Aviation International News reports, “The Black Hawk helicopter has been a mainstay of air combat for decades, but Lockheed Martin is now stepping up investments in new capabilities it says could keep the aircraft in service into the 2070s. Changes will include new engines, enhanced armament support, digital upgrades, and autonomous capability for missions that are best conducted without a crew on board.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
Tag: Receives
U.S. Army Takes Delivery of First Optionally Piloted Black Hawk Helicopter
AVWEB reports, “The U.S. Army announced Friday that it has taken delivery of an H-60 Black Hawk helicopter configured for both autonomous and piloted flight, beginning a new phase of testing focused on optionally piloted aircraft. The platform incorporates autonomy technology developed through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Aircrew Labor In-Cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) program, which has been under development for more than a decade. According to the Army, the system is designed as a retrofit kit that can be installed on existing aircraft to automate flight functions and reduce pilot workload.”
Full Story (AVWEB)
Bombardier’s Global 8000 Achieves FAA Certification as Fastest Civil Jet in Decades
Reuters reports, “Bombardier’s Global 8000 business jet, the world’s fastest civilian plane since the Concorde, has received certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the Canadian planemaker said on Friday. The Global 8000 jet has a top speed of Mach 0.95, or about 729 miles per hour.”
Full Story (Reuters)
Airbus A321XLR GTF Engine Receives FAA Certification
Flying Magazine reports, “Pratt & Whitney has received FAA certification for the GTF engine that will power the Airbus A321XLR. According to a Monday news release from Connecticut-based RTX—Pratt & Whitney’s parent company—the engine type certificate was updated to include the A321XLR after being granted Thursday for the PW1100G-JM engine.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Boeing’s 777X Receives FAA Green Light for Certification Flights
The Seattle Times reports that the FAA has granted Boeing authority to begin flying its new 777X with FAA personnel on board — beginning a series of test flights needed “to win approval for the 777X to enter passenger service.”
Full Story (Seattle Times)
Archer Aviation Receives FAA Approval to Start Commercial Services
Reuters reports, “Archer Aviation said on Wednesday the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted the company a certificate to begin commercial operations, making it the second electric air taxi maker to achieve the key milestone.”
Full Story (Reuters)
US Navy Receives First Two Textron T-54s
Janes reports, “US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) accepted delivery of the first two Textron T-54 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) aircraft at Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, Texas, the service announced on 22 April. The aircraft are set to begin training students at NAS Corpus Christi’s Training Air Wing Four in boreal spring 2025.”
Full Story (Janes)
Gulfstream G700 Achieves FAA Certification
Flying Magazine reports, “Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has obtained FAA type certification for the G700, the Savannah, Georgia-based company announced Friday. The milestone paves the way for deliveries of the long-awaited business jet.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Overair Working to Complete First Air Taxi Prototype
An article in Aerospace America describes Overair’s facility and examines the eVTOL aircraft the company is producing and the differences from its competitors. Company Co-Founder and CEO Ben Tigner believes the company’s rotor design and proprietary technology will be what drives Overair’s success in a competitive market. Overair’s aircraft will use large rotors, and therefore require less than competitors like Joby, Archer, and Volocopter – using only four rotors while others use as many as 18. The rotors are large, but lightweight due to their utilization of carbon fiber composite.
Full Story (Aerospace America)
USAF Begins Testing of Joby Electric Air Taxi
Aerospace America reports that on Monday, the US Air Force (USAF) held a ceremony to formally introduce personnel “to the first electric air taxi to be stationed at an American military base: a Joby Aviation S4 tiltrotor.” The S4 will be operated at Edwards Air Force Base by the USAF, Joby, and NASA in order to test its ability to carry personnel and supplies. Edwards Air Force Base 412th Test Wing Commander Col. Douglas Wickert said, “We’re literally standing on the threshold here of a new era in aviation. There’s no doubt that the electrification of aviation is going to be a critical piece in the broader energy transition toward a sustainable future for humanity, and I’m proud that we get to the opportunity to contribute to that. There’s a transformative vertical lift industry that’s emerging, and we need to be partners in it.” The S4 at the ceremony is the first one delivered to the USAF under a $131 million contract between Joby and the Air Force Research Laboratory’s innovation arm AFWERX. The USAF will not officially own the aircraft, but the contract allows the USAF and partners to fly it.
Full Story (Aerospace America)