CATEGORIES

PRIMOCO UAV AND AIRBUS DEFENCE AND SPACE SIGN A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Czech UAV manufacturer Primoco UAV SE executed a Memorandum of understanding with Airbus Defence and Space and its affiliate, Airbus DS Airborne Solutions, on cooperation in the area of unmanned aerial systems.

LILIUM BECOMES THE FIRST EVTOL MANUFACTURER AND EASA CERTIFICATION BASES

For a few years now, American electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) manufacturers Joby and Archer Aviation have stood alone at the top of the FAA's air taxi certification totem pole. Now, a German rival is joining them.

ALEF 'FLYING CAR' GRANTED FAA SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATION

California-based Alef Aeronautics is a composite automotive / aviation concern about the business of developing a novel flying car dubbed the Model 'A' an appellation likely to incur unwanted attention of Ford's lawyers.

AIRBUS TEAMS-UP WITH LANZAJET TO BOOST SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL PRODUCTION

The MOU establishes a relationship between Airbus and LanzaJet to advance building SAF facilities which will use LanzaJet's leading, proven and proprietary Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) technology.

AIRBUS REPORTS 'GREAT PROGRESS' ON H2-POWERED AIRCRAFT

Airbus has launched a demonstrator programme to explore a new architecture for the generation of non-propulsive energy (NPE) by replacing the APU in an A330 widebody with a hydrogen fuel cell system that will generate electricity. Known as HyPower, the hydrogen fuel cell demonstrator also aims to reduce CO2 emissions, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and noise levels associated with a traditional APU.

DESTINUS UNVEILS H2-POWERED SUPERSONIC DEMONSTRATOR

Founded in 2021 by Russian physicist and serial entrepreneur Mikhail Kokorich, Destinus is a European startup about the highly aspirational endeavour of developing a hypersonic hydrogen-powered passenger aircraft.

NEW SLS ROCKET ENGINE CERTIFIED

California-based manufacturer of rocket, hypersonic and electric propulsive systems for the space, defence, civil and commercial sectors Aerojet Rocketdyne and NASA have completed a series of certification tests of the new RS-25E rocket engines by which future iterations of United Launch Alliance's (ULA) Space Launch System (SLS) will be powered.

NEW ROLLS-ROYCE: SMALL ENGINE SET TO BEGIN TESTS TO ADVANCE HYBRID-ELECTRIC FLIGHT

Last month Rolls-Royce announced its new small gas turbine that has been specifically developed to power hybrid-electric flight is set to begin testing. The engine is part of a turbogenerator system that is being developed for the Advanced Air Mobility market. This includes electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) Aircraft for Urban Air Mobility and Commuter Aircraft applications up to 19 seats.

INNOVATIVE STARTUP REVOLUTIONISING AERIAL MONITORING AND LOGISTICS WITH AUTONOMOUS AIRSHIPS

South African startup, Cloudline, is making a remarkable global impression with its groundbreaking autonomous airship technology. The innovative platform, developed in Stellenbosch South Africa, is set to transform the realm of aerial monitoring, data gathering and remote logistics.

WHY HYBRID ELECTRIC? FEATURE BY AMPAIRE

This is a question Ampaire often fields from those interested in why we are not going full battery electric like the Tesla, or why we do not just switch to burning a new type of fuel such as hydrogen. The answer lies in the unique way that aircraft operate and the need to scale to a wide variety of aircraft sizes and missions.

EVE AND BLADE EXPAND PARTNERSHIP TO ACCELERATE ELECTRIC AIR MOBILITY

Eve Air Mobility and Blade Air Mobility announced a significant extension of their longstanding partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MoU). This collaboration aims to transform air transportation in Europe, starting with France, by laying the foundation to integrate Eve's state-of-theart electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) or electric vertical aircraft (EVA) into Blade's European route network.

SAFRAN SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH ELECTRA TO DEVELOP TURBOGENERATOR FOR ITS HYBRID-ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT

Safran Helicopter Engines has signed an agreement with Electra to develop the 600 kW electric turbogenerator propulsion system for the prototype of Electra's nine-passenger hybrid-electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) aircraft.

ARE DRONE LIGHT SHOWS SLOWLY REPLACING FIREWORKS DISPLAYS?

As the world moves towards a greener outlook from the highly dangerous fireworks displays on Guy Fawkes 5 November and New Year's Eve that terrorise the neighbourhood may be replaced by much safer drone light shows as a colourful alternative.

ARCHER STELLANTIS: PARTNERSHIP ENTERS 'EXECUTION PHASE'

California-based designer of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Archer Aviation Stellantis, the multinational automotive manufacturing concern born of the merger of Italian American Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the French PSA Group jointly announced at the Paris Air Show that significant progress had been made on the two-companies' strategic manufacturing partnership.

BOOM SUPERSONIC CEO REMAINS OPTIMISTIC

After losing engine partner Rolls-Royce in September 2022, Boom Technology (trade name Boom Supersonic), the Denverbased American company speaks about the perilously speculative business of bringing to market a supersonic civilian airliner, announced in December 2022 that it will partner with three aviation companies to develop and build engines for its proposed Overture Super Sonic Transport.

PULSAR FUSION TO BUILD NUCLEAR FUSION ROCKET ENGINE

UK aerospace concern Pulsar Fusion has undertaken construction of the largest practical nuclear-fusion rocket engine yet built. When fired in 2027, presuming the company's development timetable proves accurate the engine's eight-meter fusion chamber will generate exhaust speeds in excess of 500,000-miles-per-hour and temporarily supersede the sun as the hottest place in the solar system.

HELI-EASTERN TO PURCHASE LILIUM JETS

Munich-based Lilium the German aerospace concern announced that it had entered into an agreement with Heli-Eastern (formally, Shenzhen Eastern General Aviation Co., Ltd), a major low-altitude General-Aviation carrier and helicopter service provider operating in China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay region.

WISK AERO SHOWS OFF SIXTH-GENERATION PROTOTYPE AUTONOMOUS EVTOL

Hot on the heels of the news that Boeing has taken on full ownership of the startup, Wisk Aero unveiled its latest iteration of eVTOL, a sixth-generation prototype that it would use to pursue FAA type certification, already underway of its autonomous, all-electric aircraft.

AUTOFLIGHT TO DEMONSTRATE RECORD-BREAKING EVTOL AT 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS

The record for the longest electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft flight does not belong to Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, or Volocopter, the three companies topping SMG Consulting's latest Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Reality Index.

ARE ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS PULLING OUT?

Last month NASA announced that it was abandoning its multipropellor electric X-57 Maxwell project as unflyable while Daher, Safran and Airbus whisked the cover off a multi-prop electric aircraft at the Paris airshow. They said it has flown 27 test hours. In addition Tecnam said the company was suspending work on its P-volt twin, an electric airliner based on the piston-powered P2012.

Airbus Says Extra Development Needed for US-made Armed AH-125 Helicopter

Airbus has brought the new helicopters to market in a bid to 'capture advantages of the US export system' and the Foreign Military Sales process, said Scott Tumpak, vice president of military helicopters at Airbus US. Airbus H125M helicopters have inspired the launch of two US manufactured rotorcraft configured for light attack and multirole missions.

HONDA AIRCRAFT TO LAUNCH HONDAJET 2600 LIGHT JET

Honda Aircraft is moving ahead with plans to 'commercialise' the HondaJet 2600 concept light jet that it unveiled at NBAA-BACE 2021. Powered by two Williams International FJ44-4C turbofans and with a Garmin G3000 avionics suite, the 2600 will also share the original HA-420 HondaJet's over-the-wing-engine-mount design. Certification is planned for 2028.

PARYS AIRSHOW 2023

Located on the banks of the Vaal River in the Free State, Parys is a town in that is better known as a weekend getaway to de-compress from the pressures of modern life. Parys has an airfield, which is located outside the strictly controlled commercial airspace that is Johannesburg which adds to the attraction of hosting an airshow. In addition, the commute from the economic hub of South Africa is around 90 minutes.

ZAMBIA CHILDRENS FLIGHT 2023

Felix Gosher, along with his gorgeous wife Belinda continue their long-standing project of bringing the joy of aviation to those less privileged. His 'Children's Flight' initiative, which last year included Zambia, had the second running for a day of fun, for the underprivileged children in Zambia. With the support from the Zambia Air Force (ZAF), this event continues to be enormous. The ZAF provided the venue, as well as several aircraft to fly the children for their first flight experience.

PARIS AIR SHOW 2023

The 54th edition of the world's largest biennial aviation trade fair, the Paris Air Show opened its doors at Le Bourget Parc des Expositions for the first time in four years on Tuesday 20 June. The week-long fair was brimming with visitors from all around the world, especially Middle Eastern carriers that aim to expand internationally.

ROYAL AIR FORCE AIRSHOW RAF COSFORD, UNITED KINGDOM 11 JUNE 2023

The Royal Air Force's premier airshow took place once again at RAF Cosford, United Kingdom in early June. As usual with this event you have access to superb airshow and a major Royal Air Force Museum containing many famous exhibits documenting advances in British military aviation.

MAPUTO AIRSHOW

Early on Friday morning 16 June, I travelled with Brian Emmenis and his Capital Sounds team to Mozambique to attend the amazing and most successful Maputo airshow. We flew with LAM Express in an Embraer 145 that seats 50 passengers.

FAILURES OF FRACTIONAL AND CHARTER COMPANIES OF CONCERN

On 9 May 2023, Wheels Up founder and CEO, Kenny Dichter resigned in the face of his company's mounting losses and potential bankruptcy.

AZERBAIJAN TO PURCHASE A C-27J SPARTAN FROM LEONARDO

On 8 June Leonardo announced that the Azerbaijan Air Force had signed a contract with the company to procure an unknown number of C-27J Spartan multi-role military transport aircraft. According to a statement by the Italian firm, the contract was signed by an Azerbaijani delegation in Italy, in the presence of defence ministers' representatives from the two countries.

NASA AND BOEING TO PRODUCE NEW SUSTAINABLE X-PLANE

Last month NASA and Boeing announced a new project, creating a new sustainable X-plane. The aircraft produced through the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project will be designated X-66A by the US Air Force. Boeing was awarded its contract in January, to lead the development and flight testing for a full Transonic Truss-Braced Wing demonstrator airplane.