12th Feb 2007 19:26
SMITHS Aerospace, part of the global technology business SmithsGroup and aerial refueling systems supplier to The Boeing Company(NYSE:BA) for the KC-767A aircraft, has successfully demonstrated itshose and drogue refueling equipment during flight testing on Saturday.The February 10 test flight over Kansas demonstrated for the firsttime the deployment, stable flight and retraction of the refuelinghose and drogue from a digitally controlled, highly reliable fuselagemounted Hose Drum Unit. Boeing's fifth-generation KC-767 Tanker isundergoing extensive flight testing in advance of a 2007 delivery tothe Italian Air Force. £ "Smiths Aerospace's advanced control law algorithms and digitalcontrollers bring unprecedented hose deployment stability to aerialrefueling equipment for the first time," said David Bina, vicepresident of Tanker Programs at Smiths Aerospace. "Smiths breadth ofmechanical and digital system-level experience makes it uniquelycapable to integrate advanced technologies in hose and droguerefueling equipment." £ The inclusion of the centerline hose drum unit and the wing aerialrefueling pods on the KC-767A provides for three-point hose and droguerefueling of probe equipped receiver aircraft. A complete systemsolution inclusive of the pylon, aircraft structures and internal hosedrum electrical, hydraulic, and fuel subsystems is integrated toprovide highly reliable and easily maintained hose and droguerefueling systems. £ "Trailing the centerline Hose Drum Unit is another significantmilestone in meeting our commitments to our Italian customer and itdemonstrates the advanced technology Boeing will bring forward for theU.S. Air Force's KC-X Tanker competition," said Mark McGraw, Boeingvice president for Tanker Programs. £ Smiths Aerospace also provides the aerial refueling boom controlactuation system, which began flight testing in September 2006 as partof an exhaustive series of air-refueling tests. Boeing will deliverthe KC-767A to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force in 2007. The KC-767Tanker has logged more than 220 flights and 660 hours during itsflight test program. In addition to flight-testing the KC-767 forinternational customers, Boeing is competing for a contract to buildthe U.S. Air Force's next-generation tanker aircraft. £ A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems isone of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquarteredin St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.8 billionbusiness. It provides network-centric system solutions to its globalmilitary, government, and commercial customers. It is a leadingprovider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; theworld's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largestsatellite manufacturer; a foremost developer of advanced concepts andtechnologies; a leading provider of space-based communications; theprimary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largestcontractor; and a global leader in sustainment solutions and launchservices. £ Smiths Group is a global technology company, listed on the LondonStock Exchange. Smiths Group is a world leader in the practicalapplication of advanced technologies. Its products and services makethe world safer, healthier and more productive. Smiths Group has fourdivisions: Aerospace, Detection, Medical and Specialty Engineering. Itemploys 32,000 people and has more than 250 major facilities in 50countries. On 15 January 2007 Smiths Group announced the sale ofSmiths Aerospace to General Electric Company (GE), which remainssubject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. For more informationvisit www.smiths.com £ Smiths Aerospace is a leading transatlantic aerospace systems andequipment business, with more than 11,500 employees and $2.4 billionrevenues globally. The business holds key positions in the supplychains of all major military and civil aircraft and enginemanufacturers and is a world-leader in digital, electrical power,mechanical systems, engine components and customer services. Forfurther information visit www.smiths-aerospace.com Copyright Business Wire 2007Related Shares:
Smiths Group