Elon Musk outlines plan to build a transportation system to create a self-sustaining human “civilization” on Mars and make mankind a “multiplanet species.”
On one side Amazon, Google, Uber; and the other FedEx, UPS, DHL—are all looking hard at the potential for autonomous and electric aircraft to bring new ways of transporting goods and people.
Environmental NGOs are less than sanguine about a proposed global market-based measure to offset aviation emissions, in part due to the initial voluntary phase.
This week’s Washington Outlook: Virginia statesman praises Clinton; debate on reorganizing military space; and FAA probes Santa Monica’s airport closure plan.
Business jet demand was once linked to a wide array of economic indicators, especially equities markets and corporate profits. Since 2008, these links have broken down.
While the sunsetting of the US Airways brand is the most public change from its merger with American, most of the work of integration happened behind the scenes and in fact is continuing.
There is still disagreement over whether short-term aircraft demand has already peaked or is about to—or whether there is time left until the going gets much tougher.
The goal is to network the combat air forces so that F-35s and F-22s can rapidly share information with fourth-generation jets. But the stovepiped communications architecture of days past complicates this picture.
AeroVironment’s Blackwing lets a submarine control unmanned underwater vehicles; Lockheed Martin’s Vector Hawk launches from a UUV; and General Atomics’ Predator flies pod that extends data-link networks—UAS show potential to bridge combat domains.
The U.S. Navy’s MIDS-JTRS terminal and tactical targeting networking technology waveform could equally support the Air Force’s future airborne networking architecture, defense companies believe.
In this week’s roundup, the U.S. Navy awards the first of two MQ-25 Stingray contracts; Europe takes another step toward a combat UAV; UK Defense Ministry backs space-based manufacturing; and Draken International helps the Japanese test a surface-to-air missile.
The transfer of propellant, the budget and the effects of long stays in space are still challenges facing SpaceX’s dazzling proposal. They are achievable, though, Dan Dunbacher, a Purdue University professor and former NASA official tells Aviation Week’s Frank Morring.
Facing an increasingly contested battlespace, Air Mobility Command is looking for follow-on tankers—even stealthy ones—and wants a survivable new tanker to escort fighters and bombers into conflicts.
An intercontinental transfer operation can be based largely on narrowbody aircraft, thanks to their rising range and the central location of Air Astana’s bases.
While everything still hinges on the precooler technology of Reaction Engines’ Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine (SABRE), the Air Force Research Laboratory sees huge potential for the propulsion concept
Air Combat Command’s EQ-4B and E-11A Battlefield Communications Node fleet have served as high-flying combat comms relays for eight years and counting.
As the U.S. Air Force presses forward with its J-Stars Recapitalization competition, a 10-aircraft Compass Call requirement has manufacturers vying for special-mission work.
