F135 for the JSF Runs to Full Afterburner

Pratt & Whitney (P&W) is going for the gusto,  as its first F135 production configuration test engine (FX631) has successfully completed its first test run to full power with full afterburner. The F135 will power the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. This milestone represents the first time FX631 has been run to full augmented power. FX631 has performed exceptionally well through its first quarter of testing in 2003 and is continuing its success in 2004 with this milestone. To date FX631 has completed several key testing objectives and accumulated over 150 hours of total run time. The F135 program has also recently delivered its second engine to test on time. FX633 is currently on site at P&W's West Palm Beach

New Boss Takes Reins In April

The Board of Saab Nyge Aero has appointed Arne Lindholm the new President of the company from April 1, 2004. He succeeds Bengt Hornsten, who is retiring after successfully restructuring the company over the past three years. Arne Lindholm is 55 and has a solid background in aviation within the Swedish Air Force and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration. Arne comes from Saab Aerosystems where he was head of the test flight operation department. Bengt Hornsten will soon be 60, and he has enjoyed a successful career both in the Air Force and in civil aviation. In his three years at Saab Nyge Aero, Bengt has skillfully and successfully restructured the operation and turned losses back into profit.