Aviation Week reports, “The U.S. Navy’s new multi-engine trainer reached initial operational capability (IOC) in May, the service announced June 9. The Textron T-54A Merlin II is replacing the aging T-44C Pegasus to provide Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and allied training for multi-engine platforms such as the P-8A, E-2D and C-130. The service has received 15 of the aircraft so far, with plans to buy up to 64 with deliveries running through 2026. The T-54A is a modified King Air 260.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)
Tag: Aviation
Trump Orders FAA to Repeal Ban on Overland Supersonic Flight
Flying Magazine reports, “President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order instructing the FAA to repeal its ban on supersonic flight over U.S. land. The order said that, with advances in noise-reduction technology, supersonic flight is ‘not just possible, but safe, sustainable, and commercially viable.’ New noise standards will be developed that weigh ‘community acceptability, economic reasonableness, and technological feasibility,’ the White House added.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
AURA AERO Unveils French Alternative to Reaper Drone
Aerotime reports, “Toulouse-based aircraft manufacturer AURA AERO has unveiled ENBATA, a new “low-cost high-performance” MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drone, marking its formal entry into the defense sector. The news was first reported by OpexNews in an exclusive interview with AURA AERO CEO and co-founder Jérémy Caussade.”
Full Story (Aerotime)
U.S. Army Launches ‘Major Overhaul’ of its Flight School Following Deadly Crashes
Defense News reports, “In the wake of a string of deadly military aviation accidents over the past several years, the U.S. Army is launching a major overhaul of how it trains new pilots that focuses on getting back to the basics. The overhaul includes rethinking the type of aircraft used for training, along with a likely shift to a contractor-owned-and-operated schoolhouse.”
Full Story (Defense News)
Beta’s Alia CX300 Makes First Electric Flight into New York City Airport
Aviation International News reports, “Beta Technologies’ Alia CX300 on Tuesday [became] the first all-electric aircraft to land at a New York City airport … One of Beta’s prototypes landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) after a passenger-carrying demonstration flight with a pilot and four passengers, including Blade Air Mobility CEO Rob Wiesenthal and Republic Airways president Matt Koscal. According to Beta, the energy cost for the 45-minute flight was just $7 compared with what it estimated as $160 in fuel costs for a helicopter making the same trip. The Alia flew at 135 knots, operating under a market survey ticket that the FAA issued.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
New High-Density Battery Provides Up to 63% More Flight Time for UAVs
Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “Tulip Tech, a high-tech battery innovator based in the Neatherlands, has revealed a major leap forward in UAV endurance with the integration of its new high-density 39Ah battery pack into the Acecore Technologies Noa drone. Delivering an energy density of 360 Wh/kg, the advanced lithium battery has achieved flight time increases of up to 63%, unlocking significantly greater range and productivity for demanding drone missions.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)
Archer Aviation Performing Piloted Flights of its Midnight Electric Aircraft
Electrek reports, “All-electric aircraft developer Archer has entered a key development phase ahead of full-fledged flight certification and commercial operations. Last week, Archer completed a piloted flight in its flagship Midnight aircraft, demonstrating a conventional takeoff and landing instead of vertical (it can do both). Check out the entire flight video.”
Full Story (Electrek)
FBO Market Expected to Grow to $41.4B by 2031
Flying Magazine reports, “The market for FBOs—the companies that handle services at airports like fueling, hangaring, and aircraft maintenance—is set to grow at a “healthy” rate over the next several years, according to a new report. Market research firm The Insight Partners predicts the fixed base operator market will expand from $25.5 billion in 2024 to $41.4 billion by 2031. Analysts attributed the forecasted gains to a more dynamic business travel environment and demand from established and emerging regions, especially North America, Europe, and Asia.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
U.S. Suspends Exports of Jet Engine and Semiconductor Technology to China
The New York Times reports, “The Trump administration has suspended some sales to China of critical U.S. technologies, including those related to jet engines, semiconductors and certain chemicals and machinery. The move is a response to China’s recent restrictions on exports of critical minerals to the United States, a decision by Beijing that has threatened to cripple U.S. company supply chains, according to two people familiar with the matter.”
Full Story (New York Times – Subscription Publication)
Hermeus Quarterhorse Demonstrator Makes First Flight
Aviation Week reports, “High-speed aircraft developer Hermeus has successfully flown its remotely piloted Quarterhorse Mk. 1 demonstrator at Edwards AFB, California, marking a key step toward the follow-on development of supersonic and hypersonic vehicles. The short flight, which Hermeus describes as a simple “hop,” was achieved after the aircraft completed two high-speed taxi tests earlier on May 21. After takeoff the aircraft climbed briefly to low altitude before making a straight-ahead landing on the base’s 6.2-mi.-long dry lakebed Runway 15/33.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)