Bell 525 Relentless May Have Suffered Rotor-Fuselage Contact

It is natural to suspect the new fly-by-wire flight control system, but it is obviously too early to be certain. Aircraft from the R-22 all the way to the HH-53 have experienced similar issues.

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/aviation/sky-talk-blog/article93468772.html

 

Airlander 10 Moving Closer to First Flight...

... sort of. The same vehicle, with a slightly different configuration, has actually flown several years ago. It has been modified to go from the defense mission to a commercial role. The article at the link below has a few details about plans for the upcoming flight series, but it is about five times as long as it needs to be, since every fact is repeated at least 3 times, and a number of the pictures have nothing to do with the vehicle at all. I continue to applaud the optimism of anyone who decides to develop a new airship.  It is right up there with flying cars and Brussels sprouts based desserts.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3676614/Flying-Bum-air-Route-test-flight-world-s-largest-aircraft-Airlander-10-announced.html

Mitubishi expands MRJ Test Fleet

The article is brief, but it does give a bit of a glimpse into overall flight test planning for the new regional jet.

MRJ FTA2 (Photo Credit: Mitsubishi)

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-mrj-fta-2-completes-maiden-sortie-425861/

"F-35 Flight Test for Dummies"

Although the article at the link below first appeared in a non-aviation news outlet, it does provide a very interesting point of view and a kind of "test pilot for a day" opportunity for those unfamiliar with the profession. It also sheds a bit of light on the of the foibles of flight test in general and of the F-35 in particular. Worth the read, even if only for laughs. The article seems to show that software is and will probably continue to be the long pole in the combat capability tent.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3586220/A-day-life-F-35-test-pilot-Rebooting-failing-computers-fixing-false-warning-lights-repairing-broken-weapons-systems-bit-flying.html

Boeing 737MAX High Altitude TOLD in Bolivia

The full article requires a subscription, but some basic info on the tests is visible. Sorry!

http://atwonline.com/airframes/boeing-737-max-completes-high-altitude-flight-tests-bolivia

Mitusbishi Stealth X-2 Makes Maiden Flight

The picture at the link below is small and grainy, but the shape, while very similar to the F-22 in planform, seems to lack a number of features you would expect to see on a stealth aircraft. An even bigger question, based upon the article's reference to Japan's constitutional limits, is why the Japanese would need a stealth platform for use over their own country. A bit of thought will generate several valid reasons, but it is still a big investment.

http://kaumudiglobal.com/innerpage1.php?newsid=77391

DARPA/Aurora Subscale VTOL X-Plane First Flight

Playing catch-up again... This is from way back in Late March.

(Please ignore the blatantly sensationalist link to a computer beating a real fighter pilot in a dogfight.)

http://www.pcmag.com/news/343839/mini-version-of-darpa-x-plane-completes-test-flight