AVIATION
USEFUL AVIATION LINKS
Aviation Week: https://aviationweek.com
Commercial Aviation Info, Photos, and News: https://www.airliners.net/aviation-news
AVweb: https://www.avweb.com
General Aviation News: https://generalaviationnews.com
NASA AERONAUTIC RESEARCH INFORMATION
NASA Aeronautic Research: https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/resources
NASA Next Gen STEM: Aeronaut-X: https://www.nasa.gov/stem/nextgenstem/aeronaut-x/index.html
NASA Aeronautics at Home: https://www.nasa.gov/aero-at-home
Aeronautics E-books: https://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/aeronautics_ebooks_archive_1.html
AVIATION/AERONAUTICS NEWS
The XB-70 Valkyrie Revisited: The Valkyrie supersonic aircraft was amazing piece of engineering. Its story, and tragic ending has been touched upon in two past Items of the Week, covering its development and first flight test (here) and the crash of one of the two ever built (here). Alas, it proved to be a technological dead-end. I’ve recently come across some additional information that may be of interest to you. It’s from the archives of the Air Force Material Command, a research facility at Wright-Patterson AFB, a piece called, “A Look Back… NAA B-70 Valkyrie Variants: A Future That Never Was,” edited by Tony R. Landis, a writer/archivist at the HQ AFMC History Office. See it here: https://media.defense.gov/2020/Nov/23/2002540204/-1/-1/1/B-70%20VARIANTS.PDF. Planners were thinking about using the Valkyrie as a reusable high-speed high-altitude launch vehicle for all sorts of lifting bodies, rockets, even manned orbital craft like the Dyna-Soar and the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (the subject of a future Item of the Week)!
NEW! Related Article: Podcast: Hypersonic Hopes – The Legacy of the X-30 “Orient Express” President Reagan’s 1986 State of the Union Address contained his vision for a Mach 25 (not a typo) airliner, the X-30 National Aero-Space Plane (NASP). Just as the Valkyrie was hoped/hyped as supersonic launch platform for direct LEO spacecraft, so, too, was the X-30. “DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, really talked them into this idea of this Copper Canyon project. This was a way of sort of delivering this hypersonic single stage to orbit type capability to the Air Force. They wouldn't have to worry about rockets and the shuttle. They could do it their own way. And so this Copper Canyon project really was the sort of the genesis of what became, dressed up as a civil project in some ways, the Orient Express.”
Let’s just say that the Oriental Express concept was a tad optimistic, but this was a very interesting discussion, especially since it comes on the 20th anniversary last month of the Mach 9.6 flight of NASA’s X-43. For the full Check 6 podcast, see: https://aviationweek.com/podcasts/check-6/check-6-revisits-hypersonic-hopes-legacy-x-30-orient-express.
From AVWeb
Wright Model B Kerfuffle: The family whose ancestor once owned a valuable early Wright aircraft is pushing the Franklin Institute to get it back. The Institute acquired the plane in 1933, and the chain of ownership is a bit dubious. However, the original owner passed away in 1966, and the family made no effort to request its return, until now. Oh, and the Federal government could be/could have been its true owner. It’s a confusing case; for more about it see: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/donors-family-lays-claim-to-museums-wright-airplane.
FAA Addresses ATC Shortage: As Thanksgiving approaches, you may have seen the news stories that air traffic, especially in the Northeast, might be delayed due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, a chronic condition. The FAA has selected Embry-Riddle, the Nation’s largest civilian flight training organization, as a partner in fast-tracking controller training, joining the University of Oklahoma and Tulsa Community College in the FAA Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative program. E-R grads now can have a “direct path to FAA facility training.” For more about see: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/embry-riddle-selected-for-faas-controller-fast-track-program.
What’s It Like to Fly to Telluride? Telluride, Colorado, located in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, is a spectacular setting, home to celebrities famous, skiers, and festival goers. There are more private jets flying into its small airport, at over 9000’, than just about anywhere. AVWeb just posted a video of what landing there is like, in a propeller-driven plane. Imagine what it would look like flying a jet! Check it out at: https://www.avweb.com/multimedia/featured-video-flying-into-telluride-a-stunning-high-stakes-approach.
And if you think that’s wild, try jeeping into Telluride over the (in)famous Black Bear Pass (if you are not too late; it recently was closed due to damage by a rockfall). For example, see: https://www.cntraveler.com/video/watch/the-road-less-traveled-traversing-black-bear-pass.
Oh, and watch out for falling cars!
From Aviation Week
Chinese Air Might on Display at Zhuhai: The Zhuhai Airshow conducted recently was “another stunning display of progress by China’s aerospace industry” and was “a showcase for a diversifying portfolio of uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV) and a stage for ambitions in aerospace technology development.” For details, see the article from which the quotes came, here: https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/commentary-zhuhai-reveals-evolution-chinese-military-aircraft.
The Final Curtain for the MiG-21: Croatia, the final country to use the MiG-21 operationally, has retired their MiG-21s from active patrolling duty as of December 1. A few will remain in use until their airframes run out of hours. Dassault Rafales will take their place. For more on the story, see: https://aviationweek.com/defense/budget-policy-operations/last-european-mig-21s-withdrawn-air-policing-mission.
Contrails News: A lot of misinformation in the tin-foil hat crowd is about the “danger” of jet engine condensation trails, aka “contrails.” Of course, combustion by-produces, such as CO2, are not good for breathing, but they certainly are not the poisonous brew some make them out to be. However, CO2 at altitude and the shading effect of contrails does have a complex, but minor, effect on the heating of the Earth: In daytime, contrails can reflect a small amount of sunlight away, causing slight cooling; at night, the thin contrails hold a small amount of heat in, causing slight heating. Both effects last only as long as the contrail does. For more about studies being conducted on contrails, see: https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/aircraft-propulsion/research-provides-complex-answers-effects-aircraft-contrails.
Podcast: How NASA’s New 2050 Goals Could Reshape Airliners: “Sixteen years after the launch of its ground-breaking N+3 project, NASA is using the same model to once again accelerate the pace of advancements as aviation strives for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. NASA's Rich Wahls joins the podcast to discuss AACES.” The podcast transcript will be available soon. See: https://aviationweek.com/podcasts/check-6/podcast-how-nasas-new-2050-goals-could-reshape-airliners.
Podcast: Aerospace Eyes Trump 2.0: See what is being discussed at the Aviation Week Aerospace and Defense M&A Conference in one of AW’s Check 6 Podcasts here: https://aviationweek.com/podcasts/check-6/podcast-aerospace-eyes-trump-20.
Gearing up for a New Era of Lunar Exploration: See here and the story in the Human Exploration section below.
The Boeing Strike is Over: A new contract between Boeing and the International Association of Machinist has been negotiated and approved by union membership. For more information, see: https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/manufacturing-supply-chain/machinists-accept-boeing-proposal-ending-strike.
But Now the Layoffs Begin: Boeing announced last week that it would begin issuing layoff notices to trim its global workforce by 10% (~17,000 jobs). “…we are adjusting our workforce levels to align with our financial reality and a more focused set of priorities," Boeing said in a statement. "We are committed to ensuring our employees have support during this challenging time." For more, see: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/boeing-began-issuing-layoff-notices-to-trim-its-workforce.
A Bit of Good News for Boeing: The venerable McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle entered service in the Air Force in 1972. A lot has happened since then; the plane is still in some use by the USAF, but most of its 100+ aerial victories (against zero losses) has been by the Israeli Air Force. By 2010, however, its production line at Boeing (who had acquired MD) was about to shut down. Then Saudi Arabia ordered 85 F-15s with upgraded electronics. Soon thereafter, Qatar ordered 48 Eagles with upgrades. The USAF returned to Boeing for an Eagle version that had modern onboard electronic warfare system. Production still lagged somewhat in spite of those sale, until Israel came back for an order of 25 advanced F-151A version last week, which will keep the assembly lines at Boeing humming until 2035 at least. For more on this story, see: https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/israeli-order-confirms-f-15-production-through-mid-2030s.
SpaceX Fined: The FAA has levied $630,000 in fines against SpaceX for “alleged noncompliance with launch requirements.” FAA head Michael Whitaker stated that “SpaceX (should) prioritize safety by implementing a safety management system and a whistleblower program.” In response, Elon Musk has called for Whitaker to resign. For more information, see: https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/elon-musk-calls-for-faa-administrators-resignation. In a related story:
SpaceX Complains About Environmental Regulations: SpaceX has launched a public-relations campaign aimed at the FAA, which delayed a license to fly for the fifth Starship-Super Heavy Integrated Flight Test. The FAA cited concerns over the Starship’s launch pad flame director, which is cooled by a considerable volume of water into the marshy area nearby without adequate environmental safeguards and potential damage to marine life from the SSH hot fire ring. SpaceX’s announcement cited their engineering prowess in developing SSH, but did not address the environmental concerns. For more on this issue, see: https://aviationweek.com/space/commercial-space/spacex-rebukes-faa-environmental-review-ahead-next-starship-flight.
SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL (SAF) NEWS
Overview of Different Types of SAF:https://simpleflying.com/sustainable-aviation-fuel-types
NASA Awards Contracts to Develop Sustainable Concepts for 2050 Airliners: https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/advanced-air-mobility/nasa-awards-contracts-develop-sustainable-concepts-2050-airliners
IATA World Sustainability Symposium: Marie Owens Thomsen, the IATA senior VP for Sustainability, talks with Aviation Week about net-zero transition and SAF supply challenges here: https://aviationweek.com/podcasts/window-seat-podcast/podcast-key-points-iata-world-sustainability-symposium.
Is It Time For a U.S. Mandate on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)? The aviation industry is trying to be “greener,” but meeting goals set for 2050 will be difficult to do with traditional or near-traditional fuels. SAF “is arguably the only lever other than aircraft replacement that can make a dent in emissions over the next 10-15 years.” See more about AW’s latest thinking on SAF here: https://aviationweek.com/special-topics/sustainability/opinion-it-time-us-saf-mandate . A lot of other items about SAF are available in the A+StW website’s News: Aviation section.
From Used Tires to SAF: A recent podcast by Aviation Week has info about one company’s efforts to convert spent tires into sustainable airplane fuel. Find out more about it at: https://aviationweek.com/podcasts/bca-podcast/podcast-how-wastefront-aims-convert-used-tires-saf.
NEW: SAFs as a Lever for Clean Flight:https://aviationweek.com/aerospace/safs-lever-clean-flight
China to Boost SAF Production Through New HEFA Facility: https://aviationweek.com/special-topics/sustainability/china-boost-saf-production-through-new-hefa-facility
AW Opinion Piece:Opinion: It is Time to Move Boldly on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (1/17/2022): https://aviationweek.com/special-topics/sustainability/opinion-it-time-move-boldly-sustainable-aviation-fuel. AW advocates for a more aggressive reduction of the commercial airline carbon footprint than the present agreement for a 10% use of SAF by 2030.
AW Gallery: Aviation Sustainability Investments Taking Off: https://aviationweek.com/special-topics/sustainability/gallery-aviation-sustainability-investments-taking
Aviation’s Future Fuels:https://aviationweek.com/shownews/nbaa/podcast-aviations-future-fuels
Flight Made on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel: The Royal Air Force conducted a ninety-minute test flight of one of their Voyager tanker aircraft flying totally on SAF recently. The Voyager is a militarized conversion of an Airbus 300. For more info, see here, and see also the other SAF links at the end of this section (website version).
Business Aviation Leaders issued a progress report on meeting 2050 Net-Zero emissions goals. Important milestones have been met, and new technologies are under development, but challenges remain. One brighter spot: Over the previous decade, business aviation sector fuel efficiency improved by 2% each year. One challenge: SAF production and demand. For more info, see: https://www.flyingmag.com/business-aviation-industry-emissions-report.
Pratt & Whitney and Embraer have signed an MOU to conduct studies of aircraft use of 100% SAF. Integrated ground and flight testing will use an Embraer E195-E2 aircraft with P&W GTF engines. For more info, see: https://www.avweb.com/ownership/fuel-news/embraer-pratt-whitney-partner-on-saf-demonstration-program.
Bell Textron 525 Helo Flies SAF:https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/bell-525-relentless-test-flights-now-running-on-sustainable-fuels
Phillips 66 SAF Plant: https://www.flyingmag.com/phillips-66-sustainable-fuel-commitment
The U.K.’s New “Net Zero” Strategy was released on October 19. It calls for a $247M investment in SAF technology in order to meet a net-zero carbon emission for commercial aviation by 2050; see here.
Plant-based Jet Fuel Could Reduce Emissions by up to 68%, using a type of mustard plant, according to research conducted at the University of Georgia. Kinda puts a new spin on the whole “Pardon me, do you have and Grey Poupon?” thing!”
President Biden’s SAF Grand Challenge: The president is calling for 3 billion gallons of cost-competitive SAF to be available to US commercial aircraft annually by 2030, and for the aviation sector to be carbon-free by 2050. This would significantly reduce both CO2 emissions (which contribute to human-caused global warming and the related environmental problems) and lead exposure. The move is backed by a variety of tax measures and other incentives, and is well-received by many of the sector’s key players. For more info on the Grand Challenge, see: https://www.flyingmag.com/story/news/biden-admin-saf-challenge-industry-reaction.
NASA is On Board with SAF: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson joined other federal government and industry leaders at a recent White House event highlighting sustainable aviation, pointing out NASA’s increasing role in helping develop the technologies needed to make aviation more sustainable in the near future. For the full statement, see: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-innovations-will-help-us-meet-sustainable-aviation-goals.
FAA and Sustainable Airports: The Federal Aviation Administration recently awarded $788M in grants to upgrade airports across the US. Their National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems looks to make airports safer, more energy efficient, and more accessible to passengers with special needs. For details, see: https://www.flyingmag.com/story/news/faa-766-million-sustainable-airport-grant.
Shell Plans Big SAF Plant: Shell will repurpose a fuel refinery in the Netherlands to create up to 0.5 million gallons of synthetic aviation fuel annually. Production is expected to begin in 2024. For more info, see: https://www.flyingmag.com/story/news/shell-saf.