2 FAI World Speed Record claims by RISEN & SIREN ultralight aircrafts

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2705879802836078&id=170941806329903 


December 15, 2019 in Modena/Italy,  Alberto Porto and co-pilot Elisa Tomasi set 2 new world speed records

1: 50km closed circuit: 288,33km/h

 2: Speed over a 15km straight course: 337,51km/h 

EU600 kg Category for P2002 Sierra MkII Light

press release

Important Innovation for the European Light Aircraft Category

Capua, Italy: Tecnam announced today the certification of the low-wing P2002 Sierra MkII light aircraft to the new German 600kg rules. The latest version of the EASA Basic Regulation now allows for 600kg MTOW Ultralight (UL) aircraft under the control of the CAA's of the member states.

Germany is the first country to declare the opt-out, implementing the new- regulation German 600kg technical LTFUL 2018 rules. It is also the first country to develop and publish the necessary airworthiness requirements for these aircraft, delegating the certification process to the DULV (Deutscher Ultraleichtflugverband e.V.) agency. The new certification of the Sierra MkII is of great importance, since the German Type approval is recognised in many European countries. The increased weight allowance means greater safety, as the aircraft can be equipped with a parachute, more avionics and more fuel.

All else remains unchanged. The Tecnam P2002 Sierra MkII retains all the features and flying qualities that have established the aircraft's position in the marketplace: an improved cabin for greater comfort, the latest avionics, new paint colours, several interior options and a redesigned cowling for the 100HP Rotax engine.
  • Larger cabin, with new premium interior design
  • Redesigned canopy with more headroom, and new locking mechanism that reduces noise levels
  • Seats with extra fore and aft adjustment
  • Sleeker engine cowling
  • Very latest in avionics
  • Several options for paint colours and interior fabrics.
The MkII offers state-of-the-art technology in a jet-style cockpit. Customers can choose from an extensive range of options, starting with the basic analogue instruments needed for visual flight, a six-pack analogue with Garmin GPS, the Garmin G3X which features twin 10.6-inch screens, and the Garmin G3X touch suite.

The largest range of options is for Interior and exterior styling, with four choices for every style package: Standard, Premium and Power. For the exterior, the range of paint schemes includes new metallic colours which can be matched to the seats, cabin sides and instrument panel covering. The customer is free to choose whatever suits their imagination and taste.

In non-European countries, the P2002 SIERRA MkII is available in the Ultralight, US Light Sport Aircraft and Experimental categories, whereas the certified version, the P2002JF, is available as the European CS-VLA and soon the CS23 IFR.

Airships: Thales Alenia Space and Thales sign concept study contract with French defense procurement agency for a Stratobus type platform

press release
https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/worldwide/space/press-release/thales-alenia-space-and-thales-sign-concept-study-contract-french

Cannes, January 8, 2020 – Thales Alenia Space (the joint venture between Thales, 67% and Leonardo, 33%) and Thales have signed a contract with The French defense procurement agency DGA (Direction générale de l'armement) to carry out a concept study concerning intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) applications using a StratobusTM type platform to meet French army operational needs.

The aim of the contract is to study the benefits of continuous stratospheric platforms to improve and expand France's defense capabilities. More specifically, the contract includes studies of:

  • An operational concept study for an ISR mission including exercises simulating its use in theaters of operation.
  • A full-scale demonstrator concept, capable of flying in the stratosphere to demonstrate the in-flight performance of an ISR mission of this type.

StratobusTM type stratospheric solutions offer two main advantages:
  • It significantly increases the area monitored by a single platform, especially by eliminating terrain masking
  • It offers an ability to linger over an area, thus improving resilience in relation to current naval, airborne, ground and space solutions.


"The aim of this contract is to assess the relevance of StratobusTM type continuous stratospheric solutions to meet defense needs, and also marks a major step forward in the definition of a possible operational solution in conjunction with users" said Jean-Philippe Chessel, Director of the StratobusTM product line. "It will enable us to prepare the foundations for the development of a complete solution, including high-reliability autonomous avionics, as well as all control aspects. We are aiming to carry out a flight demonstration by the end of 2023. The StratobusTM project has been supported by the French government from the outset within the scope of the Investment in the Future plan and a European regional development fund (FEDER) for the French Riviera region."

About StratobusTM
Thales Alenia Space's StratobusTM is an autonomous stratospheric airship in the HAPS [High Altitude Platform System] category, operating from an altitude of 20 kilometers. Offering continuous regional coverage, it's a perfect fit with satellite solutions. StratobusTM can carry payloads for the surveillance of borders and high-value sites on the ground or at sea (such as video-surveillance of offshore platforms), as well as security (the fight against terrorism, drug-trafficking, etc.), environmental monitoring (forest fires, beach erosion, pollution, etc.) and communications (internet, 5G).

 

ABOUT THALES ALENIA SPACE

Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies' Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of 2.5 billion euros in 2018 and has 8,000 employees in nine countries. www.thalesaleniaspace.com

Topological mechanics of knots and tangles: How strong is your knot?

Abstract

Knots play a fundamental role in the dynamics of biological and physical systems, from DNA to turbulent plasmas, as well as in climbing, weaving, sailing, and surgery. Despite having been studied for centuries, the subtle interplay between topology and mechanics in elastic knots remains poorly understood. Here, we combined optomechanical experiments with theory and simulations to analyze knotted fibers that change their color under mechanical deformations. Exploiting an analogy with long-range ferromagnetic spin systems, we identified simple topological counting rules to predict the relative mechanical stability of knots and tangles, in agreement with simulations and experiments for commonly used climbing and sailing bends. Our results highlight the importance of twist and writhe in unknotting processes, providing guidance for the control of systems with complex entanglements.



Bell Reveals the City of the Future at CES 2020

http://news.bellflight.com/en-US/184550-bell-reveals-the-city-of-the-future-at-ces-2020

CES 2020 – Las Vegas (Jan. 6, 2020) – Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, reveals at CES a vivid look into the future of the smart city ecosystem. The Bell Nexus air taxi and the Autonomous Pod Transport (APT) – both groundbreaking technologies – will coexist to move people, products and information across connected cities.

"With a focus on the passenger experience, we revealed the technology and the vehicle that will revolutionize transportation in cities at CES 2019; this year, we're demonstrating what governing, operating, working and living in a smart city will look like," said Mitch Snyder, Bell president and CEO.

In a world where nearly 70 percent of the population will be living in urban areas by 2050 and cities are outgrowing their current transportations systems, the need for urban mobility solutions has never been greater. Fortunately, the transportation industry has reached an inflection point, and many of the world's top minds are working toward solutions for the optimal smart city design. Bell remains at the forefront of this pursuit with a clear mission of finding solutions to the infrastructure challenges of tomorrow's transportation networks.

These solutions and many smart city elements are on display in Bell's Nexus City on the CES show floor:

Mobility as a Service (MaaS) & Bell AerOS

Bell features its MaaS plans which look beyond the aircraft and demonstrate how to integrate MaaS into communities, making on-demand air mobility available to everyone--whenever they need it.

Bell's service is powered by Bell AerOS, a proprietary system running on Microsoft Azure created to manage fleet information, observe aircraft health, and manage throughput of goods, products and predictive data and maintenance. This digital infrastructure is prevalent in Bell's Smart City vision at the show and serves as another step in bringing connected mobility to the masses.

"Bell continues to lead the conversation beyond the aircraft to offer multi-modal transportation solutions and experiences within an interconnected digital network that will excite consumers, earn their trust and make their lives easier," said Snyder.

Nexus 4EX:

Bell showcases the evolution of the Bell Nexus--the Bell Nexus 4EX (Four for the number of ducted fans, E for Electric and X for experimental). The aircraft features Bell's signature powered-lift concept with four tilting ducted fans that can be configured as hybrid-electric or all-electric. Bell believes this design unlocks the key for all electric technology, but the vehicle will remain propulsion agnostic depending on customer needs.

"The vision for the Bell Nexus remains the same, but by taking a mature system level approach to design for an objective market vehicle, we believe this configuration unlocks a capable, certifiable and commercially viable product," said Snyder.

View Bell's vision for Connected Mobility here

Boeing Statement on 737 MAX Simulator Training

press release

Boeing is recommending 737 MAX simulator training in addition to computer based training for all MAX pilots prior to return to service of the 737 MAX. This recommendation takes into account our unstinting commitment to the safe return of service as well as changes to the airplane and test results. Final determination will be established by the regulators.

"Safety is Boeing's top priority," said interim Boeing CEO Greg Smith. "Public, customer and stakeholder confidence in the 737 MAX is critically important to us and with that focus Boeing has decided to recommend MAX simulator training combined with computer-based training for all pilots prior to returning the MAX safely to service."