Virginia rocket launch may be visible in Chesapeake Bay region

Several space technologies will be put to the test with the launch of a suborbital rocket at 8 p.m. EDT on Thursday from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

Called Suborbital Technology Experiment Carrier-8 or SubTec-8, the launch is designed to test new technologies to improve the capability of conducting suborbital science missions. Some of these technologies also may be applied to orbital spacecraft. The launch may be visible in the Chesapeake Bay region.

SubTec-8 will fly on a Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket and is predicted to reach an altitude of 128 miles before descending by parachute and landing in the Atlantic Ocean. The first SubTec launch occurred in 2005.

SubTec-8 technologies include distributed payload communications that will allow multipoint measurements for scientists to study multiple regions in space simultaneously; a low cost star tracker for assisting in pointing the rocket when taking astronomical observations; and a high data rate encoder that will provide the ability to transmit data from the rocket to the ground four times faster than currently available.

Video: Navy extends contract with contractor owned and operated fighter jets

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Patuxent River, Md., intends to award a Firm Fixed Price and Cost contract to Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) for an additional 18 months from Nov. 18 2020 to May 20 2022 to provide contractor owned and operated fighter jets.

“This acquisition provides Contracted Air Services (CAS) of contractor owned and operated aircraft to the Department of the Navy for a wide variety of airborne threat simulation capabilities,” the Navy said in contract documents. “The aircraft are used to train shipboard / aircraft squadrons, weapon systems operators, and aircrew counter measures for potential enemy Electronic Warfare and Electronic Attack operations in today's Electronic Combat environment. This support is provided in a variety of venues, from basic "schoolhouse" Air Intercept Control training to large multinational exercises or small, single unit training exercises, including target tow. Locations include multiple Continental United States sites and foreign or remote operating bases Outside Continental United States. Aircraft operate from designated or home bases on the East Coast, West Coast, Hawaii, Japan and from any operating site worldwide during periods of deployment. Other customers for CAS under this contract may include other Department of Defense (DoD) agencies and services, non-DoD government agencies, and Foreign Military Sales customers.

“At this time, ATAC is the only fighter jet services source, which owns approved aircraft with Navy Interim Flight Clearances and Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Certificates that can continue performance during the above stated ordering period of fighter jet missions without an unacceptable delay or interruption in support to the fleet.”

Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopter up for sale

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Redstone in Huntsville, Ala., announced Wednesday they have an Army Black Hawk helicopter up for sale. The contracting command is handling the aircraft sale on behalf of the Program Executive Office, Aviation, Logistics, Black Hawk Exchange and Sales Team (BEST) Program.

The aircraft is a Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk medium-lift utility helicopter (tail number 81-23624). The helicopter is located at the BEST Aircraft Consolidation Facility in Huntsville, Ala.

“The following property is available for sale through negotiation at fixed prices,” the Army said in the announcement. If more than one agency has indicated interest in the item, the sale will be on a ''first-come, first-served'' basis. Payment must be made within 30 calendar days after purchase.

A series of Army UH-60A helicopters have already been sold. Click here for articles covering past aircraft sales.

F/A-18C jet gets Blue Angel airframe upgrade

The Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River, Md., intends to award a sole source contract to The Boeing Company to install Airframe Change (AFC-483) A1 and A2 kits (Blue Angel modification) to a F/A-18C jet, BUNO 163747. The contract award was announced Friday.

“This aircraft must be delivered no later than 30 June 2020 to support the Blue Angels 2020 show schedule,” the Navy said in contract documents.

In order to install this modification, the required support equipment must be on site by contract award.  Additionally, an 8,000 foot runway must be in place with a flight and ground operations staff to support Functional Check Flights (FCF) after completion of the modification and before aircraft delivery. The government will provide the FCF pilot. The place of performance for this requirement must be within 25 miles of the Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

Boeing was awarded the contract to retrofit nine Block 1 F/A-18E Super Hornets and two Block 1 F/A-18F Super Hornets for the Blue Angels team from the current crop of F/A-18C/D fighters, according to an article published in 2018 by the U.S. Naval Institute.

US nuclear administration seeks to replace Bell helicopters

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Nuclear Incident Response (ONIR), is hosting an Industry Day meeting in Las Vegas this month to discuss the replacement of two Bell 412HP helicopters with a new rotary wing aircraft. The meeting was announced in contract documents released in August.

“Information exchanged during this event will be used to help refine the acquisition strategy and obtaining innovative approaches, solutions, and technologies to meet the government requirements for replacing two helicopters with new rotary wing aircraft,” NNSA said in contract documents.

The ONIR is the premier technical leader in responding to and successfully resolving nuclear and radiological incidents or accidents. Technical teams are prepared to search for radioactive material, and help manage the consequences of a release of radioactive material into the environment. One of these assets, NNSA's Aerial Measuring System, has specialized airborne radiation detection systems that provide real-time measurements of low levels of air and ground contamination. The equipment, aircraft, and trained experts maintain a state of readiness to respond to a radiological emergency at any time. The aircraft operations are at Joint Base Andrews, Md., and Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Nev.

To perform these aerial surveys, flights are performed from 50 to 3,000 feet above the ground at speeds from 60 to 80 knots. The crew consists of two pilots and two technical specialists that operate the detection equipment. Survey flight patterns are predominately parallel line patterns often performed over congested areas of the country.

The NNSA Industry Day meeting will be held at North Las Vegas Airport on Oct. 29.

NASA celebrates 20th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Alabama are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory -- the world's most powerful X-ray telescope.

Since its launch on July 23, 1999, Chandra has been NASA's flagship mission for X-ray astronomy. Astronomers around the world use Chandra's X-ray vision to explore cosmic mysteries -- from distant galaxies and an expanding universe to black holes, dark energy and supernovas.

Robert Binns appointed president of Air Wisconsin

Robert (Rob) Binns has been appointed president of Air Wisconsin. The announcement came in a company press release on Monday. Binns will oversee all aspects of operations and performance initiatives for Air Wisconsin and will report directly to Christine Deister, the airline's chief executive officer.

Binns brings over 25 years of airline and industry-related experience to his new role, including chairman and CEO of Global Aviation Holdings, a holding company for World Airways and North American Airlines. He has also held CEO, CFO, CMO and other executive roles at Hybrid Enterprises (Lockheed Martin), TransMeridian Airlines, Pegasus Aviation and Trans World Airlines.

Binns holds a Master of Business Administration as well as a BA in history and political science from the University of Kansas, and an MA in political behavior from the University of Essex (England). He is also a Certified Internal Auditor. Since 2007, Binns has served on the Carter Center Board of Councilors in Atlanta.

Air Wisconsin Airlines, founded in 1965, operates over 300 departures daily to 32 states in partnership with United Airlines. With service to approximately 70 cities throughout North America, Air Wisconsin carries nearly five million passengers annually.