Sign-up to receive weekly Defense email updates with news, commentary, photos, videos and more!
Focusing on the critical interplay of programs, policy, funding and operations to provide integrated intelligence and global perspective to defense and government leaders worldwide.
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report is relied upon for the latest, critical intelligence on programs, budgets and policies in defense, as well as military and civil space.
Unmanned Horizons is a dedicated section of AviationWeek.com's defense coverage of unmanned systems.
Access news, blog posts, videos, photos and other exclusive unmanned systems-related defense content.
Aviation Week is proud to announce its new Innovation Special Topic page supported by Booz Allen Hamilton.
Check out articles, white papers, interactive features and more related to aviation, aerospace and defense innovation.
Brought to you by: , , , and
Despite a less than auspicious debut into service the Royal Air Force’s Lockheed Martin C-130J is now racking-up the operational hours in support of deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.Reflecting the high fleet utilization rate, the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce AE2100D3 engine has just passed the 500,000 flying hour milestone in the RAF. Maintenance is covered by the Hercules Integrated Operations Support contract which the Defense Ministry has with Rolls-Royce.Not all Hercules engine platforms with which Rolls-Royce is involved are doing quite so well. Airbus’s TP400-D6 engine test-bed aircraft remains under the thrall of gravity, though the aim still appears to be to begin test flights before year-end. The modified Hercules, fitted with a Europrop International TP400 turboprop, is continuing to undergo ground test runs at Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge. Integration not only of the engine, but also the flight test equipment, has proved challenging. A first flight had originally been planned for the end of 2006.Picture Credit MoD/Crown Copyright
Despite a less than auspicious debut into service the Royal Air Force’s Lockheed Martin C-130J is now racking-up the operational hours in support of deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Reflecting the high fleet utilization rate, the aircraft’s Rolls-Royce AE2100D3 engine has just passed the 500,000 flying hour milestone in the RAF. Maintenance is covered by the Hercules Integrated Operations Support contract which the Defense Ministry has with Rolls-Royce.
Not all Hercules engine platforms with which Rolls-Royce is involved are doing quite so well. Airbus’s TP400-D6 engine test-bed aircraft remains under the thrall of gravity, though the aim still appears to be to begin test flights before year-end.
The modified Hercules, fitted with a Europrop International TP400 turboprop, is continuing to undergo ground test runs at Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge. Integration not only of the engine, but also the flight test equipment, has proved challenging. A first flight had originally been planned for the end of 2006.
Picture Credit MoD/Crown Copyright
Tags: ar99, RAF, C-130J