Beauty of Future Airplanes is More than Skin Deep Future passenger aircraft will look to the past for their design – outwards at least. An 18-month NASA research effort to visualize the passenger airplanes of the future, has produced some ideas that at first glance may appear to be old fashioned. Instead of exotic new designs seemingly borrowed from science fiction, familiar shapes dominate the pages of advanced concept studies which four industry teams completed for NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program in April 2010.

Dubai Air Show Protocol

Netjets' Hawker 750 is hiding amongst a thick phalanx of business jets on the exhibition ramp at Dubai Airport but I'll find it come 10:00am. I am at Dubai's Middle East Business Aviation Airshow on the eve of the world's biggest financial meltdown since the thirties and the Middle East isn't used to hitting the brake pedal when there's money to be spent on exotica like business jets and private charter.

The most Dangerous Airport in the World The World’s Most Dangerous I have just returned from a three-week trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, which must rate as one of life’s most epic adventures if you have the time & stamina.  With all of the preparations for the trip, the one thing I was not briefed on properly was the experience of landing in the eastern Himalayan region of Solukhumbu at a small village called Lukla, at an elevation of 2840m ASL located  27°41′16″N 86°43′53″E

Sukhoi Superjet 100 completes engine water protection test program June 7, 2010, Moscow - Sukhoi Superjet 100 SN95003 has successfully completed the test program aimed at evaluation of engine protection against water jets from the runway. The tests confirmed that APU and propulsion system  sustain normal operation while running over the wet runway within the full range of modes preceding the take off.  So, SSJ 100 is able to carry out safe take-off and landing on runways, covered with water. The tests were conducted in Zhukovsky-based Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company Flight test center. A special 70m long, pool was constructed on the runway. The pool was filled with water, the depth of the water coverage reached 40 mm

Cessna 421 Cessna's first 400-series twin appeared in 1962, the 411, which not only attracted a woeful and perhaps unjustified reputation for poor single-engined handling, it also heralded the arrival Just as the big bore 520 launched Cessna’s 400 series aeroplanes, there’s growing sentiment that these big comfortable piston twins are enjoying numbered days with legislation that will see the end of Tetra-ethyl lead as a vital ingredient of amongst other fuels, 100LL Avgas.

Denel Aviation & Denel Saab Aerostructures Denel's 2003 contract with Bae Systems has been successfully completed. The arrangement combined the South African Air Force's Test Flight and Development Centre (TFDC) facilities and Denel personnel trained and accredited by the UK's Bae Systems.  

The L-15 Falcon China has embarked on a significant drive to establish itself as a major player in the international civil and military aerospace industry, investing heavily to develop its expertise and move away from its traditional practice of “reverse engineering” and upgrading existing aircraft designs.

Securing the World Cup's airspace Major international sporting events have long been ripe targets for extremist groups intent on spreading terror and fear amongst law abiding citizens. Amongst many other agreed responsibilities that led the way to FIFA choosing South Africa to host the 2010 World Cup (WC), the government undertook to secure the nation's airspace - a job many considered difficult following defence cut backs and budgetary restraints at the height of the global economic crisis. However, South Africa continues to sustain a capable and well trained air force that has recently enjoyed a level of re-equipment, the envy of many first world armed forces. 

Russian Helicopters and AgustaWestland Start Building Joint Civil AW139 Final Assembly Line Plant At a ceremony held on June 22, Russian Helicopters (subsidiary of JSC UIC Oboronprom, part of Russian Technologies State Corporation) and AgustaWestland (a Finmeccanica company) announced the set up of a joint civil AW139 medium twin helicopter final assembly plant started. A time capsule was laid in the base of the foundation at the industrial area in Tomilino, near Moscow, during the official ceremony which was attended by representatives and dignitaries from the partners.

Blue Thunder II Claims New International Speed Record Crowds at Golden West Airshow Witness History June 13, 2010, Marysville, California: Pilot/owner/builder John Parker, former Formula One air race champion and holder of several speed records at shorter distances in his earlier Thunder Mustang, Blue Thunder, took his successor machine, Blue Thunder II, to record speeds over the long course set up in California, launching and finishing in front of the crowds at the Golden West Fly-in on both Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13.

Sink or Swim? As images of the US Airways Airbus A320 floating in the Hudson River blinked across the globe, the seemingly impossible had been achieved. An airliner had ditched, it was intact and its precious human cargo stood huddled on the wing. Almost as quickly as the Airbus engines had spooled down, a single question surfaced, “How?”

Beaufort VC In November 1939, just one month following the outbreak of World War 2 a purposeful, twin-engine monoplane was delivered for flying trials to No.22 squadron at Thorney Island. No.22 was a torpedo bomber unit attached to Coastal Command and for some years it was equipped with the outdated Vickers Vildebeest. The new aircraft was the Bristol Beaufort, which offered a speed and range double that of the elderly biplane.