Aviation Week & Space Technology

Readers discuss factors in 737 MAX design and accidents, another possible use for winglets.

Upcoming aviation and aerospace industry events and Aviation Week Network events.

Crews from around the world will be involved, a notable shift in the FAA’s process.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

As countries await Trump administration decision on Turkey sanctions, moods split between defiance and caution.

Aviation Week has learned that design changes meant to provide more cabin flexibility are creating operational headaches.

Advances in hydrogen fuel cells for vehicles are giving aerospace another low-carbon propulsion option.

Despite 2019’s bad news, forecasts point to continued growth – at least for now. Aviation Week editors discuss.

Startup Elroy Air begins flight tests of a large VTOL unmanned aircraft designed for responsive logistics.

TyTAN has reduced Typhoon operating costs by nearly 40%; BAE believes it could achieve similar savings on the F-35.

Saab flies Brazilian Gripen; India accepts last C-17; U.S. to sell Japan SM-3 Block IIA missiles; Elbit to equip KC-390 with EW system.

Little hops and huge goals: SpaceX’s Starhopper test flight marks first step on path to next-generation Starship launch family and inter-planetary missions.

As more hydrogen-powered vehicles hit the roads, fuel cells are attracting interest for electric aviation.

While business outlooks have moderated since start of the year, overall growth still is expected, financial analysts and consultants say in latest forecasts.

To achieve a 50% net reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050 relative to 2005 levels, the industry is implementing an array of measures.

Launch services firms may become the space-based trucking companies of the future as NASA accelerates its Lunar Gateway plan.

NASA eyes electric demo; DLR plans electric regional; UK launches Future of Flight; Impossible’s flying battery; ROBOpilot crashes.

The MC-21’s customer base mainly consists of government-owned Russian lessors. The long-term impact of Western sanctions is likely to hamper its success.

BAE’s Tempest factory will say goodbye to jigs and tooling in favor of introducing robots, digital twins and joining methods.

European militaries are poised to welcome the delivery of 326 F-35 fighters in 2019-29 and are continuing to buy Saab Gripens, Dassault Rafales and Eurofighter Typhoons.

C919 development will last 14 years after the latest schedule change. The program has begun certification flight testing.

Commonality and advanced technology in its future F-16 force will compensate Taiwan for the long wait in placing an order.

Advances in aerospace vehicles almost always follow advances in propulsion. And propulsion technology continues to advance, creating new opportunities. So what is in store for the future? Attending the AIAA Propulsion & Energy conference in Indianapolis, senior editor Guy Norris and technology editor Graham Warwick discuss possibilities ranging from nuclear rockets to electric aircraft.

WhiteKnightTwo performs simulated space launch flight profiles over New Mexico as Virgin Galactic gears up for tests and operations from Spaceport America.

At best, the answer is a definite “maybe.” But the environment could be set to force a change.