Showing posts with label Aero India 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aero India 2011. Show all posts

Saturday, February 12, 2011

DTN News - Aero India 2011: Airshow Attracts 50,000 On Day Four

Defense News: DTN News - Aero India 2011: Airshow Attracts 50,000 On Day Four
Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources DNA India
(NSI News Source Info) BANGALORE, India - February 12, 2011: Roaring metal birds and theirntricate manoeuvres were the cynosure of all eyes at the Aero India show here which was opened for public viewing today.

The crowd was eager to have a first hand experience of flying displays from top-notch aerobatic teams like 'Surya Kiran', 'Sarang' and 'Red Bull'.

The breathtaking flying sorties drew thunderous applause from the gathering.

According to preliminary estimates from authorities, the fourth-day of the Aero Show today attracted at least 50,000 people and the numbers could swell on the last day tomorrow.

The visitors were vying for a vantage spot to witness the take-offs and pilots manoeuvring the jets.

The crowd was treated to a dazzling display from medium multi-role combat aircraft team of Lockheed Martin's F-16, Boeings Super Hornet F/A-18, Gripen of Saab and Rafale of French Dassault and Thphoon of Eurofighter.

It was an additional attraction for some visitors when Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni was sighted at the venue.

Dhoni, whose aspirations to fly F-16 fighter aircraft could not be realised as he had not undergone requisite training to fly, however, watched the air display.

© COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS


  • Thursday, February 10, 2011

    DTN News - AERO INDIA: Boeing Underlines Super Hornet's 'Proven Capability'

    Defense News: DTN News - AERO INDIA: Boeing Underlines Super Hornet's 'Proven Capability'
    Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources By Greg Waldron - Flight Global
    (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - February 10, 2011: The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet's proven combat capability and reduced total ownership costs are Boeing's key discriminators in India's medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) competition, the company says.

    "We absolutely believe that the Super Hornet is an ideal weapon system as a complement to the [Indian air force's Sukhoi Su-30," says Kory Matthews, vice-president F/A-18 and EA-18G programmes for Boeing Military Aircraft. "Multi-role capability is at the sweet-spot of this fighter."

    Matthews notes that the US Navy's Super Hornet fleet is currently being flown at a rate of around 120,000h per year, and that over 100,000h has already been amassed under combat conditions. Crucially for the US Hornet industry team here this week - which also includes GE Aviation and Raython- the type's APG-79 is the only combat-proven active electronically scanned array radar in the contest, he says.

    In terms of through-life costs, the USN's operation of the F/A-18E/F has shown the type to be "highly reliable and with excellent maintainability", Matthews says. For example, an average of just 12 maintenance man hours are currently required per flight hour, he adds.

    With India expected to issue a shortlist within the next few months to narrow its current six-strong field for the MMRCA programme, Matthews speculates that it could pick three of the twin-engine candidates to advance to the next phase. "We've offered a fully compliant proposal with the Super Hornet, and believe it's ideally suited," he says.

    The F/A-18F Super Hornet flying at the show each day is doing so with what the Boeing official describes as an "operationally-relevant" weapons load. Totalling almost 1,220kg (4,000lb), this includes two each of Raytheon's AIM-9X and AIM-120 air-to-air missiles andtwo Mk 82-series bombs.


    © COPYRIGHT (C) DTN NEWS DEFENSE-TECHNOLOGY NEWS

    •