Stratolaunch has begun taxi tests of the Roc carrier aircraft with a large underwing pylon that will be used to carry and launch the company’s Talon-A hypersonic test vehicle.

Vertical Aerospace expects to certificate its VX4 air taxi concurrently with the UK and Europe, with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency agreeing to validate UK Civil Aviation Authority type certification of the electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft.

As it ground-tests a 2-megawatt electric motor with the intent of converting a 100-seat regional jet to zero-emission propulsion, Wright Electric has received a U.S. Air Force contract to modify the technology into a lightweight, high-power generator as a battlefield recharger for electrified vehicles.

Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus claimed its highest-ever revenues in 2021 but the company warns that it is now facing supply chain bottlenecks. 

A South Korean Coast Guard Sikorsky S-92 helicopter has crashed into the sea 370 km (229 mi.) southwest of Marado island, killing two crew with one more still missing. 

Projects to develop aviation-specific fuel cells and storage systems are included in the first call for proposals under the European Union’s new Clean Hydrogen public-private research program.

Universal Hydrogen plans to flight test its 1-megawatt, hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system on a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 regional aircraft starting around September.

Modifications made to an Airbus C295 are opening the door to new gains in fuel efficiency.