Aerospace
The Lead
Armstrong’s ‘Flying Bedstead’ Close Call
August 30, 2012 10:17 am | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | Blogs | Comments
Back in Armstrong’s prime, innovation was a matter of national pride, of maintaining the United State’s position as the world’s biggest hotbed of technological advancement. And Armstrong was completely swept up in this fervor, and the risk-taking it required. His name might have meant far, far less — or nothing at all — if one of his many test flights had gone a little differently.
Unmanned Aircraft Struggle To Shed 'Drone' Image
June 19, 2013 12:51 pm | by Sarah DiLorenzo, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThat word conjures up pilotless planes dropping bombs or spying in war zones. But industry officials and regulators say the day is coming when unmanned aircraft will be regularly used for more mundane purposes — and people will be at ease with them appearing in their skies.
United Tech Sees Possible Impact From Court Order
June 19, 2013 11:33 am | by Stephen Singer, Associated Press | News | CommentsJudge Thomas M. Rose of the U.S. Southern District Court of Ohio issued the order Monday. The Hartford, Conn., aerospace company said in a regulatory filing Tuesday that it will appeal the order. With damages, penalties and interest, United Technologies said the penalty would rise to about $660 million.
Senators Seek Cost Cuts For F-35 Fighter Jet
June 19, 2013 11:29 am | by Bradley Klapper, Associated Press | News | CommentsSenators are seeking cost-cutting opportunities in the Pentagon's $400 billion program for the next-generation F-35, a fighter jet with a troubled testing record that military leaders say America cannot afford not to build. Chairing the hearing, Sen. Dick Durbin on Wednesday compared the F-35's history to a textbook on how not to develop a plane.
Bribery Trial Of Former Finmeccanica CEO Opens
June 19, 2013 7:49 am | by Colleen Barry, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsThe former head of Italian aerospace and defense giant Finmeccanica , accused by prosecutors of making bribery part of the company culture, went on trial Wednesday for his alleged role in the payment of bribes to secure a crucial $670 million helicopter contract in India.
Boeing Nets Orders For 102 Stretch 787s
June 18, 2013 12:24 pm | News | CommentsBoeing announced the formal launch of its 787-10 program at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday and says it already has commitments for 102 jets from five customers: Air Lease Corp., Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, International Airlines Group and GE Capital Aviation Services.
S. Korea Begins Bidding For $7.3B Fighter Buy
June 18, 2013 11:39 am | by Sam Kim, Associated Press | News | CommentsSouth Korea has begun accepting bids from aircraft makers to supply 60 new fighter jets at an estimated cost of $7.3 billion. Two arms procurement officials said the bidding began Tuesday and is scheduled to end next week. Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle, EADS' Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter are competing.
Boeing Opening Info Tech Center In St. Louis-Area
June 18, 2013 11:34 am | News | CommentsMissouri Gov. Jay Nixon said Monday that Boeing Co. plans to open an information technology center in the St. Louis area that is expected to create at least 400 jobs. Nixon made the announcement during a conference call from France, where he was visiting as part of a weeklong European trip to promote Missouri's business interests.
easyJet To Buy 135 Single-Aisle Airbus A320s
June 18, 2013 11:28 am | News | CommentsThe companies said at the Paris Air Show that the British-based airline scooped up 35 current generation A320s and 100 of its A320neo. At list prices, the order would cost $11.9 billion, but easyJet said it received deep discounts, as is typical. It has an option to buy another 100 of the new generation A320s.
U.S. Official: Solar Plane To Help Ground Energy Use
June 18, 2013 7:54 am | by Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writer | News | CommentsThe lightweight technology will pay off on the ground far more readily than in the air. This project should lead to cleaner appliances, greener cars and more energy-efficient building, said Solar Impulse CEO Andre Borschberg, who also is one of the pilots.
GE Aviation Plans To Open New Plant In NC
June 17, 2013 9:47 am | News | CommentsA company that specializes in jet engines and aircraft system production plans to break ground this year on a parts factory near Asheville. GE Aviation's new facility is being built next to an existing GE machining plant. The company says the new plant will produce engine components made of advanced ceramic matrix composite materials.
Long-Haul Jets Get Boost At Paris Air Show
June 17, 2013 8:00 am | by Lori Hinnant, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe global aviation event at Le Bourget airfield north of Paris is once again showcasing the rivalry between U.S.-based Boeing and French-based Airbus. After several years of success for their smaller models, the world's leading plane makers are hoping this year generates orders for the bigger, more expensive long-haul jets.
GAO Rejects Beechcraft's Protest Of Lost Contract
June 14, 2013 8:24 am | News | CommentsBoth companies issued statements Thursday announcing the decision by the Government Accountability Office. It's the latest development in a high-stakes competition that has taken nearly three years with legal challenges from both sides.
First Flight Of Airbus A350 Reopens Wide-Body Race
June 14, 2013 8:00 am | by Lori Hinnant, Associated Press | News | CommentsFriday's flight from Toulouse is to last about four hours and marks a key step on the path to full certification. More than half of the A350 — Airbus' first all-new plane in eight years — is made up of lightweight carbon-fiber designed to save on jet fuel, which makes up half the cost of long-haul flights.
China's Shenzhou 10 Ship Docks With Space Lab
June 13, 2013 4:47 am | News | CommentsChina's latest manned space capsule docked with an orbiting space station Thursday, and the three astronauts climbed aboard what will be their home for the next week, state media reported. Automated controls guided the Shenzhou-10's docking with the space lab, the Xinhua News Agency said.
Japanese Carrier's Boeing 787 Has Engine Problem
June 12, 2013 7:57 am | News | CommentsA Japanese carrier's Dreamliner had engine trouble before takeoff Wednesday, a day after a rival airline had a problem on another 787 plane. Neither problem was with the lithium-ion batteries that were overheating and resulted in the Boeing Co. aircraft being grounded for four months.
Boeing Gets $4B Helicopter Pact From Army
June 11, 2013 10:24 am | News | CommentsBoeing has received a $4 billion, multi-year contract from the Army for 177 CH-47F Chinook helicopters. The Army has options to buy up to an additional 38 helicopters. Deliveries are expected to start in 2015. The order will bring the Army's CH-47F inventory close to its goal of 464 aircraft, including 24 for replacements.
Boeing: World Air Fleet To Double In 20 Years
June 11, 2013 8:01 am | by Lori Hinnant, Associated Press | News | CommentsBoeing predicted that the number of commercial aircraft in operation globally will double in the next two decades, with the bulk of some 35,000 new planes going to Asia, an executive from the US airplane-maker said Tuesday.
Conn. Lawmakers Join Fight Over 1st Flight
June 11, 2013 7:54 am | by Stephen Singer, Associated Press | News | CommentsConnecticut's leading role in aviation has never been disputed, but legislators have passed a bill insisting that a Connecticut aviator flew two years before the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, N.C. The measure is the latest twist in an effort to credit the first successful airplane flight to German-born aviator and Bridgeport resident Gustave Whitehead.
China Marks Decade Of Human Spaceflight
June 10, 2013 1:23 pm | by Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press | News | CommentsChina's astronauts have braved the tension of docking with a space station and performed delicate tasks outside their orbiting capsule, but now face a more down-to-earth job that is perhaps equally challenging: Talking to young people about science.
Q&A: ISO 9001 And ISO 14001 Standard Revisions
June 7, 2013 2:26 pm | Articles | CommentsDeveloped through global consensus, International Organization for Standardization standards help to break down barriers to international trade. It just so happens that the revision cycle has fallen on some of the world’s most popular standards, with both ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environmental) among those currently being revised.
NASA's Veteran Mars Rover Driving To New Spot
June 7, 2013 2:03 pm | News | CommentsNASA's Opportunity rover is still on the move after years on the surface of Mars. The space agency said Friday the six-wheel, solar-powered rover is driving to a new spot in Endeavour Crater after spending 20 months at a site brimming with evidence of water-altered rocks.
Should Robot Soldiers Kill—Or Be Killed?
June 6, 2013 8:36 am | by Karl Stephan, Consulting Engineer, Texas State University, San Marcos | Articles | CommentsBesides his better-known inventions of three-phase power, induction motors, and high-voltage Tesla coils, Tesla founded a field he called “telautomatics” which we would refer to today as radio-controlled vehicles. Visitors to his New York City laboratory in the late 1890s could watch Tesla as he pointed out a model boat on a stand, complete with battery-powered motor and rudder.
Israel Leads Global Drone Exports As Demand Grows
June 6, 2013 7:58 am | News | CommentsIn an expansive hangar in central Israel, workers toil on one of the world's most contentious aircraft, fitting dozens of drones with advanced sensors, cameras and lasers before they are shipped to militaries worldwide to perform highly sensitive tasks.
Reality Catches Up With Sci-Fi In Storm Drones
June 3, 2013 12:27 pm | by Justin Juozapavicius, Associated Press | News | CommentsIf all goes as planned, OSU's research drones will detect the making of a tornado based on the humidity, pressure and temperature data collected while traveling through the guts of a storm — critical details that could increase lead time in severe weather forecasts.
Beechcraft To Celebrate 4,000th Bonanza Delivery
June 3, 2013 11:52 am | News | CommentsAircraft maker Beechcraft is celebrating the delivery of its 4,000th Model 36 Bonanza plane. Beechcraft employees were scheduled to join CEO Bill Boisture at a ceremony Monday to hand over the keys to the customer. The event was taking place at the company's headquarters in Wichita, Kan.
