Textron Aviation announced on May 22, 2023 its latest addition to the legendary 560XL series, the Cessna Citation business jet - the Cessna Citation Ascend. Unveiled on the eve of the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE), the Citation Ascend is designed to bring an entirely new cockpit, improved performance and a more luxurious cabin to the mid-size business jet market.
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Last week, the General Meeting of the French operator confirmed the merger with its Indo-American counterpart. A new satellite communications giant is born, operating in both geostationary and low-Earth orbits.
Ground tests on Lockheed Martin's QueSST X-59 demonstrator have revealed problems with the flight controls. Despite this, NASA still intends to fly its supersonic for the first time before the end of this year.
On July 12, the association representing the European space manufacturing industry presented the 27th edition of its annual report.
Airbus delivered 316 aircraft in the first half of 2023. There are still 404 deliveries to be made to meet the 720 target announced for the year as a whole.
Airbus Helicopters has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certification for the H160 helicopter, marking an important milestone in the aircraft's development and positioning it for entry into the US market.
Boeing, having been awarded the X-66A designation for the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator, will now move on to the goal of building the technology demonstrator. This will be based on an MD-90.
Pratt & Whitney announced that Air France Industries KLM Engineering & Maintenance (AFI KLM E&M), has inducted its first Pratt & Whitney GTF engine. AFI KLM E&M joined the Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network in 2022, with disassembly, assembly and test capabilities for PW1500G model engines for the Airbus A220 family.
Deutsche Aircraft GmbH has announced that it has selected Liebherr to supply the air system for the D328eco, in addition to the flap and spoiler control system already supplied by Liebherr for the same aircraft.
CFM International has partnered with Avolon, an international aircraft leasing company, to supply 80 CFM International LEAP-1B engines for Avolon's recent order for 40 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft. The new aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2030.
Safran Helicopter Engines has validated the operation of its Mode Eco hybrid propulsion system during ground tests at Bordes, in preparation for its forthcoming flight tests on the Airbus Racer, a high-speed helicopter demonstrator. For the first time, this hybrid electric propulsion system was tested in a configuration similar to that which will be used on the Racer, in terms of equipment and size.
ZeroAvia announced today that it has identified clear applications for zero-emission hydrogen-electric propulsion for regional aircraft.
On June 19, 2023, the first day of the 54th International Paris Air Show, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (De Havilland Canada) announced the launch of the DHC-6 Twin Otter Classic 300-G, with combined purchase agreements and letters of intent for a total of 45 aircraft.
ONERA has unveiled its Gullhyver project for the single-aisle aircraft of the future, featuring a non-circular fuselage, a high aspect ratio shrouded wing and a hydrogen-powered engine with a non-ducted fan.
With just a few days to go before the next Paris Air Show, there's a certain excitement surrounding possible order announcements for aircraft manufacturers and, by extension, engine manufacturers.
The FAA has outlined a draft of new regulations for eVTOL. Pilots working for ADAVe manufacturers could form a group of primary instructors, while eVTOL would follow the same operating rules as traditional aircraft used for private and commercial flights and sightseeing. The proposal would comply with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization, enabling American pilots to operate in other countries.
Pratt & Whitney has announced that LATAM has selected GTF engines to power additional A320neo Family aircraft, adding to their initial order selecting GTF turbojet engines to power more than 40 aircraft in 2013. Including the remaining options, the agreement will cover a total of 146 aircraft.
The French government is providing a grant of 5.6 million euros, via BPI France, as additional funding for VoltAero's development of its Cassio electric-hybrid aircraft, the first of which in the family to be developed, certified and produced will be the Cassio 330.
Piasecki, or at least PiAC, is moving its R&D division to new premises. More precisely, the helicopter manufacturer has announced the acquisition of the former Lockheed Martin Sikorsky Heliplex site in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, which previously served as a production and delivery center for Sikorsky's S-76 and S-92 helicopters. The new R&D facility will be used to develop the PA-890, whose hydrogen-powered electric motor is being studied in partnership with ZeroAvia.
Committed to the certification of four aircraft (737MAX 7, 737MAX 10, 777-9, 777-8F), Boeing has also launched the ramp-up of production rates on the 737 MAX and 787, while pushing ahead with the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator and Wisk Gen6 innovation programs.
Natilus is a Californian start-up developing three autonomous mixed-wing cargo aircraft (BWB) projects. Together with ZeroAvia, the two companies have announced a strategic partnership to jointly develop hydrogen-powered electric motors for the Natilus Kona cargo plane.
Using foam instead of water to clean turbojet engines is the idea behind GE's 360 Foam Wash cleaning system, the first of which will be used by SkyWest.
Air Corporate, Italy's leading business aviation operator, placed a firm order with Airbus for 43 helicopters on the final day of the Ebace 2023 European business aviation show. The helicopters include 40 single-engine helicopters (H125/H130) plus three Airbus Corporate Helicopters ACH160s in Line configuration.
The Paris-based startup announced on May 25 that it had exceeded 100 orders for two of its products dedicated to cubesats.
VoltAero's customer base for its Cassio family of aircraft has been further expanded with a pre-order of 15 of its electric-hybrid aircraft by Sky2Share, a Swiss-based aviation company that offers fractional ownership and is focused on radically reducing the CO2 footprint of its operations. This commitment begins with the five-seat Cassio 330, while offering Sky2Share the opportunity to incorporate the six-seat Cassio 480 and 12-seat Cassio 600 versions. With this latest agreement, VoltAero now has a total of 218 orders and commitments for its Cassio aircraft line.
Kawasaki Motors Ltd. has become a strategic investor in VoltAero, participating in the Series B financing for the development, production and certification of VoltAero's Cassio family of electric-hybrid aircraft.
The EcoJet research project aims to develop and mature technologies to support the sustainable future of business aviation. Bombardier has reached important milestones in its EcoJet research project and continues its groundbreaking work in sustainable aviation. The aircraft manufacturer has completed the first phase of flight testing of the EcoJet research project, using an integrated wing and fuselage aircraft model. The next phase of testing, focused on flying a larger model aircraft, is progressing.
Rolls-Royce announced on May 18, 2023, that it has successfully completed initial testing of its UltraFan technology demonstrator at its Derby, UK, site. The initial tests were conducted on 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Eve Air Mobility, Embraer's Brazilian subsidiary, recently completed wind tunnel testing of its electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (eVTOL). The tests, conducted in a wind tunnel near Lucerne, Switzerland, involved a scale model of Eve's eVTOL, which is scheduled to enter service in 2026.
Stratolaunch LLC announces that it has successfully completed the separation test of the Talon-A separation test vehicle, TA-0. The flight was the eleventh for the company's Roc launch platform and the second time the team has conducted flight operations in the Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base off the central California coast.
Archer Aviation announced May 11, 2023, the completion of final assembly of its first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) Midnight aircraft. With final assembly and initial testing complete, the aircraft was shipped last week from Archer's Palo Alto facility to the flight test site in Salinas, California, where it was reassembled for ground testing.
Swedish aircraft investment and leasing company Rockton will acquire up to 40 Heart Aerospace regional electric aircraft, the ES-30, by converting an earlier letter of intent with the Swedish aircraft manufacturer into firm orders for 20 aircraft with purchase rights for another 20.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has published the world's first proposal for assessing the noise generated by air cabs. The Environmental Protection Technical Specification (EPTS) applies to electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) propelled by multiple, vertical, non-tilting and uniformly distributed rotors.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has released a draft operational plan for airspace and procedural changes to allow urban air mobility operations and other air cabs to operate safely within U.S. airspace. Not surprisingly, it includes traffic adjustment.
On May 1, 2023, Alaska Airlines presented ZeroAvia with a Dash 8 Q400 regional aircraft that will be equipped with a hydrogen-electric propulsion system in an effort to expand the scope and applicability of zero-emission flight technology. The 76-seat Q400 will be developed by ZeroAvia.
Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody has successfully flown the first mass-produced L-39NG aircraft. During the flight, the pilots tested the functions of the trainer aircraft as part of the factory's standard sortie program. The flight tested the performance of the L-39NG in its normal operational envelope.
Boeing today announced its 2023 plan to evaluate 19 technologies on the Boeing 777 ecoDemonstrator, as well as the addition of "Explorer" aircraft to test specific technologies. The first ecoDemonstrator Explorer aircraft, a 787-10 Dreamliner, will be used in partnership with four countries for operational efficiency testing.
Joby's contract with the U.S. Air Force is now worth $131 million and includes the supply of nine Joby aircraft. The first two will be delivered to Edwards Air Force Base, becoming the first electric air cab to be stationed at a U.S. Air Force base. USAF pilots recently flew Joby aircraft, becoming the first to complete an eVTOL transition flight as the sole pilot flying.
The Ofelia (Open Fan for Environmental Low Impact of Aviation) demonstrator program aims to establish the energy efficiency benefits of an Open Fan architecture to meet the needs of the next generation of short- and medium-haul aircraft by 2035, and the aviation industry's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. French engine manufacturer Safran will work with 26 key European industrial partners, including Airbus, Avio Aero, GKN Aerospace, as well as research laboratories such as ONERA and universities in several European countries. The OFELIA consortium will receive €100 million in European funding from Clean Aviation.
Cessna celebrated the April 23, 2023, delivery of the 400th example of the Citation CJ4 gen2 business jet, which carries 10 passengers. Launched in 2010, the CJ4 received a new version in 2021 with a significantly redesigned cabin on the Gen2 version.
Liebherr-Aerospace and Airbus Defence and Space have strengthened their relationship by signing a contract for the development and manufacture of the entire landing gear and hydraulic system for the European medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted air system (RPAS) Eurodrone.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive that addresses missing shims on Boeing 737 NextGeneration (NG) aircraft, namely the -600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER, reports Aerotime.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has just issued the "Flight Conditions" to the French aircraft manufacturer Aura Aero from Toulouse, France, as a prelude to the flight launch of the Integral S, the second aircraft of the Integral family.
In anticipation of the flight test campaign of the X-59 Quesst, Nasa carried out several simulations of the supersonic flight and the generated bang. As for the wind tunnel campaign, Nasa did not put all its eggs in the same basket and multiplied the simulations.
Wright Electric, the U.S.-based electric motor manufacturer, presented a mock-up of its 2-megawatt electric power train at the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit 2023.
The Bavarian police will start training on these two helicopters, allowing for a smooth transition to the H145 fleet, since a total of eight machines have been ordered. The first fully equipped helicopter will be delivered in mid-2024.
Tarmac Aerosave, an expert in aircraft and engine life cycle management, and Donecle, a manufacturer of drones specifically for aviation maintenance, have signed an agreement to develop automated aircraft inspections.
In a series of tests that Aero's new L-39NG jet passed, engineers and pilots tested the use of weapons. They fired 230 missiles and dropped nearly 70 bombs to test the effects on the turbojet engine, emergency release and accuracy of fire.
The partnership between global liquid hydrogen (LH2) leaders Absolut Hydrogen and ZeroAvia aims to enable the operability of aircraft with up to 80 seats by 2027 and the development of robust airport infrastructure.
Cranfield Aerospace Solutions (CAeS) has selected Evolito, a UK technology innovator, as the motor and inverter supplier for its technology demonstrator, the Fresson project. The twin-engine aircraft is scheduled to make its maiden flight at the end of this year.
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SpaceX's seventieth launch this year
Satellite communications operators Eutelsat and OneWeb merge effectively
Vega C: no return to flight before the end of 2024
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