Aircraft & Propulsion

The European Union-funded project has devised a roadmap for a future propulsive fuselage airliner concept (PFC) after revealing better-than-expected potential fuel burn savings of 4.7% compared to an equivalent-technology conventional aircraft.

Listen in as Aviation Week editors discuss why Boeing’s next clean sheet airplane may be a long way off and why Airbus’ CEO is mad at a key supplier.

Startup Regent plans to have a piloted 12-passenger seaglider on the market by 2025 as a replacement for seaplanes and water taxis, followed by a 50-passenger vehicle that the company sees replacing not only ferries, but regional turboprops and jets.

But the outlook for next-gen airliner and engine timing—and what they will look like—is less clear now than before the COVID-19 crisis.

Superconducting flight; Sensor-infused fans; VISTA readied for Skyborg; German suborbital spaceplane; and Joby hits range goal.

Few ideas in aerospace have been tried and have failed as often as high-speed vertical-takeoff-and-landing but, undeterred by the scores of past dead ends, the U.S. military is trying again.

Global logistics operator DHL Express has launched a cargo variant of Eviation’s Alice electric regional aircraft as part of pioneering plans to establish a sustainable electric express freight network from 2024 onwards.

Under development for four years, Advanced Aircraft Company's multi-rotor HAMR can fly for up to 3.5 hr. or carry a maximum sensor payload of 6 lb. in its dual cargo bay.

Airbus has been largely absent from the new-built freighter market, leaving Boeing with a virtual monopoly for the 767F, 777F and 747-8F.

A Yak-40LL testbed modified with a nose-mounted propeller driven by a 500 kW low-loss superconducting electric motor has been demonstrated in flight for the first time.

Brazilian airline Azul has signed a MOU for the acquisition of 220 Lilium Jets; the companies plan to partner on a regional high-speed transportation system in Brazil.

There is skepticism in the aerospace supply chain about Airbus’ plans to massively expand single-aisle production over the coming years.

The Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture always draws more people than any other air show. This year the mood is optimistic as people see the economy rebounding.

Aircraft propulsion concepts, radio-frequency sensors, mesh networks and autonomous control systems are driving a reimagining of roles.

Aviation has been accustomed to being described as a culprit for climate change, but it should also see itself as a likely casualty.

The aircraft is to enter service in 2025, though no launch order has been signed to date.

Editor's Note: Due to flight demonstration noise in the background, we suggest turning on closed captioning for this video. Volocopter CEO Florian

Dassault is proposing the Falcon 10X maritime patroller as the Atlantique replacement, after Germany opts for the P-8.

Customcells will industrialize battery cells for mass production, a key step in Lilium’s plans to scale-up production capacity ahead of the aircraft’s planned commercial launch in 2024.

In a key step towards development of the planned follow-on seven-seater air taxi, Samad Aerospace has completed hover tests of its half-scale e-Starling all-electric prototype aircraft.

Spain has independently developed and installed a new operating software load for its F/A-18 Hornet, bolstering the aircraft’s capabilities at a time when other nations are replacing their legacy Hornet fleets.

The California-based electric air taxi developer has marked a key flight test milestone by flying a full-size S4 prototype to its design range of more than 150 mi. on a single charge.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) projects ranging from the capture of atmospheric carbon dioxide to processing of sewage have been shortlisted for funding under a UK government contest designed to promote alternative fuel production technologies at commercial scale.

Supersonic airliner developer Boom is evaluating a forward-looking vision system (FLVS) as part of preparations for flight tests of the XB-1 high-speed demonstrator as well as design planning for the follow-on full-scale Overture passenger aircraft.

Russian Helicopters secured a launch customer for the Mi-171A3, a new offshore modification of the Mil Mi-171 heavy-transport rotorcraft. The manufacturer unveiled the new version at the ongoing MAKS 2021 airshow, where it signed an agreement with Russian gas monopoly Gazprom for these helicopters.