test flight
First flight for new Cessna Citation M2 Business Jet
The new Cessna Citation M2, announced less than six months ago, has made its first prototype flight.
Video: Virgin Galactic VSS Enterprise triumphs in test flight
The Virgin VSS Enterprise has achieved manned free flight from over 45,000 ft (13,700 metres) and successfully glided to land at Mojave Air and Spaceport.
Yesterday Virgin Galactic, the US company developing the world’s first commercial manned space flight system and tourism business, announced the successful completion of the first piloted free flight of SpaceShipTwo, named the VSS Enterprise. The spaceship was released from its mothership at an altitude of 45,000 ft (13,700 metres). Read more
The Sikorsky X2 Technology Demonstrator helicopter reaches 181 knots
Sikorsky’s X2 TechnologyTM demonstrator helicopter has achieved a speed of 181 knots in a test flight this week at the Sikorsky Development Flight Center.
The X2 Technology demonstrator combines an integrated suite of technologies intended to advance the state-of-the-art, counter-rotating coaxial rotor helicopter. It is designed to demonstrate that a helicopter can cruise comfortably at 250 knots while retaining such desirable attributes as excellent low-speed handling, efficient hovering, and a seamless and simple transition to high speed.
Among the innovative technologies the X2 Technology demonstrator employs are:
- Fly-by-wire flight controls.
- Counter-rotating rigid rotor blades.
- Hub drag reduction.
- Active vibration control.
- Integrated auxiliary propulsion system.
“The X2 Technology demonstrator today exceeded average helicopter speeds of a conventional helicopter, generally 160-170 knots,” said Jim Kagdis, Program Manager, Sikorsky Advanced Programs. “The demonstrator is proving out the technologies very well, from the active vibration control system to the fly-by-wire controls. There are no show stoppers here so far, and now the program turns a corner, as this completes phase three of four. We are flying forward to the 250-knot cruise speed.”
The X2 Technology program began in 2005 when Sikorsky first committed resources and full funding for the program’s development.
“For potential customers, this milestone is exciting news and a solid signal that these technologies are true and executable, performing the way we expected they would,” said Mark Miller, Sikorsky Vice President of Research & Engineering. “As the X2 Technology demonstrator prepares to write a new page in aviation history later this year, we will continue the conversation with our customers and look forward to mapping out future applications that will meet customer needs.”
Third Boeing Dreamliner ZA004 joins 787 flight test program
A third aircraft has joined the Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight-test program. ZA004, the fourth flight-test airplane to be built, took off at 11:43 a.m. local time from Paine Field in Everett, Washington. The program plan called for ZA004 to fly before ZA003 because the data ZA004 is collecting is needed more quickly both for certification and development of the 787-9.
Captains Heather Ross and Craig Bomben completed a three-hour-and-two-minute flight at 2:45 p.m., landing at Boeing Field in Seattle. Flight-test personnel were also on board to monitor airplane performance.
“Airplane No. 4 operated flawlessly today,” Ross said after landing. “We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us but I can’t imagine a better start to the flight test program for this airplane.”
Ross will serve as chief pilot for ZA004. This airplane will be used to accomplish the following types of tests: aerodynamics, high-speed performance, propulsion performance, flight loads, community noise and extended operations (ETOPS) and other test conditions.
During today’s flight, the airplane reached an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,144 m) and an airspeed of 255 knots, or about 293 miles (472 km) per hour. As the testing of the 787 Dreamliner fleet progresses, the airplane will fly at its expected in-service maximum altitude of 40,000 feet (12,192 m) and speed of Mach 0.85.
“We are continuing to make good progress on the flight test program,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 Dreamliner program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “The team is staying focused and disciplined in keeping the priority on safety and execution of the plan.”
Second Sikorsky S-76D prototype enters into helicopter program
The second prototype aircraft in the S-76D™ helicopter program has entered the test flight program, with a third soon to follow, as the program that is producing the next generation model of the popular S-76® helicopter nears completion of its first fuselage for a production aircraft.
Kuwait International Aircraft Leasing (KIAL) and Falcon Aviation Services (FAS), both located in the Middle East, have signed on to purchase S-76D aircraft. KIAL has purchased one aircraft, to be configured for the Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) mission. FAS, based in Abu Dhabi, has contracted to purchase two S-76D helicopters, with options to purchase two more. The aircraft will be used for VIP, corporate, helitaxi, and offshore oil and gas support missions.
“With customer deliveries scheduled for 2011, we are seeing acceleration of the S-76D helicopter test program,” said Tim Fox, S-76D helicopter program manager. “There are a number of important milestones ahead, including planned certification of the aircraft in early 2011, with the first customer deliveries to follow. We are on an exciting path to the future with this new model; the milestones we achieve this year are leading us to another historic moment for Sikorsky Aircraft.”
Production of the first S-76D helicopter airframes began at Aero Vodochody (Aero) in the Czech Republic in late 2009. The first fuselage is scheduled to depart Aero in April for delivery to Sikorsky Global Helicopters facility in Coatesville, Penn., where final assembly and completion of the S-76D helicopters will take place.
Sikorsky Global Helicopters’ Coatesville, Penn., facility will receive S-76D helicopter fuselages at an initial rate of one per month, beginning with the first fuselage due in April. Full S-76D helicopter production rates are expected to be achieved in 2011.
Among the S-76D helicopter’s features are all-composite, flaw-tolerant main rotor blades; an advanced Thales avionics system and autopilot; dual speed rotor with active vibration control; powerful Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210S engines; a quiet mode for enhanced public acceptance; and an optional Rotor Ice Protection System (RIPS) for all-weather capability. The S-76D helicopter also will offer an increase in useful load and extended range performance versus the S-76C+TM and S-76C++™ aircraft currently fielded.
Video: Boeing 747-8 Freighter successfully completes first flight
The Boeing 747-8 Freighter successfully took to the sky for the first time today before more than 5,000 employees, customers, suppliers and community leaders. The flight begins a test program for the world’s most efficient freighter.
With 747 Chief Pilot Mark Feuerstein and Capt. Tom Imrich in the flight deck, the newest member of the 747 family took off at 12:39 p.m. local time from Paine Field in Everett and landed at Paine Field at 4:18 p.m.
“It was a real privilege to be at the controls of this great airplane on its first flight, representing the thousands of folks who made today possible,” said Feuerstein. “The airplane performed as expected and handled just like a 747-400.”
Today’s flight was the first of more than 1,600 flight hours in the test program for the newest member of the Boeing freighter family. The airplane followed a route over Western Washington, where it underwent tests for basic handling qualities and engine performance. The airplane reached a cruising altitude of 17,000 feet (5,181 m) and a speed of up to 230 knots, or about 264 miles (426 km) per hour.
Powered by four General Electric GEnx-2B engines, the 747-8 Freighter will transition its testing program to Moses Lake, Wash., and Palmdale, Calif., where the other two test airplanes will join it in the coming month.
“This truly is a great day for The Boeing Company and the 747 program,” said Mo Yahyavi, 747 program general manager and vice president, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “It’s the culmination of the hard work and dedication of our employees, suppliers and customers. While there is still much to do, I am excited to begin the flight-test program, which will demonstrate the capabilities of this airplane.”
The 747-8 Freighter is the new, high-capacity 747 that will give cargo operators the lowest operating costs and best economics of any freighter. The airplane is 250 feet, 2 inches (76.3 m) long, which is 18 feet, 4 inches (5.6 m) longer than the 747-400 Freighter. The stretch provides customers with 16 percent more revenue cargo volume compared with its predecessor. That translates to an additional four main-deck pallets and three lower-hold pallets.
“The 747-8 Freighter continues the leadership of the 747 Freighter families, which carries more than half of the world’s air freight, making it the standard of the air cargo industry,” Yahyavi said.
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-6wCaEDDCQ
Second Boeing 787 Dreamliner completes first flight
The second Boeing 787 Dreamliner, ZA002, completed its first flight today. The all-new airplane, which features the livery of the Dreamliner’s launch customer, ANA (All Nippon Airways) of Japan, took off from Paine Field in Everett, completed a two-hour flight and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle.
“We are delighted that the second Dreamliner is in the livery of our launch customer, ANA,” said Scott Fancher, vice president and general manager of the 787 program. “We are honored by the airline’s support and look forward to delivering ANA the first production airplane next year.”
Captain Randy Neville was at the controls for the flight, with Chief Pilot Mike Carriker operating as co-pilot. Neville and Carriker took the airplane to an altitude of 13,000 feet (3,962 m) and an airspeed of 200 knots, or about 230 miles (370 km) per hour. The airplane took off at 9:09 a.m. PST and landed at 11:10 a.m. PST.
This is the second of six 787s being used in the airplane’s flight-test program. Each of the airplanes will be used for a specific set of tests, with this airplane focusing on systems performance. Like its predecessor, ZA001, the airplane is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.
“We would like to convey our sincere congratulations to the Boeing team for its achievement of this milestone, and we look forward to the delivery into our fleet next year,” said Shinichiro Ito, president and CEO of ANA.
