Bell Boeing-built V-22 Osprey Fleet Surpasses 100,000 Flight Hours

MV-22 Osprey is safest Marine Corps rotorcraft over past 10 years

PATUXENT RIVER, Md., March 2, 2011 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Bell Helicopter today applauded the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275) announcement that the Bell Boeing-built V-22 Osprey fleet has surpassed 100,000 flight hours. The milestone arrived on Feb. 10 during a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey combat mission in Afghanistan. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264, currently operating out of Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, was identified as the squadron that eclipsed the 100,000-hour mark.

“The entire Bell Boeing tiltrotor team congratulates our Marine Corps and Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) customers on achieving 100,000 flight hours, and counting,” said John Rader, executive director of the Bell Boeing V-22 Program. “The performance of the aircraft in combat and humanitarian missions has been truly remarkable. We continue to take great pride in providing our customers with this revolutionary capability.”

Marine Corps MV-22 and AFSOC CV-22 Ospreys amassed the flight hours while performing combat, humanitarian, training, and test and evaluation missions on land and at sea. Almost half of the total hours were flown during the past two years. This milestone marks the latest major achievement for a program that has seen 14 successful combat and humanitarian deployments since the Osprey was first declared operational in 2007.

“The V-22 is proven and forward-deployed, supporting combat operations and responding to contingency operations around the world,” said Marine Corps Col. Greg Masiello, head of the V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275) at NAVAIR. “The Osprey brings unprecedented range, speed and survivability to the warfighter and will continue to excel in combat and remain ready, effective and survivable.”

According to Naval Safety Center records, the MV-22 has had the lowest Class A mishap rate of any rotorcraft in the Marine Corps during the past decade. The aircraft’s reduced susceptibility, lower vulnerability and advanced crashworthiness have made it the most survivable military rotorcraft ever introduced. Fiscal Year 2010 Navy flight-hour cost data also show that the Osprey has the lowest cost per seat-mile (cost to transport one person over a distance of one mile) of any U.S. Navy transport rotorcraft.

“At 100,000 flight hours, safety, survivability and mission efficiency have become hallmarks of the operational fleet,” said Mitch Snyder, deputy program director for the Bell Boeing V-22 Program.

The V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multirole combat aircraft using tiltrotor technology to combine the vertical performance of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft. With its nacelles and rotors in vertical position, it can take off, land and hover like a helicopter. Once airborne, its nacelles can be rotated to transition the aircraft to a turboprop airplane capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight.

The tiltrotor aircraft is manufactured under a 50-50 strategic alliance between Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. [NYSE: TXT] company, and Boeing. The current V-22 Osprey program of record calls for 360 aircraft for the Marine Corps, 50 for AFSOC, and 48 for the Navy.

More than 130 Osprey tiltrotors are currently in operation. Marine Corps MV-22s are currently deployed in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit supporting contingency operations, while AFSOC CV-22s are preparing to deploy once again in support of ongoing Special Operations missions.

Boeing

Boeing Leaders to Address Bio-Fuels, Growth, Emerging Issues at Asian Aerospace 2011

HONG KONG, Mar. 2, 2011 – Experts from Boeing [NYSE: BA], the world's largest aerospace company, will present key trends at Asian Aerospace 2011 and discuss their implications for commercial aviation. Asian Aerospace takes place March 8-10, at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong.
Boeing also will provide the latest information about its commercial business, including updates on recent improvements to its existing family of airplanes and the company’s single- and twin-aisle development programs.

Boeing executives will speak at conference sessions that address sustainable aviation bio-fuels and explore developments in the cargo sector. The company also will conduct a media briefing to share the company’s market outlook for the next 20 years. All Boeing speakers and executives will be available for exclusive interviews prior to and during Asian Aerospace 2011 on a first-come, first-served basis.

Asia continues to be a growth region for Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) which now has airplanes certified and available for charter in both Hong Kong and mainland China. Media are invited to tour a BBJ, managed by Hong Kong based Metrojet, on static display March 8 and 9 at the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre (HKBAC). Transportation will be provided from AsiaWorld Expo to HKBAC during show business hours, 10:00am – 4:00pm, by Asian Aerospace organizers.
"Asian Aerospace is a great venue for Boeing to work with Asian customers, partners and suppliers, to share ideas and identify opportunities in technologies, products and services that present the best value,” said Rob Laird, vice president of Sales for India, East and South Asia, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Asia leads the world in terms of growth and the return to profitability. Boeing’s strategy is to provide the right mix of products and services that enable our customers provide a great customer experience, generate more revenue and reduce operating expenses.”

With the commercial aviation sector growing ever more conscious of environmental issues, Al Bryant, vice president of Boeing Research and Technology, plans to share Boeing’s experience in promoting the development of sustainable aviation biofuels. The presentation will take place during “The Future of Aviation-Emerging Issues & Solutions” conference as part of the Asian Aerospace Congress.

Randy Tinseth, vice president of Marketing, and Jim Edgar, regional director, Cargo Marketing, both of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, will provide a commercial airplane and air cargo market update for media, with a focus on the Asia Pacific region. In addition to providing the company’s market projections for the next 20 years, the media briefing also will include product updates.

Edgar also will participate on a panel at the “Air Freight Asia Conference” on the growth of the air cargo industry in countries neighboring China. The full list of Boeing Commercial Airplanes speakers is noted below:
(Note: All times listed below are local to Hong Kong)

Tuesday, March 8
11:30 a.m Media Briefing – Market Update
Randy Tinseth, vice president of Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes will present Boeing’s 20-year market outlook of the commercial aviation market in Conference Room 105.

Wednesday, March 9
10 a.m. Boeing panel discussion participation – Air Freight Asia Conference
Jim Edgar, regional director, Cargo Marketing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes will participate as a panelist on the growth of the air cargo industry in countries neighboring China in Function Room 109.

2:40 p.m. Boeing presentation – Asian Aerospace 2011Congress
Al Bryant, vice president of Boeing Research and Technology will share Boeing’s expertise on the development of sustainable aviation biofuels during “The Future of Aviation-Emerging Issues & Solutions” conference in Pearl Room, Hall 11.


Boeing

EADS CASA Selects AdaCore Toolset for nEUROn Unmanned Aircraft

"The nEUROn is a flagship project for the European defense industry, acting as a testbed for future techniques and technologies"



NEW YORK & PARIS & NUREMBURG, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AdaCore, provider of tools and expertise for mission-critical, safety-critical, and security-critical software development, today announced that EADS CASA is using the GNAT Pro High-Integrity Edition to implement the data exchange and air-to-ground data links systems for the nEUROn Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator. The GNAT Pro High-Integrity Edition, which encompasses AdaCore's development environment and accompanying support services, helps develop Ada systems that need to achieve the highest levels of safety and/or security certification. EADS CASA selected AdaCore and GNAT Pro based on the Ada programming language's suitability for developing critical systems and AdaCore's previous experience with high-integrity projects, including the Eurofighter, MRTT, Airbus A400M, and Barracuda projects.

"Software development is central to the success of our role on the nEUROn project," said F. Mijares, EADS-CASA nEUROn Chief Engineer. "AdaCore, GNAT Pro, and its integrated support services provide an ideal environment to produce these high-integrity systems. AdaCore's ability to bring innovation to its toolset and to stay at the forefront of the Ada language evolution and implementation, as well as our existing experience working together, made AdaCore the natural choice for this strategic project."

The delta wing nEUROn UCAV project began in 2006 and is a technology demonstrator for future European combat aircraft. It is one of the largest and most advanced unmanned air vehicles in the world, with a similar airframe size to that of some of the existing fighter aircrafts. Led by Dassault Aviation of France, the nEUROn project is a pan-European co-operation among EADS CASA (Spain), HAI (Greece), Saab (Sweden), RUAG (Switzerland), Alenia Aeronautica (Italy), and Thales (France). Test flights will take place in France, Sweden and Italy. The maiden flight is scheduled for mid-2012.

EADS CASA, which began software development planning at the end of 2007, is responsible for the nEUROn wing, ground control, and data link segments of the project. The company selected AdaCore and the GNAT Pro High Integrity Edition for DO-178B to develop the critical ground stations software and the data link management software, which will run on the Wind River VxWorks 653 Platform. The finished project will create over 500,000 lines of code.

With the GNAT Pro High-Integrity Edition for DO-178B, the EADS CASA development team benefits from a complete toolsuite that simplifies compliance with the various certification levels of the DO-178B avionics standard on the same hardware. This includes code standard verification (GNATcheck), static stack size analysis (GNATstack), and a choice of several certifiable Ada run-time libraries. Smooth and industry-proven integration with Wind River's Workbench platform means an environment oriented towards the needs of the safety-critical industry, whether the application is developed in Ada 83, Ada 95, Ada 2005, or a combination of Ada, C or C++.

"The nEUROn is a flagship project for the European defense industry, acting as a testbed for future techniques and technologies," said Michaël Friess, Sales and Business Development Manager, AdaCore. "EADS CASA's use of GNAT Pro demonstrates the product's importance to the marketplace, particularly for projects that combine multiple safety levels within the same system."

About AdaCore

Founded in 1994, AdaCore is the leading provider of commercial software solutions for Ada, a state-of-the-art programming language designed for large, long-lived applications where safety, security, and reliability are critical. AdaCore's flagship product is the GNAT Pro development environment, which comes with expert on-line support and is available on more platforms than any other Ada technology. AdaCore has an extensive world-wide customer base; see http://www.adacore.com/home/company/customers/ for further information.

Ada and GNAT Pro continue to see a growing usage in high-integrity and safety-certified applications, including commercial aircraft avionics, military systems, air traffic management/control, railroad systems, and medical devices, and in security-sensitive domains such as financial services.

AdaCore has North American headquarters in New York and European headquarters in Paris. www.adacore.com



Press Release

Cirrus Industries and China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (CAIGA) announced CAIGA would acquire Cirrus.

Duluth, Minnesota and Zhuhai, China -- Monday, February 28, 2011 -- Cirrus Industries, Inc. (Cirrus), a recognized leader in general aviation, and China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (CAIGA) today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which CAIGA would acquire Cirrus.

Known for incorporating luxury automotive ergonomics, pilot-friendly avionics and advanced safety features into its high performance airplanes, Cirrus has delivered nearly 5,000 new piston airplanes over the last decade.  For nine years in a row, the Cirrus SR22 family of aircraft has been the best-selling four-place airplane in the world. Cirrus pioneered the use of the FAA-certified Cirrus Airframe Parachute SystemTM that is standard equipment on all Cirrus aircraft.  

Brent Wouters, Cirrus's President and Chief Executive Officer, commenting on the transaction, noted that "This transaction will have a positive impact on our business and our customers because we share a common vision with CAIGA to grow our general aviation enterprise worldwide.  CAIGA brings new resources that will allow us to expedite our aircraft development programs and accelerate our global expansion."  Mr. Wouters further noted the positive impact on jobs and job growth stating that "CAIGA understands the strength and the talent of Cirrus's workforce and the prominence of the Cirrus brand in general aviation.  Through this transaction, CAIGA will invest in our employees in both Minnesota and North Dakota by committing to the continued use of our world-class production facilities."

CAIGA is a world-class provider of general aircraft products and related services headquartered in Zhuhai in the Guangdong Province of China.  Meng Xiangkai, CAIGA's President, stated, "CAIGA is dedicated to being an international leader in the provision of general aviation products and services, and light piston aircraft is one of CAIGA's business focuses.  We are very optimistic to begin our partnership with Cirrus and add Cirrus's strong brand as the cornerstone in our aviation product portfolio.  We are deeply impressed with Cirrus's performance in the global general aviation industry, especially with its consistent product performance, comprehensive safety features, outstanding management team, highly skilled employee base and advanced production facilities as well as its expanding global footprint.  We look forward to working with Cirrus's management team to build upon Cirrus's proven success and to further expand production volume in order to cement Cirrus's existing leadership position in the global general aviation industry, as well as to produce greater job opportunities in Duluth and Grand Forks."

Commenting on the transaction with CAIGA, Cirrus's Chairman and Co-Founder Dale Klapmeier expressed the same optimism about the future noting that "On behalf of everyone at Cirrus, we are thrilled to make this announcement.  With this transaction, Cirrus will continue to develop and build the best, most exciting aircraft in the world.  The original dream remains alive and well at Cirrus.  We are just embarking on our next chapter on a global stage."

The transaction is expected to close around mid-2011.  The acquisition of Cirrus by CAIGA is subject to customary closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and by the U.S. Government's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), as well as obtaining all relevant Chinese Government Approvals.

VRA Partners, LLC acted as financial advisor and King & Spalding LLP acted as legal advisor to Cirrus in relation to this transaction.  Citigroup Global Markets Limited and CITIC Securities acted as joint financial advisors to CAIGA in relation to this transaction.  Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP acted as legal advisor and Ernst & Young LLP acted as accounting and tax advisor to CAIGA.

About Cirrus

Cirrus, a member of the global portfolio of Arcapita companies, is a recognized leader in general aviation.  The all-composite line of personal aircraft — SR20, SR22 and turbocharged SR22T — incorporate innovative and advanced performance, electronic and safety technologies, including Cirrus Perspective™ by Garmin® avionics and the unique Cirrus Airframe Parachute System™ (CAPS).  Through 2010, total time on the worldwide Cirrus Aircraft SR-series fleet surpassed 4.3 million flight hours with more than 48 lives saved to date as a direct result of CAPS being a standard safety feature on all Cirrus aircraft. The Cirrus Aircraft Vision Jet, with nearly 500 production positions reserved, will provide a new personal and regional business transportation solution - the 'personal jet'.  All Cirrus aircraft are made in the USA with a direct sales force in North America and authorized sales centers covering export markets in 60 countries around the world.  For additional information on Cirrus and its products please visit cirrusaircraft.com.

About CAIGA

Headquartered in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province in China, China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Co., Ltd. (CAIGA) is a leading solution provider in the general aviation industry of China. As a company with diversified shareholders, CAIGA controls 4 listed companies in China and the total revenue in 2010 reached US$2.9bn. Its main businesses include the R&D and manufacturing of light piston aircraft, turboprop aircraft, jet, amphibious aircraft as well as their parts & components. It also provides services including general aviation operations, pilot training and aviation clubs.

Cirrus

Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre opens new facilities to produce A350 XWB components in China

Eco-efficient new plant inaugurated, built to the highest industry standards
28 FEBRUARY 2011 PRESS RELEASE

Today, the Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre (the Manufacturing Centre), a joint venture between Airbus and its Chinese partners, was inaugurated in Harbin, China by Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO, Chinese government officials and partners. The new facilities will mainly be used to manufacture composite parts for the A350 XWB, Airbus’ latest aircraft programme.

The 33,800-square-metres state-of-the-art facilities opened today are the first of what will be an 80,000-square-metres manufacturing compound, comprising production, technical support, office areas and other services.

Li Fangyong, Vice President of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), said: “The inauguration of the Manufacturing Centre demonstrates we are well prepared for the production of the A350 XWB components. It’s our honour and pleasure to be involved in the production of the world’s most advanced aircraft, the A350 XWB, and to become an integrated part of the global supply chain of Airbus, the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer.”

Tom Enders, Airbus President and CEO, said: “The Chinese have every reason to be proud they are contributing to the A350 XWB. The aircraft will set new standards in terms of eco-efficiency and passenger appeal. The Manufacturing Centre in Harbin and other Chinese partners will play an important role in its success.”

The Harbin Manufacturing Centre will produce A350 XWB components (53% of the aircraft’s structure will be made of composite materials) including rudders, elevators, Section 19 maintenance doors and belly fairing parts – all in all a significant part of the five percent A350 XWB airframe work packages share to be carried out in China. The Manufacturing Centre uses the world’s most advanced equipment and technology, including automated-tape-laying, autoclave, automated trimming, and non-destructive test equipments.

The construction started in June 2009. The facilities were built to the highest industry standards and eco-efficiency has been a decisive factor when designing its buildings and processes. Key features to minimize its environmental footprint include the management of heating, lighting, power and electricity systems, careful management of the supply chain and environmental awareness training for employees and suppliers. By 2016, around 600 employees are expected to be working at the Harbin Manufacturing Centre.

Harbin Hafei Airbus Composite Manufacturing Centre is a joint venture between Airbus China and a group of Chinese partners comprising Harbin Aircraft Industry Group Corporation Limited, Hafei Aviation Industry Company Limited, AviChina Industry & Technology Company Limited and Harbin Development Zone Infrastructure Development Company Limited. It started production of A320 elevators, rudders and Horizontal Tail Plane (HTP) spars in December 2009. Chinese companies contribute five per cent of the A350 XWB airframe work packages.

The A350 XWB Family is Airbus’ response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft, with a range of up to 8,300 nm/15,400 km. The A350 XWB has the widest cabin in its category, offering unprecedented levels of comfort, the lowest operating costs and lowest seat mile cost of any aircraft in this market segment.
So far, A350 XWB has won 583 firm orders from 36 customers. Air China is the first Chinese airline to order the aircraft having placed a firm order for 10 A350 XWBs in 2010. Development of the A350 XWB programme is progressing on track towards entry into service in the second half of 2013. The final assembly of A350 XWB will start at the end of this year at the new Final Assembly building in Toulouse, France.

Airbus

TAM becomes first A320neo customer in Latin America

TAM Airlines, Brazil’s largest airline has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for 32 eco-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft, comprising 22 A320neo and 10 A320 Family aircraft. The order makes TAM the launch customer for the A320neo in Latin America. Engine selection will be announced by the airline at a later date.

The A320neo, available from 2016, incorporates new more efficient engines and large wing tip devices called Sharklets, which together, deliver significant fuel savings of up to 15 percent, representing up to 3,600 tonnes CO2 annually per aircraft. In addition, the A320neo provides a double-digit reduction in NOx emissions and significantly reduced engine noise.

“Our order for industry leading fuel efficient aircraft opens a world of possibilities for TAM, thanks to its substantially increased range capability,” said Líbano Barroso, CEO of TAM Airlines. “Ordering more A320s allows TAM to reduce costs and further improve our environmental performance.”

“The A320neo will fit neatly into TAM Airlines’ fleet, offering maximum benefit for minimum change,” said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers. “This enables TAM to take full advantage of Brazil’s expected growth in air travel, especially in light of the upcoming World Cup and Olympic Games, and to do so in the most eco-efficient way possible”.

The A320 Family (A318, A319, A320 and A321) is recognised as the benchmark single-aisle aircraft family. Some 7,000 Airbus A320 Family aircraft have been ordered and over 4,500 delivered to more than 320 customers and operators worldwide, making it the world’s best-selling single-aisle aircraft family. With 99.7% reliability and extended servicing periods, the A320 Family has the lowest operating costs of any single aisle aircraft. The A320neo has over 95% airframe commonality with the A320 Family whilst offering up to 500nm (950 km) more range or two tonnes more payload.

Airbus fleet operating in Latin America has doubled in the last five years. With more 550 aircraft sold and a record backlog of more than 250 aircraft to be delivered to its Latin American customers, today nearly 370 Airbus aircraft are flying with 21 Latin American airlines. This represents more than 60 percent of the fleet delivered in the region.

Dragon Rapide con los colores de Iberia

video

First Pratt & Whitney PurePower(R) Engine Completes Initial Ground Tests, Exceeds Expectations

EAST HARTFORD, Conn, Feb. 16, 2011 – Pratt & Whitney successfully completed initial ground testing on its first PurePower® PW1000G series engine, the PW1524G engine for the Bombardier* CSeries* aircraft. The engine completed nearly 200 hours of ground tests at the company’s West Palm Beach, Fla. facility. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.

“The engine continues to exceed our expectations,” said Bob Saia, vice president, Next Generation Product Family. “We have already completed an unprecedented amount of testing on this first engine, including a full structural evaluation, performance, noise and emissions testing. Testing has validated overall engine operational characteristics including component design, rotor dynamics and engine fuel and lubrication systems. This testing confirmed the benefits and robustness of the Geared Turbofan™ engine that Pratt & Whitney initially established during the 2008 Demonstration Engine Program.”

The first engine ran nearly three times longer than Pratt & Whitney’s legacy experience for a first engine test program. Pratt & Whitney began ground testing of the PW1524G engine on schedule in September. Assemblies of the second and third PW1524G development engines are nearing completion. The second engine will also be tested at the West Palm Beach, Fla. test facility before being shipped to the company’s Mirabel Aerospace Centre facility in Québec, Canada. The engine will be mounted to the Pratt & Whitney 747 flying test bed for first test flights scheduled to begin in mid-year. Engine certification and aircraft first flight are scheduled for 2012.

The PurePower engine uses an advanced gear system allowing the engine’s fan to operate at a different speed than the low-pressure compressor and turbine. The combination of the gear system and an all-new advanced core delivers double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency and environmental emissions as well as a 50 percent reduction in noise.

The PurePower engine has been selected as exclusive power for the Bombardier CSeries scheduled to enter service in 2013 and the Mitsubishi Regional Jet scheduled to enter service in 2014. The engine has also been selected to power the new Airbus A320neo aircraft scheduled to enter service in Spring 2016 and the Irkut MC-21 narrow-body jet scheduled to enter service in 2016.

PR

Aircelle will supply LEAP-X engine nacelle for Airbus’ A320neo

Airbus has selected Aircelle (Safran group) to supply the complete integrated nacelle package for the A320neo Family powered by CFM International’s LEAP-X engines.

For this selection, Aircelle demonstrated its ability to provide a cost-effective solution, backed by the company’s full industrial resources and a commitment to meet the development and production timelines. GE’s Middle River Aircraft Systems (MRAS) – its established partner in the Nexcelle nacelle joint venture, will be participating.

The A320neo is Airbus’ new engine option for its best-selling A320 aircraft Family, offering significant fuel savings.

“This is a major win for Aircelle in the promising and challenging single-aisle airlines segment,” said Aircelle Chairman and CEO Vincent Mascré. “Aircelle will take full responsibility for the complete nacelle, including integration on the engine. All of our engineering and production resources are ready to meet the quality, performance and schedule requirements of the A320neo, as well as the airlines’ demanding customer support requirements.”

The A320neo nacelle will benefit from Aircelle’s proven technology developed for the nacelles used on Airbus’ A380. This will be re-enforced by a comprehensive technology roadmap that includes innovations in systems, composite materials and acoustic treatment to further enhance operating efficiency, lower noise levels, reduce weight and improve maintenance. These new technologies are being validated through the company’s full-scale demonstrator programs.

Airbus’ contract award for the A320neo LEAP-X nacelle, and the related nacelle/engine integration activity, ensures the continuity for Aircelle’s more than 20 years of thrust reverser production for CFM56 engines – which are used on the current generation of A320 Family aircraft. Aircelle’s existing CFM56 thrust reverser assembly line was totally re-engineered three years ago using lean sigma methodology. It has delivered up to 500 thrust reversers annually since then.

About Aircelle

Aircelle is one of the leading players in the worldwide nacelle market for aircraft engines. A subsidiary of the Safran group, it employs nearly 3,000 people on seven sites in France, the United Kingdom and Morocco. Aircelle is the only nacelle manufacturer in the world present on all the market segments, from regional and business aircraft to the largest airliners, including the Airbus A380. Aircelle also is developing the worldwide customer support and service activity for nacelles and their components.

PR

Lockheed Martin Flies First Production F-35 Stealth Fighter

video





FORT WORTH, Texas, February 25th, 2011 -- The first production model of the Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II made its inaugural flight today in preparation for delivery to the U.S. Air Force this spring. The jet will head to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to support developmental testing shortly after the Air Force takes delivery.

“The aircraft was rock-solid from takeoff to landing, and successfully completed all the tests we put it through during the flight,” said Lockheed Martin Test Pilot Bill Gigliotti. “The Air Force is getting a great jet that represents a huge leap in capability, and we’re looking forward to getting it into the hands of the service pilots in just a few more weeks.”

During the flight, the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A variant, known as AF-6, underwent basic flight maneuvering and engine tests. Test Pilot Gigliotti took off from Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base at 3:05 p.m. CST and landed at 4:05 p.m. The jet will continue flight tests in Fort Worth for about a month before it is accepted by the Air Force.

The F-35A CTOL variant – designed to meet U.S. Air Force requirements – is also the primary export version of the Lightning II. The air forces of Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Norway and Israel will employ the F-35A.

Deliveries of the F-35B short takeoff/vertical landing variant to the U.S. Marine Corps also begin this year, while deliveries of the F-35C carrier variant to the U.S. Navy start in 2012. Seventeen F-35s have entered testing since December 2006, and have logged more than 650 flights and numerous ground tests.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment. Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems.

PR

VIRTUAL FLY tiene el placer de invitar a todos los miembros de IVAO España a participar en el INDOOR SIMULATOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

 

Barcelona, 25 de febrero de 2011

 

VIRTUAL FLY tiene el placer de invitar a todos los miembros de IVAO España a participar en el INDOOR SIMULATOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

 El objetivo de este programa es ofrecer una prueba de vuelo de 30 minutos, gratuita y sin compromiso alguno, en el SIMVOL-04, simulador en cabina cerrada con movimiento.

Con estas pruebas y gracias a la experiencia acumulada de los miembros de IVAO España en la simulación aeronáutica, VIRTUAL FLY desea obtener las opiniones y comentarios con los que desarrollar el SIMVOL-04 y sus versiones mejoradas.

¿QUE ES SIMVOL-04?
SIMVOL-04 es un simulador de vuelo en el que el usuario obtiene una completa inmersión y un realismo absoluto en la experiencia de vuelo gracias a su cabina cerrada con movimiento; equipado con todos los mandos y un completo panel de instrumentos para vuelo visual e instrumental con el que se pueden volar distintos tipos de aviones monomotor. La sensación de vuelo es absoluta y permite conectarse a Internet para disfrutar del tráfico y meteorología en tiempo real.

La unidad preparada para este programa representa una Cessna 172S y utiliza "Microsoft Flight Simulator X" como software de simulación, con la ventaja añadida de funcionar con potentes ordenadores que permiten una fluidez visual total mejorada con el extension pack "Ultimate Terrain" y escenarios foto realistas. 

Además, la consola exterior de instrucción habilita al usuario una comunicación directa mediante cascos y micrófono para solicitar situaciones extremas que incluyen averías, viento cruzado, cizalladura, niebla, lluvia, etc… 

¿CÓMO, CUÁNDO y DÓNDE?
El INDOOR SIMULATOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM pone a disposición de los miembros de IVAO España una experiencia de vuelo de 30 minutos el último sábado de cada mes, entre las 0900 y las 1400 en el SIMVOL-04 que tenemos instalado en el Aeropuerto de Sabadell, Barcelona.

Para poder optar a cualquiera de las fechas que se han programado, es necesario enviar un correo electrónico a info@plugandplaysim.com indicando el nombre, apellidos, identificador IVAO y el día y hora solicitados. Las peticiones se programarán por orden de recepción y se confirmarán mediante una respuesta por email desde info@plugandplaysim.com al solicitante, confirmando su reserva o fecha / hora alternativas en caso de haber optado por un hueco ya reservado.
 
Fechas INDOOR SIMULATOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 2011:
•   26 de marzo
•   30 de abril
•   28 de mayo
•   25 de junio
•   30 de julio
•   27 de agosto
•   24 de septiembre
•   29 de octubre
•   26 de noviembre
•   17 de diciembre

Esperamos que todos los miembros de IVAO España puedan disfrutar tanto como nosotros de esta nueva experiencia de simulación virtual y que gracias a sus opiniones y comentarios terminemos por ofrecer un simulador más real, más completo y más divertido. Contamos con vosotros, hasta entonces, recibid un cordial saludo. 

¡Buenos vuelos!

Air Force Awards Boeing $35B Tanker Contract

USAF video

EADS North America statement concerning U.S. Air Force Tanker selection

Arlington, Virginia,  24 February 2011

EADS North America officials today expressed disappointment and concern over the announcement by the U.S. Air Force that it had selected a high-risk, concept aircraft over the proven, more capable KC-45 for the nation's next aerial refueling tanker.

"This is certainly a disappointing turn of events, and we look forward to discussing with the Air Force how it arrived at this conclusion," said EADS North America Chairman Ralph D. Crosby, Jr. "For seven years our goal has been to provide the greatest capability to our men and women in uniform, and to create American jobs by building the KC-45 here in the U.S. We remain committed to those objectives."

If selected, EADS North America had committed to build the KC-45 at a new production facility in Mobile, Alabama, with a U.S. supplier base of nearly a thousand American companies.

"With a program of such complexity, our review of today's decision will take some time," Crosby said. "There are more than 48,000 Americans who are eager to build the KC-45 here in the U.S., and we owe it to them to conduct a thorough analysis."

"Though we had hoped for a different outcome, it's important to remember that this is one business opportunity among many for EADS in the United States," said Sean O'Keefe, CEO of EADS North America. "We have exceptional technology and highly capable platforms that will be invaluable to U.S. military forces, now and in the future. We have learned much through this process, developed a world-class organization in the U.S. and have earned the respect of the Department of Defense. Our commitment to our U.S. customers is stronger than ever."

To learn more about the KC-45 and the more than 48,000 American jobs it will create or support, visit www.kc-45now.com


Press Release

Boeing Receives US Air Force Contract to Build Next-Generation Refueling Tanker

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 24, 2011 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has received a contract from the U.S. Air Force to build the next-generation aerial refueling tanker aircraft that will replace 179 of the service’s 400 KC-135 tankers.

The contract calls for Boeing to design, develop, manufacture and deliver 18 initial combat-ready tankers by 2017.

"We're honored to be given the opportunity to build the Air Force's next tanker and provide a vital capability to the men and women of our armed forces," said Jim McNerney, Boeing chairman, president and CEO. "Our team is ready now to apply our 60 years of tanker experience to develop and build an airplane that will serve the nation for decades to come."

In selecting the Boeing NewGen Tanker after a lengthy and rigorous proposal process, the Air Force has chosen an American-built, multi-mission tanker that is based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane and meets all requirements at the lowest risk for the warfighter and the best value for taxpayers. The Boeing proposal was created by an integrated "One Boeing" team from various sites across the company, including employees from the Commercial Airplanes; Defense, Space & Security; and Engineering, Operations & Technology organizations.

"This contract award would not have been possible without the hundreds of Boeing employees across the entire company, and the thousands of our industry teammates, who remained laser-focused on our commitment to offer a solution that is first in capability and best in value,” said Dennis Muilenburg, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "This award is also a tribute to the Air Force and Defense Department officials who worked so tirelessly to make this procurement process fair, ultimately resulting in the selection of the right plane for the mission. We look forward to working with our Air Force customer to deliver this much needed capability to the servicemen and women we are honored to serve."

The KC-46A tankers will be built using a low-risk approach to manufacturing by a trained and experienced U.S. work force at existing Boeing facilities. The KC-46A tanker also will fuel the economy as it supports approximately 50,000 total U.S. jobs with Boeing and more than 800 suppliers in more than 40 states.

"Boeing has always been committed to the integrity of the competitive process, and the men and women across our Boeing commercial and defense teams and our entire supplier network are ready to extend that commitment to delivering these tankers on time and on budget," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Based on the proven Boeing 767 commercial airplane, the KC-46A Tanker is a widebody, multi-mission aircraft updated with the latest and most advanced technology and capable of meeting or exceeding the Air Force's needs for transport of fuel, cargo, passengers and patients. It includes state-of-the-art systems to meet the demanding mission requirements of the future, including a digital flight deck featuring Boeing 787 Dreamliner electronic displays and a flight control design philosophy that places aircrews in command rather than allowing computer software to limit combat maneuverability. The NewGen Tanker also features an advanced KC-10 boom with an expanded refueling envelope, increased fuel offload rate and fly-by-wire control system.

To learn more about the KC-46A Tanker, visit www.UnitedStatesTanker.com.

Boeing

Northrop Grumman Fire Scout Completes First Unmanned Test Flights on Littoral Combat Ship

Northrop Grumman and U.S. Navy Team Validate System's Integration for Future Operations

SAN DIEGO – Feb. 24, 2011 – The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) -built MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) achieved a significant development milestone in November when it flew its first test flights from the U.S. Navy's littoral combat ship, USS Freedom (LCS-1).

The Navy conducted the activity, known as dynamic interface (DI) testing, off the coast of southern California to verify Fire Scout control systems have been integrated on the ship properly. DI testing started Nov. 13 and concluded Nov. 24.

"This was a great opportunity to witness the pairing of the LCS with Fire Scout because it represents what the Navy will use for future littoral security missions," said George Vardoulakis, vice president for tactical unmanned systems for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "We used the opportunity to demonstrate system performance capabilities with the ship, maintenance crew and other key logistical support functions."

Northrop Grumman is the Navy's Fire Scout prime contractor. A team of nine company engineers and air vehicle operators were on the ship to conduct DI testing with the Freedom's crew.

During DI testing, Fire Scout conducted a series of shipboard takeoffs and landings from various approaches. The testing also included subjecting the system to various wind directions and ship speeds. This process validated installation of equipment on the Freedom for future operations. It also allowed the team to identify any enhancements that can be made to improve use of Fire Scout systems on the LCS.

Fire Scout is intended to be a key intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance asset in LCS mission packages for mine countermeasures, anti-submarine and surface warfare. These mission packages allow an LCS to rapidly adapt to new assignments. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for LCS mission packages.

With the successful DI testing, the Navy is closer to fully incorporating the VTUAV into LCS operations. Additional DI testing will be conducted on the USS Independence (LCS-2) next year.

The USS Freedom is the fourth ship and the third ship class from which Fire Scout has flown. Previous flight operations have been conducted from the USS Nashville (LPD-13), the USS McInerney (FFG-8) and USS Halyburton (FFG-40).

Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please go to www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

Astrium: perfecto rendezvous en el espacio para el ATV Johannes Kepler

Toulouse/Bremen,  24 febrero 2011

       * Johannes Kepler, construido por Astrium, atracó automáticamente en la ISS tras recorrer en una semana más de cuatro millones de kilómetros por el espacio
       * El ATV-2 se convierte en parte integral, habitada, de la ISS
       * El ATV es en este momento el robot espacial más sofisticado del mundo

Tras un vuelo por el espacio de cuatro millones de kilómetros que duró casi una semana, el ATV-2 "Johannes Kepler", el segundo vehículo no tripulado de abastecimiento construido por Astrium para la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA) ha ejecutado una maniobra perfecta para atracar automáticamente con la Estación Espacial Internacional (ISS). El Vehículo Automatizado de Transferencia ATV se unió exitosamente a la Estación Espacial Internacional (ISS) a las 16.59 CET y está ahora en disposición para cumplir con su misión de reaprovisionamiento y reelevación de órbita, durante la cual se convertirá en un componente integral, habitado, de la ISS.

"Es éste un gran día para Astrium pues somos el contratista principal de la carga útil ATV, de gran complejidad técnica. Dada su capacidad de atracar de forma automática en la ISS a una velocidad de 28.000 Km/h, el ATV es en este momento el robot espacial más inteligente del mundo", dice Michael Menking, Director de Orbital Systems and Space Exploration, de Astrium. "Este sofisticado vehículo espacial, que es una etapa superior, un satélite y un módulo de estación espacial todo en uno, proporciona una excelente base de cara a la innovación robótica futura y las misiones tripuladas de exploración".

El ATV-2 Johannes Kepler transporta más de siete toneladas de carga neta para la estación espacial, incluyendo 850 kilogramos de combustible, 100 kilogramos de oxígeno y más de 1,6 toneladas de suministros y provisiones. El ATV-2 Johannes Kepler también lleva ropa para los astronautas, el experimento científico Geoflow II (construido por Astrium para la ESA) así como varias piezas de equipo que son necesarias para llevar a cabo reparaciones y para la operación en general de la ISS. Además, el ATV porta 4,5 toneladas de combustible para las maniobras de impulso que elevarán la ISS a una altitud de casi 400 kilómetros.

"El ATV es una prueba tangible de los sistemas espaciales tecnológicamente sofisticados que puede ofrecer Astrium, una empresa genuinamente europea. Nuestros equipos en Alemania y Francia trabajaron juntos en perfecta armonía, con el apoyo de proveedores de primera línea de todo el continente. Estamos muy orgullosos de que el procedimiento de atraque completamente automático se llevara a cabo sin tropiezo alguno. Queremos dar nuestras más sinceras gracias a los gobiernos europeos, a la ESA y a las agencias nacionales por el apoyo y confianza depositados en los equipos de Astrium", declaró Alain Charmeau, CEO de Astrium Space Transportation, acerca de la exitosa conclusión de la maniobra de atraque.

Dentro de aproximadamente tres meses y medio acabará la misión de Johannes Kepler cuando se llene de residuos, desatraque, retire de la órbita y se destruya al quemarse en las capas densas de la atmósfera terrestre.

Atraque en la ISS

Dada la extraordinaria precisión del primer ATV Jules Verne lanzado y acoplado en 2008, Johannes Kepler no fue sometido a prueba alguna de demostración. Por lo tanto, el ATV-2 completó una fase de vuelo libre más corta antes de aproximarse a la ISS, lo que hizo posible que llegara a ésta en sólo una semana.

Johannes Kepler atracó en el módulo ruso de la estación, Zvezda. La seguridad de la tripulación y de la Estación Espacial es la máxima prioridad durante la secuencia automática de atraque en la ISS. Durante el vuelo, los sistemas de a bordo del ATV están siendo monitorizados constantemente por los Centros de Control de ATV. El sistema inteligente, autónomo, de seguridad del ATV, que fuera desarrollado por Astrium, se encarga de que en caso de que se produzca la más mínima anomalía de sistema el vehículo regrese automáticamente a una posición segura frente a la estación y "aparque" a una distancia apropiada de la ISS. Tras la verificación del sistema, se puede iniciar una nueva aproximación.

La fase de atraque comenzó a casi 30 kilómetros de la ISS. A una distancia de 250 metros, el sistema ATV pasa a la modalidad de Guiado, Navegación y Control (GNC), que utiliza sensores ópticos. Además de la conexión por radio ya existente, los astronautas a bordo de la ISS siguen directamente la maniobra a través de vídeo. Tras recibir la autorización del Centro de Control, el ATV continuó su aproximación hasta los 12 metros y cubrió los últimos metros hasta el puerto de atraque de la ISS a una velocidad máxima relativa no superior a diez centímetros por segundo. La sonda extendida de atraque del ATV posee un diámetro de unos 15 centímetros y precisa que la capture el puerto de atraque del módulo ruso Zvezda, que tiene un diámetro de 90 centímetros.

A continuación el ATV se alineó con el eje longitudinal de la ISS. Todas las conexiones eléctricas, mecánicas y de fluidos entre la ISS y este vehículo espacial se configuraron automáticamente. Una escotilla de carga con un diámetro de casi 72 centímetros conectó el Portacargas Integrado ICC con el módulo de servicio ruso y convirtió al vehículo europeo en una parte integral de la ISS.

Boeing Completes 1,000th 787 Flight

EVERETT, Wash., Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliner made its 1,000th flight yesterday, marking another milestone in the flight test program. There are seven airplanes participating in flight testing. The landing of 787 flight test airplane ZA004, just after 1 p.m. MST at Yuma International Airport in Arizona, counted as the official 1,000th flight.

The program is near its 3,000th hour of flying and 787s have flown a total of more than one million miles.

"The team is making great progress," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. "We are getting through the test conditions needed to certify this airplane with nearly 80 percent of the conditions for the first model, with Rolls-Royce engines, already complete. And, we're more than 60 percent of the way through the test conditions for the 787s with General Electric engines."

Capt. Mike Carriker, chief pilot for the 787, Boeing Test & Evaluation, said the airplane continues to behave well in testing.

"We're really eager to get this airplane through its flight testing so our customers can see for themselves this airplane's excellent performance," said Carriker.

Pictured here, ZA004 frames Mt. Rainier in Western Washington during a test flight earlier this year.

Airbus Military dona a la Fundación Andaluza Fondo de Formación y Empleo un avión C212 para su uso en prácticas de cursos formativos

La Fundación Pública Andaluza Fondo de Formación y Empleo –entidad de la Consejería de Empleo– ha recibido hoy de Airbus Military un avión C212 como donación dirigida a la realización de actividades formativas de carácter práctico que hasta ahora se realizaban mediante simuladores o programas informáticos.

La donación ha tenido lugar mediante un acto simbólico en el que el director general de la Fundación Pública Andaluza Fondo de Formación y Empleo, Fernando Villén, ha recibido de manos del director de Recursos Humanos de Airbus Military y Airbus en España, Mariano Alonso, las llaves del C212.

Este C212 permitirá reforzar el aprendizaje de conocimientos prácticos de distintas especialidades formativas orientadas al sector aeronáutico que, con más de 500 horas de formación, se dirigen a personas desempleadas. También permitirá mejorar la cualificación de empleados del sector con la incorporación de este avión como recurso didáctico a los programas formativos, ya que practicarán in situ la materia aprendida que, hasta ahora, se realizaba mediante simuladores o programas informáticos.

Esta entrega desarrolla la labor conjunta que vienen realizando la Fundación y Airbus Military de cara a la cualificación y mejora de los recursos humanos del sector. El director de Recursos Humanos de Airbus Military y Airbus en España, Mariano Alonso, ha señalado al respecto: “Debemos hacer cuanto esté en nuestra mano para que los futuros empleados del sector aeronáutico reciban la mejor de las formaciones posibles y realizar prácticas reales sobre este C212 contribuirá en gran medida a impartir una formación de calidad como la que viene realizando la Fundación”.

El director general de la Fundación, Fernando Villén, por su parte, ha apuntado: “Gracias a este nuevo recurso didáctico, la formación que desarrollamos en el sector aeronáutico adquiere un valor añadido, ya que se vincula directamente al ejercicio profesional en el puesto de trabajo”. Según especificó Villén, para el año 2011 está previsto que unas 90
personas desempleadas y más de 200 trabajadores de diferentes empresas del sector realicen distintas actividades de carácter práctico sobre el avión.

El avión C212 pasará mañana a las instalaciones del Centro de Formación Especializada La Rinconada que, la Fundación Pública Andaluza Fondo de Formación y Empleo tiene en la
provincia de Sevilla.

Acerca de FAFFE
La Fundación Pública Andaluza Fondo de Formación y Empleo, entidad de la Consejería de Empleo, interviene en el territorio andaluza para dinamizar su tejido productivo a través de diferentes actuaciones que faciliten el cambio hacia el nuevo modelo productivo. En el sector aeronáutico, la Fundación implementa acciones encaminadas a mejorar la cualificación profesional tanto de trabajadores de la industria aeronáutica como de personas desempleadas. Estas actuaciones se concretan en estudios, asesoramientos, formación a medida, entre otras. La amplia experiencia con la que cuenta la Fundación en el ámbito de la formación y el empleo garantiza su respuesta a los nuevos perfiles profesionales que están surgiendo como consecuencia del creciente peso que la industria aeronáutica está alcanzando en la economía andaluza y derivados de la nueva manera de producir del sector.

Acerca del C212
La extraordinaria fiabilidad demostrada en más de tres millones de horas de vuelo convierte al C212 en el avión con más éxito en el segmento ligero. Con una capacidad de carga útil de 2,8 toneladas, se diseñó para operar en entornos extremos durante prolongados períodos de tiempo. Su robustez le permite operar de forma totalmente fiable en entornos como el desierto, la jungla o la Antártida. Cuenta con una extraordinaria respuesta para el despegue y aterrizaje en pistas cortas (STOL, del inglés Short Take Off and Landing) gracias a su sólido tren de aterrizaje con neumáticos de baja presión. Estas características hacen posible que opere de forma ilimitada en pistas blandas y sin pavimentar a altas temperaturas y
elevadas altitudes. Su excelente manejabilidad y la rápida respuesta de sus motores (dos Allied Signal) le otorgan el máximo nivel de maniobrabilidad a altitudes muy bajas. La facilidad de mantenimiento del C212 reduce sus costes de operación hasta hacerlos los más bajos de su clase.

Acerca de Airbus Military
Airbus Military es el único fabricante de aviones de transporte militar y humanitario que desarrolla, fabrica, comercializa y presta asistencia a una familia completa de aviones de transporte con cargas útiles que van desde las tres a las 45 toneladas. Airbus Military es el responsable del programa A400M y del avión multifunción de reabastecimiento en vuelo (MRTT) derivado del A330, así como de otros productos militares que se basan en aviones civiles de Airbus. Con sus modelos de menor tamaño C295, CN235 y C212, Airbus Military es líder mundial en los segmentos de mercado de los aviones de transporte militar medios y ligeros con unas ventas superiores a las 1.000 unidades de las que aproximadamente 650 se encuentran en servicio con más de 100 operadores en todo el mundo. Los modelos C295, CN235 y C212 cuentan con sus respectivas versiones de patrulla marítima.

AirbusMilitary

IAI to present a structural concept for protecting aircraft from damage due to bird impact at the Israel annual Conference on Aerospace Sciences

The G250 executive jet with "bird splitter" concept




Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has developed an innovative structural concept for protecting aircraft from damage due to bird impact. The Bird Splitter structure is located on the aircrafts' tail and designed to "split" an incoming bird and thereby protect aircraft structure and crucial systems. This concept was implemented on the new IAI-manufactured G-250 business jet, a member of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation's super mid-size category.

This concept and more, will be presented by IAI representatives at the 51st Israel Annual Conference on Aerospace Sciences, due to take place from February 23rd to February 24th, 2011. (http://www.aeroconf.org.il/conf/index.html)

The first day of the conference will be held at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv and the second day at the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, in Haifa.
At the conference new aeronautical, and commercial and military aviation state-of-the-art technologies will be presented.

The conference also hosts the Technion's student competition. The contest presents the students' annual projects, which are held at the Technion where leading engineers from industry work jointly to guide students through the program while emphasizing an innovative and systems approach in aerospace and aeronautics engineering. One of the four projects selected is the "Batmobil", a flying-model with unique qualities, and this is being guided by Shlomo Tsach from IAI's Engineering and Development Group.

The conference includes lecturers from Israel and abroad, among them Dr. M. Goldstein, a guest speaker from NASA, who will present a basic theory of airplane noise. Representatives from Israeli hi-tech and defense industries, the Israel Air Force, and leading Israeli academic institutions – such as Tel Aviv University, Ben Gurion University, and the Technion, which organizes the conference, will also be attending.

Unmanned Solutions Video: UAS Flight with a Synthetic Aperture Radar

Unmanned Solutions uses a K1-II platform to calibrate a Synthetic Aperture Radar developed by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid within the Fault Tolerant Automatic UAS Operation R&D project.
The video shows footage filmed with an onboard HD camera and also from another manned aircraft that followed the flight.

Video