Mexico Aids in Testing of Biofuels

An A-320 with a 30% biofuel blend has been adding to knowledge already gained in this area.  This is on top of recent work with a NASA DC-8, as well as a USAF F-22 and other platforms.  The idea of renewable fuel for aviation is a good one, but I'm trying to imagine how many acres would have to be in cultivation to keep even a tenth of the commercial fleet in the air.  IMHO, renewable jet-fuel is truly a "tough row to hoe".  I know no one wants to hear this, but until we break the code on hydrogen-power so that we can go almost directly from electricity to fuel, I don't see how we can ever really be renewable.

http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/7702/mexico-hosts-successful-biofuels-test-flight

The A-400M is Approaching 1500 Flights!

At over 3 hours per flight, the hours are racking up for EADS' entry in the military transport arena.  It had a rocky start, with multiple political threats to its future, but seems to be settling in for the long haul (so to speak).  Reports are generally favorable.  As for me, I'm a fighter guy, but I have always thought that the scimitar props look really cool!

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/07/355315/a400m-contract-amendment-signed-as-test-fleet-passes-1400-flight.html

German In-Flight Simulator Goes Large

As a former pilot for Calspan, I am pretty familiar with in flight simulators and the kinds of things that they can do.  It would appear that the German ATTAS aircraft is working overtime helping to understand flying qualities that we can expect from future blended wing-body configurations.

http://www.domain-b.com/technology/20110406_passenger_aircraft.html

The plane itself is based on the Fokker VFW 614, a 44-passenger medium jet similar in size to the Calspan TIFS airplane that has done so much work over the years.

Photo credit: DLR

Spanish Light Transport Test Hit Snags

While an awful lot of flight testing is performed in the U.S.  It is certainly not the only place.  In fact, there are probably more flight test hours being performed outside the U.S. than inside.  The CASA project for the Czech Republic is apparently hitting not only guidance and navigation system problems, but perhaps some political ones as well.

http://www.ceskapozice.cz/en/news/politics-policy/military-finds-fundamental-faults-casa-planes

Lockheed Touts Accelerated F-35 Flight Test

Other issues aside, Lockheed-Martin seems proud of the recent progress of the plane's flight testing.  We will have to see what happens as budget realities sink in, both in the states and overseas.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lockheed-martin-f-35-flight-test-program-shows-progress-in-first-quarter-119204374.html

Crash of Global Observer Puts project into question

Scuttlebutt is that there may have been a flight control issue, but we will just have to wait for more to filter out.

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11069576/1/aerovironment-global-observer-experiences-mishap-during-extended-duration-flight-testing.html

Aermacchi's T-346A is now in the air

The first flight was brief, 40 minutes.  I'll see what I can find out about subsequent sorties.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/04/01/355062/pictures-italys-first-t-346a-trainer-makes-flight.html

Gulfstream 650 Crew Identified

This isn't an easy item to post.  Just a couple of days ago a G-650 was lost during takeoff performance testing.  One of the pilot was a personal acquaintance.  Kent was not just a neighbor, but he was also something of a mentor for me.  Does anyone have an idea what happened?

http://www.cnbc.com/id/42405320