Aerospace

Air Force secretary outlines several ways it is moving faster to aquire new technologies.

Actions by Congress and upcoming elections could change the direction of defense spending, especially if the balance between Republicans and Democrats shifts.

The U.S. Air Force will seek proposals for basic and applied research into four Grand Challenge areas for its future propulsion strategy.

Adding to the scores of similar projects already in the works, Erik Lindbergh—grandson of Charles Lindbergh and long-time advocate for electric flight—has formed a company to develop an electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) air taxi.

Internal and external competition and other factors are eroding the lead that this small Middle Eastern state has held since 1985.

The future of propeller manufacturing in the UK rests on a government-supported effort to develop the next generation of regional-aircraft propellers.

Airbus has taken a stake in uAvionix, a startup developing miniaturized ADS-B transceivers for detect-and-avoid in UAVs.

UK boosts research, Britain’s battery bid, revolutionary alloys, and solar pseudo-satellite.

From turbo-generator to motor-driven fan, E-Fan X demonstrator will flight-test a complete high-power, high-voltage hybrid-electric propulsion system.

Paul Eremenko may have been frustrated with internal resistance to change at Airbus. He was hired in 2015 to run A3, the Silicon Valley-based innovation hub.

Computational modeling validated by components testing assesses the severity of damage caused by a drone colliding with an aircraft at approach speed.

By combining multiple power sources, small manned aircraft could fly almost indefinitely, unlocking new potential.

Vega has been a great success for Avio, encouraging further innovation for the rocket.

Velvet Wasp is an armed drone designed by the UK’s SteelRock to enable soldiers to provide their own close air support.

Aircraft lighting influences birdstrikes, Facebook and Airbus team to advance stratospheric UAVs, Boeing backs new MIT wind tunnel, NASA supercomputers unlock flow secrets, and TsAGI’s air-cushion amphibian for the Arctic.

The aerospace industry lacks adequate policy to manage risks. Efforts show that strides are being made, however.

Boeing subsidiary Insitu says that working proactively with regulators is key to enabling routine commercial beyond-visual-line-of-sight UAS operations.

U.S. startup’s plans to certify a nine-seat battery-powered regional aircraft by 2020 are based on modifying an already certified turboprop.

Conglomerates are prime targets because they have disparate business units—some with unrealized value—as well as redundant cost structures and excess fat.

Gluing detail parts together would reduce mass because the adhesive has little weight and pieces can be thinner than those connected by fasteners.

MIT’s Beaver Works collaboration with Lincoln Laboratory is tackling an air-launched mini-drone that can keep up with the fighters that launch it.

Can a right-sized single-aisle fleet solve load factor challenges in Africa?

FAA approves safe spherical drone; JAXA tests cut airframe noise; Workhorse sets SureFly flight date; A³’s Vahana readied for flight; smaller VTOL UAV from UMSSkeldar

GE Additive ships prototypes of the world’s largest laser metal additive-manufacturing machine, sized to make structural parts for engines and narrowbody jets.

The United Arab Emirates appears to be all-in on the Joint Strike Fighter, but has yet to allay concerns over protecting sensitive information.