Future Flight
NEW ROLLS-ROYCE: SMALL ENGINE SET TO BEGIN TESTS TO ADVANCE HYBRID-ELECTRIC FLIGHT
Last month Rolls-Royce announced its new small gas turbine that has been specifically developed to power hybrid-electric flight is set to begin testing. The engine is part of a turbogenerator system that is being developed for the Advanced Air Mobility market. This includes electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) Aircraft for Urban Air Mobility and Commuter Aircraft applications up to 19 seats.
3 min |
July 2023
Future Flight
INNOVATIVE STARTUP REVOLUTIONISING AERIAL MONITORING AND LOGISTICS WITH AUTONOMOUS AIRSHIPS
South African startup, Cloudline, is making a remarkable global impression with its groundbreaking autonomous airship technology. The innovative platform, developed in Stellenbosch South Africa, is set to transform the realm of aerial monitoring, data gathering and remote logistics.
2 min |
July 2023
Future Flight
WHY HYBRID ELECTRIC? FEATURE BY AMPAIRE
This is a question Ampaire often fields from those interested in why we are not going full battery electric like the Tesla, or why we do not just switch to burning a new type of fuel such as hydrogen. The answer lies in the unique way that aircraft operate and the need to scale to a wide variety of aircraft sizes and missions.
10+ min |
July 2023
Future Flight
EVE AND BLADE EXPAND PARTNERSHIP TO ACCELERATE ELECTRIC AIR MOBILITY
Eve Air Mobility and Blade Air Mobility announced a significant extension of their longstanding partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MoU). This collaboration aims to transform air transportation in Europe, starting with France, by laying the foundation to integrate Eve's state-of-theart electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL) or electric vertical aircraft (EVA) into Blade's European route network.
1 min |
July 2023
Future Flight
SAFRAN SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH ELECTRA TO DEVELOP TURBOGENERATOR FOR ITS HYBRID-ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT
Safran Helicopter Engines has signed an agreement with Electra to develop the 600 kW electric turbogenerator propulsion system for the prototype of Electra's nine-passenger hybrid-electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) aircraft.
1 min |
July 2023
Future Flight
AUTOFLIGHT TO DEMONSTRATE RECORD-BREAKING EVTOL AT 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS
The record for the longest electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft flight does not belong to Joby Aviation, Archer Aviation, or Volocopter, the three companies topping SMG Consulting's latest Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Reality Index.
4 min |
July 2023
Future Flight
ARE ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS PULLING OUT?
Last month NASA announced that it was abandoning its multipropellor electric X-57 Maxwell project as unflyable while Daher, Safran and Airbus whisked the cover off a multi-prop electric aircraft at the Paris airshow. They said it has flown 27 test hours. In addition Tecnam said the company was suspending work on its P-volt twin, an electric airliner based on the piston-powered P2012.
4 min |
July 2023
Future Flight
ARE DRONE LIGHT SHOWS SLOWLY REPLACING FIREWORKS DISPLAYS?
As the world moves towards a greener outlook from the highly dangerous fireworks displays on Guy Fawkes 5 November and New Year's Eve that terrorise the neighbourhood may be replaced by much safer drone light shows as a colourful alternative.
4 min |
July 2023
Future Flight
ARCHER STELLANTIS: PARTNERSHIP ENTERS 'EXECUTION PHASE'
California-based designer of electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, Archer Aviation Stellantis, the multinational automotive manufacturing concern born of the merger of Italian American Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the French PSA Group jointly announced at the Paris Air Show that significant progress had been made on the two-companies' strategic manufacturing partnership.
2 min |
July 2023
Future Flight
BOOM SUPERSONIC CEO REMAINS OPTIMISTIC
After losing engine partner Rolls-Royce in September 2022, Boom Technology (trade name Boom Supersonic), the Denverbased American company speaks about the perilously speculative business of bringing to market a supersonic civilian airliner, announced in December 2022 that it will partner with three aviation companies to develop and build engines for its proposed Overture Super Sonic Transport.
2 min |
July 2023
Future Flight
PULSAR FUSION TO BUILD NUCLEAR FUSION ROCKET ENGINE
UK aerospace concern Pulsar Fusion has undertaken construction of the largest practical nuclear-fusion rocket engine yet built. When fired in 2027, presuming the company's development timetable proves accurate the engine's eight-meter fusion chamber will generate exhaust speeds in excess of 500,000-miles-per-hour and temporarily supersede the sun as the hottest place in the solar system.
2 min |
July 2023
Future Flight
HELI-EASTERN TO PURCHASE LILIUM JETS
Munich-based Lilium the German aerospace concern announced that it had entered into an agreement with Heli-Eastern (formally, Shenzhen Eastern General Aviation Co., Ltd), a major low-altitude General-Aviation carrier and helicopter service provider operating in China's Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay region.
1 min |
July 2023
Future Flight
WISK AERO SHOWS OFF SIXTH-GENERATION PROTOTYPE AUTONOMOUS EVTOL
Hot on the heels of the news that Boeing has taken on full ownership of the startup, Wisk Aero unveiled its latest iteration of eVTOL, a sixth-generation prototype that it would use to pursue FAA type certification, already underway of its autonomous, all-electric aircraft.
2 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
Airbus Says Extra Development Needed for US-made Armed AH-125 Helicopter
Airbus has brought the new helicopters to market in a bid to 'capture advantages of the US export system' and the Foreign Military Sales process, said Scott Tumpak, vice president of military helicopters at Airbus US. Airbus H125M helicopters have inspired the launch of two US manufactured rotorcraft configured for light attack and multirole missions.
2 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
HONDA AIRCRAFT TO LAUNCH HONDAJET 2600 LIGHT JET
Honda Aircraft is moving ahead with plans to 'commercialise' the HondaJet 2600 concept light jet that it unveiled at NBAA-BACE 2021. Powered by two Williams International FJ44-4C turbofans and with a Garmin G3000 avionics suite, the 2600 will also share the original HA-420 HondaJet's over-the-wing-engine-mount design. Certification is planned for 2028.
3 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
PARYS AIRSHOW 2023
Located on the banks of the Vaal River in the Free State, Parys is a town in that is better known as a weekend getaway to de-compress from the pressures of modern life. Parys has an airfield, which is located outside the strictly controlled commercial airspace that is Johannesburg which adds to the attraction of hosting an airshow. In addition, the commute from the economic hub of South Africa is around 90 minutes.
2 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
ZAMBIA CHILDRENS FLIGHT 2023
Felix Gosher, along with his gorgeous wife Belinda continue their long-standing project of bringing the joy of aviation to those less privileged. His 'Children's Flight' initiative, which last year included Zambia, had the second running for a day of fun, for the underprivileged children in Zambia. With the support from the Zambia Air Force (ZAF), this event continues to be enormous. The ZAF provided the venue, as well as several aircraft to fly the children for their first flight experience.
2 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
PARIS AIR SHOW 2023
The 54th edition of the world's largest biennial aviation trade fair, the Paris Air Show opened its doors at Le Bourget Parc des Expositions for the first time in four years on Tuesday 20 June. The week-long fair was brimming with visitors from all around the world, especially Middle Eastern carriers that aim to expand internationally.
10+ min |
July 2023
African Pilot
ROYAL AIR FORCE AIRSHOW RAF COSFORD, UNITED KINGDOM 11 JUNE 2023
The Royal Air Force's premier airshow took place once again at RAF Cosford, United Kingdom in early June. As usual with this event you have access to superb airshow and a major Royal Air Force Museum containing many famous exhibits documenting advances in British military aviation.
2 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
MAPUTO AIRSHOW
Early on Friday morning 16 June, I travelled with Brian Emmenis and his Capital Sounds team to Mozambique to attend the amazing and most successful Maputo airshow. We flew with LAM Express in an Embraer 145 that seats 50 passengers.
8 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
FAILURES OF FRACTIONAL AND CHARTER COMPANIES OF CONCERN
On 9 May 2023, Wheels Up founder and CEO, Kenny Dichter resigned in the face of his company's mounting losses and potential bankruptcy.
2 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
AZERBAIJAN TO PURCHASE A C-27J SPARTAN FROM LEONARDO
On 8 June Leonardo announced that the Azerbaijan Air Force had signed a contract with the company to procure an unknown number of C-27J Spartan multi-role military transport aircraft. According to a statement by the Italian firm, the contract was signed by an Azerbaijani delegation in Italy, in the presence of defence ministers' representatives from the two countries.
1 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
NASA AND BOEING TO PRODUCE NEW SUSTAINABLE X-PLANE
Last month NASA and Boeing announced a new project, creating a new sustainable X-plane. The aircraft produced through the Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project will be designated X-66A by the US Air Force. Boeing was awarded its contract in January, to lead the development and flight testing for a full Transonic Truss-Braced Wing demonstrator airplane.
2 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
DID CHINA KICK RUSSIA OFF THE CRAIC CR929 PROGRAMME?
With the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) setting up a booth at the Paris Air Show 2023 and showcasing a COMAC wide-body aircraft as one of its products, was Russia kicked out of the CR929 programme?
2 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
APIE AND FREDRICK KOTZEE WIN THE 2023 PTAR
Over the past few years whilst covering South African Power Flying Association (SAPFA) speed rallies and the annual President's Trophy Air Race (PTAR) I have become acquainted with father and son team of Apie and Fredrick Kotzee.
1 min |
July 2023
African Pilot
CAASA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
On behalf of African Pilot, I attended the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa's AGM on Wednesday 31 May at CAASA House, Lanseria International Airport.
10+ min |
July 2023
SA Flyer Magazine
RIGHT SEAT RULES NO. 7 - BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
So far we have been gathering the tools you’ll need to be the best damn instructor around.
9 min |
July 2023
SA Flyer Magazine
BLOCK THAT COEFFICIENT!
I have to admit that when I encounter equations in a book, I usually just skip over them. Often some phrase like, “It may be readily seen that...” precedes them, and so I figure that since plenty of other people must be readily seeing whatever there is to see, there’s no reason that I need to as well.
5 min |
July 2023
SA Flyer Magazine
THE PARYS AIRSHOW
In 2022, the first edition of the Parys Airshow was very successful. So it came as little surprise to see aviation enthusiasts queuing from very early on the bitterly cold Saturday morning for entry to the Parys Airfield.
4 min |
July 2023
SA Flyer Magazine
Maputo airshow KHANIMABO!!!
After a four-year hiatus, the Maputo Airshow returned on 17 June 2023 - and it maintained the high standard of the earlier show.
2 min |