Cri-Cri, the all-electric aircraft, is airborne

“This aircraft flies very smoothly, much more quietly than a plane with conventional propulsion”, said Didier Esteyne, who piloted the all-electric Cri-Cri. “But we are still at the beginning and have a lot to learn. We are allowed to start aerobatic manoeuvres only after five hours of flight and 15 landings.”

“The Cri-Cri is a low-cost test bed for system integration of electrical technologies in support of projects like our hybrid propulsion concept for helicopters,” stated Jean Botti, EADS’s Chief Technical Officer. “We hope to get a lot of useful information out of this project.” In the near future batteries will not able to propel larger aircraft.

The aerobatic plane incorporates numerous innovative technologies such as lightweight composite structures that reduce the weight of the airframe and compensate for the additional weight of the batteries, four brushless electric motors with counter-rotating propellers which deliver propulsion without CO

2

Source: EADS

Satellite navigation steers unmanned micro-planes

1 September 2010
An unmanned aircraft system guided by satnav has been developed within ESA’s Business Incubation Centre to provide rapid monitoring of land areas and disaster zones. The planes have already helped Spanish farmers in Andalusia to fight land erosion.
 
The German start-up company MAVinci has developed the new system that uses autonomous micro-air vehicles (MAVs) with a wingspan of less than two metres, to inspect land areas.

“At the moment, the remote-sensing market uses mainly manned aeroplanes,” explains Johanna Born, CEO of MAVinci, “but they are expensive and not always available.

“Our MAVs are cost-efficient, available at short notice and easy to use for surveillance of development areas, construction sites, disaster zones and waste disposal sites, just to mention a few.

“They can carry visual and thermal cameras or other customer-specific measuring equipment.”

Developed at ESA’s Business Incubation Centre
 
MAVinci is hosted by ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme Office at the Business Incubation Centre Darmstadt, Germany. Here, ESA engineers provide expertise on attitude-determination algorithms and exploiting satnav data.

ESA’s optical lab at ESTEC in the Netherlands also helps MAVinci with the calibration of their optical camera.

“The principles for the attitude determination of satellites and for autonomous aircraft such as MAVincis are identical, only the scale is different,” says ESA Flight Dynamics Engineer Michael Flegel.

“Where a satellite might use the measured direction of the Sun, Earth or of known star patterns, the MAV aircraft will use the local magnetic field direction, the direction of ‘down’ and similar local quantities.

“Obtaining meaningful information from the data is an art and the expertise can be applied to both satellites and spacecraft alike.”

The autopilot controls the aircraft from takeoff to landing, and uses satnav to follow a planned track, triggering the camera to image the target area. From the ground, the plane is followed by radio by a safety pilot who can take over the controls at anytime. 
 
Helping to fight soil erosion in Spain

Erosion is a severe problem for land use and water supply in wide areas of southern Europe and northern Africa. According to UNESCO, erosion in Andalusian olive tree plantations results in the loss of an estimated 80 tonnes of soil per hectare per year.

Last October, one of MAVinci’s micro-aircraft imaged several of the many erosion canyons in Andalusia to improve understanding of the dynamics of erosion and to find solutions for local farmers.

Source: ESA

GULFSTREAM G650 REACHES MACH 0.995

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced today that its ultra-long-range, ultra-large-cabin Gulfstream G650 recently reached Mach 0.995 as part of its 1,800-hour flight-test program.

The aircraft achieved this speed during flutter testing, which evaluates the aircraft’s damping responses following an input from an external test device. Flutter testing is performed at a variety of frequencies, speeds, altitudes, weights and centers of gravity.

For the initial series of flutter tests, the aircraft achieved clearance out to both its design dive speed (Vd) and design Mach dive speed (Md) at altitudes ranging from 10,000 feet to up to the aircraft’s maximum certified altitude of 51,000 feet.

In order to achieve the maximum speed of Mach 0.995, Gulfstream experimental test pilots Tom Horne and Gary Freeman along with flight test engineer Bill Osborne took Serial Number (S/N) 6001 into a dive, pitching the aircraft’s nose 16 to 18 degrees below the horizon. During the dive, flutter exciters introduced a range of vibration frequencies to the wing, tail and flight control surfaces to ensure the aircraft naturally dampened out the oscillations without further action from the pilots. Even under such extreme circumstances, the G650 performed flawlessly.

“The airplane is very predictable,” said Horne, senior experimental test pilot, Gulfstream. “It’s very easy to control and to get precise control at those speeds. The airplane response has matched the expectations of our engineers, and we’ve been able to easily fly the test conditions and march through the test plan.”

During the flutter test missions, a team of multi-disciplinary engineers in Gulfstream’s state-of-the-art telemetry center in Savannah monitored the aircraft’s behavior and determined real-time the damping characteristics of the aircraft. The vibration frequencies exerted on the aircraft ranged from 2 hertz, or twice per second, to 58 hertz, or about as fast as a fluorescent light flickers.

“We’re doing very well,” said Pres Henne, senior vice president of Programs, Engineering and Test, Gulfstream. “The demonstrated flutter margins met or exceeded our expectations out to maximum speeds. That’s a good sign.”

As S/N 6001 continued with flutter testing, S/N 6005 completed initial phase manufacturing and began engine testing. S/N 6005 is the fifth and final aircraft in the G650 flight-test program. Each aircraft in the program has a specific purpose, with S/N 6001 focused on envelope expansion, air data calibration, flutter, in-flight performance and flight controls. S/N 6002 is used to evaluate the aircraft’s systems as well as its takeoff and landing performance, while S/N 6003 tests the avionics, in-flight load measurement and ice protection system. S/N 6004 will be the first G650 outfitted and tested with a full interior, which is currently being installed. S/N 6005 will participate in the reduced vertical separation minimum testing.

The G650 flight-test program officially began on Nov. 25, 2009. Through Aug. 25, the four airplanes currently flying in the program have completed more than 170 flights and 575 flight-test hours.

Source: General Dynamics

Boeing Opens New Intelligence Collaboration Center to Counter Global Threats

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 30, 2010 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] announced today that it has opened an intelligence collaboration and data analysis center in Northern Virginia to enable the creation and testing of new concepts to counter increasingly sophisticated, global threats to U.S. security.

The innovation center will allow Boeing’s Intelligence Community customers, industry partners, and the scientific and academic communities to brainstorm, test, and field technologies designed to help prevent terrorist attacks like a passenger’s attempt to detonate explosives on a U.S. airliner on Dec. 25, 2009.

“The concepts developed in this center will allow our customers and partners to apply critical technology to their missions,” said Roger Krone, president of Boeing Network & Space Systems. “The investments Boeing is making in the center will provide a low-cost conduit for pushing technical solutions into the field with reduced risk and better results.”

Boeing’s initial $1.5 million investment in the center will support a focus on sharing and transferring information among disparate organizations, while protecting the integrity of the original data.

Among the technologies to be demonstrated in the new center are Boeing’s Cross Domain Solutions. These incorporate various hardware and software products, such as the Visual Security Operations Console, DataMaster management software and eXMeritus HardwareWall.

“Boeing has been working for several years with the Intelligence Community to deploy proven, high-end computer systems to address data sharing,” said Dewey Houck, director of the Mission Systems subdivision of Boeing Intelligence & Security Systems. “This new center provides a venue for group brainstorming and ‘ideation’ – which means using ideas generated in a collaborative environment to develop solutions that can be quickly implemented to address immediate threats.”

Source: Boeing

1st Boeing-built GPS IIF Satellite Enters Service with US Air Force

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Aug. 30, 2010 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that the first of 12 Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellites the company is building for the U.S. Air Force has entered service. GPS IIF-1 is the newest member of the active 31-satellite GPS constellation, which provides accurate navigation, positioning and timing information to more than 1 billion military and civilian users around the world.

GPS IIF satellites offer new and enhanced capabilities, including a jam-resistant military signal, greater accuracy through improved atomic clock technology, and a protected civilian L5 signal to aid commercial aviation and safety-of-life applications. According to Air Force officials, on-orbit testing shows that the L5 signal meets all requirements. Based on program plans, the signal will remain in development status, broadcasting test data until initial operational capability is declared. The Air Force will send a message about this to GPS users worldwide.

“Putting the first next-generation GPS IIF satellite into operation is a significant step forward for the Air Force and the millions of warfighters and civilians who depend on this vital system,” said Air Force Col. Bernard Gruber, commander, GPS Wing. “Now that IIF-1 is operational, military and commercial receivers around the world can begin using the satellite’s improved signals to more accurately determine their position.”

Launched on May 27, 2010, GPS IIF-1 has undergone three months of comprehensive on-orbit testing to validate its operations with the ground control system, other GPS satellites and a wide range of military and commercial GPS ground receivers. The satellite’s testing regimen was longer and more rigorous than usual because it is the first of the series.

A Boeing space vehicle operations team based in Colorado helped the GPS Wing monitor and evaluate test results as GPS IIF-1 went through many of its first on-orbit operations. With testing complete, the GPS Wing has officially transferred Satellite Control Authority to the Air Force 50th Space Wing and the 2nd Space Operations Squadron, which will operate the satellite on its mission.

“Boeing has built 40 of the 61 GPS satellites launched since 1978, and GPS IIF is a great addition to that long legacy,” said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems. “These satellites make a difference by adding new levels of power and precision to GPS services. The IIF series will be the backbone of the constellation for the next 12 to 15 years.”

Boeing is producing the next 11 GPS IIF satellites using an innovative pulse-line manufacturing approach adapted from the company’s aircraft and helicopter assembly lines. The line enables faster, more efficient development of several satellites at once. The company also developed the current GPS ground control infrastructure, called the Operational Control Segment (OCS), which has supported an expanding set of GPS services and capabilities since 2007.

More U.S. Helicopters to Deploy for Pakistan Relief

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2010 – Defense Department officials announced today the deployment of 18 additional helicopters to Pakistan as part of the expanding U.S. contribution to flood-relief efforts there.

The aircraft include 10 CH-47 Chinook and eight UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the 1st Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The unit will operate alongside the Pakistani military throughout flood-affected areas.

These helicopters are expected to begin flood-relief efforts in Pakistan in mid-September, officials said.

This is the latest in a series of deployments in response to Pakistan’s urgent request for flood-relief assistance. About 15 U.S. military helicopters and three C-130 Hercules aircraft already supporting flood-relief efforts in Pakistan have transported more than 2 million pounds of humanitarian assistance supplies and rescued more than 7,000 people.

Today, helicopters transported more than 750 people and delivered more than 160,000 pounds of food and supplies. C-130s delivered 6,000 pounds of food and supplies.

Since the floods began July 29, the United States has provided $150 million to support immediate relief efforts and has allocated an additional $50 million to assist with re-establishment of communities impacted by the floods, according to Defense Department reports.

Source and photo: MOD USA

Hawker Beechcraft to Debut Hawker 4000, King Air 350i in Mexico

Regional distributor Aerolineas to host open house in Toluca WICHITA, Kan. (Aug. 24, 2010) – Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) today announced it is debuting its Hawker 4000 and Beechcraft King Air 350i in Mexico on Thursday, Aug. 26. The introduction is part of the company’s aircraft demonstration tour following its successful participation in the Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition earlier this month. The company’s regional distributor, Aerolineas Ejecutivas, will showcase the aircraft at an open house at its Toluca facility located at the Aeropuerto Internacional de Toluca, Calle 2, Hangar 9.

“We have a very strong commitment to Latin and South America,” said Richard Emery, HBC president, Americas Jet Sales. “As leaders in technology, comfort, performance and range, the Hawker 4000 and King Air 350i both meet the mission requirements and sophistication of travelers from this region who conduct business between major cities in both North and South America.”

The flagship of the Hawker line, the composite fuselage Hawker 4000, sets the standard for quality, performance and value in the super-midsize business jet class of aircraft. With a 3,280 nautical mile non-stop range and cruise speeds up to Mach 0.84, it features a sophisticated composite fuselage, all metal supercritical wing, powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada FADEC-controlled engines and state-of-the-art Honeywell Primus EPIC avionics.

The King Air 350i is equipped with the Rockwell Collins Venue™ cabin management system and state-of-the-art Beechcraft FlexCabin capability. It sets a new standard in cabin comfort, entertainment and flexibility while providing excellent fuel efficiency, twin engine safety and the lowest operating cost per seat mile, making it one of the greenest aircraft available to business travelers today.

Source: Hawker Beechcraft

Sukhoi Superjet 100: first appearance in Italy

August 25, 2010,Turin (Italy) – The Sukhoi Superjet 100 landed in Italy for the first time at Torino Caselle Airport. The aircraft (prototype SN 950004) took off from the Flight Test Center in Zhukovsky (Moscow) to continue the flight certification campaign.

The aircraft was operated by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft’s test pilots Yablontsev Alexander, Korostiev Sergey, Shvetsov Oleg and Gryukanov Maksim.

The third prototype SN 950004 will be involved in several tests, including noise community and high intensity radiated field tests.

These tests will be accomplished in Caselle and Levaldigi airports.

Under the certification campaign the prototype will be subjected to an evaluation of the Electro Magnetic Compatibility requirements for civil aircraft with regard to the ability of operating safely in the man-made electromagnetic environment.

The community noise tests are required to verify the compliance with aircraft noise certification regulations by measuring the airplane noise.

The SSJ100 certification campaign is going on very well. So far, the Program accumulated over 2011 flying hours in 814 flights, which is about 70% of the overall certification program, including the most critical tests. The SSJ100 has successfully passed a series of testing in extreme weather conditions (Yakutsk, Arkhangelsk) and high elevation program in Gmuri (Armenia). This confirms that no additional changes to the airplane in basic configuration are required.

At the moment there are 18 serial aircraft in production at different stages of completion, 6 of which are at the final assembly shop.

Source Sukhoi
Photo: Rob Vogelaar ZAPP Group

EADS North America awarded U.S. Coast Guard contract for HC-144A Maritime Patrol Aircraft

The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded prime contractor EADS North America a $117 million contract for three HC-144A Ocean Sentry Maritime Patrol Aircraft, with options for up to six more aircraft over the next four years. The HC-144A is based on the highly successful Airbus Military CN235 tactical airlifter, more than 250 of which are in operation by 26 countries.

The Ocean Sentry plays a crucial role in Coast Guard aviation missions that include maritime patrol, intelligence/surveillance/reconnaissance, cargo and personnel transport, and disaster relief.

The HC-144A achieved initial operational capability last year, and has since distinguished itself with exceptional performance in a variety of situations, including the Coast Guard’s responses to the Haiti earthquake and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Ocean Sentries have even been used to transport rehabilitated wildlife affected by the spill.

“The men and women of the Coast Guard have an incredibly wide-ranging and challenging mission, and we’re proud to provide them with an aircraft that matches their flexibility and readiness,” said Ralph D. Crosby Jr., EADS North America Chairman. “This year we’ve seen the HC-144A tested in some very high-profile missions, and it has delivered every time.”

The Coast Guard currently operates ten Ocean Sentries and will receive another later this year. EADS North America will begin deliveries of the aircraft covered by this latest contract award in 2011. Plans call for the Coast Guard to acquire a total fleet of 36 Ocean Sentries. The HC-144A is replacing the Coast Guard’s aging fleet of HU-25 Guardian Falcon jets.

EADS North America will deliver the HC-144A with a search radar, electro-optical and infrared cameras, an Automatic Identification System for data collection from vessels at sea, and a communications suite. A rear ramp allows for easy cargo operations, and also accommodates a roll-on-roll-off mission systems pallet that the Coast Guard is acquiring separately for the Ocean Sentry. The HC-144 offers superior range and loiter time,allowing it to stay on station longer during search and rescue, patrol or persistent surveillance operations.

The Coast Guard also operates the EADS North America HH-65C and MH-65C Dolphin helicopters. The Dolphin has a distinguished service record with the Coast Guard – including extensive operations in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and again in the Haiti earthquake and Gulf oil spill responses. The service’s Dolphin helicopter fleet has been upgraded with new engines and systems/avionics in recapitalization programs supported by EADS North America.

Source: EADS

Boeing Plans New Manufacturing Facility at Illinois’ MidAmerica Airport

MASCOUTAH, Ill., Aug. 19, 2010 — The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced today that it is expanding its St. Louis-area operations with the planned opening of a new manufacturing facility at MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah.

The facility, tentatively scheduled to open in late 2010 or early 2011, will use leased space in an existing building to house assembly and subassembly work. It is expected to initially bring approximately 75 new manufacturing jobs to Illinois.

Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS) President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg addressed U.S., state and local officials, Boeing employees, and the media at a ceremony today in Mascoutah.

“This facility’s proximity to BDS headquarters, the presence of an established, skilled work force, and the infrastructure at MidAmerica Airport make it an ideal choice as Boeing looks for opportunities to expand our core business and ensure our St. Louis site remains competitive as we meet the high-value, low-cost needs of our customers,” said Muilenburg.

Muilenburg was joined by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), and St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern at the official announcement.

“I’m happy to support Boeing’s investment in America’s work force and the State of Illinois. In this economy, every single job counts, and Boeing’s facility will bring skilled manufacturing jobs that pay wages capable of supporting families,” said Durbin. “It’s exactly the kind of investment in Illinois we need to spur our nation’s economic recovery.”

“Today marks the beginning of what I expect will be a long-term relationship with Boeing, and I expect we will be back here to announce more good news and more jobs in the future,” said Costello.

“This is the best news Southwestern Illinois has received in some time. We have had a great relationship with Boeing through the years and look forward to welcoming our new neighbors,” said Shimkus.

Boeing and St. Clair County are entering into a long-term lease for the existing 50,000-square-foot facility, which is the first Boeing manufacturing center in Illinois.

“We are ecstatic that Boeing has chosen MidAmerica Airport for this expansion. Their presence here brings a much-needed boost to the entire local economy,” said Kern.

Home to BDS headquarters, the Boeing St. Louis site employs approximately 16,000 employees and is Missouri’s largest manufacturer and second-largest employer. Key products manufactured at the site include F/A-18s, F-15s, C-17s and weapons.

Source: Boeing

Friday 20th August Battle of Britain Flypasts over England

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight continues to play a central role in the commemorations associated with the 70^th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Throughout the display season the vintage aircraft have been carrying out numerous flypasts and displays at air shows and events to support the anniversary, however one of the highlights of the season will be on August 20^th when two distinct events will combine in London:

A former BofB Station Overflight tour by BBMF – Spitfire P7350, the oldest airworthy Spitfire and the only Spitfire still flying to have actually fought in the Battle of Britain and Hurricane LF363, the last Hurricane to enter service with the RAF will join in formation with Spitfire AB910, which flew over 143 operational missions in WWII and Hurricane R4118, the only Hurricane from the Battle of Britain still flying. The aircraft will tour key Battle of Britain fighter bases;

0900 – Take off RAF Coningsby, 1035 – land at the Imperial War Museum (IWM) at Duxford,

1200 – Take off IWM Duxford, 1340 – land at Biggin Hill Air Port

1540 – Take off Biggin Hill Air Port, 1720 – land at RAF Northolt.

Imperial War Museum London Churchill War Rooms Event – The last element of the tour will include the flypast at the Churchill War Rooms (Spitfire P7350 & Hurricane LF363 only) which will mark the Anniversary of Churchill’s famous “so much by so few” speech.

Source: RAF
Photo: Rob Vogelaar

GULFSTREAM G550 AND G500 BUSINESS JETS CERTIFIED FOR NEW ZEALAND REGISTRATION

SAVANNAH, Ga., August 18, 2010 – Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has received Type Certificate Validation (TCV) from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand for the Gulfstream G550 and G500. The approvals allow operators to register the business jets in that country.

The two aircraft join the large-cabin, long-range GIV, GIV-SP, G400 and G300, which New Zealand approved for registration in 2003.

“Over the past four years, more and more Gulfstream aircraft are being sold globally,” said Larry Flynn, senior vice president, Marketing and Sales, Gulfstream. “Having this certificate validation streamlines the registration process for operators who want to base their large-cabin Gulfstream aircraft in New Zealand.”

In addition to New Zealand, some other countries that have certified the G550/G500 include Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Korea, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Russia and Switzerland. The aircraft have also received Type Certificate Validation from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which means they can be registered in any European Union (EU) country.

Source: Gulfstream

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