Aero Gizmo

SpaceShipTwo heading for 2008 test flight

By Noel McKeegan

22:08 February 3, 2008 PST

February 4, 2008 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. Flight testing set to get underway towards the middle of this year for what will be the world’s largest all carbon composite aircraft, capable of carrying eight astronauts or other payloads into sub-orbital space. Read More

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

By Kyle Sherer

00:39 January 31, 2008 PST

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. Read More

SpaceX conducts first mult-engine firing of Falcon 9 rocket

By Kyle Sherer

16:06 January 30, 2008 PST

January 31, 2008 Space Exploration Technologies Corp, or SpaceX, has conducted the first multi-engine firing of its Falcon 9 medium to heavy lift rocket at its Texas Test Facility outside McGregor. The Falcon 9 is the launch vehicle for the SpaceX Dragon, which will facilitate the delivery of cargo and up to seven people to and from the International Space Station. Read More

US Air Force assumes control of first Boeing WGS satellite

By Kyle Sherer

18:32 January 29, 2008 PST

January 30, 2008 Boeing has handed over control of the first of six Wideband Global SATCOM satellites to the US Air Force. WGS-1 is the Department of Defense's highest capacity communications satellite and the WGS line is to eventually replace the Defense Satellite Communications System constellation. Read More

Hammonds Omni-Directional Vehicle to assist in production of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner

By Loz Blain

19:40 January 28, 2008 PST

January 29, 2008 This UFO-shaped curiosity is the Hammonds Omni-Directional Vehicle (ODV), and its zero turning radius and freely rotating hitch promise a revolution in bulky materials handling. Originally shelved in the aftermath of 9/11, the ODV has finally gone into production, and Boeing have ordered four of these intriguing units to assist with production of their new 787 Dreamliner. Read More

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

By Noel McKeegan

21:31 January 8, 2008 PST

January 9, 2008 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 portable, 16 inche (38 cm) long, rugged unmanned aerial platform designed for front-line reconnaissance and surveillance. Read More

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

By Loz Blain

16:52 January 5, 2008 PST

January 6, 2008 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 is currently undergoing flight testing - a roomy, weatherproof, fully enclosed twin-seater with space for cargo and a full set of controls and instrumentation for each seat, making it an ideal training craft, the agile little gyroplane is powered by a 2.5 litre Subaru engine producing 190hp and propelling it to well over 100mph with a range of between 300 and 400 miles. Read More

Boeing wins Instrument Unit Avionics contract for Ares I launch vehicle

By Kyle Sherer

15:34 December 21, 2007 PST

December 22, 2007 The U.S. Vision for Space Exploration is an important step closer to being realized, with NASA awarding the Boeing Company a $265 million contract to produce the instrument unit avionics for the Ares I launch vehicle - a platform that will eventually be used for manned expeditions to the Moon and Mars. Read More

Successful mid air retrieval test for ARCTUS spacecraft program

By Darren Quick

14:25 December 20, 2007 PST

December 21, 2007 Commercial space services provider SPACEHAB has announced the success of a mid air retrieval demonstration test performed as part of its Advanced Research and Conventional Technology Utilization Spacecraft (ARCTUS) Program. ARCTUS represents a low-cost, low-risk Commercial Orbital Transportation Service (COTS) solution for cargo delivery to the International Space Station (ISS). The ARCTUS Program will support NASA’s requirement to fill the International Space Station (ISS) cargo supply gap between the space shuttle’s planned retirement in 2010 and the replacement Orion program scheduled to be operational in 2015. Read More

SpaceX prepares for Falcon 9/Dragon spacecraft demonstration

By Kyle Sherer

18:44 December 19, 2007 PST

December 20, 2007 SpaceX has completed the systems requirements review for the third Falcon 9/Dragon demonstration under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program. In addition to carrying payloads of up to 27,500 kilograms to low Earth orbit, the Falcon 9 is the launch vehicle for the SpaceX Dragon, which will facilitate the delivery of cargo and up to seven people to and from the International Space Station. Read More

Sky-high designs for a flying car

By Loz Blain

20:35 December 13, 2007 PST

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. Read More

Production begins on Boeing P-8A fuselage

By Kyle Sherer

21:33 December 12, 2007 PST

December 13, 2007 Boeing has started production on its P-8A Poseidon fuselage, the anti-submarine test plane that will replace the P-3 Orion. The first fuselage components were loaded into a holding fixture on the factory floor of the Spirit AeroSystems’ Wichita facility, in a ceremony that included U.S. Navy Personnel. Read More

Odyssey Moon completes Lunar X PRIZE registration

By Emily Clark

17:56 December 11, 2007 PST

December 12, 2007 Odyssey Moon has become the first team to complete registration for the Google Lunar X PRIZE, unveiling its plans for a history making private robotic mission to reach the surface of the Moon with a small robotic lander designed to deliver scientific, exploration and commercial payloads. Read More

PAM's Individual Lifting Vehicle: the dual-rotor flying carpet

By Loz Blain

03:56 December 7, 2007 PST

While most of us think of the personal flight revolution as something that will transform a-to-b transport and commuting in our everyday life, others are looking at ways to use existing technology for specific purposes that can go to market immediately. PAM group's Individual Lifting Vehicle (ILV) is an intuitive flying platform that's roughly as easy to pilot as a Segway, shifting your weight as you stand right above the twin propellers. It's not a distance traveler, more of a compact levitation device designed for crop spraying, aerial movie videography, search and rescue and other short-range, low-altitude applications. With a theoretical maximum speed of around 60mph, the ILV could be a very effective tool within its design parameters. Read More

Autonomous aerial refueling of UAVs demonstrated

By Noel McKeegan

21:01 December 4, 2007 PST

December 5, 2007 Recent flight tests by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory and Boeing have demonstrated that unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) are capable of autonomous rendezvous with a tanker aircraft for refueling. Given their limited in size and payload capacity compared to larger manned aircraft, the development promises to significantly increase the the flight-times and range of of UAVs. Read More

Classic military jet fighters up for sale

By Noel McKeegan

17:27 November 26, 2007 PST

November 27, 2007 Looking for a Christmas present for the aviation enthusiast who has everything? H&H Auctions has announced that it will offer eight jet-powered De Havilland Venoms and Vampires in a rare sale by tender. A Vampire fighter, two Vampire trainers and five Venom fighter/bombers in operating condition are available for purchase individually or as a collection along with enough spare parts and auxiliary equipment to fill four 40-foot containers. The Bournemouth based historic aircraft were acquired from the Swiss Air Force by aircraft and car enthusiast Don Wood and have performed at extensively at airshows throughout Europe under the title "Source Classic Jet Flight". Read More

Airbus A380 becomes the world’s largest private jet

By Noel McKeegan

21:29 November 15, 2007 PST

November 16, 2007 It’s designed to carry up to 800 passengers, but HRH Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal has his eye on one of his very own. Airbus has confirmed that the Saudi Prince has placed the first private order for the $300 million Airbus A380 superjumbo. Read More

Tandem high-flying airships reach up to 140,000ft

By Emily Clark

22:49 November 14, 2007 PST

November 15, 2007 JP Aerospace has developed a class of twin balloon, high altitude, low cost utility airships that will be the highest flying airships ever built. Designed for use in telecommunications, reconnaissance and even as rocket or UAV launch platforms, the Tandems fill the gap between free balloons and complex high altitude airships and are capable of flying to heights of 140,000ft. Read More

Reaper UAV takes flight in Afghanistan

By Noel McKeegan

22:11 November 11, 2007 PST

November 12, 2007 Britain's most sophisticated unmanned surveillance system, the Reaper UAV, has been deployed into active service in Afghanistan. Read More

BAE Systems to lead next-generation surveillance program

By Noel McKeegan

17:31 November 8, 2007 PST

November 9, 2007 BAE Systems will head-up the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Autonomous Real-Time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance Imaging System (ARGUS-IS) program after the company received an $18.5 million contract to develop a new class of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) technology. Read More

Boeing P-8A Poseidon to replace P-3 Orion

By Kyle Sherer

14:13 November 7, 2007 PST

November 8, 2007 Boeing will have five P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine test planes completed by March 2009, with full production expected to commence in 2013. One hundred and twenty nine feet long aircraft with a 117 foot wingspan, the long-awaited replacement for the P-3 Orion will be incorporated into the US Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Poseidon is a long-range anti-submarine plane like its predecessor, and will carry five torpedoes, four anti-ship missiles and two satellite guided bombs. Read More

New GPS satellite operational

By Noel McKeegan

15:01 November 5, 2007 PST

November 6, 2007 The fourth in a series of eight modernized Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites that will deliver new capabilities to military and civilian users has been declared fully operational. Launched from Cape Canaveral October 17 as part of the Global Positioning System Block IIR (GPS IIR-M), the new GPS IIR-17M satellite features increased signal power to receivers on the ground, two new military signals for improved accuracy, enhanced encryption and anti-jamming capabilities for the military, and a second signal that will provide civilian GPS users with an open access signal on a different frequency. Read More

Q-Sight lightweight helmet-mounted display

By Kyle Sherer

15:40 November 4, 2007 PST

November 5, 2007

BAE Systems has developed a new line of lightweight, modular and ergonomic helmet-mounted displays for rotary-wing pilots known as Q-Sight. The four-ounce model is highly integrated with existing gear, compatible with night-vision goggle, attachable to any helmet and easily altered for different missions. Read More

Micro-UAV distance record smashed

By Noel McKeegan

16:35 November 3, 2007 PDT

November 4, 2007 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). Read More

DARPA provides funding for Aeros' ballast-free airship weight control system

By Loz Blain

23:34 November 2, 2007 PDT

November 3, 2007 An integral part of the exciting ML866 "superyacht for the sky", Aeros’ Control of Static Heaviness (COSH) system allows airships to adjust their weight in mid-flight without the use of a traditional ballast material. After successful initial tests of the controversial system, Aeros has been awarded funding by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for further demonstrations. Under the program, Aeros will carry out the conceptual design, technology development, hardware development and bench demonstration, finalizing with the flight demonstration of the system on the FAA type certified Aeros 40D non-rigid airship. Read More