Space / Aerospace / Aircraft

[conehead]

1 hour ago, Specs said:

By that logic we'd all still be flying DC-3s    

(Hmmm)

That's not true, and you know it. By your logic, every single aircraft purchased by the Canadian government would be a Bombardier product.

[deicer]

If Embraer can do it with the R-99, then it shouldn't be that hard to adapt a Bombardier 6500 which is a better platform to start with.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embraer_R-99

[Specs]

2 hours ago, conehead said:

That's not true, and you know it. 

I'll let it go.

Edited June 1, 2023 by Specs

[conehead]

1 hour ago, Specs said:

I'll let it go.

Me too.

 

[conehead]

Falken; with this picture, I was just illustrating how the RCAF is sourcing different aircraft types for different missions. In the picture, we see an A330 that has been aquired by the Canadian government recently, and now wearing this livery. More of these aircraft will be aquired in the near future, and some (if not all) will be converted by Airbus into the Multi Role Troop Transport (MRTT), which also serves as a tanker. These will replace the tired old A310s that were inherited from Wardair.

Perhaps I am guilty of some thread drift...

[Falken]

conehead - no you are not. I thought the picture was a b737 that was bought instead of the global 6000 for maritime patrol. MY mistake!    

[deicer]

https://airinsight.com/skyalps-signs-for-tamarack-active-winglets/

SkyAlps signs for Tamarack Active Winglets

[deicer]

https://www.space.com/nasa-x-59-quiet-supersonic-jet-photos

[deicer]

Betcha didn't know this....

 

[deicer]

Catalina being reborn!

https://warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/iconic-catalina-flying-boat-to-be-resurrected-as-new-production-transport-category-turboprop.html

[deicer]

https://www.flightglobal.com/airframers/boeing-flies-md-90-to-palmdale-to-begin-building-nasas-x-66a/154617.article

Boeing flies MD-90 to Palmdale to begin building NASA’s X-66A

[deicer]

India successfully lands probe on moon becoming the fourth country to do so.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/india-becomes-the-fourth-country-to-successfully-land-a-spacecraft-on-the-moon/ar-AA1fEqYj?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=d2ebbe544c914cfd88ac261f62d2cbfc&ei=9

 

[deicer]

Boeing experiencing more problems with 737 production.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/23/boeing-says-a-new-737-max-flaw-will-slow-airplane-deliveries.html

Boeing says a new 737 Max flaw will slow airplane deliveries

• The company said that fastener holes on some 737 Max aft pressure bulkheads were improperly drilled.
• The issue is the latest to slow airplane deliveries at Boeing.
• Boeing said the issue was not related to flight safety.

[boestar]

7 hours ago, deicer said:

Boeing experiencing more problems with 737 production.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/23/boeing-says-a-new-737-max-flaw-will-slow-airplane-deliveries.html

Boeing says a new 737 Max flaw will slow airplane deliveries

• The company said that fastener holes on some 737 Max aft pressure bulkheads were improperly drilled.
• The issue is the latest to slow airplane deliveries at Boeing.
• Boeing said the issue was not related to flight safety.

Nah no flight safety issues.  UNTIL THE PRESSURE BULKHEAD BLOWS OUT due to improperly drilled holes.

[Malcolm]

Long-haul carrier Emirates opens Dubai Air Show with $52 billion aircraft purchase from Boeing

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Long-haul carrier Emirates opened the Dubai Air Show with a $52 billion purchase of Boeing Co. aircraft, showing how aviation has bounced back after the groundings of the coronavirus pandemic, even as Israel's war with Hamas clouds regional security.

 

Its low-cost sister airline, FlyDubai, followed up with an $11 billion order of 30 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, the first wide-body aircraft in its fleet. Both sales together marked a significant win for the Virginia-based Boeing Co. out of the gates on the first day of the air show, as airlines appear poised for even more billion-dollar deals this year.

Emirates made the announcement witnessed by the crown prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, at a news conference Monday afternoon. Emirates CEO and Chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said the deal would see the carrier purchase 90 Boeing 777 aircraft, 55 of them its 777-9 variants and 35 of them 777-8s.

Emirates will also add an additional five aircraft 787 Dreamliners to a previous order of 30 aircraft, Sheikh Saeed said.

“This is a long-term commitment that supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, not only at Boeing but also throughout the global aviation supply chain,” he said. “The 777 is at the center of Emirates' strategy to connect cities on all continents nonstop to Dubai.”

Stan Deal, an executive vice president at Boeing, praised the deal.

“All these products point to the future of Emirates,” Deal said.

Emirates officials stressed that FlyDubai’s order was separate from the long-haul carrier. It represents a major change for FlyDubai, which to this point has only flown Boeing 737 single-aisle aircraft on shorter distances.

Both Deal and Sheikh Saeed left the news conference without taking questions, which represented a departure from previous Dubai Air Shows.

The air show this year comes amid the Israel-Hamas war, as well as Russia’s war on Ukraine, which will likely influence the five-day show at Al Maktoum Airport at Dubai World Central. It is the city-state’s second airfield after Dubai International Airport, which is the world’s busiest for international travel and the home base for Emirates.

While commercial aviation takes much of the attention, arms manufacturers also have exhibitions at the show. Two major Israeli firms — Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. and Israel Aerospace Industries had been slated to participate.

But the IAI stand, bearing the slogan “Where Courage Meets Technology,” was roped off and empty Monday morning as people poured into the show. A stand for Rafael handed out coffee, though there were no salespeople there. A request for comment left with an attendant there was not immediately returned.

Rafael also sponsored a meeting of air force commanders Sunday at a luxury Dubai hotel, highlighting the balancing act being struck by the UAE amid anger in the Arab world over the Israel-Hamas war.

The UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms, established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020.

The firm Russian Helicopters had listed their staff would be on hand for the air show after appearing at the Abu Dhabi arms fair earlier this year despite being sanctioned by the U.S. and others over Moscow's attack on Ukraine. ROSCOSMOS, the Russian state space company, is also at the show.

 

Meanwhile at the show, an Associated Press journalist saw Gen. Khalifa Hifter, who leads the self-styled Libyan National Army and controls that north African nation's east and south.

Global aviation is booming after the coronavirus pandemic saw worldwide lockdowns and aircraft grounded — particularly at Al Maktoum Airport, which served for months as a parking lot for Emirates double-decker Airbus 380s.

Air traffic is now at 97% of pre-COVID levels, according to the International Air Transport Association. Middle Eastern airlines, which supply key East-West routes for global travel, saw a 26.6% increase in September traffic compared to a year earlier, IATA says.

Emirates, a main economic engine for Dubai amid its booming real estate market, announced record half-year profits of $2.7 billion Thursday. That is up from $1.2 billion for the same period last year, potentially putting the airline on track for another record-breaking year. The airline says it has repaid some $2.5 billion of the loans it received during the height of the pandemic to stay afloat.

 

Also in the market for aircraft is Riyadh Air, a new Saudi carrier being created as part of trillions of dollars worth of spending planned in the kingdom. In March, the airline announced an order of up to 72 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jetliners and has further plans to expand.

Turkish Airlines may also make a record-shattering purchase of 355 aircraft from Airbus, including 250 A321neo aircraft, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.

By Monday afternoon, Boeing Co. announced that SunExpress, an airline jointly owned by Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, made a commitment to purchase up to 90 single-aisle Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The deal includes 28 Boeing 737-8s and 17 Boeing 737-10s models, as well as the opportunity for another 45 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The companies did not offer a dollar figure for the deal.

___

Associated Press writer Malak Harb contributed to this report.

Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press

[Malcolm]

Airbaltic orders another 30 Airbus A220-300

Story by Reuters  • 6h

FILE PHOTO: A man walks past an airBaltic Airbus A220-300 aircraft at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India, November 12, 2019. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis© Thomson Reuters

DUBAI (Reuters) - Latvian airline Airbaltic said on Monday it had placed an order for another 30 Airbus A220-300 passenger jets, along with options for another 20.

Chief Executive Martin Gauss said the airline had experienced a "difficult summer" due to some groundings caused by shortages of Pratt & Whitney engines, but that the situation had stabilised with no unscheduled groundings for now.

The move comes as the airline prepares for an initial public offering (IPO) in late 2024, for which the tentative business plan envisages up to 100 aircraft by 2030.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher, Editing by Louise Heavens)

[Malcolm]

Watch: Propeller plane misses runway and crashes into car in Texas (bbc.com)

[Specs]

[J.O.]

3 hours ago, Malcolm said:

Watch: Propeller plane misses runway and crashes into car in Texas (bbc.com)

Technically they didn't "miss" the runway, they just couldn't get stopped on it.

[Malcolm]

The video does appear to show the airplane landing off the runway and not on it?  Of course we don't see the start of the deviation. \

The guardian says it was an emergency landing

Plane making emergency landing overshoots Texas runway and collides with car – video | US news | The Guardian

[Malcolm]

The largest aircraft order in history: 540 planes and $120 billion

The largest aircraft order in history: 540 planes and $120 billion | (thedailydigest.com)

 

big win for Airbus

or was it?

Boeing bonanza leaves rival Airbus in the dust at 2023 Dubai Airshow with three times more aircraft orders  

Boeing bonanza leaves rival Airbus in the dust at 2023 Dubai Airshow with three times more aircraft orders – NBC New York

[Malcolm]

SpaceX's second launch of massive Starship postponed until Saturday

Launch was originally scheduled for Friday at 8 a.m. ET

Nicole Mortillaro · CBC News · Posted: Nov 16, 2023 2:00 AM MST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

SpaceX's 120-metre tall Starship sits at its launch pad in Boca Chica, Texas, on April 1 ahead of its first integrated test flight. (SpaceX)

 

After a spectacular end to its first test flight where it lost control and then exploded, the second launch of SpaceX's 36-storey Starship rocket has been rescheduled to Saturday.

The 20-minute launch window opens at 8 am ET. If they fail to launch Saturday, there is another opportunity Sunday morning.

Founder Elon Musk tweeted Thursday afternoon that a component on the spacecraft needed to be replaced. The rocket had been scheduled to lift off early Friday morning.

Last April, the massive spaceship successfully launched from Boca Chica, Texas, but after veering out of control, was blown up over the Gulf of Mexico.

Many looked at it as a failure, and the Federal Aviation Authority ordered dozens of fixes before a second attempt. However, SpaceX hailed it as a success since they said their aim was to just have it clear the launch tower.

This time, SpaceX is going for Take 2, with the hope that this time the spaceship can complete its mission: reaching near orbital altitude before splashing into the ocean near Hawaii.

"I really believe it'll go," said space launch historian and former NASA illustrator Paul Fjeld. "I think they've been ready to fly probably for about a month."

A 2nd integrated test of Starship

Starship is SpaceX's super heavy launch vehicle. Musk has said many times that he believes the spacecraft will some day take humans to Mars.

It has two stages: the booster stage, called the Super Heavy, and the spaceship itself. Stacked together, they are called Starship, but the spaceship itself is also called Starship.

The Super Heavy has an impressive 33 engines, more than any rocket. 

SpaceX's Starship turns after its launch from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, on April 20, before exploding. (Eric Gay/The Associated Press)

Starship the spaceship has only ever flown to 12.5 kilometres in altitude on its own. Of the four high-altitude test flights, only one has ever successfully landed. 

This launch is often referred to as an "integrated test," meaning Starship and the Super Heavy will be launching together as one vehicle. 

What is the mission?

Those tests saw the spaceship return to SpaceX's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. But the integrated test will be much different, and very interesting if all goes well.

First, the pair will launch together before the booster stage separates, the same way SpaceX's Falcon 9 operates. If that goes well, the booster will perform a "boost back" where it flips and then returns to Earth, again, the same way the first stage of the Falcon 9 rockets do. However, in this case, it will be a "water landing" in the Gulf of Mexico, and will not be recovered. 

At the same time, Starship will continue to ascend reaching near orbital altitude, before it re-enters the atmosphere, and also makes a water landing near Hawaii where it will sink to the bottom of the ocean.

• ANALYSIS
  Why SpaceX's Starship launch was hailed as both a great success and a colossal mess

The whole point of this mission is to test Starship's systems to see how they perform in tandem.

Though Musk's ultimate goal is to get to Mars some time in the next decade, in the nearer term, NASA is also counting on it for the Artemis III mission to the moon in 2025. SpaceX is providing the Human Landing system (HLS), a variation of Starship, to transport astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface of the moon itself.

What happened the first time?

Starship's first integrated test flight definitely put on a show both in the sky and on the ground.

Once the engines ignited, it took a while to clear the launch pad. And when it did, it blew a crater several metres deep below it. It also sent boulders, rocks and dust for kilometres, which upset many nearby residents, some up to four kilometres away. There was also concern over the welfare of nearby wildlife.

As well, several engines failed, which may have been due to damage caused from the flying pieces of concrete.

A person walks through debris at the launch pad on April 22 after the flight test of SpaceX Starship in Boca Chica, Texas. The rocket successfully blasted off, but exploded shortly after. ( Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images)

As the rocket ascended, it began to flip uncontrollably, and the first stage didn't separate. Rockets are equipped with flight termination systems for just such cases. However, it appeared that the ones on Starship failed to work. Eventually, the rocket exploded, four minutes after liftoff.

The fallout from the launch triggered an investigation by both Fish and Wildlife Services and the Federal Aviation Authority. In the meantime, SpaceX continued to work on several issues to improve both the launch pad and the rocket.

"They had that one launch ... [where] they got a tremendous amount of data, I am sure," Fjeld said. 

The FAA required SpaceX to take 63 corrective actions and to apply for a modified licence before launching again.

What's new this time?

SpaceX started working on the issues of concern immediately after the launch. 

Among other changes, there have been modifications to the launch pad itself. 

Most launch pads have a way of ensuring the rocket and the pad aren't damaged due to the powerful forces — especially acoustic waves — that happen once the engines are fired (and remember, the Super Heavy has a whopping 33). Sometimes, it's a water suppression system or a large trench that diverts the flames away. 

The Starship launch pad had none of that, just a form of heavy-duty concrete called Fondag.

WATCH | Starship's 1st integrated test (April 20, 2023): 

---

But since then, they've made some changes to the pad, reinforcing the foundation and including a water suppression system, which they tested with a static fire (meaning they light the engines without allowing the rocket to lift off) in October.

They also added another component to the rocket itself.

"The attempt we saw last time back in April, the Starship failed to separate from the Super Heavy booster," said Jordan Bimms, a space historian and professor of science communication at the University of Chicago. "So now they are going to a hot staging method where the the upper stage Starship will ignite with the bottom stage still attached."

• Elon Musk's SpaceX can't launch its giant rocket again until 63 fixes are made, FAA says

That hot stage method helps boost performance, saving energy and time in an industry where both are incredibly valued.

"Musk is a fanatic about not losing performance where you don't have to," Fjeld said.

He's optimistic about the launch's prospects.

"I'm very excited to see it go. And I actually think that they've probably solved most of the problems," he said. "I would be more surprised than not if they did not make it to near-orbit."

As for Bimms, though he loves every rocket launch, he'll be watching this second test cautiously.

"I want to be more excited than I really am, you know, because I do see this opening up more activity in space, which to me is exciting," he said.

"But it's like, who is holding the keys, who is directing this area of of technological innovation? It's not somebody who I'm particularly excited about being in control of it."

[Malcolm]

Potential ATC nightmare?

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Joby's milestone: Quiet electric air taxi takes flight over Manhattan

Joby Aviation achieves a historic milestone with the first manned eVTOL air taxi flight in New York City, showcasing its commitment to quiet, emissions-free urban air travel.

ir

Published: Nov 15, 2023 06:00 PM EST

Joby’s electric air taxi in the skies above New York City

Joby Aviation 

 

Joby Aviation achieved a groundbreaking milestone with the first manned electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi flight in New York City, the company announced.

The demonstration at the Downtown Heliport in Manhattan showcased Joby's commitment to revolutionizing urban air travel.

Electrifying NYC's iconic heliport

The flight coincided with an announcement by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, revealing the city's plan to electrify the Downtown Heliport. This strategic move aligns with Joby's vision to make New York a global leader in adopting clean, quiet flight technology. JoeBen Bevirt, Founder and CEO of Joby Aviation, expressed gratitude for the city's support, emphasizing their dedication to providing affordable, emissions-free air travel for New Yorkers.

SEE ALSO

RELATED

Joby Aviation just started testing its eVTol with a pilot 

Joby delivers first of nine eVTOL 'Air Taxis' to USAF 

Joby Aviation invests $500M in Ohio to build air taxis 

 

 

Transforming transportation with innovative partnerships

Joby's partnership with Delta Air Lines positions New York as an early launch market for their electric air taxi service. The piloted, four-passenger aircraft promises fast, quiet journeys with zero operating emissions. Delta's commitment to sustainability and innovative technology aligns with Joby's mission to reduce the impact of traditional helicopter noise while offering efficient transportation solutions for busy metropolitan areas.

Revolutionizing air travel with quieter technology

The Joby aircraft, designed for rapid, back-to-back flights, boasts an impressive range of up to 100 miles (160 kilometers) on a single charge. This capability covers 99 percent of all trips within New York City's five boroughs. The aircraft's lower acoustic footprint, confirmed through collaboration with NASA, registers at just 45.2 A-weighted decibels (dBA) at an altitude of 1,640 feet (500 meters) – quieter than a typical conversation.

 

 

Plans and collaborations

Joby and Delta are collaborating with the Port Authority of New York and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) to plan initial operations, including infrastructure development at JFK and LaGuardia International Airport. Gail Grimmett, SVP of Sustainability Performance and Strategic Partnerships at Delta, emphasized the progress toward launching clean, quiet, and convenient air taxi services for Delta customers traveling to and from New York.

The Adams Administration has been a leader in driving technology innovation and economic growth while simultaneously improving quality of life,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “EDC’s new strategy for the Downtown Manhattan Heliport reflects these priorities while making it an industry leader in the embrace of eVTOLS – a quieter and greener helicopter alternative – while at the same time facilitating maritime freight with last mile e-bike deliveries that take trucks off the roads.”

Joby and Delta are working closely with the Port Authority of New York and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) as they plan for initial operations infrastructure development at JFK and LaGuardia International Airport (LGA). This builds on significant recent investments Delta has made in upgrading the customer experience at its New York hubs.

“Delivering exceptional experiences for our customers is why Delta has invested over $7B in New York City, especially at our LaGuardia and JFK hubs,” said Gail Grimmett, SVP of Sustainability Performance and Strategic Partnerships at Delta. "Today's announcement demonstrates the great progress that's been made toward launching clean, quiet and convenient air taxi services for Delta customers traveling to and from New York, and is a testament to our innovative partners at Joby and the support of Mayor Eric Adams in advancing new and sustainable technologies.”

 

 

Joby’s aircraft was designed to have a radically lower acoustic footprint than today’s helicopters, allowing it to operate in densely populated areas such as New York City without adding to the background noise. In 2022, Joby collaborated with NASA to measure the sound of its aircraft, confirming it registered the equivalent of 45.2 A-weighted decibels (dBA) when flying overhead at an altitude of 1,640 feet (500 meters) – quieter than a typical conversation.

Joby has flown more than 30,000 miles with its full-scale prototype eVTOL aircraft since 2017. The Company recently celebrated the first aircraft to roll off its Pilot Production Plant in Marina, California. It delivered the first-ever electric air taxi to the US Air Force for on-base operational testing. Joby expects to launch its commercial passenger service in 2025.

[deicer]

Or when one smacks into Fifth Avenue...

[Specs]

Where will they get the pilots from - the majors?