viernes, 31 de agosto de 2018

[video] La Guardia Civil crea el equipo PEGASO encargado del control de aeronaves pilotadas por control remoto “drones”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSswl8YADAg




Nota de prensa


  • En sus misiones velaran de forma especial por el control de estas aeronaves en el espacio aéreo de la Comunidad de Madrid
  • El Equipo ya ha logrado esclarecer diversos incidentes aéreos, ha detectado incumplimientos legislativos, además de asesorar a diversas unidades policiales a nivel nacional



La Guardia Civil, ha presentado en la mañana de hoy en el Aeropuerto Adolfo Suarez- Madrid Barajas, la creación del “Equipo Pegaso”, encargados del control de aeronaves pilotadas por control remoto (drones).
Este auge de aeronaves, propició que el pasado mes de diciembre entrase en vigor el Real Decreto 1036/2017 estableciéndose una serie de obligaciones y responsabilidades en lo que se refiere a los pilotos y usuarios de este tipo de herramientas.

De forma proactiva, en el año 2015, y en previsión de posibles incidentes, la Guardia Civil a través de la Unidad Fiscal y Aeroportuaria de la Comandancia de Madrid destinó una serie de recursos humanos y materiales al estudio del uso y control de este tipo de aeronaves que empezaban a proliferar.

Por tal motivo, la Guardia Civil creó el “Equipo PEGASO” que a día de hoy, constituye un aporte esencial de presencia especializada y de asesoramiento técnico en el ámbito de la Guardia Civil.
Aeronaves pilotadas por control remoto (RPAS) “Drones”
Los sistemas de aeronaves pilotadas por control remoto (RPAS), también conocidos como drones, constituyen en la actualidad uno de los avances tecnológicos con mayor desarrollo en lo referente al sector civil.

La popularidad y proliferación de este tipo de aeronaves ha venido ocasionando diversos incidentes que han afectado a la operativa aérea tradicional, generando un riesgo potencial y causando una sensación de inseguridad en los diferentes usuarios del espacio aéreo. Ello viene originado, principalmente, por la falta de concienciación y desconocimiento sobre las reglas de circulación aérea vigentes por los usuarios de aeronaves pilotadas por control remoto, ya sean de tipo profesional o recreativo.

Desde su puesta en marcha, se han apreciado diversidad de incumplimientos, en su mayoría por la falta de documentación, ausencia de placas identificativas de los sistemas, pilotar a distancias inferiores a las permitidas en los aeródromos sin acuerdos de coordinación, o volar en situación de emergencia sin la autorización preceptiva.

Además, es importante destacar el desconocimiento existente entre los usuarios de este tipo de aeronaves, lo que supone un riesgo para el resto de utilitarios de RPAS.

Cabe destacar que este Equipo ha participado en el control y vigilancia del festival de música Summer Story 2018 celebrado en Arganda del Rey, lo que ha permitido aumentar la seguridad de los asistentes al evento

[video] Shape-shifting material can morph, reverse itself using heat, light

Shape shifting VO from University of Colorado Boulder on Vimeo.
A new material developed by University of Colorado Boulder engineers can transform into complex, pre-programmed shapes via light and temperature stimuli, allowing a literal square peg to morph and fit into a round hole before fully reverting to its original form. Video: Bowman Lab / University of Colorado Boulder





Colorado Univeristy press release




A new material developed by CU Boulder engineers can transform into complex, pre-programmed shapes via light and temperature stimuli, allowing a literal square peg to morph and fit into a round hole before fully reverting to its original form.

The controllable shape-shifting material, described today in the journal Science Advances, could have broad applications for manufacturing, robotics, biomedical devices and artificial muscles.

“The ability to form materials that can repeatedly oscillate back and forth between two independent shapes by exposing them to light will open up a wide range of new applications and approaches to areas such as additive manufacturing, robotics and biomaterials”, said Christopher Bowman, senior author of the new study and a Distinguished Professor in CU Boulder’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CHBE).

Previous efforts have used a variety of physical mechanisms to alter an object’s size, shape or texture with programmable stimuli. However, such materials have historically been limited in size or extent and the object state changes have proven difficult to fully reverse.

The new CU Boulder material achieves readily programmable two-way transformations on a macroscopic level by using liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), the same technology underlying modern television displays. The unique molecular arrangement of LCEs make them susceptible to dynamic change via heat and light.

To solve this, the researchers installed a light-activated trigger to LCE networks that can set a desired molecular alignment in advance by exposing the object to particular wavelengths of light. The trigger then remains inactive until exposed to the corresponding heat stimuli. For example, a hand-folded origami swan programmed in this fashion will remain folded at room temperature. When heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, however, the swan relaxes into a flat sheet. Later, as it cools back to room temperature, it will gradually regain its pre-programmed swan shape.

The ability to change and then change back gives this new material a wide range of possible applications, especially for future biomedical devices that could become more flexible and adaptable than ever before.

“We view this as an elegant foundational system for transforming an object’s properties,” said Matthew McBride, lead author of the new study and a post-doctoral researcher in CHBE. “We plan to continue optimizing and exploring the possibilities of this technology.”

Additional co-authors of the study include Alina Martinez, Marvin Alim, Kimberly Childress, Michael Beiswinger, Maciej Podgorski and Brady Worrell of CU Boulder and Lewis Cox and Jason Killgore of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The National Science Foundation provided funding for the research.

jueves, 30 de agosto de 2018

Aerojet Rocketdyne Successfully Demonstrates Advanced Electric Propulsion Capabilities for Future Space Exploration



press release





LOS ANGELES, Aug. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aerojet Rocketdyne successfully completed its early systems integration test for NASA’s Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS) program, a next-generation propulsion capability that will further enable deep space missions. Under the AEPS contract, Aerojet Rocketdyne will develop and qualify a 13-kilowatt Hall thruster string for NASA, bolstering future exploration missions, as well as commercial space endeavors.

This most recent test focused on the power elements of the AEPS Hall thruster string: the discharge supply unit (DSU) and the power processing unit (PPU). The test proved the system’s ability to successfully convert power at a high efficiency level, producing minimal waste heat. The early integrated systems test combined a breadboard AEPS PPU and a DSU with a NASA development thruster and tested them in a thermal vacuum chamber at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

“By staying on the cutting edge of propulsion technology, we have positioned ourselves for a major role not only in getting back to the Moon, but also in any future initiative to send people to Mars,” said Eileen Drake, Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and president. “AEPS is the vanguard for the next generation of deep space exploration and we’re thrilled to be at the mast.”

“Our AEPS discharge supply unit performed exceptionally, yielding significant conversion efficiency improvements important for future demanding missions,” Drake continued. “These results are a testament to the Aerojet Rocketdyne team’s focus and dedication to advancing the state of the art in this critical in-space technology area.”

With the early systems integration test in the books, the team will move into the design finalization and verification phase leading up to the critical design review (CDR), in which the design will be finalized and cleared for production.

The AEPS thrusters could be used on the power and propulsion element of NASA’s Gateway, the agency’s lunar orbiting outpost for robotic and human exploration operations in deep space. Built with commercial partners, the power and propulsion element will demonstrate 50-kW class solar electric propulsion to support exploration on and near the Moon, and beyond, including Mars.

About Aerojet Rocketdyne: Aerojet Rocketdyne, a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AJRD), is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides propulsion systems and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, and tactical systems areas, in support of domestic and international customers. For more information, visit www.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com. Follow Aerojet Rocketdyne and CEO Eileen Drake on Twitter at @AerojetRdyne and @DrakeEileen.






Boeing Forecasts Greatest Demand for Pilots, Technicians, Cabin Crew in Asia Pacific Region

Boeing's press release



Over the next 20 years, the region will account for more than one-third of global demand

SINGAPORE, -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] reports that the Asia Pacific region will have the greatest global demand for new civil aviation personnel over the next 20 years. The region is projected to account for 33 percent of the global need for pilots, 34 percent for technicians and 36 percent for cabin crew.

The 2018 Boeing Pilot & Technician Outlook is an industry forecast of new aviation personnel demand. It is closely tied to projections for new airplane deliveries around the globe. As with personnel demand, the Asia Pacific region leads demand for new commercial airplane deliveries over the next 20 years. Forty percent of all new passenger airplane deliveries in the next 20 years will be delivered to airlines in the Asia Pacific region.

According to the outlook:
  • The 20-year demand for new commercial sector pilots in the region remains strong at 240,000. While demand decreased five percent, this was driven by regional trends that indicate a peak in pilot retirements in the first decade of the forecast and a softening of replacement demand in the later years, due to a younger generation entering the pilot ranks long before reaching mandatory retirement age.
  • New commercial technician demand decreased five percent to 242,000. This is due to advancements in product development on the 737 MAX, which have resulted in increased maintenance efficiencies. Overall, maintenance hours required over the life of the airplane will be reduced.
  • New commercial cabin crew demand increased three percent to 317,000 due to anticipated fleet mix, cabin configuration and regulatory requirements.


For the first time, the outlook included the helicopter and business aviation markets. The inclusion of these sectors increases the region's demand to 261,000 pilots, 257,000 technicians and 321,000 cabin crew.

Leading the region in projected demand for new pilots, technicians and cabin crew:
  • China: 128,500 pilots; 126,750 technicians; 147,250 cabin crew
  • Southeast Asia: 48,500 pilots; 54,000 technicians; 76,250 cabin crew
  • South Asia: 42,750 pilots; 35,000 technicians; 43,250 cabin crew


"Strong demand for pilots in the region continues, and we expect that this will continue for the next several years," said Keith Cooper, vice president of Training & Professional Services for Boeing Global Services. "Through our pilot training solutions, including the Pilot Development Program, we are helping to ensure a pipeline of pilots is ready to meet the industry's demand."

Boeing's Pilot Development program is an accelerated training program intended to guide pilots from early stage ab-initio training through type rating as a first officer.

For more information about the Pilot & Technician Outlook, please visit: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/market.

For the 2018 Business Environment Update, please visit: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/market/boeing-market-insight.

For more information about Boeing's commercial training products and services, please visit: http://www.boeing.com/commercial/services/training-and-resourcing/.

miércoles, 29 de agosto de 2018

Space sector to benefit from multi-million pound work on UK alternative to Galileo

press release

  • UK industry will benefit from a £92 million injection to design a national alternative to the EU’s Galileo satellite system, ensuring UK security post Brexit
  • Government to invest £92 million of Brexit readiness money on plans for independent satellite system
  • 18-month study will look at the design and development of UK programme
  • This will inform the decision to create the system as an alternative to Galileo
  • The UK Space Agency will lead the work with full support from the Ministry of Defence


The money has been allocated from the £3 billion Brexit readiness fund announced at last year’s Budget and will be rolled out over the coming months.

Satellite navigation systems like GPS are increasingly important for commercial, military and other critical applications, from guiding aircraft, ships and emergency services to helping millions of people find their way on car journeys. A recent government study estimated that sustained disruption to satellite navigation would cost the UK economy £1 billion per day.

The government has been clear that the UK wants to remain involved in the Galileo programme, and is negotiating with the European Commission to this end.

But without the assurance that UK industry can collaborate on an equal basis now and in the future, and without access to the necessary security-related information to rely on Galileo for military functions such as missile guidance, the UK would be obliged to end its participation in the project.

The UK Space Agency is leading this phase of the work to look at options for a British Global Navigation Satellite System, which would fully meet UK security requirements and support the UK’s sovereign space and cryptography sectors. This significant new investment will develop specific technical proposals with the Ministry of Defence playing a full role in support.

The 18-month engineering, design and development project will deliver a detailed technical assessment and schedule of a UK global positioning system.

This would provide both civilian and encrypted signals and be compatible with the US GPS system.

UK industry has been instrumental in developing Galileo technology and encryption, and this experience will be used in developing the alternative, with a number of multi-million-pound contracts available for British space companies.

Business Secretary Greg Clark said:

“Britain is a world leader in the space industry and satellites. We are investing in an alternative option to Galileo to ensure our future security needs are met using the UK’s world-leading space sector.

“Our position on Galileo has been consistent and clear. We have repeatedly highlighted the specialist expertise we bring to the project and the risks in time delays and cost increases that the European Commission is taking by excluding UK industry.

“Britain has the skills, expertise and commitment to create our own sovereign satellite system and I am determined that we take full advantage of the opportunities this brings, backed by our modern Industrial Strategy.”

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

“The danger space poses as a new front for warfare is one of my personal priorities, and it is absolutely right that we waste no time in going it alone if we need an independent satellite system to combat those emerging threats. This alternative system and the UK’s very first Defence Space Strategy which I will launch later this year will be a further boost to military skills, our innovative businesses and our genuinely world-leading role which has seen us make such a key contribution to Galileo.”

Dr Graham Turnock, CEO of UK Space Agency said:

“We remain confident in the strength of our space sector and look forward to working in partnership with them on the exciting prospect of a national satellite navigation system.”

Even if the decision was taken not to create a UK independent satellite system and the UK remained a full member of Galileo post-Brexit, this work would support UK jobs and expertise in areas including spacecraft and antenna design, satellite control systems, cryptography and cyber security. It will also support the UK’s growing space sector.
Growing space sector

Britain’s space industry is going from strength to strength. Last week (22 August) the European Space Agency’s (ESA) revolutionary British-built wind measuring spacecraft Aeolus was launched. The spacecraft was built by Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage and other British businesses provided critical elements to the mission, including a camera, software and propulsion systems.

At the Farnborough International Airshow in July, the government committed £31.5m to support the development of a spaceport in Sutherland in Scotland and commercial operations from the site, which could be the first in Europe and will see rockets lift off from UK soil.

Horizontal launch sites also have significant potential in a future UK spaceflight market, which could attract companies from all over the world to invest in Britain. Sites such as Newquay, Glasgow Prestwick and Snowdonia will be boosted by an additional £2m fund to grow their sub-orbital flight, satellite launch and spaceplane ambitions.

Low cost access to space is important for the UK’s thriving space sector which builds more small satellites than any other country, with Glasgow building more than any other city in Europe.

The UK Space Agency is driving the growth of the space sector as part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy with major initiatives including the £99m National Space Test Facility at Harwell, and the UK continues to be a leading member of ESA, which is independent of the EU.

lunes, 27 de agosto de 2018

Airbus Perlan Mission II soars to over 62,000 feet, setting second altitude world record and crossing Armstrong Line












Airbus' press release




Airbus Perlan Mission II, the world’s first initiative to pilot an engineless aircraft to the edge of space, made history again yesterday in El Calafate, Argentina, by soaring in the stratosphere to a pressure altitude of over 62,000 feet (60,669 feet GPS altitude). This set a new gliding altitude world record, pending official validation.

The pressurized Perlan 2 glider, which is designed to soar up to 90,000 feet, passed the Armstrong Line, the point in the atmosphere above which an unprotected human’s blood will boil if an aircraft loses pressurization.

This marks a second glider altitude world record for Jim Payne and Morgan Sandercock, the same two Perlan Project pilots who soared the Perlan 2 to 52,221 feet GPS altitude on Sept. 3, 2017, in the same remote region of Argentine Patagonia. The 2017 record broke a previous record that was set in 2006, in the unpressurized Perlan 1, by Perlan Project founder Einar Enevoldson and Steve Fossett.

“This is a tremendous moment for all the volunteers and sponsors of Airbus Perlan Mission II who have been so dedicated to making our nonprofit aerospace initiative a reality,” said Ed Warnock, CEA of The Perlan Project. “Our victory today, and whatever other milestones we achieve this year, are a testament to a pioneering spirit of exploration that runs through everyone on the project and through the organizations that support us.”

“Innovation is a buzzword in aerospace today, but Perlan truly embodies the kind of bold thinking and creativity that are core Airbus values,” said Tom Enders, Airbus CEO. “Perlan Project is achieving the seemingly impossible, and our support for this endeavor sends a message to our employees, suppliers and competitors that we will not settle for being anything less than extraordinary.”

Another first-of-its kind achievement this year for the Perlan Project was the use of a special high-altitude tow plane rather than a conventional glider tow plane. During yesterday’s flight, Perlan 2 was towed to the base of the stratosphere by a Grob Egrett G520 turboprop, a high-altitude reconnaissance plane that was modified for the task earlier this summer. Operated by AV Experts, LLC, and flown by chief pilot Arne Vasenden, the Egrett released Perlan 2 at around 42,000 feet, the approximate service ceiling of an Airbus A380.


To soar into the highest areas of Earth’s atmosphere, Perlan 2 pilots catch a ride on stratospheric mountain waves, a weather phenomenon created when rising air currents behind mountain ranges are significantly strengthened by the polar vortex. The phenomenon occurs only for a brief period each year in just a few places on earth. Nestled within the Andes Mountains in Argentina, the area around El Calafate is one of those rare locations where these rising air currents can reach to 100,000 feet or more.


Built in Oregon and home-based in Minden, Nevada, the Perlan 2 glider incorporates a number of unique innovations to enable its ambitious mission:
  • A carbon-fiber capsule with a unique high-efficiency, passive cabin pressurization system that eliminates the need for heavy, power-hungry compressors.
  • A unique closed-loop rebreather system, in which the only oxygen used is what the crew metabolizes. It is the lightest and most efficient system for a sealed cabin, and its design has applications for other high-altitude aircraft.
  • An onboard “wave visualization system” that graphically displays areas of rising and sinking air in cockpits. For commercial flights, following lines of rising air would allow faster climbs and save fuel, while also helping aircraft avoid dangerous phenomena such as wind shear and severe downdrafts.


Unlike powered research aircraft, Perlan 2 does not affect the temperature or chemistry of the air around it, making it an ideal platform to study the atmosphere. The experiments carried aloft in its instrument bay are yielding new discoveries related to high-altitude flight, weather and climate change.


This season, Perlan 2 is flying with experiments developed by The Perlan Project’s science and research committee, as well as projects created in collaboration with organizations and schools in the U.S. and Argentina. Perlan 2 research projects currently include:


- An experiment measuring radiation effects at high altitudes, designed by students from Cazenovia Central School & Ashford School in Connecticut. This project is in coordination with Teachers in Space, Inc., a nonprofit educational organization that stimulates student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics;
- A flight data recorder, developed by Argentina’s Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas para la Defensa (CITEDEF);
- A second flight data recorder, designed by students at Argentina’s La Universidad Tecnológica Nacional (UTN);
- A space weather (radiation) instrument;
- An experiment titled “Marshmallows in Space,” developed by the Oregon Museum of Science & Discovery to teach the scientific process to preschoolers.
- Two new environmental sensors, developed by The Perlan Project.

The Perlan 2 will continue to pursue higher altitude flights and conduct research in the stratosphere as weather and winds permit through the middle of September.

Tune in to live flights of the Perlan 2 on the Airbus Perlan Mission II Virtual Cockpit at http://bit.ly/VirtualPerlan2. Stay updated on flight schedules by following The Perlan Project on Twitter @PerlanProject and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/perlanproject.
For more information about Airbus Perlan Mission II, please go to www.perlanproject.org.

Want a heads up on the next flight? Sign up by email at PerlanProject.org/contact or if In the U.S. text “Perlan” to 57682.

A Press Kit with images, infographic, fact sheet, and videos is available at: http://bit.ly/perlanpress.
About Airbus Perlan Mission II

Airbus Perlan Mission II is an initiative to fly an engineless glider to the edge of space, higher than any other winged aircraft has operated in level, controlled flight, to open up a world of new discoveries related to high-altitude flight, weather and climate change. This historic endeavor is the culmination of decades of research and engineering innovation, and the work of a tireless international team of aviators and scientists who volunteer their time and expertise for the non-profit Perlan Project. The project is supported by Airbus and a group of other sponsors that includes Weather Extreme Ltd., United Technologies and BRS Aerospace.

Boeing completes autonomous synchronised flight tests in Australia



Boeing's press release



Australian-developed on-board command and control system automatically perceives, processes and reacts in coordination with other unmanned vehicles.

BRISBANE, Australia Aug. 17, 2018 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] has successfully completed the first suite of synchronised unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight tests using new on-board autonomous command and control technology developed by Boeing in Australia.

Conducted at a regional Queensland airfield, the test flights saw five UAV test beds equipped with Boeing’s new on-board system safely complete in-air programmed missions as a team without input from a human pilot.

The milestone comes six months after establishing the company’s largest international autonomous systems development program in Queensland.

“What we’ve created here in Australia has the potential to transform the use of unmanned vehicles for civil, commercial and defence applications – whether that be in the air, on the ground or out at sea,” said Shane Arnott, director of Boeing Phantom Works International.

“This capability will be a huge driver of efficiency and productivity. By safely teaming unmanned systems with human operated systems, we keep people away from dull, dirty and dangerous tasks so they can focus on activities that machines can’t or shouldn’t do.”

Boeing’s partnership with small and medium-sized enterprises helped drive rapid design, development and testing of this autonomous technology. In just two months, Boeing engaged small-to-medium enterprises and vetted and issued AU$2.3 million in contracts with 14 Queensland businesses.

Over the coming months, the Boeing Australia team will incorporate and test more advanced behaviours on high-performance air vehicles before exploring other domains such as unmanned ocean vehicles.

This activity is delivered in partnership with the Queensland Government as part of Boeing’s Advance Queensland Autonomous Systems Platform Technology Project.

For 100 years, Boeing has led manned and unmanned technology innovation and integration from sea to air to space. Visit www.boeing.com for more information. Follow Boeing Australia on Twitter: @BoeingAustralia.

ESA’s Aeolus wind sensing satellite successfully launched from Kourou



Airbus' press release




Airbus-built Aeolus satellite to map Earth’s wind in real-time



Kourou, 22/08/2018 - Aeolus, the European Space Agency’s wind sensing satellite, built by Airbus, has been successfully launched from Kourou, French Guiana. The satellite will now undergo a series of tests in its operational orbit at 320km before beginning operations.

Built by Airbus, Aeolus is the first satellite capable of performing global wind-component-profile observation on a daily basis in near real-time.

The 1.4-tonne spacecraft features a LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) instrument called Aladin, which uses the Doppler effect to determine the wind speed at varying altitudes.

Aladin fires a powerful ultraviolet laser pulse down through the atmosphere and collects backscattered light, using a large 1.5m diameter telescope, which is then analysed on-board by highly sensitive receivers to determine the Doppler shift of the signal from layers at different heights in the atmosphere.

The data from Aeolus will provide reliable wind-profile data on a global scale and is needed by meteorologists to further improve the accuracy of weather forecasts and by climatologists to better understand the global dynamics of Earth’s atmosphere.

Nicolas Chamussy, Head of Space Systems at Airbus said: “Aeolus is another first for Airbus, delivering a revolutionary Earth observation satellite that will give wind profile data in near real time, improving weather forecasting and helping to bring the benefits of space down to every citizen on Earth.”

Aeolus will orbit the Earth 15 times a day with data delivery to users within 120 minutes of the oldest measurement in each orbit. The orbit repeat cycle is 7 days (every 111 orbits) and the spacecraft will have a lifetime of three years.

Additive manufacturing: Huge potential, big barriers

  • Need more consistent materials and equipment.
  • OEMs and regulators have to develop AM standards.
  • Design culture has to evolve to reflect AM capabilities.
continue reading. https://leehamnews.com/2018/08/27/additive-manufacturing-huge-potential-big-barriers/

XP-82 Twin Mustang Restoration Update


Project Slowed Due To Complications, Wheels To Be Replaced The years-long restoration of a rare XP-82 Twin Mustang is inching closer to completion, with a goal of having an airworthy airplane at the end of the process.
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=adf8a1a0-ef47-490a-8217-95f8787bb642

http://warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restorations/xp-82-twin-mustang-update-august-2018.html

Norway’s first electric-powered flight takes to the skies



Avinor's press release



“The Norwegian government has tasked Avinor with developing a programme that paves the way for the introduction of electric aircraft in commercial aviation. It was a great experience to be part of this flight and witness the evolution of aviation,” says Norway’s Minister of Transport and Communications Ketil Solvik-Olsen.

“At Avinor, we want to demonstrate that electric aircraft are already available on the market, as well as help make Norway a pioneer of electric aviation in the same way as the country has become a pioneer of electric cars,” says Avinor’s CEO Dag Falk-Petersen.

Reducing emissions
“Along with energy saving measures, the ongoing modernisation of aircraft fleets and the introduction of sustainable biofuel, electric aircraft can help to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions from Norwegian aviation in the coming decades. As electric engines cost must less to operate than current engines, this will result in lower prices for flight tickets,” says CEO Falk-Petersen.

Avinor and aviation industry partners are working to help Norway become a world leader in electric aviation. The objectives are for Norway to be the first country where electric aircraft account for a significant share of the market, and to electrify Norwegian domestic aviation by 2040. The project is supported by the government, and the project partners are Widerøe, SAS, the Norwegian Association of Air Sports, and climate foundation ZERO.

“We’d especially like to thank the Norwegian Association of Air Sports in connection with this flight. The association has gone to great lengths and played a vital role in preparations for the flight,” says Falk-Petersen.

Evaluating tools and consequences
Avinor does not intend to charge landing fees for electric-powered light aircraft and will allow them to recharge at no cost until 2025. The government has asked Avinor to develop a programme for the introduction of electric aircraft. This will involve an evaluation of the various tools required to make the electrification of passenger aviation a success. In addition, Avinor will consider other key consequences, including possible conflicts between objectives, consequences for the climate and environment, and the effect on competition in Norwegian aviation.

Norway is well-suited to the electrification of aviation
With its vast mountainous regions and huge distances between towns and cities, Norway depends on an efficient aviation sector. The country has many airports spread the length and breadth of the country. This results in sometimes short flights with relatively few passengers.

“The Norwegian short-leg domestic network is ideal for trialling the first commercial electric-powered flights, which are expected to have a limited range and capacity,” says CEO Falk-Petersen.

“There is also a great political willingness in Norway to establish a framework that promotes electrification in other transport sectors, such as road traffic and ferries. In addition, Norway’s capacity for renewable energy makes electrification particularly attractive from a climate perspective,” emphasises Falk-Petersen.




About Avinor

Avinor is a wholly-owned state limited company under the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications and is responsible for 45 state-owned airports.

Twelve of the airports are operated in cooperation with the Norwegian Armed Forces.

In addition to the airports, Avinor operates control towers, control centres and other technical infrastructure for safe air navigation.

The air navigation services is organised as subsidiary wholly-owned by Avinor. Avinor's headquarter is in Oslo.

[video] Metal with Memory: F-18 Wing Fold




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgpuReoirzk


The 300-pound wing section was removed from an F/A-18 at NASA Armstrong in Edwards, California, enabling the team to prove a full wing section could be folded using a newly developed nickel-titanium-hafnium high temperature SMA torque-tube actuator, capable of applying 5,000-inch-pounds of torque.


https://www.nasa.gov/feature/metal-with-memory-f-18-wing-fold

Boeing completes autonomous synchronised flight tests in Australia



press release



Australian-developed on-board command and control system automatically perceives, processes and reacts in coordination with other unmanned vehicles.

Boeing [NYSE: BA] has successfully completed the first suite of synchronised unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight tests using new on-board autonomous command and control technology developed by Boeing in Australia.

Conducted at a regional Queensland airfield, the test flights saw five UAV test beds equipped with Boeing’s new on-board system safely complete in-air programmed missions as a team without input from a human pilot.

The milestone comes six months after establishing the company’s largest international autonomous systems development program in Queensland.

“What we’ve created here in Australia has the potential to transform the use of unmanned vehicles for civil, commercial and defence applications – whether that be in the air, on the ground or out at sea,” said Shane Arnott, director of Boeing Phantom Works International.

“This capability will be a huge driver of efficiency and productivity. By safely teaming unmanned systems with human operated systems, we keep people away from dull, dirty and dangerous tasks so they can focus on activities that machines can’t or shouldn’t do.”

Boeing’s partnership with small and medium-sized enterprises helped drive rapid design, development and testing of this autonomous technology. In just two months, Boeing engaged small-to-medium enterprises and vetted and issued AU$2.3 million in contracts with 14 Queensland businesses.

Over the coming months, the Boeing Australia team will incorporate and test more advanced behaviours on high-performance air vehicles before exploring other domains such as unmanned ocean vehicles.

This activity is delivered in partnership with the Queensland Government as part of Boeing’s Advance Queensland Autonomous Systems Platform Technology Project.

For 100 years, Boeing has led manned and unmanned technology innovation and integration from sea to air to space. Visit www.boeing.com for more information. Follow Boeing Australia on Twitter: @BoeingAustralia.

North Dakota Department of Transportation , UAS partners complete test for flights over people



This is the first phase of NDUAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP) which is designed to help the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) create new regulations that will enable the safe and secure integration of UAS into national airspace systems.

“NDDOT is excited to work with Northern Plains UAS Test Site and partner with CNN, Botlink and ParaZero to advance research and commercialization of Unmanned Aircraft Systems,” said Russ Buchholz, UAS Integration Program Administrator at NDDOT. “We are testing the safety of UAS systems and looking at how they can operate in different types of situations.”

continue reading: http://uasmagazine.com/articles/1903/nd-dot-uas-partners-complete-test-for-flights-over-people

El segundo A350-900 de Iberia, que rinde tributo Paco de Lucía, se estrenó ayer con un vuelo entre Madrid y la capital británica



nota de prensa




A partir de septiembre, los dos vuelos de Iberia entre Madrid y Nueva York se operarán con el A350-900



Puntual, a las 15:56 h. y con 310 clientes a bordo, ha partido el avión “Paco de Lucía”, con matrícula EC-MYX, el segundo A350-900 de Iberia, rumbo a Londres. El vuelo IB3166 tiene prevista su llegada al aeropuerto londinense de Heathrow a las 17:20 h.



Desde hoy y hasta el 31 de agosto, este avión de nueva generación volará todos los días a Londres. Además del 27 al 31 de agosto, el “Paco de Lucía” operará un segundo vuelo de Madrid al aeropuerto de París Orly. El 1 de septiembre, este A350-900 se incorporará a la ruta Madrid-Nueva York, en la que ya opera el “Plácido Domingo”, el primer avión A350-900 que recibió la línea aérea.



Más respetuoso con el medio ambiente, más cómodo para los clientes



El A350 es un avión de nueva generación equipado con la última tecnología, que es más eficiente en cuanto a consumo de combustible y, por tanto, más respetuoso con el medio ambiente. Al mismo tiempo, ofrece más comodidad a los clientes: sus pasillos son más anchos, los maleteros cuentan con mayor capacidad, dispone de un sistema que renueva el aire de la cabina de pasajeros cada tres minutos y de ventanas panorámicas.



Los A350-900 cuentan con 348 asientos: 31 en clase Business, 24 en cabina Turista Premium y 293 en clase Turista. A bordo, los clientes de Iberia pueden disfrutar de un sistema de entretenimiento individual HD y también de una mejor conectividad Wifi.

Iberia ha emprendido un ambicioso plan para renovar su flota hasta 2021. Desde 2011, ha pedido 56 aviones: ocho A330-300, 12 A330-200, 16 A350-900 y 20 A320Neo, de los cuales ya ha recibido 24. Al mismo tiempo, ha renovado por completo las cabinas de sus 17 A340-600.

Northrop Grumman, DARPA Set New Standard for Wireless Transmission Speed

 100G hardware will be flown aboard the Proteus demonstration aircraft developed by Northrop Grumman subsidiary Scaled Composites.

Northrop Grumman and DARPA 100 gigabits per second link demonstrated over 20 kilometer city environment on Jan. 19, 2018 in Los Angeles.
 
press release




REDONDO BEACH, Calif. – Aug. 22, 2018 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have set a new standard for wireless transmission by operating a data link at 100 gigabits per second (Gbps) over a distance of 20 kilometers in a city environment.



The two-way data link, which featured active pointing and tracking, was demonstrated Jan. 19, 2018 in Los Angeles.

The blazing data rate is fast enough to download a 50 Gigabyte blue ray video in four seconds. The demonstration marked the successful completion of Northrop Grumman’s Phase 2 contract for DARPA’s 100 Gbps (100G) RF Backbone program.

The 100G system is capable of rate adaptation on a frame by frame basis from 9 Gbps to 102 Gbps to maximize data rate throughout dynamic channel variations. Extensive link characterization demonstrated short-term error-free performance from 9 to 91 Gbps, and a maximum data rate of 102 Gbps with 1 erroneous bit received per ten thousand bits transmitted.

The successful data link results from the integration of several key technologies. The link operates at millimeter wave frequencies (in this case, 71-76 gigahertz and 81-86 gigahertz) with 5 gigahertz of bandwidth, or data carrying capacity, and uses a bandwidth efficient signal modulation technique to transmit 25 Gbps data streams on each 5 gigahertz channel. To double the rate within the fixed bandwidth, the data link transmits dual orthogonally polarized signals from each antenna. Additionally, the link transmits from two antennas simultaneously (spatial multiplexing) and uses multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) signal processing techniques to separate the signals at two receiving antennas, thus again doubling the data rate within the fixed bandwidth.

According to Louis Christen, director, research and technology, Northrop Grumman, “This dramatic improvement in data transmission performance could significantly increase the volume of airborne sensor data that can be gathered and reduce the time needed to exploit sensor data.”



“Next generation sensors such as hyperspectral imagers typically collect data faster, and in larger quantity than most air-to-ground data links can comfortably transmit,” said Christen. “Without such a high data rate link data would need to be reviewed and analyzed after the aircraft lands.”

By contrast, a 100G data link could transmit high-rate data directly from the aircraft to commanders on the ground in near real time, allowing them to respond more quickly to dynamic operations.

The successful 100G ground demonstration sets the stage for the flight test phase of the 100G RF Backbone program. This next phase, which started in June, demonstrates the 100G air-to-ground link up to 100 Gbps over a 100 km range and extended ranges with lower data rates. The 100G hardware will be flown aboard the Proteus demonstration aircraft developed by Northrop Grumman subsidiary Scaled Composites.

Northrop Grumman’s 100G industry team includes Raytheon, which developed the millimeter wave antennas and related RF electronics and Silvus Technologies, which provides the key spatial multiplexing and MIMO signal processing technologies.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information.



Insitu’s ScanEagle UAS Proves Effective as a Wildfire Suppression Resource



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6_lrSSOjG0

Insitu's press release




BINGEN, Wash., August 21, 2018 – Insitu, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company has been helping firefighters on wildfires in Oregon, providing information for fire suppression activities via its data collection, analysis and delivery capabilities.

Comprised of aviation professionals, Insitu’s Mobile Response Team has been operating its ScanEagle® Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to supplement manned aviation firefighting teams battling wildland fires. ScanEagle is a licensed and approved UAS operating in full compliance with FAA regulations and with the full approval of local, state and federal fire authorities.

A UAS team working on a fire consists of a vendor flight crew, as well as federal personnel who work together to meet the incident goals and objectives. The UAS Manager (a federal employee) provides the required communication between air and ground resources to facilitate safe and effective missions, while the Data Specialist (also a federal employee) works directly with the vendor flight crew and incident GIS Specialist (GISS) to ensure timely development/delivery of requested data products.

The ScanEagle teams “fly the gaps,” meaning they fly the UAS at night and over dense smoke and inversion conditions, when manned aircraft typically are grounded due to hazardous conditions for pilots. The ScanEagle team to date has logged more than 200 hours of night flight time during nearly 30 flights over the Garner Complex and Taylor Creek fires in Oregon.

The payload onboard the ScanEagle includes infrared sensors and electro-optical cameras that gather and disseminate geospatial imagery, and provide incident perimeter maps and full motion video. The sensors and cameras spot heat signatures, fire movement and spot fires, and provide video feed of critical infrastructure, historical buildings and other structures that might be in danger, as well as identifying safe ingress and egress routes for firefighters.

“Above all, our main mission is to help combat these unrelenting fires and help keep the firefighters, the residents and the communities safe,” explained Andrew Duggan, vice president, Insitu Commercial. “One of the benefits of flying UAS over difficult and rugged terrain is mitigating the need for firefighters to physically walk it when locating and extinguishing hot spots,” he continued. “By flying UAS at night, fire incident commanders have the advantage of significant fire intelligence and heightened situational awareness for their early morning planning meetings in determining where to most effectively and safely dispatch their resources and personnel.”

All ScanEagle UAS flights have been coordinated with the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) and the Department of the Interior (DOI).

About Insitu



Insitu is an industry-leading provider of information for superior decision making. With its headquarters in Bingen, Wash., and offices in the U.S., U.K., and Australia, the company creates and supports unmanned systems and software technology that deliver end-to-end solutions for collecting, processing and understanding sensor data. We proudly serve the diverse needs of our global customers in the defense, government and commercial industries. To date, our systems have accumulated more than one million flight hours. Insitu is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company.

For more information, visit insitu.com.

Gulfstream Revolutionizes Patient Care With New Medevac Aircraft

  • 360-degree in-flight patient access, a medevac first
  • Advanced life-support capabilities (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)
  • A bed designed to accommodate an infant incubator
  • A powered gurney loading system on aircraft stairs
  • X-ray viewing equipment
  • Refrigerated medical storage cabinets
  • Fold-out nurses’ seats for individual patient care
  • Crew rests with berthing
continue reading:
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=85c0464c-0643-412b-aa48-19cbab871c5f

HMS Queen Elizabeth sets off for F-35B fighter jet trials


press release

Royal Navy aircraft carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth, departs her home port of Portsmouth today, bound for the USA to land fast jets on deck for the very first time.




Eight years since a British aircraft carrier last flew a fast jet from her decks, the 65,000-tonne carrier will embark two F-35B test aircraft, from the Integrated Test Force (ITF), based out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.

Around 200 supporting staff, including pilots, engineers, maintainers and data analysts will be joined by two ‘orange wired’ test aircraft, belonging to the ITF, which are expected to conduct 500 take offs and landings during their 11-week period at sea.

The aim of these initial, or ‘developmental’ trials are to ascertain, through the specially equipped aircraft and sensors around the ship, the operating parameters of the aircraft and ship, in a range of conditions. Similar successful trials were conducted by HMS Queen Elizabeth at sea earlier this year for Rotary Wing aircraft.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
HMS Queen Elizabeth is a true statement of our national power, and the whole country can be proud to see this magnificent symbol of our engineering prowess and international ambition leaving port to sail onto the world stage.
Her voyage to America not only shows her global reach, but strengthens our special relationship with the US Forces who we have worked hand-in-hand with on this iconic programme. As she sails along the east coast of the USA, she will signal our determination to keep fighting alongside our allies in all corners of an ever more complex and uncertain world.



Four F 35B Lightning developmental test pilots, who are members of the ITF, will embark to fly the aircraft; three British, one American. The British personnel comprise a Royal Navy Commander, a Squadron Leader from the Royal Air Force and one civilian test pilot. They will be joined by a Major from the US Marine Corps.

The trials follow the recent arrival into the UK of the first joint Royal Navy, Royal Air Force F-35B jets, based at RAF Marham. ‘Operational testing’, utilising British F-35B aircraft are scheduled to take place on board HMS Queen Elizabeth next year.

The deployment, known as ‘WESTLANT 18’, will be the first-time HMS Queen Elizabeth will have sailed across the Atlantic. As well as the vital deck trials, it will also involve exercises to prove the ability to operate with other nations’ maritime and aviation assets, as well as the landing of Royal Marines and their equipment ashore in the United States, to conduct training with their US counterparts.

HMS Queen Elizabeth Commanding Officer, Capt Jerry Kyd said:
This deployment to the United States will be another first for my ship. Crossing a major ocean with 1500 sailors, aircrew and Marines embarked and the spectre of the first F-35B Lightning landing on the deck in September is very exciting for us all.
It has been an incredible journey since we left Rosyth just over a year ago and we are all looking forward to this next, seminal chapter in HMS Queen Elizabeth’s life.
HMS Queen Elizabeth departs for the USA to land fast jets on deck for the very first time. Crown copyright.
As the ship’s work-up continues, so too does the regeneration of the UK’s Carrier Strike capability. Commander UK Carrier Strike Group (COMUKCSG), Cdre Andrew Betton, will take command of the ship and other units of his task group, embarking in HMS Queen Elizabeth with his Carrier Strike Group headquarters staff.
He said:
As a critical step towards delivering the UK’s new Carrier Strike Group, this deployment demonstrates the astonishing collaborative effort that will enable the new F-35 jets to fly routinely from our Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
At the heart of the Maritime Task Group, the aircraft carrier is well protected and sustained, ready to operate around the world as a potent and exceptionally flexible instrument of our foreign policy. These first F-35B embarked trials in a UK aircraft carrier are not only key to future operational success, but represent an iconic moment for the modern Royal Navy.


The ship will conduct trials in UK waters over the coming days, before departing for the USA later this month. She will be joined by RFA Tiderace and Plymouth-based type-23 frigate HMS Monmouth, as well as Merlin Mk2 helicopters from 820 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Culdrose, Mk 4 Merlins from 845 Naval Air Squadron, RNAS Yeovilton and a contingent of Royal Marines from 42 Commando, Plymouth.

Fly high and far with Asia’s first fully solar-powered quadcopter drone created by NUS students

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJPplmWb-vI









National University of Singapore's press release



Aircraft that can take off and land directly without the need for a runway – such as helicopters and quadcopters – are attractive for personal, commercial and military applications as they require less physical space and infrastructure compared to traditional fixed wing planes. A team from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has achieved a major step forward in stretching the capabilities of quadcopter drones by powering the flight solely by natural sunlight.



A first in Asia, the current prototype has flown above 10 metres in test flights – higher than a typical three storey building – utilising solar power with no battery or other energy storage on board.

This solar-powered drone, which was developed as a student project under the Innovation & Design Programme (iDP) at NUS Faculty of Engineering, can take-off and land vertically without a runway. Constructed using lightweight carbon fibre material, the quadcopter drone weighs only 2.6 kg, and has a surface area of about 4 sqm. It is fitted with 148 individually characterised silicon solar cells and supported by a frame equipped with four rotors.

A major aviation feat

Rotary winged aircraft are significantly less efficient at generating lift compared to their fixed wing counterparts. Hence, while there have been examples of solar airplanes in recent years, a viable 100 per cent solar rotary aircraft that can take-off and land vertically remains a major engineering challenge to date.

“Our aircraft is extremely lightweight for its size, and it can fly as long as there is sunlight, even for hours. Unlike conventional quadcopter drones, our aircraft does not rely on on-board batteries and hence it is not limited by flight time. Its ability to land on any flat surface and fly out of the ground effect in a controlled way also makes it suitable for practical implementation,” said Associate Professor Aaron Danner from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NUS Faculty of Engineering, who supervised the project.

The solar-powered quadcopter drone can be controlled by remote control or programmed to fly autonomously using a GPS system incorporated into the aircraft. The aircraft can potentially be used as a ‘flying solar panel’ to provide emergency solar power to disaster areas, as well as for photography, small package delivery, surveillance and inspection. Batteries can be incorporated to power the aircraft when there is no sunlight or for charging to take place during flight to enable operation when it is cloudy or dark. Other hardware such as cameras can also be included for specific applications.

Since 2012, eight NUS student teams have made successive design improvements and worked towards a fully-solar powered aircraft under the supervision of Assoc Prof Danner, who also holds a joint appointment at the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore at NUS. The first solar-assisted quadcopter drone developed by students in 2012 could only achieve 45 per cent of flight power from solar cells and the rest from on-board batteries.

The latest team, comprising then-final year NUS Engineering students Mr Goh Chong Swee, Mr Kuan Jun Ren and Mr Yeo Jun Han, made further refinements to the earlier prototypes of the quadcopter drone. They eventually achieved a fully solar-powered flight with their latest prototype. The team members, who have just graduated from NUS in July 2018, were jointly supervised by Mr Brian Shohei Teo from the iDP programme for this project.

Mr Yeo said, “We encountered many engineering challenges when building the drone. These included finding an optimal number of solar cells efficient and light enough to power the propulsion system, which in turn has to be light and at the same time able to produce sufficient thrust to lift the aircraft. Other issues we faced included tuning and calibration of flight controls to enhance flight stability, as well as designing a frame that is lightweight yet sufficiently rigid. This has been an excellent learning opportunity for us.”

“To be able to make something fly under control for a long time is a very complex engineering problem. Our students have attained flight in its purest form, powered by natural sunlight. This is an amazing achievement,” said Mr Teo.

The team will continue to fine-tune the aircraft to further improve its efficiency. With these enhancements, they hope to bring the technology closer to commercialisation.

Stratolaunch Systems plans to employ a family of four launch vehicles



All of them will blast their way to orbit after being dropped at altitude from a mother-ship plane — the largest aircraft ever built, with a wingspan of 385 feet (117 meters).
continue reading:


  • Pegasus: built by aerospace company Northrop Grumman. Pegasus will be able to haul payloads as heavy as 815 lbs. (370 kilograms)
  • Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV): payload capacity of 7,500 lbs. (3,400 kg). 
  • Medium Launch Vehicle - Heavy: payload 13,200 lbs. (6,000 kg).
  • Space Plane: This fully reusable vehicle will be able to haul payloads up and bring them back down to Earth 
 Continue reading: https://www.stratolaunch.com/2018/08/20/stratolaunch-announces-new-launch-vehicles/


related:
https://www.space.com/41548-stratolaunch-rocket-family-space-plane-revealed.html


https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/08/20/space-race-paul-allens-stratolaunch-mega-plane.html

https://www.wired.com/story/stratolaunch-airplane-burt-rutan-paul-allen/

Electric Aircraft: Sun Flyer 2 On The Road To Certification


As Battery Technologies Evolve, George Bye Explains How Those Advances Positively Impact The Electric Aviation

http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=a8eac19b-4abc-4dca-ade7-afc196a33b04



related:
https://news.usa.siemens.biz/press-release/siemens-provide-electric-propulsion-motor-bye-aerospaces-sun-flyer-2




Press Release


Reservation for 30 Sun Flyer 2s is Bye Aerospace’s Largest to Date
Aspen Flying Club to Use Electric Trainers in Future Fleet

DENVER, Colorado – August 13, 2018 – Bye Aerospace, the developer of the “Sun Flyer” family of high-tech all-electric airplanes, announced a 30-aircraft order from a large Colorado-based training fleet partner, Aspen Flying Club.

Aspen Flying Club, located near Bye Aerospace’s facilities at Centennial Airport, (KAPA), south of Denver, Colorado, has reserved 30 Sun Flyer 2 airplanes to use as trainers in its future fleet of aircraft.

George Bye, CEO of Bye Aerospace, said the partnership with Aspen Flying Club is a key step in the process to integrate the benefits of electric aviation at Centennial Airport, currently the second-busiest general aviation airport in the country. “The FAA-certified Sun Flyer’s low emission and noise signatures, in addition to its lower operating costs compared to traditional flight trainers, will be a significant benefit,” he said.

Other recent purchase deposits and reservations for Bye Aerospace’s Sun Flyer 2 and the four-seat “Sun Flyer 4” have been received from international customers in Norway, Israel, Hong Kong, New Zealand, British Columbia and Germany.

The Sun Flyer family of aircraft aim to be the first FAA-certified, U.S.-sponsored, practical, all-electric airplanes to serve the flight training and general aviation markets. Aircraft features include enhanced speed and altitude performance with extremely low ops-costs, low aircraft unit cost, low noise and the effective elimination of CO2 exhaust pollutants. Electric energy, or “fuel,” cost for Sun Flyer is multiples-lower compared to the per-hour flight cost for conventional piston-engine leaded aviation gasoline.

About Bye Aerospace, Inc.
Bye Aerospace is developing the Sun Flyer family of aircraft in addition to a family of advanced, high-altitude, long-endurance solar-electric unmanned aerial vehicles called “StratoAirNet” and “Solesa.” The company was named the 2018 Small Business of the Year in the “small business” category by the Denver Business Journal. For more information, go to www.ByeAerospace.com.

About Aspen Flying Club
Aspen Flying Club unites a group of pilots and flight instructors with a large and diverse fleet of aircraft for flight training and recreational flying, all in a fun, friendly environment. Located at Centennial Airport (KAPA), south of Denver, Aspen Flying Club is part of the American Flight Schools family. For more information, go to www.AspenFlyingClub.com.

Record-setting Aviatrix to Christen Newest Goodyear Blimp - Wingfoot Three



press release




--Shaesta Waiz joins aviation pioneers Amelia Earhart and Sally Ride as christener

AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 14, 2018 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced today that Shaesta Waiz, the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft, will christen Wingfoot Three, the newest addition to its fleet of world-famous Goodyear blimps. The ceremony will be held on Aug. 30 at 2 p.m. ET at Goodyear's Wingfoot Lake Hangar which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

"We're delighted to have Shaesta serve as the christener of our newest blimp," said Goodyear Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Richard J. Kramer. "Shaesta has an inspiring life story and turned her passion for flying into a record-setting solo journey around the world. She serves as a role model to young women to follow their dreams by pursuing STEM education and careers in aviation"

Waiz traveled more than 24,000 nautical miles on her record-breaking flight between May 13 – Oct. 4, 2017. Along the way, the 30-year-old Afghan-American pilot visited 22 countries and promoted STEM education at outreach events for more than 3,000 girls and boys. Waiz continues advocating for STEM education through her nonprofit organization, Dreams Soar, Inc.

"It is truly an honor to be selected by Goodyear to christen Wingfoot Three. I know Amelia Earhart will be with us on this special day, just as her spirit was with me during the Pacific Ocean crossing from Hawaii to California," said Waiz.

Since 1917, Goodyear has built more than 300 lighter-than-air vehicles for public relations and defense applications, many built at the Wingfoot Lake Hangar in Suffield, Ohio.

Goodyear has recognized noteworthy women for nearly a century through the tradition of christening Goodyear blimps. Celebrated aviator Amelia Earhart (1929), astronaut Dr. Sally Ride (2000) and "Good Morning America" host Robin Roberts (2014) are among those who have christened a Goodyear blimp. Akron native Savannah James served as the most recent christener of Wingfoot Two in 2016.

About Goodyear

Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 64,000 people and manufactures its products in 48 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-ofthe-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

viernes, 17 de agosto de 2018

Boeing to Acquire Millennium Space Systems, provider of agile, flight-proven small-satellite solutions



press release




Combined capabilities will provide customers with advanced small-satellite technologies and flexible solutions

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] will acquire Millennium Space Systems, a provider of agile, flight-proven small-satellite solutions, under an acquisition agreement that will expand Boeing's satellite and space portfolio, talent and capabilities.

"Millennium Space Systems' expertise in vertically-integrated small-satellite solutions perfectly complements Boeing's existing satellite portfolio, and will allow us to meet the needs of a diverse customer set," said Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "We look forward to incorporating Millennium Space Systems' end-to-end mission solution capabilities into our service offerings in satellite operations and data solutions."

Millennium Space Systems was founded in 2001 and is based in El Segundo, Calif. With approximately 260 employees, the company has developed high-performance satellites for exacting missions ranging from 50 KG to more than 6,000 KG.

"I am proud of the talented and dedicated team we've built at Millennium Space Systems over the past 17 years," said Stan Dubyn, CEO of Millennium Space Systems. "By combining our tools, talent, technologies and culture, we'll be able to do even more incredible things as part of Boeing."

The acquisition, which is subject to customary conditions, is expected to close by the end of third quarter 2018. Once finalized, Millennium Space Systems will become a Boeing subsidiary, operating under its current business model and reporting to Mark Cherry, vice president and general manager of Phantom Works.

The terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The transaction will have no impact on Boeing's 2018 financial guidance or the company's commitment to returning approximately 100 percent of free cash flow to shareholders.


Forward-Looking Information Is Subject to Risk and Uncertainty

Certain statements in this release may be "forward-looking" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding benefits and synergies of the transaction, and future business prospects, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on current assumptions about future events that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. As a result, these statements speak only as of the date they are made and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by law. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include the effect of global economic conditions, the ability of the parties to consummate the transaction, our ability to successfully integrate Millennium Space Systems' business and realize anticipated synergies, and other important factors disclosed previously and from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Bjorn’s Corner: Supersonic transport revival, Part 2



last Corner we outlined several challenges facing a supersonic airliner or business jet.

We will now go through these challenges one by one. We start with the aerodynamic challenge. Continue reading https://leehamnews.com/2018/08/17/bjorns-corner-supersonic-transport-revival-part-2/

TsAGI completes the first stage of helicopter VRT500 testing [feedly]

Specialists of the Zhukovsky Central AeroHydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) held the first stage of aerodynamic tests of the VRT500 model, a light multi-purpose helicopter with coaxial rotors.



http://tsagi.ru/en/pressroom/news/3910/


HONDA AIRCRAFT COMPANY BEGINS HONDAJET ELITE DELIVERIES



press release




The HondaJet Finishes the First Half of 2018 as the Most Delivered Aircraft in its Class



GREENSBORO, N.C. – August 7th, 2018 – Honda Aircraft Company announced today that it has begun deliveries of its new advanced aircraft, the HondaJet Elite, at its headquarters in Greensboro, NC. Deliveries of the HondaJet Elite begin as the HondaJet marks the first half of 2018 as the most delivered aircraft in its class, based on information provided by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).



“We are proud to announce that deliveries of the HondaJet Elite have begun,” said Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO Michimasa Fujino. “This milestone showcases Honda Aircraft’s steadfast commitment to setting new standards in business aviation and enthusiasm for remaining at the forefront of an evolving industry.” He added, “We are excited about the very positive worldwide reaction to the HondaJet Elite’s market entrance and are pleased to announce that, most recently, more than 10 orders in Japan were placed following our expansion to the region in June. Deliveries in Japan will begin following receiving type certification from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau early next year.”



During the first half of 2018, Honda Aircraft delivered 17 HondaJets to customers, making it the most delivered aircraft in it its class. When discussing the HondaJet ranking as most delivered, Mr. Fujino stated, “When creating the HondaJet, my priority was to enhance the lives of business jet users by designing an aircraft that offered unrivaled performance, value and comfort. As the HondaJet remains the most delivered very light jet, we would like to thank our customers for choosing the aircraft for its best-in-class attributes. We are looking forward to continuing to deliver the HondaJet and HondaJet Elite around the globe.”



Honda Aircraft Company has established a worldwide dealer and authorized sales network to provide unsurpassed service and support for HondaJet Elite customers that spans territories in North America, Europe, Middle and South America, Southeast Asia, China, India, the Middle East and Japan. Manufactured at Honda Aircraft Company’s world headquarters in Greensboro, NC, the HondaJet Elite is type certified by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

The HondaJet Elite was designed to provide customers with the best experience by utilizing Honda Aircraft's pioneering advanced technologies coupled with the best performance and comfort enhancements. For more information about the HondaJet Elite, visit www.HondaJetElite.com.

Global Space Debris Monitoring and Removal Market 2018-2022

According to the report, one driver in the market is rising amount of space debris. As of now, there are 40,000 tracked objects in the orbit, of which about half remain in space and are regularly tracked by the US Space Surveillance Network and maintained in its catalog. One-fourth of the cataloged objects are satellites out of which less than 30% are operational and are spent upper stages and mission-related objects, such as launch adapters and lens covers. Continue reading https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-space-debris-monitoring-and-removal-market-2018-2022-with-airbus-astroscale-boeing-lockheed-martin-northrop-grumman--rsc-energia-dominating-300697457.html

EPIC World Tour Helicopter Circumnavigation Comes To A Close

Two Pilots Returned To Whistler Municipal Airport In Vancouver, Canada August 5 Ninety-seven days from their date of departure, pilots Ruben Dias of Whistler, Vancouver Canada and his co-pilot Mischa Gelb landed their Robinson R66 helicopter back at Whistler Municipal Airport completing the world's fastest antipode circumnavigation in a helicopter.
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=2f8891cb-7355-45f4-b4ad-2ef5538e0ee6


US Air Force awards hypersonic weapon contract



press release





ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- Today the Air Force has awarded a contract not to exceed $480,000,000 to Lockheed Martin Missiles & Fire Control to begin designing a second hypersonic weapon prototype.



This contract will provide the critical design review, test and production readiness support for the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW).



"We are going to go fast and leverage the best technology available to get hypersonic capability to the warfighter as soon as possible," said Secretary of the Air Force Heather A. Wilson.



The ARRW effort is one of two hypersonic weapon prototyping efforts being pursued by the Air Force to accelerate hypersonic research and development. The Air Force is using rapid prototyping authorized by Section 804 of the FY16 National Defense Authorization Act to explore the art-of-the-possible and to advance these technologies to a capability in 2021.



Leaders from the Department of Defense, Missile Defense Agency, Air Force, Navy and Army signed a memorandum of agreement June 28 to work cooperatively on hypersonic boost glide technology development.



"The Joint Team requires the right mix of agile capabilities to compete, deter and win across the spectrum of competition and conflict," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein. "We must push the boundaries of technology and own the high ground in this era of great power competition and beyond."



This undefinitized contract action allows the government to meet urgent needs by authorizing the contractor to begin work before reaching a final settlement on contract terms and conditions, to include a final negotiated price. The contract is expected to be definitized within 180 days of award.



The Air Force's other hypersonic weapon rapid prototyping effort is called the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW). The ARRW and HCSW efforts are developing unique capabilities for the warfighter and each has different technical approaches. The ARRW effort is "pushing the art-of-the-possible" by leveraging the technical base established by the Air Force/DARPA partnership. The HCSW effort is using mature technologies that have not been integrated for an air-launched delivery system.



The Armament Directorate of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center is providing program management of these prototyping efforts.

IL-2 World War 2 Plane Raised from the Bottom of the Lake

In Murmansk region people raised another WW2 airplane from lake bottom. It's one seater IL-2 fighter plane. They hope they will be able to get it back to skies after restore job.   They hope it can even join air … Read more...
http://englishrussia.com/2018/08/14/il-2-world-war-2-plane-raised-from-the-bottom-of-the-lake/