miércoles, 19 de mayo de 2010
Double bubble aircraft design would use 70 percent less fuel
The D double bubble design uses long, skinny wings, a small tail and - hence the name - replaces the traditional cylindrical fuselage with a two partial cylinders placed side-by-side. The engines sit at the rear of the fuselage rather than on the wing to make use of a technique called Boundary Layer Ingestion (BLI). This approach sees slower moving air from the wake of the fuselage enter the engines, resulting in less fuel consumption for the same amount of thrust. The downside is slower speeds and more stress on the engine.
The result is a plane that travels 10 percent slower than the Boeing 737 it is designed to replace, but according to lead designer of the D series Mark Drela, the longer flight times would be partially mitigated by the ability to load and unload the plane faster. Another advantage is that it could also be used with current airport infrastructure.
Identificada en cabina una persona no tripulante en el avión presidencial polaco
http://www.actualidadaeroespacial.com/index.php?view=noticias&id=4bf40d2ef05f4&viewTemplate=1
"Quedó establecido que en la cabina se encontraban varias personas que no eran miembros de la tripulación", señaló Anodina y agregó que "se logró identificar la voz de una de estas personas". Según la presidenta de MAK, la comisión técnica estableció que durante el vuelo del avión presidencial no se registraron a bordo ni atentado terrorista, ni explosión, ni incendio, ni fallos en los sistemas. Los motores estaban funcionando hasta el momento del impacto contra el suelo, destacó.
"Quedó establecido que en la cabina se encontraban varias personas que no eran miembros de la tripulación", señaló Anodina y agregó que "se logró identificar la voz de una de estas personas". Según la presidenta de MAK, la comisión técnica estableció que durante el vuelo del avión presidencial no se registraron a bordo ni atentado terrorista, ni explosión, ni incendio, ni fallos en los sistemas. Los motores estaban funcionando hasta el momento del impacto contra el suelo, destacó.
Airbus poised to start building new higher weight A380 variant
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/05/18/341926/airbus-poised-to-start-building-new-higher-weight-a380.html
The new version features a 4t increase in maximum take-off weight to 573t and an additional 190km (100nm) range that will enable it to fly distances of 15,360km on MTOW-limited missions. Maximum landing weight and maximum zero fuel weight have also each increased by 2t, and structural payload capability rises by 1.5t on MZFW-limited missions
The new version features a 4t increase in maximum take-off weight to 573t and an additional 190km (100nm) range that will enable it to fly distances of 15,360km on MTOW-limited missions. Maximum landing weight and maximum zero fuel weight have also each increased by 2t, and structural payload capability rises by 1.5t on MZFW-limited missions
Electric Aircraft ELEKTRA ONE
PC Aero Press Release:
Electric powered Aircraft ELEKTRA ONE from PC-Aero at the Expo for sustainable mobility, „the electric avenue" (Friedrichshafen, 3.-6.06.2010).
For the first time PC-Aero presented his Electric powered Aircraft, the ELEKTRA ONE, at the Aero 2010 in Friedrichshafen/Germany. Now we present the ELEKTRA ONE again – at the Expo for sustainable mobility, „the electric avenue" (Friedrichshafen, 3.-6.06.2010).
Flying without CO2 emissions and using solar cells
The ELEKTRA ONE is environmentally friendly, because it flies without CO2 emissions. It is light and has a high end aerodynamics. Integrated are modern technologies: batteries, electric motors, solar cells and lightest fiber composite structures. In this electric airplane the latest scientific "green" findings are integrated.
E-Plane Family
The 1-seater ELEKTRA ONE is the first member of the E-Plane family including Electric Aircrafts from 2 (ELEKTRA TWO) up to 4 passengers (ELEKTRA FOUR). ELEKTRA ONE: Endurance for more than 3 hours and a range of more than 400 km is possible. The prototype of the ELEKTRA ONE is in the final stage of fabrication. ELEKTRA TWO and ELEKTRA FOUR are actually in an advanced design phase.
Electric-Flight: From Leisure Aviation to Transportation
Since two years PC-Aero invest a main part of its design capabilities in the future technology of Electric powered Aircrafts. „Using the existent technology it is possible to fly with a one- and a two-seat Electric Aircraft without CO2-emissions for more than 3 hours, without noise and for lower operation costs in comparison with classic aircrafts. This is the future of leisure aviation as a bridge to the next step: electric transportation", says Calin Gologan, president PC-Aero.
First Flight
The aircraft will be presented in the series version close before the first flight (with the three wheel landing gear and cockpit interior installed).
The aircraft will be presented in the series version close before the first flight (with the three wheel landing gear and cockpit interior installed).
About PC-Aero/Dipl. Ing. Calin Gologan:
The Company PC-Aero / Dipl. Ing. Calin Gologan is a design&certification office. It is a small but very flexible and efficient team specialized in structure design and certification of aircraft. It is also specialized in Structure Design, Development and Certification. The experience covers all classes of aircrafts: light, transport and military. The service ranges from the design and certification of single components (STC's) to a complete aircraft certification package. PC-Aero's expertise in design and development, certification and the experience with certification authorities enables this company to complete a structure certification process of a light aircraft in less than one year. By means of integrating the main structure design, tasks (aerodynamic/CFD, loads, structure calculation/FEM and structure tests) PC-Aero cut down the design/certification costs and time. It can finish the whole structure certification process in less than one year for an aircraft in the four-seater class.
www.pc-aero.de
Pilotos ANA: primera tripulación de una aerolínea en pilotar el Boeing 787 Dreamliner
SEATTLE, 13 de mayo de 2010 – Boeing y dos pilotos de ANA (All Nippon Airways) llevaron a cabo un vuelo del Boeing 787 Dreamliner el pasado miércoles, convirtiéndose en los primeros pilotos de una aerolínea en pilotar un 787. El avión es el primero de los seis aviones que participan en los vuelos de pruebas. El vuelo de dos horas y cuarenta minutos se realizó sobre el estado de Washington.
Los pilotos que se pusieron a los mandos del 787 por primera vez eran el Comandante. Masayuki Ishii, Director de Planificación pre-operaciones del 787, y el Comandante Masami Tsukamoto, Gerente de pre-operaciones de pilotos 787, ambos pertenecientes a la aerolínea japonesa ANA. Abordo se encontraban el Comandante. Mike Carriker, Jefe de Pilotos de Prueba del Boeing 787 y el Comandante Christine Walsh y Scott Fancher, Vicepresidente y Director General del Programa 787, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
"El vuelo fue una demostración comercial, que sirvió para que los pilotos jefes de nuestro cliente de lanzamiento evaluasen el 787," explicó Fancher. "Estamos muy orgullosos de tener a ANA abordo y poder así demostrar el gran avión desarrollado por los hombres y mujeres de Boeing."
El vuelo se llevó a cabo bajo un certificado de aeronavegabilidad especial otorgado por la autoridad aeronáutica estadounidense (FAA).
El programa 787 se lanzó en abril 2004 con un pedido récord de 50 787 por parte de ANA. ANA, que ha jugado un papel muy activo como cliente de lanzamiento, espera recibir su primer 787 en el cuarto trimestre de 2010.
Durante el vuelo, ambos pilotos realizaron múltiples despegues y aterrizajes, junto con otras maniobras, lo que permitió comprobar las prestaciones del avión. Los pilotos también tuvieron oportunidad de experimentar otros aspectos de la cabina de mando del 787, incluyendo mayores pantallas de visualización, dos dispositivos head-up y dos maletas de vuelo electrónicas.
"Fue una experiencia fantástica e increíble," declaró el Comandante. Ishii. "A los pasajeros de ANA les espera una experiencia increíble cuando vuelen en el 787," afirmó.
"El vuelo fue fantástico," aseguró el comandante. Tsukamoto. "He esperado este día desde que ANA hizo su pedido y hoy mi sueño se ha hecho realidad."
Durante el vuelo, Carriker explicó a los pilotos de ANA, ambos con habilitación de tipo del Boeing 777, las similitudes y diferencias entre los dos aviones. Se espera que la autoridad aeronáutica autorice un curso de diferencias de tan solo 5 días que permita habilitar a los pilotos 777 en el 787.
Clientes en todo el mundo han encargado 860 787 desde el lanzamiento del programa en abril 2004, convirtiendo el Dreamliner en el nuevo reactor comercial más vendido de la historia.
Boeing increases 737 production rate
SEATTLE, May 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boeing (NYSE: BA) today announced that it will increase production rates on the Next-Generation 737 program to 34 airplanes per month in early 2012. The planned rate increase is aimed at satisfying continued strong demand for the Next-Generation 737. In addition, the company continues to study further potential 737 rate increases, given continued customer demand.
"With over 5,200 sold to date, the Next-Generation 737 is the workhorse in our customers' fleets around the world," said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh. "Even through the global economic downturn, our diverse 737 backlog has remained very strong. Increasing the 737 production rate is the right thing to do to meet the growth and fleet replacement needs of our customers."
The current production rate on the 737 program is 31.5 airplanes per month. Suppliers for the 737 program are prepared to support the rate increase. The production rate decision is not expected to have a material impact on 2010 financial results.
"The global economy continues to recover this year and we believe that airlines will return to profitability in 2011," said Randy Tinseth, vice president of Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "We believe that there will be an increased demand for airplanes – especially in the market served by the Next-Generation 737 – in 2012 and beyond."
With more than 2,000 unfilled orders from more than 80 customers around the world, the Next-Generation 737 is the newest and most technologically advanced airplane in its class. Airfinance Journal's investors' and operators' poll consistently ranks the Next-Generation 737 as the most preferred airplane in its class due to its wide market base, superior efficiency and lowest operating costs.
Lockheed Gives a Peek at New JSF Stealth Material Concept
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:c61d80df-a87d-4909-8ae9-5b80e3609ae1&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest
It is called "fiber mat," and Tom Burbage, executive vice president of F-35 program integration for Lockheed Martin says it is "the single, biggest technological breakthrough we've had on this program."
He says that a new process to blend stealth qualities into composite material avoided the need for stealthy appliqués and coatings. Using a new process, Lockheed officials are curing the stealthy, fiber mat substance into the composite skin of the aircraft, according to Burbage. It "makes this airplane extremely rugged. You literally have to damage the airplane to reduce the signature," he said in an interview with Aviation Week in Fort Worth. This top-fiber mat surface takes the place of metallic paint that was used on earlier stealthy aircraft designs.
FAA OKs Drones For Texas Border
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FAAOKsDronesForTexasBorder_202566-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS
The FAA has approved a Certification of Authorization (COA) for an unmanned aerial vehicle to patrol a portion of the U.S.-Mexico border extending from Arizona to the El Paso region of Texas effective June 1. This is one of two COAs that have been submitted to the FAA seeking approval for UAV flights along the Texas-Mexico border. "This is very good news for Texas, as we seek to provide additional security measures along the Rio Grande in light of escalated border violence,"