Tue, Jan 25, 2011
Program Is Intended To Modernize The RAF Chinook Fleet
Boeing's UK Rotorcraft Support team has begun flight testing the
first Chinook Mk4 helicopter for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The
first flight took place on Dec. 9 in Hampshire, England.
File Photo
"Project JULIUS, as the Mk4 program is known, will modernize the
current Royal Air Force Chinook fleet – essentially giving us
new aircraft," said Chris White-Horne, Mk4 project team leader for
the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence.
Project JULIUS will modify 38 Mk2/2A Chinooks into the Mk4/4A
configuration and eight Mk3 Chinooks into the Mk5 configuration.
All the aircraft will be delivered to RAF Odiham in Hampshire.
A major part of the modification for both the Mk4/4A and Mk5
aircraft is the Thales TopDeck cockpit. Thales UK is under contract
with Boeing to supply its Cockpit Display System/Mission Avionic
System, which will provide improved situational awareness,
increased safety and options for capability enhancement. The
upgraded and integrated cockpit display includes four multifunction
displays, two stand-by flight displays, updated communications
interfaces, and two new air data computers.
File Photo
"The first of the modified JULIUS Chinook helicopters is
expected to be available to commanders before the end of 2011,"
said David Pitchforth, managing director, Boeing UK Rotorcraft
Support. "The entire Mk2 fleet will be fitted with the JULIUS
cockpit by early 2015, followed by Mk2A and Mk3 modifications by
2015 and 2016, respectively."
The modifications also include the addition of a third
crew-member seat and an update of Airworthiness & Safety
Certification and Qualification for the modernized Chinook. The
aircraft are being modified at the Gosport Fleetlands facility
operated by Vector Aerospace, Boeing's principal subcontractor for
deep support of the RAF Chinook fleet. Vector Aerospace has
established a dedicated production line at Fleetlands to support
the JULIUS program, with specialist component manufacture provided
from its Almondbank facility near Perth, Scotland.
More News
Runway Lead-in Light System Runway Lead-in Light System Consists of one or more series of flashing lights installed at or near ground level that provides positive visual guidance a>[...]
Aero Linx: Aviation Without Borders Aviation Without Borders uses its aviation expertise, contacts and partnerships to enable support for children and their families – at hom>[...]
Dave Juwel's Aviation Marketing Stories ITBOA BNITBOB ... what does that mean? It's not gibberish, it's a lengthy acronym for "In The Business Of Aviation ... But Not In The Busine>[...]
From 2010 (YouTube Version): Yeah.... This IS A Really Cool Job When ANN's Nathan Cremisino took over the lead of our Aero-TV teams, he knew he was in for some extra work and a lot>[...]
Also: Junkers A50 Heritage, Montaer Grows, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Vans' Latest Officially, the Carbon Cub UL and Rotax 916 iS is now in its 'market survey development phase'>[...]
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.24.24): Runway Lead-in Light System
See All