Crowd watches flyover

The Space Shuttle Endeavour, riding piggyback on a 747, flew low over Stennis Space Center, Miss., today just before 8:30 a.m. CDT on its final ferry flight. More than 1,000 center employees and visitors were outside to watch. Endeavour left Florida early this morning. (Source: Sun Herald, 09/19/12) The pair then moved on to Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, where others watched as the youngest shuttle of the fleet passed overhead. Endeavour is heading for Los Angeles where it will spend its retirement years. (Source: Times-Picayune, 09/19/12)

AT-6 weapons test completed

Phase III assessment testing of the AT-6 light attack aircraft's weapons systems was successfully completed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., according to a Sept. 17 announcement from Hawker Beechcraft Defense. Phases I and II assessments included computer-aided deliveries of general purpose and laser-guided bombs. All weapons testing was accomplished with oversight from the Air Force Air Armament Center and the Air National Guard and Air Reserve Command Test Center. (Source: Defence Professionals, 09/18/12) Previous

Endeavour flight delayed again

The ferry flight of space shuttle Endeavour atop the 747 is rescheduled for Wednesday due to an unfavorable weather forecast along the flight path. Endeavour now is expected to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, Sept. 21. The pair will still make low level flyovers at about 1,500 feet over Stennis Space Center, Miss., Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, and other locations along the way. The flight was originally planned for Monday. (Source: NASA, 09/17/12) Previous

Eglin's "narco sub"

A surrogate semi-submersible engineered to mimic the design of drug-running vessels is helping the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate develop better devices to detect them. Called "Pluto," it's homeported at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and being kept operational by the 46th Test Squadron. The vessels are popularly called "narco subs," build by South American drug cartels. They are actually low-riders, barely visible on the surface of the ocean. The Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force and other federal agencies are using Pluto to test remote sensing capabilities on the 45-foot long vessel in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic and Pacific. (Source: Department of Homeland Security, 09/16/12) Eglin is best known as the base where the Air Force develops and tests aerial weapons, and more recently as home of the F-35 training center.

Grants awarded to protect bases

Gov. Rick Scott said $850,000 in grants will go to 11 Florida communities with military bases. The grants are designed to protect the bases and diversity the economies. In Northwest Florida, Bay, Escambia, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties will receive a combined $335,000 in 2012-2013 Defense Reinvestment Grants, administred by Enterprise Florida. The military/defense sector has a $60 billion economic impact on the state, providing more than 686,181 jobs. The Bay Defense Alliance will get $100,000, the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce will receive $70,000, the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County will get $125,000 and Santa Rosa County will receive $40,000. (Source: WMBB, 09/17/12) The Northwest Florida counties are home to Eglin and Tyndall Air Force bases, Hurlburt and Duke fields, Naval Air Station Pensacola and Whiting Field, the Naval Surface Warfare Center and Corry Station.

Armed Fire Scout nears

Armed Fire Scout. Business Wire photo

NASHUA, N.H. -- For the first time, the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System will be integrated onto an unmanned aerial vehicle, BAE Systems said today. The company, which designed and manufactures the guidance section of the laser-guided rocket, was recently awarded a U.S. Navy contract to add the APKWS onto the MQ-8B Fire Scout UAV. The system is being integrated onto the Fire Scout in response to an urgent operational need and is being prepared for rapid deployment. (Source: Business Wire, 09/17/12) Gulf Coast note: Northrop Grumman Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.

Endeavour flight delayed a day

NASA's planned ferry flight of space shuttle Endeavour atop the 747 has been pushed back a day due to an unfavorable weather forecast. The decision was made Sunday to push back the departure from Monday to Tuesday. The pair will still make low level flyovers at about 1,500 feet over Stennis Space Center, Miss., Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, and other locations along the route to Los Angeles. Endeavour completed 25 missions, spent 299 days in orbit, and orbited Earth 4,671 times while traveling 122,883,151 miles. (Source: NASA, 09/16/12) Previous

Squadron returns to Keesler

BILOXI, Miss. -- The 345th Airlift Squadron returned home to Keesler Air Force Base Saturday after a four-month deployment in Afghanistan. The 30-member squadron, an active duty member Keesler's 815th Airlift Squadron, deployed May 9 and performed 261 airdrops in the battle zone. (Source: WLOX-TV, 09/ 15/12) The 815th is part of the 403rd Reserve Wing at Keesler.

Fixing a key missile

A key air-to-air missile is in trouble because of a problem with a component. But a fix is being worked for Raytheon's Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). Some of the solid-fuel rocket motors have failed tests at temperatures of minus 65 degrees, a high altitude temperature. Motor-maker ATK is working the problem, but a supplier from Norway, NAMMO, is providing an alternate motor. Col. Jason Denney, manager of the AMRAAM program at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., said the importance of the AMRAAM can hardly be overstated. With its fire-and-forget, "beyond visual range" capability, the AMRAAM is the main air-superiority weapon for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and 35 allied nations. Tests will have to be conducted on the fixes and the new motors. (Source: Arizona Daily Star, 09/16/12) Eglin Air Force Base is where Air Force aerial weapons are developed and tested.

Talks over Saufley end

The Navy ended negotiations with a developer over an enhanced use lease to turn 104 acres at a former air station into a research/business park. Navy officials say it would have been too costly to move three commands from Saufley Field, Fla., to nearby Naval Air Station Pensacola. Uncertainty over funding for the relocation and renovations forced the Navy to cancel the project with DCK Worldwide. Saufley Field is an active Navy facility 10 miles north of NAS Pensacola. Once a full-fledged air station, it's now an outlying landing field. (Source: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast, 09/12/12) Previous

SLS marks first year

NASA's Space Launch System, designed to bring astronauts further into space than ever before, has marked its first year of progress. The heavy-lift program was announced Sept. 14, 2011. It borrowed pieces from the canceled Constellation program and other proven NASA systems. Along the Gulf Coast, both Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans are involved. SSC has run a series of tests on the J-2X that will power the upper stage, and will also test the RS-25s that will power the first stage. Michoud has been building Orion crew vehicles, and will also build the core stage. (Source: NASA/MSFC, 09/12/12)

Chamber scouts suppliers

BERLIN, Germany -- The international business community is now associating Airbus with Mobile. That's according to Troy Wayman of the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, who spoke to the Mobile Press-Register by phone Wednesday from the ILA Berlin Air Show. Airbus in July said it would build an A320 assembly line in Mobile at Brookley Aeroplex. On Wednesday alone chamber officials met with four potential Airbus suppliers. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 09/12/12) Meanwhile, an Escambia County, Fla., county commissioner and chamber representative are also in Germany checking out companies that supply Airbus. They've reportedly met with more than 20 prospects. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 09/12/12)

Lockheed marks 10 at SSC

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- Lockheed Martin Mississippi Space & Technology Center on Wednesday marked its 10th anniversary at the NASA facility. Site director Dave Hartley said the center has delivered four satellite propulsion systems this year and has six more in production. The propulsion systems are for the popular A2100 satellites and maneuver the craft in space. Dennis Little, vice president at Lockheed Martin headquarters in Bethesda, Md., said future projects include propulsion systems for the next generation of GPS and weather satellites and the Orion crew vehicle. (Source: Sun Herald, WLOX-TV, 09/12/12)

Huntsman expanding

McINTOSH, Ala. -- A company that makes, among other things, resin used in aerospace parts, is expanding in Washington County north of Mobile. Huntsman Advanced Materials said it will add 225 full-time and contractor positions to the plant in McIntosh. The resin is also used in the oil and gas exploration industry. Currently 200 employees work at the McIntosh plant. (Source: WKRG-TV, 09/12/12)

BAE, EADS in talks

BAE Systems said it's in talks with EADS about a combination of the two companies, according to Bloomberg. BAE would own 40 percent and EADS, the European Aeronautic, Defence and Space Co., would own the rest. A combination of BAE and EADS, parent of Airbus, would be a return to plans for a single European aerospace business. It would create the world's largest aerospace business. (Source: Bloomberg, 09/12/12) Gulf Coast note: BAE Systems' North American operation is a major defense contractor with operations along the Gulf Coast; EADS has operations in the region as well, including Mobile, Ala., and an American Eurocopter plant in Columbus, Miss.

AirAsia will be first with sharlets

Low-cost carrier AirAsia of Malaysia will be the first operator of the A320 to use the model with "sharklets" on the wingtips. The announcement was made at the Berlin air show. AirAsia will take delivery of the first A320 equipped with the fuel-saving wing-tip devices at the end of this year. Sharklets will be fitted on previously ordered, newly-built A320s for AirAsia, scheduled for delivery from the end of 2012. The tips will result in close to 4 percent fuel savings for the most popular Airbus aircraft. (Source: EADS, Reuters, 09/11/12) Gulf Coast note: Mobile, Ala., will be the future home of an A320 assembly line. Previous

Shuttle's 'ride' arrives

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- The modified Boeing 747 that will haul the space shuttle Endeavour piggyback-style to Los Angeles next week arrived at Kennedy Space Center Tuesday to pick up its passenger. Endeavour is in the Vehicle Assembly Building and will be towed to the landing strip Friday morning. A lifting structure will hoist it so the 747 can pull underneath. It will take off Monday morning for its trip to California, which will include several stops as well as low fly-bys at multiple locations, including Stennis Space Center, Miss., and Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans. Infinity Science Center, just outside Stennis Space Center, is opening at 8 a.m. and offering a bus tour to the space center to view the event between 9 and 9:30 a.m. The cost is $5. (Sources: Spaceflight Now, Infinity Science Center, 09/11/12) Previous

Contract: Alutiiq, $11.6M

Alutiiq 3SG LLC, Anchorage, Ark., is being awarded an $11,596,067 firm fixed price contract to procure support for the Acquisition of Civil Engineering Base Operations Support at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The location of the performance is Tyndall AFB. Fla. Work is to be completed by Sept. 29, 2013. The contracting activity is AETC CONS/LGCK, Randolph AFB, Texas. (Source: DoD, 09/11/12)

Drone squadron a Navy first

The Navy is launching its first unmanned helicopter squadron next month in Coronado, Calif. HUQ-1 Hydras will train current pilots and enlisted non-pilots to fly the unmanned helicopters likely to become common on Navy ships. MQ-8C Fire Scouts, built by Northrop Grumman, will arrive at North Island Naval Air Station in 2014. The larger version of the Fire Scout will be operated off destroyers and frigates. The Navy has tested the MQ-8B version of the Fire Scout on frigates and have deployed them in Afghanistan. (Source: UTSanDiego, 09/10/12) Gulf Coast note: Fire Scouts are built in part in Moss Point, Miss. Previous on Fire Scout

RF seeker sought for HVPW

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Northrop Grumman and the Air Force are working on a precision guidance system for a rocket-propelled bomb for the F-35 that attacks deeply buried targets. Northrop Grumman won a $1.8 million contract to gather data to support development of an RF seeker for the future High Velocity Penetrating Weapons. The idea is to develop a 2,000-pound bunker-buster with the punch of a 5,000-pound gravity bomb. (Source: Military & Aerospace Electronics, 09/11/12) Previous