Number 51 – 01 July 2024

“Every flyer who ventures across oceans to distant lands is a potential explorer; in his or her breast burns the same fire that urged adventurers of old to set forth in their sailing-ships for foreign lands.” Jean Batten

The correct way to manage an airshow

After spending this past weekend attending the Polokwane airshow, I was impressed with the organisation and welcoming that the members of the media received from the organisers. The reality is that from a continuity perspective all airshow organisers should appreciate that the more favourable the media reports are, the more likely positive reports and excellent pictures that will be published. In South Africa most airshow organisers are good at what they do and of course I am aware that often this is a thankless job, but now and again airshow organisers and officials at these events behave in an anti-social manner and this will cause serious damage to their next event due to negative reporting. What also made this airshow unique was the ad hoc debrief at the hotel where most of the pilots, media and officials stayed for two nights. At this spontaneous de-brief that was attended by around 30 people, I was impressed by the significantly positive comments that came from different persons involved in the production of the airshow. I sincerely hope that other airshow organisers will start taking my comments seriously and up their game for the next airshow they organise.

Female Fighter Pilot to fly the F-35C Carrier-Based (CV)

Due to a late cancellation, Neil Bowden has one ticket left for anyone who wants to travel to EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh this year. Price R35 755 (R6 228 off the original price) for the entire trip: flights and transfers, camping tent, pillow and sleeping bag, breakfasts and the most wonderful South African camaraderie which makes your trip one of the most enjoyable that you will ever experience. You must already have a USA visa and be prepared to depart with the major group on Friday 19 July late afternoon from OR Tambo International Airport.

Please contact Neil via WhatsApp 082 268 3954 or e-mail: info@airadventure.co.za. Neil has just arrived in the United States and you may find it difficult to contact him. Therefore, if I can be of assistance e-mail me on editor@africanpilot.co.za.     

Polokwane airshow – most entertaining!
Pictures by Charlie and Fiona Hugo and Athol Franz

Charlie and Fiona Hugo travelled with me to Polokwane to attend and report on the highly successful airshow on Saturday 29 June. The small planning team went out of their way to welcome all members of the media and we were very impressed by the superb layout utilising the cross runway as the show line. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with heavy overcast and low cloud, which is most unseasonal for this time of the year. The weather also caused several delays for several of the airshow pilots and a few did make the airfield but had to divert to other airfields. However, by around 11h00 the sun broke through and with the fluffy white clouds this made the perfect backdrop for the photographers. We were told that 11 800 people came through the gates and for a small regional show this is very good. Overall, the hospitality of our hosts was exceptional and at the Saturday evening debrief everyone expressed their favourable thoughts about the preparation, the airshow as well the way Robin Tapinos and his small team managed this delightful event. As always  Brian Emmenis and his Capital Sounds team were on top form with the sound, entertainment and knowledge of the aircraft and helicopters in the air at any one time. My comment in particular was that I was very impressed at the overall friendliness of the many people in interviewed on video and this included the premier of the Limpopo Province, Dr Phophi Ramathuba who delivered a passionate speech to the large audience of spectators present. My full report with pictures and a video will be published in the August edition of African Pilot.

Impressions of the 2024 Taildraggers fly-in weekend
By Karl Jensen EAA Chapter 322

In 2018 the event was moved to Warmbaths, now named Bela Bela. The year after there were a total of 157 airplanes that attended. Richard chose July for the fly-ins as good weather could be expected. As we age, one is more sensitive to temperature changes and this weekend I found to be bitterly cold. By my count on Saturday 29 June, around midday, there were 83 airplanes on the airfield with many more who had departed and more that had arrived, so I believe there a minimum of 100 airplanes and happy aviators enjoying the eye-candy of many gorgeous privately owned light aircraft, non-type certified and certified specimens. A major feature of these fly-in, is the camaraderie that exists. Walking from one end of the airplane parking to the clubhouse where a marquee had been erected for our benefit to escape the cold and adjacent to the catering and vendor stands, would take at least an hour or more to be able to meet and greet old friends and meet new ones – a crowd of people who all speak airplane language. Congratulations all who performed their allocated tasks voluntarily. It was gratifying too, that the casual flying was disciplined with not a single infringement or incident being reported. Thanks to Karl Jensen for this brief report. A full report with pictures will be published in the August edition of African Pilot.

July

2 to 3 July
IATA ‘Wings of Change’ Africa focus Marriott Melrose Arch hotel
Contact Linden Birns E-mail: linden@planetalking.co.za

3 to 5 July
AERO South Africa at Wonderboom National Airport
Website: www.aerosouthafrica.com

6 July
Elders Flight at Air Force Mobile Deployment Wing (Zwartkops)
Contact Felix Gosher E-mail: felixgosher@gmail.com Cell: 066 191 4603

6 July
Tedderfield Airpark and Sling Winter Warmers fly-in Tedderfield airfield
Contact Alan Stewart Cell: 083 702 3680

13 July
EAA Chapter 322 monthly gathering at Jack Taylor airfield FAKR
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

20 July
SAC Event & Limpopo regionals at Phalaborwa airfield
Contact Quintin Hawthorne E-mail: pak02496@pixie.co.za

22 to 28 July
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA
Camping on the airfield contact Neil Bowden at E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com
Hotels in Appleton contact Calvin Fabig at E-mail: calvin@designer.co.za

22 to 26 July
Farnborough International Airshow London, United kingdom
Contact E-mail: enquiries@farnborough.com

August

2 & 3 August
Soutpansberg fly-in and airshow
Contact Bianca Prinsloo E-mail: spbvilegklub@gmail.com

3 August
EAA Chapter 322 monthly gathering at the EAA auditorium
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

3 August
SAA Museum Society AGM 15h00 onwards
RSVP E-mail: secretary@saamuseum.co.za

17 August
EAA Chapter 322 breakfast fly-in to Fly-in Estate
Contact Neil Bowden E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com

17 August
Pilotinsure Heli fly-in to Krugersdorp airfield
Contact David Le Roux E-mail: David@pilotinsure.co.za Cell: 073 338 5200

17 August
Marekanelo airshow Rustenburg airfield
Contact Lesego Serekwane E-mail: sculpturevents@webmail.co.za Cell: 066 256 7302

17 & 18 August
SAC North West regionals at Klerksdorp airfield
Contact Quintin Hawthorne E-mail: pak02496@pixie.co.za

24 August
Wonderboom airshow (to be confirmed)
Contact E-mail: sally@creativespacemedia.co.za Tel: 011 467 3314

24 August
SAPFA Speed Rally at Groblersdal airfield
Contact David le Roux E-mail: david@pilotinsure.co.za Cell: 073 338 5200

27 August
Virginia airshow – Durban (to be confirmed)
Contact E-mail: sally@creativespacemedia.co.za Tel: 011 467 3314

United States delivers C-130 Hercules to Botswana

To enhance Botswana’s ability to support military, humanitarian and emergency response within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region the United States delivered a C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft.  The US Embassy in Gaborone said the aircraft (OM4/Z10) arrived in Botswana on 24 May and was formally handed over at Sir Seretse Khama International airport in a ceremony on Thursday 27 June. The aircraft is worth $30 million (400 million Pula) and was delivered under the United States Air Force Excess Defence Articles programme.

“The delivery of this plane on the heels of the African Chiefs of Defence Conference underscores the theme for this week: ‘Together on the Ramparts.’ This is a tangible example of the United States and Botswana’s commitment to meaningfully contribute to regional stability, safety and prosperity,” said ambassador Van Vranken. “This donation enhances Botswana’s strategic airlift capabilities and supports your national and regional objectives. From Botswana’s track record of utilising the older C-130B aircraft, this new addition will undoubtedly play pivotal roles in a variety of missions, including delivering humanitarian aid and supporting peacekeeping missions, much as the C-130B did for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mission in Mozambique.

“Since 1997 the C-130B fleet has been the backbone of BDF air operations. It has been employed locally, regionally and internationally as one of Botswana’s instruments of national power. Grounding of the C-130B last year has therefore greatly degraded the BDF’s operational capability. Hence my earlier remark that receiving the C-130H could not have come at a better time.”

Mmusi said the BDF has diligently performed a variety of mission using these aircraft over the years. These include supporting the United Nations mission in Sudan, African Union missions, SAMIM operations, security cooperation exercises such as SADC air power exercises, and special forces exercises with international forces. “In addition, Botswana hosts the SADC Standby Force Logistic Depot to support peace support and disaster relief operations. The depot will be prepositioning supplies and logistics for SADC peace support and disaster relief missions. Currently the critical hinderances that undermine Africa’s peace support and disaster relief effort is lack of airlift capability and there is no better aircraft to address this than the C-130. I am convinced that Botswana is in good stead to be the centre of excellence for Africa’s strategic airlift capability. We have thus far demonstrated capacity to operate and maintain a sizeable C-130 fleet.

“Botswana is not just focussed internally. When we request for more aircraft, we want to develop an airlift capability for the region and to support global peace and security. I consequently invite you, Africom Commander General Michael Langley, to partner with us in convincing the US government on how much capacitating the BDF will mean for African peace and security.”

Houthi’s seize a Yemenia A330

On Wednesday, 26 June 2024, Yemenia Airways has issued an apology to the thousands of Yemeni pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia, after the Houthi militia seized four of the airline’s aircraft in Sana’a International Airport. The terrorist Houthi militia Iran seized four Yemeni Airlines planes at Sana’s International Airport and prevented their return to complete the transport of pilgrims to the homeland. More than a month ago, Al-Houthi seized the Yemeni Airbus A330 plane and also prevented the Yemeni Airlines Company from withdrawing amounts from its accounts in Sanaa, estimated at $100 million, for the purpose of maintenance. Under the directives of the Chairman of the Presidential Command Council and the Prime Minister of Yemen, three Airbus 320 planes to transport pilgrims arrived at Sanaa Airport, but the Houthis seized them as well, along with the first A330 plane. Yemeni Ministry of Transport: We condemn the Houthi militia’s action of seizing four airliners for the Yemenia Airways.”

Part of Delhi Airport’s roof collapses; one killed and several others injured

A portion of the roof of Delhi International Airport (DEL)’s Terminal 1 roof has collapsed due to heavy rainfall and winds, resulting in the death of at least one person and injuries to several others. The incident occurred around 05h00 local time on 28 June 2024, when the airport area received about 148.5mm of rain in a span of just three hours, more than the average for all of June, according to India’s weather office. A portion of the canopy at the departure area of Terminal 1 collapsed and flight operations were then shut down until 14h00 local time.

During a press briefing, India’s Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu told reporters that the entire terminal had been evacuated and an investigation into the collapse ordered. Video footage and photographs posted on social media platforms such as X (formerly known as Twitter) show pillars supporting the roof smashing into cars parked along the airport’s Terminal 1. Airport officials said that the roof sheet and the support beams gave in, damaging four cars parked in the pick-up and drop area of the terminal.

Naidu stated that a compensation fee of two million rupees ($24,000) will be paid to the family of the deceased, and 300,000 rupees ($3,600) to those injured. The minister also declared that all flights scheduled until 14h00 have been cancelled, with affected passengers receiving full refunds or alternate flight options. Flights scheduled to depart from Terminal 1 were diverted to Terminals 2 and 3 of the airport. Flight tracking site Flightradar24 showed that at least 10 flights were cancelled and another 40 delayed, while departures from Delhi airport were running late by an average of 50 minutes. The airport confirmed the incident on social media, saying that emergency personnel are working to provide all necessary assistance and medical aid to those affected.

Terse communications from ATC lead to near miss on runway

This is an excerpt from a report made to the Aviation Safety Reporting System. The narrative is written by the pilot, rather than FAA or NTSB officials. To maintain anonymity, many details, such as aircraft model or airport, are often scrubbed from the reports. Upon initial contact to ground, which included current airport information and direction of VFR departure, I was instructed to taxi to the active runway with instructions to ‘cross runway XX,’ which was along my taxi route. Approaching the intersection of the assigned taxiway and runway I was cleared to cross; I observed a single engine GA aircraft on the crosswind runway rapidly approaching the intersection. I applied brakes and advised ground control that I was ‘holding short runway XX for the aircraft on the roll.’ Ground control advised in a terse tone “we are working it out up here and cleared to cross XX” in a way that seemed to imply it was inappropriate of me to stop and call. Coincidentally, I know the pilot and aircraft from the crosswind runway. I later confirmed that he saw me on his landing roll out and aggressively braked, assuming that I may not stop.

My ongoing consideration for improving safety of the National Airspace System is in the way that situation was handled by ground control. The tone and message I inferred from ground control is that it was inappropriate of me to stop out of caution and speak up on frequency. In this case, both pilots stopping on the basis of ‘see and avoid’ despite ATC clearance averted a runway collision. My concern is exacerbated by knowledge that my students are nearly universally afraid to question / query tower / ground control at this airport.

Leonardo to assemble AW609 at Grottaglie facility

Last week Leonardo announced that the company plans to add a second final assembly line for the AW609 tiltrotor at its Grottaglie production facility in the province of Taranto in southern Italy. This would be in addition to the primary AW609 assembly line in Philadelphia. The decision marks a strategic shift for the aerospace and defence group, which said it is diversifying the use of the Grottaglie site that had been mainly intended to build aerostructures for Boeing 787s. In a related development, Leonardo is also pausing 787 composite center fuselage barrel production to match reduced manufacturing and delivery rates at Boeing.

The decision to switch the use of the Taranto site to AW609 manufacturing follows consultation with trade unions. The company has been diversifying activities there for some time, using the plant for work such as production of the wing for the Eurodrone, fuselages for Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 eVTOL and Leonardo’s remotely piloted Proteus helicopters. These programmes are occupying around 100 workers.

Meanwhile, Leonardo is also establishing its new Materials Technology Research and Innovation Laboratory in Grottaglie. This is a joint operation with Solvay to develop new composite materials and manufacturing processes. The site, which has seen €300 million ($321 million) invested between 2019 and 2023, is also home to the new Aerotech Campus, which is due to admit its first cohort of engineering graduates for the 2024/25 academic year.

French President Macron announces transfer of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine

Amid the D-Day commemorative ceremonies, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the transfer of Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine. “As of tomorrow, we will launch a pilot training and transfer programme for these aircraft with the aim of completing their training by the end of the year,” Macron explained, adding that 4,500 Ukrainian infantry soldiers would also be trained and equipped by France. “In no case are we at war with Russia and its people,” Macron added, emphasising that the support is designed to help Ukraine protect its territory and airspace. The exact number of aircraft being transferred or their origin was not disclosed.

The Mirage 2000 is a fighter jet developed by Dassault Aviation in the 1970s. The 2000-5 is an air superiority variant of the aircraft. Two French squadrons are still operating the Mirage 2000-5, which should eventually be phased out and replaced by Rafale fighters. These aircraft are regularly deployed to the Baltic states as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission, meant to protect the three countries from aerial incursions and provide support in case of air emergencies since these nations have no airborne capability of their own.  

In his D-Day address, Macron also reemphasised that Ukraine has the right to strike back at Russian positions from which attacks are launched. “If we say to the Ukrainians: ‘you cannot neutralise these Russian capabilities,’ then we tell them you can no longer defend yourself,” the French president explained.

Doubt had long hovered over France’s transfer of Mirage 2000s to Ukraine. On 22 March 2023, the daily newspaper Le Figaro stated that around 30 Ukrainian air crewmembers were receiving accelerated training to operate Mirage 2000s. However, the French Ministry of Armed Forces denied the claims. On 3 September 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Macron agreed to train Ukrainian pilots in France. Pilots chosen to fly the F-16 will travel to France and receive advanced training flying the Alpha Jet trainer. Advanced training is the last stage before receiving basic training on the F-16, also known as B-course.

Boeing wrapping up lot 1 F-15EX deliveries after handing over first operational jet

The first operational F-15EX fighter jet has officially been delivered to the US Air National Guard from manufacturer Boeing and with the delivery of a second jet soon to follow, the beleaguered aerospace giant is poised to avert a schedule breach for the programme. The fighter landed in Portland where it will now be operated by the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing, according to posts from the wing on social media. The jet is recapitalising the wing’s aging F-15C/D models that the Air Force is moving to retire.

This delivery comes a little later than programme officials hoped for, as the programme was set back with roughly a year of delays due to manufacturing woes. Despite the slip, the Air Force previously maintained that the programme was not at risk of a schedule breach as long as Boeing delivered six remaining aircraft to the service by the end of this month. This batch of six fighters, known as the programme’s lot 1B, consisted of four test aircraft and two operational fighters. The two operational fighters are dubbed EX7 and EX8, respectively. EX8 is the jet that touched down Wednesday and EX7 is expected “in the next couple weeks and anticipated before July,” a Boeing spokesperson said. Boeing posted the two jets receiving their ‘final touches’ on social media with customised tail flashes for the 142nd Wing. The fighter is manufactured at Boeing’s facilities in St. Louis.

Dubbed Eagle II, the F-15EX is a modernised version of the legacy F-15, which incorporates upgrades such as a new electronic warfare suite. Its ‘flyaway’ price tag for jets in the first lot worked out to roughly $80.5 million, though that number is expected to rise to approximately $90 million for the next lot of fighters. Shifting budget priorities have also left the Eagle II’s fleet size in flux: after originally planning to buy 144 copies of the fighter, the Air Force has subsequently shrunk its planned purchase to 98. However, some lawmakers want to increase that number, with House authorisers recently pushing to fund procurement of more jets in their version of the fiscal 2025 National Defence Authorisation Act. Details of House appropriators’ legislation is expected to be unveiled shortly, though the committee did not indicate it would increase the F-15EX buy in a summary released this week.

With the US Air Force’s purchase fluctuating at home, Boeing is looking abroad to boost sales of the F-15EX. Foreign buyers such as Indonesia have already signed on. Keeping the F-15EX on track is vital for Boeing, which has struggled with both its defence and commercial sides in recent years. F-15 and F/A-18 production was also recently under threat due to the potential closure of a factory from supplier GKN Aerospace, though an agreement the two parties reached in April is expected to keep the facility humming under Boeing’s ownership.

Leonardo Future Programmes Group: The UK innovation hub for military uncrewed systems

Leonardo’s Future Programmes Group was established in 2022 as a Centre of Excellence for emerging rotorcraft technologies and this innovation hub is already proving to be a game-changer for the future of helicopter design and development. We take a deeper dive into the Future Programmes Group and its vision going forward and how it is responding to and informing the future requirements of military helicopters. Leonardo continues to be at the forefront of rotorcraft design and is continually looking at new ways to stay ahead of the game and provide best-in-class solutions to customers. So, when Leonardo established the Future Programmes Group in 2022, it did so with this position in mind, setting out to ensure that innovation remains at the heart of all that the company does.

Through the Future Programmes Group, based at the Home of British Helicopters in Yeovil, the company is exploring innovative technologies and approaches to design and manufacture, taking talented individuals from across Leonardo and promoting creative thinking to garner a new way of looking at design and development. There are synergies with other innovation hubs across Leonardo, all of which are agile groups that focus on taking a refreshed look at how the company carries out design, development, manufacturing and delivery. With a focus on redefining how rotorcraft are developed by using a combination of agile project management approaches and digitalisation, the group is ensuring that Leonardo is at the forefront of next-generation military helicopter design.

Proteus – the future of UK uncrewed military VTOL

The initial focus for the group has been project Proteus, the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Technology Development Programme (TDP) into the future of military maritime vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) systems. Work is being carried out at pace to deliver this collaborative project alongside the MOD. For Proteus, Leonardo and its Future Programmes Group are working alongside the MOD’s Defence Equipment and Support’s (DE&S) Future Capability Group and the Royal Navy to focus on de-risking emerging technologies and concepts.

Proteus is an evolution of the MOD’s Rotary Wing Uncrewed Air System (RWUAS) Concept Capability Demonstrator (CCD), which Leonardo has been involved in since 2013. In July 2022, Leonardo was awarded a four-year contract for the RWUAS CCD Phase 3 Technology Demonstration Programme (TDP). Following this, in September 2023, Leonardo and the MOD unveiled a conceptually mature design at DSEI in London. A two-to-three-ton technology demonstrator based on a single main rotor design was exhibited with the ambition for this demonstrator to take flight in the middle of this decade.

Proteus represents a low-risk concept with modularity and autonomy at its core. The multi-role air vehicle will carry out on-board decision-making at a level not seen before and delivering for future mission successes will be at the heart of this. Uncrewed systems can operate in high-threat situations where there would otherwise be an increased Risk to Life (RtL) in deploying a crewed platform. As a result of this ability to push operational boundaries and increase platform persistence, a refreshed approach to Availability, Reliability and Maintainability (AR&M) and modularity is a fundamental consideration for Proteus.

Because uncrewed systems are designed to deliver more persistent operations, there is a need to minimise maintenance, repair and overhaul. Sustainability is a key driver in the development of the technology demonstrator, with recycled materials and attritable airframes just two approaches being considered by the team. The project will validate that a platform with high levels of modularity and autonomy can deliver or contribute to the delivery of effect, further pioneering the future of military aviation.

A collaborative approach

Proteus is not just about emerging technology, but also new ways of collaborative working. The Future Programmes Group meets with key stakeholders, including the MOD, every quarter for system concept reviews, or SCRs which is an open, transparent approach to cross-industry / MOD working and is a departure from the traditional industry-MOD approach to contracting.

This allows all parties to check the health of the project on a regular basis so that amendments can be made and feedback provided almost in real time, avoiding costly and time-intensive changes being made further down the line. “We are joining forces to really explore what the art of the possible is,” said Martyn Ashford, Head of Future Programmes Group at Leonardo Helicopters UK. “By taking this approach, we can truly measure the health of a programme and we are breeding a level of trust.”

Ashford adds: “It is truly a collaborative effort, which is another way in which Proteus and the Future Programmes Group are taking a refreshed approach to project delivery.”

Digitalisation is key to delivering this agile approach, and Leonardo is working with Siemens to adapt the Teamcenter Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) tool for the project. A full digital twin is being utilised to simulate design outcomes and synthetic environments are being employed to represent the integration of airborne vehicle models. The data collected will be layered with the tactical mission system, enabling the team to determine how it will shape the future autonomous capability of the aircraft. A dynamic integration rig is also being used to test the advanced autonomous systems on board the aircraft.

An expanding number of projects

While the success of Proteus is a priority for the group, its ambitions go far beyond this key project.

The Future Programmes Group has also been involved in other key UK programmes, such as the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory’s (Dstl) Rotorcraft Concepts and Tactical Aviation in Contested, Degraded and Operationally limiting environment (RCAT) programme. This is seeking to develop technologies that will counter emerging and evolving battlefield threat systems that are coming to the fore and that will ultimately protect the MOD’s aircraft fleets. During the four-year programme, an industry consortium led by Leonardo will explore the development of these technologies for next-generation aircraft.

The Future Programmes Group has also been exploring Air-Launched Effects (ALE), while Leonardo competed in the MOD’s Heavy Lift Challenge, two further examples of the company’s involvement in emerging requirements and the future of aviation. What is common across the projects that the group is working on, is that they go beyond low Technology Readiness Level (TRL) research and development (R&D) efforts. They actually sit around TRL4-7, which means the technology has often been validated as well as demonstrated. They are therefore tangible efforts that go beyond research. Although it is not the sole focus of the group, initial work has largely been on uncrewed technologies and exploring the potential that they have in future operations.

“We are hoping that autonomy and automation will become a future crown jewel for Leonardo, and through the Future Programmes Group, we are establishing ourselves as the UK hub for military uncrewed systems,” explains Ashford. “We are accelerating the technological evolution of autonomy and automation, challenging ourselves to take a different perspective based on all of our crewed experience and applying it to the uncrewed segment, which is collectively driving a completely different way of thinking within the company.”

Jury awards Zunum $81 million in Boeing lawsuit

A federal court jury has awarded a failed electric aircraft startup Zunum $81 million in a suit against Boeing, finding the aerospace giant stole Zunum’s technology and then conspired to put it out of business. The Seattle Times is reporting the jury also found that Boeing’s actions were ‘wilful and malicious’ and that gives the judge in the case the option to triple the award. Boeing told the court it initially invested in Zunum but determined it was a market that wouldn’t be viable. It said it would appeal the verdict.

Boeing and JetBlue invested a total of $1.3 million in Zunum and the State of Washington chipped in another $282,000 based on Zunum’s design for a nine-seat hybrid electric aircraft. The company never did build an aircraft and Boeing said it lost its investment. But Zunum alleged that Boeing launched a ‘targeted and coordinated campaign’ to steal its design to build its own electric plane. It also alleged that Boeing interfered with Zunum’s attempt to attract other investors.

Boeing did build what it called a ‘conceptual mock-up’ that it used to determine that electric aviation is not viable. As for Zunum, it said the company failed on its own. ‘An ambitious startup’s reach exceeded its grasp and investors fled,’ the Times quoted Boeing’s court filing as saying, ‘What preliminarily looked like an interesting investment prospect that promised a new hybrid electric or electric aircraft turned into a loss for Boeing.’

SpaceX’s fourth launch hailed as a hugely successful flight

Despite a flap burn-through that had observers on the edge of their seats, SpaceX’s fourth test flight of its mega rocket is being hailed as a stunning success. SpaceX founder Elon Musk posted on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) “Successful soft landing of the Starship Super Heavy rocket booster!” The 400-foot-tall rocket launched on 6 June at 08h50 EDT from its Starbase site near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas. Mission goals included bringing the first-stage booster (dubbed “Super Heavy”) back to Earth for a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico and a successful re-entry for 165-foot upper stage, (Starship, or simply, ‘Ship’) and a soft landing in the Indian Ocean. Both goals were achieved.

The nail-biting centred on the Ship, as in-flight video showed the controlling flap’s heat shield burn away during re-entry. But ‘the little flap that could’ survived the intense heat and the stresses of the descent, enabling the Ship to ‘nail’ its landing in the Indian Ocean. During a live feed from company headquarters in Hawthorne, California, SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot reported, “This whole building was going absolutely insane. When we saw the booster hit the water, I mean, wow.” According to the SpaceX website post, “We are continuing to rapidly develop Starship, placing flight hardware in a flight environment to learn as quickly as possible as we build a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond.”

Wisk Aero acquires Verocel to bolster certification of autonomous air taxi

Advanced air mobility (AAM) company, Wisk Aero has announced the acquisition of Verocel Inc., a renowned software verification and validation (V&V) company. Verocel’s unique expertise in supporting the certification of high-integrity aerospace software and the qualification of V&V tools will play a pivotal role in Wisk’s ongoing effort to certify its Generation six autonomous, electric air taxi. For the past 25 years, the Verocel team has been at the forefront of V&V for high-integrity software products within the aerospace industry. The team possesses deep expertise in DO-178C and participates actively in industry standards committees for high-integrity software, including RTCA / Special Committee. In addition, Verocel’s qualified toolset, VeroTrace, provides a baseline for software certification requirements definition, tracking and FAA submissions. This specialised expertise establishes a lasting capability at Wisk that supports both the certification of the Generation six aircraft and future software developments at The Boeing Company.

Founded in 1999, Verocel has a proven history with over 160 projects for 25+ customers, including previous work with The Boeing Company. Besides software development and V&V services, Verocel also develops and produces the safety computers for the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), an air navigation system that enhances GPS accuracy and integrity, enabling aircraft to navigate safely worldwide. Over 50 highly specialised software engineers, based in Westford, Massachusetts and Poznan, Poland, will join Wisk through this acquisition. Verocel will continue to fulfil customer commitments while ramping up on the Wisk Generation 6 certification programme.

“Wisk is a perfect alignment for Verocel, both in the long and short term,” said Jim Chelini, President of Verocel. “Not only is this a chance to directly apply our expertise to the certification of a ground-breaking technology, but it is also an incredible opportunity for Verocel talent to excel within Wisk and the broader Boeing ecosystem long term.”

EHang delivers 27 EH216-S eVTOLs

EHang Holdings announced it has received full payment for the initial batch of 30 units of EH216-S passenger-carrying pilotless aircraft and has delivered 27 units to Wencheng County Transportation Development Group Co., Ltd. in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province.

On 22 June the EH216-S pilotless electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft completed its passenger-carrying debut flight in Wencheng, marking the launch of the cultural tourism initiative of ‘Low-Altitude Tourism in Wencheng’. During the flight event, EH216-S carried multiple passengers for a low-altitude sightseeing tour over the renowned Tianding Lake at the Baizhangji Fall & Feiyun Lake Scenic Resort. The UAM operation center and supporting infrastructure will be gradually established in other areas in Wencheng as preparation for launching EH216-S aerial sightseeing services and a benchmark for low-altitude cultural tourism.

According to the cooperation agreement between EHang and the Wencheng County Government, both parties will jointly develop UAM and supporting public service ecosystem for the low-altitude economy and explore various low-altitude commercial operations for tourism, transportation, logistics, emergency response and other scenarios, thereby generating a combined effect in low-altitude economy. Wencheng County plans to set up aerial sightseeing routes in scenic attractions such as Tianding Lake and Baizhangji Fall within this year and to launch pilotless eVTOL aerial sightseeing services.

Zhaozheng Luo, Secretary of Wencheng County Government, remarked, “This year marks an important beginning of Wencheng’s low-altitude economy development. Wencheng will fully leverage its advantages, including its clean airspace, rich terrain and unique locations, to vigorously develop the low-altitude economy. By innovating with this emerging industry, we will jointly explore new business models with EHang, accelerating the integration ecosystem of low-altitude applications, scenic attractions and the local culture. Bringing low-altitude scenarios forward to flourish across Wencheng will nurture low-altitude industries, empower diverse business models and refine low-altitude service management for efficiency and safety. By achieving these goals, Wencheng aims to become a demonstration county for high-quality low-altitude economy development, contributing to Wenzhou’s goal of reaching the GDP of over RMB1 trillion and a resident population of over RMB10 million, and Zhejiang’s vision of becoming a pioneering civil aviation province.”

Airbus, Avincis

Avincis, a well-established European helicopter operator, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to collaborate on the development of advanced air mobility (AAM). This partnership will explore opportunities for operating electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft throughout Europe. Through the agreement, Avincis and Airbus will focus on defining the concept of operations for eVTOLs in Europe and beyond. Both companies will work together to determine mission profiles for eVTOL operations in Europe and other target regions. This agreement marks another step towards the creation of an AAM ecosystem and builds on Avincis’ longstanding relationship with Airbus.

John Boag, CEO, Avincis, said: “Our partnership with Airbus is an important milestone for Avincis, as we look to the future of emergency air services and the platforms that will support our missions for generations to come. eVTOLs will play an important role in our long-term fleet strategy as these technologies continue to evolve to give us further reach and capability in the field.  Airbus is at the cutting-edge of this evolution and we are excited to be working with their team in understanding how we can harness the latest technology to bring more sustainable solutions to emergency services globally.”

Avincis’ global fleet currently includes around 60 Airbus aircraft, which are crucial for delivering safe, reliable and consistent operations from its bases across Europe, Africa and South America. The strong and trusting relationship between Avincis and Airbus, developed over many years of successful cooperation, will underpin this new eVTOL collaboration.

Airbus remains committed to expanding its network of partnerships worldwide to build an ecosystem that promotes a viable AAM market. The fully electric CityAirbus NextGen prototype was presented to the public in March 2024, following the vehicle’s final assembly and power-on in December 2023. The vehicle is now undergoing testing at the company’s AAM test centre in Donauwörth, Germany, prior to its initial flight later this year.

Milkor announces new partnership for maritime version of the Milkor 380 UAV

Milkor has established a strategic partnership with Germany’s Aerodata AG to develop a new specialised platform for maritime surveillance, the AeroForce 380, based on the Milkor 380 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). At the Paris Air Show 2023, Aerodata and Milkor solidified its commitment to cooperation with a Memorandum of Understanding. Now, the AeroForce 380 will officially be launched during the ILA Berlin Air Show 2024.

This Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV, tailored specifically for maritime surveillance and coast guard missions, is capable of reaching a service ceiling of 30 000 feet, with enhancements to the design made to effectively operate in the low altitude segment (below 10 000 feet) ideally suited for maritime surveillance operations. In addition, the UAV boasts an endurance of up to 35 hours, ensuring extended mission coverage and increased operational efficiency, Milkor said. Payload is up to 250 kg, with sensors including AIS, side-looking airborne radar and electro-optical / infrared gimbals.

“With a maximum take-off weight of 1 300 kg and the capability to carry mission-specific payloads, the AeroForce 380 has the potential to revolutionise surveillance aircraft fleets worldwide,” Aerodata said. “It is worth noting that Aerodata’s contribution includes state-of-the-art mission system technology, complemented by maritime surveillance sensors from its subsidiary, Optimare Systems GmbH. This integrated approach guarantees optimal performance and support, ensuring the AeroForce 380 remains at the forefront of maritime surveillance technology.”

Harry Cassidy, Milkor’s head of Business Development in Europe, highlighted the importance of this partnership. “The Milkor 380 has garnered substantial interest from multiple entities looking to enhance their aerial surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. With the addition of Aerodata’s experience in maritime surveillance sensors, the development of the AeroForce 380 will set a new standard in global maritime by combining state of the art unmanned technologies with proven maritime surveillance sensors. The collaboration is one of the key explorations Milkor is undertaking to meet the growing demand for sophisticated UAV solutions and underscores Milkor’s role as a premier partner in the international defence sector.”

“The Milkor 380 has reached a stage where it is ready to be deployed for operations and we look forward to working with these entities to enhance their aerial surveillance capabilities. We are receiving positive feedback from many more interested parties and had to look at our production capabilities to meet their requirements. We expect that the Milkor 380 would be used for a variety of operations that will demonstrate its versatility,” said Ghaazim Rylands, CEO of Milkor Integrated Systems in Cape Town.

Milkor expects to deliver several units of the Milkor 380 within the next 12 months to undisclosed clients with manufacturing well underway of six units to be completed by end of 2024. “This rapid production and deployment schedule underscores Milkor’s dedication to meeting market needs with cutting-edge UAV technology,” the company said, adding that “the Milkor 380 is considered one of the most versatile unmanned platforms suitable for intelligence gathering, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations.”

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