Gulfstream G-500 Prepares for Flutter, Hi-AOA Work

An experienced member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots once said that "High AOA Testing will get you a Kinchloe... Flutter Testing will get you killed."  Looks like Gulfstream is preparing to do both! (Hopefully the pessimistic tester will prove only half-right this time.)

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/labace-gulfstream-g500-resumes-flight-testing-following-415605/

Systems Testing Nears for Israeli C-130H

It seems this timeless airframe will never grow old.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/upgraded-c-130h-nears-test-flight-for-israel-415585/

Airbus Rearranges Duties for Three A320neo Airframes

The story at the link below leaves you a little quizzical. The company seems to acknowledge that some tests have been moved from one platform to another after engine issues grounded one of the test fleet.  This happens all the time, of course, and is one of the reasons that test fleets have multiple testbeds with flexible configurations. But to say "... we simply can't comment..." on which aircraft are doing which test categories is a stronger than typical refusal. I think it translates to "We haven't decided yet," which would have been a perfectly acceptable answer.  Go figure.

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/air-transport/2015-08-10/airbus-sorts-out-a320neo-certification-effort

China's Chengdu Aircraft J20 Stealth Accelerates Testing

As usual, details are sketchy, but the report at the link below implies that Chengdu has added planes to it's test fleet to enable low-rate initial production sooner.

http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?cid=1101&MainCatID=11&id=20150725000081

FlightDesign C4 Continues Envelope Expansion

I'm sure those of you still checking the site had decided I must have been hit by a bus, but life has just made it very challenging to keep everything in the air recently.  I could still use a "Guest Blogger" now and then, so for those of you who know me, feel free to get in touch if you would like to do this on occasion and let's talk!  Meanwhile, the story at the link below indicates that flying qualities work is continuing on FlightDesign's follow-on to the CTLS.

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2015-07-22/flight-design-c4-expands-envelope