In New Atlas
http://newatlas.com/x-37-b-spaceplane-record-flight/49400/
In press release
http://www.af.mil/mobile/News/Article/1175402/x-37b-orbital-test-vehicle-4-lands-at-kennedy-space-center/
WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle mission 4 (OTV-4), the Air Force's unmanned, reusable space plane, landed at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility May 7, 2017.
“Today marks an incredibly exciting day for the 45th Space Wing as we continue to break barriers,” said Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, the 45th SW commander. “Our team has been preparing for this event for several years, and I am extremely proud to see our hard work and dedication culminate in today’s safe and successful landing of the X-37B.”
The OTV-4 conducted on-orbit experiments for 718 days during its mission, extending the total number of days spent on-orbit for the OTV program to 2,085 days.
"The landing of OTV-4 marks another success for the X-37B program and the nation," said Lt. Col. Ron Fehlen, X-37B program manager. "This mission once again set an on-orbit endurance record and marks the vehicle's first landing in the state of Florida. We are incredibly pleased with the performance of the space vehicle and are excited about the data gathered to support the scientific and space communities. We are extremely proud of the dedication and hard work by the entire team."
The X-37B is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft. Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the X-37B program performs risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies.
"The hard work of the X-37B OTV team and the 45th Space Wing successfully demonstrated the flexibility and resolve necessary to continue the nation's advancement in space," said Randy Walden, the director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. "The ability to land, refurbish, and launch from the same location further enhances the OTV's ability to rapidly integrate and qualify new space technologies."
The Air Force is preparing to launch the fifth X-37B mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, later in 2017.
lunes, 8 de mayo de 2017
IAF Begins Brutal Rejig Of Purchase Priorities. Expect Blood.
Get the feeling that India’s ‘Make in India’ fighter project(s) have gone cold over the last two months? Well, for one thing, you’re not alone. For another, you’re right — it definitely feels like they’re on the proverbial backburner. And there are good reasons. We begin the first of this week’s special two-part deep dive on the Indian Air Force’s Make In India fighter projects by bringing to you a breakdown distilled from a range of conversations over two weeks with several officers leading the acquisitions and plans processes at the IAF and Ministry of Defence https://www.livefistdefence.com/2017/05/iaf-begins-brutal-rejig-of-purchase-priorities-expect-blood.html
viernes, 5 de mayo de 2017
Embraer delivers its 1,100th business jet
Press Release
Embraer delivered today its 1,100th business jet. The milestone aircraft is the industry’s best-selling Phenom 300, and the customer is NetJets, the world’s largest private aviation company, with a portfolio of services that includes fractional ownership, jet cards, aircraft management and charter.
“Embraer scored the four-digit mark in business jet deliveries in an impressively short period of time. NetJets has been integral to our success story by co-creating a premium product to meet the discerning tastes of their distinguished Owners,” said Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO of Embraer Executive Jets. “We are committed to delivering the most value to our customers, with superior products that offer a unique combination of comfort, performance and operating costs, coupled with an unmatched experience throughout their journey, including the best customer support in the industry.”
With over 670 customers flying 1,100 aircraft in more than 70 countries, Embraer’s business aviation division has accumulated a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19% since 2002, when the first executive jet model was delivered. In 2016, Embraer’s market share represented 18% of the industry’s global deliveries.
“The Phenom is one of the most outstanding light cabin jets in the industry. It meets our Owners’ and our own high standards for performance and safety, and offers custom enhancements for well-appointed travel,” said Adam Johnson, Chairman and CEO, NetJets. “We are proud to have Phenoms in our fleet, and we’re excited to celebrate this milestone delivery with our industry partner.”
Embraer’s broad product portfolio is uniquely positioned in terms of the overall value proposition, combining comfort, technology, performance, economics and reliability. Its fleet is supported by the top-ranked service solutions, as confirmed by independent market surveys.
“Embraer scored the four-digit mark in business jet deliveries in an impressively short period of time. NetJets has been integral to our success story by co-creating a premium product to meet the discerning tastes of their distinguished Owners,” said Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO of Embraer Executive Jets. “We are committed to delivering the most value to our customers, with superior products that offer a unique combination of comfort, performance and operating costs, coupled with an unmatched experience throughout their journey, including the best customer support in the industry.”
With over 670 customers flying 1,100 aircraft in more than 70 countries, Embraer’s business aviation division has accumulated a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19% since 2002, when the first executive jet model was delivered. In 2016, Embraer’s market share represented 18% of the industry’s global deliveries.
“The Phenom is one of the most outstanding light cabin jets in the industry. It meets our Owners’ and our own high standards for performance and safety, and offers custom enhancements for well-appointed travel,” said Adam Johnson, Chairman and CEO, NetJets. “We are proud to have Phenoms in our fleet, and we’re excited to celebrate this milestone delivery with our industry partner.”
Embraer’s broad product portfolio is uniquely positioned in terms of the overall value proposition, combining comfort, technology, performance, economics and reliability. Its fleet is supported by the top-ranked service solutions, as confirmed by independent market surveys.
Airbus Engineering boosts innovation, competitiveness with move to WSU Innovation Campus; relaunches Airbus Foundation Flying Challenge in Wichita
Airbus Americas Engineering today officially opened its new Engineering Center on the Wichita State University (WSU) Innovation Campus. In a ceremony attended by the approximately 300 Airbus employees who work at the center and special guests, including Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer, the company recognized the importance of locating academia and industry together to improve innovation and competitiveness. The company also relaunched the Airbus Foundation Flying Challenge in Wichita, which will see Maize USD 266’s Maize High School and Maize South High School junior and senior students building an airplane in partnership with Airbus and Tango Flight.
“Airbus employees are creative people,” said Barry Eccleston, CEO of Airbus Americas, Inc. “As they develop engineering solutions they naturally discover new ideas and concepts that could potentially enhance products and business processes to create value for our customers. The question is, ‘how do we support our employees as they transition good ideas into value?’ Our presence on the Innovation Campus will help us do that. The campus provides an environment that fosters faster transition of innovative ideas into real-world uses and value for the company.”
Being a resident on the campus provides a support infrastructure to Airbus Engineering that would otherwise be cost prohibitive to duplicate in a stand-alone engineering center, including access to engineering labs, research faculty, conference facilities, educational opportunities, and easier collaboration with other members of the Innovation Campus.
As a resident of the campus, Airbus is partnering with WSU within the university’s Applied Learning Model, which engages students in real-world engineering projects, helps develop critical skills that are needed for engineering now and in the future, and helps produce graduates with experience, while also boosting Airbus’ competitiveness.
“Wichita’s talent pool of aerospace and aviation experts is among the richest in the world,” said John O’Leary, Vice President-Airbus Americas Engineering. “The aviation expertise here is recognized within Airbus and around the world. The Innovation Campus is only going to help Wichita’s expertise grow. And with the relaunch of the Airbus Foundation Flying Challenge in partnership with Tango Flight and Maize Schools, we’re investing in the future of that expertise.”
The Airbus Foundation Flying Challenge is a global program that leverages aviation to inspire young people to continue their education, find their professional vocation and realize their dreams through mentoring with Airbus employee volunteers.The program initially launched in Wichita in 2012 with a focus on middle school students. The 2017 challenge will focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at the high school level through the construction of a flying aircraft. The program will build on the existing Aerospace Engineering curriculum at Maize USD 266, which incorporates Project Lead The Way (PLTW) in its curriculm. Airbus mentors will work with students to build an FAA Licensed RV-12 “kit plane”. The students will be exposed to aircraft design, engineering and production activities, as well as project management, team work and finally, the freedom of flight.
“Partnerships and opportunities like these are key as we continue to create ways to introduce our students to experiences, skills, mentors, and potential jobs that will help their college readiness and future careers take flight,” Maize USD 266 Superintendent Dr. Chad Higgns said. “We welcome mutually beneficial relationships with businesses and other organizations that strengthen our students’ learning environment while enriching the community.”
Tango Flight will provide the Airbus Foundation with a unique turnkey solution including an integrated aerospace engineering curriculum, aviation training, aircraft ownership, aircraft insurance and mentor program development. “We are very excited to work in partnership with Airbus and Maize High to expand this Program to the Air Capitol,” said Dan Weyant President and Co-Founder of Tango Flight.
Carrier drone system undergoing testing [feedly]
Carrier drone system undergoing testing
http://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2017/05/04/Carrier-drone-system-undergoing-testing/3041493898667/
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http://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2017/05/04/Carrier-drone-system-undergoing-testing/3041493898667/
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What's the Deal With China's Surface Skimming Anti-Ship Drone-Missile Hybrid? [feedly]
What's the Deal With China's Surface Skimming Anti-Ship Drone-Missile Hybrid?
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/9974/whats-the-deal-with-chinas-surface-skimming-anti-ship-drone-missile-hybrid
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http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/9974/whats-the-deal-with-chinas-surface-skimming-anti-ship-drone-missile-hybrid
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Le Sukhoi T-50 va bientôt recevoir sa nouvelle motorisation [feedly]
Le Sukhoi T-50 va bientôt recevoir sa nouvelle motorisation
http://www.air-cosmos.com/le-sukhoi-t-50-va-bientot-recevoir-sa-nouvelle-motorisation-94169
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http://www.air-cosmos.com/le-sukhoi-t-50-va-bientot-recevoir-sa-nouvelle-motorisation-94169
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Watch: New Sikorsky 'King' helicopters enter service [feedly]
Watch: New Sikorsky 'King' helicopters enter service
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/386891
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http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/386891
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C919's maiden flight
video: https://www.rt.com/news/387199-china-c919-maiden-flight/
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-aviation-comac-flight-takeoff-idUSKBN1810F3
http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/05/news/china-comac-c919-takes-flight/
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-aviation-comac-flight-takeoff-idUSKBN1810F3
http://money.cnn.com/2017/05/05/news/china-comac-c919-takes-flight/
The first #C919, pointing west at Shanghai Pudong. APU running (you can tell by the open tail cone flap), air stairs still attached. pic.twitter.com/elfsQNvAP4— Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) May 5, 2017
飞 is the Chinese character for flying. #C919— Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) May 5, 2017
That white speck in the distance is the #C919. Taking off to the north at 1.30pm, will circle for 90 minutes before landing back at pudong. pic.twitter.com/LLaYsPd75G— Owen Churchill (@owenschurchill) May 5, 2017
Still quite a bit of activity around #C919. Large group of personnel just came off the plane. pic.twitter.com/DmikOPcDF6— Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) May 5, 2017
Flying chase with #C919 today is Embraer Legacy 650 B-3293. https://t.co/BMX3niVfPE pic.twitter.com/b863lqpPsb— Jon Ostrower (@jonostrower) May 5, 2017
jueves, 4 de mayo de 2017
Marine MV-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft Complete First Pacific Crossing
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Marine MV-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft Complete First Pacific Crossing // The Aviationist
https://theaviationist.com/2017/05/03/marine-mv-22-osprey-tilt-rotor-aircraft-complete-first-pacific-crossing/
Four U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys Have Crossed the Pacific for the First Time. A flight of four U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft has completed a historic first ever long-range flight across the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin. The aircraft stopped on Guam and Wake Island […]
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New process promises greener, more efficient carbon fiber recycling
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New process promises greener, more efficient carbon fiber recycling // Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine
http://newatlas.com/carbon-fiber-recycling/49354/
While it is already possible to recycle carbon fiber, the material is often simply ground up, or broken down using high temperatures and harsh chemicals – the latter of which are difficult to safely dispose of. Additionally, the carbon strands themselves may be damaged in the process, plus the polymer resin which is used to laminate them together can't be reclaimed. Scientists at Washington State University, however, have developed a process that they say doesn't have any of those drawbacks.
.. Continue Reading New process promises greener, more efficient carbon fiber recycling
Category: Materials
Tags: Carbon FiberRecyclingWashington State University Related Articles: Got this kind of face? You're more likely to be left-handed Video reveals young chimps are hands-on learners Bioinspired 3D-printing tech makes for strong-but-light structures Shape-shifting proteins layered like a cake could set Alzheimer's in motion Dissolving tampon could offer fast-acting HIV protection Wiring the brain with artificial senses and limb control
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Video: 3D-printing moondust bricks with focused solar heat
Read more: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Engineering_Technology/Printing_bricks_from_moondust_using_the_Sun_s_heat
Credit: ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/igo/
miércoles, 3 de mayo de 2017
Sukhoi PAK FA's new missile capable of destroying all targets - Pravda
Pravda | Sukhoi PAK FA's new missile capable of destroying all targets Pravda The Russian T-50 fighter aircraft of the 5th generation has been equipped with a tactical Kh-35UE anti-ship cruise missile, which is capable of annihilating any sea targets. According to specialists, the T-50 will become a multifunctional combat machine. Russia's New 5th Generation Fighter Jet Just Turned Into a Deadly ...Sputnik International |
Military Blended-Wing Body Variant Is Step Closer To Reality
Boeing ponders follow-on BWB study after positive result from water tunnel clamshell-door test
The next generation of drones will be defined by 'swarms'
These automated, flying robots are tiny, cheap, disposable. And in large groups, they could either save your life, or be the deadliest weapon since the machine gun. What do you picture when you think of a drone? A solitary, remote-controlled toy with propellers, or perhaps a large, unmanned milit...
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Enviado a través de Flipboard, tu revista personal.
Consíguela gratis para mantenerte al día con las noticias que te interesan.
http://flip.it/8OII8G
Enviado a través de Flipboard, tu revista personal.
Consíguela gratis para mantenerte al día con las noticias que te interesan.
The hidden cost of transport ‘megaprojects’
How do you build a massive infrastructure project meant to bring Britain into the future… and not destroy the stories about its past? Two new railway lines are trying to figure it out. Sitting in a train seat and watching the outside world whiz past, you're unlikely to think about the sacrifices ...
http://flip.it/wSasOU
http://flip.it/wSasOU
The U.S. Navy is designing safer batteries, because no one wants a fire at sea
Samsung isn't the only organization worried about flammable batteries Our smartphones and other gadgets are powered by lithium-ion batteries, but as companies like Samsung know all too well, those charge-holders can be flammable under the wrong conditions. The hazards of lithium-ion batteries are...
http://flip.it/ZVjJ6P
http://flip.it/ZVjJ6P
Arianespace Restarts Operations After French Guiana Strikes [feedly]
Arianespace Restarts Operations After French Guiana Strikes
http://aviationweek.com/commercializing-space/arianespace-restarts-operations-after-french-guiana-strikes
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http://aviationweek.com/commercializing-space/arianespace-restarts-operations-after-french-guiana-strikes
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ANALYSIS: Why the next Airbus MRO vendor is Boeing [feedly]
ANALYSIS: Why the next Airbus MRO vendor is Boeing
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-why-the-next-airbus-mro-vendor-is-boeing-436736/
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http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-why-the-next-airbus-mro-vendor-is-boeing-436736/
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HondaJet Sets Two Speed Records [feedly]
HondaJet Sets Two Speed Records
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=6f2b02cb-7e73-48ec-a3c2-38bb028fb1f4
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http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=6f2b02cb-7e73-48ec-a3c2-38bb028fb1f4
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IBM Inventors Patent Invention for Transferring Packages between Aerial Drones
press release
Armonk, N.Y. - 28 Apr 2017: IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that its inventors have been granted a patent for transferring packages between drones during flight. The invention described in US Patent No. 9,561,852: In flight transfer of packages between aerial drones helps to extend the range of drones that are delivering packages from a warehouse to a customer's home. IBM inventors developed this patented system using their supply chain expertise to enable precise delivery services to customers using drones.
Drones are starting to be used to transport packages to customer locations, but there are still numerous challenges to this delivery method such as: limited flight range, theft of unattended packages once delivered, and a lack of delivery network optimization. This invention can help to mitigate these challenges by providing in-flight drone-to-drone package transfers to extend package delivery range.
For example, a customer expecting a package could dispatch a personal drone to receive and securely deliver the package to the customer’s home. Drone delivery network optimization could be provided to autonomous drones via the communications link described in the patent.
“Drones have the potential to change the way businesses operate and by leveraging machine learning, drones could change ecommerce,” said Sarbajit Rakshit, IBM Master Inventor and co-inventor on the patent. “Our inventor team is focused on improving how the most valuable cargo is delivered globally. This could create opportunities such as managing drones to deliver postal packages and medicine in developing countries via the most direct route.”
IBM inventors have patented other inventions related to drones and drone-enabling technologies. However, this is just one aspect of IBM’s Supply Chain and Logistics expertise. IBM manages supply chains for clients on a worldwide basis using IBM Watson Supply Chain.
For more information about IBM’s patent leadership, please visit: https://ibm.co/2px5s2M
martes, 2 de mayo de 2017
jueves, 27 de abril de 2017
Dual-seat JF-17B fighter jet prototype takes to the sky
According to pictures released on social medias, the dual-seat variant of the JF-17 fighter jet, the JF-17B, have made its maiden flight on April 27
Spy Planes Tagged Along as U.S. Air Force F-35s Flew Near Russia [feedly]
Spy Planes Tagged Along as U.S. Air Force F-35s Flew Near Russia
https://warisboring.com/spy-planes-tagged-along-as-u-s-air-force-f-35s-flew-near-russia/
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SIA changes takeoff procedure after 777-300 tail strike [feedly]
SIA changes takeoff procedure after 777-300 tail strike
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/sia-changes-takeoff-procedure-after-777-300-tail-str-436622/
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http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/sia-changes-takeoff-procedure-after-777-300-tail-str-436622/
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Gripen tops shortlist for Bulgarian fighter deal [feedly]
Gripen tops shortlist for Bulgarian fighter deal
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/gripen-tops-shortlist-for-bulgarian-fighter-deal-436639/
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http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/gripen-tops-shortlist-for-bulgarian-fighter-deal-436639/
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3DAWS by BAE Will Protect Mil Aircraft | Kuwait to Buy 30 H225Ms in $1.8B Deal with Airbus | DCNS to Build Frigates for French Navy [feedly]
3DAWS by BAE Will Protect Mil Aircraft | Kuwait to Buy 30 H225Ms in $1.8B Deal with Airbus | DCNS to Build Frigates for French Navy
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/3daws-by-bae-will-protect-mil-aircraft-kuwait-to-buy-30-h225ms-in-1-8b-deal-with-airbus-dcns-to-build-frigates-for-french-navy-036587/
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http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/3daws-by-bae-will-protect-mil-aircraft-kuwait-to-buy-30-h225ms-in-1-8b-deal-with-airbus-dcns-to-build-frigates-for-french-navy-036587/
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GAO recommends DoD to complete F-35 testing before making new investments [feedly]
GAO recommends DoD to complete F-35 testing before making new investments
http://www.airforce-technology.com/news/newsgao-recommends-dod-to-complete-f-35-developmental-testing-before-making-new-investments-5796849
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http://www.airforce-technology.com/news/newsgao-recommends-dod-to-complete-f-35-developmental-testing-before-making-new-investments-5796849
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WestJet Announces Plans To Launch A New Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier [feedly]
WestJet Announces Plans To Launch A New Ultra-Low-Cost Carrier
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=f16e5a6e-0f71-413c-8b2b-980971d0e3cc
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Flying Car PAL-V Liberty Revealed By Prince Albert Of Monaco [feedly]
Flying Car PAL-V Liberty Revealed By Prince Albert Of Monaco
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=9c53a72b-2d4f-40a5-8285-cc9f4e272524
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EASA Begins Certification Process For C919 Airliner [feedly]
EASA Begins Certification Process For C919 Airliner
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=a73e94d9-f718-4525-9ba8-1fd8a66ab94e
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Aurora Unveils New eVTOL Aircraft at Uber Elevate Summit
“Uber is taking a big step forward toward making the world’s first VTOL network a reality and our partnership with Aurora Flight Sciences will help get us off the ground,” said Mark Moore, Director of Engineering for Uber. “The Elevate VTOL network will help improve urban mobility around the world and transform the way we travel.”
Aurora’s eVTOL concept is derived from its XV-24A X-plane program currently underway for the U.S. Department of Defense and other autonomous aircraft the company has developed over the years. Aurora has adapted and combined the autonomous flight guidance system from its Centaur optionallypiloted aircraft, the perception and collision avoidance system from the AACUS program, and the battery electric propulsion system from the XV-24A demonstrator to create the innovative eVTOL design.
“The Uber Elevate mission is all about low noise, high reliability, and low cost,” said Aurora CEO John Langford. “By drawing on our nearly 30 years of successful autonomy and robotic programs, Aurora is well positioned to deliver on this urban solution. We have already built and flown the first proof-of-concept aircraft and we’re excited to partner with Uber in accelerating the eVTOL initiative.”
The partnership agreement provides the basis for a system of urban transportation solutions that will enable users of the Uber Elevate Network to request an Aurora eVTOL aircraft via Uber’s computer or mobile software applications. With the successful first test flight of the aircraft on April 20, 2017, the goal of delivering 50 aircraft for testing by 2020 is well within reach.
You can learn more about Uber’s vision for a future of on-demand urban air transportation at www.uber.com/elevate.pdf and view the first flight of Aurora’s eVTOL aircraft at the following YouTube link https://youtu.be/BSFVvhQP7ws
About Aurora Flight Sciences: Aurora Flight Sciences is an innovative technology company which strives to create smarter aircraft through the development of versatile and intuitive autonomous systems. Operating at the intersection of technology and robotic aviation, Aurora leverages the power of autonomy to make manned and unmanned flight safer and more efficient. Headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, Aurora operates production plants in Bridgeport, West Virginia and Columbus, Mississippi, has Research and Development Centers in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dayton, Ohio and Mountain View, California, and a European office, Aurora Swiss Aerospace, located in Luzern, Switzerland. To view recent press releases and more about Aurora please visit our website at www.aurora.aero.
Russia to test national air traffic system for drones [feedly]
Russia to test national air traffic system for drones
http://newatlas.com/russia-national-air-traffic-drones/49223/
https://www.roscosmos.ru/23505/
http://newatlas.com/russia-national-air-traffic-drones/49223/
https://www.roscosmos.ru/23505/
miércoles, 26 de abril de 2017
Carter aviation partners with Mooney for Uber elevate air taxi concept with its Electric Slowed Rotor Compound concept
PR and Photo
April 25, 2017 (Wichita Falls, Texas) – Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC (Carter) has teamed up with Mooney International Corporation (Mooney) to explore developing a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft in support of the Uber Elevate initiative.
The companies announced this partnership at this week’s Uber Elevate Summit during their respective presentations. The aircraft will be a 4-6 seat air taxi for the intra city market, utilizing Carter’s patented Slowed Rotor Compound (SR/C™) technology for efficient hover and efficient cruise at 175 mph, and benefitting from Mooney’s extensive general aviation experience.
Uber has defined several challenging requirements for this project – requirements that Carter and Mooney are confident they can meet. The aircraft must be powered by all electric propulsion, be much more quiet than existing conventional VTOL aircraft, be capable of fully autonomous flight (although Uber expects to have a pilot onboard for the first several years of operation), cruise efficiently at ~175 mph, and above all else, be extremely safe.
SR/C technology uniquely addresses these requirements. The low disc loaded single main rotor can operate at low tip speeds in hover to reduce takeoff and landing noise, and be slowed in cruise to reduce cruise noise and allow for high speed efficiency on par with a fixed wing aircraft. And with the high inertia rotor always turning, it can operate in effect as a built in parachute, but one that can be ‘deployed’ at any altitude or any airspeed, and one which allows for directional control all the way down to the ground.
“We’re excited to be working with Mooney,” stated Jay Carter, Jr., Founder and CEO of Carter Aviation. “They’re a tremendous company with a prestigious history of high performance aircraft. In fact, I used to own a Mooney M20. They bring a lot of engineering expertise and a lot of experience in developing a product to market and getting it certified. I’m looking forward to this partnership, and can’t wait to see what we can achieve.”
For more information on Uber Elevate, please visit Uber Elevate or the Uber Elevate Summit page. For information about Mooney, please visit their website, Mooney International. About Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC. Carter Aviation is a Wichita Falls, Texas based aerospace research and development firm that has developed and demonstrated its Slowed-Rotor/Compound (SR/C™) Technology. More information is available at www.CarterCopters.com. To discuss any of the foregoing or schedule a visit to Carter Aviation’s facilities, please contact Jeff Lewis at Jeff.Lewis@CarterAero.com.
April 25, 2017 (Wichita Falls, Texas) – Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC (Carter) has teamed up with Mooney International Corporation (Mooney) to explore developing a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft in support of the Uber Elevate initiative.
The companies announced this partnership at this week’s Uber Elevate Summit during their respective presentations. The aircraft will be a 4-6 seat air taxi for the intra city market, utilizing Carter’s patented Slowed Rotor Compound (SR/C™) technology for efficient hover and efficient cruise at 175 mph, and benefitting from Mooney’s extensive general aviation experience.
Uber has defined several challenging requirements for this project – requirements that Carter and Mooney are confident they can meet. The aircraft must be powered by all electric propulsion, be much more quiet than existing conventional VTOL aircraft, be capable of fully autonomous flight (although Uber expects to have a pilot onboard for the first several years of operation), cruise efficiently at ~175 mph, and above all else, be extremely safe.
SR/C technology uniquely addresses these requirements. The low disc loaded single main rotor can operate at low tip speeds in hover to reduce takeoff and landing noise, and be slowed in cruise to reduce cruise noise and allow for high speed efficiency on par with a fixed wing aircraft. And with the high inertia rotor always turning, it can operate in effect as a built in parachute, but one that can be ‘deployed’ at any altitude or any airspeed, and one which allows for directional control all the way down to the ground.
“We’re excited to be working with Mooney,” stated Jay Carter, Jr., Founder and CEO of Carter Aviation. “They’re a tremendous company with a prestigious history of high performance aircraft. In fact, I used to own a Mooney M20. They bring a lot of engineering expertise and a lot of experience in developing a product to market and getting it certified. I’m looking forward to this partnership, and can’t wait to see what we can achieve.”
For more information on Uber Elevate, please visit Uber Elevate or the Uber Elevate Summit page. For information about Mooney, please visit their website, Mooney International. About Carter Aviation Technologies, LLC. Carter Aviation is a Wichita Falls, Texas based aerospace research and development firm that has developed and demonstrated its Slowed-Rotor/Compound (SR/C™) Technology. More information is available at www.CarterCopters.com. To discuss any of the foregoing or schedule a visit to Carter Aviation’s facilities, please contact Jeff Lewis at Jeff.Lewis@CarterAero.com.
martes, 25 de abril de 2017
Second Boeing T-X Aircraft Takes Flight
Boeing [NYSE: BA] and partner Saab [Stockholm: SAABB] have completed the first flight of their second production-ready T-X aircraft, which is identical to the first and designed specifically for the U.S. Air Force advanced pilot training requirement.
During the one-hour flight, lead T-X Test Pilot Steve Schmidt and Boeing Test Pilot for Air Force Programs Matt Giese validated key aspects of the aircraft and further demonstrated the low-risk and performance of the design, proving its repeatability in manufacturing.
“The jet handled exactly like the first aircraft and the simulator, meeting all expectations,” said Giese. “The front and back cockpits work together seamlessly and the handling is superior. It’s the perfect aircraft for training future generations of combat pilots.”
Both pilots trained for the flight using the complete Boeing T-X system, which includes ground-based training and simulation.
“Our successful flight test program is a testament to the fact that our offering is the right choice for the U.S. Air Force,” said Schmidt. “This aircraft was built to Air Force requirements and designed to fulfill the Air Education and Training Command mission.”
The Boeing T-X aircraft has one engine, twin tails, stadium seating, and an advanced cockpit with embedded training. The all-new, purpose-built design offers flexibility to evolve as technology, missions, and training needs change.
Boeing and Saab revealed their design in September 2016 and flew the first aircraft last December.
T-X will replace the Air Force’s aging T-38 aircraft. Initial operating capability is planned for 2024.
Get the latest Boeing T-X updates at www.boeing.com/t-x or by searching #NewBoeingTX on Twitter. Media can also access photos and video of the first flight at http://bds.navigon.net; user name: TX_2017; password: TX4USAF; folder: T-X. Continue to check back for updated content.
Swedish defense and security company Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defense to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs. Saab is a $4 billion business with approximately 14,000 employees in about 35 countries. Follow us on Twitter: @Saab.
For more about Boeing Defense, Space & Security, visit www.boeing.com. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.
The China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics promotes use of UAV in future battles [feedly]
CAAA promotes use of UAV in future battles
http://www.ecns.cn/2017/04-25/254856.shtml
-- via my feedly newsfeed
http://www.ecns.cn/2017/04-25/254856.shtml
-- via my feedly newsfeed
A330 easier to re-lease than 777 [feedly]
A330 easier to re-lease than 777
https://leehamnews.com/2017/04/25/a330-easier-re-lease-777/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
https://leehamnews.com/2017/04/25/a330-easier-re-lease-777/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
MIT Flies a High-Tech Test Plane With the U.S. Air Force [feedly]
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology operates a heavily-modified Boeing 707-321B, which it calls "Hannah," as a communications and sensor testbed in cooperation with the U.S. Air Force.|
Photos of Hannah are rare. Rich Barnett snapped two new ones on April 14, 2017 at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts. Hannah,...
https://warisboring.com/mit-flies-a-high-tech-test-plane-with-the-u-s-air-force/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
Photos of Hannah are rare. Rich Barnett snapped two new ones on April 14, 2017 at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts. Hannah,...
https://warisboring.com/mit-flies-a-high-tech-test-plane-with-the-u-s-air-force/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
U.S. F-35A stealth fighters to move to Estonia tomorrow. Meanwhile, the British Typhoons have arrived in Romania. [feedly]
Some of the F-35A Lightning II aircraft currently at RAF Lakenheath will forward deploy to Estonia tomorrow. Meanwhile, the first RAF Typhoons have arrived in Romania. According to information available to the Estonia ERR media outlet, an unspecified number of F-35s will arrive at Ämari air base, Estonia, on Tuesday, Apr. 25. "The jets will […]
https://theaviationist.com/2017/04/24/u-s-f-35a-stealth-fighters-to-move-to-estonia-tomorrow-meanwhile-the-british-typhoons-have-arrived-in-romania/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
A330neo first flight likely to slip to September [feedly]
A330neo first flight likely to slip to September
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/a330neo-first-flight-likely-to-slip-to-september-436466/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/a330neo-first-flight-likely-to-slip-to-september-436466/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
Airbus in talks over sole remaining A350-800 order [feedly]
Airbus in talks over sole remaining A350-800 order
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-in-talks-over-sole-remaining-a350-800-order-436477/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/airbus-in-talks-over-sole-remaining-a350-800-order-436477/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
Raytheon to Support AIM-9X Blk II in $78.7M Contract | Israel Receives Three Add’l F-35i | India Conducts Successful Test Fire of BrahMos Cruise Missile [feedly]
Raytheon to Support AIM-9X Blk II in $78.7M Contract | Israel Receives Three Add'l F-35i | India Conducts Successful Test Fire of BrahMos Cruise Missile
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/raytheon-to-support-aim-9x-blk-ii-in-78-7m-contract-israel-receives-three-addl-f-35i-india-conducts-successful-test-fire-of-brahmos-cruise-missile-036565/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/raytheon-to-support-aim-9x-blk-ii-in-78-7m-contract-israel-receives-three-addl-f-35i-india-conducts-successful-test-fire-of-brahmos-cruise-missile-036565/
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U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force Academies Swarm Challenge Live-Fly Competition Begins
DARPA press release
https://youtu.be/ufidH_M0RqQ
https://youtu.be/APn-Gc0ibFg
U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force academy teams compete in education-focused experiment to pave the way for future offensive and defensive swarm tactics for warfighters
Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other robots have become increasingly affordable, capable, and available to both the U.S. military and adversaries alike. Enabling UAVs and similar assets to perform useful tasks under human supervision—that is, carrying out swarm tactics in concert with human teammates—holds tremendous promise to extend the advantages U.S. warfighters have in field operations. A persistent challenge in achieving this capability, however, has been scalability: enabling one operator to oversee multiple robotic platforms and have them perform highly autonomous behaviors without direct teleoperation.
To help make effective swarm tactics a reality, DARPA created the Service Academies Swarm Challenge, a collaboration between the Agency and the three U.S. military Service academies—the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. An experiment at its heart, the research effort is designed to encourage students to develop innovative offensive and defensive tactics for swarms of small UAVs. Today the effort started its three-day Live-Fly Competition at Camp Roberts, a California Army National Guard post north of Paso Robles, Calif., which is hosting more than 40 Cadets and Midshipmen to demonstrate the highly autonomous swarm tactics they have developed since work started in September.
“In less than eight months, you have shown yourselves to be dedicated and talented participants in a complex and timely research effort,” Timothy Chung, the DARPA program manager leading the Swarm Challenge, told the teams. “DARPA is proud to have you—our future warfighters and Service leaders—participating in this endeavor to explore offensive and defensive swarm tactics. Now is your chance to show each other, DARPA, and our invited Defense Department guests your precedent-setting work toward an important goal: helping future U.S. forces maintain superiority in tomorrow’s technological and mission environments.”
“Not to mention your chance to claim bragging rights over your rival academies,” he added.
Teams
The Service Academies Swarm Challenge is the most recent example of how DARPA works to ensure the technological superiority of U.S. military forces by periodically engaging the U.S. military Service academies in research-oriented competitions. These competitions aim to cultivate the great potential of young officers-to-be and encourage their career-long collaboration with DARPA. In both 2014 and 2015, for example, DARPA conducted the DARPA Service Academy Innovation Challenge and the Service Academies Cyber Stakes.
A fourth-year capstone design course, the Swarm Challenge has pushed students to achieve “zero to swarm in eight months.” The goal: help the academies go from having little swarm-related expertise to developing capabilities with potentially near-term applicability for operational training and fielding—all within one academic year.
“This is one of the first opportunities for the next generation of operators and tacticians to explore and understand swarm-versus-swarm interactions,” Chung said. “It's not just about the platforms or the links or the communications—it’s about behaviors. That's one of the key takeaways for the Service Academies Swarm Challenge: that we're really zeroing in on swarm tactics as a battle skill. That's where advances will reap innovative benefits for future warfighters.”
Ranging in size from 11 to 21 students, the teams bring cross-disciplinary expertise in diverse technical and nontechnical fields, from computer science, robotics, and systems engineering to military strategy and operations. The students also bring fresh insights that DARPA and the U.S. military can learn from—and potentially expand upon—to enhance the tactical effectiveness of swarm systems.
DARPA provided all the hardware, much of the software, and a lot of know-how to get the teams started. The Agency also developed new support infrastructure to enable the teams to practice and compete in a virtual environment in preparation for this week. DARPA initially provided some example swarm tactics and the teams have since designed a number of their own to debut at the Live-Fly Competition.
Gameplay
The Service Academies Swarm Challenge is testing cutting-edge swarm tactics through a time-honored game that is all about tactics: Capture the Flag. Two teams at a time play inside the Battle Cube, a cubic airspace 500 meters on a side, 78 meters above the ground. Each team has been given 20 fixed-wing UAVs and 20 quad-rotor UAVs and, under the rules of play, can field a mixed fleet of up to 25 UAVs for each of two 30-minute battle rounds. Each team protects its “flag” (a large, inflatable ground target) while trying to score the most points before time runs out.
Teams seek to score the most points in the following ways:
Air-to-air “tags” by using a simulated (virtual) weapon to hit a sensor on an opponent’s UAV in flight
Air-to-ground “tags” by physically landing a UAV on the opponent’s “flag” located on the ground
Accomplishments in swarm logistics by launching as many UAVs as quickly as possible and keeping them aloft as long as possible
As scheduled over the next three days, the first match pits Air Force against Army; the second, Army plays Navy, and the third match has Navy squaring off against Air Force. The team that wins both of its matches wins the competition and takes home a trophy and bragging rights.
Technical Challenges
While people often think about swarms as simply being large collections of robots, swarms in fact have five defining characteristics: number, agent complexity, collective complexity, heterogeneity, and human-swarm interaction. The Service Academies Swarm Challenge is designed to explore these characteristics as they apply to both offensive and defensive swarm tactics, and to harness and leverage them for warfighter benefit.
Operationalizing swarm-related capabilities poses many significant challenges, from technology (e.g., battery size and life, user interfaces) to logistics (e.g., transport, upkeep) to understanding the limitations of what swarms can do. The Swarm Challenge provides an experimental testbed that manages these challenges so the academy students can focus on creating innovative swarm tactics.
DARPA’s interest in developing breakthrough swarm capabilities for national security extends beyond the Swarm Challenge to a number of current programs exploring autonomy, communications, and other technologies, including:
Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment (CODE)
Fast Lightweight Autonomy (FLA)
OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET)
Looking Ahead
The results of the Live-Fly Competition remain to be seen but the Service Academies Swarm Challenge has already planted the seeds for future growth in the increasingly important domain of swarm tactics. Thanks to the past eight months of work, all three academies now have basic curricula and frameworks for conducting unique, accelerated research and field experiments on swarm tactics. The institutions also have dozens of students who have worked side-by-side with leading-edge researchers and operators experienced with advancing the state of knowledge of swarm systems.
“The Cadets and Midshipmen participating in the Service Academies Swarm Challenge will soon be officers, where they can further hone their swarm-tactics skills and share their know-how with fellow Service members,” Chung said. “Building on the lessons they have learned, they can help accelerate us toward a near future in which Service members are able to quickly take advantage of anticipated advances in unmanned aerial system technologies and apply their skills in new and ever more creative ways. No matter which academy comes out on top here, U.S. warfighters will be the ultimate winners.”
U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Air Force academy teams compete in education-focused experiment to pave the way for future offensive and defensive swarm tactics for warfighters
Small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other robots have become increasingly affordable, capable, and available to both the U.S. military and adversaries alike. Enabling UAVs and similar assets to perform useful tasks under human supervision—that is, carrying out swarm tactics in concert with human teammates—holds tremendous promise to extend the advantages U.S. warfighters have in field operations. A persistent challenge in achieving this capability, however, has been scalability: enabling one operator to oversee multiple robotic platforms and have them perform highly autonomous behaviors without direct teleoperation.
To help make effective swarm tactics a reality, DARPA created the Service Academies Swarm Challenge, a collaboration between the Agency and the three U.S. military Service academies—the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. An experiment at its heart, the research effort is designed to encourage students to develop innovative offensive and defensive tactics for swarms of small UAVs. Today the effort started its three-day Live-Fly Competition at Camp Roberts, a California Army National Guard post north of Paso Robles, Calif., which is hosting more than 40 Cadets and Midshipmen to demonstrate the highly autonomous swarm tactics they have developed since work started in September.
“In less than eight months, you have shown yourselves to be dedicated and talented participants in a complex and timely research effort,” Timothy Chung, the DARPA program manager leading the Swarm Challenge, told the teams. “DARPA is proud to have you—our future warfighters and Service leaders—participating in this endeavor to explore offensive and defensive swarm tactics. Now is your chance to show each other, DARPA, and our invited Defense Department guests your precedent-setting work toward an important goal: helping future U.S. forces maintain superiority in tomorrow’s technological and mission environments.”
“Not to mention your chance to claim bragging rights over your rival academies,” he added.
Teams
The Service Academies Swarm Challenge is the most recent example of how DARPA works to ensure the technological superiority of U.S. military forces by periodically engaging the U.S. military Service academies in research-oriented competitions. These competitions aim to cultivate the great potential of young officers-to-be and encourage their career-long collaboration with DARPA. In both 2014 and 2015, for example, DARPA conducted the DARPA Service Academy Innovation Challenge and the Service Academies Cyber Stakes.
A fourth-year capstone design course, the Swarm Challenge has pushed students to achieve “zero to swarm in eight months.” The goal: help the academies go from having little swarm-related expertise to developing capabilities with potentially near-term applicability for operational training and fielding—all within one academic year.
“This is one of the first opportunities for the next generation of operators and tacticians to explore and understand swarm-versus-swarm interactions,” Chung said. “It's not just about the platforms or the links or the communications—it’s about behaviors. That's one of the key takeaways for the Service Academies Swarm Challenge: that we're really zeroing in on swarm tactics as a battle skill. That's where advances will reap innovative benefits for future warfighters.”
Ranging in size from 11 to 21 students, the teams bring cross-disciplinary expertise in diverse technical and nontechnical fields, from computer science, robotics, and systems engineering to military strategy and operations. The students also bring fresh insights that DARPA and the U.S. military can learn from—and potentially expand upon—to enhance the tactical effectiveness of swarm systems.
DARPA provided all the hardware, much of the software, and a lot of know-how to get the teams started. The Agency also developed new support infrastructure to enable the teams to practice and compete in a virtual environment in preparation for this week. DARPA initially provided some example swarm tactics and the teams have since designed a number of their own to debut at the Live-Fly Competition.
Gameplay
The Service Academies Swarm Challenge is testing cutting-edge swarm tactics through a time-honored game that is all about tactics: Capture the Flag. Two teams at a time play inside the Battle Cube, a cubic airspace 500 meters on a side, 78 meters above the ground. Each team has been given 20 fixed-wing UAVs and 20 quad-rotor UAVs and, under the rules of play, can field a mixed fleet of up to 25 UAVs for each of two 30-minute battle rounds. Each team protects its “flag” (a large, inflatable ground target) while trying to score the most points before time runs out.
Teams seek to score the most points in the following ways:
Air-to-air “tags” by using a simulated (virtual) weapon to hit a sensor on an opponent’s UAV in flight
Air-to-ground “tags” by physically landing a UAV on the opponent’s “flag” located on the ground
Accomplishments in swarm logistics by launching as many UAVs as quickly as possible and keeping them aloft as long as possible
As scheduled over the next three days, the first match pits Air Force against Army; the second, Army plays Navy, and the third match has Navy squaring off against Air Force. The team that wins both of its matches wins the competition and takes home a trophy and bragging rights.
Technical Challenges
While people often think about swarms as simply being large collections of robots, swarms in fact have five defining characteristics: number, agent complexity, collective complexity, heterogeneity, and human-swarm interaction. The Service Academies Swarm Challenge is designed to explore these characteristics as they apply to both offensive and defensive swarm tactics, and to harness and leverage them for warfighter benefit.
Operationalizing swarm-related capabilities poses many significant challenges, from technology (e.g., battery size and life, user interfaces) to logistics (e.g., transport, upkeep) to understanding the limitations of what swarms can do. The Swarm Challenge provides an experimental testbed that manages these challenges so the academy students can focus on creating innovative swarm tactics.
DARPA’s interest in developing breakthrough swarm capabilities for national security extends beyond the Swarm Challenge to a number of current programs exploring autonomy, communications, and other technologies, including:
Collaborative Operations in Denied Environment (CODE)
Fast Lightweight Autonomy (FLA)
OFFensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics (OFFSET)
Looking Ahead
The results of the Live-Fly Competition remain to be seen but the Service Academies Swarm Challenge has already planted the seeds for future growth in the increasingly important domain of swarm tactics. Thanks to the past eight months of work, all three academies now have basic curricula and frameworks for conducting unique, accelerated research and field experiments on swarm tactics. The institutions also have dozens of students who have worked side-by-side with leading-edge researchers and operators experienced with advancing the state of knowledge of swarm systems.
“The Cadets and Midshipmen participating in the Service Academies Swarm Challenge will soon be officers, where they can further hone their swarm-tactics skills and share their know-how with fellow Service members,” Chung said. “Building on the lessons they have learned, they can help accelerate us toward a near future in which Service members are able to quickly take advantage of anticipated advances in unmanned aerial system technologies and apply their skills in new and ever more creative ways. No matter which academy comes out on top here, U.S. warfighters will be the ultimate winners.”
lunes, 24 de abril de 2017
Airbus delivers first ever A321neo to Virgin America [feedly]
Airbus delivers first ever A321neo to Virgin America
http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/airbus-delivers-first-ever-a321neo-to-virgin-america/?utm_source=article&utm_medium=All-news&utm_campaign=RSS
-- via my feedly newsfeed
http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/airbus-delivers-first-ever-a321neo-to-virgin-america/?utm_source=article&utm_medium=All-news&utm_campaign=RSS
-- via my feedly newsfeed
Les premières grandes sections du Beluga XL arrivent à Toulouse [feedly]
Les premières grandes sections du Beluga XL arrivent à Toulouse
http://www.journal-aviation.com/actualites/36427-les-premieres-grandes-sections-du-beluga-xl-arrivent-a-toulouse
-- via my feedly newsfeed
http://www.journal-aviation.com/actualites/36427-les-premieres-grandes-sections-du-beluga-xl-arrivent-a-toulouse
-- via my feedly newsfeed
Darpa Seeks Future Counter-UAV Tech For Urban Warfare [feedly]
Darpa Seeks Future Counter-UAV Tech For Urban Warfare
http://aviationweek.com/awindefense/darpa-seeks-future-counter-uav-tech-urban-warfare
-- via my feedly newsfeed
http://aviationweek.com/awindefense/darpa-seeks-future-counter-uav-tech-urban-warfare
-- via my feedly newsfeed
Press Release: Australia’s Talon touts carbon fibre/kevlar hinge [feedly]
Press Release: Australia's Talon touts carbon fibre/kevlar hinge
https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2017/04/22/press-release-australias-talon-touts-carbon-fibrekevlar-hinge/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2017/04/22/press-release-australias-talon-touts-carbon-fibrekevlar-hinge/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
Is Emirates experiencing economic turbulence of its own making? [feedly]
Is Emirates experiencing economic turbulence of its own making?
https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2017/04/21/is-emirates-experiencing-economic-turbulence-of-its-own-making/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2017/04/21/is-emirates-experiencing-economic-turbulence-of-its-own-making/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
OPINION: Supersonic business jets will be industry's risk [feedly]
OPINION: Supersonic business jets will be industry's risk
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/opinion-supersonic-business-jets-will-be-industrys-436391/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/opinion-supersonic-business-jets-will-be-industrys-436391/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
OPINION: JMR-TD delays could slow US Army's high-speed rotorcraft effort [feedly]
OPINION: JMR-TD delays could slow US Army's high-speed rotorcraft effort
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/opinion-jmr-td-delays-could-slow-us-armys-high-spe-436389/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/opinion-jmr-td-delays-could-slow-us-armys-high-spe-436389/
-- via my feedly newsfeed
NASA Awards Commercial Payload Processing Contract [feedly]
NASA Awards Commercial Payload Processing Contract
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=283ca80c-4701-4e96-9d94-cbd5ee6f169b
-- via my feedly newsfeed
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=283ca80c-4701-4e96-9d94-cbd5ee6f169b
-- via my feedly newsfeed
Aerojet Rocketdyne Successfully Completes Qualification Tests on Reusable Engine to Support Next Era of Human Spaceflight from the United States
PR
Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc., a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AJRD), has successfully completed hot-fire qualification tests of an engine that demonstrates the ability to meet reusability requirements for Boeing's Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner crew module propulsion system. The tests were conducted on Aerojet Rocketdyne's MR-104J hydrazine monopropellant engine in Redmond, Washington. For NASA service missions to the International Space Station, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will carry up to four astronauts and time-critical scientific research.
"Our engineers have incorporated a unique design that will allow the MR-104 engine to be used on multiple missions, providing the reliability, cost-efficiency and reusability our customer needs to be competitive in the current commercial space environment," said Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President Eileen Drake. "We look forward to delivering the engines for the crew module and continuing our proud heritage of enabling astronauts to fly to the International Space Station from U.S. soil."
The Starliner crew module propulsion system will use 12 MR-104J engines for reaction control to orient the vehicle during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Prior to re-entry, attitude control is provided by the Service Module Engines, also provided by Aerojet Rocketdyne.
The MR-104J, designed by Aerojet Rocketdyne, was developed and tested under the company's Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) subcontract to Boeing. Similar to other reaction control system engines, the MR-104J includes additional features to increase redundancy that meet critical requirements and improved strength to withstand multiple shocks at operating temperatures. The engine upgrades also provide reusability for Boeing as it certifies Starliner crew modules for multiple missions.
Under the CCtCap subcontract to Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne will provide propulsion system hardware that includes Crew Module Reaction Control engines; Launch Abort Engines, Orbital Maneuvering and Attitude Control thrusters, and Service Module Reaction Control System thrusters. Boeing will assemble propulsion hardware into the Starliner spacecraft at its Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Aerojet Rocketdyne is an innovative company delivering solutions that create value for its customers in the aerospace and defense markets. The company is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides propulsion and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, tactical systems and armaments areas, in support of domestic and international markets. Additional information about Aerojet Rocketdyne can be obtained by visiting our websites at www.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com.
Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc., a subsidiary of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AJRD), has successfully completed hot-fire qualification tests of an engine that demonstrates the ability to meet reusability requirements for Boeing's Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner crew module propulsion system. The tests were conducted on Aerojet Rocketdyne's MR-104J hydrazine monopropellant engine in Redmond, Washington. For NASA service missions to the International Space Station, Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will carry up to four astronauts and time-critical scientific research.
"Our engineers have incorporated a unique design that will allow the MR-104 engine to be used on multiple missions, providing the reliability, cost-efficiency and reusability our customer needs to be competitive in the current commercial space environment," said Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO and President Eileen Drake. "We look forward to delivering the engines for the crew module and continuing our proud heritage of enabling astronauts to fly to the International Space Station from U.S. soil."
The Starliner crew module propulsion system will use 12 MR-104J engines for reaction control to orient the vehicle during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Prior to re-entry, attitude control is provided by the Service Module Engines, also provided by Aerojet Rocketdyne.
The MR-104J, designed by Aerojet Rocketdyne, was developed and tested under the company's Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) subcontract to Boeing. Similar to other reaction control system engines, the MR-104J includes additional features to increase redundancy that meet critical requirements and improved strength to withstand multiple shocks at operating temperatures. The engine upgrades also provide reusability for Boeing as it certifies Starliner crew modules for multiple missions.
Under the CCtCap subcontract to Boeing, Aerojet Rocketdyne will provide propulsion system hardware that includes Crew Module Reaction Control engines; Launch Abort Engines, Orbital Maneuvering and Attitude Control thrusters, and Service Module Reaction Control System thrusters. Boeing will assemble propulsion hardware into the Starliner spacecraft at its Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Aerojet Rocketdyne is an innovative company delivering solutions that create value for its customers in the aerospace and defense markets. The company is a world-recognized aerospace and defense leader that provides propulsion and energetics to the space, missile defense and strategic systems, tactical systems and armaments areas, in support of domestic and international markets. Additional information about Aerojet Rocketdyne can be obtained by visiting our websites at www.Rocket.com and www.AerojetRocketdyne.com.
domingo, 23 de abril de 2017
viernes, 21 de abril de 2017
Textron offers Scorpion and AT-6 for OA-X effort [feedly]
Textron offers Scorpion and AT-6 for OA-X effort
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/textron-offers-scorpion-and-at-6-for-oa-x-effort-436376/
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http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/textron-offers-scorpion-and-at-6-for-oa-x-effort-436376/
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ARJ21 makes new flight tests following design optimisation [feedly]
ARJ21 makes new flight tests following design optimisation
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/arj21-makes-new-flight-tests-following-design-optimi-436408/
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http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/arj21-makes-new-flight-tests-following-design-optimi-436408/
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Lilium (autonomous electric VTOL aircraft) celebrates successful maiden flight and introduces 5-seater VTOL jet
Lilium's press release: https://lilium.com/news/
https://youtu.be/ohig71bwRUE
We have incredibly exciting news to share. The Lilium Jet successfully completed its maiden test flight series in the skies above Bavaria. The 2-seater Eagle prototype executed a range of complex maneuvers, including its signature mid-air transition from hover mode to wing-borne forward flight.
Seeing the Lilium Jet take to the sky and performing sophisticated maneuvers with apparent ease is testament to the skill and perseverance of our amazing team. We have solved some of the toughest engineering challenges in aviation to get to this point. The successful test flight programme shows that our ground-breaking technical design works exactly as we envisioned. We can now turn our focus to designing a 5-seater production aircraft.
We are now developing a larger, 5-seater version of our Lilium Jet, designed for on-demand air taxi and ridesharing services. A typical journey with the Lilium Jet will be at least 5x faster than by car, with even greater efficiencies in busy cities. So a flight from Manhattan to New York’s JFK Airport will take around 5 minutes, compared to the 55 minutes it would take you by car.
Please make sure you read more about Lilium’s mission and technology.
As well as making great progress in the air, we’ve also updated our Lilium brand. Enjoy our new website, we hope you like it!
https://youtu.be/ohig71bwRUE
We have incredibly exciting news to share. The Lilium Jet successfully completed its maiden test flight series in the skies above Bavaria. The 2-seater Eagle prototype executed a range of complex maneuvers, including its signature mid-air transition from hover mode to wing-borne forward flight.
Seeing the Lilium Jet take to the sky and performing sophisticated maneuvers with apparent ease is testament to the skill and perseverance of our amazing team. We have solved some of the toughest engineering challenges in aviation to get to this point. The successful test flight programme shows that our ground-breaking technical design works exactly as we envisioned. We can now turn our focus to designing a 5-seater production aircraft.
We are now developing a larger, 5-seater version of our Lilium Jet, designed for on-demand air taxi and ridesharing services. A typical journey with the Lilium Jet will be at least 5x faster than by car, with even greater efficiencies in busy cities. So a flight from Manhattan to New York’s JFK Airport will take around 5 minutes, compared to the 55 minutes it would take you by car.
Please make sure you read more about Lilium’s mission and technology.
As well as making great progress in the air, we’ve also updated our Lilium brand. Enjoy our new website, we hope you like it!
Bell Helicopter to Exhibit Future of Warfighting at Army Aviation Summit
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced its show plans for the 2017 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit in Nashville, Tenn., April 26-28, 2017. The company will display its full-size mockup of the Bell V-280 Valor next generation aircraft, as well as the newly introduced Bell V-247 Vigilant tiltrotor model.
View the media kit for the show here.
“The Army Aviation Summit provides a great venue for engaging with our current and future customers, as well as displaying our products that bring game-changing capabilities to the warfighter,” said Vince Tobin, Bell Helicopter’s vice president of Advanced Tiltrotor Systems. “The disruptive technology of tiltrotor flight delivers unmatched efficiency and range unavailable with traditional rotorcraft. We look forward to the discussions and engagements with our military customers on how this aircraft will enable multi-domain battle.”
Throughout the show, Bell Helicopter will present next-level technology, including an immersive virtual reality experience of the Bell V-280 that will highlight mission capabilities of the aircraft, and an opportunity to fly the V-280 simulator setup in the booth – showcasing the future of vertical lift. In addition, the V-280 mockup will be shown in both attack and utility configurations, demonstrating the aircraft’s versatility.
The V-280 tiltrotor has been designed to provide unmatched speed, range and payload, along with unmatched agility at the objective. The aircraft will provide the best value in operations and maintenance costs, and is being designed with sustainability, affordability, and ease of manufacturing in mind.
The Bell V-247 tiltrotor is a Group 5 unmanned aerial system (UAS) that will combine the vertical lift capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft. The revolutionary UAS is designed to provide unmatched long-endurance persistent expeditionary and surveillance capability and lethal reach, as well as runway independence to operate successfully in maritime environments and locations without secure runway availability.
The Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit provides the Army Aviation community with the opportunity for professional development, and brings together Army Aviation, government leaders and industry representatives. Attendees will be able to hear leadership messages in general sessions, network with fellow attendees in deep dive sessions on technology and training, and attend presentations from U.S. Army leadership. The annual show also features recognition ceremonies for deserving Aviation soldiers and units.
- See more at: http://investor.textron.com/news/news-releases/press-release-details/2017/Bell-Helicopter-to-Exhibit-Future-of-Warfighting-at-Army-Aviation-Summit/default.aspx#sthash.py0VU9kB.dpuf
Rotorcraft Asia: Multiple orders for Bell 429
Rotorcraft Asia 2017 has seen a number of orders for Bell Helicopter including four Model 429s which are to be delivered across Asia-Pacific, from the Philippines to Bangladesh.
Terra Barbaza Aviation has ordered an additional Bell 429 to add to its current fleet of one in the Philippines. The aircraft will be utilised for corporate/VIP transport.
In addition, a purchase agreement for one example was signed at the show between the OEM and Meghna Aviation in Bangladesh.
Two 429s are also being delivered to Indonesian private general trading company PT Carpediem Mandiri – the aircraft will be supplied to the flight calibration department of the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation.
The company focuses on vehicle rental services. Sameer Rehman, managing director of Asia Pacific at Bell Helicopter, commented on the 429s' mission with the operator.
'[The] deliveries mark the first time a Bell 429 has been configured for flight calibration missions, and it brings us great pride to support the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation in this important effort,' he said.
The Bell 429s will be performing calibration for helicopter ground instrument landing and departing systems at airports, heliports and helipads.
Aerodata is introducing its flight inspection system known as AD-HELIFIS on the Bell 429 and this order marks the second helicopter internationally and the first of the type operating with the technology.
Lastly, adding to the roster of 429s signed for at the show, Tata Steel Group, based in Mumbai, India, has purchased a second aircraft to support its steel production operations.
Sikorsky Announces Expanded Support in Asia with Plans for New Customer Support Center
Singapore, April 18, 2017 – Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company today announced plans to expand its S-92® and S-76™ helicopter support services in the Asia-Pacific region. Thai Aviation Services is scheduled to become the first Sikorsky Customer Support Center in Thailand by the end of 2017. The announcement was made at the inaugural 2017 Rotorcraft Asia show.
“This decision further exemplifies Sikorsky’s commitment to the Asia-Pacific region and to our continued focus on customer support excellence,” said Christophe Nurit, Sikorsky’s regional sales executive, Asia. “As the preferred service center in Thailand, Thai Aviation Services will provide a critical role in offering the highest level of support for Sikorsky helicopters in a strategically important region.”
“Thai Aviation Services has a long-standing partnership with Sikorsky over the past 25 years. We look forward to expanding this partnership through the designation as a Customer Support Center and putting our extensive experience operating Sikorsky aircraft to use for the benefit of supporting all Sikorsky aircraft operating in the Asia Pacific region,” said Craig Havas, Thai Aviation Services Deputy Managing Director – Operations, and S-92 Chief Pilot.
Customer Support Centers enable quick access to Sikorsky logistics and spare parts inventory for operators while providing advanced service capabilities. This support center will represent Sikorsky’s seventh in the Asia-Pacific region and add to the growing network of 20 Sikorsky support centers world-wide.
In addition to authorized support centers, Sikorsky’s customer support organization maintains four forward stocking locations in S-92 and S-76 fleet-concentrated regions and fields more than 100 customer service representatives, all connected through Sikorsky’s state-of-the-art Customer Care Center in Trumbull, Connecticut.
Sikorsky and Thai Aviation Services have done business together for more than 25 years. Thai Aviation Services operates only Sikorsky helicopters and recently renewed its existing fleet of commercial helicopters with five S-76D™ medium lift and two S-92 heavy lift aircraft. These aircraft enable the Bangkok-based operator to continue its track record of providing safe, reliable helicopter transportation to oil and gas customers in the Gulf of Thailand.
For additional information, visit: Sikorsky Commercial Systems & Services
Long Range Discrimination Radar Program Led by Lockheed Martin Achieves Preliminary Design Review On-Schedule
Lockheed Martin announces new Solid State Radar Integration Site that will significantly reduce risk before the missile defense radar is constructed in Alaska
MOORESTOWN, N.J., April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than 18 months from contract award, the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR), developed by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), passed Preliminary Design Review (PDR), indicating that detailed design on the radar system can move forward. The radar system will support a layered ballistic missile defense strategy to protect the U.S. homeland from ballistic missile attacks.
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in 2015 awarded the $784 million contract to Lockheed Martin to develop, build and test LRDR, and the company is on track on an aggressive schedule to deliver the radar to Clear, Alaska. Lockheed Martin passed PDR by demonstrating both a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 6, putting the team on a path to achieve TRL 7 later this year allowing the program transition to manufacturing. Lockheed Martin utilized a scaled LRDR system to successfully demonstrate Critical Technology Elements (CTEs) in a relevant end to end environment.
During the two-day PDR, representatives from the MDA and the Office of Secretary of Defense, toured Lockheed Martin's facility to see the LRDR Prototype System and the new Solid State Radar Integration Site, a self-funded test facility that will be utilized to demonstrate TRL 7 and provide significant risk reduction for development of LRDR and future solid state radar systems.
"Lockheed Martin is committed to supporting the nation's Integrated Air & Missile Defense and homeland defense missions and we are actively investing in research and technologies that will lead to advanced solutions," said Chandra Marshall, LRDR program director, Lockheed Martin. "The Solid State Radar Integration Site will be used to mature, integrate and test the LRDR design and building blocks before we deliver the radar to Alaska. Using this test site will result in significant cost savings and less risk overall."
Similar to Lockheed Martin's Space Fence radar system, LRDR is a high-powered S-Band radar incorporating solid-state gallium nitride (GaN) components, but is additionally capable of discriminating threats at extreme distances using the inherent wideband capability of the hardware coupled with advanced software algorithms.
"We built an open non-proprietary architecture that allows incorporation of the algorithms from small businesses, labs and the government, to provide an advanced discrimination capability for homeland defense," said Tony DeSimone, vice president, engineering and technology, Lockheed Martin Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors.
LRDR is a key component of the MDA's Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) and will provide acquisition, tracking and discrimination data to enable separate defense systems to lock on and engage ballistic missile threats, a capability that stems from Lockheed Martin's decades of experience in creating ballistic missile defense systems for the U.S. and allied governments.
Work on LRDR is primarily performed in New Jersey, Alaska, Alabama, Florida and New York.
As a proven world leader in systems integration and development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, Lockheed Martin delivers high-quality missile defense solutions that protect citizens, critical assets and deployed forces from current and future threats. The company's experience spans radar and signal processing, missile design and production, hit-to-kill capabilities, infrared seekers, command and control/battle management, and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, as well as threat-representative targets for missile defense tests.
For more information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/lrdr.
MOORESTOWN, N.J., April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than 18 months from contract award, the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR), developed by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), passed Preliminary Design Review (PDR), indicating that detailed design on the radar system can move forward. The radar system will support a layered ballistic missile defense strategy to protect the U.S. homeland from ballistic missile attacks.
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in 2015 awarded the $784 million contract to Lockheed Martin to develop, build and test LRDR, and the company is on track on an aggressive schedule to deliver the radar to Clear, Alaska. Lockheed Martin passed PDR by demonstrating both a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 6, putting the team on a path to achieve TRL 7 later this year allowing the program transition to manufacturing. Lockheed Martin utilized a scaled LRDR system to successfully demonstrate Critical Technology Elements (CTEs) in a relevant end to end environment.
During the two-day PDR, representatives from the MDA and the Office of Secretary of Defense, toured Lockheed Martin's facility to see the LRDR Prototype System and the new Solid State Radar Integration Site, a self-funded test facility that will be utilized to demonstrate TRL 7 and provide significant risk reduction for development of LRDR and future solid state radar systems.
"Lockheed Martin is committed to supporting the nation's Integrated Air & Missile Defense and homeland defense missions and we are actively investing in research and technologies that will lead to advanced solutions," said Chandra Marshall, LRDR program director, Lockheed Martin. "The Solid State Radar Integration Site will be used to mature, integrate and test the LRDR design and building blocks before we deliver the radar to Alaska. Using this test site will result in significant cost savings and less risk overall."
Similar to Lockheed Martin's Space Fence radar system, LRDR is a high-powered S-Band radar incorporating solid-state gallium nitride (GaN) components, but is additionally capable of discriminating threats at extreme distances using the inherent wideband capability of the hardware coupled with advanced software algorithms.
"We built an open non-proprietary architecture that allows incorporation of the algorithms from small businesses, labs and the government, to provide an advanced discrimination capability for homeland defense," said Tony DeSimone, vice president, engineering and technology, Lockheed Martin Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors.
LRDR is a key component of the MDA's Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) and will provide acquisition, tracking and discrimination data to enable separate defense systems to lock on and engage ballistic missile threats, a capability that stems from Lockheed Martin's decades of experience in creating ballistic missile defense systems for the U.S. and allied governments.
Work on LRDR is primarily performed in New Jersey, Alaska, Alabama, Florida and New York.
As a proven world leader in systems integration and development of air and missile defense systems and technologies, Lockheed Martin delivers high-quality missile defense solutions that protect citizens, critical assets and deployed forces from current and future threats. The company's experience spans radar and signal processing, missile design and production, hit-to-kill capabilities, infrared seekers, command and control/battle management, and communications, precision pointing and tracking optics, as well as threat-representative targets for missile defense tests.
For more information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/lrdr.
Airbus delivers first ever A321neo to Virgin America
Aircraft powered by CFM engines boosts fuel efficiency by at least 15 percent
• Significant reductions in emissions and noise
20 APRIL 2017 PRESS RELEASE
Airbus has delivered the first-ever A321neo. The latest generation aircraft powered by CFM International’s LEAP-1A engines was handed over to U.S. airline Virgin America, an all-Airbus operator, at a ceremony in Hamburg, Germany.
“After Virgin America having been the first customer signing for the A320neo back in December 2010, we are today delighted to deliver the first A321neo to them,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus Chief Operating Officer and President Commercial Aircraft. “With our largest, latest, most fuel efficient NEO Single Aisle aircraft we are turning a new page. The new A321neo powered by next generation CFM LEAP-1A engines guarantees new levels of efficiency and longer range to its operators, greater comfort to the flying public and less emissions and noise to the airport communities. Thanks to its cutting edge technologies it is today the most eco-sensitive Single Aisle aircraft available.”
The A320neo significantly reduces noise levels, generating only half the noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft. Equipped with fuel-saving Sharklet wingtip devices nitrous oxide emissions are 50 percent below regulatory requirements as outlined by the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP). In addition, the aircraft with LEAP-1A engines is proven to deliver at least a 15 percent fuel savings compared to Virgin America’s current generation aircraft, which is equivalent to cutting 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions with each plane every year.
“We have been with Virgin America from the beginning and we are excited to launch this new chapter in that relationship,” said Gael Meheust, President and CEO of CFM International. “The LEAP-1A has done extremely well in its first months of commercial service. It is proving unprecedented levels of fuel efficiency and environmental responsibility while maintaining the level of reliability Virgin America has come to expect from CFM. We think they will be very pleased with all this engine has to offer.”
The A321neo is the largest member of the A320neo Family. It covers the entire market, from high density to long-range thin routes. There are currently over 1,300 units on order.
“We are honored to be the first operator of this high in-demand aircraft,” said Virgin America President Peter Hunt, speaking at the ceremony attended by Virgin America teammates, Executives from Airbus, CFM and the aircraft lessor GECAS. “The new A321neo – the third member of the Airbus A320 Family to join our Virgin America fleet – will allow us to further reduce our unit costs and enable us to further reduce our carbon emissions.”
“Increased operational efficiency, productivity, and state-of-the-art technology -- this winning combination makes the A321neo an attractive investment for leasing companies like GECAS who are committed to meeting customers’ operational needs while providing the latest technology and a solid return on investment,” said Alec Burger, President and CEO at GECAS. “The low operating costs and reliability of the LEAP powered A320neo Family make it a strong asset in GECAS’ portfolio.”
Virgin America currently operates a fleet of 63 Airbus A320 family aircraft comprised of A319ceo and A320ceo aircraft powered by CFM’s CFM56-5B engines.
The new A321neo will become the largest aircraft in Virgin America’s fleet, featuring 185 seats - a 24 percent higher capacity at same comfort levels than its current A320s. Inside the cabin, Virgin America flyers will continue to enjoy three custom-designed classes of service, touch-screen personal entertainment and an on-demand food and cocktail menu on every flight in addition to power outlets at every seat. The aircraft is expected to enter service on May 31, 2017 with its inaugural flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
As first announced in April 2016, Virgin America was acquired by Alaska Air Group in December 2016.
EarthCARE: Japanese Cloud Radar meets its spacecraft for the first time at Airbus’ Satellite Centre in Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen, 19/04/2017 – EarthCARE, the Cloud, Aerosol and Radiation Mission of European Space Agency (ESA), met its Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR), the Japanese payload for the mission, for the first time when the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) handed over the instrument to ESA at Airbus´ Satellite Centre in Friedrichshafen (Germany). Airbus is ESA’s prime contractor to develop and build the EarthCARE satellite.
In the coming weeks, JAXA and ESA teams will run final checks on the instrument before giving a "green light" to the Airbus project team to integrate it with the spacecraft. Once assembled on EarthCARE, it will be tested intensively for several weeks. Then the instrument will be handed back to JAXA for further adjustments before its final integration next year.
EarthCARE will collect global simultaneous observations of cloud and aerosol profiles together with solar and thermal radiation and will include these parameters in numerical weather and climate models.
Due for launch in 2019, EarthCARE will advance the understanding of the role that clouds and aerosols play in reflecting incident solar radiation back to space and trapping infrared radiation emitted from Earth’s surface. Energy in the atmosphere is balance between incoming light from the Sun, which heats Earth, and outgoing thermal radiation, which cools Earth.
Clouds and, to less extent, aerosols reflect incident solar light back out to space, but they also trap outgoing infrared light. This leads to a net effect of either cooling or heating of the planet. In addition, aerosols influence the life cycle of clouds, and so contribute indirectly to their radiative effect.
The CPR instrument is one of four instruments to be integrated on the EarthCARE satellite. This high power millimetre-wave radar will measure the vertical profiles of cloud structures (water / ice content).
Kazakhstan orders two more C295 aircraft
Kazakhstan is to acquire two more Airbus C295 transport aircraft following the signature of a new contract with Airbus Defence and Space.
The agreement, which includes a spares and support package, covers the final two aircraft included in a memorandum of understanding signed in 2012.
Both aircraft will be delivered in the second half of this year and will take the Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces’ C295 fleet to eight and total C295 sales to 186, including 12 in the CIS.
The attached photo shows an earlier C295 delivered to Kazakhstan.
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