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The folks at Roll-Royce tell ANN that they believe their all-electric ‘Spirit of Innovation’ aircraft is the world’s fastest, setting three new world records. They have submitted data to the FAI – that on 16 November 2021, the aircraft reached a top speed of 345.4 mph over 3 kilometres, smashing the existing record by 132 mph. In further runs at the UK Ministry of Defence’s Boscombe Down experimental aircraft testing site, the aircraft achieved 330 mph over 15 km – 182 mph faster than the previous record – and broke the fastest time to climb

Combines The Efficiency Of A Fixed-Wing Aircraft, With The Vertical Takeoff Of A Gyrocopter

Aergility brought their newest ATLIS model to XPOnential 2021, and James Vander Mey, CEO, took some time to give our ANN Chief Editor Jim Campbell the rundown on how things are going. The Atlis will be an autonomous hybrid electric unmanned aerial vehicle for long range cargo delivery to hazardous or difficult terrain.

Zuri Successfully Completes Hover Tests

Zuri, another eVTOL advanced air mobility contender, completed its first functional flight test in Prague, Czech Republic. The aircraft successfully lifted off and hovered in place in an early test of its flight systems and capabilities. The Zuri carries a mix of traits of both fixed-wing and multirotor aircraft, combining a propeller and aerodynamic wing stability for efficient, reliable cruise flight, with 8 rotors laid out on underwing pylons for short takeoff and vertical lift capability. Driven by a bank of internal batteries, the aircraft has seating for 4, including pilot. Initial design began in 2017, with a full size proof-of-concept demonstrator completed in less than a year. An initial investment

Flight School Promotion Has Ordered 2 Sonaca 200 Trainer Pro Aircraft

New to the pilot training sector in Belgium: Flight School Promotion is a branch of Skydiving Promotion, which has been operating in commercial aviation for over 30 years. Based at Spa airfield, the school provides students and pilots with a hangar, a flight preparation room and a classroom that can accommodate around fifteen students for theoretical lessons. In November, the school will receive its first Sonaca 200 Trainer Pro. The Sonaca 200 Trainer Pro is the Glass Cockpit version of their two-seater low-wing aircraft with an all-metal structure and a 750 kg maximum take-off weight.

Double Asteroid Redirection Test to Target Non-Threatening Dimorphos

NASA has begun its first test of anti-asteroid defensive measures, with an launch of the DART, or Double Asteroid Redirection Test. Designed to prevent the worst from coming to pass from extraplanetary bodies colliding with Earth, the system launched on November 24 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 4 East at California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. As a part of NASA’s future planetary defense strategy, the DART will impact a known, non-threatening asteroid to test its response. If successful, the asteroid’s motion will move in a measurable way as seen from earth, proving the concept sound before further investment. Proving functional defle

Brazilian Navy Receives Indigenous, Exocet-Armed Caracal

Airbus Helicopters delivered the very first H225M in naval combat configuration to the Brazilian Navy, coated in a seaworthy dark blue fade. The naval variant of the aircraft, derived from the Eurocopter EC725 Caracal, is the most complex configuration ever created of the multirole helicopter, says Airbus. Capable of maritime surveillance and anti-surface warfare, the H225M can fill a number of mission profiles while in service, from troop transport, to combat search and rescue operations if needed. 

Associations Will Reportedly Collaborate On Multiple Initiatives

Helicopter Association International (HAI) has announced a new level of partnership and collaboration with the European Helicopter Association (EHA). This agreement solidifies a long-term relationship between the two associations for the international VTOL industry, recognizing their aligned values and missions and formalizing their ability to collaborate on initiatives and programs. The agreement will take effect Jan. 1, 2022. EHA and HAI made the announcement at the 2021 EUROPEAN ROTORS VTOL Show and Safety Conference in Cologne, Germany, on Nov. 16.

Accident Site Was Located In A Wooded Area And The Wreckage Path Was About 550 Ft Long

On October 31, 2021, about 1320 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Vans RV-4, N479JJ, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Chattahoochee, Florida. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed the Tallahassee International Airport (TLH), about 1303 destined for Monroe County Aeroplex Airport (MVC), Monroeville, Alabama. After departure, the air traffic controller terminated radar services and approved the pilot to change radio frequencies. According to preliminary radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, the air

AD 2021-22-23 Requires Repetitive High Frequency Eddy Current (HFEC) Inspections

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 757-200, -200PF, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by crack indications found in the lower aft wing skin bolt holes where the flap tracks attach to the track support fitting; this finding was on a Model 737-300 series airplane, which has a design similar to the Model 757 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracking of the lower aft wing skin aft edge at certain flap tracks, and repair if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective December 29

Aero Linx: The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) On April 1, 1947, Jamaica established the Civil Aviation Department (CAD). Its purpose was to ensure the compliance of all air operators with international and local rules and regulations. The main objective was to ensure the safe and expeditious flow of air traffic within Jamaica’s airspace. The need to transform the CAD from a Civil Service agency to a statutory entity was necessary for modernising the Department and keeping apace with the growth of civil aviation locally and worldwide. The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) was, therefore, established by the Civil Aviation (Amendment) Act 1995. The Authority became operational on Ma

Lost Link (LL) An interruption or loss of the control link, or when the pilot is unable to effect control of the aircraft and, as a result, the UA will perform a predictable or planned maneuver. Loss of command and control link between the Control Station and the aircraft. There are two types of links: a. An uplink which transmits command instructions to the aircraft, and b. A downlink which transmits the status of the aircraft and provides situational awareness to the pilot.

“We are very proud of this achievement, which proves the industrial and technological capability of the Airbus Helicopters teams in France and Brazil to deliver one of the most modern solutions in the world to the Brazilian Armed Forces. Designed to meet the most demanding requirements of the Brazilian Navy, the advanced anti-surface warfare and tactical capabilities open new mission capabilities for the H225M utility helicopter." Source: Alberto Robles, Head of Latin America at Airbus Helicopters, commenting on the delivery of the very first H225M in naval combat configuration to the Brazilian Navy.