I found this old article in rediff.com nov01. is this still on the table (didnt see it in the list) or it was a rumour?

http://www.rediff.com/us/2001/nov/11ny3.htm

US to give Apache attack helicopters to Pakistan

Muhammad Najeeb in Islamabad

The Pakistan army is all set to receive a batch of six Apache attack helicopters from the US early next month, after nearly a decade-long arms embargo, reports said.

I’ll give you three guesses. 😉

Boeing reveals ‘Sky Suites’ vision for 747 Advanced

Flight International
22 Jun 2004

Unused crown space above main cabin could be converted into business suites and bunks

Boeing is studying radical interior concepts for its proposed 747 Advanced design that would provide space for up to 40 bunks, staterooms, business suites and galley- cart stowage in the currently unused crown space above the main passenger cabin ceiling.

The “Sky Suites” concept would feature on the stretched 747-400 passenger derivative for entry into service from late 2009 if launched in 2006 or early 2007. The concept would allow virtually all the crown space to be used from the rear pressure bulkhead forward to the fairing from the upper deck. Although Boeing has studied an access corridor to connect the upper deck and the suites, it says bulky equipment in the fairing section makes this too difficult.

The company has also revealed a new entry to Door 2 with a sweeping stairway to the upper deck, and a vaulted open space clear to the ceiling of the upper deck with additional windows added to provide a skylight in the crown of the forward fuselage.

Three additional transparencies would also be added to the upper deck belt on the starboard side, with three skylight windows directly overhead creating the impression of a triple decker.

The interior studies are being undertaken to offer additional revenue-creating features without taking up space on the main deck, and stem from double-deck galley studies conducted for the 777. Interior configurations leader Richard Johnson says the changes were made possible by redistributing environmental control system ducting and other systems to the outer edges of the upper crown.

“The main changes were relocating the flight controls from the centreline to the outside,” he says. The changes create a 1.88m (6.1ft) tall stand-up space in the crown, reducing to 1.82m under the frames. Boeing says concepts being explored with the airlines include selling economy-class seats to passengers at premium prices who would spend the flight, other than take-off and landing, in the suites.

Although Boeing acknowledges the fully configured upper lobe features could add an estimated 2,270-3,630kg (5,000-8,000lb) to the empty weight, it believes the attraction of such features as 1.5-2.03m-long bunks and business jet-style suites and meeting rooms would attract additional revenue to make up for this.

Boeing 747/767/777 product development chief Kourosh Hadi says the 747 Advanced’s 68.6m- span wing will feature simpler, double-slotted flaps in place of the current model’s triple-slotted design. Windtunnel tests are planned in 2005 and will be used to evaluate improved lift design changes to leading edges and “other changes”, he adds.

GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES

BAE Systems Awarded $80 Mn in Contracts Related to Korean T-50 Golden Eagle Aircraft

(Source: BAE Systems; issued Aug. 3, 2004)

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — BAE Systems has been awarded contracts worth more than $80 million related to the Republic of Korea’s production of the T-50 Golden Eagle military aircraft.

The contracts call for BAE Systems Platform Solutions to deliver flight control computers and hardware kits, control stick assemblies, rate sensor assemblies, accelerometer sensor assemblies, and test equipment. The contracts also provide for in-country production support and training in the Republic of Korea.

BAE Systems, as a subcontractor to Korean Aerospace Industries and LG Innotek Ltd., will begin phase one deliveries in December 2004 and complete them in October 2006. Phase two deliveries will begin in 2006 and be completed in 2010.

The T-50 Golden Eagle is a supersonic, advanced jet trainer and lead-in fighter trainer being jointly developed and produced by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and KAI for the Republic of Korea Air Force. The T-50 will be used to train pilots to fly current and next-generation fighters and will also be marketed for export.

“We are delighted to be part of the team associated with the production of this advanced aircraft,” said Tom Herring, vice president of Integrated Solutions for BAE Systems Platform Solutions.

BAE Systems Platform Solutions is a major supplier of subsystems and hardware for the T-50, also providing the aircraft’s head-up display and integrated mission display computer.

…[further details]…

ANA is first to firm up 7E7 orders

Flight International
3rd – 9th Aug 2004

Japan’s All Nippon Airways (ANA) has become the first airline to firm up a commitment for Boeing’s new 7E7 with a purchase agreement for 20 baseline 7E7-8s and 30 short-range 7E7-3s.

The airline signed the contract in Seattle last week at a ceremony attended by its president and chief executive Yoji Ohashi, three months after ANA’s board approved what was the first commitment for the 7E7. Twenty 7E7-8s seating around 230 passengers will primarily be used on international routes and 30 7E7-3s, seating 300 passengers, will be used on domestic routes. The twinjets will replace Boeing 767s, although the airline still has a number of 767s on order.

ANA’s 7E7 deliveries are due to begin in 2008. The first six 7E7-8s are to be inducted in the 2008 fiscal year ending 31 March 2009. Another six 7E7-8s are to be delivered in 2009-10 fiscal year, followed in FY2010-11 by deliveries of the first 7E7-3s.

ANA may not be the first to operate the 7E7-3, however, as the short-range model could have an entry-into-service date earlier than the 2010 timeframe specified by ANA. “We haven’t decided on the 2010 date,” says Boeing. “There are a lot of other operators interested in the -3. We expect to decide soon.”

ANA is one of four airlines to have revealed plans to order 7E7s. The others are Air New Zealand and European operators Blue Panorama and First Choice Airways. It is the only 7E7-3 customer so far, as the others have opted for -8s.

NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE

Vought Awarded USAF Contract for Additional C-5 Galaxy Structural Components

(Source: Vought Aircraft Industries; issued July 29, 2004)

DALLAS — Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc. announced today that it is being awarded a contract with a potential value of $471 million for the manufacture of 128 wing and fuselage components for the C-5 Galaxy aircraft. This Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract was awarded by the U.S. Air Force Warner Robins Air Logistics Center (WR-ALC) to support the plan of operating the C-5 through 2040.

Assembly work under this contract will be conducted at Vought’s facility in Dallas. The contract includes the fabrication of new tooling to manufacture inboard slats (leading edge flaps), ailerons, forward main landing gear fairings, flap torque boxes and an assortment of wing panels, structural supports, fairings, leading and trailing edges and fire compartment shields. The quantity of items produced will depend upon WR-ALC depot maintenance requirements and will vary from year to year. Engineering and manufacturing will begin immediately, with initial deliveries scheduled for early 2005. Subsequent orders will extend production deliveries through 2013, if the government exercises all its delivery options.

“This award complements our existing C-5 Galaxy flight control surfaces contract and exemplifies the quality of work the government has come to expect from Vought,” said Tom Risley, Vought’s president and chief executive officer. In September 2002, Vought received its first ID/IQ contract from WR-ALC for manufacturing new flight control surfaces for the C-5 modernization program.

The C-5 Galaxy is a heavy cargo transport designed to provide massive strategic airlift, for deployment and supply of combat and support forces. The C-5, in operation since 1970, can carry unusually large and heavy cargo for intercontinental ranges at jet speeds. According to a recent C-5 study, the aircraft could be in service another 25 years.