Aerospace

With Lockheed Martin’s U-2S poised for a comprehensive avionics upgrade that will position the spy plane at the heart of the U.S. Air Force’s ambitious next-generation airborne battle management plan, Aviation Week senior editor Guy Norris and defense editor Steve Trimble join executive editor Graham Warwick on Check 6 to discuss what appears to be a new lease of life for the famed Dragon Lady.

Distributed electric propulsion for powered lift could redefine regional mobility, Aurora founder Langford believes.

Aircraft manufacturers have to adapt to a “new normal”: significantly lower production over an extended period of time.

Although expecting delays from the pandemic, Aerion says updated, sustainable AS2 supersonic design well-positioned for market recovery.

Readers write about “balanced capitalism” in aerospace, flying UAVs to help fight COVID-19 and cleaner airline cabin air.

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

Boeing plans to resume production of its widebody commercial aircraft in the Puget Sound area factories starting as early as April 20 following almost

Heico leaders said late April 15 they have laid off “some” employees across their aerospace and defense supplier portfolio and have cut work hours and pay at subsidiaries, but they are trying to avoid mass-layoffs as the COVID-19 pandemic rolls back the worldwide aerospace business.

Boeing has begun modifying stabilizer control wiring on its stored Boeing 737 MAX fleet—one of several tasks that must be completed before the aircraft can be handed over to customers.

S.S. WHITE TECHNOLOGIES, FL secured additional 5-year Honeywell Aerospace contract to supply bespoke flexible rotary shafts for a variety of variable

René Obermann to Chairman of the Board of Airbus, succeeding Denis Ranque.

SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS is projecting net loss of $160m for 1Q20 (vs $163m profit in 1Q19) on 46% lower revenues; it recognized forward loss charges of

CAROLINA GSE was named by Flight Data Systems as authorized reseller for its flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) testing

LOCATORY.COM (Avia Solutions Group) reports that Total Air Sensors (TAT) and other air data parts were the best traded aircraft spare parts of 2019 vs

MEGGITT, UK says it has to date stitched >3,000 straps to full-face acetate masks being supplied by Kettering Surgical Appliances as PPE for fight

AIRBUS, GKN AEROSPACE, ROLLS-ROYCE, THALES and ULTRA ELECTRONICS are among several UK companies that have formed VentilatorChallengeUK Consortium to

BRIDGER AEROSPACE, MT took delivery of the first Viking CL-415EAF (1081) from Longview Aviation Services following modification/upgrades by CASCADE

FTAI AVIATION purchased PW4060 (727386) from Crane Aircraft Partners, Santa Barbara, CA; DELTA TECHOPS refurbished the engine prior to delivery.

No one uses the words apocalyptic or cataclysmic—yet—but without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on aerospace and defense manufacturing will

John Langford, founder and former CEO of Aurora Flight Sciences, is launching a new venture to develop hybrid-electric regional transport aircraft.

Now that we are all engaged in unprecedented efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, I'd like to update you on actions that the Aviation Week Network has taken since my last letter a few weeks ago.

HAECO GROUP retained Seabury Capital Group as advisor in its previously announced acquisiton of JET ENGINE SOLUTIONS, TX (SPNWS; March 27).

FLIGHTSAFETY SIMULATION, OK launched production of 3D-printed medical grade respirators (masks) in partnership with non-profit agency for delivery to

SL ENGINEERING, Lincolnshire was selected to support manufacture of ventilators for UK National Health Service (NHS) under Sharing in Growth (SiG)

Howmet Aerospace has eight mostly smaller manufacturing plants that are closed because of the coronavirus, the company’s chief executive said late April 14, and more were shuttered in March when the Pittsburgh-based supplier was still part of Arconic.