Rutan to Retire Next April; EAA Plans Tribute at Oshkosh 2011

http://www.eaa.org/news/2010/2010-11-04_rutan.asp

Burt Rutan, EAA 26033, founder and chief technical officer of Scaled Composites, Mojave, California, announced this week he would retire in April 2011 and assume the title of Scaled’s founder and chairman emeritus. EAA, which had already begun planning to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Burt’s Voyager aircraft around the world flight, will feature a full Salute to Burt Rutan as one of its main themes at AirVenture Oshkosh 2011.

Colombia Receives Israeli 767-based Tanker (IAI released this video of the aircraft)

video

Northrop Grumman's LEMV Program Completes Three Major Milestones

MELBOURNE, Fla., BETHPAGE, N.Y., and LONDON, Nov. 4, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In just four months since signing a $517 million agreement with the United States Army to build three airships with 21-day persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability, Northrop Grumman's (NYSE:NOC) Long Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) program team has completed three important program milestones. The team is headed toward its fourth, the Critical Design Review (CDR), by the end of first quarter FY11.

"In less than four months time, we have completed our System Readiness Review (SRR), Initial Baseline Review (IBR) and our Preliminary Design Review (PDR) which looks at the hybrid air vehicle design, ground station infrastructure, and ground and airborne system software," said Alan Metzger, Northrop Grumman vice president and integrated program team leader of LEMV and airship programs.



The June 14, 2010, agreement provides for the design, development and testing of the first long endurance airship within an 18-month time period. "We have made great progress to date and have a great partnership with the Army. As we move forward, we look to inflate our first vehicle next spring, and our first flight is scheduled for mid-next summer," Metzger said. "Upon completion of the development ground and flight testing phase, we expect to transition to a government facility and conduct our final acceptance test in December 2011. It's a very aggressive, almost unprecedented schedule from concept-to-combat with a first of its kind system."

In early 2012, LEMV will be transported for demonstration in an operational environment. The program then transitions from the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USA SMDC) control to the project manager for the Army's unmanned aircraft systems.

Northrop Grumman has designed a system with plug-and-play capability to provide warfighters with a system that can rapidly accommodate next generation sensors as emerging field requirements dictate. "Our solution readily integrates into the Army's existing Universal Ground Control Station (UGCS) and Deployable Common Ground System (DCGS) command centers and ground troops in forward operating bases—the main objective is to provide U.S. warfighters with persistent ISR capability to increase awareness of the ever changing battlefield.

"LEMV is longer than a football field, taller than a seven-story building and will remain airborne for more than three weeks at a time, delivering a high level of fuel efficiency. Fuel costs are minimal at $11,000 for a 21-day period of service. It's very green," Metzger added.

Northrop Grumman has teamed with Hybrid Air Vehicles, Ltd. of the United Kingdom using its HAV304 platform, Warwick Mills, ILC Dover, AAI Corporation, SAIC and a team of technology leaders from 18 U.S. states and three countries to build LEMV. Northrop Grumman will provide system integration expertise and flight and ground control operations to safely take off and land the unmanned vehicle for worldwide operations.

Press Release

Aena sacará en breve a concurso las torres de control aéreo

El proceso comenzará con la licitación de las primeras torres de control dentro del plan estatal para fomentar la competencia y servirá para reducir costes y mejorar la calidad, mientras que la seguridad se mantendrá en el nivel máximo, ya que todas las decisiones operativas seguirán dependiendo de Aena, aseguró Lema.


http://www.actualidadaeroespacial.com/index.php?view=noticias&id=4cd259952f8ad&viewTemplate=1


Trabajadores de Aena se manifiestan contra su privatización
http://www.actualidadaeroespacial.com/index.php?view=noticias&id=4cd259f472fcd&viewTemplate=1

Boeing proposes to beat Kiowa upgrades with AH-6S

Boeing is now pitching the AH-6S helicopter as a less costly alternative for the US Army than upgrading 330 Bell Helicopter OH-58D Kiowa Warrior scouts.

The provocative claim challenges a plan to install a new avionics suite and a nose-mounted sensor on the OH-58D, and reflects rising doubts about the army's commitment to replace the Kiowa Warrior with an armed aerial scout helicopter.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/11/03/349069/boeing-proposes-to-beat-kiowa-upgrades-with-ah-6s.html

First commercial Sukhoi Superjet 100 makes maiden flight

First commercial Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) SN 95007 designed for Armenian Armavia airlines made its maiden flight, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft company said.

"During the flight, a crew carried out functional test of aircraft systems and equipment, engine, confirmed flight characteristics of the aircraft in an operational range," the company said adding that the aircraft is expected to arrive in Moscow soon, where in accordance with aviation regulations, its performance on typical routes will be tested.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20101104/161207739.html

Boeing exec: Airlines aren't pushing for re-engined 737

Despite public comments to the contrary, Boeing's major 737 customer airlines are not clamoring for new engines, a Boeing executive said on Wednesday.

"There are virtually no customers I can name off the top of my head, throughout the executive suite, that are pushing us to re-engine," Nicole Piasecki, vice president of Business Development and Strategic Integration at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in Bellevue, at the annual aerospace conference of the British-American Business Council's Pacific Northwest branch.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/aerospace/archives/227109.asp

Qantas grounds A380 flights after engine failure (Emirates says not considering similar action as it uses EA engine)

http://reut.rs/bsC3Pz
"We will suspend all A380 takeoffs until we are fully confident we
have sufficient information about (flight) QF32," Qantas Chief
Executive Alan Joyce told reporters.

Aterrizaje de emergencia de un A380 de Qantas en Singapur por
problemas en un motor
http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/11/04/internacional/1288847412.html

Se trata del primer problema técnico grave desde que hace tres años
tuviera lugar el primer vuelo comercial del Airbus A380, el mayor
avión de pasajeros del mundo. Ante esta incidencia, la compañía aérea
Quantas ha anunciado que inmovilizará todos sus aparatos, hasta que
tengan todos los datos del vuelo QF32.

Halo Intersceptor concept would serve as car, boat, plane and helicopter

Video



We’ve seen cars that transform into boats, into airplanes, and even into helicopters, so why not one that transforms into all three? That’s the idea behind UK designer Philip Pauley’s Halo Intersceptor concept. Now, before you start picturing a kind of Swiss Army knife-type vehicle, you should know that the Intersceptor concept revolves around a central car that remains unchanged, that simply “plugs in” to different attachments. It’s definitely an intriguing idea, even if you may never be able to buy one.

http://www.gizmag.com/halo-intersceptor-multivehicle-concept/16798/



Halo Intersceptor
The Halo Intersceptor is a power hybrid, multi functional vehicle, based around one car that can couple with several vehicle attachments to form the basis of private air, sea and land travel. The next generation of super sports, leisure and business travel. A unique and cuttingedge opportunity to experience the ultimate in multi faceted transportation designed and developed for the most discerning independent traveller and business personnel. No need for superlatives, no hyperbole, just desire and good business sense. A Phil Pauley creation, the Halo Intersceptor is the future of travel as we know it. Imagine being able to drive your car to the airport, fly it over water and land in a faraway island all in the same vehicle.

The Halo Intersceptor is not a flying car; it should be considered a road legal aeroplane, helicopter and motor cruiser. Comprising a car component the “Intersceptor” and three connecting housings, Halo 120°, Halo 46° and Halo 22°. Each housing facilitates a unique and unparalleled transportation experience going far beyond anything currently on the market.

The Halo Intersceptor project is a roadmap for boundary pushing Auto Manufacturers to follow. You will see a shift towards this type of design by all sports models within the next decade. Air space is going to become a very competitive place as the global road infrastructure starts to slow down.

Intersceptor
This High Performance Cockpit is a four wheel drive supercomputer. It can be considered a four seater USB stick that is designed to outperform any other private vehicle on earth.
Length - 4.35m
Height - 1.2m
Weight - 2.1m
Performance
* Maximum speed: 311mph
* Range: 700 miles
* 0-62: 2.3sec

Halo 120°
The Halo 120 is a private and unparalleled Jet flight experience, 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days aWeek, 365 Days a Year. This boutique Aviation experience offers a lifetime of exploration and global access.
General characteristics
* Length: 9.5 m
* Wingspan: 14.5m
* Height: 5.22 m
* Wing area: 117.45 m²
* Airfoil: NACA 64-210.68 root, NACA 64-209.80 tip
* Empty weight: 47,200 lb
* Loaded weight: 82,800 lb
* Max takeoff weight: 100,000 lb
* Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-100 turbofans
o Dry thrust: 17,900 lbf (79.6 kN) each
o Thrust with afterburner: 25,100 lbf (112 kN) each
* Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0186
* Drag area: 9.36 ft² (0.87 m²)
* Aspect ratio: 1.79
Performance
* Maximum speed: Mach 2
* Combat radius: 1,330 mi
* Ferry range: 4,200 mi
* Service ceiling: 66,000 ft
* Rate of climb: 25,890 ft/min
* Wing loading:
o Spread: 126.0 lb/ft²
o Swept: 158 lb/ft²
* Thrust/weight: 0.61
* Lift-to-drag ratio: 15

Halo 46°
Private aviation offers unique efficiencies to the business traveller, saving both time and
energy. The benefits of driving into a Helicopter attachment within a regional and urban
setting offer unparalleled accessibility.
General characteristics
* Crew: 2 pilots and 2 passengers
* Length: 10.1 m
* Rotor diameter: 5.5 m
* Height: 2.7 m
* Empty weight: 5,000 lb
* Max takeoff weight: 9,500 lb
Performance
* Maximum speed: 185 knots
* Range: 450 nmi
* Service ceiling: 15,000 ft
Halo 22°
This High Performance Sports Cruiser features a race bred double hull for ultimate
performance. This closed cockpit offers external access to a forward double berth for luxury
accommodation.
Length overall - 11.15m
Length hull - 9.9m
Height - 3m
Performance
* Maximum speed: 55-63 knots
* Range: 1200 nautical miles
* Cruising Speed: 38 knots


Press Release [pdf]


More info:
http://www.halointersceptor.com/Halo_High_Res/Halo_Site_Home.html
http://www.philpauley.com/
http://www.pauley-interactive.co.uk/