CATEGORIES

Vertigo Can Bite

It’s not easy to admit having succumbed to such a serious bout of vertigo that it brought me and a fellow crew member to within seconds of losing our lives. However, if by telling the story others are cautioned against making the same mistake, then too bad about the shame of it.

Spidertracks Announces Sponsorship

Spidertracks has announced its partnership with Eco Helicopters (“Eco”), which recently launched its Ecomax™ on-demand urban air mobility service. Based on the EcoMax™ all-electric helicopter, EcoMax™ urban air mobility will commence in early 2021.

2020 Royal Black Hawk Exercise

This year was the eighth time the 1st Regiment of Artillery of Bourogne had organised the "Royal Black Hawk 2020" exercise held in the vicinity of Belfort and its surrounding areas, and lasting for about two weeks. More than 400 soldiers and a dozen combat helicopters participated in this life-size exercise.

Lockheed Martin Flies Mission-enabling Kubernetes Onboard U-2

The U-2 flew a Kubernetes cloud that connected in-flight to a ground node, extending the U-2’s network-of-networks connectivity.

Hi Fly Bids Farewell To Its A380

On 17 December Hi Fly said goodbye to the A380 by drawing a heart in the sky as a final tribute to the Mirpuri Foundation and the “Save the Coral Reefs” campaign, raising awareness of the need to protect the world’s oceans.

LICENCES

It’s generally accepted that the baseline qualification for professional pilots worldwide is the CPL/IR, or Commercial Pilot Licence with Instrument Rating.

The Yakolev Yak-130

The Yakovlev Yak-130 is a subsonic two-seat advanced jet trainer and light fighter originally developed by Yakovlev and Aermacchi as the "Yakovlev-Aermacchi Yak-130/AEM-130"

Tef's Test

So that time of the year rolls around again, well actually a bit longer than a year due to the 'Chinese' flu. I eventually am allowed to complete a renewal of my license without the fear of interacting with the public and hence bursting into flames.

HX50 Revolution: A HIGH PERFORMANCE, LOW COST HELICOPTER

Hill Helicopters, whose concept has been under study since 2007, regards its HX50 helicopter as the best type of personal helicopter – crafted on field-proven engineering, state-of-the-art manufacturing and iconic British design. The HX50 has been introduced by Hill as “a first of its kind platform, every minute detail has been elaborately crafted to deliver a helicopter specifically focused on the needs of private owners”. It will be able to carry five passengers and luggage with ease.

BAIL OUT! BAIL OUT!

When a young naval instructor and his pupil — a trainee flight cadet from Indian Air Force — marched across the tarmac to their aircraft on 21 November 2003, little did they know they would be ‘walking the wing’ a few minutes later.

Collins Aerospace And Boom Supersonic Sign Strategic Collaboration

Collins Aerospace Systems has signed a collaboration agreement with Boom Supersonic to advance nacelle technology on Boom’s forthcoming flagship supersonic airliner, Overture.

Wright Flyer III

Two years after building their first aeroplane, the Wright brothers built and flew their first practical aircraft.

Mi-28NE 'Night Super Hunter'

Andrei Boginsky, Russian Helicopters’ CEO on 24 November, confirmed that serial production of the military helicopter had been launched. It was primarily designed to search for, and destroy low-speed air targets, tanks, armoured and non-armoured vehicles, low-speed aerial targets destruction, air reconnaissance, and target designation for other helicopters and aircraft. as well as enemy manpower in daytime and at night, in all weather conditions.

MRO Providers Are Forced To Be More Efficient Than Ever Before

There is no denying that COVID-19 shook the aviation from the ground up. Many businesses dependant on aviation had to downsize or change their plans immensely to stay in the industry. MRO businesses are not different and are already seeing a chain of changes affecting both customers and providers.

ROSOBORONEXPORT Presents the Orlan-10E versatile unmanned aircraft system

The Orlan-10E has become one of the first Russian modern tactical unmanned aircraft systems to successfully undergo all tests with the Russian Ministry of Defence and enter service with the Russian Land Forces and airborne troops. The system has proven its reliability and effectiveness during numerous operations in various weather conditions.

CAUTION WIRE STRIKE!

One of the numerous risks posed to helicopters that operate in a medium stretching from ground to a few thousand feet is the abundance of wires. Starting from the local cable guy who runs cables across the street to the farmer who wants to zipline his produce across valleys, to the high-voltage power lines that criss-cross the countryside, wires are an omnipresent hazard to low-flying choppers. Often invisible to the naked eye till it is too late, wire strikes claim a few helicopters and their crews every year. Here’s an example from my personal recollection.

300th Advanced Light Helicopter Rolls Out Of Indian Manufacturer HAL's Hangar

29 September, 2020 was a special day for Indian aerospace manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The 300th advanced Light Helicopter (ALH-Dhruv) rolled out from its production hangar.

Icarus Aerospace Tactical Air Vehicle

Tactical Air Vehicle (TAV) is a light strike aircraft being designed and manufactured by Icarus Aerospace, a Canadian manufacturer of clean-sheet, mission-specific aeronautical products. The company unveiled the optionally piloted multirole TAV in August 2020. It will become a force multiplier for security and armed forces globally.

Air Rescue With Piloted Multicopters Is Possible, Makes Sense, And Improves Emergency Care

The results of the world's first feasibility study on the use of piloted multicopters in rescue services has concluded that air rescue with piloted multicopters is possible, makes sense, and improves the emergency medical care of the population.

Exit The ‘Queen Of The Skies'

So much damage to human lives, countries, economies, businesses ad nauseum. Aviation and travel have been hit particularly hard but Covid-19 has claimed another victim.

Aerial Fire Fighters On Pay As You Go

UK start-up Arcus Fire, has joined forces with New Zealand companies Flight Structures Ltd and Pacific Aerospace to develop the F-45, a clean-sheet single engined turboprop focused on the fire fighting, cargo and commuter airline markets.

Boom Supersonic Rolls Out Demonstrator Aircraft In Bid To Break Sound Barrier

Boom Supersonic unveiled its first demonstrator aircraft X-B1, which is scheduled to begin flight testing next year, in a milestone for the U.S. startup planning a commercial airliner that can conquer the sound barrier

Alameda County Sheriff's Office Air Support Unit begins operating first public safety configured Bell 505 Jet Ranger X

Following strong interest from global municipalities that are expanding their capabilities by adding aerial operations to their mission portfolio, Bell introduced its public safety configuration of the Bell 505, which includes the following onboard equipment:

Yahsat Selects Airbus To Build Next-Gen Thuraya 4-NGS

Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) has selected Airbus to build Thuraya 4-NGS, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) nextgeneration L-band telecommunications satellite. This milestone order will come with an overhaul of Yahsat’s space and ground platforms. The satellite is scheduled for operation in 2024

Rostec Launches Serial Production Of Upgraded Mi-35P

Russian Helicopters holding company has launched serial production of the upgraded Mi-35P attack helicopter at the Rostvertol plant. The first serial model completed its type-specific flight tests, receiving confirmation of the declared performance characteristics and implemented changes in its design.

TESTBEDS

In my corner of aviation research lately, flying testbeds have become a thing to talk about again. Back in the heady post WW2 days of the expansion of modern aviation, these were a very important thing to have in aviation, the Americans even had a special name for some of theirs: “X-planes”, although in reality that was a narrow niche of a much bigger whole.

From Autoplane to SkyDrive

One hundred and three years ago what looked like a modified Ford Model T became the first flying car. Equipped with wings and a rear propeller, the Curtiss Autoplane was introduced in 1917 and could lift slightly off the ground but could never actually achieve full flight.

Covid And Flying

So just when does the ludicrous sideshow to a flu season end? Some say when it vacates the media, some say when the tax season comes about around the world and there’s nothing to garner. Either way its causing a nause, a great deal of frustration and general idiocy.

Training Through Simulation - Flying With Hatsoff

There are some critical emergencies that cannot be practiced on actual aircraft or helicopter; either because it cannot be simulated or because it is far too dangerous to do so. Take for example, a catastrophic failure of the tail drive; or a dual engine failure. No amount of reading manuals or discussion in briefing rooms can impart a realistic ‘feel’ for aircraft behavior or expected pilot action. This left a big void in training systems of the past, often leading to fatal outcomes.

Dynali H3 Sport Ultra Light Helicopter

Ultralight helicopters have opened up the market to make helicopter flying accessible to many more people than the general aviation class for which both the purchase price and the operating costs, are prohibitive to the general public.