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Boeing Phantom Works plans to resume flight testing of the X-50A Dragonfly canard rotor/wing (CRW) technology demonstrator in February, after completing analysis of data from the 80s first hover flight [...]

Boeing has taken the wraps off the Bird of Prey, a previously classified company-funded demonstrator flown between 1996 and 1999 to test stealth technology. The $67 million PhantomWorks programme included [...]

Presents information on several experimental aircraft in the U.S. as of August 12, 2002. Boeing/EADS X-31; Boeing's X-32 and Lockheed X-35; X-33 proposed by Lockheed Martin; X-35 built by Boeing.

Focuses on the expected actualization of the Russian Regional Jet (RRJ) program in 2005. History of the RRJ program; Value of the RRJ research and development costs; Expected completion date of the aircraft.

The article offers information on the hybrid-electric propulsion from Honeywell that will power the Aurora Flight Sciences LightningStrike vertical take-off and landing X-plane.

Muilenburg unseated as Boeing chair Management Dennis Muilenburg has been stripped of his role chairing Boeing's board, a move the company says will -enable him to better focus on his position as chief executive. See feature next week Titan takes first A330 as 767 replacement Fleet UK charter and wet-lease specialist Titan Airways is bringing in its first Airbus A330, a -200 variant, to replace a Boeing 767-300ER from April 2020. AAR begins drone inspection trials Unmanned systems US maintenance provider AAR has begun a one-year trial of the use of drones for aircraft -inspections at its facility in Miami, Florida. [Extracted from the article]

Start-up ditches Honeywell to advance experimental VTOL aircraft's hybrid architecture using clean-sheet turboshaft [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EU-backe d schem e studie s potentia l o f composit e structure s fo r weigh t an d cos t savings [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews experimental aircraft Model 401 launched by the organization Northrop Grumman subsidiary Scaled Composites, which is designed by Burt Rutan and powered by Pratt & Whitney (P&W) JT15D engines.

The article discusses Airbus's lofty goals with Perlan 2's pilot, Jim Payne, during his flight on August 30 in El Calafate, South Argentina. Payne and his team had made many changes to the Perlan 2's control system. Topics include Perlan 2's chief, Paul Eremenko's views on developing a minimal viable product, and the launch of new X-planes like Project Vahana.

The article reports that supersonic x-planes designs have been reviewed and authorized by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for companies to bid and build.

The article offers information on the HB-SIA, a prototype of the Solar Impulse SA. It says that the HB-SIA travels for 26 hours over the Alps at an altitude of 28, 000 feet. It mentions that 450 kilograms of lithium ion batteries power the four electric motors of the aircraft. It says that 12,000 solar panels are housed in its wings and stabilizer. It adds that the mission of the aircraft industry is to reduce flights' carbon emission and fuel consumption.

The article focuses on the test flight 19 of T2 unmanned research aircraft, the second generic transport model of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Fort Picket airfield. It mentions that the aircraft was utilized for Airstar, the airborne subscale transport aircraft research testbed which is a programme operated by the NASA Langley Research Center. It highlights the efforts for the test campaigns of Langley researchers relative to the test flights that would be conducted.

The author discusses the confirmation of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'S proposal to fly a new generation of manned X-planes is an exciting development. It states that the Anglo-French Concorde proved that a niche segment of the air transport market prizes speed over cost. It highlights that the proposal also includes a request to launch a subsonic X-plane.

Discusses legal issues related to the SpaceShipOne experimental aircraft created by Scaled Composites founder Burt Rutan. Views of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on the aircraft; Provisions of legislative bills that define the aircraft; Impact of the uncertain definition of the aircraft on its financing.

This section offers world news briefs on the aeronautics industry as of June 10, 2014. Experimental aircraft Solar Impulse 2 has launched a flying campaign to attempt to circumnavigate using pure solar power. Airbus executive Patrick de Castelbajac has been appointed as chief executive officer (CEO) of Airbus Group/Alenia Aermacchi joint company ATR. Diamond Aircraft has renamed its DA52 aircraft as DA62.

The article focuses on the Solar Impulse, a solar powered research aircraft, ad its successful completion of a coast-to-coast flight in the U.S. on July 6, 2013.

The article focuses on the Aerosol Cloud-Coupling and Climate Interactions in the Arctic climate research project which is using an aerospace company BAE Systems BA3 146 Atmospheric Research Aircraft to gather information within the Arctic circle to help improve forecasting for the region's climate.

The article discusses the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) release of a requirement regarding the design of an experimental aircraft (X-plane) as of March 2013, including information on aerospace company Lockheed Martin and its unmanned VARIOUS aircraft concept. Under DARPAs rules, an X-plane must be able to hover with greater efficiency than a hovercraft, and fly at speeds greater than those which a conventional helicopter can reach.

The article discusses the history of aerospace technology in Japan, and describes programs such as Kawasaki Heavy Industries XP-1 maritime patrol aircraft, the XC-2 military transport, and the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries ATD-X experimental aircraft. The Japanese defense ministry, domestic aircraft market, and domestic development costs are discussed, as well as competitive aircraft such as the P-8A Poseidon and the Lockheed C-130J.

The author offers praise for experimental airplane designers André Borschberg and Bertrand Piccard, founders of the company Solar Impulse, stating that their plan to create an airplane capable of flying around the world using solar power represents the spirit of aeronautics.

The article discusses the construction of a research aircraft for Germany by the aerospace industries firms Ruag Aerospace and Gulfstream.

The article reports on the Solar Impulse project, an experimental airplane in Switzerland which uses solar energy as a power source, and mentions its aim in circumnavigating non-stop in a second-iteration aircraft.

The article discusses the British Civil Aviation Authority's Met Office Civil Contingency Aircraft (MOCCA) and its intended use as an ash-monitoring resource. Topics include the MOCCA's sensors for detecting ash concentrations, the use of a Brechtel probe to measure air and particles, and the MOCCA's use of satellite communications to transmit atmospheric data.

The article reports that the U.S. Army has scheduled five of its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aircraft for use with a "sense-and-avoid" radar system that will allow the aircraft to fly within U.S. national airspace.

The article reports on a survey by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of experimental amateur-built (E-AB) aircraft safety, including accident investigation reports from the NTSB, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and the Experimental Aircraft Association.

The article reports on the commitment of the officials of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. on the construction of their high-speed S-97 Raider demonstrators beginning 2014 in spite the likelihood of the U.S. Army to propose a postponement of the launch of an armed aerial scout (AAS) programme.

The article focuses on the Solar Impulse solar-powered aircraft project of Switzerland. It states that Andre Borschberg and partner Bertrand Piccard aim to create a single-pilot aircraft that is capable of circumventing the globe using solar energy. It says that Solar Impulse is adopting the four-engine prototype that Borshberg flew in July 2010, which achieved a 26-hour solar-powered flight. Borschberg claims that the project will develop a sustainable air transport solution using solar energy.

The article reports on the return of the Boeing/NASA X-48B blended-wing body research aircraft after going through a major repair and upgrades.

The article offers information regarding the F-15 Single Eagle (SE) flight-test prototype by the Boeing Co. in which the canted tail design featured in the F-15 SE was eliminated.

The article reports that Boeing Co., Rolls-Royce (R-R) PLC, RUAG Aerospace AG and Deharde Maschinenbau have agreed to test a model concept aircraft with open-rotor engines in Emmen, Switzerland. R-R will provide propulsion input, whereas Boeing will design the integrated wind tunnel model airframe to be made by Deharde.

The article reports that Boeing Co. has introduced the second test aircraft in the livery of All Nippon Airways (ANA) Co. Ltd., launch customer for Boeing's 787 programs. According to Boeing, this particular airframe will not be delivered to ANA as it is a test aircraft. Deliveries will start from February 2010.

The article reports that the Intermediate Experimental Vehicle (IXV) programme of the European Space Agency (ESA) will begin its preliminary design review on November 4, 2008. The program was created to demonstrate re-entry technologies which include thermal protection systems, guidance, and navigation. IXV, which will be launched by ESA's Vega rocket, involves 600 sensors to note its performance and will reach an altitude of 450 km at a speed of 26,850 km/h during the test flight.

The article announces the completion of the conversion of a new Gulfstream G550 high altitude and long range research aircraft (HALO) for the German science community by RUAG Aerospace. The flight department of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) will operate the aircraft for atmospheric research and earth observation following its delivery in 2008. The aircraft has a range of 8,000 kilometers (km).

The article features the main-rotor blade developed under the fourth British Experimental Rotor Programme (BERP IV). According to prime contractor AgustaWestland, the new rotor blade will provide a 600kg (1,320lb) payload increase for the Royal Air Force's EH101 Merlin medium-lift helicopter. The company reports that the BERP IV blade has been shown to improve rotor flight-envelope performance, reduce power needs in hover and forward flight, and decrease airframe and engine vibration.

The article reports on the introduction by GFS Projects of the initial concepts for cargo-carrying coanda-effect aircraft. The manned version, which is capable of dash speeds of 278 kilometers per hour, would accommodate up to two people and would be able to hover. GFS executive Geoff Hatton believes that the aircraft could be used in the deployment of mobile medical facilities.

The article reports on the plan to test an X-vehicle airframe design for a future reusable launcher under the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's $70 million Fully Reusable Access to Space Technology program. Work on vehicle subsystems and propulsion option analyses will supplement the airframe testing. High-temperature ascent and re-entry testing with realistic aerodynamic loads will be included in the ground-based experiments.

The article offers information on the SAX-40, an airplane design being developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under its Silent Aircraft Initiative. The SAX-40 is a 2025-timeframe, 215-passenger blended wing-body aircraft, which is designed to be inaudible outside a typical airport. Its fuel burn per passenger is projected at about 80 percent that of a Boeing 787.

The article reports on the need for an aircraft that is suited to complete the European Fleet for Airborne Research of the European Commission (EC). The initiative identifies the importance of a modified Airbus A400M or Lockheed Martin C-130 that will enable scientists to conduct climate studies in polar, oceanic and remote continental regions. The EC has released a report that sets out a roadmap for research infrastructure and which details the proposal.

The article reports on the approval of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to sell the X-43A airframe blueprints of its experimental aircraft to Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The blueprints may be used for possible future hypersonics tests. The space transport plan of JAXA is focused on improving the launchers of Japan and developing a recoverable cargo carrier version of its H-II Transfer Vehicle.

The article reports on the return of one of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's two Lockheed Martin ER-2 high-altitude research aircraft to flight after an overhaul. The aircraft will be used to calibrate and validate data from sensors on the recently launched Calipso and CloudSat satellites.

The article reports on the capability of Sikorsky to stage the first flight of its X2 high-speed helicopter technology demonstrator by December 2006. Sikorsky president Jeff Pino says the X2 demonstrator's forward fuselage, center fuselage and tailcone have come together and that major system detail design has been completed. Sikorsky is building the coaxial-rotor high-speed helicopter to cruise at 250 knot.

Provides information on experimental aircraft programme. Examples of experimental aircraft; Design of X-29 aircraft; Technologies featured by X-plane programmes; Features of X-51A air-launched missile.

Presents archival resources related to aeronautics in the year 1955. Explosion of the rocket-propelled Bell X-1A; Information on the Republic XF-84H experimental turboprop fighter; Issuance of a patent to aeronautical engineer Heinrich Focke for his convertiplane.

Discusses research on silane as possible liquid fuels for scramjets. Speed of the scramjet-powered X-43A hypersonic experimental vehicle of the U.S. National Aeronautics & Space Administration that was fueled by hydrogen; Comparison between the efficiency of silane and hydrogen in scramjet engines; Overview on the next stage of the study.

Features several space vehicles that are being studied in the Atmospheric Re-entry Experimental Vehicle project for the European Space Agency. Russian Kliper; Subscale Precursor Hypersonic X-vehicle; Bi-conic capsule.

Reports on the use of unmanned air vehicle networks to help manage global catastrophes, like the Indian Ocean tsunami on December 26, 2004. Information on the Project Peacewing concept developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration through its former Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology programme; Factors attributed to the cancellation of Peacewing; Efforts being taken for UAV applications in Europe.

Reports that Northrop Grumman will decide whether to continue with a purpose-built quiet supersonic technology test aircraft. Supersonic boom suppression flight tests under the Quiet Supersonic Platform program of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; Applications of the test aircraft; Several options for the testbed aircraft.

Deals with some issues in the aeronautics sector featured in the November 20, 1953 issue of the magazine "Flight and Aircraft Engineer." Details released by the U.S. Air Force concerning the Douglas X-3 research aircraft; Series of trials conducted for enquiries to the Admiralty in October 1953.

Focuses on the programs for experimental aircraft, or X-planes, in 2002. Examples of X-planes; Significance of the development of British Aerospace EAP and France's Dassault Rafale A; Project of the European Technology Acquisition Programme and the Future Launcher Preparatory Programme.