Boeing Successfully Completes Flight of First AEW&C Wedgetail Aircraft Modified in Australia

Boeing 737 AEW&C of the RAAF (photo : Defense Industry Daily)

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has conducted a successful functional check flight of the first 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft modified in Australia for Project Wedgetail.

During the flight two and a half hours Jan.23 from Royal Air Air Force Base Amberley, Australia, Pilot Regis Hancock and the first official Randon Stewart conducted a series of functional tests that verify the feasibility of the aircraft's system air and structure.

Flights participated in a large aircraft modification carried out by Boeing Australia Limited in Amberley, including the installation and checkout of multi-role antennas (mesa) antenna, ventral fins and mission system equipment.

"Aircraft No. 3 will undergo an additional functional mission check before January 31 to Seattle, where he will start the development test program and the type of receipt of five months," said Scott March, manager of the Boeing Wedgetail program.

The aircraft will then return to Australia to complete the configuration and testing of production receipts before shipping. Boeing will send the first two wedgetails in March 2009 and four remaining aircraft at the end of 2009.

"This flight is an award for extraordinary modification efforts made by Boeing Australia Limited employees. Project Wedgetails are the largest and most complex aircraft modification programs ever done in Australia," said David Withers, President of Boeing Australia Limited. "This project shows Boeing Australia Limited as a regional leader in aircraft modification and will improve the company's domestic technical capabilities for large -scale projects in the future."

The Wedgetail program includes six 737 AEW & C AW & C of the Land Support segment for training crew missions, mission support and system maintenance. Modifications of four aircraft in Amberley are underway, with the first two modifications to complete in Seattle before entering the flight test program.

737-700 21st century avionics features, navigation equipment, and flight deck features. Because of its advanced technology, aircraft require a minimum stopping time for maintenance. The 737 series has a supplier base, spare parts, and supporting support throughout the world.

In addition to the Mesa Northrop Grumman antenna with the ability to identify friends-or-Foe integrated, this aircraft has a flexible open architecture to improve the cost of a cost-effective future, a broad circuit of communication and the ability to fill air fuel.