New Investor Partners with AeroMobil

https://press.aeromobil.com/new-investor-partners-with-aeromobil#

Wednesday, April 5, 2017 — At the forefront of the global development of innovative flying cars, AeroMobil has recently concluded negotiations on a financial investment from private investor Patrick Hessel, founder and CEO of c2i, a manufacturer of composite parts of the aerospace and automotive industries. This development is part of AeroMobil's ongoing initiative to strengthen the capital of the company and further prepare the unique flying vehicle for sales and production. 

AeroMobil's newest investor, Patrick Hessel last week sold 50.1% of c2i to LG Hausys, the company providing automotive light-weight components within LG Group. c2i is one of the key technology partners and component suppliers for AeroMobil. Both companies have been working together for several years.

"The development of this vehicle has enough significance to be considered as one of the today's most innovative and ambitious projects in automotive and aerospace businesses. However, its transition to the industrial phase depends on additional investments. It is a welcome platform for the inclusion of investors, who understand this breakthrough innovation our unique business model and strategy. Until today, AeroMobil has financed the development of the genuine mathematical and geometric data of the new flying car model, but the new investment will enable the company to develop and showcase a physical model. It will be very close to the final product that will be used in series production. As a result of this extensive engineering and analysis effort, we have a very clear picture as to how our product will function and are very confident that the vehicle we are showing is deliverable without any more significant changes." – said co-founder and CEO Juraj Vaculík.

"I am impressed by the advanced degree of engineering design and simulation at AeroMobil. For the past two years, AeroMobil 3.0 has demonstrated that it already had the capability to fly and drive.  My investment enables the company to move into production on the latest model and prototypes. The team, which has come together at AeroMobil, is absolutely unique and has enormous potential to achieve global change in passenger transport. "- said Patrick Hessel.

An international team of more than sixty experts from the automotive and aerospace sectors representing over eight countries across the world will in a few days present the results of their work - a new model of the AeroMobil show car. This vehicle is designed to comply with all existing regulations for road and air transport and will represent a significant milestone in the worldwide development of a unique vehicle intended for road and air travel.

About AeroMobil

AeroMobil is an advanced engineering company that is commercializing a sophisticated flying car, combining a luxury sports car and a light aircraft in a single vehicle. AeroMobil aims to make personal transportation vastly more efficient and environmentally friendly by helping to overcome traffic jams in large areas and by allowing significantly faster door-to-door travel for medium distances or in areas with limited road infrastructure.

Read more...

Boeing investing in Zunum. Zunum Aero emerges from stealth mode with big plans for hybrid electric planes

Zunum, whose name comes from the Mayan word for hummingbird, aims to develop 10- to 50-seat aircraft that can pave the way for what Kumar calls a “golden age of regional travel.”


“Boeing is investing in Zunum because we feel its technology development is leading this emerging and exciting hybrid-electric market space,” Steve Nordlund, vice president of strategy for Boeing Defense, Space and Security, said in a statement.

continue reading:
http://www.geekwire.com/2017/zunum-aero-stealth-hybrid-electric-planes/
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/04/05/zunum-aero-boeing-jetblue-electric-aircraft.html

Zunum: http://zunum.aero

Their patent: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/9561860.pdf




Boeing press Release:
Boeing Forms New Innovation Cell; Invests in Tech Companies Upskill, Zunum Aero

CHICAGO, April 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Boeing HorizonX to uncover and accelerate emerging technologies, business models
Effort will pursue venture capital investments, expansion into new business areas, disruptive market solutions

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] announced investments in two early-stage technology companies through the ventures arm of a new group called Boeing HorizonX, an innovation cell focused on accelerating potentially transformative aerospace technologies, manufacturing innovations and emerging business models.

Boeing HorizonX has made a venture investment in Washington, D.C.-based Upskill, a provider of enterprise software for augmented reality wearables focused on enhancing productivity, quality and safety in manufacturing, field service and logistics. Boeing has been working with Upskill for more than two years to evaluate the use of its technology across multiple locations nationally.

In addition, Boeing HorizonX is partnering with JetBlue Technology Ventures to invest in Zunum Aero, a Kirkland, Wash.-based company that is pursuing the development of alternative propulsion aircraft, with potential for performance and efficiency improvements in a range of aerospace applications.

"Our ability to identify, shape and harness game-changing innovations wherever they are developed is key to sustaining and growing our leadership in aerospace," said Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing chairman, president and CEO. "Boeing HorizonX is tasked with ensuring we are fully engaged with opportunities from early-stage companies, market trends and emerging technologies while also fostering more rapid and effective internal innovation."

Boeing HorizonX is led by Steve Nordlund, who takes this role after serving as vice president of strategy for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. Prior to his strategy role, Nordlund led Boeing's Autonomous Systems division. He has led strategy and business development organizations in both defense and commercial airplane business units at Boeing and helped launch venture-backed Insitu, Inc., which developed the ScanEagle and Integrator unmanned aerial systems. Boeing acquired Insitu in 2008.

Boeing HorizonX will operate as part of the Corporate Development & Strategy group, which reports to Greg Smith, chief financial officer and executive vice president of Corporate Development & Strategy at Boeing, with alignment also to Boeing's chief technology officer and senior vice president of Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology, Greg Hyslop.

In line with Boeing's plan for investing in future growth, Boeing HorizonX will have three focus areas: making targeted investments in new ventures and startups; seeking unique business opportunities for the company's aerospace technology; and assessing disruptive innovations and business strategies.

"The Boeing HorizonX team will build on Boeing's advanced technology and depth of aerospace expertise in design, development and manufacturing while bringing in outside perspectives and leveraging the speed and agility of a wide range of companies and research organizations," Smith said. "As part of our company strategy to accelerate growth and productivity, we intend to be flexible and move quickly to identify technologies, business models and market opportunities that hold the promise of creating and delivering more value for our customers and other stakeholders."

www.boeing.com/HorizonX

Read more...

Embraer, Rockwell Collins to combine products for defense sales [feedly]

Embraer, Rockwell Collins to combine products for defense sales
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-defense-embraer-rockwell-colli-idUSKBN1762AS

 -- via my feedly newsfeed

Read more...

Boeing Announces Agreement with Iran Aseman Airlines for 30 737 MAXs

Boeing confirms the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Iran Aseman Airlines, expressing the airline’s intent to purchase 30 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes with a list price value of $3 billion. The agreement also provides the airline with purchase rights for 30 additional 737 MAXs.

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, an aerospace sale of this magnitude creates or sustains approximately 18,000 jobs in the United States. Deliveries would be scheduled to start in 2022.

Boeing negotiated the MOA under authorizations from the U.S. government following a determination that Iran had met its obligations under the nuclear accord signed in 2015. Boeing will look to the Office of Foreign Assets Control for approval to perform under this transaction. Boeing continues to follow the lead of the U.S. government with regards to working with Iran’s airlines, and any and all contracts with Iran’s airlines are contingent upon U.S. government approval.

Read more...

Antonov targets US cargo charters [feedly]

Specialist freighter operator Antonov Airlines wants to expand transatlantic all-cargo charter services as it leverages a bilateral air services agreement between Ukraine and the US.|
 The Kiev-based operator, with a fleet of Antonov An-124-100Fs and the ...
http://www.aircargonews.net/news/airlines/freighter/single-view/news/antonov-targets-us-cargo-charters.html

 -- via my feedly newsfeed

Read more...

SAAB DETAILS PROGRESS ON THE GRIPEN NG PROGRAMME AT LAAD 2017

Defence and security company Saab today at LAAD International Defence & Security Exhibition presented the latest developments in its Gripen NG Programme for Brazil. The new developments included an announcement on the first aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force and that the development of the two-seat version has already begun in Brazil. Saab also confirmed extended cooperation with a number of Brazilian companies.


Defence and security company Saab today at LAAD International Defence & Security Exhibition presented the latest developments in its Gripen NG Programme for Brazil. The new developments included an announcement on the first aircraft for the Brazilian Air Force and that the development of the two-seat version has already begun in Brazil. Saab also confirmed extended cooperation with a number of Brazilian companies.

"Major advances are happening in the Gripen programme for Brazil. The first aircraft to be delivered to the Brazilian Air Force is already under production at Saab’s facilities in Linköping, Sweden," said Mikael Franzén, head of Business Unit Gripen Brazil, Saab business area Aeronautics.

"Furthermore, Brazilian engineers are participating in the development and integration of the fighter’s systems. We are seeing an excellent working relationship between the Swedes and Brazilians, with the latter very passionate about being a part of the Gripen Programme."

The two-seat version of the Gripen NG is being developed at the Gripen Design and Development Network (GDDN), which was inaugurated in November 2016, in the state of São Paulo. The site was designed to serve as the technological development center for the Gripen NG in Brazil for Saab and Embraer, together with Brazilian partner beneficiares and institutions. It currently has 56 engineers working at the facilities, with 40 Brazilians and 16 Swedish expatriates.

"The transfer of technology also continues to advance to ensure the conditions needed for Brazilian companies to acquire all the knowledge related to the fighter development," explained Franzén.

Regarding Gripen’s aerostructures plant, Saab confirmed that it will be built in São Bernardo do Campo, in Greater São Paulo. Called Saab Aeronautica Montagens (SAM), the facility will manage the supply chain and will produce subassemblies for both the production line in Sweden and in Brazil, such as the wings and front and rear fuselage of Gripen.



Extended cooperation

Saab announced two new agreements in the Gripen Programme: with Atmos Sistemas and DCTA. They will work on developing the Gripen fighter to Brazil, joining Embraer, Inbra, Akaer, AEL Sistemas and Atech.

Atmos Sistemas

Atmos Sistemas will build-up component maintenance capabilities for Gripen sensor systems such as radar and electronic warfare equipment. The company will also be responsible for in country component 　maintenance for such systems. This will help to secure a cost efficient maintenance solution for the Gripen platform and to secure outstanding availability for the complete weapon system.

DCTA

DCTA will establish capabilities for early phase requirements capture and development of a complex future fighter system. There are six different Research &Technological Cooperation projects togetheDer with DCTA Institutes ranging from aircraft design to aerospace engineering.

Transfer of technology programme

The transfer of technology programme for Gripen to Brazil began in October 2015 and will grow over the course of around ten years, through theoretical and on-the-job training - including final assembly - in Sweden.

Today some 150 Brazilian engineers are undergoing training at Saab's facilities, in Sweden. More than 30 professionals have already returned to Brazil, some of whom are working at the GDDN.

Until 2024, more than 350 Brazilian professionals will take part in courses and on-the-job training in Sweden. There will be over 60 projects, lasting up to 24 months. During this period, each person will have a different program schedule and will receive theoretical and practical training according to the role they will have in the program.

Brazil’s early involvement in the project and development of the Gripen NG ensures the Brazilian Air Force and the country’s industry have access to all levels of technology, both existing and future.

Read more...

Aero Vodochody is ready to restart production of L-159

Thirteen years after the last serially produced L-159 was delivered, Aero Vodochody is ready to restart production of its advanced light attack aircraft. Last year Aero produced and delivered to an international customer a two-seat L-159 aircraft, which was the highlight of today’s celebration in Aero. The company is turning its focus back on proprietary aircraft and L-159 could become a flagship of this new approach.

In the next ten years, there will be demand for hundreds of light attack aircraft on the market, believes Aero Vodochody. And the leading Czech aircraft manufacturer wants to take its share. “We know there is a relevant market and we know we have the right product. L-159 is the only aircraft in its category, that is currently on the market and it is proven in various types of missions. So now it is the right time to start offering L-159 again and giving a new future to this aircraft,” described Giuseppe Giordo, CEO of Aero Vodochody.

During the last decade, Aero Vodochody has primarily competed in the international market in upgrading, maintaining, repairing, overhauling of existing aircraft and has collaborated with national customer on several significant projects. Those national collaborations allowed Aero to maintain key capabilities up to nowadays, which was demonstrated in the production of the L-159 aircraft delivered to a customer at the end of 2016. This achievement in conjunction with the installation of a brand new wing production facility represents a significant milestone for the Czech aerospace industry, because it is a proof of the retained know-how and availability of production capacity to manufacture a unique high-tech product as light fighter.

L-159 aircraft has been operated by four customers – Czech Army, Hungary Army, Iraqi Army and US company Draken International. Czech Army has the largest fleet and the aircraft in its service are serving in various missions around Europe and they are also actively participating on NATO exercises. In 2008-2010, Hungary Air Force leased L-159 for pilot training, it was the first deployment of the aircraft by international customer. In 2014, Aero and Czech Ministry of Defence managed to sell some aircraft used by the Czech Army to two new customers, Iraq and Draken International. Now, the producer would also aiming to restart production and support of sales of brand new aircraft.

Argentina emerges as potential L-159 customer
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/argentina-emerges-as-potential-l-159-customer-435866/

L-159
L-159 aircraft mates Aero’s long-term experience in development and production of military jet aircraft, in the category of which Aero represents historically the largest producer in the world, with latest advances in avionics, engine and aircraft systems technology. The L-159 is a light multi-role combat aircraft designed for a variety of air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft is equipped with a state-of-the-art multi-mode radar for all-weather, day and night operations and can carry a wide range of NATO standards stores including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and laser guided bombs. The two-seat L-159 is a derivate of the single-seat L-159, primarily designed for Advanced and Operational/Lead-In Fighter Training. The L-159 configuration can also be tailored to customer specific requirements and adapted to needs of basic training as well as combat missions including air-to-ground, patrol and reconnaissance missions.

AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE
AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. focuses on the design and manufacturing of military and civil aircraft and is the largest aviation manufacturer in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest aerospace companies worldwide. In the field of military aircraft, Aero has been a reliable long-term partner to many of the world's air forces and it has a strong position on the market of military training and light combat aircraft. With a huge existing fleet of L-39 and with a brand new aircraft, L-39NG, Aero is positioning itself as a leader in the jet training market. In the field of civil aviation, Aero partners with many of the world's largest manufacturers in a diverse range of projects. More recently, Aero became a full partner in several risk-sharing programs, taking responsibility not only for the production of structures but also for development.

Read more...

Boeing-SAAB T-X Experience Key To Boeing’s Future Fighter Bids [feedly]

Boeing Phantom Works sees its joint development of the TX next-generation training aircraft with Saab as how it would approach the development of future front-line fighters.

read more

http://aviationweek.com/military-trainers/tx-experience-key-boeing-s-future-fighter-bids

 -- via my feedly newsfeed

Read more...

COIN Machine: Flying The Iomax Archangel [feedly]

Joe F. Edwards
"Robust," "effective" and "versatile" are three words that come to our test pilot's mind after two sorties in this new-generation counterinsurgency aircraft.

read morehttp://aviationweek.com/aviation-week-space-technology/coin-machine-flying-iomax-archangel

 -- via my feedly newsfeed

Read more...

Más vuelos de Iberia con Perú

En julio y agosto ha programado tres frecuencias adicionales los martes, miércoles y jueves, lo que supone diez vuelos semanales entre Madrid y Lima.
Iberia ofrecerá más de 15.500 asientos adicionales en estos dos meses.

 

Madrid, 4 de abril de 2017

 

Dentro de sus novedades para la temporada de verano, Iberia incrementará su oferta con Perú los meses de julio y agosto.

 

La aerolínea ha programado tres frecuencias semanales adicionales que operarán los martes, jueves y sábados en horario nocturno, lo que favorece las conexiones tanto desde Europa como a la llegada a Lima:


 

Nº vuelo Salida Madrid Llegada Lima Días Operación   IB6655* 00:05 04:50 Martes, miércoles y jueves IB6651 12:50 17:35 Diario

*Vuelo adicional en julio y agosto

 

Estas tres frecuencias adicionales estarán operadas por aviones Airbus A330/200, con capacidad para 288 pasajeros, lo que supone una oferta adicional de más de 15.500 asientos solo en estos dos meses.

 

Los aviones más modernos y el mejor wifi

 

Los Airbus A330/200 son los aviones más nuevos con los que cuenta Iberia, pues se han incorporado a su flota en el último año.

 

Cuentan, además, con algunas mejoras en la butaca de la clase Business y de Turista, pantallas responsivas para el entretenimiento a bordo en ambas cabinas, y un nuevo servicio de wifi a través de banda KU que permite mayor velocidad de descarga y utilizar la conexión para acceder a RRSS, gestionar e-mails, enviar y recibir archivos…

 

Read more...

IAI targets general aviation market for new products [feedly]

IAI targets general aviation market for new products
http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/iai-targets-general-aviation-market-for-new-products-435887/

 -- via my feedly newsfeed

Read more...

Orbital ATK announces Next Generation Launch system for US Air Force [feedly]

There has been a lot of talk about government partnerships with commercial entities at the 33rd annual Space Symposium in Colorado over the last two days, not least of which was the announcement that Orbital ATK is in major standing to compete for a US Air Force contract for a new rocket system to deliver payloads to space. New Atlas was on hand to talk to the company to get more of the story.

.. Continue Reading Orbital ATK announces Next Generation Launch system for US Air Force
http://newatlas.com/orbital-atk-air-force-rocket/48791/

 -- via my feedly newsfeed

Read more...

DARPA Completes Testing of Subscale Hybrid Electric VTOL X-Plane

Full scale X-Plane will bear official designation XV-24A with anticipated speeds in excess of 300 knots


DARPA has completed flight-testing of a sub-scale version of a novel aircraft design as part of its vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) X-Plane program, and is proceeding with work to develop a full-scale version of the groundbreaking plane. Developed and fabricated by Aurora Flight Sciences, the revolutionary aircraft includes 24 electric ducted fans—18 distributed within the main wings and six in the canard surfaces, with the wings and canards tilting upwards for vertical flight and rotating to a horizontal position for wing-borne flight. The successful tests suggest there is a time in the not-so-distant future when VTOL aircraft could fly much faster and farther than any existing hover-capable craft, and take off and land almost anywhere.

Subscale testing began on the VTOL program in March of 2016 and the first phase of testing ended after six flights with demonstration of auto take off, sustained hover, directional and translational control (including lateral and rearward flight), waypoint navigation, and auto landing. Later, the aircraft wing and canard tilt mechanisms, tilt schedules, and wing-borne flight controls were enabled for testing. Four of the test flights featured an expanded flight envelope in which the vehicle experimented with increases in air speed until the wing generated most of the lift.

“The VTOL demonstrator was designed specifically to test the aerodynamic design of the aircraft, validate flight dynamics, and develop the flight and mission-systems controls for application to the full-scale vehicle,” said Ashish Bagai, DARPA program manager. “The aircraft exhibited exceptional flight characteristics, with no loss in altitude even as it transitioned from vertical to horizontal flight. It also demonstrated aerodynamic effectiveness of the distributed propulsive system.”

The subscale aircraft flight and mission control architectures will, for the most part, be carried over into the full-scale VTOL aircraft, but with a few additions and improvements. According to Bagai, the full-scale aircraft will incorporate a triple-redundant flight control system instead of a single system. A hybrid turboshaft engine driving electric generators to power the fan units, versus the demonstrator’s batteries, will power the full-scale aircraft. Finally, the full-scale aircraft fan units will be synchronized to the generators and turn at a constant RPM, but incorporate variable pitch, whereas the demonstrator’s fans are speed controlled.

In addition to serving as a flight controls systems developmental aircraft, the VTOL subscale demonstrator advanced a number of technologies such as 3D-printed plastics for flight structures and aerodynamic surfaces as well as embedded distributed electric propulsion. The subscale demonstrator also improved methods to develop the aerodynamic databases upon which the air-vehicle control system is modeled, and provided lessons for the flight control system.

With the subscale test flights completed, the aircraft will be preserved for possible additional tests in the future. Meanwhile, all ongoing-program efforts will focus on the development of the full-scale VTOL X-Plane aircraft, which now bears the official designation of XV-24A.

The XV-24A will weigh 12,000 pounds compared to the demonstrator’s 322 pounds, and will aim to demonstrate specific performance objectives stipulated by DARPA: flight speeds in excess of 300 knots, full hover and vertical flight capabilities, and—relative to helicopters—a 25 percent improvement in hovering efficiency and 50 percent reduction in system drag losses during cruise.

“These are ambitious performance parameters,” Bagai said, “which we believe will push current technologies to the max and enable a new generation of vertical flight operational capabilities.”

Read more...

Watch DARPA's 24-Prop Prototype Plane Transform In Flight

http://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/drones/news/a25948/darpas-24-prop-prototype-transform/?src=socialflowFB

https://youtu.be/egQjtm1ToB0

DARPA has completed flight-testing of a sub-scale version of a novel aircraft design as part of its Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) X-Plane program, and is proceeding with work to develop a full-scale version of the groundbreaking plane. Developed and fabricated by Aurora Flight Sciences, the revolutionary aircraft includes 24 electric ducted fans—18 distributed within the main wings and six in the canard surfaces, with the wings and canards tilting upwards for vertical flight and rotating to a horizontal position for wing-borne flight. The successful tests suggest there is a time in the not-so-distant future when VTOL aircraft could fly much faster and farther than any existing hover-capable craft, and take off and land almost anywhere.

Read more...