Air & Space Forces Magazine reports, “Deliveries of Boeing’s KC-46A Pegasus tanker to the U.S. Air Force have restarted following a roughly three-month pause imposed after cracks were found in at least two brand-new aircraft. The Air Force and Boeing said the issue was not a safety-of-flight concern, but the problem was only the latest in a series that have plagued the 767-derivative, which has suffered through quality issues, delays, and cost overruns dating back years.”
Full Story (Air & Space Forces Magazine)
Tag: Aerospace
Joby Achieves Testing Milestone with Simultaneous Flight of Two eVTOL Aircraft
CompositesWorld reports, “Joby Aviation Inc. (Santa Cruz, Calif., U.S.) has successfully flown two of its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft simultaneously for the first time, marking another important milestone in the company’s flight testing program.”
Full Story (CompositesWorld)
Video
Joby Aviation’s Two Aircraft Flight
(Joby Aviation; YouTube)
Venus Aerospace Conducts Landmark 1st Launch with Potentially Revolutionary Rocket Engine
SPACE reports, “Houston-based startup Venus Aerospace has completed the first-ever test flight of a rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) in the United States. The launch took place on Wednesday (May 14) from Spaceport America in New Mexico. A small rocket equipped with Venus’ RDRE lifted off at 9:37 a.m. EDT (1337 GMT; 7:37 a.m. local time in New Mexico).”
Full Story (SPACE)
Citation CJ4 Gen3 Program Progresses toward Certification with P1 Flight
Aviation International News reports, “Textron Aviation has completed the first flight of a second Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 test aircraft, marking a key milestone in the program’s path toward certification. Designated P1, the second test jet provides a platform focused on evaluating avionics, human factors, and cabin systems. The flight, conducted from the company’s Wichita facilities, lasted 3 hours 29 minutes and reached FL450 and 305 knots.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Rocket Lab Electron Rocket Launches Private Japanese Earth-observing Satellite
SPACE reports, “Rocket Lab launched an Earth-observing satellite for the Japanese company iQPS early Saturday morning (May 17). An Electron rocket lifted off from Rocket Lab’s New Zealand site on Saturday at 4:17 a.m. EDT (0817 GMT; 8:17 p.m. local New Zealand time).”
Full Story (SPACE)
Video
Rocket Lab electron rocket launches private Japanese Earth-observing satellite. (Launch occurs at 19:29)
(Rocket Lab; YouTube)
Virgin Galactic on Track for Production of New Spaceplanes
Space News reports, “Virgin Galactic says production of its new suborbital spaceplanes remains on track to allow commercial flights to begin in the middle of next year as it contemplates restarting ticket sales. The company spent much of a May 15 earnings call talking about the technical progress it has made in the assembly of its first Delta-class vehicles, or SpaceShips, in areas such as structures, propulsion and avionics.”
Full Story (Space News)
Vertical Aerospace Announces Development of Long-Range Hybrid Air-Taxi Variant of its VX4
Reuters reports, “Vertical Aerospace said on Monday it is developing a long-range hybrid-electric variant of its air-taxi VX4, aiming to expand into commercial markets including defense and logistics. U.S.-listed shares of the British electric aircraft firm rose more than 6% before the bell.”
Full Story (Reuters)
Video
VX4 eVTOL Test Flight
Vertical Aerospace
SpaceX Launches Another 26 Starlink Satellites to Orbit
SPACE reports, “SpaceX launched 26 more of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit from California Monday night (May 12), on the first leg of a spaceflight doubleheader. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 26 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on California’s central coast Monday at 9:15 p.m. EDT (6:15 p.m. local California time; 0115 GMT on May 13).”
Full Story (SPACE)
Video
SpaceX launches 26 Starlink satellites from California. (Launch occurs at 00:11)
(VideoFromSpace; YouTube)
Aurora Flight Sciences Extends sUAS Range with New Upgrades
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “Aurora Flight Sciences has begun production of the latest version of its SKIRON-XGroup 2 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS), incorporating upgrades aimed at improving flight performance and operational usability. Now in its third generation, SKIRON-X sUAS received avionics and ground control station (GCS) upgrades, an improved nose cone design, and an optional long-range radio.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)
KC-46 Deliveries on Track to Resume Next Week
Breaking Defense reports, “Following a suspension of deliveries in late February, the US Air Force is ready to accept new KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers from manufacturing Boeing as soon as next week, according to the service’s top acquisition official. During a hearing held by the House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee today, Darlene Costello, who is performing the duties of the Air Force’s acquisition chief, said the service and Boeing “have identified the root cause” of a cracking issue that has held up deliveries, and that officials have “begun the process to resume deliveries.” The first delivery is expected next week, she added.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)