Envelope Expansion Continues as Sikorsky X2 TechnologyTM Demonstrator Flies Faster than the Average Helicopter

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida - Sikorsky Aircraft Corp.’s X2 TechnologyTM demonstrator achieved a speed of 181 knots in a test flight today at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center. Sikorsky is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

The X2 Technology demonstrator combines an integrated suite of technologies intended to advance the state-of-the-art, counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter. It is designed to demonstrate that a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots while retaining such desirable attributes as excellent low-speed handling, efficient hovering, and a seamless and simple transition to high speed.

"The X2 Technology demonstrator today exceeded average helicopter speeds of a conventional helicopter, generally 160-170 knots,” said Jim Kagdis, Program Manager, Sikorsky Advanced Programs. “The demonstrator is proving out the technologies very well, from the active vibration control system to the fly-by-wire controls. There are no show stoppers here so far, and now the program turns a corner, as this completes phase three of four. We are flying forward to the 250-knot cruise speed.”

The X2 Technology program began in 2005 when Sikorsky first committed resources and full funding for the program’s development.

“For potential customers, this milestone is exciting news and a solid signal that these technologies are true and executable, performing the way we expected they would,” said Mark Miller, Sikorsky Vice President of Research & Engineering. “As the X2 Technology demonstrator prepares to write a new page in aviation history later this year, we will continue the conversation with our customers and look forward to mapping out future applications that will meet customer needs.”

Among the innovative technologies the X2 Technology demonstrator employs are:

• Fly-by-wire flight controls
• Counter-rotating rigid rotor blades
• Hub drag reduction
• Active vibration control
• Integrated auxiliary propulsion system

Sikorsky Press Release

Airbus delivers the 30th A380

The 30th A380 to be delivered was handed over today to Emirates Airline, one of the launch customers of the Airbus double-decker aircraft. This is the tenth A380 Emirates has received out of its total firm order for 58 aircraft.

This aircraft will be on display at the ILA Berlin Air Show which is taking place from June 8th to 13th. Lufthansa will also bring their recently delivered, first A380 to the show and from June 11th an Airbus flight test A380 will be on static and flying display.

Airbus has already delivered seven A380s so far in 2010, three to Emirates Airline, two to Air France, one to Lufthansa and one to Qantas. Airbus is on track to deliver a total of at least 20 A380s in 2010.

Today five major airlines, Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airline, Qantas, Air France and Lufthansa, operate 30 A380s on 20 routes linking 18 major international destinations. Together they have carried nearly five and a half million passengers on 15,000 revenue flights and have clocked up almost 140,000 revenue flight hours. These A380 flights have saved 640,000t of CO2 emissions by replacing journeys that would otherwise have been made with less fuel-efficient large aircraft. The A380 has the lowest fuel burn of any wide body aircraft, needing less than three litres of fuel per passenger per 100km.

. The A380 is also a proven profit generator. Delivering an impressive double-digit percentage reduction in cash operating costs, it allows airlines to either increase the number of seats offered at little or no extra cost or keep the same capacity at a much lower total cost. This is one of the reasons why seven of the 17 A380 customers have already placed repeat orders and over half the world’s top international carriers have ordered it.

Airbus has received 202 firm orders for the A380 from 17 customers.

EADS Press Release

Boeing eager to nail down timeframe for cleansheet narrowbody

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/06/04/342826/boeing-eager-to-nail-down-timeframe-for-cleansheet-narrowbody.html


Boeing CEO Jim McNerney says he still prefers to replace the 737 with a cleansheet design unless airline demand fails to mature before 2025.

...

With scaled down 787 systems and a future engine offering, Boeing aims to offer between 15-20% direct operating cost savings over today's narrowbody aircraft.

Chief competitor Airbus is planning an end of year decision on re-engining the A320 family for a mid-decade entry into service. Additionally, a 2013 entry into service by market newcomer Bombardier with the 110-149-seat CSeries is weighing heavily on Boeing's decisions to re-engine or replace the 737.

Electric Aircraft Symposium Slated For AirVenture 2010

http://www.aero-news.net/news/genav.cfm?ContentBlockID=8454e8e9-bfde-4768-ae22-13205815bc6f&Dynamic=1

A full-day World Symposium on Electric Aircraft has been scheduled for Friday, July 30, during AirVenture 2010 at Wittman Field in Oshkosh, WI. Sponsored by GE Aviation Systems, the symposium will feature several influential industry leaders discussing electric propulsion aircraft in an open forum, offering what they envision is the future for this rapidly growing flight segment that is attracting the attention of scientists, engineers, manufacturers, and investors.

Electric Mobility in the air and … new ELEKTRA ONE

Press Release (Wednesday, June 3, 2010)

Electric Aircraft ELEKTRA ONE from PC-Aero

Today the Expo for sustainable mobility „the electric avenue" in Friedrichshafen/Germany starts. After the world premiere at the Expo Aero 2010 PC-Aero now presents again it's Electric Aircraft, the ELEKTRA ONE.

Our Vision:

Using the existing technology it is possible to fly with a one-, two- or four-seat Electric Aircraft, for more than three hours, more than 400 km range, without noise, with zero CO2-emission, for lower operation costs than using a classic aircraft.

E-Plane Family

PC-Aero designed a family of Electric Aircrafts, based on an aerodynamic and structure similarity - starting from the one seater ELEKTRA ONE, going to a two seat aircraft ELEKTRA TWO and ending with the four seater ELEKTRA FOUR. ELEKTRA ONE may fly with less than 5 kW/hour. Using solar cells installed on the wing can fly with less than 4 kW/hour. ELEKTRA ONE SOLAR, a derivative version of ELEKTRA ONE may fly only using the energy from the sun.

"The E-Plane family will be a bridge for the future electric transportation in the third dimension, the air", says Calin Gologan, president PC-Aero. The first flight of ELEKTRA ONE will take place in late summer 2010.

Green Village Airfield

Calin Gologan (PC-Aero) will not only present a new Electric Aircraft, our ELEKTRA ONE. He will show more a future concept of electric mobility in the third dimension, the air: flying for more than 3 hours with CO2-emission zero in combination with a Solar Hangar (we name it Green Village Airfield).

ELEKTRA ONE will need only about 20 m2 photovoltaic cells (costs about 6.000 €) on the hangar roof in order to fly more than 300 hours/year (south Germany conditions).

ELEKTRA TWO will need about 40 m2 solar cells. In less than 8 years the costs of the solar cells will be returned. In this way a real CO2 zero emission flight will be realized.

We name this concept Green Village Airfield, the future of e-mobility concept in leisure aviation. PC-Aero is working close with the GERMAN AIRCLUB (DAEC) in order to realize this concept next year.

Calin Gologan-Network for the Green Village Airfield-project

Our project Green Village Airfield/Solar Hangar are actually in the planning phase. Engineers, scientists and pilots just connected to the Calin Gologan-network in order to bring this project to reality.

NASA-/CAFE-Green Flight Challenge 2011 (1,5 Mio. $)

The Team PC-Aero will compete with ELEKTRA ONE for the NASA Green Flight Challenge (http://cafefoundation.org) in summer 2011 California/USA. This will be the highest price in the history of general aviation (1.5 Mio. $) and will be sponsored by NASA. The goal: fly with less than 1 gallon/100 miles with more than 100 MPH, for a 200 miles range, for a two seat aircraft. A one seat aircraft must fly with 0.5 gallons/ 100 miles. For electric power 1 gallon will be converted in 33.7 kWh. PC-Aero built up a strong international team of worldwide best engineers and test pilots in order to win this price. The NASA-/CAFE-Green Flight Challenge event will be followed by the whole media world. As a team with the best chance to win we offer attractive sponsorship possibilities.

Synergies between Electric Aircrafts and Electric Cars

There are three very important synergies between Electric Aircrafts and Electric Cars:

• electric power unit

• use of the best aerodynamics

• saving weight

􀂾 Aircraft designers have the best experience in saving weight (ex.: carbon

composite structures) and aerodynamic optimization.

􀂾 E-Car designers have the best experience in the e-power package.

Working together would be the best benefit for both. That's why we are looking for

joint ventures with E-car manufacturers.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship levels are now available for business sponsors, airplane manufacturers, technology and industry partners and research and university partners. Sponsors will receive media visibility, be granted permission for use of the PC-Aero logo, have opportunities for corporate logo placement, be listed on the www.pc-aero.de website and participate in numerous planned events.

Darpa Sets Goals For Morphing-Rotor Demo

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/awst/2010/06/07/AW_06_07_2010_p24-231440.xml

Boeing, Sikorsky and the Bell Boeing tiltrotor team have received 16-month Phase 1 contracts to assess a wide range of adaptive rotor technologies and develop designs for both a clean-sheet “objective” rotor system and a demonstrator rotor that can fly on an existing aircraft.

“Adaptation of all blade attributes are on the table: twist, airfoil, chord, sjpegness, rpm., etc.,” says Daniel Newman, Darpa’s MAR program manager. “There are many technologies available. It’s not just any one, it’s about developing multiple adaptive technologies that complement each other.”


...

The goal of MAR is a rotor that can change its configuration before a mission and in flight, between mission segments and with every revolution. “Adaptation for rotorcraft is a huge opportunity because the blades see a wide range of flight conditions,” says Newman. “They can adapt between mission segments and also around the rotor azimuth.”

Airbus to test ash-detector for EasyJet on A340

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/06/04/342772/airbus-to-test-ash-detector-for-easyjet-on-a340.html

The aircraft-mounted passive infrared volcanic ash detector system called Avoid that is being tested by EasyJet and Airbus was developed some years ago by the Climate and Atmosphere Department of the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, but no-one took up the idea until now.


Pilots 'can navigate safely through volcanic ash'
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/06/04/342814/pilots-can-navigate-safely-through-volcanic-ash.html

Rusia ensaya siete aviones sin piloto en la frontera con Kazajstán

http://sp.rian.ru/onlinenews/20100601/126536184.html

Adquirimos siete aviones sin piloto de fabricación nacional tipo ZALA-421-05, Irkut-10 y Orlán y los sometimos a pruebas en la frontera con Kazajstán ", dijo Prónichev en una entrevista a Rossiyskaia gaceta

Iberia y British Airways inician la compra conjunta de aviones

http://www.expansion.com/2010/06/04/empresas/1275607449.html

Aunque la integración de las dos aerolíneas no se formalizará hasta noviembre de 2010, ambas han contratado de forma conjunta la adquisición de cinco A320, valorados a precios de catálogo en unos 300 millones de dólares (245 millones de euros). Según fuentes de BA, "la compra de esos aparatos responde a la simplificación de opciones de compra que ambas empresas tenían por separado".

Eurocopter unveils NH90 MedEvac Variant at ILA Berlin Air Show – Retrofit kit solution also available for Combat SAR missions

Eurocopter will be presenting an NH90 in the Forward Air MedEvac (Medical Evacuation) configuration for the first time at ILA 2010 in Berlin. Designed to meet the future needs of the German Armed Forces, this configuration of the world’s most advanced multirole military helicopter is the company’s response to an initiative by the German Federal Ministry of Defence to increase availability of protected NH90 transport capability for wounded personnel. The requirement amounts to twelve helicopters.


The main goal of this retrofit measure is to enable NH90 operators to carry out missions over any terrain, day or night, under all weather and visual flight conditions, irrespective of the threat scenario. Eurocopter ensures that the proposed solution fully meets the military's operational requirements and that the project can be completed within 20 months.
To reduce the approval procedure to a minimum, part of the development work originally planned for the Final Operational Configuration (FOC) NH90 has been moved forward, including the MG-3 parts kit and anti-ballistic protection. Already-existing NH90 systems such as electronic countermeasures, helmet-mounted display for low-altitude night flight, and secure voice communications will be adapted to the new mission requirements. The helicopter will be equipped with two intensive care bays for treating wounded personnel, and seats for the medical team. The Medical Service of the German Army was consulted and its experience taken into account in the design and layout of the working areas.
The systems selected for this configuration ensure rapid helicopter availability, optimized compatibility with the current NH90 program, and full operational capability for the transport of wounded personnel.

Kit solution also possible for Combat SAR missionsEurocopter offers a similar mission package as a retrofit for the TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) variant of the NH90 for Combat Search-And-Rescue (CSAR) and personnel recovery missions, i.e. saving the wounded from combat zones. Options for the CSAR variant include up to three machine guns (one on each side door and one on the tail ramp), anti-ballistic protection, a rappel system, a double rescue hoist, an emergency flotation system, sand filters, an obstacle warning system and ECM self-protection. The NH90 has a standard range of approximately 200 nautical miles, which is sufficient to reach 94 percent of all mission targets. The range can be increased to up to 300 nautical miles by adding internal and/or external auxiliary tanks. The in-flight refueling capability of the helicopter means it can also be deployed far beyond these distances.

The retrofit capabilities of the NH90 for CSAR missions offer significant advantages to operators such as the German Armed Forces. The CSAR variant is interoperable with the other TTH variants in service in Germany and other European countries, and can benefit from the logistics solutions already employed by the Army and Air Force. The NH90’s stealth features, combined with its all-weather capability and heavy-duty transmission with 30-minute dry-run capability, assure its survivability under the most extreme conditions.

Eurocopter Press  Release

Eurocopter exhibe su gama de productos de última generación en el salón aeronáutico ILA 2010 de Berlín.

Interior del primer NH90 destinado a socorro sanitario presentado por Eurocopter.

Reproducimos la nota de Prensa de Eurocopter:


● Presentación del helicóptero de combate Tigre y del helicóptero para fragatas de la OTAN NH90
● Primera aparición en público del nuevo NH90 destinado a socorro sanitario
● La iniciativa “Eurocopter se va al Este” da la bienvenida a Lituania y Polonia


Berlín, a 3 de junio de 2010 ILA 2010

Eurocopter, líder mundial de los fabricantes de helicópteros en los mercados civil y de servicios públicos, aprovecha el salón aeronáutico ILA de Berlín de este año para poner de relieve su fuerte presencia en el mercado y su permanente capacidad de innovación.

Eurocopter mostrará los más avanzado helicópteros militares – el helicóptero de combate Tigre y el helicóptero para fragatas de la OTAN NH90 – que prestan servicio en diferentes países. Además se expondrá una nueva variante del NH90 destinada a socorro sanitario (MedEvac, en sus siglas en inglés), que ha desarrollado de cara a futuros requisitos militares alemanes, y también un gran conjunto de helicópteros civiles de su marca.

El Tigre, que en la actualidad se entrega a Alemania, Francia, Australia y España, demostrará su espectacular maniobrabilidad durante exhibiciones aéreas diarias. Helicópteros Tigre franceses prestan servicio en Afganistán desde mediados de 2009. El NH90, que, con 529 unidades pedidas por 14 países, es el programa de helicópteros militares más amplio de toda Europa, se está entregando ahora a Alemania, Suecia, Italia, Australia, Finlandia, los Países Bajos y Francia. En el transcurso de este año arrancarán las entregas a otros clientes. En la muestra está incluida asimismo la variante naval del NH90, que presta servicio en la Real Marina de los Países Bajos.

En la exposición estática, Eurocopter presenta, por primera vez, una nueva variante de socorro sanitario (MedEvac/CasEvac, siglas en inglés). La empresa ha desarrollado esta variante para satisfacer futuras necesidades militares de Alemania y como solución de primera categoría para evacuación sanitaria y de heridos, así como para misiones de búsqueda y salvamento en combate.

Un EC145 de la Guardia Costera de Lituania, presentado en el “stand” de EADS (Stand n° 100, Pabellón 7) enfatiza el éxito logrado en los mercados de los países recién llegados a la Unión Europea y en otros del Este de Europa. Al mismo tiempo, en la exposición estática del HeliCenter se puede admirar también un EC135 en configuración de socorro sanitario de urgencia (EMS, siglas en inglés), es el número 11 de un total de 23 encargados por el Ministerio de Sanidad de Polonia.


La presencia de Eurocopter en dicha exposición estática se redondea con un CH-53GA mejorado para el Ejército Federal alemán y destinado a misiones de rescate de personas, un EC145 en configuración EMS perteneciente al servicio de salvamento aéreo alemán DRF (Deutsche Rettungsflugwacht), un helicóptero EC145 Stylence para vuelos VIP y corporativos, un EC135 de la Policía bávara, así como un EC120 idóneo para transporte de ejecutivos y para entrenamiento de pilotos.

Fiel a su tradición de marcar pautas y elevar los estándares industriales, Eurocopter participa también en el programa de conferencias de la ILA, presentando nuevas concepciones y tecnologías. En el pabellón de exposición estática de EADS muestra tecnologías inéditas de helicóptero más respetuosas con el medio ambiente y en su “stand” del HeliCenter, Eurocopter revela sus renovadas capacidades de mantenimiento, reparación e inspección mayor (overhaul). Asimismo varios clientes de la empresa presentan otros helicópteros de Eurocopter en diferentes lugares del salón ILA de Berlín.

U.S. Navy Awards Lockheed Martin Contract to Pioneer Technology to Efficiently Manage Groups of Unmanned Vehicles

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-navy-awards-lockheed-martin-contract-to-pioneer-technology-to-efficiently-manage-groups-of-unmanned-vehicles-2010-06-02?reflink=MW_news_stmp
The traditional, vehicle-centric approach assigns a single person to a single vehicle and restricts their access to information from across their team, which can create stovepipes and uneven workload. Lockheed Martin's unique software system -- called Supervision of Unmanned vehicles Mission Management by Interactive Teams or SUMMIT, for short -- introduces a mission-centric approach that allows watchstanders to fluidly share information and tasks, equally distribute workload, complete mission analysis faster, and improve situational awareness.

UAS Training From L-3 Slated For University of North Dakota

http://www.aero-news.net/news/military.cfm?ContentBlockID=9ca40880-bbba-4d1e-a651-2dd072197329&Dynamic=1

The University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks and L-3 Link Simulation & Training announced Thursday they have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly create an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Training Center. The center, which will be located on UND's campus and Grand Forks Air Force Base, will be the first non-military educational institution in the U.S. to provide initial qualification and continuation training for operators of the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper aircraft. The training center will begin operations in March 2011.

Poland Seeks Advanced Jet Trainers

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/Poland-Seeks-Advanced-Jet-Trainers-06423/

Poland is looking for 16 Lead-in Fighter Trainer (LIFT) aircraft to
replace its aged fleet of over 100 PZL Mielec TS-11 Iskra trainer
jets. [...] Right now, Polish pilots mostly train in the USA on
supersonic T-38 Talons and USAF F-16s, but that contract expires in
2015…

Competitors
http://classic.eads.net/1024/en/businet/airbus/airbus_military/pzl/aircraft/pzl_130.html
http://www.alenia-aeronautica.it/Eng/Difesa/Proprietari/Pages/AleniaAermacchiM-346.aspx
http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/bae_prod_air_hawk.html
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/yak_130/
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/t-50/
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/l159/
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/products/t50/index.html

Ya ha comenzado MARS500

Seis voluntarios simulan desde hoy un viaje de 520 días a Marte
http://www.fayerwayer.com/2010/06/seis-voluntarios-simulan-desde-hoy-un-viaje-de-520-dias-a-marte/#more-93981
Un ambicioso programa de simulación comenzó hoy en Rusia, que busca recrear las condiciones que deberían soportar los astronautas en un potencial viaje a Marte. El proyecto encerrará a seis voluntarios durante 520 días para practicar todos los pasos que requeriría una misión al planeta rojo, sin tener que dejar la Tierra.

El proyecto "Mars 500" es desarrollado en conjunto entre Rusia, la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA) y China en el Instituto de Problemas Biomédicos (IBMP) de Moscú. Tres rusos, un francés, un italiano y un chino son los voluntarios del equipo.


La simulación durará hasta noviembre de 2011, y el equipo deberá arreglárselas con comida empacada y los equipos disponibles en la "nave espacial" de mentira. Sólo se les proveerá electricidad, agua y aire desde el exterior.

Rusia iniciará suministros de cazas Su-30 y aviones Yak-130 a Argelia en 2011

http://sp.rian.ru/onlinenews/20100602/126544386.html

El suministro de los aviones Su-30 y Yak-130 se iniciará el próximo año", dijo Dzirkaln que se encuentra en Abu Dhabi, capital de los Emiratos Árabes Unidos.

El mes pasado de abril, el director general de la corporación estatal Rostejnologuii, Serguei Chémezov, comunicó que Rusia suministrará a Argelia "cazas modernos" por un total de 1.000 millones de dólares

CONVOCATORIAS PLAZAS EN AESA

Anteayer se han convocado oposiciones para IAs e ITAs de Fomento, 7 y 10 plazas respectivamente, de la oferta de empleo público para 2.010. El plazo para presentar las solicitudes creo que se acaba el 20/06

Convocatoria Ing. Tec. Aeronauticos en BOE

1. Descripción de las plazas
1.1 Se convoca proceso selectivo para cubrir 10 plazas del Cuerpo de Ingenieros Técnicos Aeronáuticos, Código 1419, por el sistema general de acceso libre y cinco plazas por el sistema de promoción interna, de las comprendidas en el artículo 6 del Real Decreto 406/2010, de 31 de marzo («Boletín Oficial del Estado» de 1 de abril), por el que se aprueba la oferta de empleo público para el año 2010.
En el caso de que las plazas convocadas por el sistema de promoción interna quedaran vacantes no podrán acumularse a las de la convocatoria de acceso libre, según lo establecido en el artículo 79 del Real Decreto 364/1995, de 10 de marzo («Boletín Oficial del Estado» de 15 de abril).

Convocatoria Ing. Aeronauticos en el BOE

Se convoca proceso selectivo para cubrir 7 plazas del Cuerpo de Ingenieros Aeronáuticos, Código 1406, por el sistema general de acceso libre y 5 plazas por el sistema de promoción interna, de las comprendidas en el artículo 6 del Real Decreto 406/2010, de 31 de marzo («BOE» de 1 de abril), por el que se aprueba la oferta de empleo público para el año 2010.
En el caso de que las plazas convocadas por el sistema de promoción interna quedaran vacantes no podrán acumularse a las de la convocatoria de acceso libre, según lo establecido en el artículo 79 del Real Decreto 364/1995, de 10 de marzo («Boletín Oficial del Estado» de 15 de abril).

Tejas LSP-4 Goes Supersonic In First Flight

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/asd/2010/06/03/08.xml

Image: Wikipedia



BENGALURU, India — The fourth limited series production (LSP-4) model of India’s light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas had its successful first flight at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s military airport here in Bengaluru on June 2.

The flight, piloted by Group Capt. Suneet Krishna of the National Flight Test Center (NFTC), lasted 40 min. The pilot went supersonic and later recovered the full flight envelope, exhibiting confidence in the system.

CASA C-212 assembly set for Indonesian shift

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/06/03/342676/c-212-assembly-set-for-indonesian-shift.html

Future assembly of the C-212 light transport is likely to move to Indonesia as part of an Airbus Military initiative to reduce the type's unit cost and allow its Spanish facilities to be dedicated to producing the larger CN-235 and C-295 models.

"The question is: can we find an industrial arrangement on which we can continue to produce this aircraft in a very competitive way,"

Airbus denuncia una campaña por parte de Boeing para perjudicar su oferta en el concurso de tanqueros

http://www.europapress.es/economia/noticia-economia-empresas-airbus-denuncia-campana-parte-boeing-perjudicar-oferta-concurso-tanqueros-20100601151840.html 


"Boeing está pidiendo que EADS sea penalizada en el concurso por cualquier apoyo que haya recibido, pero ignora el significado de los descubrimientos iniciales de la OMC, así como su investigación paralela sobre la propia Boeing", explicó el responsable de Airbus.