Boeing 787 Flies Two-Hour Lithium-Ion Test

No results are provided in the article at the link below, but hopefully they will find the smoking gun sometime soon.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/business/boeing-787-completes-test-flight.html?_r=0

Augusta Westland Adds to AW169 Test Fleet

This plane is the fourth test asset.  Reportedly almost fully production-representative, it may round out the AWS-169 developmental Flight Test fleet.

http://www.shephardmedia.com/news/rotorhub/fourth-aw169-enters-flight-test-programme/

Scaled / Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo Test Details and Plans

The folks at Scaled Composites have historically been pretty closed-mouthed about test results and future test plans.  Their customers, in this case Virgin Galactic, don't have to be so tight-lipped.  The story at the link below has a few interesting tidbits about plans and schedules for upcoming tests.  Unless you're a dedicated Antelope Valley airplane watcher, the first powered test will be a total surprise, but Virgin seems to think you won't be waiting much longer.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelvenables/2013/02/08/interview-steve-isakowitz/

Aviastar Il-76MD-90A Begins Extended Flight Tests

The story at the link below provides a bit of intel regarding test objectives and future plans for the new transport.  Although the basic airframe has been around a long time, the avionics and engines are brand new, potentially giving the platform a whole new set of operational capabilities.

http://www.defencetalk.com/il-476-airlifter-makes-first-long-test-flight-46584/

Aeroscraft Airship Got Airborne Last Month

Safely inside a large hangar in Southern California, the new vehicle showed that it could indeed hover.  The article at the link below has a few interesting details about the technologies that allow it to control its bouyancy.  There are lots of pictures too.  Worth a look!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/30/aeroscraft-test-flight-airship_n_2582409.html

Sierra Nevada's Dreamchaser Prepares for First Live Drop

The reusable manned spaceplane is designed for routine access to low earth orbit.  The fact is that there is no time to lose in getting this type of vehicle into operation, since no one is sure how the ISS will be funded after 2020.  First series of flights? Unmanned and automated of course.

http://www.space.com/19551-dream-chaser-space-plane-flight-test.html

F-35 Test Year Rundown - Get Some Coffee and Sit Back

I promise you will enjoy this 14-minute video.  It is mostly chest-pounding, but it is still fun to watch.

http://www.military.com/video/aircraft/jet-fighters/f-35-test-flight-at-edwards-afb-2012/2119692641001/

Chinese Y-20 Boasts Successful First Flight

The C-17-Class transport apparently logged a one-hour first flight just last week.  The article at the links below share some specifications for the plane.  It is a large aircraft and a big leap for China's aviation sector, but the largest challenge may be the domestic engines that are planned for future installation.  The second link provides some additional video as well as s bit of performance analysis.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/758551.shtml

http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2013/01/28/the-y-20-china-aviation-milestone-means-new-power-projection/