Ex-officer guilty in scheme

PENSACOLA, Fla. – A retired Air Force officer was convicted of destroying records and lying to a grand jury in connection with contracts awarded by a research lab at Eglin Air Force Base. Richard Schaller was accused of helping another retired Air Force officer who worked at the Air Force Research Laboratory on Eglin steer contracts to Schaller's company. (Source: AP, 07/31/09)

Aviation museum gets new exhibit

PENSACOLA, Fla. – The National Naval Aviation Museum this week got a new aircraft for display – an SH-60B Seahawk that has been in continuous duty with the Navy since 1986. It flew in Wednesday and was officially unveiled Thursday. The helicopter flew more than 8,700 hours. Missions included training, counter-submarine and counter-narcotics. (Source: Pensacola News Journal, 07/31/09)

Boeing completes SC plant purchase

Boeing completed acquisition of the business and operations of Vought Aircraft Industries’ South Carolina facility, where a structure for the 787 Dreamliner is built. The purchase was originally announced July 7. The plant in North Charleston will be called Boeing Charleston, which will be managed by the 787 program, and will continue to perform fabrication, assembly and systems installation for 787 aft fuselage sections. (Source: Boeing, 07/30/09) Gulf Coast note: Boeing is competing against Northrop Grumman/EADS to build an aerial tanker for the Air Force. EADS wants to build the plane assembly plant in Mobile, Ala.

White House resists split tanker buy

The White House budget office complained this week about Congressional pressure to split the aerial refueling tanker buy between Boeing and Northrop Grumman. A statement said the administration supports taking advantage of efficiencies associated with an award to a single contractor. If the Northrop Grumman/EADS team wins it will assemble the planes in Mobile, Ala. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 07/30/09)

X-47B passes structural tests

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – A series of static and dynamic proof load tests were recently completed to validate the design and structural integrity of the Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System. It was done under the UCAS Carrier Demonstration program. The X-47B, now designated with Navy Bureau Number 168063, will undergo engine integration and taxi tests through the fall in preparation for first flight and carrier trials. (Source: Northrop Grumman, 07/29/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop Grumman builds portions of the Global Hawk and Fire Scout UAVs in Moss Point, Miss.

Stennis does last shuttle engine test

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. – The last Space Shuttle Main Engine test was conducted this afternoon at this South Mississippi NASA center. The test marked the end of 34 years of testing space shuttle main engines at Stennis. The center’s new mission is helping NASA prepare for the next era of human spaceflight, the Constellation Program. Last year and the year before Stennis did component tests for the J-2X engine that will be used in the program. A new test stand is being built at Stennis for future J-2X testing. (Source: Tcp, 07/29/09)

Raytheon GBU-53B finishes test

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Raytheon Co. completed a series of captive carry flight tests of its entry in the GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II competition. Engineers tested the weapon's integration and guidance receiver navigator on an Air Force F-15E and also conducted seeker-performance evaluations on an Army UH-1 helicopter. (Source: Raytheon via PRNewswire, 07/29/09)

General Dynamics 2Q report

FALLS CHURCH, Va. –General Dynamics reported second-quarter 2009 earnings from continuing operations of $621 million compared to 2008 second-quarter earnings from continuing operations of $641 million. Revenues in the most-recent quarter grew to $8.1 billion, increasing 10.9 percent over second-quarter 2008 revenues of $7.3 billion. (Source: GD via PRNewswire, 07/29/09) Gulf Coast note: General Dynamics has operations along the Gulf Coast.

JSF engine marks milestone

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – The engine that will power the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter surpassed 12,000 engine test hours as part of the system development and demonstration phase. Added to hours during the concept demonstration program, the F135 engine has more than 15,600 test hours. Pratt & Whitney will deliver the first seven production engines later this year. (Source: Pratt & Whitney, 07/28/09) Gulf Coast note: Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is scheduled to host the Joint Strike Fighter Training Center; Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne has an operation at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

EADS 2Q report

PARIS - EADS NV, parent company of Airbus, reported second-quarter net profit rose close to 70 percent. Earnings before interest, taxes and other items rose to $936 million. That’s up from last year but below analysts’ forecasts. The company also warned it may take hits on future profits from the delayed A400M military transport program. (Sources: multiple, including AP via Google, Dow Jones via Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, 07/28/09) Gulf Coast note: EADS plans to build a tanker assembly plant in Mobile, Ala., if it and partner Northrop Grumman win an Air Force contract.

UAVs now in academy curriculum

AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – U.S. Air Force Academy officials have integrated unmanned aircraft systems into the school's curriculum. Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould, the academy superintendent, said the service has made UAVs a priority, and their value is evidenced every day in Iraq and Afghanistan. Training on the two Viking 300 UAS' is being held Camp Red Devil at Fort Carson, Colo. The program opened July 12. (Source: AFNS, 07/27/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop Grumman UAVs are built in part in Moss Point, Miss.

EADS sells more tankers

The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. said Saudi Arabia will buy three more of the company's A330 refueling tankers. The company said the Royal Saudi Air Force will take delivery of the first of six A330 tankers in 2011. EADS is part of a team led by Northrop Grumman Corp. competing against Boeing for a contract to build tankers for the Air Force. If Northrop/EADS wins, the planes will be assembled in Mobile, Ala. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 07/28/09)

Eglin VA clinic popular in first year

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Since the Community Based Outpatient Clinic opened 14 months ago, veterans in the first year have made 15,982 visits, said the facility’s chief medical officer. The clinic, near Eglin Air Force Base’s west gate, offers primary medical care, mental health services, lab work, a small pharmacy and nutrition assistance to about 4,500 veterans in Okaloosa County. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 07/26/09)

AF accepts HEO-2 for operations

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – The Lockheed Martin-led team developing the Space Based Infrared System said the second Highly Elliptical Orbit payload and ground system modifications have been accepted for operations by the U.S. Air Force, paving the way for U.S. Strategic Command's formal certification of the HEO-2 system next month. SBIRS is designed to provide early warning of missile launches and support other missions. (Source: Lockheed Martin via PRNewswire, 07/24/09) Gulf Coast note: SBIRS subsystems are built at the Lockheed Martin Mississippi Space and Technology Center at Stennis Space Center, Miss.

Teledyne 2Q report

Teledyne Technologies' Continental Motors unit saw a $700,000 operating profit in the second quarter after losing $4.3 million in the first quarter of 2009 and $2.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. Sales for Teledyne Continental Motors, based in Mobile, Ala., were down 38 percent in the second quarter from a year ago. The overall company, based in Thousand Oaks, Calif., had a profit of $25.2 million in the second quarter, down 23 percent from the second quarter of 2008. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, 07/24/09)

One F-35 suit dismissed

VALPARAISO, Fla. – A federal judge dismissed the city’s Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Air Force. It was prompted by an Air Force agreement to provide the F-35 noise data to the city. In addition to the FOIA suit, Valparaiso has sued the Air Force over its decision to bring 59 F-35s to Eglin Air Force Base and use its runway nearest Valparaiso. Negotiations continue in that case. (Source: Northwest Florida Daily News, 07/23/09)

Gates backed in corner?

Defense Secretary Robert Gates thought he punted the aerial tanker problem to someone else, but since he opted to stay on in his post, it’s right back in his hands. Gates has insisted on a winner-take-all in the competition between Boeing and the Northrop Grumman/EADS team, but the House Appropriations Committee says it must review terms of the competition. That increases the chance of politicking. Analysts say the review could lead Gates to agree to a splitting the contract. (Source: Politico, 07/23/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop/EADS plan to assemble the tankers in Mobile, Ala., if they win. Boeing will build them in Washington if it wins.

Goodrich 2Q report

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Goodrich Corp. reported second quarter sales of $1,700 million, a decrease of 8 percent compared to the second quarter 2008 sales of $1,849 million, including sales reductions of $91 million related to foreign currency exchange rate impacts and for lowered sales resulting from the formation of the engine controls joint venture with Rolls-Royce. (Source: Goodrich via PRNewswire, 07/23/09) Gulf Coast note: Goodrich has an aerospace service center in Foley, Ala.

Raytheon 2Q report

WALTHAM, Mass. - Raytheon Co. reported second quarter 2009 income from continuing operations of $504 million, up 17 percent compared to $432 million in the second quarter 2008. Net sales for the second quarter 2009 were $6.1 billion, up from $5.9 billion in the second quarter 2008. (Source: Raytheon via PRNewswire, 07/23/09) Gulf Coast note: Raytheon has operations along the Gulf Coast.

Northrop Grumman 2Q report

LOS ANGELES - Northrop Grumman Corp. reported that second quarter 2009 earnings from continuing operations totaled $394 million compared with $483 million in the second quarter of 2008. Second quarter 2009 earnings included a net $64 million pre-tax gain for legal matters as well as a $105 million pre-tax charge for cost increases in the estimates to complete several ships under construction at the company's Gulf Coast shipyards. (Source: Northrop via PRNewswire, 07/23/09) Gulf Coast note: Northrop has multiple operations along the Gulf Coast.