will Trafton. "We how have three very successful missions and have moved into full scale operations." The launch is the first for Sea Launch since a March 12 launch that failed to place its payload, the ICO F-1 satellite for communications company ICO, into orbit. That failure was traced to a software glitch that failed to close a…

2000-08-01, Serge Pod: Zvezda Docks with International Space Station The Russian-built Zvezda service module successfully docked with the International Space Station Tuesday evening, completing a key step in the assembly of the orbiting facility. Zvezda made contact with the Zarya module of the ISS at 8:45 pm EDT Tuesday evening (0045 UT Wednesday). No major problems were reported with the automated docking, which took place while the spacecraft passed over Kazakhstan, in range of Russian ground stations. "We have contact confirmed, capture is confirmed," said NASA spokesperson Kyle Herring, covering the docking from the Russian mission control center in Korolev, outside of Moscow. "We have a successful capture of the Zvezda as it becomes a permanent member of the International Space Station." During the docking Zvezda served as the passive target, as the ISS — composed of the Zarya and Unity modules — maneuvered towards Zvezda. During the final approach the ISS approached Zvezda at the rate of just 0.2 meters per…

2000-07-31, Serge Pod: MOSCOW, July 27 (AFP) - Russia is likely to sell 10 Il-76 troop transporter planes to China, the head of Russian aeronautics firm Ilyushin, Victor Livanov, said Thursday, quoted by the AVN news agency. A preliminary contract for the planes, worth between 30 and 35 million dollars each, has been agreed and Livanov said the deal would probably go ahead. A second contract for a further 10 planes is also possible. Russia's last sale of Il-76s to China was in 1994. China is one of Russia's main arms clients.

2000-07-28, Zed: Bummer! Z

2000-07-26, Serge Pod: Russia and China to cooperate on use of GPS 25 July 2000 The Russian Interfax agency has reported that Russia and China could be close agreeing co-operation in the use and future development of Russia's global navigational system Glonass. Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov has said that ways of such bilateral co-operation were explored during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing at Putin's meeting with his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin. Glonass, is a twin of the American GPS system that allows aircraft and "smart" munitions to calculate with high precision their position anywhere in the world. The first GLONASS satellites were launched into orbit in 1982. The constellation now comprises 10 active satellites and is due for an upgrade in the next few years. DSD

2000-07-21, Zed: Not exactly aviation related, but interesting never the less: http://www.newscientist.com/nl/0 722/bullet.html Zed [Редактировалось Zed (21-07-2000 в 22:33).]

2000-07-20, Serge Pod: FI2000: The Aircraft List The following aircraft are those expected to appear at Farnborough International 2000, according to show organizers SBAC. Alenia will present two C27J Spartan (one on Static, one to fly), an ATR42MP Surveyor (static) and the AMX (static/fly). The C27J Spartan has a similar cockpit display to the C130J and in this configuration is making its first appearance at Farnborough International. An ATR42 Maritime Patrol aircraft is also making its Farnborough debut. Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey - The first time at Farnborough International. Two aircraft, one on Static Display, one in the Flying Display Boeing 767-400ER - the first time for this variant at Farnborough International. The aircraft will be on Static Display only. Boeing F-18E/F Super Hornet - The first time at Farnborough International for the Super Hornet. Two F-18F (ie, two-seat) aircraft will be coming to the Show - one on Static Display and one in the Flying Display. Boeing Business Jet - The first time at Farnborough…

2000-07-05, Zed: Hi all, I need some help with the Korean war kill numbers. What are the quoted numbers of aircraft shot down by both sides in Russia? Also there is much made of 5 Australian Meteors shot down on the 26th September 1951 - the Australians claim that there was no contact with Soviet forces on that day....any ideas, any information? Thanks Zed

2000-07-04, Serge Pod: Australian Trials for Su-35 and Su-32 As part of the ongoing effort to keep Russia in the frame for the replacement of the Australian F-111s and F/A-18s under the Air 6000 contract, timed to occur in distant 2020 and 2015, respectively, Sukhoi have offered the Australian Air Force an Su-35 and Su-32FN for extended trials. This is a recurrence of reports of an offer made earlier this year after presentations by Sukhoi and Rosvooruzhenie in Australia in November 1999. The effect of the offer, according to local media, has been to make Sukhoi serious contenders Sukhoi have also reiterated their desire to become involved with Australian producers in the future development of the aircraft. The initial offering involved the possible production of wings by Hawker de Havilland, but recent reports suggest that the Russians have also proposed cooperation on a long-range air-to-air missile. From ConCISe Aerospace ( http://www.concise.org ) http://www.aeroworldnet.com/6tw0 7030.htm

2000-07-04, Serge Pod: Inside Kazan`s Best-Kept Secret [24 May 2000] The Kazan helicopter plant fell on hard times in the last decade but has started to thrive since it became a private enterprise. KAZAN – Until the early 1990s, this was a closed city to foreigners. What made it such a sensitive site was the Kazan Helicopter Plant, which manufactured up to 300 military choppers a year and was considered to be one of the most important facilities of its type in the country. Russia`s military may have fallen on hard times over the last decade, but the helicopter plant, now operating as a private enterprise, has succeeded in adapting to a post-Soviet role. And most observers say it is continuing to thrive as the new century gets under way. But what doesn’t seem to have changed is the sensitive nature of the plant’s operations. After repeated promises, first for an interview with plant officials, then for answers to general questions, the firm`s management suddenly decided not to talk, saying only that: ``It`s not in our interest to…

2000-06-30, Serge Pod: [30 Jun 2000] All 18 crew members and passengers aboard an Mi 8 helicopter were killed when it crashed on Sunday afternoon /June 25/ in Lao central province of Xiengkhouang, Lao official news agency KPL reported Thursday. The helicopter, which belongs to Lao Aviation, was scheduled to take off from the Vientiane airport at 09:00 but rain and cloud delayed the flight until 13:00. It reached Saysomboun Special Zone airport at 13:30. It left again at 13:55 and crashed 15 minutes later in a mountainous area, 28 km from Xiengkhouang province airport. The crash was attributed to the thick clouds and storms with lightning and hail, said KPL. The Lao government has set up a special task force to investigate the accident. /XINHUA/

2000-06-30, Serge Pod: [29 Jun 2000] Russia`s MiG aircraft corporation held on June 28, 2000 a presentation of its latest MiG-29 version at Vienna, Austria. The MiG-29SMT fighter was offered for upgrade of Austria Air Force`s ageing fighter fleet, in the framework of the recently released tender. The MiG Corp. also proposed Austrian Defense Ministry to set up a joint venture in Austria for completing development, certification and serial production of 48-seater MiG-110 pax/cargo plane. /Nezavismaya Gazeta/

2000-06-30, Serge Pod: [29 Jun 2000] One of the three supersonic Tu-114 jets, belonging to ANTK Tupolev will be put on a stand at Sinheim`s Polytechnic Museum in southern Germany. ANTK Tupolev sold this plane to improve its poor financial state. /Aerospace News/

2000-06-28, Zed: The reason they are bringing it is to show to the Indians and other SE Asian nations (Malaysia?) to try and get sales off those nations with a coastline to guard. Russian is going well...just expanding my vocabulary! Z

2000-06-26, Serge Pod: 26 June 2000 Lockheed Martin's second X-35 concept demonstrator aircraft for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme has successfully completed structural loads testing at company facilities in Palmdale in California. A test fixture with 90 hydraulic actuators applied stresses to different parts of the aircraft to simulate in-flight aerodynamic pressure loads on the aircraft. The aircraft tested is the X-35C, which is configured as the US Navy carrier variant and is the second demonstrator aircraft assembled. Because the different variants are structurally very similar, the load-test results apply to all three concept demonstrator variants. The aircraft was tested to 100 percent of design limit load, minus 3 gs and plus 8 gs. This means the wings were stressed to carry about 180,000 pounds, or the weight of 50 mid-size cars. Test conditions also included wing torsional testing that represents aircraft rolling manoeuvres. Proof-of-operations tests confirmed the control surfaces would not bind against…

2000-06-25, Serge Pod: Fighter-jet maker Sukhoi is moving ahead to strike its first international civil aircraft deal with U.S.-based Alliance Aircraft Corp. on a new regional jet to market abroad and domestically. However, even before the first jet leaves the factory, industry analysts said there is little room for a new regional liner on the crowded world market and several local designs already in the air. Earlier this month, the Sukhoi aviation complex announced it planned to join Alliance to make a family of regional 50 to 110-seat airliners under the name of StarLiner. The plane, using the latest technology, is to enter the world market in 2003. Alliance already has ``letters of intent for 30 aircraft`` and is in ``discussion with five airlines,`` Reuters quoted Alliance president and CEO Earl Robinson as saying. He did not name the airlines. Robinson is a former executive of U.S. plane maker Fairchild Dornier. The contract with Sukhoi is being finalized, but is expected to be signed in July or August of this year, said…

2000-06-25, Serge Pod: Russia and Ukraine will build the new-generation Antonov 70 transport aircraft, not with Germany, but with China as had been planned, Interfax quoted Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev as saying Monday. He said that negotiations with Berlin had resulted in the Germans saying they would not support the joint Ukrainian-Russian An-70 project, Interfax reported. ``We won`t try to win over the Germans, but will complete the project with China,`` Sergeyev said. /MOSCOW TIMES/ www.avia.ru

2000-06-25, Serge Pod: Yak-53 racing plane belonging to Russian army`s sport club crashed today at 11.15 a.m. (Moscow time) nearby a dairy plant at Shushenskoe in Russia`s republic of Khakasiya. According to the Siberian regional center of Emergency Ministry, both pilots were killed in the crash. Specialists of local search & rescue authorities currently inspect the crash site. No cause of the accident was found yet. The authorities have formed a special commission aimed at investigating the reasons behind today`s crash. /RBC/ www.avia.ru

2000-06-25, Serge Pod: The British military advisers in Sierra Leone have set up an HQ for coordinating U.N. military operations against the rebels, says a report published in London on Tuesday. Mainly Russian Mi-24 helicopters were selected to provide air coverage to the U.N. troops in that country. Some of them have already been delivered to Sierra Leone through the United Nations. The helicopter fleet now consists there of five Russian-made combat helicopters of the Mi-24 type. The British military have found Mi-24 choppers to be the best combat machines due to their very powerful armaments. They are being used to track down rebels and to strike at their bases. /ITAR-TASS/ www.avia.ru

2000-06-20, Dron: A board of USAF officers is investigating the crash last Friday of a Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter from Luke AFB, Ariz., the service says. The plane crashed during an air-to-air combat training mission near the town of Sells, Ariz., in the military operations area east of the Barry M. Goldwater Range. The pilot, 1 st Lt. Doyle Pompa, safely ejected from the plane and was transported by helicopter to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., for medical evaluation and treatment. Pompa is a student pilot assigned to the 309 th Fighter Squadron. Copyright Aviationnow.com Remarks: Surprisingly enough, this crash was without fatalities. It's only fourth F-16 that crashed this year. It total, F-16s killed only one American (march 19), two Turkish (april 5), and one Israeli (march 28) pilot this year. Safety record continues to decline with a straight downward line.

2000-06-20, Dron: WILLOW GROVE, Pa. (AP) – A military pilot and radar intercept officer aboard a F-14 Tomcat died Sunday when their jet crashed as horrified air show spectators watched from their porches and pools. The jet was taking part in the second-to-last performance at the Willow Grove 2000 Sounds of Freedom air show when it banked steeply, wavered and plunged into a wooded area about 100 yards from the air base here about 4:43 p.m., authorities said. The fighter was based at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Va., said Mike Maus, a spokesman for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, in Norfolk, Va. The Navy today identified the pilot as Lt. William Joseph Dey, 30, of Hightstown, N. J., and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. David Erick Bergstrom, 31, of Annandale, Va. Both men had more than 1,000 hours in the F-14; Dey was an instructor pilot in the VF 101 fighter squadron. Though the plane sent flames and smoke billowing from a wooded area at the end of the runway, no civilian injuries were reported and no structures were hit,…

2000-06-20, Dron: [June 9, 2000] Brand new Mi-24PN night-operational assault helicopter developed at Krasnogorsk city Zverev Production Plant made its maiden flight today at “Rostvertol Inc.” test center as a part of its brief 10 test-flight program. This became known today from the words of acting director of the Mil Design Bureau Vitaliy Sherbin. According to him, test-program of the modernized Mi-24 helicopter is done using three prototypes. First Mi-24 powered by a pair of new VK-2500 engines rated at over 2500hp each, took off earlier this month. Second prototype Mi-24PN will be used for testing new radar and avionics suite. Third prototype Mi-24VM is fitted with new lifting system (main rotor, gear etc.). Last one is currently stored in the test-center hangars and being actively prepared for the first flight. By the end of this year, designers are hoping to test all of the new technologies and integrate them into a single modernized Mi-24 helicopter with superior results. Experts claim that combat effectiveness of the…