Newly delivered Coast Guard aircraft ready to be 'missionize'

The U.S. Coast Guard HC-130J Long Range Surveillance (LRS) aircraft acquisition program office has a requirement to “missionize” up to six newly delivered HC-130J LRS aircraft via the installation of the Minotaur Mission System Suite and the C-130J Block Upgrade 8.1.

The Minotaur system incorporates sensors; radar; and command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment and enables aircrews to gather and process surveillance information that can be transmitted to other platforms and units during flight.

“The services will be competitively procured on an unrestricted basis via a noncommercial firm-fixed-price contract,” Coast Guard officials said in contract documents released this week.

The Coast Guard accepted its 14th mission-ready HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft Oct. 27 from L3Harris Technologies in Waco, Texas.

The Coast Guard currently has 18 HC-130J aircraft in either operational use or active production.

The Coast Guard’s fleet of HC-130Js is the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) largest airlift asset, providing critical support to DHS partners as well as carrying out many Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue, drug and migrant interdiction, cargo and personnel transport, and maritime stewardship. The aircraft is capable of serving as an on-scene command and control platform or as a surveillance platform with the means to detect, classify and identify objects and share that information with operational forces.

PointsBet now live in Virginia, 11 sportsbooks available in the state

Online gaming operator PointsBet launched its sports betting app in Virginia on Wednesday. Virginia marks the eighth state for PointsBet, following successful launches in New Jersey, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Colorado, Michigan, and West Virginia.

PointsBet started running ads over the Internet and TV promising to go live in Virginia since July, before they even had a temporary permit to operate in the state. PointsBet finally received a temporary permit from the Virginia Lottery on Nov. 22.

"I am excited to welcome PointsBet to my home state," said PointsBet brand ambassador Allen Iverson, former professional basketball player for 14 seasons.

Colonial Downs partnership

"We are thrilled to be launching in Virginia with our partner Colonial Downs," said PointBet USA CEO Johnny Aitken in a company press release.

The Virginia Lottery issued PointsBet, together with racetrack Colonial Downs, an official supplier license to offer online sports wagering in Virginia. Colonial Downs, a subsidiary of California-based Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, is a gaming company operating and headquartered in Virginia. The company operates Rosie's Gaming Emporiums in Richmond, Hampton, New Kent, Vinton, Dumfries and Collinsville, Va., as well as Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent.

Colonial Downs Group employs more than 1,000 team members in the Commonwealth of Virginia, paying over $30 million in annual salaries, wages, and benefits.

Colonial Downs Racetrack in New Kent hosts live thoroughbred racing on two nationally renowned surfaces – Secretariat Turf Course and a dirt track.

The company pays more than $32 million in annual state and local taxes plus an additional $12 million in racing industry payments annually.

Special offer for Virginia bettors

To help celebrate launch, PointsBet will provide Virginia clients with a very special "Bet & Get" offer. Across five tiers, users will earn 10% of their cumulative wagers in Free Bets during the month of December. Bettors wagering $500 in cumulative bets during December will earn a $50 Free Bet - $1,000 a $100 Free Bet - $2,500 a $250 Free Bet - $5,000 a $500 Free Bet - $10,000 a $1,000 Free Bet.

NBC Sports

As the official exclusive sports betting partner of NBC Sports, PointsBet will utilize the media giant's premium television and digital assets to promote the PointsBet brand in the state of Virginia. The sportsbook has already been integrated into NBC Sports Regional Networks, like NBC Sports Washington, appearing regularly on programming for the Washington Football Team, Wizards, and Capitals.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst receives first KC-46 tanker aircraft next month

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will receive its first KC-46 tanker aircraft next month during a delivery ceremony at the military base in southern New Jersey. News of the delivery was highlighted in contract documents released Tuesday requesting audio visual services to film the ceremony scheduled for Nov. 9.

“The contractor will provide audio-visual support for the first KC-46 aircraft delivery ceremony, scheduled for Nov 9, 2021,” military officials said in contract documents. “The requested support includes video capture of aircraft arrival as well as the ceremony within the hangar.”

The new state-of-the-art KC-46 air-refueling jets being built by Boeing will become the new workhorse for the Air Force’s Air Mobility Wing. 

“The contractor will need capability to provide ceremony functions, including, but not limited to microphones for distinguished visitors and leadership speeches, video, as well as live broadcast to a screen inside hangar, simultaneously broadcast live audio radio calls between air control tower to aircraft to speakers inside ceremony location, livestream to 87th Air Base Wing Public Affairs social media, and video capability to play prerecorded videos,” according to contract documents.

The KC-46 is known for its advanced refueling capabilities, including the ability to refuel two aircraft simultaneously and capacity to get refueled in flight itself, according to military officials, as well as carry cargo passengers and be used for air medical evacuations.

The new tanker jets are intended to replace the Air Force’s entire fleet of its 1980s era KC-10 tankers and a large portion of its even older KC-135s, which date back to the 1950s.

The KC-46 1st Arrival Ceremony will take place on Nov. 9. A pre-event practice will occur on Nov. 8.

Kansas State University expands fleet of Skyhawk aircraft to 20

Textron Aviation announced Tuesday an order for 10 Cessna Skyhawk piston aircraft for the Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus, expanding the school’s fleet of Skyhawk aircraft to 20. The aircraft will help support the university’s pilot training programs.

The Cessna Skyhawk is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc.

“Kansas State University has been training future pilots in Cessna Skyhawks since their program’s inception in 1987,” said Chris Crow, vice president, Piston Sales, Textron Aviation.

In 2019, the school took delivery of five new Skyhawks in its efforts to continue to modernize its fleet.

Deliveries of the 10 new aircraft, which are equipped with the leading Garmin G1000 NXi avionics system, are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2022.

The Cessna Skyhawk is considered the aircraft of choice for pilot training, and it is the most popular single-engine aircraft in aviation history. Since the aircraft first took to the sky in 1955, more than 45,000 Skyhawks have been delivered to customers around the world.

Griffin Global Asset Management adds five 737-8 jets to portfolio

Boeing and Griffin Global Asset Management announced Wednesday the aircraft lessor is expanding its commercial aircraft portfolio with five new 737-8 jets. The purchase is Griffin’s first direct order with Boeing as it sees strategic opportunities to place the airplanes during the market recovery.

“As market conditions rebound, we are finding opportunities to serve our airline customers in innovative ways,” said Ryan McKenna, founder and CEO of Griffin, in a Boeing press release. “This order lays a strong foundation for more to come with Boeing and Griffin on future opportunities.”

Designed and built in Renton, Wash., the 737 MAX family delivers superior efficiency, flexibility and reliability while reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by at least 14% compared to the airplanes they replace. The 737-8 seats up to 189 passengers and can fly 3,550 nautical miles – about 600 miles farther than its predecessor – allowing airlines to offer new and more direct routes for passengers.

Backed by Bain Capital Credit, Griffin provides commercial aircraft leasing and alternative asset management with offices in Dublin and Los Angeles.

Beechcraft Denali completes initial ground engine runs before first flight

Textron Aviation has successfully completed initial ground engine runs on the prototype Beechcraft Denali single-engine turboprop powered by GE Aviation’s new advanced Catalyst engine. The ground engine runs, which took place at Textron Aviation’s west campus in Wichita, Kansas, verified the functionality of the fuel system and engine, as well as the interface with the avionics and electrical systems. The testing moves the aircraft closer to its milestone first flight, which is anticipated by the end of the year.

GE Aviation’s Catalyst engine has completed over 2,450 hours of testing and is prepping for a first flight on its Beechcraft King Air flying test bed. The 1,300 shaft horsepower-rated turboprop engine eases pilot workload with its single-lever power and propeller control. The Full Authority Digital Engine Controlled engine provides trend monitoring, which allows for on-condition maintenance with no mid-life Hot Section Inspection required.

The Beechcraft Denali development program has achieved several important milestones in recent months. Earlier this summer, GE Aviation Catalyst engine was installed on the Beechcraft Denali prototype airframe and the aircraft was powered on for the first time. Two other Denali flight test articles are also in development. Three additional ground test articles will be used for the airframe static and fatigue tests, and for cabin interior development and testing. The company anticipates certification for the Denali in 2023.

The Denali cockpit features the Garmin G3000 intuitive avionics suite featuring high-resolution screens and touchscreen controllers.

The aircraft boasts a digital pressurization system maintaining a 6,000-foot cabin altitude at a service ceiling of 30,000 feet.

Qatar’s advanced F-15QA jet rollout

Boeing, in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force and Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF), celebrated the naming and rollout of Qatar’s advanced F-15 jet fighter, the F-15QA.

“The relationship the United States shares with Qatar is critical to the stability and security of the central command area of responsibility,” said Lt. Gen. Greg Guillot, commander of 9th Air Force.

The first set of F-15QA jets will ferry to Qatar later this year following the completion of pre-delivery pilot training.

“The Qatar F-15QA program further enhanced next-generation technologies in the advanced F-15 such as the fly-by-wire flight controls, an all-glass digital cockpit and contemporary sensors, radar and electronic warfare capabilities,” said Prat Kumar, vice president of the F-15 program. “The F-15QA will enhance the superiority of the QEAF with more speed, range and payload than any fighter in the world.”

Boeing will establish and operate an aircrew and maintenance training center for the QEAF at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar through 2024 while also providing in-country spares and logistics support once aircraft are delivered.