Icon A-5 Spin Resistance

The flight testing involved here has already been done, but the video at the link below is very persuasive regarding the results.  As I look at the control deflections just as pro-spin controls were applied, I do notice that the rudder deflection of the A-5 seems to be a lot less than full-deflection rudder on a lot of other light airplanes that I have flown.  To a degree this makes sense, since the rudder is right in the propeller slipstream and as long as the plane is being powered it will be more effective than the typical rudder.  That fact opens the question of what happens if the same controls were applied with full power, but the full-stall lateral control seems to be quite powerful, so it may not be an issue.  I'm impressed.

http://www.flyingmag.com/blogs/going-direct/spin-test-icon-a5-vs-cessna-150

Scaled Composites SpaceShipTwo Tests to Resume Soon?

FAA paperwork recently released implies that life over the Mojave Spaceport may soon be getting more exciting.  A lot of work has been done to prove out the propulsion system, so it looks like powered flights may begin before Thanksgiving.  Projects like this one are notorious for eating up people's lfamily time around the holidays, but Scaled's approach of never publishing a schedule allows them to sidestep a lot of the pressure that impacts other similar projects.  Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/faa-launch-permit-gives-virgin-galactics-space-vehicles-the-green-light-for-powered-flight-2012-05-30

Evektor EV-55 Flight Testing Progresses

This light Czech transport being tested now seems to be showing promise.  There is a long way to go before certification, but the twin turboprop has appealing lines.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/evektor-ev-55-logs-40-flight-test-hours-and-is-set-for-2015-certification-372409/

Photo Credit: Evektor



Airbus A-400M Flight Test Update

A very thorough rundown on flight test progress to date is provided in the 16 slides you can find at the link below.  There also seems to be a lot of programmatic information available in other presentations that are accessible via the options bar to the right of the slides.

http://www.slideshare.net/robbinlaird/a400-m-flight-test-update-2012

Northrop-Grumman LEMV May Actually Fly Soon!

Yes, it's unmanned.  Yes, it's a blimp.  And yes, a lot of readers could probably beat it in the quarter mile.  But wow!

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-05/23/us-army-mega-blimp

EAA? Homebuilder? If You Haven't Read These, You Need To

If you are an experimenter, the thing most likely to kill you is not something you do or fail to do in the shop.  It is something you do or fail to do in the air.  (Read that again!)  Listen to the NTSB.  If you don't have the time to get some experience in a similar airframe before you fly your project, give serious thought to having a pro do your first few flights, then stay within the plane's limits.

http://ohsonline.com/articles/2012/05/23/high-first-flight-risks-with-experimental-aircraft.aspx?admgarea=news
Be safe out there!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-05-22/experimental-planes-accidents/55136166/1

Mahindra's GippsAero GA-10 Makes Maiden Flight

Looks like Australia is becoming more and more of a flight test and/or flight research destination.  This first flight was relatively brief for a transport-sized, fixed-gear aircraft, but they apparently accomplished their desired objectives.  The configuration appears fairly conventional, so I would expect things to go well unless the plane has some unusual features that are not readily apparent, but I would have to list it as unusual NOT to take a plane up to a medium altitude to perform a bit of slow flight before coming in for that first landing.  I guess they figure that it is so similar to the GA-8 that there was no need for that step.  Careful... don't get cocky, guys!

http://www.indiablooms.com/NewsDetailsPage/2012/newsDetails210512l.php

AugustaWestland AW-169 Maiden Flight

Not a lot of details are available in this company press release, but with the major upgrades that have been made to the propulsion, transmission, and rotor systems, one could assume that the primary focus was basic flying qualities as well as primary and secondary control systems.

http://rotor.com/Publications/RotorNewssupregsup/tabid/177/newsid1237/75543/mid/1237/Default.aspx

Second Chinese J-20 Stealth Fighter Enters Test

What most impresses me about this test project is how little facts seem to be trickling out.  We seem to get a picture every time one takes off, but even the captions say things like: "Another J-20 Takes Off".  Right...  I guess when you don't plan to market it and the taxpayers aren't complaining, there is little need to say anything about how it's doing.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/709987/Successful-maiden-test-flight-of-J-20-No-2002.aspx

Gulfstream G-650 Crash Causes Begin to Emerge

The paraphrase of the NTSB summary at the link below is a bit chilling.  The last quote from the pilot says it all about the bonds between testers and chivalry right down to the wire.  Kent was a mentor, friend, and neighbor of mine at various times over my Air Force career.  Professional to a fault, if this could happen to him, it could happen to any of us.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/in-focus-two-wing-drop-incidents-preceded-g650-crash-ntsb-371677/

Lockheed-Martin F-35 Test Update

Lock-Mart provides these updates fairly regularly.  The first outlet I found that carried the recent release was a Canadian publication.  After filtering through the sales pitch, the bottom line is that the tests have largely morphed from the classic structures, performance, and flying qualities to today's more operationally-important systems testing.
http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2012/05/08/lockheed-martin-provides-update-on-f-35-testing/

http://defensetech.org/2012/05/08/17189/

Pratt & Whitney PW1200G Flight Testing Gets Underway

The PurePower engine line is intended to produce some major strides in engine efficiency.  The geared turbofan concept is being embraced by most manufacturers as the next step to increase cruise performance.  Improvements resulting from improved internal materials and blade geometry adjustments were getting more and more difficult.  This offers a major opportunity to advance.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pratt-whitney-purepower-pw1200g-engine-takes-to-the-skies-begins-first-flight-test-program-2012-05-02

Boeing Testing Software fix for 747-8I Flutter Issue

Gone are the days when anyone uses the once-common remark that "It's only software."  It has become more and more obvious that software is often the ultimate enabler of mission objectives.  Software is also typically the ultimate hand-grenade that causes a product-development schedule to finally collapse.  In this case, VIP and long-range versions of the 8I may be limited until a fix for this potential flutter susceptibility can be found.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-testing-modal-suppression-for-747-8i-stabilizer-371355/