Navy F-18 Jet Crashes Near Virginia Beach | TPM Livewire

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CST-100 capsule landing system tested in 11,000 foot drop test

CST-100 capsule landing system tested in 11,000 foot drop test:

Boeing and Bigelow Aerospace conducted a series of tests in September 2011 that saw the Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 mock capsule dropped from a specially designed horizontal rig to test the capsule’s airbags. These airbags are designed to cushion the capsule’s impact on landing and work in conjunction with three main parachutes that are deployed before the airbags are inflated. These parachutes were included in the latest test in which the capsule was dropped from an altitude of around 11,000 ft (3,353 m) to test these parachutes...
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Cessna's Corvalis TTX, the world's fastest fixed-gear aircraft, enters production

Cessna's Corvalis TTX, the world's fastest fixed-gear aircraft, enters production:

Cessna seized upon the frankly unmissable opportunity to make a major announcement at this year's Sun 'n Fun International Fly-In at Lakeland, Florida, by announcing that its luxury single-pilot aircraft, the Cessna Corvalis TTX, has entered production. The new aircraft, proclaimed by Cessna to be the "world's fastest fixed-gear aircraft," will replace the old Corvalis TT.
..
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100ª Sesión del Foro Aeroespacial de Andalucía: "Impulsando el futuro de nuestra aeronáutica"

100ª Sesión del Foro Aeroespacial de Andalucía: "Impulsando el futuro de nuestra aeronáutica": 100 sesiones. Nada más y nada menos. ElForo Aeroespacial de Andalucíacelebrará su centésima sesión proyectando una visión sobre el impulso y futuro de la aeronáutica andaluza.Aprovechamos desdeaergeniumpara felicitar a su organizador, el Profesor D. Carlos Gómez Camacho, y todas aquellas personas que de un modo u otro han colaborado y participado de esta actividad que ya se podría decir q

Boeing completes delivery of F-15K fighter jets to South Korea

Boeing completes delivery of F-15K fighter jets to South Korea: The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) has taken delivery of the final two F-15K Slam Eagles jet fighters from Boeing at Daegu Air Base in South Korea.

Lockheed Martin Commemorates 4,500 F-16 Aircraft Deliveries | Aviation & Air Force News at DefenceTalk

http://www.defencetalk.com/lockheed-martin-commemorates-4500-f-16-aircraft-deliveries-41431/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Completes First Ever Polar Test Mission | Aviation & Air Force News at DefenceTalk

Under contract to the U.S. Air Force,
Northrop Grumman's B-2 Spirit stealth
bomber has completed its first 18.5-hour
sortie over the North Pole to validate new
flight management software.
The computer upgrade system, which is
the cornerstone for all future B-2
upgrades, is now ready to enter low-rate
initial production.

http://www.defencetalk.com/b-2-spirit-stealth-bomber-completes-first-ever-polar-test-mission-41433/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Apache Block III Helicopter Performs Well In Tests | Army & Land Forces News at DefenceTalk

The U.S. Army's AH-64 Apache Block III
next-generation attack helicopter is
finishing up its Initial Operational Test and
Evaluation at Fort Irwin, Calif., and should
be ready to deploy with Soldiers sometime
next year, officials said April 2 at the Army
Aviation Association of America's 2012
Professional Forum and Exposition.
The nitial Operational Test and Evaluation,
known as IOT&E, is a series of combat-like
assessments and evaluations placing the aircraft
in operationally relevant scenarios as a way to
prepare the platform for full-rate production,
said Col. Shane Openshaw, project manager,
Apache Attack Helicopters.

http://www.defencetalk.com/apache-block-iii-helicopter-performs-well-in-tests-41422/

Su-35 Fighters Made 500 Test Flights | Aviation & Air Force News at DefenceTalk

The plane reached the maximum ground-level
speed of 1,400 km/h, speed at altitude — 2400
km/h, the ceiling — 18 thousand meters. The
detection range of targets in the "air-to-air"
mode is over 400 km. This is significantly higher
than that of the combat aircraft currently in
service. The onboard OLS (optical locator
station) can detect and track multiple targets at
ranges exceeding 80 km. The aircraft complex is
ready to undergo tests for combat use.

http://www.defencetalk.com/su-35-fighters-made-500-test-flights-41425/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Indian student's stunning personal transportation concept

Indian student's stunning personal transportation concept:

Very little is known about this "single person transport system" concept dreamed up by the enigmatically-named product design student Sanu K R from Ernakulam on India's west coast, but one thing is clear: it's a head-turner...
Continue Reading Indian student's stunning personal transportation concept

NASA investigates sending CubeSats to Phobos and back

NASA investigates sending CubeSats to Phobos and back:

NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts Program provides funding to study a small number of highly advanced spaceflight concepts, with the goal of understanding the technological possibilities which will guide the development of future space missions. Under this program, a JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) researcher has proposed the use of a pair of CubeSats for an autonomous mission to retrieve samples from Phobos, Mars' larger moon.
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Air France también creará una filial de bajo coste

Air France también creará una filial de bajo coste:

«El próximo mes de junio estaremos en disposición de presentar el proyecto industrial de la compañía. El objetivo  es reducir como mínimo un 20% de los costes.  Lograr menos comprometería  el reencauzamiento del futuro de la compañía», comentó su presidente y director general, Alexandre de Juniac.

[video y fotos] Terrafugia: Ya vuelan dos prototipos de "serie" del coche volador

El Terrafugia es seguramente el más conocido de ellos, por lo mediático que ha sido y por la cantidad de veces que se ha repetido que es seguramente el coche que vuela más cercano a la comercialización de todos (los lectores habituales de este blog ya saben que del Maverick, por ejemplo, ya se llegaron a abrir pre-orders, y sin embargo, no volvió a salir en los medios...). Es posible que notéis este Terrafugia algo cambiado respecto a las imágenes que os hemos mostrado habitualmente: se debe a que entre el demostrador tecnológico y el prototipo de pre-producción ha habido algunos re-diseños.

Noticia completa, fotos y vídeo aquí

Terrafugia Transition production prototype takes off

The Transition® Street-Legal Airplane is now a significant step closer to being a commercial reality.  The production prototype of the Transition® Street-Legal Airplane completed its successful first flight at Plattsburgh International Airport in Plattsburgh, NY on March 23, 2012.  The same vehicle has also successfully conducted initial drive and conversion testing, demonstrating the Transition’s capability to provide unmatched freedom, flexibility and fun in personal aviation.  Developed by Terrafugia, Inc., the Transition® is a two seat personal aircraft capable of driving on roads and highways, parking in a single car garage, and flying with unleaded automotive fuel.

“The successful first flight of this Production Prototype Transition® marks a critical move toward initial production and first delivery,” said COO Anna Mracek Dietrich.  The Production Prototype phase of the Transition® program follows Proof of Concept work which included a flying, driving Proof of Concept vehicle and was completed in 2009. The Production Prototype program includes two vehicles and is being used to develop and inform the manufacturing tool-up and compliance program necessary to begin commercial deliveries.    

Terrafugia will continue its testing program in preparation for first delivery, which is expected to occur within the next year.

Regarding this first flight, Terrafugia CEO/CTO and co-founder Carl Dietrich said: "The first flight of the Transition® Production Prototype is a major milestone for Terrafugia.   With this flight, the team demonstrated an ability to accomplish what had been called an impossible dream. We look forward to continuing to show that the challenges of bringing a practical street legal airplane to market can be overcome.  This is a very exciting time for Terrafugia.  We are on our way up – literally and figuratively!"

The Transition’s first flight reached an altitude of 1400’ above the ground and lasted eight minutes while staying in the vicinity of Plattsburgh International Airport.  It demonstrated the controllability and safe operational characteristics of the aircraft.  Six phases of flight testing are planned to continue development and demonstrate compliance to the Light Sport Aircraft standards.

Speaking about the first flight, Terrafugia Chief Test Pilot Phil Meteer said: “It’s a remarkable vehicle both on the road and, now, in the air.  When I drove it into the shop, literally from the road through the garage door, I was amazed that I had just flown it at Plattsburgh a few days before.  A long-overdue mode of transportation and fun is just around the corner.  I can’t wait for the upcoming flight tests and the chance to ‘wring it out’, demonstrating how safe and enjoyable the Transition® is to fly.”

The Transition® Production Prototype is on display at the New York International Auto Show April 6-15th at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City.  

Terrafugia would like to thank Giora Guth, Chief Chase Pilot, as well as the teams at Plattsburgh International Airport, Sheltair Aviation, and Lawrence Municipal Airport, for their support of our ground and flight testing operations.

Terrafugia (terra-FOO-gee-ah), based in Woburn, MA, is a growing aerospace company founded by pilots and engineers from MIT and supported by a world-class network of advisors and private investors.   The company name is Latin for “escape the earth.”  Terrafugia’s mission is to design and deliver revolutionary, practical air and land vehicles that provide freedom, flexibility and fun to their loyal customers. 

The Transition® is classified as a Light Sport Aircraft (LSA)

U.S. Army Defining New Multi-Role Helicopter

U.S. Army Defining New Multi-Role Helicopter: An opportunity to define a clean-sheet next-generation utility/attack rotorcraft is approaching.

China Southern Airlines respetará los encargos hechos a Airbus

China Southern Airlines respetará los encargos hechos a Airbus:
Pekín.- La compañía aérea China Southern Airlines no secundará las recomendaciones del Gobierno chino a propósito de sus diferencias con la Unión Europea por la tasa del CO2

Navy Unveils First Fleet P-8A Poseidon to Public, Maritime Community at Annual Symposium

Navy Unveils First Fleet P-8A Poseidon to Public, Maritime Community at Annual Symposium: The U.S. Navy made history March 28 when the newest multi-mission maritime aircraft, P-8A Poseidon, graced invited guests with its first public appearance as a member of the patrol and reconnaissance community, and opened the doors to its Integrated Training Center. "We are making history today as...



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Sukhoi Promotes the Su-35 Fighter to the Latin American Market

Sukhoi Promotes the Su-35 Fighter to the Latin American Market: The Sukhoi Company will show off its multipurpose Su-35 fighter of the 4++ generation at the upcoming on March 27 17th International Aerospace Exhibition FIDAE-2012 in Santiago, Chile. A model airplane will be presented on the stand of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which includes the...



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A Run Down of Airlines and Their April Fools’ Jokes

As many of you have probably realized by now, yesterday was April Fools Day. This was an opportunity for airlines, with a sense of humor, to break out their best creativity and come up with stories that are almost believable — almost.

Last year I found ten airlines that went all out on Aprils Fools, but this year there didn’t seem to be as many who were in the spirit. Here are the ones I found: A Run Down of Airlines and Their April Fools’ Jokes

Eurocopter calls for conclusion of India competition

Eurocopter calls for conclusion of India competition: Eurocopter CEO Lutz Bertling says it is time for India's competition for 197 reconnaissance and surveillance helicopters (RSH) to be concluded. "It...