Sir Martin Sweeting, executive chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. and director of the Surrey Space Center at the University of Surrey, England, has received the International von Karman Wings Award for his contributions to aerospace, presented by the Aerospace Historical Society and the Graduate Aerospace Laboratories of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
When asked about the future of the low-fare airline industry, Vueling CEO Alex Cruz has a simple answer: “We will grow and the legacy carriers will shrink.” But that is only the short version of a more complex story.
NASA's Langley Research Center, Mitre and several partners have completed the first in a series of inflight evaluations of cooperative automatic sense-and-avoid (SAA) algorithms for unmanned air systems (UAS), in large part to validate a new testbed that will be used for more advanced trials next year.
In a recent Feedback column (AW&ST Sept. 3/10, p. 10) reader Karl Kettler opines that in lieu of Mars-like programs, NASA should concentrate “on more important endeavors such as assuring the survival of the human race through a methodical program designed to lead to the permanent human presence in space.”
A Johns Hopkins University group that studies North Korea believes the hermit country has halted work at a new launch pad intended to conduct tests of larger, liquid-fueled rockets, possibly with intercontinental ranges. “Commercial satellite imagery of the Tonghae Satellite Launching Ground—commonly referred to as Musudan-ri—taken on Aug.
The recent annual gathering of the CitationJet Pilots Association in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, drew Cessna's executive A-team of a happy yesteryear when jet production could hardly keep up with demand. The ex-Cessnans all convened to celebrate team leader, Russ Meyer, Jr., their former CEO and current chairman emeritus, who was being installed as the first inductee of the association's Hall of Fame.
Congressional Editor Jen DiMascio notes on the Ares defense blog the critique of sequestration made by former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. (ret.) Michael Mullen at a recent seminar held by the Center for Strategic & International Studies. Dave-in-Rio-Rancho says: We'd be in a lot less trouble aircraft-wise if Gates had continued F-22 production and development while reducing F-35 spending until the production configurations of the Joint Strike Fighter were more finalized. RSF says:
Careful succession planning is the hallmark of any well-managed company. Chris Kubasik may be taking over as CEO of Lockheed Martin at the beginning of 2013, but the company telegraphed his ascent back in 2010, when he was elevated to president. Louis Chenevert was eased into the position of chairman and CEO of United Technologies over several years. And General Dynamics has long been grooming Phebe Novakovic, who plans to succeed the retiring Jay Johnson as CEO on Jan. 1. Now Rockwell Collins has chosen an heir apparent for its longtime chairman and CEO, Clay Jones.
The first modernized Russian Ilyushin Il-76MD-90A military heavy-lifter, also known as Il-476, made its first flight at United Aircraft Corp.'s Ulyanovsk-SP facility on Sept. 22. This prototype was rolled out July 5 and has already undergone ground tests. According to the industry sources, after several flights in Ulyanovsk, the aircraft will continue the trials at Zhukovsky, near Moscow. The Il-76MD-90A became the first aircraft of this type assembled in Russia, as all earlier Il-76 modifications were effected by TAPO in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
USAF Lt. Gen. (ret.) Dick Newton has been appointed executive VP of the Arlington, Va.-based Air Force Association, succeeding David T. “Buck” Buckwalter. Newton was assistant vice chief of staff/director of the air staff at USAF headquarters at the Pentagon.
Xian is developing a twin-turboprop regional airliner dubbed the MA700. This aircraft is not an MA60 variant, but rather a clean-sheet design. Features include six-blade propellers, a T-tail and an unswept high-mounted wing. There are two versions of the MA700: one with 70-plus seats and one with 90-plus seats. A dedicated freighter variant has also been considered. Service entry of the MA700 is targeted for 2016 or 2017. Xian intends to pursue FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency certification for the MA700. The MA700 could replace the MA60/MA600 in production.
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The Sukhoi Superjet 100, formerly known as the Russian Regional Jet, is a family of twin-engine transports powered by Snecma/NPO Saturn SaM146 turbofans, rated at 13,500-17,500 lb. thrust each. The series has been launched with the 95-98-seat baseline Superjet 100-95. The shortened 100-75, a 75-78-seat version, and stretched 100-115/120, a 115-120-seat version, are being considered. The Superjet 100-95 made its first flight in May 2008 and achieved initial Russian/CIS certification in early 2011; deliveries began in mid-2011.
This pressurized, single-turboprop-powered, corporate/utility transport aircraft first flew in May 1991, and received Swiss and U.S. certification in 1994. It has seating for nine passengers in its standard layout. Portugal's OGMA assembles green aircraft and also manufactures some components. The current PC-12 production version, the PC-12 NG (Next Generation), is powered by a 1,200-shp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67P turboprop engine. The PC-12 competes with the Daher-Socata TBM 850, Cessna Caravan and Hawker Beechcraft King Air.
Ethiopian Airlines added another “first” to its Boeing list with its acceptance of a 777 Freighter that it is leasing from Gecas. Last month, Ethiopian became the first African carrier to take delivery of a 787 and in 2010, it was first in Africa to receive a 777-200LR. Meanwhile, Boeing says it formally signed an order with Dublin-based Avolon leasing for 10 737-8s, five 737-9s and 10 737-800s that was initialed at the Farnborough air show. Avolon's order raises Boeing's total 737 MAX count to 664 aircraft and the net total for 737s this year to 696.
