The first two-day solar-powered flight was made June 1-3, marking a large step toward "perpetual" flight (AW&ST Sept. 15, 2003, p. 66). The SoLong drone by AC Propulsion went through two full-night sessions on batteries that had been charged during the day by solar cells on the wing (AW&ST May 2, p. 19). The flight was based at Desert Center Airport, Calif., and went from 4:08 p.m. June 1 to 4:24 p.m. June 3. The batteries would have had enough energy for another full night but the pilots landed because they were exhausted. SoLong has a 15.6-ft.
Megatransport fans may shout "big is beautiful," but a group of aviation researchers believes the future of aviation is very small--as in Small Aircraft Transportation System. About 3,000 people--government officials, politicians, industry executives, and just plain we-love-to-fly folks--gathered at Danville (Va.) Regional Airport June 6 for a glimpse of the futuristic world of air travel during a 40-min. proof-of-concept demonstration of SATS.
Polytec Inc. has released the new LSV-300 laser surface velocimeter for non-contact, online measurement, inspection and control of velocity and length in continuous process industries such as steel, metals, paper, plastic, glass and building materials. Designed to be easy to install, set up and integrate into control systems, these instruments are a valuable step to reducing scrap, increasing uptime and improving material throughput, according to the company.
The engine control and monitoring system for the TP400-D6 turboprop that will power Europe's A400M airlifter has completed its first bench test run. The trials were run by Safran affiliates Snecma and Hispano-Suiza, in cooperation with MTU, which is responsible for the CMS. The TP400-D6 is to be certified in October 2007 and to fly on the A400M later that year.
With their pending teaming agreement, Northrop Grumman and EADS are trying to shape the agenda as the Pentagon sits down in coming weeks to craft new plans for buying modern, U.S. Air Force aerial refuelers.
Israel Aircraft Industries expects to reach $6 billion in backlog by year-end, after recording $5.4 billion in 2004, according to company President and CEO Moshe Keret. The backlog grew on the strength of a 10% boost in sales to $2.1 billion for 2004. IAI has been looking closely to Europe to grow business. It is involved in the Euro Male medium-altitude endurance UAV program and is working with French space agency CNES on the Venus microsatellite program.
M7 Aerospace has delivered the 20th ATR 42 turboprop-powered transport converted to cargo configuration. The San Antonio-based MRO provider is developing another cargo conversion for the larger ATR 72 and is scheduled to receive FAA approval of the Supplemental Type Certificate this summer.
Japan has again delayed the launch of the Astro-EII X-ray satellite, because of work to swap out the third stage nozzle for the satellite's M-5 launch vehicle (AW&ST June 6, p. 17). The 3,740-lb. spacecraft (shown below) is to image deep space X-ray sources in unprecedented resolution. Liftoff from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Uchinoura launch site near Kagoshima is now slated for July 6-Aug. 2. The mission is a joint project with NASA.
The need for competition and the availability of newer technology are among the arguments representatives for Montville, N.J.-based Marotta put forward as they explain their uphill battle to establish a foothold in the air-launched infrared-guided missile seeker-cooling business.
Trevor Venter has been appointed CEO of the Los Angeles-based Astrata Group Inc. He was chief operating officer and succeeds Anthony Harrison, who is now executive chairman. Anthony Bryan, who has been non-executive chairman, will become non-executive vice chairman.
A Florida state court jury gave victory last week to Bombardier Learjet in a $200-million lawsuit filed by the pro golfer Payne Stewart's family. The suit, filed in Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida in Orlando, claimed that the aircraft manufacturer's negligence caused the October 1999 crash of a Learjet 35 that killed Stewart and five other occupants. The aircraft, en route to Dallas, apparently lost cabin pressurization during climbout from Orlando and continued flying for approximately 4 hr. before crashing in a South Dakota field.
The Keyence CV-2600 high-speed machine vision system incorporates numerous "first-in-class" features, including the 2 megapixel CCD built into a small camera housing. The system can inspect an area four-times larger than conventional cameras at the same resolution, saving installation time and cost, the company says. The CV-2600 controller also supports two cameras. The camera can be mounted in tight spaces, increasing installation flexibility. Novice users can easily configure all of the inspection tools. Keyence Corp.
EADS leaders are betting on a flurry of activity in the realm of tankers, tactical and strategic transports that should allow them to close the gap with their U.S. rivals. The military transport aircraft operation wants to achieve in its field what its sister division, Airbus, has done in commercial aircraft and what Eurocopter has realized in helicopters: wrestling the top slot in sales from its competitors. EADS still lags behind Boeing and Lockheed Martin in the military transport realm.
The first test firing of a Lockheed Martin Hellfire 2 missile from Australia's Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter, a version of the Eurocopter Tiger, was performed on May 28 in Woomera, South Australia. A second firing is planned for later this year. The first two ARH units were delivered to the Australian army last December.
Michael Mecham (San Francisco), Robert Wall (Paris)
Long-haul, twin-aisle aircraft will dominate commercial presentations by Airbus and Boeing during the Paris air show, but the focus will be on a few specific types. Airbus was expected to launch the A350 with 100 or more orders or commitments as a competitor to Boeing's 787. However, last week the European company indicated the launch will be delayed until about September, although it says it has the orders. This seems to indicate that other matters--internal Airbus politics and a chance to firm up the A350's configuration--are behind the delay.
A senior Air Force civilian leader from the Clinton era says that while he still has doubts that Congress will approve purchase of an Airbus aircraft, the current atmosphere of distrust that surrounds Boeing and Pentagon acquisition offers the best chance ever for Airbus to sell at least some A330-based tankers. The Air Force will need 500 aircraft to replace its 700 KC-135s, and the A330 could be the choice for 100-200 of them, the official believes. He says analysis has shown both the A330 and the Boeing 767 are well suited to the role.
James D. Raisbeck, the founder of Raisbeck Engineering Inc. of Seattle, received an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree from Purdue University and was the commencement speaker at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University's Prescott, Ariz., campus, both in May. At Purdue, Raisbeck was recognized for developing technologies that have enhanced the performance, productivity and safety for many in-service airplanes, including the Boeing 727 and 737; Airbus A320; all models of the Sabreliner, Cessna and Piper singles and twins; and the Beechcraft King Air.
VERY LIGHT JET BUILDER EXCEL-JET LTD. has signed with Williams International to supply FJ-33-4A engines for its Sport Jet, currently under development. According to Excel-Jet, the engine will be rated at 1,500 lb. thrust and feature a dual-channel Fadec. The single-engine, four-place Sport Jet is projected to cost about $1 million, have a maximum speed of 375 kt., cruise at 340 kt. at 25,000 ft., and climb at 2,500 fpm. Range with IFR fuel reserves would be 1,000 mi. Plans call for the airplane to make its first flight this summer.
Lockheed Martin has completed flight tests of its Dual-Mode Guided Bomb at the U.S. Navy's China Lake, Calif., range. They were released in flight and maneuvered through a planned route to the target impact. DMGB allows the use of different guidance systems for standard Mk. 82, 83 and 84 bombs.
The head of Israel's Missile Defense Organization (IMDO) hopes Congress will help fund a U.S.-Israeli study of a short-range missile interceptor he says could be "a new kind of missile for us and the United States." The Defense Dept. already provides about $80 million for improvements to the Arrow ground-based ballistic missile defense system, deployed in Israel since 2000. At a Capitol Hill reception, IMDO Director Arieh Herzog says $16 million from Congress would help fund a feasibility study of an interceptor defense against missiles with a range of 40-200 km.
Whiffletree Corp.'s WST hand-held beacon testers for 406-MHz. satellite safety/emergency beacons are easy to use, the company says. The fast, accurate measurements exceed IMO MSC/Circ. 1039 and Circ. 1040 requirements. The tester can be used to evaluate such beacons as C91 and C91A ELTs used by aviation interests.
Jane P. Chappell (see photo) has been promoted to vice president from business development lead for strategic imaging systems for Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems, Garland, Tex.
Raytheon is developing a quick-reaction hyperspectral satellite for the Air Force Research Laboratory. The Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer is scheduled to be ready within 15 months, according to the details of a $14-million contract. The satellite is expected to use off-the-shelf technology to prove satellites can be quickly built and launched to satisfy the Defense Dept.'s urgent needs.
As the aerospace industry gathers this week at the Paris air show, there will be a handful of major topics (see p. 62). As is customary, Airbus and Boeing will be in the spotlight, not the least because their respective government sponsors are embroiled in a World Trade Organization dispute over aircraft subsidies. Each company will be touting its newest product. For Airbus, that means the A380 mega-transport (top) will be the dominant presence at the show--the A350 not having been formally launched.
