Aerostructures Research Group Leader, Aurora Flight Sciences Corp., Age 31 In the past year, David Kordonowy grew his team from one to nine people and built a portfolio that spans the broadest range of activities in the structures domain, from university-style basic research through product development, design, production and testing.
As installed bases age, and the pressures to cut fuel burn mount, engine makers are mining ever deeper into their technology stockpiles to develop new upgrades and keep existing customers on their side. For Rolls-Royce, the process of developing one-off enhancement performance (EP) packages has gradually morphed into a broader initiative of continuous improvements across the family lineup, ranging from out-of-production RB211-524s to the latest Trent 900/1000 and yet-to-be-fielded Trent XWB.
A lightweight, high-performance composite fan could be crucial to Rolls-Royce's chances of meeting the thrust-to-weight ratio targets set by Boeing for its proposed 777X derivative development.
“Show & Tell” details Eurocopter's X-3 demonstrator (AW&ST July 30, p. 30). While this is technically interesting, the concept does not seem well-suited to the attack role. Its wing-tip propellers make rearming while rotors are turning extremely hazardous. They also limit wing hard-points and increase the drivetrain's vulnerability to head-on fire.
Senior Instructional Development Specialist/Air Operations, FedEx Express, Age 28 David Easter joined FedEx Express in 2007 and was promoted to senior instructional development specialist in just over a year, at age 24. His degree in computer science has enabled the Technical Operations Training Department to move into a more robust learning environment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says an unmanned aerial vehicle, which flew about 35 mi. into Israel and near a nuclear facility before being shot down Oct. 6, was sent by the Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.
With Space Exploration Technologies' Dragon supply ship successfully mated to the International Space Station (ISS), NASA plans to step up the troubleshooting of elusive ISS electrical and coolant system issues that will likely lead to a pair of U.S. spacewalks, possibly within the next several weeks. The first issue is associated with a significant short-circuit on Sept. 1 that prompted a shutdown of the 3A solar power channel; the second is a longer-running ammonia leak in the P-6 solar power truss, which may rise in urgency.
Chief Project Engineer, Trent 1000-TEN, Rolls-Royce, Age 36 Though his experience spans only 13 years, Puthoff has excelled in diverse assignments at Rolls-Royce. After starting in a technical role, Puthoff has led engine programs through various phases in the product life cycle, including program launch, design and development, certification, production and field service.
Tammy Young has joined Seattle-based Alaska Air Group as VP-human resources. She was managing director of human resources at accounting firm Moss Adams and has held similar roles at KPMG and the former Arthur Andersen.
USAF Brig. Gen. Scott L. Dennis has been assigned as special assistant to the commander of Air Combat Command, Langley AFB, Va. He has been commander of Kandahar Airfield for U.S. Central Command and commander of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing of Air Combat Command there. David Bennett has been named chief information officer of the Defense Information Systems Agency, Fort Meade, Md. He was the agency's component and acquisition executive. Honors & Elections
Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, is championing the cause of the commercial satellite industry—removing the spacecraft and related items from the U.S. Munitions List (USML). He managed to secure bipartisan support to include this in the House version of the fiscal 2013 defense authorization bill, in part by adding a mandate for the Obama administration to list the items it wants to remove from the USML.
Ph.D. student, Age 26 Still in her mid-20s, Fagrelius already has logged key accomplishments during her tenure at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Among them: She was mission manager for the Dartmouth College
Lufthansa is pulling out of vast parts of its current European network and transferring flight operations for non-hub traffic to its lower-cost subsidiary Germanwings. The new airline will operate almost 90 aircraft and cover all point-to-point markets outside the hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. The legacy airline is now positioned exclusively as a long-haul and hub-and-spoke carrier. Germanwings expects to make an operating profit in 2015.
Five leaders in general aviation, research, spaceflight, state government and publishing will be honored by the National Aeronautic Association with its Wesley L. McDonald Distinguished Statesman of Aviation Award on Nov. 13. One recipient will be artist Keith Ferris, whose 52-year career includes painting two 75-ft. murals at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Ferris has been a long-time contributor to Aviation Week & Space Technology and a judge of its annual photo contest.
