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

Audrey Tan
Head, Corporate Communications
ST Aerospace
540 Airport Road
Singapore 539938
Tel: (65) 6380 6152
Fax: (65) 6280 8213
Website: http://www.staero.aero
Email: audreytan@stengg.com

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