Audit says 11 bln euros at risk on A400M -sources
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSGEE5BA1BR20091211?type=marketsNews
SEVILLE, Spain, Dec 11 (Reuters) - An independent audit commissioned
by A400M buyer nations has identified almost 11 billion euros of total
cost overruns or still at risk in the delayed plane project, sources
familiar with the matter said.
El 400M ya ha aterrizado
Sobre las 14h, desde la página web facilitada para ver el despegue y
el aterrizaje, hemos visto como el 400M se aproximaba a la pista y
tomaba tierra en el aeropuerto sevillano.
Ahora espera a nuestros compañeros unas semanas de duro trabajo
analizando el aparato, el vuelo y los datos tomados durante este.
Ahora, tras la finalización de este primer vuelo sí que despega el A400M...
Read more...El A400M, el nuevo avión de transporte de Airbus Military, surca los cielos
Nota de prensa de EADS, esta vez en Español (la primera que hemos
colgado esta mañana era en inglés)
http://eads.net/1024/es/pressdb/pressdb/20091211_airbus_a400m.html
Esta mañana, el nuevo A400M de Airbus Military despegó desde el
aeropuerto de Sevilla rumbo al cielo para llevar a cabo su primer
vuelo inaugural. El primer avión, completamente nuevo, del siglo XXI
despegó desde la pista 09 a las 10:15h, hora local (09:15 UTC).
Edward "Ed" Strongman, jefe de pilotos de pruebas y de 60 años de
edad, comandaba el avión con la ayuda de Ignacio "Nacho" Lombo, piloto
de pruebas experimentales de 43 años de edad, sentado en el asiento de
la derecha. Otros cuatro ingenieros subieron al avión: Jean-Philippe
Cottet, ingeniero senior de ensayos en vuelo de 43 años de edad,
responsable de todo lo relacionado con los motores; Eric Isorce,
ingeniero senior de ensayos en vuelo de 52 años de edad, responsable
de los sistemas y del rendimiento del avión; Didier Ronceray,
ingeniero senior de ensayos en vuelo de 54 años de edad, responsable
de cualidades de manejo del avión; y Gérard Leskerpit, ingeniero de
ensayos en vuelo de 50 años de edad.
La suma total de las horas de vuelo de esta tripulación internacional
supera las 31.000.
El avión, con un peso de despegue de 127 toneladas, iba equipado con
15 toneladas de equipo de pruebas que incluían dos toneladas de agua
de lastre. El vuelo fue monitoreado en tiempo real por los equipos de
ingenieros en Sevilla y Toulouse, utilizando un sistema de telemetría
aire-tierra de última generación. La tripulación explorará las
características de maniobra del avión en todas las configuraciones de
los alerones, comprobará el funcionamiento de los motores y hará una
evaluación inicial de los sistemas del avión.
Sus cuatro motores trubopropulsados TP400D de Europrop International
(EPI), completamente nuevos y de una potencia de 11.000shp (8,200 kw)
cada uno, son los motores de propulsión más potentes con los que se
haya dotado a un avión occidental.
La duración del vuelo será a discreción del equipo de pruebas y
concluirá con el aterrizaje en Sevilla ante más de 2.000 personas
(representantes de los medios, invitados VIP y personal de Airbus
Military).
Durante las últimas cuatro semanas se han llevado a cabo numerosas
pruebas en tierra, con un programa cada vez más exigente, para
preparar el avión ante su primer vuelo.
Los motores han sido puestos en marcha a pleno rendimiento, la red de
datos a bordo ha sido probada exhaustivamente, y se han llevado a cabo
numerosos rodajes, a velocidades progresivamente más altas, culminando
los ensayos con un despegue abortado de prueba a una velocidad de
123kt (227km/h) el pasado 8 de diciembre.
El vuelo inaugural, realizado hoy, marca el principio de una serie de
campañas de ensayo que abarcará unas 3.700 horas de vuelo llevadas a
cabo, probablemente, por una flota de cinco aviones a partir de ahora
y hasta su puesta en servicio a finales de 2012. El A400M recibirá
tanto el certificado tipo y la cualificación militar como civil por
parte de la Agencia Europea de Seguridad Aérea (European Aviation
Safety Agency – EASA).
Airbus y Airbus Military han aprovechado su experiencia técnica de
varias décadas en la construcción de aviones comerciales para producir
el avión más moderno del mundo capaz de llevar a cabo tanto
operaciones estratégicas como tácticas. A pesar de ser en realidad un
avión táctico capaz de aterrizar en pistas blandas, cortas y sin
preparar para suministrar equipos y tropas cerca de donde haya
necesidad de intervenir, puede viajar a la misma altitud que los
aviones de reacción y a una velocidad de crucero comparable.
Diseñado desde el principio como un avión cisterna, el A400M es capaz
de reabastecer tanto a cazas como a helicópteros a la velocidad y
altitud deseadas.
También está equipado con la misma tecnología de control
'fly-by-wire', de eficacia probada, que la familia de aviones de
Airbus de gran éxito, y asimismo con una cabina avanzada que deriva de
la cabina del A380. Las alas de fibra de carbono reforzada con
plástico (Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic – CFRP) y otras estructuras
amplias proporcionan peso y ventajas en materia de resistencia, y
disminuyen el riesgo de corrosión.
Un total de 184 aparatos han sido solicitados hasta el momento por
Bélgica, Francia, Alemania, Luxemburgo, Malasia, España, Turquía y
Reino Unido.
Aero-TV: The Farnborough Kestrel – All Carbon-Fibre Business Aircraft
http://www.aero-tv.net/?videoid=a6e9958a-6a93-4380-a402-b285107e7e96
Conceived as a new chapter in business aircraft, the Kestrel
represents the application of advanced aerodynamics combined with
state-of-the-art carbon-fibre composite construction. Developed by
the British company, Farnborough Aircraft, the Kestrel made its first
flight in July of 2006. Finally, at the Farnborough Air Show in 2008,
the aircraft made its debut for European aviation enthusiasts. After
Farnborough Aircraft came under new ownership at the beginning of
2009, the company has re-dedicated itself to seeking full
certification of the Kestrel.
DARPA, NASA Look At The Problem Of Space Debris
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?contentBlockId=9869c810-539f-40b3-a803-a268fbef2ae3
Research Agency Developing A "Catchers Mitt" Solution For Debris Removal
NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
organized the first ever international conference devoted solely to
the subject of orbital debris removal. The NASA/DARPA meeting was held
December 8-10 in Chantilly, Virginia.
A400M, Airbus Military’s new airlifter, takes to the skies
This morning Airbus Military's all-new A400M took off for its maiden flight from Seville Airport in Spain. The first entirely new airlifter of the 21st Century took to the air from runway 09 at 10:15 local time (09:15 UTC).
At the controls was Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward "Ed" Strongman, 60, with Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio "Nacho" Lombo, 43, in the right-hand seat. Four engineers are also on the aircraft: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet, 43, who has responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce, 52, with responsibility for systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray, 54, with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit, 50.
Between them the multi-national crew has logged more than 31,000 total flight hours.
The aircraft, with a take-off weight of 127 tonnes, is equipped with 15 tonnes of flight-test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast and its performance is being monitored in realtime by teams of engineers in Seville and Toulouse using state-of-the-art air-ground telemetry. The crew will explore the aircraft's handling characteristics in the various flap configurations, check the powerplant operation and make initial evaluations of the aircraft's systems.
Its four all-new Europrop International (EPI) TP400D turboprop powerplants producing 11,000shp (8,200kW) each are the most powerful propeller engines ever fitted to a Western aircraft.
The duration of the flight will be at the test team's discretion and will end with a landing back at Seville in front of more than 2,000 media, VIPs and Airbus Military staff.
Over the last four weeks the aircraft has been extensively tested on the ground in an increasingly challenging programme leading up to the first flight.
The engines have been run at full power, the electrical systems and on-board data network exhaustively tested, and numerous taxying runs at progressively higher speeds have been performed culminating in a rejected take-off test at a speed of 123kt (227km/hr) on 8th December.
Today's first flight marks the beginning of a test campaign that will see some 3,700 hours of flying by an eventual five aircraft conducted between now and entry-into-service at the end of 2012. The A400M will receive both civil certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and military certification and qualification.
Airbus and Airbus Military have drawn on their decades of technical experience in building civil airliners to produce the world's most modern airlifter capable of both strategic and tactical operations. Despite being a true tactical aircraft that can land on soft, rough and short runways to deliver equipment and troops close to where they are urgently needed, it cruises at the same altitudes as jets and at comparable speeds.
It was designed from the outset as an aerial refueller and can offload fuel to both fighters and helicopters at their preferred speeds and heights.
The A400M features the same proven fly-by-wire controls technology as Airbus' highly successful airliner family and an advanced cockpit that has evolved from that of the A380. Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) wings and other large structures bring weight and strength advantages and cut the risk of corrosion.
A total of 184 aircraft have so far been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom,
Read more...
At the controls was Chief Test Pilot Military, Edward "Ed" Strongman, 60, with Experimental Test Pilot Ignacio "Nacho" Lombo, 43, in the right-hand seat. Four engineers are also on the aircraft: Senior Flight Test Engineer Jean-Philippe Cottet, 43, who has responsibility for the powerplants; Senior Flight Test Engineer Eric Isorce, 52, with responsibility for systems and performance; Senior Flight Test Engineer Didier Ronceray, 54, with responsibility for the handling qualities of the aircraft; and Test Flight Engineer Gerard Leskerpit, 50.
Between them the multi-national crew has logged more than 31,000 total flight hours.
The aircraft, with a take-off weight of 127 tonnes, is equipped with 15 tonnes of flight-test equipment including two tonnes of water ballast and its performance is being monitored in realtime by teams of engineers in Seville and Toulouse using state-of-the-art air-ground telemetry. The crew will explore the aircraft's handling characteristics in the various flap configurations, check the powerplant operation and make initial evaluations of the aircraft's systems.
Its four all-new Europrop International (EPI) TP400D turboprop powerplants producing 11,000shp (8,200kW) each are the most powerful propeller engines ever fitted to a Western aircraft.
The duration of the flight will be at the test team's discretion and will end with a landing back at Seville in front of more than 2,000 media, VIPs and Airbus Military staff.
Over the last four weeks the aircraft has been extensively tested on the ground in an increasingly challenging programme leading up to the first flight.
The engines have been run at full power, the electrical systems and on-board data network exhaustively tested, and numerous taxying runs at progressively higher speeds have been performed culminating in a rejected take-off test at a speed of 123kt (227km/hr) on 8th December.
Today's first flight marks the beginning of a test campaign that will see some 3,700 hours of flying by an eventual five aircraft conducted between now and entry-into-service at the end of 2012. The A400M will receive both civil certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and military certification and qualification.
Airbus and Airbus Military have drawn on their decades of technical experience in building civil airliners to produce the world's most modern airlifter capable of both strategic and tactical operations. Despite being a true tactical aircraft that can land on soft, rough and short runways to deliver equipment and troops close to where they are urgently needed, it cruises at the same altitudes as jets and at comparable speeds.
It was designed from the outset as an aerial refueller and can offload fuel to both fighters and helicopters at their preferred speeds and heights.
The A400M features the same proven fly-by-wire controls technology as Airbus' highly successful airliner family and an advanced cockpit that has evolved from that of the A380. Carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) wings and other large structures bring weight and strength advantages and cut the risk of corrosion.
A total of 184 aircraft have so far been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom,
El 400M ya ha despegado
El 400M esta mañana ha rodado hasta cabecera. Chequeo de todos los controles, las superficies de control se mueven... despega el avión de 'escolta'. El 400M comienza a rodar, acelera... y se va al aire en 'un pañuelo'.
A todos los que han participado en diseñarlo, calcularlo, fabricarlo...
ENHORABUENA, el pájaro ya vuela.
Read more...
NASA crash tests 'airbag' helicopter
A sort of 'honeycomb airbag' created to cushion future astronauts may
end up in helicopters to help prevent injuries (Photos: NASA/Sean
Smith)
Educators explore virtual reality as learning tool
http://www.au.af.mil/au/aunews/archive/2009/0425/0425Articles/virtualrealitylearningtool.htm
Air Force educators, along with their peers across academia, see great
potential in being able to connect people, using computers, in a
virtual environment.
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