ST Aerospace redelivers first converted 757-200 to RNZAF
Released on: August 16, 2008, 4:20 am
Press Release Author: ST Aerospace
Industry: Aerospace
Press Release Summary: Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd (ST Aerospace) today celebrated the redelivery of the first of two 757-200 aircraft to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).
Press Release Body: In November 2005, ST Aerospace announced it won a US$38m (about S$52m) contract from the New Zealand Ministry of Defence that involved design, development and conversion to multirole configurations, including a PASSENGER TO FREIGHTER CONVERSION, an AVIONICS upgrade programme and other modifications to enhance the capability of the two RNZAF 757-200 aircraft in military and remote operating environments.
Conversion work on the aircraft was carried out at ST Aerospace's US facility, ST Mobile Aerospace Engineering (MAE), where MAE converted the aircraft from an all passenger arrangement to a multirole configuration that allows the carriage of passenger, freight, mixed passenger-freight, Very-Important-Persons (VIP) and Aero-Medical Evacuation. Aircraft NZ7571 was inducted at MAE in Mobile on 16 April 2007 for the modification. With data licensed from Boeing, the engineering design and development conversion was undertaken at ST Aerospace to allow for the multiple-role configuration. The prototype aircraft made its first flight out of the Brookley Field in Mobile on 22 June 2008, completing a four-hour test flight to check the basic aircraft systems and begin its flight test programme. Since then, the aircraft has also completed flight tests on the other modifications including cabin noise measurement and military navigation and communication systems. The flight test programme was successfully completed on 23 July 2008, after a total of 5 sorties, 19 hours and 36 minutes of flight time. Work on the second aircraft is in progress and it is expected to be completed end 2008.
"The Ministry of Defence and Royal New Zealand Air Force are delighted to accept the Boeing 757 back from ST Aerospace after a significant upgrade and modification project. The ST Aerospace team has faced many challenges meeting this passenger-to-combi conversion programme, and we have no doubt that this product will enhance the RNZAF's strategic airlift capabilities." Air Vice-Marshal Graham LINTOTT, Chief of Royal New Zealand Air Force
"The RNZAF programme is a complex and interesting one, and today's redelivery is only possible through the teamwork from RNZAF, Boeing and our staff. The accomplishments on this aircraft to enable it to be used flexibly to meet the different needs of the Royal New Zealand Air Force is a reflection of the complex operational requirements and the engineering efforts put in. We are pleased to deliver a quality product that would support RNZAF's operational needs for the next couple of decades."
Web Site: http://www.staero.aero
Contact Details: Media Contacts: Sharolyn Choy SVP, Corporate Communications ST Engineering Tel: (65) 6722 1883 Fax: (65) 6720 2293 Email: sharolynchoy@stengg.com
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