Number 56 – 18 July 2024

“Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens, we have to keep going back and start all over again” Andre Gide

Westland Whirlwind

(Information from Wikipedia)

A British twin-engined fighter developed by Westland Aircraft, the Whirlwind was a contemporary of the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane, it was the first single-seat, twin-engined, cannon-armed fighter of the Royal Air Force. When it first flew in 1938, the Whirlwind was one of the fastest combat aircraft in the world and with four 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 autocannon in its nose, the most heavily armed. Protracted development problems with its Rolls-Royce Peregrine engines delayed the project and only 114 Whirlwinds were built. During the Second World War, only three RAF squadrons were equipped with the aircraft and despite its success as a fighter and ground attack aircraft, it was withdrawn from service in 1943.

The first British specification for a high-performance machine-gun monoplane was Air Ministry specification F.5/34 for a radial-engined fighter for use in the tropics which led to four aircraft designs  but the aircraft produced were overtaken by the development of the new Hawker and Supermarine fighters. The RAF Air Staff thought that an experimental aircraft armed with the 20 mm cannon was needed urgently and specification F.37/35 was issued to British aircraft companies in 1935. The specification called for a single-seat day and night fighter armed with four cannon. The top speed had to be at least 40 mph (64 km/h) greater than that of contemporary bombers, at least 330 mph (530 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m).

The engines were developments of the Rolls-Royce Kestrel K.26, later renamed Peregrine. The first prototype, L6844, used long exhaust ducts that were channelled through the wings and fuel tanks, exiting at the wing’s trailing edge. This configuration was quickly changed to more conventional, external exhausts after Westland’s chief test pilot Harald Penrose nearly lost control when an exhaust duct broke and heat-fractured an aileron control rod. The engines were cooled by ducted radiators, which were set into the leading edges of the wing centre-sections to reduce drag. The airframe was built mainly of stressed-skin duralumin, with the exception of the rear-fuselage, which used a magnesium alloy stressed skin. With the pilot sitting high under one of the world’s first full bubble canopies and the low and forward location of the wing, all round visibility was good (except for directly over the nose). Four 20 mm cannon were mounted in the nose; the 600 lb/minute fire rate made it the most heavily armed fighter aircraft of its era. The clustering of the weapons also meant that there were no convergence problems as with wing-mounted guns.

L6844 first flew on 11 October 1938, construction having been delayed chiefly due to the new features and also because of the late delivery of the engines and undercarriage. L6844 was passed to RAE Farnborough at the end of the year, while further service trials were later carried out at Martlesham Heath. The Whirlwind exhibited excellent handling characteristics and proved to be very easy to fly at all speeds. The only exception was the inadequate directional control during take-off which necessitated an increased rudder area above the tailplane.

Production orders were contingent on the success of the test programme; although ACAS was impressed by the design the highly experimental design needed careful examination. Delays caused by over 250 modifications to the two prototypes led to an initial production order for 200 aircraft being held up until January 1939, followed by a second order for a similar number, deliveries to fighter squadrons being scheduled to begin in September 1940. Earlier, due to the lower expected production at Westland, there had been suggestions that production should be by other firms (Fairey or Hawker) and an early 1939 plan to build 800 of them at the Castle Bromwich shadow factory was dropped in favour of Spitfire production; instead, a further 200 would be built by Westland.

Despite the Whirlwind’s promise, production ended in January 1942, after the completion of just 112 production aircraft (plus the two prototypes). Rolls-Royce needed to concentrate on the development and production of the Merlin engine and the troubled Vulture engines, rather than the Peregrine. Many pilots who flew the Whirlwind praised its performance. An aspect of the type often criticised was the high landing speed imposed by the wing design. Because of the low production level, based on the number of Peregrines available, no redesign of the wing was contemplated, although Westland did test the effectiveness of leading-edge slats to reduce speeds. When the slats were activated with such force that they were ripped off the wings, the slats were wired shut.

No. 263 Squadron, the first and final squadron to operate the Whirlwind, flew its last Whirlwind mission on 29 November 1943, turning in their aeroplanes and converting to the Hawker Typhoon in December that year. On 1 January 1944, the type was declared obsolete. The remaining serviceable aircraft were transferred to No. 18 Maintenance Unit, while those undergoing repairs or overhaul were allowed to be repaired only if they were in near-flyable condition. However, later an official letter forbade aircraft needing repair to be worked on at the Maintenance Unit.

Those persons who correctly identified this week’s mystery aircraft:
Steve Dewsbery, Karl Jensen, Barry Platt, Ari Levien, Sean Richter, Righardt du Plessis, Geoff Timms, Pierre Brittz, Magiel Esterhuysen, Bill Middleton, Barry Eatwell, Wouter van der Waal, Rennie van Zyl, Michael Schoeman, John Talbot, Richard Willemse, Danie Viljoen, Jan Sime, Andre Visser, Hilton Carroll, Nigel Hamilton, Clint Futter, Erwin Stam, Rex Tweedie, Bruce Margolius, Trevor Miller, Colin Austen, Jeremy Rorich, Brian Millett, Stuart Lane, Johan Venter, Sergio Antao, P. Rossouw, Piet Steyn, Charlie Hugo, William Haskins, Johan Prinsloo, Stuart Low, Greg Pullin, Ron Wheeldon, Derek Reynish, Sean Richter, Pierre Hanekom, Noel Macquet, Peter Gilbert, Anthony Bass, Selwyn Kimber, Ahmed Bassa, Laurie Milne, Aiden O’Mahony, Andre Breytenbach, John Moen, Brian Melmoth, Nic Manthopoulos, Brian Ross, Christiaan Haak, Dave Lloyd, Andrew Peace, (58 correct answers).

So, what does NTCA mean in South African aviation?

Recently a discussion on the popular FlyAfrica Facebook forum caught my attention and it was clear to me that several of the persons commenting had no idea about the term NTCA. OK so I have been called out so let me assist those persons who do not understand the term NTCA (Non-Type Certified Aircraft). This is a South African term used for experimental aircraft. i.e. all aircraft that do not, or no longer conform to a Type Certificate that includes home-built, kit-built and amateur built aircraft. This sector actually comprises of around 54% of the South African register and also includes aircraft types that are no longer supported by the Original Aircraft Manufacturer (OEM). Examples are ex-warbirds such as T6 Harvards, L29, L39 Tiger Moth, DH Chipmunk, Bosbok, Kudu etc. Also, vintage and veteran aircraft such as the Cessna 180, 185, 170, 120, 140 etc. Several ex-military helicopters such as the Alouette II and III, as well as the Gazelle also fall into the NTCA category. Most of these aircraft carry the ZU registration in South Africa. This is a simple explanation of a rather complex set of rules. If you read APAnews and African Pilot on a regular basis you will gain all the information about this subject as well as many other important aviation terms that are used all around the world.

Airlink boosts Durban – Harare route with daily flights

From 07 August 2024, Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline, will be adding more frequencies to its direct Durban-Harare service to provide a daily return flight. The additional flights will operate on Wednesdays, departing Durban’s King Shaka International Airport at 10h30 and arriving at Harare’s Robert Mugabe International Airport at 12h40.   The return service leaves Harare at 13h20 and lands in Durban at 15h35.

“We are going daily on the route in response to our customers’ positive reaction to the convenience and great value of our direct service on this route.  It is an appealing combination that promotes business, trade, tourism and travel between the two key cities and enhances the economic competitiveness of the regions they support,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster.

Airlink operates the route with its modern 44-seat Embraer E140 Regional Jets on the route.  Fares include a 20kg free Economy Class checked-in luggage allowance plus a 15kg sporting equipment allowance.  Onboard, customers are treated to a complimentary light meal and refreshments.  Our cabins are designed for comfort with generous leg room and a choice of aisle or window seats – Airlink aircraft do not have middle seats. Airlink flights are scheduled to provide convenient connections with our other domestic and regional services as well as with long-haul flights provided by our constellation of global airline partners.

South African Airways in the news again for all the wrong reasons

Three years after exiting business rescue and a failed Takatso transaction, South African Airways (SAA) might be heading for turbulence again. According to the airline’s chief commercial officer, Tebogo Tsimane, who said the airline needs an equity partner to save it. Tsimane made these remarks at an AviaDev aviation seminar recently. Earlier this year, the South African National Treasury reported a loss of R771 million for SAA and R51 million in the red at SAA Technical. Tsimane made it clear that SAA needed an investor quickly or it would face financial difficulty. He said that for SAA to succeed, it needed a private owner with a controlling stake in the airline.

Tsimane said that the airline has been taking its business plan to possible financiers. “We have just come out of business rescue. We have been told by our shareholder that we will no longer get a cent.

“So, what are we doing? We are taking the business plan to the financiers and we believe that we have a case and that the financiers, some of them, not all of them, some of them will actually come to the party and say, yes, we agree with what you are doing,” he said. Ed. What a clumsy sentence.

Tsimane lamented the fact that SAA had to jump through more hoops than other airlines. “Unlike private companies, we have to jump far more hoops in terms of governance,” said Tsimane. “We are not policymakers. When it comes to SAA, the number of things that I am supposed to comply with to get going are far more restrictive than what a private airline has.”

Like all other state-owned companies, SAA must comply with all aviation regulations and laws as well as the Public Finance Management Act, intended to govern the use of public funds. “I am still expected to compete in the marketplace like they are competing with me. “So, at times both my hands are tied behind my back and I am still expected to run faster than my competitors.”

Wayne Duvenage of Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) agreed with Tsimane that the airline urgently required a capital injection. “Without an equity partner that has a controlling interest, SAA will not be profitable and will have to rely on future bailouts or face closure,” said Duvenage. “As a fully-fledged state-owned company, there are too many factors against SAA to succeed in a highly complex, competitive and fast-moving industry that requires expertise and agility.”

Duvenage said that government procurement processes and political interference will always hinder SAA’s ability to succeed in the medium term. “Airlines must compete on price and service, plus ensure agile pricing systems and operational expertise if they are to survive. SAA is lacking in most of these departments,” he said. But SAA is not spoilt for choice when it comes to finding an equity partner. The airline must adhere to the same stringent regulations as low-cost airline FlySafair, which had to prove its compliance with the 25% foreign ownership limit before the licensing council recently. Presently, investors must be local by a large margin. Duvenage said that with these restrictive laws, SAA needs to get serious about finding a local partner and developing an all-encompassing strategy to cater to various markets.

Editor responds:
It seems that SAA has acquired a significant budget for marketing, which is been utilised by several PR companies engaged in press releases that I regularly receive. These as known as ‘spin doctor’ statements that are attempting to ‘paint a very different picture’ to the realistic situation. My take is that as long as the ANC led government of national unity allows the ANC’s thoroughly corrupt South African BBBEE policy to continue this will affect all of South Africa’s business enterprises and there will be no solution to the demise of another failed SAA V2.

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

20 July
Brakpan Aero Club first annual fly-in
Contact Santjie 063 239 2151 or Wouter 082 455 0216

20 July
SAPFA Navigation Rally at Airspan Airfield
Website: www.sapfa.co.za

Next week

22 to 28 July
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA
Camping on the airfield contact Neil Bowden at E-mail: airadventuresa@gmail.com
Pic 09 Hotels in Appleton contact Calvin Fabig at E-mail: calvin@designer.co.za

Note: Over the next 10 days until the end of July I will be reporting from Oshkosh.

Unnamed African country acquires BOYGA ammunition drop drone

STM said the first export contract for the BOYGA has been concluded with an unnamed African country, with deliveries scheduled for completion in 2024. BOYGA is the newest member of STM’s tactical mini-UAV product family and is able to deploy an 81 mm mortar round “with full accuracy thanks to its advanced ballistic estimation algorithm. BOYGA can be used effectively in counterterrorism and asymmetric warfare settings and can remain airborne for 30-minutes while laden with mortar ammunition,” the company said. The BOYGA platform can reach altitudes of 3000 meters and has a mission range from 6.5 to 10 km, while its 17 kg weight allows it to be transported by a single operator.

The integration of the ammunition system was carried out in collaboration with MKE (Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation), which mainly produces equipment for the Turkish Armed Forces, such as the ammunition for small arms and heavy weapons, artillery systems and aerial bombs. BOYGA entered Turkish Armed Forces service in 2022, where, according to STM, it has been actively involved in the fight against terrorism, cross-border operations and international exercises, most recently, the EFES-2024 Exercise, ‘during which it hit the designated targets with pinpoint accuracy.’

FAA investigates a close call between regional jets

A close call between two regional jets that came within several hundred feet of each other over New York has caught the attention of federal investigators. The incident, which occurred 8 July, involved an American Eagle CRJ and an Endeavor Air CRJ. Footage from a police dash cam video, which circulated on X, showed the two jets seemingly close. At their nearest point the jets were just 725 feet apart. Audio from air traffic control reveals the American Eagle flight was cleared to land on the same runway the Endeavor Air jet was taking off. The American pilots questioned the clearance before air traffic control can be heard telling the American Eagle flight to abort the landing and ‘go around.’ While on the climb out, the American Eagle aircraft and the Endeavor Air jet came within several hundred feet of each other before the American flight turned out of its path.  Despite the close call, the FAA said instances like the one in Syracuse are on the decline. According to the agency, in the first five months of 2024, serious close calls dropped 68% compared with the same time period in 2023.

NTSB: Chino Electra took off with full flaps

The NTSB says a Lockheed 12A Junior Electra that crashed on 15 June in Chino, California took off with full flaps despite warnings from ground crew. The vintage twin was taking part in a Father’s Day event and the flight was a rehearsal for a three-plane formation during the display later in the day. “During the engine start, the ground crew warned the flight crew with hand and arm signals that the flaps were extended,” the preliminary report says. “From the ground crews experience and observations with the accident airplane, they felt that the flaps were fully extended during taxi and the take-off on runway 26R.” The plane got no more than 300 feet above the ground before it pitched up, slewed left and crashed near the perimeter fence. The plane belonged to the Yanks Air Museum, which is based at Chino.

Boeing 777-9 enters certification flight testing

The FAA has granted Type Inspection Authorisation to Boeing for its 777-9 after a shakedown flight with FAA inspectors aboard on Saturday. “This certification test flight validates the aircraft’s safety, reliability, and performance. We appreciate our regulator’s rigorous oversight and are grateful to our customers who have chosen the 777-9 for its efficiency, environmental performance and passenger comfort,” Boeing said in a press release. The plane has been in the air for years with Boeing pilots aboard, accumulating 3,500 hours all over the world. In that time airlines have ordered 480 of the latest and likely last model of the 30-year-old design. Boeing is hoping to begin deliveries next year and the first one is likely going to Emirates, a longtime and enthusiastic operator of the type.

Lessor ACG increases 737 MAX order book

Boeing and Aviation Capital Group (ACG) have announced that the aircraft lessor has finalised an order for 35 737 MAX jets, comprising 16 737-8s and 19 of the larger 737-10 variant. Following an incremental 737 MAX order last year, this new purchase increases ACG’s 737 MAX commitment to 82 orders as ACG expands its portfolio to meet customer demand for fuel-efficient aircraft.

The 737-8 can carry up to 210 passengers depending on configuration, with a range of 3,500 nautical miles (6,480 km), while the 737-10, the largest 737 MAX model, seats up to 230 passengers with a range of 3,100 nautical miles (5,740 km). Both variants reduce fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% compared to the aircraft they replace.

“We are pleased to expand ACG’s commitment to the 737 MAX programme. This additional order will allow ACG to offer highly fuel efficient and versatile aircraft to our airline customers worldwide,” said Steven Udvar-Hazy, Senior Vice President and Chief of Aircraft Operations at the lessor.

Aviation Capital Group is one of the world’s premier full-service aircraft asset managers, with over 480 owned, managed and committed aircraft as of 31 March 2024, leased to roughly 90 airlines in approximately 45 countries. It specialises in commercial aircraft leasing and provides certain aircraft asset management services and aircraft financing solutions for third parties. Founded in 1989, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation.

US airlines cut pilot hiring numbers in first half of 2024

Citing aircraft delivery delays and normalising attrition levels as reasons for the slowdown, airlines hired just over 3,600 pilots from January through June, a decrease from the 6,509 hired during the same period in 2023. Data from airline career consultancy group Future & Active Pilot Advisors (FAPA) measures hiring trends at 13 major US carriers. The largest year-over-year swing was at Delta Air Lines, which hired 1,667 fewer pilots during the first half of 2024. Delta announced plans to reduce hiring by roughly 50 percent earlier this year. “What we anticipate for the coming year is a very strong, yet more normalised, growth pattern,” the airline told pilots in a January memo.

According to FAPA’s figures, Alaska, American, FedEx, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, United and UPS did not hire in June. Last month, airlines hired a total of 187 pilots, down from the 909 in June 2023. It is not uncommon for airlines to slow hiring during the busy summer months, allowing training resources to be moved to the line. UPS was the only carrier that hired more pilots’ year-over-year. With a new Postal Service contract in play, the cargo carrier hired 62 pilots between May and June with plans for a total of 300 new aviators. Several major carriers, including American and Southwest have announced plans to halt new hire classes through the end of 2024. Ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Spirit is slated to furlough roughly 200 pilots in September.

Many major carriers continue to face ongoing aircraft delivery delays, particularly at Boeing. Both Southwest and United have slashed their 2024 737 MAX delivery plans amid the manufacturer’s quality control woes. Despite the year-over-year decrease, pilot hiring still remains well above pre-pandemic levels. During the first half of 2019, airlines hired 2,519 new pilots for an annual total of nearly 5,000, a far cry from last year’s 12,193. “In fact, we hired and trained more pilots in 2023 than we have in the history of this airline and we did it efficiently enough that we were actually a bit ahead of where we needed to be for the summer of 2024,” Russ Moore, American Airlines vice president of flight operations, shared during a company briefing. “This allowed us to transition from a ‘hire and train as many as you can’ approach to a more traditional approach, which in and of itself reduced our hiring targets for 2024.” Even with major airlines slowing hiring tempos, many regional carriers are not out of the woods yet. Some continue to offer sign-on bonuses for new captains and first officers, including GoJet and SkyWest.

Ukraine and Sweden negotiate transfer of Gripen fighter jets to Kyiv

According to Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Sweden is currently negotiating the transfer of Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighters to Kyiv once the country is ready to receive them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Swedish officials have been in discussions regarding the transfer of Gripen fighters since 2023. “For obvious reasons, Sweden was not ready to make any promises then, as the country had finalised its membership in the Alliance. Now the country is part of NATO and my president is talking to the Swedish prime minister again and our defence ministry is talking to the relevant Swedish authorities. These fighters are as good as F-16s and we are moving in this direction,” Zhovkva said in an interview with the Voice of America (VOA) on 14 July 2024.

However, Zhovkva noted that Sweden was understandably hesitant to make commitments while finalising its NATO membership. On 14 July 2024, Ukrainian sources like UNN, Censor.net, Voice of America (VOA), reported that the delivery of Gripen fighter jets had been postponed because Kyiv was first given F-16 aircraft and it would be too challenging to implement two fighter systems at the same time. 

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a single engine light fighter aircraft, manufactured by Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab AB. It is powered by a RM12 Engine supplied by Volvo Aero. The Gripen can reach 2,125 km/h and refuel quickly using mobile forward arming and refuelling points. The Gripen is designed to operate from dispersed airfields, using roads and runways, with minimal support team needed. This feature could be useful for Ukraine since most of its airfields and air bases are vulnerable to Russian attacks. This aircraft is capable of countering current and future threats and can perform various military missions such as air strikes, ground attacks and reconnaissance missions.  On 11 March 2024, Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters completed their first NATO mission since Sweden became a full-fledged member of the alliance, during which a Russian Tu-134 airliner was detected flying over the Baltic Sea. 

The agreement to provide Ukraine with Gripen jets is a part of a security agreement signed by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. According to the agreement, Sweden will provide around €6.5 billion to Ukraine during 2024–2026. Military support will include aviation and air defence, armoured vehicles, artillery, strengthened maritime, assistance in demining and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Convicted felon charged with another avionics theft, reselling scheme

In early June, Mario E. Mercier was indicted for the interstate transportation of stolen property after a years-long scheme involving break-ins at two dozen airports across the US to steal avionics equipment and resell it through two companies he owned and operated. His thefts continued until 23 May when he was arrested for stealing equipment from an aircraft at the Caldwell Executive Airport (EUL) and faces up to 50 years if he is found guilty of his charges.

The 59-year-old was charged with five counts of interstate transportation of stolen property, facing a maximum of 10 years in federal prison on each count. With the indictment, Mercier has been notified that the US is seeking an order for forfeiture of proceeds obtained from the offense. Court documents reveal that Mercier began a string of thefts in 2019, stealing avionics equipment from over two dozen airports in various states, including Florida, Tennessee, New Jersey, Maryland and South Carolina. The accused would enter the airport, break into a plane and steal valuable electronic equipment. After stealing the equipment, he would transport the stolen goods to the Middle District of Florida.

Mercier owned and operated JWG International and JWG Aviation in the Middle District of Florida. The companies were purported to provide aid to impoverished children in Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Ukraine. He used these companies to sell his stolen avionics equipment on various websites to purchasers around the country. His alleged thieving continued until his arrest in May, when he was caught and charged via complaint with four counts of felony grand theft and two counts of burglary. This is not the first avionics reselling scheme for Mercier. In 2008, he was convicted for transportation of stolen property in the Middle District of Florida in a similar scheme involving stealing and reselling avionics equipment.

The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the US Department of Transportation Officer of the Inspector General, local sheriff departments and local police departments around the country. An indictment is a formal charge that the defendant committed one or more violations of federal criminal law and each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. Mercier has been indicted and is innocent until he is proven guilty in a court of law.

Cathay confirms cadet pilots expelled

Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific said it has removed three sponsored cadet pilots from its Cadet Pilot Training Programme following their non-compliance with flight incident reporting requirements during their training at AeroGuard Flight Training Center in Phoenix, Arizona. The airline’s decision follows the completion of a comprehensive investigation conducted by the training school in coordination with Cathay Pacific and the relevant authorities.

Cathay Pacific Director Flight Operations Captain Chris Kempis said: “A just and open reporting culture is at the centre of our values. Being aligned with this culture is fundamental to being a Cathay Pacific pilot; we recognise that mistakes will occur, particularly during training and that opportunities to learn and improve must never be overlooked. However, we have a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance with flight incident reporting requirements. We are committed to providing comprehensive training and ensuring that our future pilots are well-equipped to uphold the highest levels of safety and professionalism.”

Solo operations involving the airline’s sponsored pilots at AeroGuard Flight Training Center have resumed with immediate effect, having been suspended while the investigation was being conducted. Going forward, our just and open reporting culture as well as the appropriate communication process for reporting flight incidents will continue to be reinforced among all Cathay Pacific cadet pilots through additional training.

Cathay Pacific said has an extremely stringent recruitment and assessment process for its cadets, with less than 8% of the applicants being accepted onto the programme and able to complete the training and assessment to becoming a Second Officer. All qualifying cadet pilots after graduation from their initial 60-week course are required to undergo further induction training in order to join the company and be endorsed as Second Officers on one of Cathay Pacific’s aircraft types. This training involves further assessments, culminating in a final check to line flying that is conducted by a Senior Check Captain, before they can operate under oversight as Second Officers.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets grounded after malfunction

SpaceX’s ubiquitous Falcon 9 rockets have been grounded after one malfunctioned while attempting to deliver a batch of internet satellites into orbit on Thursday night. The launch, which occurred around 22h30 local time at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, is a rare mishap for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which routinely flies NASA astronauts to orbit. SpaceX released a statement explaining the failure, noting, “The second stage engine did not complete its second burn. As a result, the Starlink satellites were deployed into a lower orbit than intended orbit. SpaceX has contacted five of the satellites so far and is attempting to have them raise orbit using their ion thrusters.”

On X, SpaceX Founder Elon Musk said his team was working on updating satellite software to run the ion thrusters at their equivalent of warp 9. “Unlike a Star Trek episode, this will probably not work, but it’s worth a shot,” Musk noted. According to the company, SpaceX’s Starlink satellites are designed to burn up upon re-entry into the atmosphere and do not pose any risk to people on the ground. According to SpaceX, the Falcon 9 rocket is one of the most reliable in the world with 69 launches this year and more than 350 since its debut in 2010.

Astronaut Gen. Joe Engle goes west

On 10 July Former astronaut Gen. Joe Engle died at the age of 91. Engle was an accomplished Air Force pilot with the distinction of flying two different winged spacecraft, the X-15 and the Space Shuttle. Beyond that he flew 185 aircraft and accumulated 15,400 hours, including the first operational shuttle flight and another later on. Engle grew up in Kansas, the son of an agriculture instructor, but he never considered a life kicking the clods. “My mom used to say that she could not remember me seriously wanting to do anything but fly airplanes,” he told NASA’s Oral History Project in 2004. “I never met an airplane I didn’t like,” Engle said of his love affair with flight. “Some are less relaxing and less enjoyable and less fun to fly and some of them are a lot more work to fly than others. But they have got their own personality.”

Southwest Airlines and Archer Aviation partner on electric air taxi service in California

On Friday, Southwest Airlines and Archer Aviation announced plans to develop electric air taxi service at California airports. In a press release, the two companies said they signed a memorandum of understanding laying out the foundation for integrated electric air taxi networks that would support California airports and surrounding communities. Archer’s Midnight electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi is designed to revolutionise urban air travel by replacing 60- to 90-minute commutes by car with estimated 10- to 20-minute electric air taxi flights. The aircraft can fly a pilot plus four passengers on back-to-back flights, with only 10 to 12 minutes of charge time in between.

As California’s largest air carrier, operating at 14 airports across the state, Southwest said it was eager to explore the convenience Archer’s air taxis could provide for customers in busy urban areas. “With Archer’s Midnight aircraft, passengers will be able to fly above traffic to get to the airport faster,” said Nikhil Goel, chief commercial officer at Archer. “By putting together Southwest’s impressive network of airports in California and their frequent intrastate flights with our planned network, Southwest customers could someday complete door-to-door trips like Santa Monica to Napa in less than three hours.” The companies say they plan to collaborate over the next few years as eVTOLs take flight.

Australia spends $140M AUD on tactical drones

With a keen eye on the world’s changing battlefields, the Australian military has decided to spend $140 million AUD ($94.9 million USD) buying dozens of two different tactical drones, German-made Vector and locally produced CorvoX systems.  The minister for defence procurement, Pat Conroy, held a press conference where he made clear the investment in more than 100 drones is part of a larger effort to equip Australian troops with autonomous drone systems. “Both systems will be deployed next year for the ADF, again demonstrating the speed to capability that the Albanese Labor Government is committed to in our defence force,” Conroy said in Melbourne. “They complement other recent announcements we have made on other capabilities, whether it is last week’s announcement of a loitering munition, the further investment in the Ghost Bat, a Loyal Wingman-style cooperative combat aircraft, or our record commitment in Ghost Shark, an extra-large autonomous underwater vessel.” Australia plans to spend at least $690 million on tactical drones for its army.

The ​Quantum-Systems Vector, built by Quantum-Systems is electric powered, can sustain a 35-kilometer range to transmit video from an artificial intelligence-controlled electro-optical sensor and is categorized as a mid-range drone.

The  Sypaq Systems CorvoX can take-off and land vertically (VTOL), features a  twin-engine packable aircraft design and can carry two different sensors. It is also capable of operating in extreme weather conditions. The lightweight system relies on advanced autonomy and mesh network capabilities to feed targeting data from both electric-optical and infrared sensors. The CorvoX is produced by the same company that provides the well-known packable cardboard tactical drone used extensively by Ukrainian forces. ​The two new drones will be delivered next year.

“The delivery of these uncrewed aerial systems in 2025, within a year of project approval, is a significant demonstration of Defence and industry’s strong partnership and intent to enhance the speed at which we introduce capabilities in support of current and future Defence requirements,” Conroy said.

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