Sunday, August 2, 2009

Hypersonic civil aviation: Sydney to Brussels in four hours


Imagine long-distance air-travel that could get you to the other side of the globe in less than a quarter of the time it presently takes? Well, this may soon become a reality, and a commercially viable mode of passenger transport. Researchers from Reaction Engines, a company created for design and development of advanced space transport and propulsion systems, are investigating the possibility of hypersonic civil transport in a three year study to examine the feasibility of reducing long-distance flights (e.g. From Brussels to Sydney) to less than 4 hours. The project, called LAPCAT (Long-Term Advanced Propulsion Concepts and Technologies) is aimed at creating a liquid hydrogen fuelled aircraft capable of sustained Mach 5 flight. To put this in perspective, the Concorde cruises at Mach 2.

Reaction Engines was formed in 1989 by well-known rocket developer, Alan Bond, and the two principal engineers from Rolls Royce behind the HOTOL (single stage to orbit space plane) program, John Scott-Scott and Richard Varvill. The LAPCAT project, which is 50 percent EU funded, is aimed achieving a new flight regime for commercial transport with Mach numbers ranging from 4 to 8. The aircraft would also need to attain an exceptional range (approx 20,000 km both subsonic and supersonic). To achieve this, the use of liquid hydrogen fuel is needed because the specific calorific energy of hydrocarbon fuels (i.e. the amount of heat released during combustion) is too low. Accordingly, Reaction Engines have conceived the Scimitar pre-cooled engine concept which exploits the unique thermodynamic properties of liquid hydrogen. The Scimitar engine can reach sustained Mach 5 flight (that's around 1,701.45 ms), whilst achieving an effective exhaust velocity of order 40,900ms. In addition the engine has a second operating mode that features a high bypass airflow permitting efficient subsonic flight and moderate takeoff noise. The Scimitar is based on another concept closed cycle rocket engine conceived by the team at Reaction Engines, called the Sabre Engine. The Sabre is designed to use atmospheric oxygen in the combustion process, thus reducing the quantity of oxidizer that a vehicle is required to carry, and in turn decreasing the weight of an aircraft or rocket. The Sabre evolved from other “Liquid-air cycle engines” (LACE), and is currently being used in the design on the Skylon vehicle, which is an unpiloted, re-useable spaceplane intended to provide inexpensive and reliable access to space. The Skylon will take approximately 10 years to develop and will be capable of transporting 12 tonnes of cargo into space.

The Scimitar engine is derived from the earlier Sabre spaceplane model, however Reaction Engines have improved the design to enhance the life of the engine, making it a more feasible type of engine for long distance commercial travel. The Scimitar is essentially a closed cycle rocket engine with an additional precooled turbo-compressor to provide a high pressure air supply to the combustion chamber. The Scimitar engine is designed around existing gas turbine, rocket and subsonic ramjet technology. However the incorporation of lightweight heat exchangers in the main thermodynamic cycles of these engines is a new feature to aerospace propulsion.

To compliment the Scimitar engine, Reaction Engines has proposed a suitable vehicle configuration (A2) that attains the necessary subsonic and supersonic lift/drag ratio for efficient commercial operation. The A2 airframe is designed to have adequate control authority about all axes to handle engine-out and to achieve pitch trim over the full Mach range. The A2 airframe is designed to withstand prolonged flight at Mach 5 for several hours. This is due to the multi-layered construction with an actively cooled internal screen to intercept the heat leaking from the hot aeroshell.

The LAPCAT’s A2 vehicle is sized to carry 300 passengers - a figure typical of future supersonic transport designs and thought to be the minimum to achieve a competitive seat/mile cost. Analysis of the operating costs of a commercial hypersonic form of transport suggests that the average ticket price would be comparable to an existing Business class ticket. The A2 vehicle could capture all of the current business and first class traffic due to the greatly reduced journey time of 4.6 hours compared to the current 22 hours. This estimate is based on hydrogen fuel that is derived from water electrolysis. However, ticket prices could again be halved if the hydrogen is produced by steam reforming. Also it is likely that the first generation of hydrogen fuelled aircraft would be subsidized to promote the switch to a more environmentally friendly fuel, and therefore, costs may not be astronomical.

In theory, the LAPCAT vehicle would possess exceptional range and therefore would be able to service a large number of routes whilst simultaneously avoiding supersonic overflight of populated areas. Its good subsonic performance enables it to service conventional subsonic overland routes thereby increasing its sales potential to airlines. The possibilities of long-distance air flight at sustained Mach 5 speed, might still be some time away, however the three year study being undertaken by Reaction Engines is very exciting for the future of hypersonic transportation.

Solar-powered Zephyr smashes record for the longest unmanned flight


Using new solar array technology and a tailor-built autopilot system, QinetiQ’s Zephyr High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has nearly doubled the official world record time for the longest duration unmanned flight with a 54 hour flight achieved during trials at the US Military's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.

The duration of the flight exceeded the current official FAI world record for unmanned flight which stands at 30 hours 24 minutes set by Northrop Grumman's RQ-4A Global Hawk on 22 March 2001. However because there was no FAI official present at White Sands it may not stand as an official world record.

Launched by hand, Zephyr is an ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre aircraft with a wingspan of up to 18 metres but weighing just 30 kg. By day it flies on solar power generated by amorphous silicon arrays no thicker than sheets of paper that cover the aircraft's wings. By night it is powered by rechargeable lithium-sulphur batteries that are recharged during the day using solar power.

The trials validated recent modifications that have improved the efficiency of Zephyr's power system. These have included new solar arrays supplied by United Solar Ovonic, a full flight-set of Sion Power batteries as well as a novel solar-charger and bespoke autopilot developed by QinetiQ, all of which were being flown for the first time. During the trials the same aircraft was flown twice while carrying a surveillance payload – first for 54 hours to a maximum altitude of 58,355 feet, and then for 33 hours 43 minutes to a maximum altitude of 52,247 feet.

Paul Davey, Zephyr business development director at QinetiQ, said: “The possibilities suggested by unmanned flight are truly exciting and with these trials Zephyr has secured its place in the history of UAV development. Both flights were achieved in the face of thunderstorms and debilitating heat in the hostile environment of the New Mexico high desert in the summertime. They have proved that an autonomous UAV can be operated on solar-electric power for the duration required to support persistent military operations.”

Potential applications for Zephyr include earth observation and communications relay in support of a range of defence, security and civil requirements.

Zephyr has demonstrated consistent progress during a series of flight trials at White Sands Missile Range. In December 2005 two aircraft achieved a maximum duration of 6 hours and an altitude above 26,000 feet. The maximum flight duration was trebled to 18 hours and the maximum altitude increased to 36,000 feet at subsequent trials at the missile range in July 2006.

Micro-UAV distance record smashed


A hydrogen fuel-cell powered Micro-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has set a new distance record for craft of its type while only using a quarter of its available fuel. The “Pterosoar” flew 78 miles (120 km) - beating the previous record of 50 miles set in Estonia last year – consuming only 16 of the 64 grams grams of Hydrogen stored on board in a pressurized hydrogen tank, giving the aircraft a potential flight range of 310 miles (500 km).

Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies (the company known for the H-Racer RC car and its involvement in the propulsion system for the 200 km/h Hyfish jet-wing UAV) provided the fuel cell system for the joint project supported by NASA, the Dryden Flight Research Center, the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the National Science Foundation and led by Principal Investigators Dr. Maj Mirmirani, Dean of the Mechanical Engineering Department at California State University of Los Angeles (fuel cell system testing and integration); Dr Andy Arena of Oklahoma State University Aerospace Engineering Laboratory (fuel cell aircraft development); and Temasek Polytechnic of Singapore (system control electronics).

Fuel cells are an attractive proposition for micro-UAVs because they have the potential to deliver longer flight times, quieter operation, less heat signature, and higher reliability than batteries or other methods of propulsion. The ultra‐compact propulsion system used in project Pterosoar reacts hydrogen and oxygen from the air without combustion. The fuel-cell creates electrical power at 480 Watt hours per kilogram - 2.6 times the energy density of the best available batteries according to Horizon Fuel Cell.

The Pterosoar aircraft (the name comes from a class of dinosaur that the aircraft resembles due to the shape of the fuel cell cooling scoops in its nose) will attempt a new world endurance record for small‐size unmanned planes in the next few weeks, aiming to exceed 15.5 hours of flight.

Sky-high designs for a flying car


Nearly eight years into the 21st century and we still don't have flying cars… frankly, it's disgraceful. No point complaining about it though - while Dr. Paul Moller continues development of the intriguing and exciting M400 Skycar, others around the world are also working to turn the cogs that will set the personal flight revolution in motion. One of them is Italian Gino d'Ignazio Gizio, a helicopter pilot and designer whose Cell Craft designs are reminiscent of the Skycar with a few touches of his own.

The evolving stable of Cell Craft designs - including the G416ef designed specifically for civilian commuter use, the G420 "flying-sportscar" and the Search and Rescue focussed G500e - have culminated in the G440 - a new design which aims to become the key concept design to showcase the technology and function as the primary example of what a CellCraft represents.

The G440 design uses a seven seat format (including the pilot) and is based on the quad-turbine Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) design shown in the G416ef. The turbines force air through and push it out the back, either straight through for horizontal flight, or at a directed downward angle (to allow vertical takeoff, landing and hovering) through a tilting exhaust tube at the rear of each turbine.

Gizio's intention with the Cell Craft series is to capitalize on the easy access, take-off, landing and hovering abilities of a helicopter, and combine them with the high speed potential, relative safety and stability of regular airplane designs. It also has to be easy and intuitive enough for the average car driver to operate.

The control system features twin joysticks mounted to the armrests of the sportscar-like pilot's seat. The left joystick handles power level control and the right handles tilt and direction. Press it forward, and the Cell Craft tilts forward from a stable hover and beings moving forward, gradually tilting the thrust tubes until the vehicle is moving forward at a rapid rate. Similarly, it is possible to tilt the vehicle sideways for lateral movement from a hover, or to steer while in horizontal flight.

A trigger-style lever on the left control allows the pilot to rotate the Cell Craft from a stable hover, in much the same way as a helicopter pilot's foot pedals allow rotation around the central axis - except with this vehicle the rotation is attained by slight adjustments of the directional thrust tubes.

The history of the different Gizio G series designs can be viewed at his personal website, which also details his exploits in music, photography and next-generation cell phone design. He's yet to make a prototype, needing significant investment, but ready to drop what he's doing at a moment's notice to bring his Cell Craft dream to reality.

Sportcopter Super Sport Gyroplane set to launch – bridging the gap between plane and helicopter


Simple to build, easy to fly, faster than helicopters and arguably safer than anything else in the sky: gyroplanes are a long-overlooked segment of the personal aviation industry, but as innovators like Sportcopter bring the entry price down to family car levels, these fun little aircraft are finally starting to get some of the popularity they deserve. Sportcopter's highly anticipated Super Sport 2-seater is currently undergoing flight testing - and with its 2.5 litre Subaru engine producing 190hp and propelling the agile little gyroplane to well over 100mph, it should be a real winner.

Gyroplanes, although they’ve been around since the early 1920s, are some of the best kept secrets in the affordable aviation game. These fun little devices use an unpowered, free-spinning top rotor and a simple thrust propeller to deliver a flying experience that's somewhere in between a plane and a helicopter.

Powering the gyroplane forward using the front or rear-mounted thrust propeller causes air to flow over the top rotor, which begins spinning and develops enough lift to get the vehicle airborne. This doesn't take a long runway - as little as 40 feet is needed to develop enough upward lift to get off the ground, and it's possible using aftermarket kits to perform jump-style takeoffs with no ground roll at all.

Gyroplanes can cruise at roughly the speed of a helicopter, or float along so slowly you'd nearly call it hovering. The powered top rotors of helicopters cause a torque reaction that necessitates the use of a sideways-mounted tail rotor to control rotation – which makes them mechanically complicated, expensive and quite tricky to fly. The gyroplane's design is so simple that you can buy one for less than the cost of a touring motorcycle, build it and maintain it yourself.

Perhaps the key to the growing popularity of this segment, though, is the fact that gyrocopters are incredibly safe. Because all lift is provided by a top rotor that's completely unpowered, engine failure or running out of fuel simply results in a pretty much normal landing. The free-spinning rotor is far more effective than a parachute in ensuring a slow and safe descent.

The Sportcopter Super Sport is a roomy, weatherproof, fully enclosed twin-seater with space behind the seats for cargo. Each seat has a full set of controls and instrumentation, making it an ideal training craft. As it's significantly heavier than Sportcopter's earlier Vortex and Lightning models, it's been fitted with a long-travel suspension kit for soft and cushy landings, even in rougher fields.

A range of between 300 and 400 miles from a 30 gallon tank full of ordinary 87 octane unleaded makes the Super Sport a good day tripper, and it should be good for thrills as well with a top speed in excess of 100mph.

Future designs in the works at Sportcopter include a larger 4-seat gyroplane with retractable landing gear, and an extra-quick, super sleek speedster dubbed the "velocity" featuring a nose-mounted prop and either two or four seats.

The gyroplane concept is perhaps the best type of simple aircraft to look at converting for a combination of highway and skyway use – like Larry Neal has done with his road-registered flying motorcycle kit. All you need to really do is drive the rear wheels and find some way to keep the main rotor out of the way, and you've got yourself a vehicle you can fly, drive and park in a garage. We'd love to see Sportcopter start experimenting with this angle on future models; quite apart from our obsession with flying cars, a simple version would mean a huge boost in convenience for hobby aviationists, who could drive it slowly to the airstrip and eliminate hangar and transport charges from their cost of ownership.

Sportcopter will release details on pricing and availablility as soon as it comes to hand; meanwhile, they're building up a global distribution network, and are interested in talking to potential dealerships around the U.S. and the world.

BATMAV System with AeroVironment's Wasp III Micro Air Vehicle achieves full rate production


The United States Air Force BATMAV (Battlefield Air Targeting Micro Air Vehicle) program with AeroVironment's Wasp III Micro Air Vehicle has received approval for Full Rate Production. The Wasp is a small, portable, reliable, and rugged unmanned aerial platform designed for front-line day/night reconnaissance and surveillance.

The result of a multi-year joint development effort between AeroVironment and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Wasp is 16 inches (38 cm) long, has a of wingspan of 29 inches (72 cm), weighs just 430 grams (around one pound), can be controlled manually or programmed for GPS-based autonomous navigation and can carry interchangeable targeting payload modules including an infrared camera, along with two integrated color cameras that transmit streaming video directly to the hand-held ground controller.

The hand-launched Wasp III has a 5 km range (Line-of-Sight), operates continuously for approximately 45 minutes at 40-65 km/h and to altitudes of 1,000 ft (300 m). There is also a water landing version in development.

For system interoperability, Wasp uses the same advanced technology found in other AeroVironment small UAS systems, such as Raven RQ11-B, Swift and Puma - which recently set a 7 hour flight record for fuel cell powered MAVs - and is controllable through a common Ground Control Station.

The BATMAV program milestone comes less than a year after the US Air Force selected AV's Wasp III as the MAV for the Program in December 2006.

"Achieving full rate production in just 11 months from contract award reflects our team's efforts, working closely with our customers, to satisfy program requirements quickly and efficiently," said John Grabowsky, executive vice president and general manager, AV Unmanned Aircraft Systems. "The rapid achievement of full rate production means that we can now produce our Wasp III systems in higher volumes so that our customers can deploy them to the front-line units who need them.".

In November 2007 the U.S. Marine Corps awarded AV a $19.3 million contract for Wasp III MAV systems. The Marines plan to deploy Wasp at the Platoon level and use it as a complement to their Raven small UAS systems, which they currently deploy at the company and battalion levels.

Boeing KC-767 refuels an F-15E in night conditions


January 31, 2008 The Boeing KC-767 tanker aircraft has successfully transferred fuel to an F-15E at night – a world first manoeuvre for that model. Transferring fuel through a boom, via the remote vision system, and during night-time conditions, will significantly reduce risk for future tanker customers like the U.S. Air Force

SpaceShipTwo heading for 2008 test flight


The era of private space travel is another step closer to reality with Virgin Galactic revealing designs for the craft set to become the flagship of the world's first spaceline. Based on SpaceShipOne, which claimed the $10 million Ansari X Prize in October 2004 by successfully becoming the first private manned spacecraft to exceed an altitude of 328,000 feet twice within the span of a 14 day period, SpaceShipTwo and its carrier aircraft WhiteKnightTwo are now approaching completion at Scaled Composites in Mojave, California, with flight testing set to get underway towards the middle of this year.

Designed as an environmentally benign space launch system, SpaceShipTwo is the world’s largest, all carbon composite aircraft and will be capable of carrying eight astronauts or other payloads into sub-orbital space flight. In order to achieve its environmental goals, Virgin is working with Pratt and Whitney - manufacturers of the PW308A engines which power the WK2 launch aircraft - to develop a bio-fuel solution for the system.

“Virgin Galactic produced a demanding output specification for the world’s first private human and payload space launch system. This required us to produce a safe but flexible design capable of multiple applications in new market sectors. I am confident that these vehicles, now in an advanced stage of construction, will achieve just that", said Burt Rutan, CEO of Scaled Composites.

The jointly owned Virgin/Scaled aerospace production company (announced in 2005 by Virgin Founder Sir Richard Branson and Burt Rutan) owns the designs of the new SpaceShipTwo and White Knight Two launch systems and licenses technology from Paul Allen's Mojave Aerospace company.

Virgin Galactic reports that there are now over 200 individuals signed up to be among the first non-professional astronauts to fly aboard the history making service, plus around 85,000 registrations of interest. This represents a deposit base exceeding $30m and more than $45m of future income to the fledgling spaceline. Eighty of SpaceShipTwo’s first passengers have already been through medical assessment and centrifuge training at the NASTAR facility in Philadelphia. Although there are no fixed deadlines for the first launch, it could be as early as 2009.

In addition to the unveil of the space launch system, a model of the final design for Spaceport America was put on public display for the first time. Situated in Sierra County, New Mexico the $200m spaceport is to be designed by architectural firm Foster and Partners.The world first private spaceport will be designed to relate to the dimensions of the spacecraft and blend with its desert surroundings with a combination of geo-thermal, solar and wind power used to create a very low carbon footprint. Visitors and astronauts enter the low-lying building via a deep channel cut into the landscape with the retaining walls forming an exhibition space that documents the history of the region and its settlers, alongside a history of space exploration. Virgin Galactic is also looking at the opportunities of operating from other locations worldwide including operating from Spaceport Sweden.

Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod gets two-way video data link


Lockheed Martin has integrated a prototype two-way video data link into the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod, providing it with roughly twice the data range of any other fielded targeting pod. The VDL, which provides forward deployed troops with the Sniper ATP’s real-time full resolution streaming video, was successfully demonstrated at the US Air Force Sniper user’s conference.

In addition to providing troops with video, the VDL allows pilots to receive and view uplinked tactical video, and annotated images, on their cockpit displays. It uses the Rover, a ground receiving station, and is fully integrated with Falcon View, a software application that operates with the Rover.

“The imagery is recognized as critical to performing the missions,” said Byron Simpson, technical director of the Sniper ATP program. “The two-way VDL significantly improves communications between ground and air, allowing more accurate and successful missions.”

Lockheed Martin is contracted to provide up to 522 ATPs for the Air Force and National Guard. In addition to having a much lower aerodynamic drag than its predecessors, the Sniper ATP has 3-5 times better detection range. It uses a combination of FLIR and CCD to provide high quality, stable, continuous vision during day and night. The pod is 239cm long, 30cm wide, and weighs 199kg.

The Sniper is the only ATP providing critical VDL digital metadata to the ground user today, giving it an unrivaled aerial advantage on the battlefield. Its modular design allows it to be configured on the flightline for different mission needs, and allows the VDL pod to support the L, S, C, or Ku frequency bands when the two-way system is fielded. The addition of the two-way production capability is planned for 2008.

The Sniper ATP is being used in Iraq on F-15Es and F-16s, and is currently being integrated on the B-1. It uses advanced, stabilized targeting technology to generate precision coordinates for GPS aided weapons, and to guide laser-guided precision-guided munitions. Its long-range target detection and identification surveillance system is allowing aircrews to spot IEDs, weapon caches and armed individuals beyond audible detection for the first time. It features high-resolution, mid-wave third-generation forward-looking infrared and an eye-safe laser with a charge-coupled device television, a laser spot tracker and a laser marker. The imagery, and JDAM-quality coordinates, also keep aircrews out of threat air defense ranges.

"Sniper's superior stability, combined with advanced image processing algorithms, provides unequaled target detection and identification, and maximizes standoff range for our aircrews," stated Mike Donovan, vice president, Fire Control and Sensors. Equally important, Donovan emphasized Sniper's low life-cycle cost and outstanding reliability. "Sniper's modular design ensures true two-level maintenance, eliminates intermediate level support, reduces manpower, and minimizes maintenance training requirements. All of this has the dual effects of reducing support costs and streamlining flightline procedures for the crew-chiefs and avionics technicians."

Cessna SkyCatcher prototype nears completion


The Cessna SkyCatcher, which has been attracting a steady stream of attention since the program was officially launched last year, will have a prototype ready to fly in the coming months.

Designed for the sport flying and training market, the Model 162 SkyCatcher is an all-metal, twin-seater monoplane with a single engine that packs 100-horsepower. The high-wing craft can travel at 118 knots to a maximum altitude of 15,500 feet and will have a maximum range of 470 nautical miles. Other key design specs include a maximum gross weight of 1,320 pounds, a useful load of 490 pounds and 24 gallons of usable fuel. Two top-hinged cabin entry doors and forward pivoting seats give access to a 12.5 cubic-foot baggage compartment and the plane will have tricycle landing gear with a castering nose wheel and standard dual toe-actuated disc brakes.

The aircraft will feature a Garmin G300 avionics system with information presented in a single, split-screen primary flight display (PFD) or as two full-screen displays with an optional second screen. The aircraft will be capable of day and night, visual flight rules operations.

Cessna's engineering team is building three airframes: prototype, first production and a test article for American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) compliance work. The aluminum aircraft will meet the ASTM standard for F2245 light sport aircraft, and be priced at around US$100 000.

Cessna engineers have tested and tweaked the proof of concept aircraft for nearly a year, and have recently evaluated its engine cooling and propeller pitch settings. Cessna is currently selecting vendors for SkyCatcher’s optional equipment.

AeroVironment's hybrid fuel cell UAV sets flight record


AeroVironment (AV) has achieved a new long-duration flight record with its hand-launched Puma small unmanned air vehicle (SUAV). The fuel cell hybrid-powered Puma flew for over nine-hours eclipsing the previous record of seven hours set by the same craft in July 2007.

Demonstrating its low-altitude reconnaissance capabilities, the lightweight (12.5 pound) Puma relayed a streaming video feed via its two-camera payload system during the flight.

The nine-hour milestone using the onboard fuel cell battery hybrid energy storage system is also more than triple what the Puma can achieve when running on battery power only. The Pulse™ UAV fuel cell system from AV research partner Protonex Technology Corporation recharges the battery and delivers steady-state power for the plane and payload during cruise flight and a lithium ion battery to provides peak power during takeoff and dash maneuvers .

This test flight is part of in AV’s Phase II small business innovation research (SBIR) contract with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for the development of advanced energy storage and propulsion technologies for unmanned aircraft.

“We are delighted with the performance of AV’s fuel cell hybrid-powered Puma,” said 1st Lt. Don Erickson of the Air Force Research Laboratory. “The joint AFRL, AV and Protonex team has done an outstanding job expanding the flight envelope of Puma through this research program. The successful extended duration capability demonstrated through this program has the potential to expand the utility of hand-launched UAS to address a variety of missions performed by operational units around the world.”

Providing a line-of-sight range up to 10 kilometers, Puma is the largest of AV’s portfolio of small unmanned aircraft systems - Raven, Dragon Eye, Pointer, Swift, Puma, and Wasp - all of which are designed for simple deployment and one-person launching and operation. Measuring just under 6 feet long with a wingspan of 8.5 feet, Puma operates at an altitude of between 100 and 500 ft and flies at speeds of 25–50 kmh. Raven and Wasp, Puma all share the same ground control system and are capable of autonomous flight and GPS navigation.

The Lynx: new player enters space-tourism race


March 28, 2008 Back in 2001 Californian millionaire Denis Tito made headlines as the worlds' first space tourist - shelling out around US$20 million for the privilege. Seven years on, the competition to offer such an out-of-this-world experience to a broader range of paying customers (and capitalize on what is expected to become a market worth hundreds of millions of dollars over the next decade) is heating up. Earlier this year fledgling spaceline Virgin Galactic revealed designs for what will become its flagship -SpaceShipTwo, now Californian based XCOR Aerospace has unveiled a two-seater suborbital spaceship the size of a small private plane that the company expects to have airborne in 2010.

Global Hawk UAV achieves record 33-hour flight


Northrop Grumman Corporation's RQ-4 Global Hawk has successfully completed a flight lasting 33.1 hours at altitudes up to 60,000. While the milestone does not match the 54 hour flight achieved by QinetiQ’s Zephyr in 2007, it is a record for a full-scale, operational unmanned aircraft - and there was still fuel left in the tank.

The March 22 flight, which took place over Edwards Air Force Base, California, overtakes both the official and unofficial world un-refueled endurance records for operational unmanned airplanes.

"It was a picture perfect flight, landing flawlessly on centerline with enough fuel remaining to continue for two more hours," said Jerry Madigan, Northrop Grumman vice president of high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) systems. "The pilots and ground crew, as well as Edwards Air Force Base senior leadership were very impressed with the Global Hawk's performance, meeting or exceeding every flight objective."

Guardian system protects commercial flights from terrorist missile threats


Being shot out of the sky with a surface-to-air missile might not be at the forefront of your mind when traveling on a commercial airliner, but with shoulder-mounted, infra-red anti-aircraft rockets selling for as little as US$5000 in trouble spots around the world, it's perhaps surprising that it's only happened a few dozen times in recent years. Once launched, such a missile travels at twice the speed of sound towards its target, so countermeasures must be automatic and instant - which brings us to Northrop Grumman's GUARDIAN system. This anonymous-looking pod provides 360-degree laser-based missile defense for commercial airliners for a total cost of around a dollar per passenger over the aircraft's service life.

According to the Federation of American Scientists, Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS, or shoulder mounted guided anti-aircraft missiles) have already caused as many as 1000 civilian deaths in the hands of terrorists around the world. Such weapons are easy and cheap to procure and can be set up and fired very quickly. Once fired, they follow the heat signature of an aircraft with a very effective infra-red guidance system, and a hit is almost certainly a kill, bringing the entire aircraft down.

The effective range of a MANPADS system is such that a commercial plane can be targeted and brought down from beneath the flight path up to 50 miles either side of an airport - meaning that airliners are exposed to considerable risk in hot zones around the world.

In order to effectively protect civilian aircraft against MANPADS attacks, US Defence contractor Northrop Grumman has developed a self-contained, autonomous and affordable missile defence unit that can bolt on beneath any airliner to automatically and reliably neutralize missile threats coming from any point on the ground.

The GUARDIAN system is based on Northrop Grumman's AN/AAQ-24 NEMESIS Directional Infrared Countermeasure system, which is considered the most advanced aircraft-mounted missile defence unit available, able to deal with the most recent guided missile threats.

Once attached to an airliner and activated, the GUARDIAN system constantly scans the airspace below the aircraft for threats. If one or more threats are detected, they are tracked until the system confirms that they are guided missiles. At this point, an eye-safe laser sends out a jamming signal that upsets the missile's infrared guidance system and turns the missile away from the airplane.

The NEMESIS and multi-band laser jamming technology behind the GUARDIAN system has endured extensive and highly successful testing, including over 100 successful live-fire missile engagements in combat operations aboard military aircraft from the USA, UK, Australia and Denmark.

Last week, Northrop Grumman announced that the GUARDIAN system was fully tested, FAA certified and ready to be deployed on airline fleets around the world. The system's entire life cycle, including installation, maintenance, removal and disposal costs a little under US$1 million per unit - but over the 20-year lifespan of the aircraft it protects, that comes down to around a dollar per passenger flown, or roughly the raw cost of a bag of nuts and a soda. Which would you prioritize?

First manned fuel-cell flight


Boeing has added another chapter to aviation history by flying a manned airplane powered by hydrogen fuel cells (preview article here). The milestone is the work of Boeing Research & Technology Europe (BR&TE is part of the legendary Phantom Works advanced R&D unit) in Madrid, working with a raft of industry partners across the world. A two-seat Dimona motor-glider with a 16.3 meter (53.5 foot) wingspan was used as the airframe .

"Boeing is actively working to develop new technologies for environmentally progressive aerospace products," said Francisco Escarti, BR&TE's managing director. "We are proud of our pioneering work during the past five years on the Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane project. It is a tangible example of how we are exploring future leaps in environmental performance, as well as a credit to the talents and innovative spirit of our team."

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts hydrogen directly into electricity and heat with none of the products of combustion such as carbon dioxide. Other than heat, water is its only exhaust.

A two-seat Dimona motor-glider with a 16.3 meter (53.5 foot) wingspan was used as the airframe. Built by Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria, it was modified by BR&TE to include a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid system to power an electric motor coupled to a conventional propeller.

Three test flights took place in February and March at the airfield in Ocaña, south of Madrid, operated by the Spanish company SENASA.

During the flights, the pilot of the experimental airplane climbed to an altitude of 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) above sea level using a combination of battery power and power generated by hydrogen fuel cells. Then, after reaching the cruise altitude and disconnecting the batteries, the pilot flew straight and level at a cruising speed of 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) for approximately 20 minutes on power solely generated by the fuel cells.

According to Boeing researchers, PEM fuel cell technology potentially could power small manned and unmanned air vehicles. Over the longer term, solid oxide fuel cells could be applied to secondary power-generating systems, such as auxiliary power units for large commercial airplanes. Boeing does not envision that fuel cells will ever provide primary power for large passenger airplanes, but the company will continue to investigate their potential, as well as other sustainable alternative fuel and energy sources that improve environmental performance.

BR&TE, part of the Boeing Phantom Works advanced R&D unit, has worked closely with Boeing Commercial Airplanes and a network of partners since 2003 to design, assemble and fly the experimental craft.

The group of companies, universities and institutions participating in this project includes:

* Austria -- Diamond Aircraft Industries * France -- SAFT France * Germany -- Gore and MT Propeller * Spain -- Adventia, Aerlyper, Air Liquide Spain, Indra, Ingeniería de Instrumentación y Control (IIC), Inventia, SENASA, Swagelok, Técnicas Aeronauticas de Madrid (TAM), Tecnobit, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and the Regional Government of Madrid * United Kingdom -- Intelligent Energy * United States -- UQM Technologies

Aeroscraft ML866 Milestone


A spectacular new type of aircraft is one step closer to take-off with the announcement that the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accepted the type certification application for the Aeroscraft model Aeros ML866.

Described as a new paradigm in air transport, the 64 meter (210 ft) long, 36 meter (118 ft) wide ML866 is a a buoyancy assisted air vehicle with a rigid structure that generates lift through a combination of aerodynamics, thrust vectoring and gas buoyancy. Along with a range of more than 3000 miles and a top speed of 138mph, it boasts some unique properties for a craft of its size including the ability to hover, take-off and land vertically, complete autonomy from airports, not to mention incredible aerial views.

The mammoth 5000ft square cabin area also opens up a range of possible applications for the aircraft, from cargo transport and mining to use as a luxurious private sky yacht or a fully functional conference center.

“The Aeroscraft will be type certified as a new type of aircraft. This is a monumental step forward in the aerospace industry. It is a new dimension of flight – an aircraft that utilizes adjustable buoyant and dynamic lift, creating unique capabilities beyond what is available from any other air platform today,” said Aeros president and CEO Igor Pasternak. “This is a significant milestone in an overall Aeroscraft development program. I am absolutely confident in the project’s successful completion.”

Final assembly begins on P-8A Poseidon anti-sub plane


Boeing has begun final assembly of the first P-8A Poseidon, the long-range anti-submarine plane that will replace the P-3 Orion. The US Navy plans to purchase 108 P-8As, and initial operational capability is scheduled to begin in 2013. The P-8A will have anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Spirit AeroSystems delivered the P-8A fuselage to Boeing, where it was fitted with wires, tubing, and other small parts, on Boeing’s new, more efficient assembly production line. The wings will be joined to the body later this year.

"The Navy expects us to meet each and every commitment, and achieving this milestone demonstrates that the P-8A team is up to the task, "said Bob Feldmann, Boeing vice president and P-8A program manager. "Our Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Spirit AeroSystems teammates deserve credit for their outstanding performance and teamwork in building the wings and fuselage for the first test aircraft."

The P-8A is being built by a Boeing-led team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems and GE Aviation. Delivery of the first test aircraft to the Navy, and first flight, is scheduled for 2009.

Embraer completes assembly of US$6.65 million Phenom 300 jet


Brazilian Aircraft manufacturer Embraer has finished assembling its first Phenom 300 light-jet. The US$6.65 million plane expected to enter service in the second half of 2009 following a planned series of tests before its first flight.

Final assembly of the Phenom 300 jet has begun at the Gavião Peixoto plant in São Paulo, where the test campaign will take place. The first metal cut of the Phenom 300 occurred in March 2007, with wings and engines installed in February this year, and the first electrical poweron occurring in March.

The Phenom 300 is designed for short-field takeoffs, and sports two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW535E engines, each with 3,200 pounds of thrust. The aircraft can fly at 45,000 feet, at a maximum speed of Mach 0.78, and at a range of 1,800 nautical miles with six passengers and can accommodate up to a total of nine occupants. This translates to luxurious non-stop flights from London to Iceland, the Azores, Cairo, Tel Aviv or Moscow.

The aircraft features a standard anti-skid brake-by-wire system and the Prodigy flight deck, based on Garmin's fully-integrated avionics suite, features three interchangeable 12-inch, high definition displays – two Primary Flight Displays, and one Multi-Function Display – that provide primary flight data, navigation, communication, terrain, traffic, weather, engine instrumentation, and crew-alerting system data in brilliant, sunlight-readable color. The pilot-friendly cockpit and the docile flying qualities of the new aircraft will enable single pilot operation.

The Phenom 300 has a 76-cubic-foot baggage capacity, and the most ample cabin space with an interior designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA which includes a wardrobe or refreshment center, a private lavatory, and satellite communications.

“We are thrilled to see the Phenom 300 become a reality,” said Luís Carlos Affonso, Embraer Executive Vice President, Executive Jets. “The Phenom 300, with its premium comfort, best-in-class performance and low operating cost, will set a new standard for the Light Jet category.”

Next-generation Sky Warrior unmanned aircraft takes flight


General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GAASI) has announced the successful flight of the first Sky Warrior® Block 1 aircraft for the U.S. Army’s Extended Range/Multi-Purpose (ER/MP) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) program. Derived from the Predator UAV which has been deployed in Iraq, but with double the weapons capacity, the Sky Warrior is a multi-mission aircraft designed to perform long-endurance, surveillance, communications relay and tactical strike missions. It offers increased range, greater payload flexibility (including the ability to carry four Hellfire missiles) and can remain airborne for 30 hours at a time at altitudes above 25,000 feet.

The flight took place on March 31 from General Atomics' El Mirage Flight Operations Facility in Adelanto, California and is another milestone in the $1 billion ER/MP UAS Program for which the General Atomics Warrior UAV was selected in August 2005. When complete, the Program aims will see 17 Sky Warrior aircraft and seven One System Ground Control Stations (OSGCS) operational.

“Army tactical commanders at the division level and below are now one step closer to having the RSTA [Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition] information they need to offer increased protection to their troops on the ground,” said Thomas J. Cassidy, Jr., president, Aircraft Systems Group, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. “This milestone event was a collaborative effort between GA-ASI and our PM-UAS customer. Jointly, this team planned and executed a methodical approach to first flight success.”

Key attributes of the C-130 transportable Sky Warrior include a heavy-fuel engine that can burn jet or diesel fuel with greater horsepower and reduced maintenance costs, triple redundant avionics, redundant flight controls and dual-redundant automatic takeoff and landing, over-the-horizon satellite communications and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payloads.

The Sky Warrior Block 0 aircraft was first flown in June 2007.

DARPA advances plans for five year non-stop flying machine


The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected Aurora Flight Sciences, Boeing and Lockheed Martin as the contractors for the first phase of its Vulture program - a project which aims to design and develop a new breed of solar-powered unmanned aircraft that can remain airborne without interruption for an incredible five years.

The objective of DARPA's Vulture program is to develop a fixed-wing aircraft with pseudo-satellite capability that can sustain uninterrupted flight for over five years at 60,000-90,000 feet with a 1,000lb (450kg) payload, 5kW of onboard power and perform intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and communication missions while remaining in the required mission airspace 99 percent of the time.

The initial 12-month analytical phase of the program will see the exploration of various vehicle configurations, concluding with a concept design review of sub-scale and full-scale demonstration vehicles. Key technologies to be investigated include innovative in-flight energy collection and reliable propulsion systems using photovoltaic cells and high specific energy fuel cells.

Boeing is teaming with United Kingdom-based QinetiQ Ltd. for the program, which will leverage technologies from the Zephyr solar-powered, high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial system currently funder development the for the U.K. Ministry of Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Currently the only systems capable of providing multiple years of coverage over a fixed area are geosynchronous satellites orbiting 22,233 miles above Earth. "Such a 'pseudo-satellite' system, like Vulture, could provide compelling operational advantages in terms of persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and communications," said Pat O'Neil, program manager, Boeing High Altitude Long Endurance Systems.

Called “Odysseus”, Aurora’s concept is designed to fly in the stratosphere and uses solar power with energy stored on-board to facilitate flight at night. We're yet to see exactly what Odyssey will look like, but Aurora also foresees a broad range of potential applications once Odysseus has been proven including global climate change research, weather monitoring, and regional-scale telecommunications.

Aurora is already involved in several radical high-altitude flight programs including the MarsFlyer (pictured), an designed to take to the Martian atmosphere, the GoldenEye ducted fan UAV http://www.gizmag.com/go/6567/ and the Orion HALL (High Altitude, Long Loiter), a liquid hydrogen fueled high altitude platform designed to remain aloft for four days at altitudes up to 65,000 feet and perform military surveillance, meteorological observations and disaster response missions.

Aurora’s teammates on the Odysseus program include BAE Systems, C.S. Draper Laboratories, and Sierra Nevada Corporation. BAE will focus on payloads, sensors, and concept of operations and employment. Draper Labs will develop the extremely high reliability electronics and control systems necessary to achieve such very long flights. Sierra Nevada Corporation is a specialist in autonomous refueling systems.

Phase two of the Vulture program will see DARPA contractors will refine the demonstrator designs, continue technology development and conduct an uninterrupted three-month flight test of a sub-scale demonstrator. The third and final phase of the program will result in a full-scale demonstrator vehicle with the ability to operate continuously for 12 months.

Beijing's gargantuan Capital International Airport


Tourists won’t have to travel far after arrival to experience China’s latest superstructure. Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital International Airport became fully operational on March 26 following a four-week trial period, becoming the largest airport terminal complex built in a single phase. The US$3.5 billion expansion commenced in March 2004.

The terminal is 986,000 square meters in size, and could absorb all five of Heathrow’s terminals with 17% left to spare. The airport, which has experienced double digit growth of passengers since 2003, currently handles 48 million passengers a year and operates around 1100 flights a day - a figure expected to rise to more than 1500 during the Olympics later this year.

The construction of Terminal 3 required 64 million cubic feet of concrete, 500,000 tons of steel, and 447 lifts, escalators and automatic passenger belts. The seven-floor structure has two floors underground, 72 food stores, a 12,600 square meter domestic retail area, a 10,600 square meter duty-free store area, and a 7,000 square meter convenience service area.

The Terminal's "dragon-like form" was designed by Foster and Partners, the company responsible for the even more massive Crystal Island, and consists of terminals T3C, T3D and T3E, which are arranged in a long, curved Y formation. An automated people mover travels between the terminals at speeds of up to 80kph, with a journey time of two minutes. The US$240 million luggage-transfer system offers a much cooler connection between terminals, shunting bags through its underground rollercoaster at speeds of up to 10 meters per second. Baggage is placed in yellow carts, which are tagged with barcodes that can track the individual progress of your luggage. The luggage system can handle 19,200 pieces of luggage per hour, and is monitored by over 200 cameras, eliminating blind spots. The streamlined process allows passengers to retrieve their luggage within 4.5 minutes of the airplane unloading.

The Terminal incorporates an indoor garden and uses natural lighting wherever possible – light angles can also be adjusted to ensure optimum lighting conditions. The ceiling is light orange in the center, and gradually changes color to provide directional clues for passengers. Together with the Ground Transportation Centre (GTC), the building encloses a floor area of approximately 1.3 million square meters, making it the first to break the one million square meter mark.

Vintage aircraft fest at Goodwood 2008


UK classic aircraft fans are in for a treat next month as more than 70 pre-1967 planes take to the skies at the 2008 Goodwood Aero Club Vintage Fly-In and Air Display.

Dogfighting World War I Sopwith and Fokker biplanes and tri planes and the Douglas DC-6A Cloud master which recently featured in the latest Bond film - Casino Royale - will be among the highlights of the event. Visitors will have the chance to fly in an historic aircraft including Goodwood’s own lovingly-restored Harvard.

Now in its third year, the show will take place over the May Bank Holiday weekend of Sunday 25 and Monday 26 May at the Goodwood Aerodrome which is located at the former RAF Westhampnett, a key Battle of Britain airfield in West Sussex.

Falx to debut hybrid-electric tilt-rotor aircraft with inbuilt solar charging


Tilt-rotor aircraft have been around since the 1950s, offering the vertical take-off, hovering and landing abilities of a helicopter with the range, high flight ceiling, speed and fuel economy of a turboprop aeroplane. Falx Air Vehicles are planning to push the fuel economy angle even further by using a hybrid-electric motor and inbuilt solar arrays. The company expects its upcoming compact single and double-seater tiltrotor aircraft to use as little as 10 litres of fuel per hour airborne, and the quiet electric operation should see these small, light and manoeverable aircraft make solid stealth vehicles for military uses. Though not yet confirmed, we may see a full-size prototype as early as the Farnsworth air show this year, and Falx is aiming to have the craft fully certified by the end of 2009.

Staffordshire, UK's Falx Air Vehicles yesterday released the final design overview of its hybrid-electric tilt-rotor aircraft platform, which it is looking to commercialize in the next 24 months. The platform can be configured as either a single seat personal vehicle or a two-seater for training or personal use. Using aerospace-certified composite materials, the single seater weighs in at only 350kg, with the twin-seat version weighing 405kg.

Falx claims the battery packs powering the Falx will be the latest fast-charge battery systems the USA has to offer, but no further details are available. The batteries will be charged both by inbuilt solar relays and through the use of a small 100hp combustion engine that drives a lightweight, brush-less generator. Noise and thermal image will thus be kept to a minimum, enhancing the craft's stealth abilities. The twin electric engines eliminate a lot of complex machinery in traditional tilt-wing craft, such as drive-shafts, hydraulics and gearboxes.

Its VTOL abilities will make the Falx platform able to access landing areas without the need for a runway; the tilting rotors simply face upward in takeoff, landing and hovering situations, and the craft acts like a twin-rotor helicopter. The electric motors develop around 240 horsepower at peak output in VTOL applications. Once airborne, the rotors slowly tilt forward, moving the craft's thrust to a horizontal plane and developing enough velocity for the wing to provide lift.

No information is yet available on the range, speed or flight ceiling of the Falx tilt-rotor craft, but tilt-rotors are well known for offering airspeed, range and flight ceilings much higher than comparable helicopters.

Falx is seeking investment in order to commercialize the platform, which it hopes to be fully certified and ready for the market by 2010. The company expects interest around police, military and paramedic circles but the platform also offers clear advantages to leisure aviators - a lot of large yacht owners will see the benefit of a long-range, highly fuel efficient aircraft that can operate off a helipad. In all, more than 52 variations of the design have been envisioned for support services and commercial applications.

Odysseus: Aurora's radical, unlimited endurance, solar powered aircraft


Aurora Flight Sciences has revealed the design of the aircraft it hopes will achieve the ambitious goals set out in DARPA's ambitious Vulture program: sustained uninterrupted flight for over five years at altitudes of 60,000-90,000 feet. Known as Odysseus, the solar-powered concept aircraft is as radical as the mission it is designed to accomplish, combining three self-sufficient “constituent aircraft” in a unique Z wing configuration that spans almost 500 feet (150 meters). The modular design provides several advantages - the shape of the aircraft can be adjusted to maximize the solar collection properties during the day and spread flat for aerodynamic efficiency at night-time, when energy stored in onboard batteries is used to drive the aircraft's electric motors. Because each of the constituent vehicles is capable of autonomously docking at altitude, the design also facilitates the replacement of one section of the plane whilst it is still aloft, meaning continuous flight can be maintained even if something goes awry.

Designed to fly in the stratosphere, Odysseus will be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, communications relay and environmental monitoring with the potential for roles in global climate change research and regional-scale telecommunications.

Each autonomous section of the plane has three high efficiency electric brushless motors turning Low Reynolds number propellers giving the aircraft the ability to cruise at 63 m/s during daytime and 45 m/s during nighttime and carry a payload of 500kg. The onboard batteries are designed to be recharged each day via double sided cells optimized for energy collection efficiency at high latitudes, and adding to the redundancy built in to the plane's architecture, Odysseus' electronics are adapted from spacecraft designs which have already proven their reliability in missions lasting several years.

One of three contractors recently chosen for the Vulture program (along with Boeing and Lockheed Martin), Aurora Flight Sciences will develop a half scale demonstrator followed by a full scale prototype aircraft in 5 years.

The company was formed in 1989 by the former head of the Daedalus Project, Dr. John S. Langford, and several colleagues from M.I.T. and Harvard. BAE Systems (sensors and concept of operations), C.S. Draper Laboratories (ultra-high-reliability electronic controls), and Sierra Nevada Corporation (the rendezvous and docking system) will also contribute to the Odysseus program.

Boeing begins assembly on third flight-test 787 Dreamliner


Boeing has begun assembly on the third flight-test airplane for the 787 Dreamliner. A total of 857 Dreamliners have been ordered since the plane was announced in 2003, making it the fastest-selling wide body airliner in history. The first airplane to fly is on track for "power on" in June.

The Dreamliner is the first aircraft to be 80% composite by volume, making it lighter and more efficient than competitors. The flight-test airplane was the fifth Dreamliner to be loaded into the first position of the 787 production system. The fatigue test airframe and the second flight-test airplane have advanced to the next production stage. After assembly is complete, the interior of the airplane will be fitted.

"We are receiving assemblies that are much more complete," said Jack Jones, vice president of 787 Final Assembly and Change Incorporation. "The second flight-test airplane had a 50 percent reduction in the amount of incomplete work as compared to the first airplane. 'Traveled work' on this airplane is 65 percent less than on the first." Jones stated that after the interior was installed, “we'll see the 787 in what is close to a final delivery configuration."

Straight from Q's laboratory - the Snakehead aerial camera


There may be no “right way” to film a movie, but when the camera work makes an audience more nauseous than the horror scenes, you might want to revisit the system. SpaceCam Systems has designed a movie camera rig called the Snakehead, which is billed as the first plane-mounted, gyroscopically stabilized, fully-articulated periscope for high-resolution aerial footage. The Snakehead allows pilots to fly as aggressively as the plane allows, while preserving a stable shot that doesn’t give viewers the same lurching feeling as a fixed camera.

Traditional aerial cinematography with a fixed periscope is hindered by the often-distracting changes of angle, which force pilots to temper their movement or risk shooting lurching footage. The Snakehead maintains a level horizon, allowing the plane to tilt and swoop as needed without affecting the integrity of the shot. The rig features a 360-degree remotely controlled spherical range of view, and is compatible with various movie and HD cameras.

Designed using SolidWorks 3D CAD software, the Snakehead allows for a 3Xplus zoom in two ranges for 35m film and HD video use, which corresponds to either an 18-60mm or 28-90mm zoom on a 35mm film or Panavision Genesis HD camera. Adaptors accommodate both the small format HD cameras and the Imax 65mm cameras, with computer modeling placing the resolution capability at 180-200 lines per millimeter. The optical unit uses electrical heaters and a continuous nitrogen purge system to prevent condensation in the optics.

The Snakehead has been installed on the nose and tail of an Aerostar 700, which has a top speed of 370 km/h, and installation on the nose of a Lockheed T-33 is underway. The SpaceCam Systems Snakehead debuted on the set of the new Bond movie “Quantum of Solace”, filming two planes engaged in an aerial dogfight.

The company's other blockbuster filming credits include the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Mission Impossible 2 & 3, King Kong and Titanic.

Boeing's 777 Freighter graduates from paint facility


The first Boeing 777 Freighter plane has left the paint facility in Everett, Washington, marking another step towards the scheduled launch of the plane into service late this year. The 777 Freighter is an all-cargo version of the 777-200LR Worldliner, which made Gizmag headlines in 2005 when it set the world long distance record.

The 777 Freighter will fly farther and provide more capacity than any other twin-engine cargo airplane. It will have a maximum takeoff weight of 347,450kg, a revenue payload capability of 103 metric tons, and will accommodate 27 standard pallets on the main deck. The lower cargo hold has the capacity to hold 10 pallets, as well as 17 cubic meters of additional bulk cargo.

The plane will be capable of flying 9,045km with a full payload and general cargo market densities, and will be powered by General Electric's GE90-110B1, the most powerful commercial jet engine.

Boeing will debut the 777 Freighter on May 21, at the Everett factory.

Hummingbird achieves 18 hour flight milestone


Gizmag first reported on Boeing’s A160T Hummingbird Unmanned Rotorcraft back in 2005 and again in 2007 when the craft made its first flight. Now the craft has come very close to achieving the original 20 hour flight times envisioned (and unofficially broken a world record for unmanned aerial vehicles along the way) by remaining in the air for 18.7 hours.

The unofficial endurance world record (the company has lodged an application to make it official) claimed by Boeing for the performance of its rotorcraft is for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) weighing between 1,102 and 5,511 pounds (500 to 2,500 kilograms). According to Boeing Advanced Systems’ A160T program manager, Jim Martin, the team didn’t set out to establish a world record, but it was a great accomplishment. “This 18-hour endurance flight is the culmination of thousands of hours of systems, ground and flight testing. The aircraft performed flawlessly, flying un-refueled longer than any other current unmanned rotorcraft,” he said. During the flight at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground in southwestern Arizona, the turbine-powered aircraft carried a 300-pound internal payload at altitudes up to 15,000 feet, landing with better than 90 minutes of fuel in reserve.

The A160T’s ability to operate autonomously for extremely long durations while carrying heavy payloads means it will be used for a variety of military applications. The aircraft used in the 18-hour test was one of the A160Ts Boeing is building for customers including the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the US Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate and US Naval Air Systems Command. The same aircraft also achieved another flight milestone this month by successfully completing hover-out-of-ground-effect (HOGE) demonstrations at altitudes of 15,000 and 20,000 feet. The HOGE demonstration flight lasted 2.9 hours, including hovering for more than seven minutes.

The A160T is an autonomous unmanned aircraft, measuring 35 feet long with a 36-foot rotor diameter. Eventually its designed aim for it to fly at more than 140 knots with a ceiling of 20,000 to 30,000 feet (high hover capability up to 15,000 feet) for more than 20 hours.

Boeing has submitted an application to the National Aeronautic Association, the U.S. sanctioning body for the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), to officially claim the world record. FAI establishes rules for the control and certification of world aeronautical and astronautical records.

Airborne Laser completes activation tests


Boeing and the US Missile Defense Agency completed the first laser activation testing for the Airborne Laser missile defense program. The ABL is a megawatt-class laser weapon system designed to autonomously detect, track and destroy all classes of ballistic missiles in their boost phase of flight. The tests involved circulating water through the laser to verify its integrity, before circulating chemicals through the laser to confirm sequencing and control.

The laser activation tests ensure that the ABL’s high-energy chemical laser has been properly integrated aboard the aircraft, and that it can produce enough power to destroy a missile. Following the success of the tests, ground firings of the laser can proceed, followed by an airborne intercept of a ballistic missile, scheduled to occur in 2009. The final plumbing and wiring installations will be completed in the coming weeks.

"ABL's weapon system integration team has done a great job preparing the high-energy laser for activation testing, which will ensure each laser subsystem is brought on line sequentially and safely," said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of Boeing Missile Defense Systems. "Laser installation and the start of laser activation move the program a giant step closer to ABL's missile shoot-down demonstration planned for 2009."

GULL 36 Seaplane UAV begins English Channel flights


UK based marine aircraft developer Warrior (Aero-Marine) has commenced flying its GULL 36 amphibious UAV over the English Channel. Demonstrating the company's wave-piercing stepless hull, the 4-meter wide craft is designed to cleave through choppy water, handle large waves and overcome strong winds and high tow.

“Both the hull and configuration contribute to the GULL working effectively in common sea conditions. The wave-piercing ability enables useful taxi speeds for surface operations and the GULL uses wave profiles to its advantage for take-off,” says Warrior CEO James Labouchere.

The amphibious capabilities of the GULL 36 also allow it to conduct surface work at high speed and give it an enhanced surveillance capacity, range and efficiency while reducing costs according to Warrior. Its applications include tracking and observation of surface and subsuface targets; and the insertion and extraction of smaller unmanned vessels.

The versatility of the craft's combined air and surface functionality mean it can handle operations that traditionally require a number of vessels with a sophisticated communications network and undertake work that neither VTOL or ramp-launched systems can tackle.

The GULL uses a towed-sled Launch and Recovery System named SledLARS, which can be cast off and retrieved from a parent vessel at high speed and on any point of wind. The SledLARS sysem can be launched from the beam or stern of a vessel, and automatically releases and recovers seaplane UAVs. This set-up also enables the UAV to work in conjunction with ships without taking up valuable space and resources on deck or interfering with the operation of other aircraft.

Warrior is developing the GULL and other platforms such as the manned Centaur amphibious flying boat for open market licensing or partnering with system providers in both commercial and defence applications.

ICON Aircraft unveils fold-up amphibious sports plane


A recurring theme at Gizmag in recent times has been the growing accessibility of the recreational sports aircraft, with manufacturers offering increasingly versatile and user-friendly designs combined with falling price points. Like the Cessna SkyCatcher, the ICON A5, which was officially unveiled last week in Los Angeles, is a case in point. Powered by a 100hp Rotax 912 ULS engine achieving an estimated maximum speed of 105 kts (120 mph) and a range of 300 nm, the amphibious, two-seat, composite carbon fiber plane features a sportscar inspired cockpit and retractable landing gear for flying off land and water, but the standout element is the folding wing design which allows the plane to be towed on the road like a speed boat and stored at home rather than paying for space at an airport

Falx Air unveils multi-purpose hybrid aircraft design


It's safe to say that there is a transport revolution underway. Driven by the need for cleaner, more efficient and more versatile vehicles, it's delivering an unprecedented number of radical and innovative designs for the road, sea, and for the air. The latest airborne example to come to our attention is this Hybrid Transport Aircraft design from Falx Air. In addition to being used as a standard light cargo platform, mid-air light re-fueling or surveillance aircraft, the Very Light Hybrid Transport (VLHT) can be adapted to carry six passengers, or four stretchers and two medical staff. Like the company's hybrid-electric tilt-rotor aircraft platform unveiled earlier this year, the design combines automotive hybrid electric technology with a fast charge battery system and solar cells to deliver exceptional fuel economy.

With a design that wouldn't look out of place in the space shuttle program, the rear-loading VLHT is made from aerospace certified composite materials, measures (34.5 feet long x 11.5 feet high (10.5m x 3.5m) with a wingspan of 33.8 feet (10.3 meters), weighs 800kg (dry weight) and can carry 650kg.

The basic performance specs released to date put its range at around 1430 miles (2300 km +40 min Res) with a top speed of just under 300mph (480kmh) and a cruise speed of 251 mph (405kmh) dropping to 68 mph (110kmh) before it stalls. Short take‐off and landing capabilities and the ability to use grass strips also add to its versatility.

The two small high torque internal combustion engines drive permanent magnet generators to generate electricity when in operation and the embedded photovoltaics enable slow charging of the batteries while the aircraft is on the ground, meaning the avionics packages can be run without using a fuel burning auxiliary power unit.

Falx puts the fuel consumption of the two engines at at 6.6 gallons (20 liters) per hour based on bench testing under load.

The avionics package includes a dual redundant flight system, custom ballistic recovery system fitted as standard and an air traffic monitoring system with a situation awareness display.

There's no definite time-frame yet from UK based Falx on when the design overview will move to the next phase of development but we will be watching with interest - stay tuned.

Boeing announces B-52 airborne electronic attack contract


Boeing has been awarded a $14.9 million contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to develop airborne electronic attack technologies that can be used over long distances.

The announcement will further the development of the proposed Core Component Jammer (CCJ) program, which plans to use the U.S. Air Force B-52H aircraft as the platform for long-range radar jamming capabilities.

"We look forward to maturing the planned CCJ technology, which will keep our warfighters safer as they complete missions in the air and on the ground," said Scot Oathout, director of B-52 Programs for Boeing. "This is the first step in getting this capability fielded, and the B-52H is the right platform to mature this technology."

The multi-mission B-52H is the only platform in the Air Force inventory that accommodates all necessary attributes for jamming electronic attacks while delivering its full complement of weapons, including responsiveness, range, loiter time, size and power.

Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems will contribute electronic-attack expertise to the project which is expected to deliver in-flight, stand-off jamming demonstrations on the B-52 in 2011-2012.

Evergreen Supertanker: the world's largest firefighting aircraft


Evergreen's 747-based Supertanker: the largest firefighting aircraft in the world.

As global temperatures slowly increase, a number of nations, including the USA, are finding themselves battling widespread droughts and huge, devastating wildfires that threaten properties, lives, infrastructure and ecosystems alike. Whatever the causes, new tools are clearly required to help subdue the massive bushfires that have destroyed an area the size of Oregon over the last 18 years. Aerial fire suppressant drops are sometimes the only way to effectively fight huge firefronts, and Evergreen's new Boeing 747-based Supertanker promises to be the daddy of them all, carrying seven times more drop capacity than most dedicated firefighting aircraft. Evergreen expect the Supertanker to be a quicker, cheaper, safer and more effective aerial firefighting tool than anything else on the market - and its 747 base platform gives it the ability to operate throughout the USA and around the world wherever it's needed.

Geared Turbofan engine cuts emissions and running costs


Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan demonstrator engine has been cleared for flight-testing. By incorporating a gearbox system into the engine, aircraft can achieve a 12% reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions, a 50% reduction in NOx emissions, and a 50% reduction in engine noise. The GTF engine has been chosen by Mitsubishi to power the company’s Regional Jet (scheduled to enter service in 2013), and the upcoming Bombardier CSeries.

In order to achieve optimal thrust, and maximum engine efficiency, the exhaust speed of jet engines needs to be synchronized with the flying speed of the aircraft. Traditionally, engines use turbines to siphon the excess power from the exhaust and power a propeller. The Geared Turbofan, however, uses a gearbox, not a low pressure turbine, to power a fan. This allows the fan, low pressure compressor, and turbine to operate at different speeds. By incorporating an extra layer of complexity into engine design, the gearbox allows far more efficient regulation of fan speed, resulting in decreased fuel use and noise.

The Geared Turbofan has a fan tip diameter of 56-78-inches, a bypass ratio of 8-12, and provides a takeoff thrust of 15,000-30,000 pounds. Pratt & Whitney estimate that the increased efficiency will translate to savings of $1.5 million per aircraft, per year.

“The double-digit reductions in fuel burn, engine noise, environmental emissions and operating costs we’ve targeted make the Geared Turbofan engine the best solution for the next generation of commercial aircraft.”

Celebrating the Spitfire


The Supermarine Spitfire is a WWII icon – a testament to Allied engineering and innovation during one of the most important periods of aviation history. Bonham and Goodman is celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Spitfire becoming operational by offering a 1945 Supermarine Spitfire MK XVI at their inaugural sale of Collector’s Motor Cars and Aircraft, in New Zealand on September 14. There are roughly 44 airworthy Spitfires in existence today, and it’s rare indeed for the general public to be given the opportunity to purchase such an important piece of history.

The story of the Spitfire begins with the story of Reginald Joseph Mitchell, an aeronautical engineer with Supermarine Aviation Works. Famous for his industrious work ethic and no-nonsense demeanor, (he was once heard to remark “If anybody ever tells you anything about an aeroplane which is so bloody complicated you can't understand it, take it from me: it's all balls.”), Mitchell designed 24 different aircraft between 1920 and 1936. Without his furious output during the Great Depression, it’s likely that Supermarine, and the Spitfire, would not have taken such a prominent role in the aerial dogfights of WWII. The Spitfire was originally designed as the Supermarine Type 300 fighter, a private venture design the company was kicking around in 1934. The plane impressed the Air Ministry, which solicited it in 1935, and gave it the snappier name of “Spitfire”, after the irascible daughter of Vickers-Armstrong director Sir Robert MacLean. The name could just as easily have referred to its designer, Mitchell, who in typical fashion commented that it was “just the sort of bloody silly name they would choose.”

It’s something of a tragedy that Mitchell died from cancer in 1937, before the Spitfire earned its legacy in the Battle of Britain. While the Hawker Hurricane originally outnumbered the Spitfire, the latter was the only Allied fighter produced from the outbreak of war to its conclusion. The success of the model was due to Mitchell’s unique design choices, including the distinctive curved wings. Elliptical wing designs provided a low thickness-to-chord ratio, as well as allowing a retractable undercarriage and an increased number of mounted weapons. By 1935, the design held four .303 Brownings on each wing, double the original estimate. The iconic wing structure was also a result of improving engine technology. It was originally designed to be used as a condenser tank for Merlin engines, but as they switched to all-liquid systems it became unnecessary, leaving the Spitfire with an extremely strong but hollow wing structure. The Spitfire was one of the first aircraft to use a monocoque fuselage, giving it an interior unobstructed by bracing struts and wires. This advantage made it useful as a surveillance craft in the 1950s, as cameras could be incorporated into the empty space.

The Spitfire caught national attention facing off against its German doppelganger, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, in the Battle of Britain. The Bf 109 also featured a monocoque fuselage, but its priority on performance over safety and stability gave the edge to the Spitfire. While the Bf 109 could accomplish greater aerial feats, the pilots were often reluctant to push the plane to its limits, due to the lack of a warning system. Despite the slight differences, the planes had similar capabilities when it came to speed and manoeuvrability. Still, despite mounting a larger bombing campaign than any before it, the Germans were unable to best the Spitfires and break the British air defense in what is called the first campaign to be fought entirely with air forces.

Given its history, it’s no surprise that Bonham and Goodman’s sale is generating interest amongst enthusiasts. Tim Goodman said, “We are greatly honoured to be asked to sell such a distinguished and historic aircraft. As Bonhams is the last of the great international fine art auction houses to remain under British management, the sale of an aircraft so linked to the history and very survival of Great Britain has enormous significance for us here at Bonhams and Goodman.”

If you don’t fancy your chances in the auction room, there are other recourses. The popularity of the Spitfire has created a replica industry that can provide plane buffs with the next best thing. Supermarine Aircraft has 80-90% scale Mk 26 Spitfires available for purchase. The planes arrive in kits and are suitable for first time pilots.