Tag: starts

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)

Vertical Aerospace Begins Untethered Flight Tests

Aerotime reports, “British eVTOL developer Vertical Aerospace has conducted the first untethered flight of its VX4 prototype, kicking off Phase Two of its development program. Until now Vertical Aerospace had conducted piloted flight tests, but with the aircraft always tethered to the ground by a cable.”
Full Story (Aerotime)

Vertical Aerospace Begins Ground Testing New Air Taxi Prototype

Flying Magazine reports, “U.K.-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi manufacturer Vertical Aerospace is back to testing aircraft. The manufacturer has begun ground testing a new, more advanced full-scale prototype of its flagship VX4 air taxi after an initial prototype was damaged during an uncrewed flight test last year.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)

StandardAero Commences CFM56-7B Test Capabilities at Dallas Facility

Aviation Week reports that US maintenance provider StandardAero “has commenced test services for the CFM56-7B engine at its engine hospital shop close to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.” Earlier this year, the company “completed test cell correlation for the CFM56-7B, the powerplant for Boeing 737NG aircraft.” StandardAero “holds a CFM International general support license agreement for the engine type, which was added to the MRO’s operations specifications for its FAA Part 145 repair station at the beginning of this year.” Now with test capability, StandardAero “is able to conduct engine performance tests following line maintenance or long-term storage.” It is also “able to undertake exploratory engine runs to investigate potential issues.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)

Rolls-Royce Starts Testing New B-52 Engines

Aviation Week reports that Rolls-Royce “has begun tests of the F130 turbofan for the U.S. Air Force B-52H re-engining program in the bomber’s distinctive twin-podded configuration for the first time.” The company says that initial results have been “very positive” and could provide new life for the decades-old bomber platform.
Full Story (Aviation Week)