Lockheed-Martin F-35B Loads Work Underway

This is the day-to-day, "get it to the customer" grunt work of flight test.  Structural loads, stores compatibility, handling qualities...  Not a lot of glory, but this is what gets a plane to the customer with the capabilities that they need.

http://www.defpro.com/news/details/39803/?SID=f09ad850f135f5688f21376560047fa9

Ukrainian-Designed Antonov AN-70 Back in the Air

The tactical transport has apparently had technical issues that have stretched out development for quite a while, but Russian and Ukrainian customers are still declaring commitment to the project.  What I find most interesting is the (apparent) practice of performing flight test as part of airshows.  To me the two endeavors are fundamentally incompatible.  You don't do something in front of a crowd of onlookers unless you know for sure what will happen.  But if you know for sure what will happen, then you aren't really doing flight test.

http://en.ria.ru/mlitary_news/20120927/176265713.html

Second Sukhoi SU-30SM Added to Test Program

There are not a lot of details about test objectives on this maiden flight, but they most likely included core flight systems and avionics, since the basic airframe is a tme-tested aircraft.  I could not get the link to load completely, but the basic facts were still there.

http://www.defenseworld.net/go/defensenews.jsp?id=7592&h=Second%20Sukhoi%20Su-30SM%20Fighter%20Jet%20Completes%20Maiden%20Test%20Flight

UPDATED: Australia and Norway Partner on HiFire Hypersonic Flight Test

While small, unpiloted vehicles like this one are often ignored (unless they crash, of course), this kind of research really does extend the boundaries of aeronautics, and the stakes are high on every launch.  At this point it isn't clear if the flight was a success, or had problems like recent X-51 flight trials.

http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2012/09/21/australian-defence-scientists-conduct-successful-test-flight-of-experimental-hypersonic-vehicle/

UPDATE:  Apparently the flight was a success, reaching altitudes above 200 miles and speeds above Mach 8.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2012/09/28/Australian-hypersonic-test-a-success/UPI-83401348828200/?spt=hs&or=si

Canadian Falcon-20 Prepares for 100% Biofuel Flight

You've read here about previous flights using biofuel blends.  This is apparently the very first flight planned to fly on 100% biofuel.  Personally, I remain a huge supporter of finding alternative fuels, but I am an even bigger skeptic regarding when they might be commercially viable.  That said, it has to start somewhere.  Leave it to the Canadians to expand the biofuel envelope.

http://skiesmag.com/news/articles/17188-canadian-contribution-key-to-upcoming-100-percent-biofuel-te.html

Bombardier Easing Toward C-Series First Flight

Rirst flight could happen later this year if final assembly is completed on the expected timeline.  Good looking airplane, but the perspective in the link makes the tail look awfully small.  They have apparently gone to digital flight controls, which is good, because if they had not, I'm thinking the yaw damper was going to be a must-have item to fly.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/business/bombardier-s-cseries-test-aircraft-parts-due-to-arrive-in-coming-weeks-1.955888

NASA Cirrus SR-22 Mimics UAV to test Collision Avoidance Systems

The article at the link below spotlights software tests being performed in NASA Langley's UAV-Surrogate aircraft, but it leaves a lot of questions unanswered.  A few years back this type of work was a major focus out at NASA Dryden in California.  It is not clear whether they are also involved as the work has progressed.  What is also not clear is what hardware besides ADS-B is being used to inform the avoidance software.  The sense-and-avoid problem is hugely complex, and no one is likely to bet the farm on a single-string system that is wholly dependent upon ADS-B.  I wonder what else is in the eventual plan?  About a million years ago, I suggested to the FAA that airliners could potentially use sound to help them avoid general aviation aircraft.  They actually took it seriously enough to get back to me with a very solid analysis of the concept.  Acoustic sensors and signal extraction software are even better now.  Guess we'll see.

http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2012/09/11/69138/

Virgin Galactic / Scaled Compsites SpaceShipTwo Engine Going In

The story at the link below indicates that Virgin considers most of the unpowered testing to be complete.  The plane is now down for a few months to prepare for powered flight.  You'll recall some of the frantic moments early in the SpaceShipOne test program when they were still learning how the rocket motor and flight controls interacted.  No one who saw it can forget the unplanned aileron rolls that occured on one of those early flights.  If you live in the Antelope Valley, you'll want to keep your VHF scanner plugged in!

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/virgin-galactic-finishes-unpowered-flight-test-376475/

Boeing Tests New FA-18E/F Mission Computers

More and more these days, the fundamental ability of an aircraft to do its job is as dependent upon the onboard systems as it is on the airframe itself.  You can bet that these new computers will add a lot of punch to the fleet, in ways that most of us can only imagine.

http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2407

Lockheed-Martin F-35B Follows A-Model into Airstart Testing

A lot of good info about the planned testing is available at the link below.  Apparently the A-model is done or nearly done with its airstart program.  Now the STOVL version will be doing the same prior to getting into serious high AOA testing.  27 different conditions are on the matrix.  I'm sure there will be some surprises, but the good news is that there are a LOT of landing options out at Edwards.

http://www.yumasun.com/news/air-81522-aircraft-test.html

Chinese K-8 Military Trainer Cleared for High Altitude Airport Ops

The plane is used by multiple air forces and is a joint venture with Pakistan.  Now it seems an international test team has flown from an airfield whose elevation is over 13,000 feet.

http://www.defpro.com/news/details/38831/?SID=b82bb44cedf221e6bbb0691945695ec0