Aerotime reports, “In a groundbreaking move set to launch air taxi services in the UK, Joby Aviation has announced a strategic partnership with Virgin Atlantic. The new partnership, which was unveiled on March 15, 2025, marks a significant step toward launching zero-emission, high-speed air taxi services across the country. According to the United States venture-backed aviation company, the new air taxi service will initially connect key Virgin Atlantic hubs, including London Heathrow (LHR) and Manchester Airport (MAN), with regional cities.”
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Tag: Aviation
Global Shortfall in Firefighting Rotorcraft Prompts Reboot of Bell’s 214ST
Aviation Week reports, “Bell’s 214ST is set to become the latest legacy helicopter to go back into production to address global shortfalls in rotary-wing firefighting capability. Australia’s McDermott Aviation, which owns the type certificate to the twin-engine, 8-metric-ton helicopter, is planning to produce new-build versions of the rotorcraft. It will be powered by either the General Electric CT7/T700 or Safran’s Aneto turboshaft. McDermott currently owns all 24 of the remaining operational 214STs of the 85 that were built. It has been using them on firefighting contracts, most notably in Greece, where the company had 14 aircraft deployed last year.”
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Boeing Outperforms Airbus in Deliveries for February 2025
Aerotime reports, “Boeing delivered 44 new aircraft in February 2025, outperforming rival Airbus for the second month in a row. The European planemaker delivered 40 aircraft to customers during the same period. This is a decrease from the 45 aircraft delivered in January 2025. In February 2025, Boeing received 13 new aircraft orders, down from 36 in January 2025.”
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Airbus Debuts New Light Twin-Engined H140 Helicopter
Aerotime reports, “Airbus Helicopters has introduced its H140 rotorcraft which is expected to enter service in 2028 for emergency medical services. The multi-mission helicopter was unveiled during the vertical lift industry show VERTICON in Dallas, Texas, Airbus announced on March 11, 2025. The company said that the helicopter “raises the bar” in the light twin-engined category, for “performance, cost-effectiveness, and passenger and crew comfort.”
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Video
Airbus Introduces the Light Twin-Engined H140
(Vision Effect TV; YouTube)
Flight Tests Prove Capability of Sikorsky’s ‘Rotor Blown Wing’ Drone
Defense News reports, “Through extensive flight tests earlier this year, Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky has proven the capability of a ‘rotor blown wing’ unmanned aircraft system that can fly like a helicopter or an airplane, the company announced Monday. The drone is a 115-pound, battery-powered twin prop-rotor aircraft that the company said can be scaled larger, ‘requiring hybrid-electric propulsion.’”
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Video
Sikorsky Flies Rotor Blown Wing UAS in Helicopter and Airplane Modes
(Lockheed Martin; YouTube)
Airbus Marks Milestone Upon Surpassing 16,000 Aircraft Deliveries
Aerotime reports, “European aerospace manufacturer Airbus has surpassed 16,000 aircraft deliveries in its latest performance update. Airbus confirmed on March 7, 2025, that since its inception, 16,028 aircraft have now been delivered with the 16,000th plane (an A321neo) seemingly going to British low-cost airline Jet2 through a lease arrangement with ICBS Leasing.”
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Beta Unveils Second Alia CX300 Electric Aircraft Bound for Flight Tests in Norway
Aviation International reports, “Beta Technologies has rolled out the second Alia CX300 electric aircraft from its scaled manufacturing facility in Burlington, Vermont, the company announced on March 4. Later this year, Beta will ship that aircraft off to Norway for a series of flight demonstrations to be conducted by helicopter operator Bristow Norway, a subsidiary of its partner and customer Bristow Group.”
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Beta Electric Air Taxi to Perform Statewide Demo in Utah
Flying Magazine reports, “Utah residents, electric air taxis may be en route to a city near you—and next week is your first chance to see them fly. A pair of state agencies are working with manufacturer Beta Technologies and 47G—a coalition spanning industry, academia, and government that aims to cement Utah as the headquarters for aerospace companies—to conduct demonstration flights of Beta’s Alia electric conventional takeoff and landing (eCTOL).”
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NASA Photo Captures Boom’s XB-1 Breaking Sound Barrier
CBS News reports, “A little over a month after a civilian jet broke the sound barrier, Boom Supersonic and NASA have released a photo of one of the aircraft’s historic test flights over the Mojave Desert. The image released Monday shows the XB-1 aircraft, which Boom Supersonic said is the “first civil supersonic jet made in America,” during its second supersonic flight on Feb. 10. The company said it partnered with NASA using a technique known as Schlieren photography to visualize what can’t be seen with the naked eye.”
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Ireland Plans to Buy First Fighter Jets in 50 Years
Aerotime reports, “Ireland’s planned purchase of combat jets and the development of a long-overdue national radar system mark a historic turning point in the country’s approach to air defence, ending decades of reliance on the United Kingdom to protect Irish skies. Since 1998, when the Irish Air Corps disbanded its Light Strike Squadron, which operated aging French Fouga CM170 Magister jets, Ireland has had no combat jets. The country also lacks a primary radar system. Without these capabilities, a ‘secret bilateral pact’ has seen the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) tasked with intercepting and responding to aerial threats in Irish airspace.”
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