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Boeing Reports Successful Start to C-130 AMP Flight Tests ST. LOUIS, Feb. 14, 2007 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] is making significant progress in its test program for the U.S. Air Force C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP). The first C-130H aircraft to be modified with an advanced avionics suite is ahead of its planned ground and flight test programs, which began at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on Nov. 28, 2006. The joint Air Force and Boeing flight test team is completing an average of 30 percent more tests per week than originally intended. To date, the team has successfully flown 17 flight test missions and completed nearly 200 test points -- 60 more than the initial goal. The tests, which include Air Force operational and test personnel, are verifying the aircraft's avionics, software, structures and subsystems. The program will continue testing through 2009 before entering Initial Operation Test and Evaluation. "The C-130 AMP modification is remarkably mature for this stage in development," said Mike Harris, Boeing C-130 AMP vice president and program manager. The first modified C-130H aircraft has working radar, an information friend-or-foe system, a traffic alert and collision avoidance system, a flight director system, as well as advanced auto-flight and navigational features, making it more capable than most aircraft in similar type programs. Of the 17 test missions flown, there have been no mission processor lock-ups, degrades or display blanking -- a rare occurrence for similar major modification efforts. "Characteristics such as open architecture, use of commercial standards and off-the-shelf components, large format high resolution displays and high bandwidth computing capability give C-130 AMP aircraft tremendous growth potential," continued Harris. "These and other capabilities will allow the C-130 to effectively accomplish its missions for many years to come." A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.4 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer; a foremost developer of advanced concepts and technologies; a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in sustainment solutions and launch services.

MARIETTA, Ga. (AFNEWS) -- Representatives from the Air Force and Lockheed Martin gathered to accept Pacific Air Forces' first F-22 Raptor Feb. 12 at Marietta, Ga. This latest F-22 will be among 36 others that will make up the first F-22s assigned to PACAF at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens said the F-22 will play a key role is guaranteeing American superiority of the sky over the Pacific. "General Billy Mitchell once observed this: Alaska is the most strategic place in the world ... whoever holds Alaska will hold the world," Senator Stevens said. The F-22 is the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft. Its combination of stealth, supercruise, maneuverability, and integrated avionics, coupled with improved supportability, represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities. The F-22 performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century Air Force. Gen. Paul V. Hester, the PACAF commander, said the F-22 will show America's continued commitment to maintain peace and stability in the Pacific. "An important part of this business is to know and show the foes of America ... who stand against our allies and friends ... that you have the capacity, the capability, as well as the will to use that power," General Hester said.

Red Flag turns stealthy 2/14/2007 - the B-2 Spirit, F-117 Nighthawk and F-22 -- are taking part in Red Flag, which sharpens aircrews' warfighting skills in realistic combat situations. Crews are flying missions during the day and night to the nearby Nevada Test and Training Range where they take part in highly realistic aerial combat. The Air Force and Navy, along with Australia and the United Kingdom militaries, are participating in this Red Flag. (U.S. Air Force photo/Mike Estrada)

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. (AFNEWS) -- You can build just about anything on a good foundation. Air Force reservists from the 442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 303rd Fighter Squadron here are being reminded of that as five of the 442nd Fighter Wing's A-10 Thunderbolt IIs are being equipped with "smart" multi-function color display systems. This technology, new to the A-10, is manufactured by the Raytheon Company, headquartered in Waltham, Mass. It will provide a host of cutting-edge capabilities for the Air Force Reserve Command pilots, including increased awareness and communication. "The A-10 was designed as a bare-bones airplane," said Maj. David Kurle, 442nd FW chief of public affairs. "It wasn't designed with all these modifications in mind. When it came into the inventory in 1975, no one had any idea it was going to last as long as it has." Currently, the Air Force plans to keep the A-10 in its inventory another 20 years or more. "The original A-10 was just an aircraft with weapons systems on it. It wasn't integrated to the Army or to the battlefield at all, " said Lt. Col. Mark Ernewein, assistant director of operations for the 303rd Fighter Squadron. The 442nd AMXS began installing the new systems in 2006. Colonel Ernewein said the new technology "is a huge jump for the A-10s." "We are now joining the data-link world," he said. "(This) is just like the Internet for the armed forces. That's the No. 1 asset this brings to us. The Army has about half their assets as part of the data-link world." "The data-link is just one aspect of what it does," Colonel Ernewein said. The system also serves as a display monitor for Litening II targeting pods and Maverick missiles. "It runs the targeting pod and captures images that can be sent to personnel on the ground," Colonel Ernewein said. "It lets us pass targeting information, imagery and video between ground personnel and fliers, as well as to command and control with increased resolution. "We're replacing a (black and white) monitor built in the 1970s," he said. Tech. Sgt. Rik Davis, an avionics technician with the 442nd AMXS's specialist flight, said, "It helps (pilots) pinpoint targets instead of having to say, 'It's the building to the right of the white gate' or something like that." As a pilot who will use the new system in the A-10, Colonel Ernewein had high praise for the technology. "It's a network that's modular so not everybody has to be in a line of sight with everyone else," he said. "It's just like the Internet. I see a target and I can make that my sensor point of interest. My wingman will see my call sign (on the screen in another A-10), and I can capture his sensor's point of interest. I can fly his targeting pod from my aircraft. It's much more streamlined, efficient and much more complex. The new system will enhance situational awareness. "It has a situational awareness page," the colonel said. "It has moving maps, as well as imagery and range rings. The system has its own processors in it. It's two of the fastest processors in any aircraft. It's modular and inexpensive and can be linked with any modification of the aircraft." For example, the colonel used to carry several printed maps on the aircraft; now he can get everything he needs on a small computer thumb drive. "When I get a target, I can sort out where the nearest friendlies are located, which is important for reducing fratricide," he said. Along with imagery, he can overlay the "order of battle" on the ground. Colonel Ernewein also noted that the system allows pilots, through the "situational awareness data link," which the Army also possesses, to see friendly and enemy locations. The increased technology is a bit of double-edged sword, according to Colonel Ernewein, because it can be "overwhelming." "We're developing tactics, techniques and procedures for how to use this system," he said. "There're so many capabilities in it, you have to narrow down specific tasks for our mission on which to focus." None of this capability would be possible, however, were it not for the know-how and dedication of the maintenance Airmen installing these multi-function color display systems. "Once you run and install the wiring and the line-replaceable units, you have to do all the follow-on operational checks," Sergeant Davis said. "A whole new control stick has to be installed with new buttons. There are dozens of checks, and that involves three or four shops. Crew chiefs have to put the aircraft on jacks and do landing-gear retraction. The armaments shop does gun-function checks." This process, according to Sergeant Davis, typically takes more than 200 hours. Maintenance troops also have to contend with the simple mathematical problem of currently possessing only five systems for the wing's fleet of 24 A-10s. As planes go in for phase inspections or other repairs, the systems must be taken out and re-installed in other aircraft to train pilots and keep them current on the system. "We're learning as we go," Sergeant Davis said. "I think from what I'm being told, though, we're having luck." While such work can be tedious and frustrating, Sergeant Davis said it simply must be done. "We have to do it," he said "There are no ifs, ands or buts. For a modification, it hasn't gone too bad. We're getting it done, and they're flying with it." On the flipside, Sergeant Davis said pilots, after flying A-10s with the system, provide feedback to maintenance by describing what they experienced in the air. Also, additional systems are scheduled to arrive in the future and will be installed in the wing's entire fleet of A-10s. "The pilots will say, 'It's actually doing this,'" he said. "So we use that information to troubleshoot (the system). It's a lot of playing with buttons and figuring out what they do." As bugs are worked out to make the A-10 more effective, Sergeant Davis said the 442nd FW is not alone in this process. Four other A-10 wings are at various stages of implementing this system.

B-29 TO BE LEFT OUT IN COLD- the B-29 Super-Fortress that sat in the desert of Mojave for 42 years, was used for missile target practice (but never hit) and has now nearly been rebuilt and restored from the ground up by a team of devoted volunteers -- will face new adversity when it is pushed out of its current home, unfinished and into the winter elements of Wichita, Kan., by week's end. "Boeing has been great, but they need the facility," project spokesman John Shark told AVweb Monday. The Wichita forecast calls for sleet, turning later to snow this week -- not the warmest greeting for a 60-percent restored aircraft if it is, as expected, rolled onto the open-air facility of the Kansas Aviation Museum on Friday. "This is the last B-29 in the world that can be saved and restored to flight," Shark said, which makes it living competition, in both attention and charity, with the only other (sometimes) flying B-29, Fifi. Like Fifi, Doc's primary obstacle is money, but unlike Fifi, Doc doesn't have the recent flight experience to inspire donations. What it does have is new parts, though. " We're going to have a brand-new aircraft," said project manager Cliff Gaston, "It wasn't patched or repaired; it was done new." But for the dream to survive it will need new help, and soon, and two funds are now open to the public

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