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/