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Aviation History
1985
1985 - 0614.PDF
BUSINESS AVIATION Clean air from Allison INDIANAPOLIS Allison has fitted a Sikorsky S-76 with a new curved inlet duct to provide undisturbed air directly to the engines, replacing the plenum chamber normally employed. Allison says that the new duct gives about a 7 per cent power recovery (100 h.p.). Air Logis tics asked for the modification, and it should now have been cleared for VFR operations. Icing and snow tests in Canada should result in IFR certification this summer. A particle separator devel oped by Allison for the US Army Ahip programme has been fitted to a Bell JetRanger. A 1 h.p. motor provides cleaning suction. The separator has been through a two-year Army test which included operation in ice and dirt. The unit is said to reduce noise. An improved compressor- turbine coupling shaft for 250-C30S engines fitted to the S-76 is to be provided free of charge by Allison, who will also pay for the installation. Shaft failures have led to at least five turbine overspeeds and subsequent disin tegrations resulting in single or double engine failure. The 2in diameter shaft, which is about lOin long, runs inside the power turbine shaft. Carbon build-up owing to insufficient cooling caused friction between the two and spoilt the heat treatment of the inner shaft. Allison intro duced a smaller-diameter inner shaft with an improved oil supply, giving more clear ance and better cooling. Small notches cut in the end of the shaft were also part of the modifications, but these are believed to have led to fatigue cracking which caused at least two of the incidents. Allison will provide an im proved second-stage turbine wheel, an internal contain ment ring for the first stage, exhaust collector shielding, and improved cooling. Seals and any worn parts will be replaced by Allison. Above Allison has developed a side-inlet particle separator and fitted it to a Bell JetRanger. The unit was developed for the US Army's Ahip programme. Below Allison's new inlet for the S-76 increases power by 100 h.p. The scoop on top is to enhance oil cooling ROTARY BRIEFS Bell and Nurtanio are to offer the Collins Pro Line II digital avionics system in the 412. It will include dual VHF-22 communication transceivers, VIR-32 navigation receivers, and an ADF-60, DME-42, and an ALT-50 radio altimeter. Also included will be a TDR- 90 transponder and an HF- 230 radio. Pro Line II comm, nav, and pulse equipment offers frequency storage and extensive self-diagnosis. British Airways Helicopters' (BAH) three Sumburgh-based S-61Ns, which are serving Shell Expro, have been fitted with Racal Decca RNav for use with a datalink flight tracking system due to be installed on the client's Cormorant Alpha platform. Emergency locator beacons and audio alert radio alti meters are being fitted, the latter in advance of CAA requirements. Improved passenger seating is included in the update, which is being funded by the client. BAH took over the Shell Expro contract from British Caledonian Helicopters on January 1. BAH is moving its head quarters from Gatwick to Aberdeen. The relocation should be completed by the end of June. The engineering unit has already moved, and some 58 staff employed by the finance, personnel, and com mercial departments will go to Aberdeen. BAH set up its Gatwick base in 1952. The company has 31 helicopters, 15 of which are Aberdeen based. Page Avjef forms air-taxi operation WASHINGTON D.C. To support its aircraft oper ation, management, and charter business, Page Avjet Corporation has formed Page Flight. It has been granted an FAA air-taxi certificate for FAR Part 135 on-demand commercial flights, for which the new company will lease Page Avjet crews to provide air craft operations, manage ment, and air-taxi charter services. More than 25 aircraft from jets to piston twins are oper ated or managed for northeast US corporations with bases at Washington's Dulles and National airports, Allegheny County (Pittsburgh), Roch ester Monroe, Glenn Martin Airport (Baltimore), and Westchester County and Albany County airports (New York). Leonard Alexander has been appointed president of the new operation. Formerly he was flight operations vice-president for Page Avjet's Beechcraft division. This had followed some 23 years with the company in various flying training, sales, piloting, and management positions during which he clocked some 15,000 flying hours. Page Avjet contract- aviation department manager Edward Voelker has been appointed vice-president flight operations. He was previously responsible for McCormick flight operations out of Baltimore. Former Beech pilot-train ing centre chief instructor Robert Bridges has joined Page Flight as chief pilot. At Wichita, Bridges had taken part in the flight-testing of the King Air 300; he was the first pilot to receive FAA type certification on the air craft. The new company is to be found at Hangar 4, Suite 128, Washington National Airport, Wash ington DC 20001; tel (703) 979-5000. FLIGHT International, 2 March 1985
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