Tag: March 2023

Virgin Orbit Pauses Operations, Furloughs Staff

BNN Bloomberg (CAN) reports that Virgin Orbit “has paused operations and furloughed staff while it attempts to secure more funding.” The changes “were announced at an all-hands meeting with employees on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the matter.” A company spokesperson said in a statement, “Virgin Orbit is initiating a company-wide operational pause, effective March 16, 2023, and anticipates providing an update on go-forward operations in the coming weeks.”
Full Story (BNN Bloomberg)

USAF F-35As Will See Engine Upgrades Instead of New Adaptive Engines

Aviation Week reports that the US Air Force “has decided not to reengine its Lockheed Martin F-35s, ending a potential competition between GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney to equip the fleet with a new powerplant.” Its fiscal 2024 budget request “ends funding for the Adaptive Engine Transition Program,” which was a competition between GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney to build a new adaptive engine for the F-35 fighter platform.
More Info (Aviation Week)