NASA Centers Collaborate to Advance Quiet Supersonic Technology During Pandemic

lunes, 30 de noviembre de 2020

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China to Begin Construction of Its Space Station Next Year

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Bjorn’s Corner: 737 MAX ungrounding, ANAC’s and EASA’s decisions

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The risk of closing China to aerospace suppliers

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Piloto y avion reales combaten contra avión virtual controlado por IA

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[Historia] Piper Cubs embarcadas: de miniportaviones y cables

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Bundeswehr orders 31 NH90 helicopters for shipborne operations

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Embraer delivers the first modernized E-99 jet to the Brazilian Air Force

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Aviation industry agrees on more flexible slot rules

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Brazil Follows FAA in Lifting 737 Max Grounding

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Famed French aviation company lends its name to new hybrid aircraft

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US Army studies eVTOL acoustics in the quest for silent helicopters

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Military Aircraft Opportunities in Europe

sábado, 28 de noviembre de 2020

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La nueva normativa de drones de la Unión Europea entra en vigor el próximo 31 de diciembre

jueves, 26 de noviembre de 2020

https://youtu.be/YXMlotXtj4U

 

 

 

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Pentagon Mulls Upgrading Weapons to Tackle Hypersonic Vehicles in 'Near-Space' Zone, US Media Says

 https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Pentagon_Mulls_Upgrading_Weapons_to_Tackle_Hypersonic_Vehicles_in_Near_Space_Zone_US_Media_Says_999.html

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B-1B Lancer bomber can carry hypersonic weapon externally, test shows

https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/B-1B_Lancer_bomber_can_carry_hypersonic_weapon_externally_test_shows_999.html

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Algerian contract for Sukhoi Su-57

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Lancement de Blast, un programme dédié aux start-up de la défense et de l'aérospatial

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China launches Moon probe to bring back lunar rocks

miércoles, 25 de noviembre de 2020

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Boeing Responds to ANAC Approval to Resume 737 MAX Operations in Brazil

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An F-35A Dropped An Inert B61-12 Nuclear Bomb During Supersonic Flight For The First Time

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B-1 Lancer Bomber Flies With JASSM Stealthy Missile During External Weapons Carriage Capabilities Demo

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Greenpeace asks the European Commission to ban short-haul flights

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IATA Calls for Rapid Covid Tests as Europe Struggles

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EASA Issues Proposed AD for 737 Max Return to Flight

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EHang air taxi takes off on three-venue flight tour of South Korea

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Australian eVTOL prototype debuts a new spin on the tilt rotor

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EXCLUSIVE: 'Safety first' as Volga-Dnepr grounds its AN-124 fleet indefinitely - The Loadstar

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FCAS progresses with award of sensor contact

martes, 24 de noviembre de 2020

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ST Engineering Antycip Appoints Defence Consultancy to Increase DACH and Eastern Europe Footprint



press release




Paris (France), 23rd November 2020 – ST Engineering Antycip (formerly Antycip Simulation), a leading provider of COTS solutions and an expert in the military simulation industry, has appointed Polish firm Ewwol Solutions Sp z o.o. (Ewwol Solutions), a specialist in the defence market for Eastern Europe, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as its consultant.

Wolfhard Schmidt, senior manager of strategy and products at Ewwol Solutions, will serve as the primary consultant to ST Engineering Antycip. With his extensive military background and experience, Schmidt will provide strategic guidance on modelling and simulation (M&S) based training for the military and civilian industry, and drive awareness of ST Engineering Antycip’s services, display solutions and simulation software which include those by sister company MAK Technologies (MAK).

Schmidt began his career in 1977 in the German Army as a military cadet. During his training he earned his MBA at Helmut Schmidt University in Hamburg. As an officer he served in senior roles in Germany and across the globe, including the US, Canada, Kuwait, and Poland. In 2013, Schmidt joined the NATO Joint Force Training Centre in Bydgoszcz, Poland, where he served as the branch head M&S.

“As the former head of M&S of a NATO training centre, I know how vital it is to keep training at the highest standard. This is where simulation can play a valuable role in ensuring military readiness, enabling training in realistic and challenging environments to continue when real-world training is not practicable,” said Schmidt.

“ST Engineering Antycip has continuously held a strong position in display system integration and distribution for COTS simulation solutions, including products by MAK and its associated engineering services. It is in a unique position to provide the tools that integrators need for efficient M&S-based training environments, and to address current and future training needs such as in cyber or hybrid warfare. I look forward to this exciting opportunity as it seeks to strengthen its position in the world of simulation-based training support,” he added.

Michel Pronier, chief executive officer of ST Engineering Antycip, commented, “Wolfhard’s background, work ethic, and qualifications make him the perfect candidate to help us solidify our brand presence in the DACH and Eastern Europe region, particularly at a time of growing demand for M&S-based training in the military training sector. We look forward to his ideas and contributions.”

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Press Release: 3M and Safran partner to design cleaner aircraft interiors

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Boeing enters inflight entertainment with Digital Direct

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Boeing 737 MAX changes beyond MCAS

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Rolls-Royce To Begin Unblended SAF Tests

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Russian Helicopters Delivers First Ansat to Europe

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XTI reconfigures its TriFan eVTOL as a diesel-hybrid cargo drone

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F-35A stealth fighter drops mock nuclear bomb in flight test

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Aero Locarno doubles the order of Sonaca 200 Trainer Pros Agreements

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Pontifications: Why I’d fly the MAX; lessons learned and still to come

lunes, 23 de noviembre de 2020

 https://leehamnews.com/2020/11/23/pontifications-why-id-fly-the-max-lessons-learned-and-still-to-come/

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Covid: Vaccination will be required to fly, says Qantas chief

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-55048438

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In Switzerland, airline pilots will soon be in command …. of trains

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/lufthansa-group/swiss/in-switzerland-airline-pilots-will-soon-be-in-command-of-trains/

 


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A British Airways Boeing 747 caught fire at Castellon Airport, Spain [video]

 

 

https://youtu.be/ie4x9MfP6G4

 

https://www.aerotime.aero/clement.charpentreau/26493-british-airways-boeing-747-catches-fire-at-castellon-airport

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Curiosity: Field geology at Mars’ equator points to ancient megaflood

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2020/11/field-geology-mars-equator-points-ancient-megaflood

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-75665-7 

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Ion-propelled cargo drones: silent drone technology, evolution in urban cargo delivery



Video

https://youtu.be/uFtBdMm26Tk


Florida's Undefined Technologies (www.undefinedtechnologies.com) claims it has managed to increase the thrust levels of ion propulsion systems to "unprecedented levels" with its "Air Tantrum" technology, enabling near-silent drones with no moving parts, that look like flying pallets. Continue reading: https://newatlas.com/drones/ion-propelled-drone-undefined-technologies/







Related:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/11/small-drone-soars-on-an-ionic-wind-with-no-moving-parts/

https://spectrum.ieee.org/automaton/robotics/drones/pennysized-ionocraft-flies-with-no-moving-parts

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Rolls-Royce strenghthens Gulfstream on-site support with new customer service centre



press release






Rolls-Royce has officially opened its latest customer support facility in Savannah, Georgia, USA. The new 62,000 sqft (5,800 m²) Savannah Customer Service Centre is adjacent to the new Gulfstream Service Center East and is scheduled to be fully operational by end of this year. It will house an on-site customer support office, an on wing services repair facility, a powerplant completion centre, and a warehouse all under one roof. The investment will create additional highly-skilled jobs over the next years, increasing the total number of our employees supporting Gulfstream and its customers.

The new service centre was named the Rolls-Royce Raines Building, in honour of local aviation pioneer Hazel Jane Raines. Raines was Georgia’s First Lady of Aviation, a strong advocate for women’s rights and an inspiring trailblazer for women in aviation.

From the beginning of our business aviation activities in 1958, marked by the first flight of the Dart-powered Gulfstream I, to the recent first flight of Gulfstream’s Pearl 700-powered flagship G700, Rolls-Royce and Gulfstream have developed a strong and successful partnership. Rolls Royce currently produces the BR710 and BR725 engines for Gulfstream’s G550 and G650 and develops the Pearl 700 to power the G700. Overall, we support more than 2,100 Gulfstream business jets worldwide via our dedicated 24/7 Business Aviation Availability Centre.

Many of those aircraft are covered by CorporateCare® and CorporateCare Enhanced; about 70 per cent of new delivery Rolls-Royce powered aircraft are enrolled in the programme. CorporateCare Enhanced, the comprehensive, fixed-cost engine maintenance management plan, provides customers with a global support infrastructure which includes: Engine Health Monitoring, a worldwide network of Authorised Service Centres and globally distributed spare parts and engines.

Andy Robinson, SVP Customers & Services - Business Aviation, Rolls-Royce, said: “As the leading engine manufacturer in Business Aviation, our customers trust in us to deliver outstanding levels of in-service support. This brand-new customer support facility is a strategic investment, which takes our longstanding partnership with Gulfstream to the next level and will help us deliver market-leading services to our Business Aviation customers in North America.

“The new Rolls-Royce Savannah Customer Services Center reflects the strong partnership between our two companies and our continued mutual commitment to providing a world-class ownership experience for our operators,” said Mark Burns, President, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. “The first of its kind within the Rolls-Royce network, this facility serves as a strategic complement to our two Gulfstream Savannah Service Centers, providing extensive engine capabilities where they’ll have the greatest impact: at our company and manufacturing headquarters.”

“Global Fortune 500 companies like Rolls-Royce choosing to expand in Georgia are a testament to our strength in advanced manufacturing and logistics, particularly within our $57.5 billion aerospace sector supported by the Port of Savannah – now the top port for U.S. exports,” said Governor Brian P. Kemp. “I am grateful to Rolls-Royce for their continued investment in the Peach State and look forward to seeing the opportunities this expansion brings to the hardworking folks of Southeast and Coastal Georgia.”

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Green light for FCMS, Indra and Thales to start designing the sensors that will contribute to NGWS/FCAS superiority

 press release



  • The consortium made up of FCMS, Indra and Thales will develop an innovative state-of-the-art suite of connected and distributed sensors
  • The sensors, designed to meet the operational challenges of the 2040s, following the requirements  of the participating nations, will contribute to the NGWS/FCAS situational awareness and ability to operate without being detected
  • The understanding and close collaboration between the three industrial partners has accelerated the definition of the project goals and the signing of the contract

Germany, Spain and France the three driving forces of the NGWS/FCAS program, have entrusted FCMS, Indra and Thales with the development of the innovative suite of sensors that will equip the Future European Combat Air System.

The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) on behalf of the three nations, has signed the contract with Indra as leader of the industrial consortium in order to incorporate the Sensors as part of the Phase 1 contractual framework. The Phase 1 A Concept Study for Sensors will last for one year, a period which may be extended by another six months.

The consortium will work on the design of the concepts required to meet the stakes of 2040 and beyond for the next generation combat system, involving a connected and distributed architecture of sensors, the design of future sensors architectures and the maturation of the associated sensors technologies.

This distributed sensor architecture will leverage the capabilities provided by the NGWS/FCAS combat cloud, with improved system situational awareness and increased platforms survivability. The sensors pillar consortium looks forward to working together with the other NGWS/FCAS pillars (Combat Cloud, Next Generation Fighter, Remote Carriers) in order to optimize the design and integration of the Sensors within the System and platforms.

The signing of this initial contract provides evidence of the excellent harmony and spirit of collaboration among FCMS, Indra and Thales. According to Manuel Rodríguez Cerezo, the Director of the NGWS/FCAS program at Indra, “the industrial cooperation and the proactivity demonstrated by the three companies have facilitated the taking of this first step to move ahead with the program”. 

The development of the sensor pillar is essential to ensure consistent architectures that are perfectly integrated into the new generation fighters (NGF), unmanned systems and remote operators (RCs) and the combat cloud. The superiority of the NGWS/FCAS will largely depend on the capacity of its network of sensors to compile more and better information than the adversary.

About FCMS

FCMS (Future Combat Mission Systems) is a consortium formed by HENSOLDT, Diehl Defence, ESG and Rohde & Schwarz that brings together the capabilities and innovative strengths of over 22,000 employees in the security and defence industry, some 16,000 of whom are located in Germany.  HENSOLDT is contributing to FCMS with all of its portfolio competences like, radar, electronic warfare, electro-optical systems. Within HENSOLDT, the Program Lead lies with Spectrum Dominance & Airborne solutions. HENSOLDT technology is key for the performance of the future Sensor Effector network.


About Indra

Indra (www.indracompany.com) is one of the leading global technology and consulting companies and the technological partner for core business operations of its clients world-wide. It is a world-leader in providing proprietary solutions in specific segments in Transport and Defence markets. Indra is an international leader in the Defence industry for the development of critical projects for national defence of the countries for which it works, for its participation in major European programs and in the framework of NATO and also for its export capacity. It is the Spanish national coordinator in the European Defence Program NGWS/FCAS. It is also a leading firm in Digital Transformation Consultancy and Information Technologies in Spain and Latin America through its affiliate Minsait. At the end of fiscal year 2019, Indra achieved revenues of €3.204 billion, with more than 49,000 employees, a local presence in 46 countries and business operations in over 140 countries.

Indra has been appointed by the Spanish Ministry of Defence to coordinate the Spanish participation in the FCAS/NGWS program. It also heads up the Spanish participation in four of the eight pillars into which the program has been divided. It has signed international industrial agreements to lead the two transversal pillars (the studies of the system concept and the inter-pillar consistency) with Dassault and Airbus, heads up the sensors pillar at the European level and participates in the development of the combat cloud as the main partner. Indra's role as coordinator of the NGWS/FCAS program seeks to ensure that Spanish industry achieves the maximum level and quality of participation in the program.

Indra Communication and Media Relations. + (34) 91 480 97 05. indraprensa@indracompany.com / www.indracompany.com

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global high technology leader investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations –connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum technology – to build a future we can all trust, which is vital to the development of our societies. The company provides solutions, services and products that help its customers –businesses, organisations and states – in the defence, aeronautics, space, transportation and digital identity and security markets to fulfil their critical missions, by placing humans at the heart of the decision-making process.

With 83,000 employees in 68 countries, Thales generated sales of €19 billion in 2019 (on a basis including Gemalto over 12 months).

Thales Media relations – Defence and Civil Aerospace Maria Mellouli +33(0)6 89 73 25 47 maria.mellouli@thalesgroup.com / www.thalesgroup.com

 

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F. Varela (Airbus DS): "Liderar LSTM supone un logro nunca antes alcanzado para España"


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Astroscale Announces March 2021 Launch Date for World’s First Commercial Active Debris Removal Demonstration Mission

domingo, 22 de noviembre de 2020



press release







ELSA-d is the first mission to demonstrate the core technologies necessary for space debris docking and removal, a major step towards expanding on-orbit services and achieving Astroscale’s vision of safe and sustainable space for the benefit of future generations.

November 18, 2020 – Astroscale Holdings Inc. (“Astroscale”), the market-leader in securing long-term orbital sustainability, today announced that its End-of-Life Services by Astroscale-demonstration (ELSA-d) mission will launch on a Soyuz rocket operated by GK Launch Services from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, in March 2021.

“We now have the launch in our sights,” says Seita Iizuka, ELSA-d Project Manager. “Publicly announcing this significant milestone is possible thanks to years of teamwork. The ELSA-d program demonstrates complex and innovative capabilities that will support satellite operators in realizing options for their post-mission disposal strategies and establish Astroscale as a global leader in the on-orbit servicing market.”

Decreased launch and satellite development costs, an increasing global dependence on data from space and the rise of large commercial satellite constellations have led to a rapidly increasing population of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO). This growing use of space brings significant benefits to society but also greatly increases the threat of collision or break-up. This growing potential for additional debris creation endangers current and future satellite missions and puts society’s reliance on data from space at risk. ELSA-d will demonstrate a valuable service by safely removing defunct satellites from orbit to maintain the viability of LEO.

The ELSA-d mission will demonstrate multiple dynamically complex capture activities necessary to remove defunct objects from orbit using an innovative approach consisting of a servicer (~175kg) and a client (~17kg), launched together. The servicer, equipped with proximity rendezvous technologies and a magnetic capture mechanism, will repeatedly release and dock with the client, which has been prepared with a ferromagnetic docking plate. Astroscale intends to prove the capabilities required for debris removal, including client search, inspection and rendezvous, and both non-tumbling and tumbling docking.

Astroscale will operate ELSA-d out of the UK using the In-Orbit Servicing Control Centre National Facility (IOCC) developed by a team led by Astroscale. The IOCC, located at the Satellite Applications Catapult in Harwell, Oxfordshire, was developed specifically for satellite servicing missions. “Astroscale UK is proud to be operating this exciting mission,” says John Auburn, Managing Director of Astroscale’s UK office. “ELSA-d will be groundbreaking in so many ways — it will demonstrate the first semi-autonomous capture of a non-responsive, tumbling client, as well as the first identification of a client located outside the servicer’s sensor field of view.”

While ELSA-d will most notably demonstrate the technical capabilities needed for orbital debris removal, the mission also highlights Astroscale’s efforts to drive the global conversation on policies and the business cases behind the on-orbit servicing ecosystem. With a space segment developed in Japan, a ground segment in the UK, launch from Kazakhstan, ground station support in multiple countries, and a team that spans five countries, Astroscale epitomizes international collaboration. Additionally, the company’s global supply chain and discussions with a growing list of potential customers are evidence of the commercial viability of this part of the space economy.

“Our passionate and dedicated global team is excited to get closer to the launch of ELSA-d,” says Nobu Okada, Founder and CEO of Astroscale. “We’re on the brink of a new chapter in on-orbit servicing, and Astroscale is eager to take this important next step in demonstrating technical innovation, advancing the discussion on international policies and proving the business case.”

Astroscale’s future missions include Phase I of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Commercial Removal of Debris Demonstration (CRD2) project, scheduled to launch in early 2023, as well as the company’s first satellite life-extension platform in geostationary orbit.

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Senators introduce legislation to block $23.7B arms sale to UAE

https://www.spacewar.com/reports/Senators_introduce_legislation_to_block_237B_arms_sale_to_UAE_999.html

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Bjorn’s Corner: 737 MAX ungrounding, the technical background

https://leehamnews.com/2020/11/20/bjorns-corner-737-max-ungrounding-the-technical-background/

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Greece Officially Requests Urgent Purchase Of Second-Hand F-35s

https://theaviationist.com/2020/11/22/greece-officially-requests-urgent-purchase-of-second-hand-f-35s/

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The Next Steps for Bell’s Electrically Distributed Anti-Torque




https://youtu.be/jJUgmeSYox4




press release

From the creation of the first certified commercial helicopter to introducing tiltrotor technology, Bell’s iconic legacy consists of revolutionary ideas that have disrupted industries. Today we continue this pursuit for coveted vertical lift products, evident through our unveiling of Bell's Electrically Distributed Anti-Torque (EDAT), an unconventional tail rotor with innumerable opportunities. In a Vertical Flight Society online webinar on Nov. 16, Bell’s Program Director for Light Aircraft, Eric Sinusas, shared potential applications for this latest innovation. “I think it has potential to potentially replace them [traditional tail rotors],” Sinusas said. “There are benefits to the system that the conventional system just does not have innately.”



This unprecedented technology was revealed in February 2020, sparking global interest from rotorcraft community and technology aficionados for its ingenuity. Since then, Bell continues to test the unique concept, which includes four electrical motors driving a fixed-pitch, rpm-controlled fan capable of operating speeds around 6,000 to 7,000 rpm. “I think we can say that we have successfully proven the concept… it works,” Sinusas says. “Now we’re into the phase of optimization and we’re fine-tuning the performance characteristics, pushing the envelope further.”



After participating in the VFS forum, Aviation Week clarified how EDAT’s technology offers an enhanced experience in terms of extra flight operational support and cost. “The fans are driven by generators run off the tail rotor drive, with wires to the electrical motors replacing the complex tail rotor shaft and gearboxes running through the tail boom. This eliminates the cost of maintaining the tail rotor shaft.”



With growing global intrigue, Bell can’t wait to showcase this aircraft in action and continue exploring new technology to offer our customers enhanced flight experiences.

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Airbus, Boeing expected to turn to hybrid engine technology for new planes - lessor

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-boeing-737max-air-lse-idUKKBN28004N

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“Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich” satellite successfully lifted off into space on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket

https://www.aviation24.be/manufacturers/airbus/defence-and-space-airbus/sentinel-6-michael-freilich-satellite-successfully-lifted-off-into-space-on-a-spacex-falcon-9-rocket/

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Taiwan Grounds Entire F-16 Fighter Fleet Following Crash

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-11-19/taiwan-grounds-f-16-fighter-fleet-following-crash

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VERDEGO AERO RUNNINGWORLD’S MOST EFFICIENT AEROSPACE DIESEL-ELECTRIC (JET A) HYBRIDPROPULSIONSYSTEM



press release




Daytona Beach, FLORIDA–The VerdeGo Aero team has made aviation history as theysuccessfully performed the first test runs of their “Iron Bird”prototype diesel-hybrid (Jet A fuel) generator systemin early August. VerdeGo Aero has now successfully performed its initial series of tests to validate the Iron Bird system at power output levels above 150KW. This ground-based development hardware, built around the certified Continental CD-265 high efficiency diesel aviation engine, is being used for testing to refine the weight, power output, cooling systems, and reliability of the conformal hybrid systems now being engineered for aerospace customers.TheVerdeGo hybrid generator can be combined with battery packs to enable peak power output up to 0.5MWand modular twin generator systems can be stacked for 360KW continuous and 1MW peak output.VerdeGo’s hybrid power systems are applicable to numerous next-generation electric aircraft markets including:vertical takeoffand landingurban air mobility vehicles (eVTOL), short takeoff and landing (eSTOL), and conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL) aircraft. Both passenger and cargo aircraft in manned and unmanned configurationsare supported by VerdeGo’s hybrid powertrain. Their diesel-hybrid system runs on globally-available Jet-A fuel consumingaround 40% less fuel thancompeting turbine-hybrid offerings, while providing between four and eight times the endurance of competing battery-only powertrains.Compatibility with Jet A also means the VerdeGo hybrid is compatible with the bio-Jet substitute fuels under development.“Getting the Iron Bird running not only validatesthe operating economics of our diesel-hybrid power generation system, it also enables us to perform hardware-in-the-loop simulations using mission profiles from our airframe customers.says David Eichstedt, Director of Advanced Concepts.It’s a powerful way for customersto validate the economics of their aircraft designs value proposition using real powertrain hardware without leaving the ground.”For interested parties willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement, VerdeGo is able to provide the equivalent of a traditional engine deck. This proprietary software utilizes data from the full-scale hardware testing and includes a hybrid simulation modelfor airframers to use that includes both the hybrid generator and the battery solution that goes with it. Chief Executive Officer Eric Bartsch says, “VerdeGo Aero is positioned to offer the most efficient, most cost effective, low emissions hybrid system for demanding commercial aviation missions. Our Iron Bird is demonstrating the hardware platform that willpower aircraft requiring up to 1MW of peak power using our highly efficient generator systems and world-class battery pack technologies.”VerdeGo’s hybrid systems provide significantly more mission capabilities than battery-packs while substantially reducing fuel consumption, emissions, operating cost, and noise when compared to turbine hybrids. The operational testing of VerdeGo’s Iron Bird is a significant step towards enablingitscustomers to create more competitiveelectric aircraft

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XTI Aircraft partners with VerdeGo Aero on the Hybrid-Electric VTOL TriFan 200 Cargo/Logistics Aircraft






 

 

xti aircraft press release




DAYTONA BEACH, FL -- Recognizing the need for fast, economical, point-to-point cargo and logistics transportation, VerdeGo Aero in Daytona Beach, FL and XTI Aircraft Company in Denver, CO have partnered together on the TriFan 200 program. XTI Aircraft, a leader in next-generation VTOL aircraft, is developing the TriFan 200, a configuration similar to its larger TriFan 600 VTOL passenger aircraft already under development. VerdeGo Aero is applying its high-efficiency, low-emissions diesel (Jet-A) hybrid powertrain to enable the TriFan 200 to offer operators outstanding operating economics.

When the program reaches commercial development and certification, XTI’s TriFan 200 Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft will be an unmanned autonomous aircraft capable of transporting 500 lbs of cargo on missions of more than 200 nautical miles. The TriFan 200 will enable express logistics companies to rapidly address “miles 1 to 20” when shipping urgent cargo by rapidly connecting global air cargo hubs with distribution points throughout major cities. Surface transportation in highly congested global cities currently takes up to 90 to 120 minutes for urgent cargo to travel between air cargo hubs at major airports and the city centers. The XTI TriFan 200 will enable significant time to be removed from both ends of the journey, allowing later pickup times and earlier deliveries. In addition to express shipping, the TriFan 200 is also applicable to longer-range transportation in remote locations without infrastructure, including military logistics missions.

“The TriFan 200 aircraft will open up a significant new market for XTI to address the needs of cargo and logistics operators globally. We are excited to be partnered with VerdeGo to leverage their experience with hybrid powertrains combined with our experience from the TriFan 600 program to create an efficient, economical, profitable VTOL aircraft for fleet operators worldwide,” said Robert LaBelle, CEO, XTI Aircraft.

VerdeGo Aero’s diesel (Jet-A) hybrid systems offer the lowest operating cost and largest mission flexibility for next-generation electric aircraft. Combining VerdeGo’s highly efficient 180KW generator with VerdeGo’s high-power battery pack, enables aircraft like the TriFan 200 to operate profitably for fleet operators. The high efficiency of VerdeGo’s diesel hybrid generators is instrumental in reducing emissions and fuel burn by 35% when compared to conventional turbine powertrains, while also reducing overall direct operating cost by 40%. Utilizing globally available Jet-A fuel means no new infrastructure is necessary, and aircraft utilizing VerdeGo’s hybrid systems are ready for the biofuel Jet-A substitutes now under development.

“XTI’s TriFan 200 is an outstanding application for VerdeGo’s hybrid powertrain systems and we are excited to support XTI as an early customer. XTI’s goals to provide its customers with reliable, high-performance cargo aircraft are ideally matched with the efficiency and low operating cost of VerdeGo’s diesel hybrid powertrains,” said Eric Bartsch, CEO and Co-founder of VerdeGo Aero.

XTI Aircraft Company is a privately owned aircraft OEM based near Denver. XTI is guided by a leadership team with decades of experience, a deep well of expertise, and success bringing new aircraft to market. XTI is founded on a culture of customer-focused problem solving to meet the evolving needs of modern travelers.

VerdeGo Aero, founded in 2017, is a leader in propulsion technologies for the next generation of aircraft. VerdeGo’s electric powertrain technologies enable its customers to create more competitive aircraft by leveraging VerdeGo Aero’s expertise in hybrid-electric propulsion and battery-electric aircraft systems. VerdeGo Aero has successfully performed its initial series of tests to validate their hybrid-electric powertrain Iron Bird test system at power output levels above 150KW. The VerdeGo hybrid generator can be combined with battery packs to enable peak power output up to 0.5MW and modular twin generator systems can be stacked for 360KW continuous and 1MW peak output.

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Lockheed Martin to Build New Training Center for Binational French, German C-130J Squadron

 

press release






French and German C-130J® Super Hercules aircrews and maintainers will train in a facility located in France, built and equipped by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) for the countries’ binational C-130J Super Hercules Squadron. Lockheed Martin will provide training devices, the learning management system, courseware and options for five years of training services under the terms of a new direct commercial sale (DCS) contract, allowing for in-country learning.

Lockheed Martin will break ground on the training center in 2021 and aircrew and maintainers will begin training in the center in 2024.

The training center will be located in Évreux-Fauville Air Base in the Normandy region of France and will provide training for both C-130J-30 airlifter and KC-130J tanker aircraft under a first-of-its-kind partnership in the entire scope of 65 years of Hercules history where the countries share the aircraft, which are used for aerial refueling, air drop and cargo missions.

“The French/German C-130J Binational Training Center will allow both countries to train pilots and maintainers on the full capability of these proven aircraft,” said Tom Gordon, Lockheed Martin, vice president of Training and Simulation Solutions. “Lockheed Martin is honored to support this historic partnership and proud to work directly with our customers in establishing a first-of-its kind resource that will benefit Super Hercules crew members for decades to come.”

The French and German binational squadron consists of a combined 10 Super Hercules aircraft. In 2018, Germany announced the acquisition of six Super Hercules aircraft (three C-130J-30s and three KC-130J fleets) to be operated in partnership with France. France has received a total of four Super Hercules aircraft through a Foreign Military Sale with the U.S. government. France’s Super Hercules are operated in conjunction with its existing C-130H fleet.

Lockheed Martin is the leading global provider of C-130J training and has experience creating
“turn-key” training facilities for the aircraft. Lockheed Martin’s own Hercules Training Center (HTC) is located in Marietta, Georgia, adjacent to the Super Hercules production line. The HTC is a combined academic and simulator facility purpose-built for training efficiency on the C-130J fleet. The HTC trains C-130J crews as needed and will be used to train France and Germany’s initial instructor cadre of pilots and maintainers during the construction of the new facility.

The C-130J Super Hercules is the current production model of the legendary C-130 Hercules mid-size tactical airlifter, offering superior performance and enhanced capabilities with the range and versatility for every theater of operations and evolving requirements. To date, the Super Hercules fleet counts 24 operators in 21 nations around the world and has surpassed 2 million flight hours.

As the preeminent tactical aerial refueling tanker, the KC-130J is a battle-tested solution that takes full advantage of the tremendous technological and performance improvements inherent in the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. A true force multiplier, the KC-130J refuels both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft as well as conducts rapid ground refueling.

For additional information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/c130.

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com.

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F-35 Proposal Submitted to Swiss Government

 

press release



On Nov. 18, the U.S. government and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) submitted an F-35 proposal to the Swiss government in support of Switzerland's New Fighter Aircraft (NFA) competition.

The F-35 proposal is a total package offering that includes up to 40 F-35A aircraft, a sustainment solution tailored to Swiss autonomy requirements, and a comprehensive training program.

The offering includes an industrial package providing Swiss industry substantial F-35 work opportunities. Should the F-35 be selected as the new fighter for Switzerland, this industrial work would take place in all Swiss regions. Swiss industry has the opportunity to compete for direct production of components for use on all F-35s produced, sustainment projects focused on supporting the Swiss Air Force and enhancing Swiss autonomy, and cyber security projects directly related to the F-35.

The offer uses the F-35 Global Support Solution for sustainment to ensure Switzerland benefits from the European F-35 economies of scale to realize lower sustainment costs for the Swiss Air Force. It also includes a six-month spares package to ensure the Swiss Air Force has the ability to conduct autonomous operations, if needed. Lockheed Martin is also offering an option for the assembly of four aircraft in Switzerland to ensure the Swiss Air Force and Swiss industry gain an understanding of how to maintain the F-35 airframe and its advanced capabilities for the life of the program.

"We are confident that our F-35 offer is the best and most affordable solution for the Swiss NFA competition," said Greg Ulmer, F-35 Program vice president and general manager. "We are offering the only 5th generation fighter at the cost of 4th generation aircraft while offering Switzerland an aircraft that will protect Swiss sovereignty for decades to come."

To date, the F-35 has been selected by 13 nations and operates from 26 bases worldwide, with nine nations operating F-35s on their home soil. There are more than 585 F-35s in service today, with more than 1,190 pilots and 9,750 maintainers trained on the aircraft.

For additional information, visit www.f35.com.

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 110,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com.

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Company based the design for HALO on its flight-proven Cygnus spacecraft

 PR

 

 

 

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has successfully completed its initial preliminary design review (PDR) event for the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO). The module will serve as living quarters for astronauts at the Gateway during lunar exploration missions.

The design for HALO is based on Northrop Grumman’s flight-proven Cygnus spacecraft, a human-capable vehicle that delivers supplies, equipment and experiments to the International Space Station. Design upgrades for HALO include command and control systems, as well as environmental control and life support systems.

“By basing the HALO module on Cygnus, we are able to deliver an affordable and reliable flight-proven product on an accelerated timeline,” said Steve Krein, vice president, civil and commercial satellites, Northrop Grumman. “Maturing HALO through its preliminary design marks a major milestone in the module’s production.”

The HALO module is key to NASA’s Lunar Gateway, serving both as a crew habitat and docking hub for vehicles navigating between Earth and the moon. With NASA’s Orion spacecraft docked, HALO will be able to sustain up to four astronauts for up to 30 days as they travel to and from the lunar surface.

Northrop Grumman’s work on HALO is a follow-on to the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships 2 (NextSTEP-2) program, where the company used virtual reality and 3-D printed models to support rapid prototyping of the NextSTEP-2 habitat modules.

In addition to HALO, Northrop Grumman is partnering on the Blue Origin-led human landing system team to develop the Human Landing System (HLS) for the Artemis program. Northrop Grumman will provide the Transfer Element vehicle that lowers the landing system into low lunar orbit. The company is also responsible for delivering boosters for the Space Launch System rocket and the Orion Ascent Abort System.

From the first lunar lander to the space shuttle boosters, to supplying the International Space Station with vital cargo, Northrop Grumman has pioneered new products and ideas that have been put into orbit, on the moon, and in deep space for more than 50 years. As a part of NASA’s Artemis program, we are building on our mission heritage with new innovations to enable NASA to return humans to the moon, with the ultimate goal of human exploration of Mars.

Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees define possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services.

 

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Rocket Lab nails its first ever booster recovery attempt

 

 

https://youtu.be/eZGI_lHGltA

https://newatlas.com/space/rocket-lab-first-booster-recovery/

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Airbus Helicopters willing to collaborate on next-generation European military rotorcraft

 https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/airbus-helicopters-willing-to-collaborate-on-next-generation-european-military-rotorcraft/141213.article

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DJI - You Already Knew Drones Are Safe. Here’s More Proof, By The Numbers. - sUAS News - The Business of Drones

sábado, 21 de noviembre de 2020

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Eviation Alice fire involved lithium-ion batteries which ignited after hours of powerplant tests | News | Flight Global

viernes, 20 de noviembre de 2020

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Embraer: news - Embraer and EDP announce joint efforts in electric aircraft research

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Bye Aerospace and Safran announce Cooperation Agreement to equip eFlyer all-electric aircraft with ENGINeUS™ electric smart motors

jueves, 19 de noviembre de 2020







press release



Bye Aerospace, developer of the eFlyer family of all-electric aircraft, and Safran Electrical & Power, a world leader in aircraft electrical systems, announced that a Cooperation Agreement has been signed to equip the eFlyer 2 & eFlyer 4 aircraft with the ENGINeUS™ electric smart motors.

Bye Aerospace is FAA-certifying the two-seat, all-electric eFlyer 2 for the professional flight training mission and the four-seat eFlyer 4 for air-taxi and advanced training uses. All of Bye Aerospace's current and future families of aircraft feature exemplary engineering, research, and electric aircraft solutions producing no CO2 and are designed to answer compelling market needs. These needs include five-fold lower operating costs, no CO2 emissions, and decreased noise. Bye Aerospace estimates the eFlyer will eliminate the release of millions of metric tons of CO2 each year for flight training alone.

The ENGINeUS TM product line includes a broad range of electric motors with power outputs from single digit to 500 kW. The ENGINeUS TM 100 product line, that will equip eFlyer 2 & eFlyer 4, delivers very high performance and features a fully integrated motor controller within the machine. The thermal management is provided by an optimized air-cooling system, jointly integrated by Safran & Bye Aerospace into the aircraft structure.

"Bye Aerospace has concluded that Safran's ENGINeUS TM 100 smart electric motor is the optimal production solution to meet the requirements of our rigorous FAA and EASA certification schedules for eFlyer 2 and eFlyer 4," said George E. Bye, CEO of Bye Aerospace. "Our list of future eFlyer purchase agreements, currently at 711 units, continues to grow, and we must continue forward at a high-tempo pace to meet the demands of aviation enthusiasts worldwide who have been waiting years for all-electric airplanes to come to market."

"Safran is extremely proud to collaborate with Bye Aerospace, which has developed a strong vision for the future of electrical flights, from the eFlyer 2 and eFlyer 4 to the commuters and regional airplanes", said Hervé Blanc, Executive Vice President & General Manager of the Power division at Safran Electrical & Power. "This new contract demonstrates the success of our ENGINeUS™ product line and confirms the strong interest of the market in our approach to further increase the electric powertrain performance while simultaneously progressing the certification and production system readiness".









Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 84,000 employees and holds, alone or in partnership, world or European leadership positions in its core markets. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.
Safran Electrical & Power is one of the world's leaders in aircraft electrical systems. The company is a key player in the equipment electrification and in the electric and hybrid propulsion sector. It has 12,200 employees across 13 different countries.
For more information: www.safran-group.com and www.safran-electrical-power.com / Follow @Safran and @SafranElectric on Twitter

Bye Aerospace, based in Denver, Colorado, specializes in the design and manufacture of electric aircraft, including the eFlyer family of aircraft. Bye Aerospace, named "2020 Small Business of the Year" by the Aurora, Colo. Chamber of Commerce and recognized as "Most Innovative" in the 2020 Made in Colorado awards sponsored by ColoradoBiz magazine, was founded by George E. Bye, who is also Chairman and CEO.
For more information: www.ByeAerospace.com




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EUROJET signs contract with NETMA for provision of 56 new EJ200 engines for the German Air Force



RR press release





EUROJET Turbo GmbH (EUROJET), the consortium responsible for the EJ200 engine installed in the Eurofighter Typhoon, today signed a contract with the NATO Eurofighter & Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) to provide 56 new EJ200 engines for the German Air Force.

The contract, signed in Munich, between Miguel Angel Martin Perez, General Manager of NETMA, and Gerhard Bähr, CEO of EUROJET, covers EJ200 engines for a new order of Tranche 4 Typhoon fighter aircraft. Production of the engine modules will be carried out locally by the four partner companies of the EUROJET consortium; Rolls-Royce, MTU Aero Engines, ITP and Avio Aero. As partner for the German Air Force, final assembly of the engines will take place at MTU Aero Engines with deliveries to the German customer scheduled to begin in 2023.

Commenting on the finalisation of the contract Mr Bähr stated: “This contract signature is a clear statement of confidence in the platform and of the performance and sustainability of the EJ200 engines which power it. In addition, it also demonstrates a high level of confidence in the consortium and its European industrial base, and will secure highly skilled workplaces in the aerospace industry in the coming years.”



About EUROJET


The EUROJET consortium is responsible for the management of the EJ200 engine programme. EUROJET’s shareholders comprise Rolls-Royce (UK), MTU Aero Engines (Germany), ITP Aero (Spain) and Avio Aero (Italy). The engine represents outstanding and innovative technology and continually demonstrates its exceptional performance in the Eurofighter Typhoon. With its unprecedented performance record, combined with multi-role capability and highest availability at competitive life-cycle costs, the EJ200 engine is perfectly set to meet air force requirements, both of today and the future.

Since delivery of the first production engine in 2003, well over a thousand EJ200 production engines have been delivered to Air Force customer fleets of nine nations, and the EJ200 engine has achieved in excess of 1 million engine flying hours.

High Resolution images of the EJ200 can be downloaded from: http://www.eurojet.de/media







Contacts


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The L-39NG passed the aerodynamic tests for armed version





https://youtu.be/bP2R8_7IX1I



press release



Shortly after the L-39NG training version certification, an important initial step in the preparation of its armed version has been completed. A series of L-39NG tests took place in the low-speed wind tunnel of the Czech Aerospace Research Centre in Prague (VZLU), this time the tests were focused on the ability of the aircraft to carry various weapon systems.

"In cooperation with the VZLU, we have completed the data collection phase from the wind tunnel before the aircraft will be converted to the armed version and before the flight tests will begin next year. Our goal was to experimentally verify the expected deviations of aerodynamic performance that might be different from the training version," said the head of the L-39NG program Vojtěch Labuda from Aero Vodochody. For the needs of measurement, a model of the aircraft was 3D printed using the scale of 1:6.6. The model was subsequently measured using six-component internal strain gauge balance in a low-speed wind tunnel (wind tunnel measuring space has a diameter of three meters).

At first, measurements on the aircraft without pods took place, and then the aircraft with different types of pods, weapons, flap settings and different types of wing ends was measured. All weapon models were also made by 3D printing.

The L-39NG aircraft has five pods for carrying a wide range of weapons, starting with a machine gun calibre 12.7 millimetres or cannons calibre 20 millimetres, bombs up to 250 kilograms, unguided air-to-ground missiles or air-to-air missiles. The integration of laser guidance of weapons is also in consideration.

Before the flight tests, it was necessary to verify the effect on flight characteristics and performance by tests in the wind tunnel. During the measurements, the influence of the angle of attack and the angle of sideslip on the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft with different variants of weapons and settings of the flaps was investigated.

In addition to static measurements, which determine the forces and momentum strengths on the aircraft, dynamic measurements were also performed. This determines the aerodynamic damping for the flying qualities purposes.

"In a half a year, we have performed more than 200 measurements, in 30 different configurations, from a clean aircraft to a fully equipped aircraft with tilted flaps. During these measurements, it turned out that the aerodynamic model is fully capable of carrying a wide range of weapons in various configurations," said Pavel Hospodář from VZLU. The measured data will be used for calculations of flight performance.

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eVTOL: XERI Awarded New Halo Aircraft Patent




https://youtu.be/QNJgGusKTlk

 

Press release

 



BOCA RATON, FL / ACCESSWIRE / November 18, 2020 / Xeriant, Inc. (OTC PINK:XERI), a new aerospace technology holding company, announced today that an additional utility patent has been issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office related to its Halo aircraft technology, strengthening its October 2019 patent. Both utility patents are retroactive to Halo's original 2007 continuation patent application date, and therefore have the benefit of preceding numerous drone or UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) patent filings and claims.

Halo is a development-stage eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) powered lift aircraft that has been designed to seamlessly transition from vertical to forward flight by altering the direction of its propulsive thrust by approximately 90 degrees. Powered lift aircraft combine the VTOL capability and small logistical footprint of helicopters with the cruise speed, fuel efficiency and range of conventional fixed wing airplanes. Halo's unique and scalable tiltwing configuration, which features a pivoting cylindrical wing structure and a central axle-mounted payload area, can also accommodate a range of propulsion systems, including ducted lift fans and distributed electric rotors, as well as various stability and control systems.

When fully developed, Xeriant plans to introduce the innovative Halo platform as a small high-performance UAV for commercial applications such as inspections, surveying, surveillance, delivery and imagery, which is expected to compete favorably with other eVTOL UAV aircraft in terms of speed, acoustics, payload, maneuverability, efficiency, range and safety. Depending on the success of the small UAV model, Xeriant may begin to develop a larger scale Halo aircraft model for the emerging UAM (urban air mobility) market or a variant for military applications. UAM, which is part of advanced air mobility, refers to on-demand passenger or cargo transport in congested environments.

Halo was chosen to be a finalist presenter, out of approximately 70 companies, at the November 2019 Florida Aerospace Capital Forum.

"UAVs represent one of the most dynamic growth sectors in aerospace, with applications expanding into almost every industry. Empowered by innovation, these new aerial vehicles promise to make aviation a greater part of our daily lives. The additional patent protection on the Halo technology supports our efforts to establish a strong position in this space," stated Xeriant CEO, Keith Duffy.

Read this and more news for Xeriant and Halo at: www.xeriant.com and www.xeriant.com/about/halo-aircraft

 

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Delta blocking middle seats through March 30, 2021

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EU Aeronautics towards recovery and climate neutrality: A European Aviation and Aeronautics Recovery Plan should be set-up

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Emirates ups Airbus A380 deployment with services to UK and Russia

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Norwegian Files for Bankruptcy Protection in Ireland

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Sky dweller starts ground testing at Albacete @ youtube

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UK military to get biggest spending boost in 30 years

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Alaka’i Technologies to demo its hydrogen-powered eVTOL in NASA campaign - evtol.com

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Norwegian Air Declares Bankruptcy, Looks To Reorganize - View from the Wing

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DoD Stockpiles COVID-19-Supplies | US F-16 Moved From Germany To UAE | France Seeks Drones To Detect, Intercept Battlefield Radio Communications

https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/dod-stockpiles-covid-19-supplies-us-f-16-moved-from-germany-to-uae-france-seeks-drones-to-detect-intercept-battlefield-radio-communications-044958/

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Air France-KLM prepares COVID-19 vaccine airlift

https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-air-france-klm-vac-idUKKBN27Y2KT

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Has COVID-19 changed the aerospace industry forever?

https://newatlas.com/aircraft/aerospace-industry-covid-19-impact-future/

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Airbus and Germany submit Eurofighter offer to Switzerland

 

press release




Airbus and the Federal Republic of Germany today submitted their official offer to the Swiss Federal Office of Armaments armasuisse for the sale of Eurofighter aircraft to Switzerland. The offer has been prepared in cooperation with the other Eurofighter nations as well as the industrial partners Leonardo and BAE Systems, and meets the requirements of the so called new combat aircraft (Neues Kampfflugzeug - NKF) procurement process implemented by Switzerland to replace its currently used F-5 and F/A-18 fleet with a more modern model.

With the acquisition of the Eurofighter, the Federal Republic of Germany is offering Switzerland the opportunity to deepen its existing military partnership, particularly with regard to the joint training of the two air forces. With the Eurofighter, Switzerland will gain full autonomy in the use, maintenance and application of the data from its aircraft. With more than 660 orders, the Eurofighter is by far the most widely used aircraft for securing airspace over Europe. It is operated jointly by the four partner nations Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain and is undergoing continuous development. Only a few days ago, Germany itself signed the contract for the procurement of 38 Eurofighters from the latest Tranche 4 and is offering Switzerland the opportunity to lay the foundations for even closer political, economic and security cooperation by procuring the same type of aircraft.

Michael Flügger, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Switzerland, said: "With this offer, we are inviting Switzerland as our neighbor and reliable partner in security policy and economic matters to protect its airspace with the Eurofighter and to close cooperation between our air forces. For Germany, Switzerland is not just a customer, but a strategic ally with whom we would like to further intensify our already close cooperation. The Eurofighter is the only platform jointly developed and operated by several European nations and would therefore be an ideal solution for Switzerland".

Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said: "With the offer submitted today, we want to show that the Eurofighter is the best overall package for Switzerland. It is the most modern fighter aircraft currently built in Europe and meets all the requirements demanded by Switzerland. By providing construction data and other important information, Switzerland will be given complete and independent control of the Eurofighter, guaranteeing full transparency. With over 200 suppliers in the Confederation, Airbus is already a strong partner for Switzerland, and we look forward to expanding this cooperation even further".

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Boeing Responds to FAA Approval to Resume 737 MAX Operations

 press release




SEATTLE, Nov. 18, 2020 / -- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today rescinded the order that halted commercial operations of Boeing (NYSE: BA) 737-8s and 737-9s. The move will allow airlines that are under the FAA's jurisdiction, including those in the U.S., to take the steps necessary to resume service and Boeing to begin making deliveries.

"We will never forget the lives lost in the two tragic accidents that led to the decision to suspend operations," said David Calhoun, chief executive officer of The Boeing Company. "These events and the lessons we have learned as a result have reshaped our company and further focused our attention on our core values of safety, quality and integrity."

Throughout the past 20 months, Boeing has worked closely with airlines, providing them with detailed recommendations regarding long-term storage and ensuring their input was part of the effort to safely return the airplanes to service.

An Airworthiness Directive issued by the FAA spells out the requirements that must be met before U.S. carriers can resume service, including installing software enhancements, completing wire separation modifications, conducting pilot training and accomplishing thorough de-preservation activities that will ensure the airplanes are ready for service.

"The FAA's directive is an important milestone," said Stan Deal, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We will continue to work with regulators around the world and our customers to return the airplane back into service worldwide."

In addition to changes made to the airplane and pilot training, Boeing has taken three important steps to strengthen its focus on safety and quality.
  1. Organizational Alignment: More than 50,000 engineers have been brought together in a single organization that includes a new Product & Services Safety unit, unifying safety responsibilities across the company.
  2. Cultural Focus: Engineers have been further empowered to improve safety and quality. The company is identifying, diagnosing and resolving issues with a higher level of transparency and immediacy.
  3. Process Enhancements: By adopting next-generation design processes, the company is enabling greater levels of first-time quality.
For more information, visit www.Boeing.com/737-max-updates.

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Piloto y avion reales combaten contra avión virtual controlado por IA

 

https://blog.sandglasspatrol.com/piloto-y-avion-reales-combaten-contra-avion-virtual-controlado-por-ia/

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Red 6 and EpiSci Accomplish World’s First Live Dogfight Against An AI Driven Virtual Aircraft





RED 6 from Red 6 on Vimeo.

 Press release




Combat Pilots will Soon Train Against Virtual Adversaries



Santa Monica, CA, November 16, 2020 – Red 6, a revolutionary technology firm at the forefront of synthetic air combat training, and EpiSci, a multidisciplinary innovation company that develops next-generation autonomous technologies for defense, aerospace, and commercial applications, announce the world’s first live-flight augmented reality dogfight between a real aircraft and a simulated, reactive adversary aircraft. “Red 6’s ATARS system enables real pilots to fly real airplanes connected together in an augmented world,” said Daniel Robinson, Founder and CEO of Red 6.

Robinson conducted the world’s first ever dogfight in a real aircraft, against Episci’s Tactical AI Augmented Reality representation of the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter. “With this first-ever within-visual-range dogfight against an AI bandit, Episci’sTactical AI demonstrated the ability to work on a real aircraft, with flight-ready hardware and sensors,” said Chris Gentile, EpiSci’s Vice President for Tactical Autonomous Systems. “While fielding autonomous systems that control fighters may be in the future, this system is ready now to bring next-generation capability to our training programs, providing immediate benefit to the USAF’s ability to develop and maintain world-class fighter pilots. By introducing them to this technology now, they’ll be even more prepared to use a range of unmanned tools in the future,” continued Gentile.

The Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System (ATARS), created by Red 6, showcased the groundbreaking display and control systems needed to bring AR into the real world, while simultaneously integrating Tactical AI into the Red 6 system. Designed from the ground up for rapid integration into live aircraft, Tactical AI seeks to bring AI combat autonomy out of simulation and into the real world. “With the additional integration of Tactical AI into our platform, we are now able to interact and respond to any threat aircraft. This opens spectacular possibilities for training,” stated Robinson.

Built on a trust-first hybrid AI system by leveraging EpiSci’s work in DARPA’s Alpha Dogfight program, EpiSci’s Tactical AI can provide training aids for any level of instruction, generating a repeatable presentation while using advanced AI to challenge trainees as they progress. In addition, Tactical AI can coach the student while also controlling the bandit presentation – building strong habit patterns and sight pictures from the start, while providing objective feedback on student performance and progression. “Pilots of the future will need to be comfortable teaming with AI – and training is the ideal place to introduce this technology,” said Gentile.



About Red 6

Red 6 is the creator of ATARS (Airborne Tactical Augmented Reality System). ATARS is the first wide field-of-view, full color demonstrably proven outdoor augmented reality solution that works in dynamic outdoor environments. ATARS allows Virtual and Constructive assets into the real-world by allowing pilots and ground operators to see synthetic threats in real-time, outdoors and, critically, in high-speed environments. By blending augmented reality and artificial intelligence and using both the indoor and outdoor space around us as a medium, Red 6 has redefined the limits of how the world will experience, share, and interact with its information.

About EpiSci

EpiSci is a multidisciplinary innovation company that develops next-generation autonomous technologies for defense, aerospace, and commercial applications. Founded in 2012, we draw upon years of high-risk, high-payoff research and development efforts sponsored from DARPA and other Department of Defense agencies. Through our Tactical Artificial Intelligence technologies, our vision is to be a leader of assured autonomy and creating disruptive autonomous and intelligent systems that are safe, secure, resilient, and reliable.

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Boeing 737 MAX can return to the skies, says FAA

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Duque lamenta la pérdida del satélite Ingenio, aunque recuerda que ha capacitado a las empresas españolas a acceder a nuevos contratos [España]

Nota de prensa


https://www.ciencia.gob.es/portal/site/MICINN/menuitem.edc7f2029a2be27d7010721001432ea0/?vgnextoid=b5a53336856d5710VgnVCM1000001d04140aRCRD 


  • El satélite SEOSAT-Ingenio formaba parte del Programa Nacional de Observación de la Tierra por Satélite (PNOTS) a nivel instrumental
  • Gracias al proyecto la industria española puede liderar proyectos espaciales completos a nivel global
  • La excelencia tecnológica de SEOSAT-Ingenio ya ha generado, con fecha 13 de noviembre de 2020, la firma de otro contrato para la industria española de 380 millones de euros para Copernicus


La Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA) y su contratista Arianespace, encargado del servicio de lanzamiento, han confirmado que la causa de la pérdida de la misión espacial para poner en órbita al satélite SEOSAT-Ingenio y al francés TARANIS, ha sido debida a un problema en dos conectores del sistema de control de velocidad de propulsión (TVC, Thrust Vector Control). Según Arianespace, no se trata de un error de diseño del lanzador Vega sino que está, posiblemente, relacionado con una intervención humana en la fase de control de calidad.

El ministro de Ciencia e Innovación, Pedro Duque, ha lamentado hoy la "pérdida de la misión que llevaba SEOSAT-Ingenio a su órbita", aunque ha explicado que, a pesar de ello "las tecnologías desarrolladas han capacitado a las empresas españolas, facilitando que accedan a nuevos contratos como la recién firmada misión LSTM" para el programa Copernicus de la ESA.

En este sentido, la industria española se ha visto beneficiada al haber conseguido contratos por un valor muy superior al coste del propio satélite, por lo que la inversión ha vuelto a España multiplicada, generando conocimiento, innovación y empleo especializado. Gracias al trabajo de la industria española en este proyecto, el pasado viernes 13 de noviembre se formalizó un nuevo contrato para la industria española (ESA-Airbus) por valor de 380 millones de euros para desarrollar un nuevo proyecto satelital, esta vez en el paraguas del programa Copérnico de la UE, en el entorno colaborativo con la ESA. Este contrato supone un nuevo hito, puesto que es la primera vez que una empresa española desarrolla un proyecto para Copérnicus.

El Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación esperará al informe final con detalle de los resultados de la comisión de expertos para abordar los siguientes pasos relacionados con la misión SEOSAT-Ingenio. La ESA ya ha informado en su intervención que, al igual que se actúa con todas las misiones espaciales institucionales, en este caso tampoco se ha incluido en el proyecto un seguro que eventualmente cubriera la posibilidad de pérdida de la misión. En este sentido, su portavoz ha informado de que la ESA se pone a disposición del Gobierno de España para comenzar a explorar vías alternativas que permitan reemplazar la funcionalidad instrumental de Ingenio.

La información técnica ofrecida por los responsables del lanzamiento es aún muy escasa pero han avanzado que se ha constituido una comisión de expertos que revisará el sistema del lanzador y que arrojará conclusiones, previsiblemente, en un tiempo breve.


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House passes bill to reform plane certification process after two Boeing 737 MAX crashes | Article [AMP] | Reuters

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South Korea demonstrates flight of drone 'taxis' which could revolutionise public transport

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Potential interferences between 5G and radio altimeter @ youtube

https://youtu.be/-8XRFmdAqeM 

From video description:
Publicado el 16 nov 2020
RTCA, Inc. reports potential 5G Interference to radio altimeters. This may affect all classes of aircraft, from commercial air transport to regional, business and general aviation aircraft as well as helicopters, eVTOL and UAM aircraft. This potential safety issue needs to be addressed by the industry and the regulators, while standards entities like RTCA, Inc. and EUROCAE produce new standards for radio altimeters with improved 5G interference rejection. The new standards is expected in Q4 2022. Until radio altimeters with these vulnerabilities are installed on aircraft, the concerned stakeholders must come up with an appropriate mitigation plan.

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South Korea's Hyper-Tube Train Hits Major Milestone, Reaches Over 621 MPH

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A Pilot Flying a Real Jet Just Fought an Augmented Reality Enemy

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Can Boeing’s 737 Max regain passengers’ trust? | Financial Times

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When Will the Boeing 737 Max Fly Again and More Questions - The Washington Post

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Las alas de gran alargamiento de Marcel Hurel

Hurel-Dubois, o los aviones que se anticiparon medio siglo a los estudios de Boeing Truss-Braced Wing


https://blog.sandglasspatrol.com/las-alas-de-gran-alargamiento-de-marcel-hurel/ 

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France seeks drones to detect, intercept battlefield radio communications

martes, 17 de noviembre de 2020

https://www.spacewar.com/reports/France_seeks_drones_to_detect_intercept_battlefield_radio_communications_999.html

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More Freighters Needed to Support Global Supply Chains and e-Commerce Expansion, Boeing says

 Boeing's press release


Boeing [NYSE: BA] today released its biennial World Air Cargo Forecast (WACF), reflecting COVID-19 impacts and opportunities as well as substantial long-term demand for freighters over the next two decades.

Enabled by a rebound in global trade and long-term growth, the WACF forecasts demand for 2,430 freighters over the next 20 years, including 930 new production freighters and 1,500 freighters converted from passenger airplanes.

According to the new forecast, world air cargo traffic will grow at 4% per year over the next 20 years. This growth is influenced by trade and growing express shipments to support expanding e-commerce operations. With these developments and the proven need for dedicated freighter capacity to support the world’s transportation system, the global air cargo fleet is expected to grow by more than 60% through 2039.

“Freighter operators have been in a unique position in 2020 to meet market requirements for speed, reliability and security, transporting medical supplies and other goods for people and communities around the world,” said Darren Hulst, vice president of Commercial Marketing. “Looking ahead, dedicated freighters will be even more critical to compete in air cargo markets; they carry more than half of air cargo traffic, and airlines operating them earn nearly 90% of air cargo industry revenue.”

In addition to projecting long-term demand for freighters, the WACF provides insights into air cargo performance during the pandemic, including the following:

  • E-commerce, which was growing at double-digit rates prior to the pandemic, has accelerated its impact on the air cargo market as more businesses shifted to online selling platforms. Year to date through September, express carriers increased traffic by 14%.
  • Passenger belly cargo, which in 2019 accounted for about half of the world air cargo capacity, was significantly reduced when airlines parked thousands of planes. Freighter operators responded by operating above normal utilization levels, and traffic for all-cargo carriers grew 6%.
  • So far in 2020, approximately 200 airlines used more than 2,000 passenger widebody aircraft for cargo-only operations to generate cash flow and support global supply chains. These passenger freighters have taken up some of the capacity shortfall and, in some cases, generated quarterly profits for carriers despite minimal passenger operations.

The full cargo market forecast can be found at www.boeing.com/wacf.

Boeing is the world's largest aerospace company and leading provider of commercial airplanes, defense, space and security systems, and global services. As a top U.S. exporter, the company supports commercial and government customers in more than 150 countries and leverages the talents of a global supplier base. Building on a legacy of aerospace leadership, Boeing continues to lead in technology and innovation, deliver for its customers and invest in its people and future growth.

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