50 SKY SHADES - World aviation news

United States aviation news

U.S. Air Force Combat Rescue Helicopter Reaches Milestone, Paving Way for Assembly, Test and Evaluation

Lockheed Martin today announced it successfully reached a key milestone – the Air Vehicle Critical Design Review (CDR) – for the U.S. Air Force's Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) program. This event prepares the program to proceed to assembly, test, and evaluation of the HH-60W helicopter. The joint Sikorsky and U.S. Air Force (USAF) helicopter program team met in May with key par...

Cirrus Aircraft Earns EASA Approval as First Vision Jet Arrives in Europe

Two major milestones in the global launch of the world’s first single-engine Personal Jet were reached when Cirrus Aircraft announced it had received Vision Jet Type Certificate approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and delivered the first aircraft to Europe. The Vision Jet, as well as the best-selling SR series of high-performance piston aircraft from Cirrus, were on...

Stratos 714 completes first phase of flight testing

Stratos Aircraft has completed the first flight test phase of its Stratos 714 single-engine personal jet. In logging 52 hours and 33 flights, the Stratos 714 was flown at weights up to 8,300 pounds, over a range of center of gravity positions. During the initial flight program, the aircraft was flown to 320 KTAS and up to an altitude of 17,000 feet with only minor modifications, according to...

Boeing, DARPA to Design, Build, Test New Experimental Spaceplane

Boeing and the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are collaborating to design, build and test a technology demonstration vehicle for the Experimental Spaceplane (XS-1) program. Boeing will develop an autonomous, reusable spaceplane capable of carrying and deploying a small expendable upper stage to launch small (3,000 pound/1,361 kg) satellites into low Earth orbit. Boe...

Lockheed Martin's LM-100J Commercial Freighter Makes Successful First Flight

The first Lockheed Martin LM-100J commercial freighter aircraft achieved a critical milestone with the completion of its first flight. "I was proud to fly the first flight of our LM-100J. It performed flawlessly, as is typical of our military C‑130J new production aircraft," said Wayne Roberts, chief test pilot for the LM-100J Program. "This new model will perform many comme...

Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO to Speak at Bernstein's Annual Strategic Decisions Conference

Lockheed Martin will webcast live a presentation by Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marillyn Hewson at Bernstein's 33rd Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. ET. Access to the webcast will be available at: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/investor. An audio replay will be available for two weeks following t...

Cessna Citation Longitude crosses the pond for European debut

Textron Aviation is displaying its new super-midsize Cessna Citation Longitude for the first time in Europe at this week’s 2017 European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE). The Longitude on display is the fourth aircraft to join the test program, and is the first flying test aircraft with a fully fitted interior. The aircraft is being used to evaluate systems related to the...

GE begins GE9X certification testing

Earlier this week, GE Aviation began GE9X engine certification tests at its Peebles Test Operation (PTO) in Ohio. The GE9X will power Boeing’s new 777X aircraft. The first round of GE9X certification tests are being conducted on the second GE9X production-configured powerplant built by GE. To prepare for the certification program, trials of the first full engine to test (FETT) GE9X engine...

Cessna Denali poised to redefine segment as first test articles come to life

Textron Aviation announced the status of development on its new high-performance Cessna Denali single-engine turboprop, as the program begins fabrication of the first test articles. The clean-sheet Denali will incorporate the latest technology and is being designed to outperform its competition in capability, pilot interface, cabin experience and ownership costs. Powered by GE’s advanced tur...

Fully outfitted Gulfstream G500 makes European debut in Paris

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced the first fully outfitted Gulfstream G500 test aircraft made its European debut by setting a city-pair record from Savannah to Paris. The aircraft flew between the two cities in 7 hours and 40 minutes, covering the 3,788-nautical-mile/7,015-kilometer distance at an average speed of Mach 0.90. In commemoration of the 90th anniversary of Charles...

Boeing, Malindo Air Celebrate First 737 MAX Delivery

Boeing tmarked the first delivery of the new 737 MAX. The airplane, a 737 MAX 8, was handed over to Malindo Air at the Seattle Delivery Center. The Malaysia-based airline will be the first to put the 737 MAX into commercial service. “This airplane will change the face of the single-aisle market,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and CEO Kevin McAllister. “The 73...

Boeing-Built Satellite Will Enhance Global High-Speed Broadband Network

The fourth Boeing Inmarsat-5 satellite, which was launched yesterday, will noticeably expand the high-speed broadband service available through Inmarsat’s Global Xpress network after the satellite becomes fully operational later this year. The Inmarsat-5 satellites are uniquely able to provide seamless communications coverage through fixed and steerable beams that can be adjusted in real...