Aerospace & Defense Roundup: May. 05

Beta Alia EVTOL Begins U.S. Air Force Flight Tests

Flight testing of the Beta Technologies’ Alia for the U.S. Air Force has begun after the electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft received airworthiness approval under the service’s Agility Prime program. The 7,000-lb.-class aircraft has received military flight release for piloted conventional-takeoff-and-landing (CTOL) flying under the Air Force’s operational flight test program. On completion of this test phase the Alia is planned to move into vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) testing. Credit: Beta Technologies

Turkish Aerospace To Begin Hurjet Prototype Assembly

Turkish Aerospace (TAI) is to begin assembly of the first prototype Hurjet jet trainer in June as the company targets a first flight by the end of 2022. Detailing progress in the company’s in-house magazine, TAI said engineers had completed a critical design review of the aircraft in February. It also said that detailed parts and assembly tools are already on workbenches ready for assembly to begin. Credit: TAI

Former Albany CEO Now Head Of PE-Backed Cadence Aerospace

Olivier Jarrault, most recently CEO of LEAP engine blade maker Albany International during a dynamic two-year stint, is now CEO of Cadence Aerospace, a relatively new private equity-backed machined-parts producer for aerospace and defense OEMs and others. Credit: Albany International

Blue Origin Solicits Bids For July 20 First Crewed Launch

Blue Origin plans to send human crewmembers to suborbital space for the first time on July 20 on its New Shepard rocket, the company announced May 5. One of the seats for the 11-min. flight will be auctioned off, but the company did not reveal an opening price. The bidding will take place in three phases, beginning with a period of sealed bidding at Blue-Origin.com that will last through May 19. At that point, the bidding will become public, and only the highest bidders will move to a live online auction on June 12. Credit: Blue Origin

Wisk Agrees To Operate Autonomous EVTOLs For Blade

Wisk Aero has agreed to operate up to 30 autonomous air taxis on Blade Urban Air Mobility’s U.S. network. No timescale was given for beginning operation, as autonomous aircraft are not yet permitted to fly passengers. Wisk said it plans to begin test flights in key service areas “when possible.” Credit: Wisk Aero

USAF Eyes Autonomous Inspector Small Spacecraft Tech

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is asking industry for ideas for small, autonomous spacecraft that could inspect and repair other satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO)—and to ultimately develop a flight experiment concept. Credit: AFRL

USAF Scrubs Unarmed ICBM Test Launch

The U.S. Air Force said on May 5 that it halted a scheduled test launch of an unarmed Boeing LGM-30 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg AFB, California. The Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) is considering rescheduling options for the test launch. Credit: Steve Trimble/AWST

Aurora, Columbia Helicopters Team Up For Safer Firefighting Flight

Columbia Helicopters and Aurora Flight Sciences have teamed up to develop and demonstrate a suite of technologies that could make rotary-wing firefighting in degraded visual environments (DVE) safer. Credit: Boeing

FAA Adds Space Launch Areas To Nav Charts

The FAA announced on May 5 that it is marking more space launch activity areas on the digital VFR raster charts it makes available to pilots. Credit: FAA

AFRL Contracts For LEO Sat Demo To Connect Arctic Region

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has selected Hughes Network Systems and OneWeb to demonstrate low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite communications (SATCOM) to connect the remote Arctic region with sites around the globe. Credit: AFRL

Grob 120TP Selected For Swedish Basic Training

Sweden has chosen Grob’s 120TP turboprop as the basic trainer for its air force. The country’s defense materiel agency, FMV, announced May 5 that it has signed contracts for seven aircraft, simulators, flight safety equipment and a three-year maintenance support package for the fleet, following a competitive tender. Credit: Grob Aerospace

SpaceX Sticks Starship Landing

SpaceX successfully landed a full-scale Starship prototype after a high-altitude flight test on May 5, marking a key milestone towards the development of the company’s next generation launch system. The 164-ft.-tall, 30-ft.-dia. vehicle, SN15 (serial number 15), lifted off from the company’s Boca Chica, Texas, test site at 6.24 p.m. EDT and ascended on the power of its three Raptor engines to an altitude of around 10 km (6.2 mi.). The vehicle, which is the prototype for the reusable upper stage for a deep-space transportation system for crew and cargo, performed a controlled unpowered horizontal descent, engine restart and pitch-up maneuver for a tail-first powered landing. Credit: SpaceX webcast

Directional Aviation Acquires UK Helicopter Operator

Directional Aviation Group has acquired helicopter charter operator Halo Aviation, of Cranleigh, UK, for an undisclosed price, adding to its OneSky Flight portfolio of private aviation companies. Credit: Directional Aviation