Boeing 787-9 Makes First Flight

While there is little detail regarding the objectives or results of the flight, the story at the link below makes it pretty clear that a lot of eyes in Asia are watching how the entire Dreamliner complement of options evolves.  Eventually the Dreamliner battery grounding will be mostly a faded memory, but we're not there yet.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/international/boeing-s-larger-787-9/816860.html

Bombardier C-Series Takes Wing

This news is just a bit stale because life has kept me away from the keyboard for a couple of weeks, but this is huge news.  The story at the link below points out that this plane is a first for quite a while for Canadian manufacturers.  Way to go, Chuck!  Now I feel even worse for putting a dent in your car all those years ago!

http://www.cp24.com/news/bombardier-s-cseries-jet-lands-after-taking-first-test-flight-1.1456673

Test Pilot Killed

I'm retired USAF, but on this one I have to give a nod to the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School motto: "Plan the flight... Fly the plan."

http://avstop.com/September_2013/flight_instructor_killed_in_an_experimental_aircraft_while_performing_a_flight_test.htm

Don't Read This Post

(Photo credit: Paramount Pictures)



http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/04/travel/ground-control-pilotless-planes/

(Hey... I told you not to read it.)

Scaled/Virgin SpaceShipTwo Exceeds Mach 1

The aircraft apparently peaked out at Mach 1.4 and 56K', then tried out the feathering mechanism again prior to returning for a landing.  This flight was slightly different from Scaled's usual approach in that the flight was leaked to the press in anticipation to a much greater degree than usual.  Maybe a nod to pressure resulting from extended delays between flights?  It is also interesting to note in the link that the price seems to have gone up by 25%.

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-virgin-space-ship-test-20130905,0,4631303.story#axzz2e3sXgT1S

Turkish TAI Hurkus 350 Completes Maiden Flight

Test pilot comments were, as is customary, short and sweet.  There is no data available in the article on the size and gross weight of the plane, but 1600 horsepower seems quite a bit given the apparent size of the 350.  Even the pilot seems to have been impressed with the resulting performance.  As a reference, your typical Pilatus PC-7 runs with 550-750 hp.

http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/hurkus-makes-maiden-flight-for-turkey.html?utm_source=googleNews&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=news_feed

Out of Control... "BAILOUT... BAILOUT... BAILOUT!!!"

Take a (fictional) ride with a test pilot on a test flight when everything goes to pot.  This is about how it would feel, and about how fast it would all happen.  I haven't been quite this close to the edge, but I have multiple colleagues who've been there.  Quite a rush! 

The message?  Plan ahead, work as a team, and cover one another's assets!

http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123361258

A-10 Warthog Pushes External Tanks to the Limit

The story at the link below may sound bland - extending the envelope of the plane's external tanks - but this can actually be some pretty exciting work.  It looks like g-loading and airspeed limits are being extended, and there are a lot of aspects to stores carriage.  They have to worry about structural issues at the top end and during maneuvering, about proper venting and pressurization across higher speeds, about handling qualities, as well as jettison characteristics at various fuel levels.  What about interactions with other stores configurations?  The list goes on.  From the comments of the test pilot, it would seem they had concerns about aircraft controllability, and that is always exciting to plan a test around.  Sounds like fun!

http://www.dvidshub.net/news/112609/40th-fts-expands-10-fuel-limitations-combat