First Flight Of The RoboSwift Micro-Airplane Is A Success

 

ScienceDaily (Mar. 6, 2008) — The RoboSwift, the micro-aircraft inspired by the swift, has made its first flight. In recent months, aerospace engineering students at Delft University of Technology have developed the aircraft in cooperation with the Experimental Zoology Group of Wageningen University, Netherlands. The small, quiet aircraft is equipped with observation cameras that can be used in the future to study birds or to conduct surveillance of groups of people or vehicles. The National Police Services Agency (KLPD) has announced that it is going to financially support the development of the RoboSwift.

Between 10 and 15 March, the group of students who developed the RoboSwift will be competing in an international contest in India for micro-aircraft: the American-Asian Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) Competition.

KLPD

The Dutch National Police Services Agency (KLPD) is continually looking for innovations that are applicable to police work and sees possibilities in the Roboswift. It is therefore supporting the project financially. For example, the RoboSwift could help the police in case of accidents, demonstrations and in enforcement and surveillance.

Morphing wings

The RoboSwift is characterised by the continuously variable shape of its wings, known as ‘morphing’ wings, which are modelled on the wings of the swift. These wings make the aircraft, like its living model, very manoeuvrable and efficient. As a result, the RoboSwift is the first aircraft in the world to have the wing properties of living birds. Wind tunnel tests have shown that it can come remarkably close to the exceptional flying ability of the swift.

With a wingspan of approximately 50 cm and a weight of less than 100 g, the RoboSwift is a good deal smaller than standard model aeroplanes. To gain elevation, it is equipped with a very quiet electric motor with a propeller. The silhouette of the RoboSwift is similar to that of an actual swift, which makes it less noticeable than other observation aircraft and helicopters. The ‘pilot’ is now being trained in birdlike flying behaviour, which will later include gliding flights. During gliding flights, the motor is turned off and the propeller folds up so the aircraft can fly even more quietly and save energy.

If equipped with micro-cameras that can observe in various directions, interesting applications for the RoboSwift are conceivable. For example, in the future the researchers hope to be able to observe wild birds from nearby without disturbing them by using birdlike aircraft such as the RoboSwift. This would allow new forms of biological research to be conducted. It would also make it possible to perform inconspicuous surveillance of groups of people or vehicles (crowd control).

‘Bio-inspired’

The students based the project on the findings of their supervisor, David Lentink of Wageningen University. In April 2007, with several co-authors he published a study in the journal Nature about the aerodynamic properties of the swift. During its lifetime, a swift flies a distance comparable to five roundtrips to the Moon and can remain in the air continuously for 7000 kilometres. Lentink and his associates discovered that the swift can fly so efficiently and manoeuvre so well because it continuously adapts the shape of its wings to the flying conditions. Studies such as his were the inspiration to develop aircraft based on bird’s wings, which is known as ‘bio-inspired’ design.

Source: Science Daily

Pilots ready for the first race!

The spectacular Red Bull Air Race World Series battle, that ended with a heart-stopping finish in Perth just five months ago, will take to the skies again in Abu Dhabi on 10th and 11th April when American Mike Mangold launches his title defense against Britain’s Paul Bonhomme, who was runner-up last year by just a fraction of a second after 10 races. The competition among the world’s top 12 aerobatic pilots in the 10 races in nine countries over the next seven months is expected to be even more intense than last season’s thrill-filled high-speed World Series.

American Kirby Chambliss, Red Bull Air Race World Champion in 2006, and Hungary’s Peter Besenyei, who was the runner-up in 2005 and 2006, are also expected to be in the hunt for the 2008 championship, which includes three new locations in Detroit (USA), Stockholm (Sweden) and Spain. The new stops will also present a fresh set of challenges for the abilities of Red Bull Air Race World Series logistics team that transports air lifts the entire event with its 380 tonnes of equipment – including the disassembled racing planes.

Source: RedBull airrace

Follow live Jules Verne ATV’s first attempt to dock with the International Space Station

After several days spent in a parking orbit 2000 km ahead of the ISS, Jules Verne ATV is now ready to join up with the International Space Station. This first docking attempt can be followed live on 3 April 2008 from 15:30 CEST onwards from one of the European participating centres.
 
One hour and 6 minutes after lift-off of the Ariane-5 ES launcher from Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on 9 March 2008 at 05:03 CET, Jules Verne ATV was placed in a circular orbit at 51.6° relative to the equator. At that point in time, the Guiana Space Centre transferred mission authority to ESA’s ATV Control Centre located at the CNES site in Toulouse. Jules Verne ATV was then positioned 2000 km from the ISS while awaiting US Space Shuttle Endeavour’s return to Earth on the night of 26 to 27 March.

In the next few days, the CNES and ESA operational teams, supported by the teams of the ATV prime contractor, Astrium, will carry out manoeuvres aimed at positioning the ATV near the ISS and beginning the final approach phase.

The two main manoeuvres (Demoday 1 and Demoday 2), currently scheduled for 29 and 31 March, are intended to demonstrate the ATV’s ability to dock entirely safely with the ISS and, in particular, to perform an escape manoeuvre commanded by the ISS crew when Jules Verne is just 12 metres away from the station.

The docking of Jules Verne ATV is scheduled for 3 April at 16:41 CEST. The final decision on whether to proceed with this manoeuvre will be taken by the ISS Mission Management Team in consultation with the European partners only 24 hours before the operations. For this first attempt, ESA and CNES will be organising live transmission of the event from the ATV Control Centre at CNES in Toulouse to the various European sites.

The ATV Control Centre at CNES in Toulouse will act as focal point for media in France and will be home to experts who will be on hand for interviews and background information.

Journalists wishing to watch these manoeuvres from one of the above-mentioned sites are asked to kindly complete the linked accreditation form and fax or email it to the Establishment of their choice.

For more information and updates on Jules Verne ATV, including live streaming of Demoday 2 on 31 March (video feed courtesy NASA TV) and the first docking attempt on 3 April see: http://www.esa.int/atv.

Source: ESA

EMBRAER SIGNS NEW BRAZILIAN AIRLINE TO US$ 1.4 BILLION CONTRACT

The company’s fleet will have 36 EMBRAER 195 jets, and could grow to 76 airplanes

 

São José dos Campos, March 27, 2008 –

Embraer signed a contract with the newest Brazilian airline, commanded by the businessman David Neeleman, for the sale of 36 EMBRAER 195 jets. The agreement also includes options for another 20 aircraft and purchase rights for 20 more. The total value of the order, at list price, is US$ 1.4 billion, and could reach US$ 3 billion, if all of the options and rights of purchase are confirmed.

“We are indeed proud to have been selected by this new Brazilian airline to bring to the domestic market a fresh, customer-driven alternative for local passengers,” stated Frederico Fleury Curado, Embraer President and CEO. “The EMBRAER 195 offers a distinctive combination of performance and comfort and, most certainly, will capture the preference of Brazilian consumers who are looking for more modern and spacious airplanes.”

The new company registered a request for an Airline Company Certificate of Approval (Certificado de Homologação de Empresa de Transporte Aéreo – CHETA) with the National Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil – ANAC) this month, and will soon launch a marketing campaign to publicize its name and brand. The first jet will be
delivered by Embraer yet this year.

“The EMBRAER 195 is the perfect airplane for the Brazilian market,” stressed David Neeleman, President of the new company. “With 30% fewer seats than the aircraft favored by the competition, the EMBRAER 195 offers competitive unit costs and much lower trip costs.
Because we can make money with fewer passengers per flight, we can provide nonstop service in more markets than exists today.” Born in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, David Neeleman gained broad experience throughout 24 years of outstanding involvement in the air transportation market in the United States. He is the founder and former president of JetBlue Airways, the well-known American low-cost, low-fare airline. Now, Neeleman has decided to found a company in Brazil that flies with airplanes manufactured by Embraer.

The EMBRAER 195 will be configured in a single-class layout, comfortably accommodating 118 passengers in a cabin with 6 feet and 7 inches (2 meters) headroom and two leather seats on each side of the aisle, without the unpleasant “middle seat”. A state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system, with Live TV and individual screens, will be available and each passenger may select the programming of their preference. With its range of 2,200 nautical miles (4,077 km), the jet will be able to fly nonstop routes between any two major Brazilian cities.

The largest and newest aircraft of the four-member E-Jets family, the EMBRAER 195 entered revenue service in September 2006. On December 31, 2007, the EMBRAER 170/190 E-Jets had logged 764 firm orders and 786 options from more than 40 customers in 25 countries on five continents, and had surpassed 1.2 million flight hours.

Source: Embraer

Boeing Announces Agreement to Acquire Vought Share of Global Aeronautica

SEATTLE, March 28, 2008 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today it has agreed to acquire Vought Aircraft Industries’ interest in Global Aeronautica, LLC, a South Carolina fuselage sub-assembly facility for Boeing’s newest airplane, the 787 Dreamliner. After the transaction is complete, Global Aeronautica will become a 50-50 joint venture between The Boeing Company and Alenia North America, a subsidiary of Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica — a Finmeccanica company. Vought will continue to produce the aft fuselage for the 787 at its facility adjacent to Global Aeronautica in North Charleston.

Closing will occur following receipt of regulatory approvals. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction will not affect Boeing’s current financial guidance. Boeing’s supplier management organization will continue to oversee Global Aeronautica along with the other major 787 supplier-partner team members.

“As a partner in the Global Aeronautica joint venture, Boeing will work with Alenia to apply proven lean manufacturing expertise to continue improving the efficiency and productivity of GA’s operations, while Vought will focus on its primary business of delivering quality aft fuselage structures for the 787,” said Pat Shanahan, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. “All three partners in this transaction — Boeing, Vought and Alenia — believe these changes will enable the 787 team to continue to overcome supply-chain challenges of the program.”

Elmer Doty, president and chief executive officer, Vought Aircraft Industries, said, “This seamless transition of joint venture ownership will build upon the strong foundation already established within Global Aeronautica. Selling our interest has no impact on our adjacent facility, where the Vought 787 team remains focused on manufacturing composite fuselage sections for this incredible airplane.”

Giuseppe Giordo, president and chief executive officer, Alenia North America, said, “The 787 program is a strategic program for Alenia and its presence in South Carolina. We are confident that with Boeing as an investor, the successful work of Global Aeronautica will continue thanks to the hard work and dedication of its management and employees.”

“We look forward to working with the Global Aeronautica team and continuing our relationships with Vought and Alenia as we move ahead on the 787 program,” said Shanahan.

Source: Boeing

Rolls-Royce welcomes ‘Landmark’ airtanker contract: Trent engines and support worth £700M

Rolls-Royce today welcomed the Ministry of Defence’s award of the £13 billion contract to the AirTanker consortium for the UK’s Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) Private Finance Initiative programme.

As a shareholder and sub-contractor to AirTanker, the value to Rolls-Royce over the lifetime of the 27-year programme is estimated at over £700 million.

Rolls-Royce will build the Trent 700 engines which will power the fleet of 14 Airbus A330-200 tanker aircraft, as well as providing Mission Ready Management Solutions® support for the propulsion system in service.

The Trent 700 engine is the most popular engine on the Airbus A330, which entered service in 1995. Its market share today stands at 53 per cent of firm and option orders, including 70 per cent of orders placed in the last five years. In the first three months of 2008, Trent 700 orders and TotalCare® service agreements totalled around $5 billion.

Martin Fausset, Managing Director of Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, said: “The tanker contract is a landmark for Rolls-Royce. Our role in this programme will extend well beyond manufacturing and supporting the Trent engines for the Airbus A330s.“As a shareholder in AirTanker we will also be involved in the total service provision for the contract, marking a further milestone in developing our aftermarket services strategy.”

With the selection of AirTanker, the RAF will gain the same benefits from the new Trent technology, such as high levels of fuel efficiency, as many of today’s leading airlines. The Trent 700 delivers the highest thrust available on the A330 resulting in increased operational flexibility. It is also the only engine on the A330 with a full-length cowl, reducing infra-red signature.

Rolls-Royce programme management and real-time, proactive diagnostic support will be provided from its Defence Aerospace headquarters in Bristol, with additional personnel based at RAF Brize Norton.

The engines will be assembled and tested at the Derby facility. Components for the Trent engines will be manufactured throughout the Rolls-Royce global supply chain.

Source: Rolls Royce

Boeing Confirms 737 Order from Turkmenistan Airlines

SEATTLE, March 27, 2008 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today confirmed an order for three Next-Generation 737s by national flag carrier Turkmenistan Airlines. The order for two 737-900ERs and one 737-700 is worth approximately $221 million at list prices.

Turkmenistan Airlines’ all-Boeing fleet also includes 717s, Classic and Next-Generation 737s, 757s, and one 767.

“Turkmenistan Airlines is taking maximum advantage of the commonality of the Next-Generation 737 family. By integrating the different model sizes, including the larger -900ER, into its fleet, Turkmenistan Airlines can grow its fleet with lower investments in parts, equipment and training,” said Craig Jones, Boeing Commercial Airplanes vice president of Sales for Russia & Central Asia.

The Next-Generation 737 family is the most technologically advanced airplane family in the single-aisle market. The Next-Generation 737’s market success is confirmed by air finance investors, who consistently rank it as the most preferred airplane due to its wide market base, superior efficiency and lowest operating costs in its class.

The 737 has logged more orders than any other commercial jet model in history, with more than 7,800 orders. Boeing has more than 2,100 unfilled orders for the Next-Generation 737, worth more than $150 billion at current list prices.

Source: Boeing

General Giuseppe Marani, Commanding General Air Command flew Eurofighter Typhoon

General Giuseppe Marani, Commanding General Air Command (Squadra Aerea) of the Italian Air Force, flew Eurofighter Typhoon at the conversion unit 20 Gruppo at Grosseto on March 19, 2008.

The General, a graduate of the Empire Test Pilot School, has approx 3400 flying hours on 30 different types. He commands all flying units and leads Italian Air Force operations. He was accompanied on his visit to Grosseto by Division Commander General Gianfranco Camperi. The Commanding Officer of the 4 Stormo (Wing), Colonel Nuzzo, had briefed the visitors before on the Eurofighter operation in his unit.

Source: Eurofighter

EADS-led AirTanker consortium signs 27 year air refuelling contract with the U.K. Ministry of Defence

EADS is to become RAF’s leading supplier of military transport aircraft

AirTanker aircraft will be more than 50 per cent British by value

The Airbus A330-200 has now won each of the last five military tanker contracts internationally demonstrating its superior capability, flexibility and economics

EADS is undertaking further investment and growth of its UK defence business

World’s largest ever Defence Private Financing Initiative (“PFI”), worth approx £13 billion (€16.7 billion) over 27 years

AirTanker, the EADS-led consortium, has today signed a 27 year contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for the provision of air transport and air refuelling capability to the Royal Air Force. The AirTanker consortium has also completed its financing for the programme, raising approx £2.5 billion (€3.2 billion) for investment in the fleet, a new state-of-the-art operational base and associated infrastructure.

The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) programme includes the provision of a fleet of 14 new tanker aircraft, based on the latest generation Airbus A330-200 to enter service from 2011, replacing the previous fleet of VC-10 and Tristar refuelling aircraft. The contract also includes provision for all necessary infrastructure, training, maintenance, flight management, fleet management and ground services to enable the RAF to fly air-to-air refuelling and transport missions worldwide. The A330 FSTA aircraft will be more than 50% British by value. Through this agreement, EADS will become the RAF’s leading supplier of transport aircraft, complementing its existing commitment to supply 25 A400M aircraft to the UK forces.

EADS CEO Louis Gallois commented: “We are proud to be providing the RAF with the very best air-to-air refuelling solution available internationally. The MoD’s requirements are known to be highly exacting, and we are grateful that its trust has been placed in EADS and our consortium partners, Cobham, Rolls-Royce, Thales and VT Group. For our part, this win further demonstrates the A330 as the platform of choice for the world’s refuelling fleets and comes on the back of our recent success in the US market. This award strengthens our ongoing commitment to grow our business in the UK in the long-term.”

The Military Transport Aircraft Division (MTAD) is responsible within the EADS Group for all military derivative programmes based on Airbus platforms. For the FSTA programme, MTAD will be responsible for the design and development of the A330 FSTA aircraft, and for delivering them on-time to AirTanker, fully certified and MoD qualified.

Carlos Suarez, Head of EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division, added: “With this comprehensive service contract, we now cover the full spectrum of customers’ requirements. The A330-200 based tanker solution has now won the last five consecutive military tanker competitions internationally. This demonstrates the A330’s superior capability, flexibility and economics.”

Robin Southwell, CEO of EADS UK, said: “This is a hugely important step forward for EADS in the UK and for our defence business, both in this country and internationally. The Air Tanker A330s promise to provide a crucial enhancement of tanking and transport capability for the UK armed forces. The nature of the PFI funding also means that the programme offers real value for money to the UK tax payer.”

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of € 39.1 billion and employed a workforce of about 116,000. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world’s largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. Its Defence & Security Division is a provider of comprehensive systems solutions and makes EADS the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium as well as a stakeholder in the missile systems provider MBDA. EADS also develops the A400M through its Military Transport Aircraft Division

Source: EADS

Boeing Targets Small Businesses for NASA Work

ST. LOUIS, March 27, 2008 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] hosted a small-business supplier forum March 19 in Houston that attracted more than 75 companies interested in working together to compete for NASA’s Facilities Development and Operations Contract (FDOC).

The FDOC is administered by NASA’s Johnson Space Center and includes development, sustaining engineering, operations and maintenance of the mission and training systems that support human spaceflight programs. The contract also includes developing and maintaining the software applications used in these facilities.

The half-day forum brought together a diverse group of small businesses that will help distinguish Boeing’s bid as providing local opportunities and jobs. “The small-business community was able to have one-on-one sessions with our Boeing team and learn firsthand about our desire to be inclusive of as many local businesses as possible,” said Russ Carroll, Boeing Space Exploration Supplier Management. “Small businesses often generate the most local jobs.” Boeing Supplier Management also provided a briefing at the forum on how to navigate the Boeing Request for Information and participate in the procurement process.

U.S. Congressman Nick Lampson (D-Texas), whose 22nd Congressional District includes Johnson Space Center, cautioned attendees of the need to stay the course with current plans to return to the moon by 2020. “Space exploration greatly benefits the district and the nation,” he said. “Every dollar invested in the space program is returned exponentially in the form of new products, technologies and businesses.”

To reduce costs, FDOC consolidates a portion of NASA’s Space Program Operations and Mission Support Operations contracts. NASA is scheduled to select a contractor in November, with work starting in January 2009.

“We are committed to bringing best value to NASA while making the most of the existing contractors who support elements of those two legacy contracts,” said Peggy Thomas, Boeing FDOC program manager and director of Avionics and Software for the International Space Station. “Boeing brings best-of-industry solutions to serve NASA in achieving its goal of reducing costs while continuing to be the world leader in human space operations.”

Source: Boeing

Boeing Returns 2nd C-130 AMP Aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base

ST. LOUIS, March 27, 2008 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has returned the second C-130 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) aircraft, H2.5, to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., for continued testing and software upgrades.

A joint Boeing and U.S. Air Force crew from Louisville, Ky., flew the aircraft to the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards on March 22. The aircraft, assigned to the 123rd Airlift Wing, 165th Airlift Squadron, Kentucky Air National Guard, was in Kentucky for a comprehensive inspection and its first defensive systems check.

“This is the first step toward integrating the defensive systems with the rest of the aircraft’s AMP modifications. Keeping the warfighter safe is our number-one priority, so maintaining the integrity of the defensive systems is a crucial part of the AMP process,” said Mike Harris, Boeing vice president and C-130 AMP program manager.

With the return of H2.5, there are currently two Boeing C-130 AMP aircraft at Edwards. A third aircraft, H3, is undergoing modifications and upgrades at Boeing Support Systems’ San Antonio facility.

Boeing’s C-130 AMP provides enhanced digital avionics that significantly increase situational awareness for the warfighter. The Air Force awarded Boeing the AMP contract in July 2001. The upgrade commonality brought to the fleet of C-130 transport aircraft by the AMP also offers additional flexibility in assigning aircrew, regardless of the model design type.

Source: Boeing

BAE SYSTEMS DELIVERS 10,000TH ENGINE CONTROL FOR APACHE, BLACK HAWK HELICOPTERS

FORT WAYNE, Indiana — Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels joined a U.S. Army official and several hundred BAE Systems employees to celebrate the delivery of the company’s 10,000th T700 digital engine control. The company’s Fort Wayne plant builds the controls for U.S. Army AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

Lowell Bidwell, logistics and sustainment director for the Army’s Black Hawk project management office, joined Daniels to mark the milestone with the BAE Systems employees involved in manufacturing and servicing the T700 engine control.

“For decades, BAE Systems and the defense industry in Indiana have created revolutionary technologies that protect our service members on the battlefield and create good-paying livelihoods for families from Fort Wayne to Bloomfield,” Daniels said.

The T700 control, which governs the operation of the engine for maximum performance and efficiency, has been in production since 1989.

“The delivery of the 10,000th T700 engine control is a significant achievement in support of our armed forces,” said Bob Hoffman, BAE Systems’ site executive in Fort Wayne. “Building and supporting this vital system is a source of great pride for our 800 Fort Wayne employees, and we are honored to be recognized on this occasion.”

BAE Systems’ Fort Wayne facility is a recipient of the Shingo Prize for Excellence in Manufacturing.

Source: BAe

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