Paraglider Flight Test Goes Deadly

The short article at the link below doesn't offer make or model of the craft, but it indicates that an experienced pilot was testing a new paraglider wing configuration.  The "locked in" comment in the article below may be correct or incorrect, but regardless of how this happened, it should serve as a reminder that the reason we "test" things is because we don't know for sure whether this new thing will work or not.  We have GOT to assume that it will NOT and have a plan in case it doesn't!

http://www.pe.com/articles/jacinto-752919-san-crash.html

Bell's JetRanger 505 X Maiden Flight was Last Month

Short flight of 30 minutes out of Mirabel in Ontario, Canada.  (You can abort the video ad after about 15 seconds of watching.)

http://www.flyingmag.com/news/bell-505-jet-ranger-x-makes-first-flight

Boeing 767-2C Makes Maiden Flight

This is the basic airfame of the future USAF KC-46 tanker, although Boeing apparently also hopes to sell it as a commercial freight-hauler.  According to the article at the link below, it is cobbled together from pieces of other Boeing products.  I guess if you sign a fixed-price contract, you do whatever you can to keep costs down.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-completes-first-flight-of-new-freighter-and-tanker-407472/

DOD Flight Testing Facing Fundamental Changes?

First, please let me aplogize for going nearly two months without an update.  Although the hiatus may have given some of you a chance to dig back into earlier posts, it was not a planned interruption.  Sorry, life just got crazy on the home front.  Regarding flight test, many things have happened in the intervening period, to include a couple of first flights.  I will do my best to get you some links for information on the major events.  In the meantime, the article at the link below may be our first peek at DOD thinking regarding future flight test range infrastructure.  What I find interesting is the places that aren't mentioned, like the major west-coast test and training ranges.  Hmmm...

http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/air-force/2014/12/23/air-force-range-infrastructure-study-underway/20775823/

UPDATE: SpaceShip2 Lost During Test Flight - Engine Issue?

This one is too close to home for truly objective comments.  Odds are excellent that I would list one or both pilots as a friend.  But at a news conference that just ended, Stu Witt, an administrator at the Mojave Spaceport, said that he witnessed the flight, that a new fuel was being used, and that the anomaly wasn't an event, but the lack of an event, which may point toward an abnormal light of the new engine.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-virgin-galactics-spaceship-anomaly-testing-20141031-story.html

LeapX Engine Flies in Preparation for use on COMAC C919

It's not clear from the article what aircraft the engine was flown on, but it would appear that the CFM engine has at least gotten airborne.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=245594

COMAC's ARJ21 Nearing Certification

The story at the link below is very short, but it has a few good numbers on test progress to date.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-the-arj21-progress-report-404547/

Cessna Citation Latitude Approaches Certification

The article at the link below is mainly marketing, but it does give a bit of status on the test program.  Looks like either the engines (PW306s?) are delivering better performance than expected, or the airframe is more slippery.

http://cessna.txtav.com/en/company-info/newsroom-and-events/cessna-citation-latitude-flight-test-demonstrates-increased-performance

Airbus A350 XWB Formation

Yes... Strutting and Chest Pounding is part of the flight test process. This was late last month.

(Photo: Courtesy Airbus)



http://www.airbus.com/galleries/photo-gallery/dg/idp/40928-airbus-a350xwb-formation-flight-01/?backURL=galleries/photo-gallery/

Airbus A320neo Makes Maiden Flight

Major changes on the propulsion side give Airbus high hopes to reduce costs by 15% or more for the class of aircraft.  Very few actual details of the flight are available so far, but the link below shares a few.

http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1411682681.html

Bombardier CSeries Testing Moving to Wichita

I don't know whether this was always the plan, but the move from Montreal to Wichita is a clear statement that Bombardier is taking recent huge schedule slips very seriously and is pulling out the stops to move their test program forward.  The fact is that the prognosis is better than the present situation would lead one to believe.  Consider how bad the 787 looked a couple of years ago, or even the C-17 a couple of decades ago.  If it is a good plane, it will recover from test program issues.

http://atwonline.com/airframes/bombardier-cseries-flight-test-aircraft-move-kansas?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AtwDailyNews+(ATW+Daily+News)

USAF KC-46A Flight Tests Delayed

Delays to a flight test program?  Yawn...  It is more shocking when a test program is NOT delayed.  Once under way, I would expect the traditional P&FQ kind of stuff to go pretty quickly unless:

1. The USAF intends to clear a flight envelope that is vastly different from the standard B-767 envelope, or:
2. The flight control system hardware or computer logic has had major changes.

The real excitement should be watching as all the various receiver platforms beging to cycle through the program.  There ought to be some great pictures coming out eventually.

http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140916/DEFREG02/309160034/First-Flight-Delayed-KC-46A-Test-Aircraft?odyssey=nav%7Chead

Lockheed-Martin F-35B Sets HQ and Weapons Milestones

The story at the link below details some recent accomplishments of the B-Variant during flight testing, to include formation handling qualities in the vertical lift mode. 

Wait!  Are we planning formation vertical landings to speed guys aboard ship?  No way! 

Or is there?

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2014/august/140825ae_f-35-flight-test-milestones-maturing-combat-capabilities.html

Paramount's AHRLAC ISR Platform Makes First Flight

It is interesting that the first indigenous military design on the African continent is for ISR.  I guess that tells us something about the importance of the mission in that part of the world.  It is also a reminder that ISR is usually more about the sensors than the platform they are mounted on.  The story at the link below gives some interesting details about the genesis of the plane, as well as a bit of intel on the planned test program.

(Photo Credit: Paramount Group)

 

http://www.janes.com/article/41854/paramount-s-ahrlac-makes-its-first-flight



Generation Orbit Learjet 35 Prepares for Satellite Launches

Systems integration, handling qualities... the profiles and missions described at the link below are essentially the same kind of thing that the folks at Scaled and Virgin have been doing recently in preparation for their first passenger flight of SpaceShipTwo.  This area of flight test is getting more interesting by the week.

http://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2014/08/06/generation-orbit-conducts-flight-test-for-air-launch-smallsat-vehicle/

UPDATE 2: Bombardier's C-Series Back in the Air Soon?

UPDATE: As of a couple of weeks ago, the issue seemed to have been isolated to an oil leak.

EARLIER POST: We've heard the rumor repeatedly, but eventually it will have to pan out.  There are a few tidbits about the PW 1500G ground test failure in the second link, but I have still not seen anything substantive about the nature of the engine failure.  Perhaps some of you have heard more?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/09/bombardier-cseries-idUSL2N0PK19K20140709

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2014-06-06/cseries-engine-failure-originated-low-pressure-turbine

Solar Impulse II Prepares for Round-the-World Flight

The article is a little unclear, since it discusses a potential 5-day non-stop segment, but it would seem that the team is planning multiple stops on the plane's circumnavigation trip, which will almost certainly take at least two weeks of flight time, plus layovers.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0602/621087-solar-aircraft/

Lockheed-Martin F-35B Guides Two AMRAAMs at Once

It would seem that May 27th was a very big day for the Marine version of the F-35.  The task of putting two Amraams into the air at once is no small accomplishment.  (My apologies for pointing this out to you so long after it took place, but I will make every effort to bring you back up to date over the next couple of weeks.)  The whole point of stealth in the air-to-air mission is to be the first one to put a weapon in the air.  You can do this because you know about the bad guy before he knows about you.  If you are trying to blow a hole in the air defense for a non-stealth strike package, you and your wingman are going to be all alone against a lot of defenders, so you need to be able to ripple-fire, or your advantage of surprise is gone as soon as the first bad guy blows up.  Good stuff!

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/f-35-achieves-three-major-flight-test-milestones-on-same-day-2014-05-29?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Pratt PW 1500G Engine Issue Halts Bombardier C-Series Testing

This is the predictable and prudent response until some kind of cause is determined.  Hopefully that will happen sooner rather than later.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/bombardier-cseries-test-fleet-grounded/2014/05/30/229995e4-e833-11e3-a70e-ea1863229397_story.html

Engineered Propulsion Systems Diesel V-8 Flies

This represents a tough choice when it comes to testing.  The airframe is tried and true, with a horsepower requirement that is compatible, since it often flies with a turbocharged IO-550.  But a lot of the early flights will probably want to stay close to one of those famous Edwards lakebeds.  I think I would have been really tempted to find a Skymaster and hang the test engine on one end, with a tried and true engine on the other end.  But, hey, what do I know?

http://www.flyingmag.com/news/dick-rutan-pilots-first-test-flight-eps-diesel

Raytheon/USAF DDR Radar Tests on Proteus Testbed

At first glance, the article at the link below appears to be about as boring as can be, but there are actually some very interesting things going on here.  It re-demonstrates the continuing growth of systems testing, the value of commercial testbeds for getting that work done, the importance of a little-understood contributor to DOD research - the FFRDC - and something even more impressive, even if only to software pukes:  Probably the most important aspect of the article is the importance attached to the idea of having someone other than an original equipment manufacturer develop new software loads for an existing software-intensive system.  Despite the tongue-in-cheek "geek" logo at the top of the page, this is NOT a small deal.  If USAF figures this one out, it could eventually blow the doors off the cost of software upgrades.  Keep an eye on this one.

http://www.pddnet.com/news/2014/05/ddr-design-poised-serve-open-systems-architecture-pathfinder

Lockheed-Martin F-35 Sets Record Test Pace

While it isn't clear just how many aircraft are considered part of the Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD) fleet, nearly 300 hours in a month sounds pretty impressive.  Even if there were ten planes, flying each one nearly an hour and a half every weekday is not bad.  Anyone recall how many planes are in the SDD fleet?

http://australianaviation.com.au/2014/05/new-f-35-flight-test-milestone-for-april/

Navy Northrop-Grumman X-47B Still Progressing

What is most exciting to me about UAV testing events like the ones in the link below, is that they are, frankly, no longer very exciting.  We will continue to see more and more of this kind of work, especially since the FAA is opening several UAV test areas across the country to make the work easier to do.

http://www.defencetalk.com/navys-x-47b-program-ramps-up-flight-test-59477/

Augusta-Westland AW-609 is into Autorotation Testing

The plan has been flying now for quite a while, but the manufacturer still doesn't expect to be able to certify the plane for another three years!  That may say something about the difficulties of certifying the relatively new "powered lift" category of aircraft.  On the other hand, getting all manner of emergency landings figured out is a prudent step before doing a lot of airborne tests, so one would expect that this work would come well before the lion's share of other test points.  "Steady as she goes..." I guess.

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainalerts/2014-04-29/aw609-tiltrotor-completes-autorotation-tests

UPDATE: Pratt&Whitney 1500G Test Engine for Bombardier C-Series Fire?

At the time the article below was published, everyone had stopped talking, which is typically a bad sign, especially when initial witness reports are subsequently recanted or disavowed.  Hard to tell as of this article what may have happened, but if I find something newer that provides more details you will see an update.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Mishap+test+flight+under+investigation/9787709/story.html

UPDATE: The link below has a bit more information.  Apparently the engine that was being tested was not the version used in the C-Series, nor was it ever on fire, at least according to this report.  We will keep watching this one.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/30/united-tech-prattwhitney-fire-idUSL2N0NM1FV20140430

Chinese COMAC ARJ21-700 Completes Icing Tests

According to the article at the link below, the plane had to come to North America to perform natural icing tests because conditions in China could not be found that would satisfy certification requirements.  Once upon a time, the USAF operated a very versatile water-tanker that could simulate various icing conditions, but I don't think there is a similar asset in operation anymore.  Anyone aware of current icing test water-tankers' capabilities?

http://www.ecns.cn/business/2014/04-29/111643.shtml

Airbus E-Fan Electric Aircraft Flies

The Ducted Fan aircraft is based upon what appears to be an all-composite sailplane and is apparently intended to point the way to future low-emmisions GA products that Airbus may some day build.  Very little is given in the article at the link about the flight objectives or the propulsion system, and the video is carefully edited so that it is difficult to say anything at all about takeoff roll or acceleration.  All that is sure is that it has twin ducted fans and appears to fly.

http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=32928

North Dakota State University Opening Skies for UAV Flight Testing

Okay, I admit it: the title is a bit of a misnomer.  UAVs have been flown in a lot of places, including FAA-controlled airspace, for years.  What is getting started in North Dakota is not really about testing the UAVs.  Most of the vehicles that will start populating the skies in the test areas are proven airframes.  The objective of the "tests" is mostly to prove out avoidance procedures and systems to be sure that the drones can be kept away from other traffic.  This is incredibly difficult stuff.  A lot of very smart people have been trying to crack this nut for at least 10 years, and every hammer that has come down on it so far has shattered.  The fact that the FAA set up no less than six official testing sites should tell you that there are likely several years ahead of us before anyone is allowed to regularly mix unescorted, untethered UAVs with other traffic.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/21/faa-nds-drone-test-site-ready-for-operations/

Cessna Citation Team Adds Flight Test Airframe

The article at the link below seems innocuous, but one small item raised my eyebrow.  Is it really possible that ALL flutter testing has been completed in the first 65 hours of testing?  That's moving right along, if you ask me, but maybe I am out of touch with the latest business aviation test approaches.  Anybody know if Citation flutter is really complete, or did the reporter confuse flutter testing with ground vibration testing in support of flutter?

http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2014/04/17/second-wichita-built-citation-latitude-test.html

USAF B-1B Testers Outline Software Test Process

Bombers seem to fly forever, and I think the main reason is that there is plenty of room for upgrades to offensive and defensive systems.  (Ever compare the nose of today's B-52 with that of early models?)  Looks like the Bone will be no different, but what is a bit different about the article at the link below is that it provides a glimpse of their process for bringing those new systems online.  Kind of interesting.

http://www.edwards.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123406829

Textron Airland Scorpion Clearing Flight Envelope

The new plane, built as a joint venture and intended for the light-attack and/or ISR market, has logged 50+ hours so far.  The picture at the link below leaves me quizzical, though.  It has lots of room on the wing for muntions, so I get the light-attack, but there doesn't look like there is a lot of room for the radar, which would presumably be AESA to optimize it for the ISR role.  The sad fact of life is that the "built on spec" fighter is basically an "unsolicited proposal" on steroids.  Northrop tried that with the F-20 about 30 years ago, and all it succeeded in doing was forcing General Dynamics to hold the line on F-16 Air Defense Fighter bid costs.  Good luck with this, Cessna...

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-defense-perspective/2014-04-15/textron-airland-scorpion-logs-50-flight-test-hours

Saab Testing Gripen E IRST System

Systems tests continue to take the spotlight.  The claims associated with this new infra-red search and track system are pretty bold: "...identify all types of targets..."?  I have a bit of experience with radar systems, but an IRST that is able to identify targets by type would be quite an addition for the air-to-air role.  In clear weather, such a system (with enough range) could eliminate the stealth advantage if the aircraft also carries a long-range heat-seeking missile that the IRST can cue.

http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2014/04/12/new-sensor-to-be-added-to-gripen-e-first-test-flight-successful/

Bombardier's Learjet 85 Completes First Flight

The article at the link below provides names of the entire crew.  At over two hours, the flight was significantly longer than your typical first flight, and given the areas of the flight envelope that were cleared, it apparently included raising the landing gear as well.

http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news14/104-Learjet85.shtml

Cirrus Vision SF-50 Personal Jet Begins Certification

Sort of a cross between developmental and production flight test, the first certification airframe has now gotten airborne.  The article mentions plans for some level of performance flight test as part of this process.  Okay, but hopefully the developomental work has already answered most of those questions.

http://www.onlineamd.com/cirrus-vision-sf50-first-flight-cwertification-032914.aspx

Northrop-Grumman's MQ-4C Triton Completes Envelope Expansion Work

I wonder just how big the new envelope is?  There are a few interesting statistics regarding the envlope expansion program in the story at the link below.  Early systems testing will take place on surrogate airframes.

http://www.thebaynet.com/news/index.cfm/fa/viewstory/story_ID/36102

India Acquiring Do-228 to Perform Systems Flight Test

This is an excellent example of what is driving flight testing more and more: Systems Testing.  The fact that purchase and outfitting of a dedicated systems testbed seems to make sense to more and more countries shows just how much this type of test is taking center-stage when it comes to adding capabilities to an aircraft fleet.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/defence/DRDO-Set-to-Acquire-New-Flight-Test-Bed/2014/03/18/article2114659.ece

Korea Aerspace Industries Flew 1st KT-1P For Export to Peru

This first flight took place several weeks ago but I missed it at the time. The light attack aircraft will be assembled largely in Peru.

(Photo Credit: Technologia Militar)

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/yonhap-news-agency/140219/kai-successfully-completes-first-flight-test-kt-1p-trainer-p

Chinese AVIC Y-20 Heavy Transport Testing Continues

The article at the link below has some truly excellent pictures of the new transport, but even though it is a relatively long piece, it doesn't really say anything (except perhaps that the test pilot cadre leaves something to be desired.)  It touts a record pace of testing, but attaches no numbers to that claim.

http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2014/03/test-flight-frequency-of-y-20-heavy.html

Tecnam P-2010 Limited Flight Test Results Posted

The 4-place light single is based on a tried and true configuration that should be hard to mess up.  It's a nice-looking airplane, with initial test numbers that appear very sell-able.

http://www.australianflying.com.au/news/test-flight-reveals-p2010-performance

Airbus Doubles A350 XWB Test Fleet

The article is mostly chest-pounding, but it has some nice shots of the airplane in flight, as well a brief rundown of test hours to date.  Apparently the 2 new airframes will be dedicated to envelope expansion and cabin systems testing.

http://www.airlinesanddestinations.com/airlines/two-a350-xwb-test-aircraft-make-first-flights-on-the-same-day/

Rolls-Royce to Engine Scott's Resurrected Bell 47

Lookout Colonel Potter and Hawkeye, the 47 is back!  I don't see how this one can lose, but we will have to watch and wait to find out for sure.

http://helihub.com/2014/02/26/rolls-royce-to-deliver-first-flight-test-engine-for-scotts-bell-47/

FAA Clears Bombardier for Learjet 85 1st Flight

Sorry... this story is a bit old.  (I am once again in the "catch up mode" as life continues to throw curve balls our way.)  Can anyone clear this one up?  The story at the link below implies that Bombardier has been issued the first ever FAA Flight Test Permit.  This sounds unlikely, but maybe this is something that the agency has just begun?  Anyway, maiden flight for the -85 should be soon, if it has not already occured.

http://www.blueskyexecutiveaviation.co.uk/issue_261/Bombardier_obtains_FTV1_flight_test_permit_for_Learjet85.htm

UPDATED: Field Aviation Challenger 604 MSA Begins Flight Testing

The serious testing of this aircraft will begin once the full-up maritime surveillance systems have been installed, and there will be very little on the web about how that goes, but initial envelope clearance has begun.  This may seem like a yawner, since the 604 has been flying for years, but when they get to high AOA tests, I'm sure they will be on the edge of their seats.  The large protuberances just ahead of the wing leading edge could generate some surprises when it comes to stall behavior.  Not only that, any unexpected flow disruptions not only impact main-wing stall, but they ripple back to impact the longitudinal control surfaces used the break the stall as well.  Stay tuned.

 

(Photo Credit: Aviation Week)

http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2014/03/05/field-aviation-completes-first-test-flight-of-boeings-maritime-surveillance-aircraft/

A more recent article says that so far the flying qualities remain good.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/field-aviation-achieves-first-flight-of-boeing-maritime-surveillance-396659/

Aeros Aeroscraft "Dragon Dream" LTA Tests Accelerate

This one came in under my radar, and the article at the link below offers no date for the tests it describes, but the whole lighter-than-air field is, to me, a very fascinating area of development.  Every single effort in this area in the last couple of decades has gone down like the Hindenburg (minus the flames).  There is something about this technology that is harder than it appears at first glance.  Let's see if Aeros can crack the code.

http://www.designworldonline.com/heavy-lifter-dragon-dream-passes-pentagon-nasa-tests/#_

China's Latest J-20 Fighter Variant makes Maiden Flight

While the "photo" shown at the first link below appears to be totally bogus (I have seen no other sources that show a forward-swept wing on the J-20 up to now, and no one makes a maiden flight with wall-to-wall external stores) the article does claim that a newer version of this recent-generation stealth entry by China has gotten airborne.

The second link, I suspect based on the same news release, probably has a more accurate photo.

http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201403010023.aspx

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20140302000078

Cessna Latitude Completes First Flight

The 9-Seat bizjet jumped farther into envelope clearance than is typically done on a first flight, most likely thanks to the large commonality that the plane has with the manufacturer's well-tested 12-seat Sovereign.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/cessna-completes-latitude-first-flight-396082/

Bombardier CSeries Having Software Problems

That's basically what the VP Marketing tells us (without telling us) in the article at the link below.  All the buzzwords are there:
"...overall systems maturity..."
"...if systems don't communicate properly..."
flying "...without full use of... fly-by-wire..."
Hey guys, it was way back in the 80's that Strassman told us that "Complex software systems do not work.  When they do work, it is because they are based on simple systems that worked."  Starting from scratch on systems that have serious safety implications never goes as planned.  Your customers know that full well, which is why they haven't cancelled.  You really don't have to hem and haw.

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ain-air-transport-perspective/2014-02-12/bombardier-avoids-pinpointing-causes-cseries-delay

Good Rundown of Airbus A350 Testing to Date

The story is relatively short, but it has some interesting details regarding test rates, as well as plans for upcoming testing.  It is interesting that the flight test VP says that there is no way that the test program can be accelerated, but he is also certain that testing won't cause delays in the delivery schedule.  Anyone besides me see a problem with those two statements when taken together?  Is this really the only flight test program in recorded history that will go exactly as scheduled?  Guess we'll see...

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_02_10_2014_p0-662122.xml

Lockheed-Martin AC-130J Tested After Major Mods

Although you would expect that handling qualities of the trusty C-130 would not change much after modification to Gunship configuration, you don't really know for sure until you get some daylight on the bottom side of the tires.  The story at the link below gives a little bit of detail on the flying qualities test program for this aircraft.  I suspect we won't see much regarding the systems testing that is sure to follow.

http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/473295/new-ac-130j-completes-first-test-flight.aspx

Gabriel Dawitt Prepares for First Flight in Kenyan Design

Mr. Dawitt, an IT specialist with no aeronautics background, has built quite a following.  It remains to be seen how the maiden flight will go.  The gear collapsed twice during preflight ground ops so far.  It is hard to tell from the picture, but the plane has a canard ahead of a double



http://unsanesafe.blogspot.com/2014/02/african-aircraft-test-flight.html

Boeing's PhantomEye UAV Logs 5-hour Flight

There is not a lot of detail at the link below, but there is one curious disconnect.  According to the article, Boeing's own press release says the plane's eventual goal is a 4-day endurance.  But earlier releases touted plans for a 10-day endurance.  Probably a PR miscue, but if not, it could imply that the technology has hit some serious snags.  Guess we'll have to watch and wait.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/boeing-s-hydrogen-powered-drone-sets-new-test-flight-record-114012600266_1.html

China Entering Hypersonics Arena?

ICBM-Launched hypersonic glide vehicle?  Hmmmm...  What this does is slow an adversary's response to an incoming Chinese ICBM because they can't be sure that it really carries a nuke.  Yeah, an attack is an attack, but how do you respond when you aren't sure what kind?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/13/hypersonic-arms-race-china-tests-high-speed-missil/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS

Navy Northrop-Grumman Triton UAV Halfway Through Testing?

This story leaves me doing a little bit of head-scratching.  The article seems to center on envelope expansion testing of the Triton in prep for systems testing.  This is totally logical.  But what I don't understand is why it would take half the test program to "clear the envelope" of an airframe that is essentially unchanged from one that has been flying for a couple of decades!  The only thing I can figure is that the Navy wants to fly faster, or slower, or higher than the current users.  If that is the case, it might open some visibility into the Navy's planned missions for the plane.  On the other hand, I suppose that the Navy's flight control software changes may be so radical that they have to go back and clear the original envelope all over again.  Anybody know what the issue is on this?

http://www.stripes.com/news/navy/navy-s-big-triton-drone-completes-ninth-test-flight-1.261773

Bombardier C-Series Test Progress Slow in January

The link below is to an article that focuses mostly on financials, but the story makes it pretty clear that slow progress on the the C-Series is an important underlying cause of the poor cash-flow for Bombardier.

http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/general/cseries-concerns-remain-despite-simultaneous-test-flights-128932

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Hits Mach 1.4 and 71,000 Feet

Although the story at the link below embellishes a few historical details with inflated stories of imagined "secrecy", they do share a few interesting facts regarding the most recent flight test.  This one appears to be almost as focused on training as it was on testing, bringing the planned Chief Pilot up to speed on the spacecraft with an experienced test pilot alongside to help guide the tests.  Word on the street (becoming more credible now) is that 2014 is the year of the first customer flight.  Guess we'll see...

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-virgin-galactic-spaceship-20140110,0,6703082.story#axzz2qX0fQD5x

UAV Test Sites Chosen

Article at the link below is just one of many cropping up in papers all over the states that nabbed UAV flight test sites.  The articles are essentially identical.  Take a look at the fellow in the picture.  Does he look more like you, or like your son?  Handwriting is on the wall, guys!

http://www.dallasnews.com/business/technology/headlines/20131230-texas-among-states-to-host-federal-test-sites-for-drone-aircraft.ece

Sierra-Nevada Finally Gives Thumbs Up to Dreamchaser Data

The flight was weeks ago, and was marred by a very ungraceful landing, but now after looking at all the data, NASA and SNC have concluded that they know what the gear problem was and apparently consider it a simple fix.  The stability derivatives that they were really looking to confirm, and the flight control software that they were looking to exercise, all apparently matched predictions.  This puts the U.S another step closer to getting its own astronauts into orbit.  (This is all the more important, with Lori Garver starting to backpedal on the viability of the SLS.)  What the Dreamchaser doesn't do, of course, is assure the astronauts a place to go.  Yes, ISS cooling loops are back up and running, but what's the next homeowner repair job that the crews will have to do?

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/boosters_bits/2013/12/dream-chaser-test-flight-found-to-have.html

Textron Scorpion Logs Maiden Flight

Sounds like an uneventful maiden flight, with nothing to make it stand out from many others.  The development cycle, on the other hand, sounds like something that hasn't often come out of a major manufacturer in decades, and even operations like Scaled Composites haven't gone from autocad to aerobrake in only two years any time in recent memory.  Good on them!  The story itself is just long enough to contain some inconsistencies.  The pilot reports that the plane performed better than expected, then the story goes on to say that it flew like the simulator, closely matching predictions.  The individual comments each sound great, it's just that taken together they raise an eyebrow.  Let's see what happens next...

http://www.kansas.com/2013/12/12/3175403/scorpions-first-flight-is-milestone.html