The article on space-based solar power could also mention the impact of wireless transportation of electricity on civil and commercial air transport industries. Compare an airliner to an electric-powered train receiving electricity from above and enjoying an unlimited range. Beaming power from Earth orbit to the Moon can also speed up the creation of permanent settlements there. Alexandria, Va.
Last but not least, with its budget for commercial space crew vehicles halved by Congress, NASA will shift to a more “flexible” procurement strategy to get the so-called space taxis flying as soon as possible (see p. 20). Instead of the standard fixed-price contract it had planned, the agency will continue to use Space Act agreements in its Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) program as it rushes to replace space shuttle rides to the International Space Station.
Boeing Commercial Airplanes is showing a strong order finish for 2011, bringing a future revenue flourish to more fundamental advances it has made in production during the past few weeks that should ease the way its factories meet a busy schedule in 2012.
USAF Cols. Michael T. Brewer and Thomas A. Bussiere have been nominated for promotion to brigadier general. Brewer is commander of the Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, Tenn. Bussiere is inspector general at Global Strike Command Headquarters, Barksdale AFB, La. Honors And Elections
Michael Curto has been elected chairman of the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority's board of directors. He is a partner in the law firm of Patton Boggs and deputy chair of its Business Department.
David A. Marcontell has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of Denver-based TeamSAI. He was president of the company's M&E Solutions.
The American Society of Aviation Artists is pleased to join Aviation Week & Space Technology for the 12th year in presenting the art from ASAA's 2011 International Aerospace Exhibition in this special year-end issue. AW&ST has selected its “Best of the Best” award winner from the exhibition and top choices for honors in the categories of Military, Space, Commercial and General Aviation. ASAA's prize winners were selected by an ASAA-invited judge.
Jan. 31- Feb. 2—MRO Middle East 2012. Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Feb. 14-16— Defense Technology and Affordability Requirements. Arlington, Va. March 7—54th Annual Laureate Awards. Washington. March 13-14—Innovation Supply Chain Showcase. Orlando, Fla. April 3-5—MRO Americas 2012. Dallas. April 3-5—MRO Military Conference & Exhibition. Dallas. April 3-6—Aircraft Electronics Association's 55th Annual International Convention & Trade Show. National Harbor, Md.
Alain Ernoult of Bagneux, France, took third place in the General category of this year's AW&ST photo contest with this shot of the Eurocopter X-3 hybrid helicopter. Based on a Dauphin airframe, the twin-turboshaft helicopter relies on a five-blade rotor with two propellers on short wings to provide its high speed. The X-3 has achieved 232 kt. in sustained forward flight.
Shane Carter has been named public affairs director for Little Rock (Ark.) Airport. He was director of the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center Foundation.
Japan Airlines' first Boeing 787-8, which it expects to receive in February, has rolled out of the paint hangar in Everett, Wash., with an all-white livery and the airline's traditional stylized crane in red on the tail. JAL will be the second 787 customer to take delivery after launch customer All Nippon Airways. The 787 will be used on thrice-weekly flights from Tokyo's Narita International Airport to New Delhi and on all of its daily Tokyo Haneda flights to Beijing. JAL expects to launch a route from Narita to Boston in April using the 787. JAL has 35 787-8s on order.
Olivier Mazzucchelli has been named CEO managing director of Lufthansa-Air France joint venture Spairliners, Hamburg. Before joining the Air France Group in 2000, he was safety auditor at Yacimientos Petroliferos Fiscales.
In “Aftershocks” (AW&ST Nov. 28, p. 22) you say that the failure of the U.S. Congress to enact true budget reform has placed the F-35 at risk. But, canceling it would not necessarily be a bad thing. We have already reached the point of diminishing returns for human crewed tactical aircraft. Remotely piloted vehicles are widely operated. Semi-autonomous vehicles already exist and fully autonomous tactical aircraft cannot be far off.
A recent cover (AW&ST Nov. 28) displays the graceful curves of the T-38 in contrast to the BAE Hawk. So why replace a design which—50 years after its debut—continues to be a paradigm of performance and ease of maintenance? And why replace it with a foreign design? The T-38 is fully amortized and integrated into our system. Instead, we should be studying methods of integrating new systems and materials into its basic design, something the Israelis have done with the F-5.
“Closing the Case” (AW&ST Nov. 21, p. 20) suggests that power beamed to Earth from orbit will be viable for remote and emergency energy in 10-30 years. The most valuable application for space solar power (SSP), however, is in space itself. Electric-plasma propulsion technologies have been developed that offer high specific impulse but are burdened by the heavy solar or nuclear plants needed for motive power.
Guy Norris's “Japan Poised For F-X Announcement” generated several lively exchanges, including: Bismarck's opener: Japan is under military occupation of the U.S., otherwise the Rafale would tarnish the Super Hornet and would bury all the rest combined. Sferrin notes: It didn't take long for the excuses to start. alexandre responds:
The David Fulghum/Bill Sweetman “Downed UAV Technology Outdated” article continues to elicit a host of responses, including: MilWatch says: Even if the sensors were not the newest (and there's just speculation about this), info about structure, coatings and elements of the electronics can be learned from the wreckage. China will probably be paying a visit . . . like they did with the special-mission helicopter in Pakistan. MJ agrees:
Holger Beck has become head of the marketing, sales and product management division at Lufthansa Technical Training in Hamburg, as part of his function as chief commercial officer. Karsten Schmidt will be promoted to COO from managing director of Lufthansa Systems Aeronautics.
Drew McEwen (see photos) has been named head of global sales and business development and Lisa Giessert head of sales administration and customer support at Piper Aircraft, Vero Beach, Fla. Before joining Piper in 2010, McEwen was a sales executive with Hawker Beechcraft Corp. Giessert is a 20-year Piper veteran who has held multiple management roles.
Anna Gawthorpe is the new safety and quality manager at Execujet's new fixed-base operation in Cambridge, England. She was airfield operations and safety unit manager at London City Airport.
