Tag: Aeronautics

Vaeridion Signs New Microliner Deals, Partners with General Atomics

 Aviation International News reports, “Electric aircraft developer Vaeridion inked letters of intent (LOI) for more than 100 of its nine-passenger Microliners with six prospective European operators. Reporting the deals at the ILA air show in Berlin on June 10, the German start-up also announced a partnership with drone manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, which will use Vaeridion’s battery technology.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)

As Aerospace Prioritizes AI, Aviation Experts Ask, “What Problems Are We Trying to Solve?”

FROM THE INSTITUTE
The first Forum 360 panel at AIAA AVIATION Forum asked a simple question when it comes to AI’s growing role in aerospace: What problems are we trying to solve? That conversation featured several answers from experts representing major aerospace OEMs, defense primes, and the U.S. Air Force’s main research lab that set the tone for the rest of the week’s programming.

Navy Air Boss to AIAA AVIATION Attendees: Build Reliability, Safety, and Right‑to‑Repair into the Next Generation of Airpower

FROM THE INSTITUTE
When U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Doug (V8) Verissimo stepped onto the plenary stage, he wore his operational flight suit rather than a more formal Navy uniform. “This uniform is where our warfighters exercise the equipment, the technology, the advancements,” he told the room of aerospace engineers, research scientists, and executives from industry, academia and the services. “It’s the part of the job that keeps me up at night, that these systems and capabilities function as advertised.”

NASA Advances Quiet Supersonic Travel as X-59 Exceeds Mach 1

Aviation News reports, “NASA’s X-59 QueSST experimental aircraft has successfully completed its first supersonic flight, marking a significant step forward in the development of quieter high-speed air travel. The aircraft exceeded the speed of sound on June 5, 2026, as part of its ongoing flight-test program in the United States.”
Full Story (Aviation News)

Airbus Introduces U145 Uncrewed Helicopter with AI-Powered Autonomy

Aerotime reports, “Airbus Helicopters has introduced the U145, an uncrewed variant of its H145 light twin, presenting a full-scale mock-up of the aircraft at the ILA Berlin airshow on June 8, 2026. The manufacturer said a maiden flight with a safety pilot on board is planned for the end of 2026, with entry into service expected at the start of the next decade.”
Full Story (Aerotime)

USAF Eyes Low-Cost, Modular Successor to MQ-9 Reaper

The War Zone reports, “Modularity is a key area of interest as the U.S. Air Force formulates its latest set of requirements for a successor to the MQ-9 Reaper, according to Gen. John Lamontagne, the service’s Vice Chief of Staff. A modular design, both in terms of hardware and software, would help make the chosen platform more flexible and adaptable to different mission sets.”
Full Story (The War Zone)

Whisper Aero Details JetFoil Near-VTOL Concept as CEO Earns AIAA Honor

Aerotime reports, “Whisper Aero has unveiled new details of its JetFoil propulsion concept, a distributed electric ducted fan system designed to give aircraft short or near-vertical takeoff capability without exposed rotors or tilting propulsors. The company presented the update during SAE International’s AeroTech 2026 event in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Whisper Aero co-founder and CEO Mark Moore received the 2026 AIAA F.E. Newbold V/STOL Award.”
Full Story (Aerotime)