New Atlas

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Airbus to cease deliveries of A380 in two years

Ben Coxworth February 14, 2019

After making its first flight in 2005, the Airbus A380 double-decker jumbo jet proceeded to become the flagship aircraft of the Emirates airline. This Thursday, however, it was announced that Emirates has reduced its latest order. As a result, Airbus will cease deliveries of the A380 in 2021.

The Airbus A380 is the world's largest airliner, and Emirates flies more of them than any ...

Aircraft

Astigan's High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite brings mapmaking into the 21st century

David Szondy February 13, 2019

Astigan Ltd is developing its A3 High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) with the goal of giving cartography a boost. The unmanned 149-kg (328 lb) solar-powered aircraft is designed to fly at an altitude of 67,000 ft for up to 90 days as a way to fill the gap between aerial and satellite surveys.

The Astigan A3 is designed to stay aloft for up to 90 days

Aircraft

Volocopter and Frankfurt Airport join forces on flying taxi infrastructure

Nick Lavars February 12, 2019

Startup Volocopter will now seek to explore the possibilities around stations for its flying taxis through a newly announced partnership with Frankfurt Airport.

Render of a Volocopter flying taxi over Frankfurt Airport

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Boeing joins with Aerion to bring world's first supersonic business jet to market

David Szondy February 5, 2019

Boeing has entered the race to build the next generation of supersonic commercial aircraft, announcing a new partnership with Aerion. Though few details were given, the new agreement will see Boeing provide a "significant investment", as well as technical assistance.

The AS2 supersonic business jet is scheduled to fly in 2023

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Bell V-280 Valor tiltrotor hits namesake 280 knots for the first time

David Szondy January 24, 2019

Bell's V-280 Valor tiltrotor combat aircraft lived up to its name on Wednesday as it pegged the speedometer at a true airspeed of 280 knots (322 mph, 518 km/h), or twice that of conventional rotorcraft. The flight took place at the company's Flight Research Center in Arlington, Texas.

The Bell V-280 tiltrotor reached a true airspeed of 280 knots in a test flight this ...

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Boeing VTOL air vehicle prototype makes first flight

Ben Coxworth January 23, 2019

Given how many groups are now developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, it shouldn't come as a surprise that aerospace giant Boeing has been working on some of its own. This Tuesday, one of the prototypes made its first flight.

The PAV utilizes four sets of rotors for vertical takeoffs and landings, along with a rear ...

Aircraft

In pictures: Awe-inspiring aerial engineering from the Aerospace Museum of California

Loz Blain January 22, 2019

The military is always ahead of the civilian world when it comes to new technologies, and it's staggering to look back and see just how advanced aviation was as early as the 1950s and 60s, with supersonic jets, long-range remote-control helicopters, and other tech that feels way before its time.

Rain falls behind the mighty Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-7 jet engines of the FB-111A, each of ...

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World's largest plane edges towards takeoff speeds on the runway

Nick Lavars January 13, 2019

The Stratolaunch aircraft has been slowly but surely edging towards takeoff with a series of increasingly rapid taxi tests. Its latest outing has seen the team clock the gargantuan dual-fuselage plane at speeds fast approaching those typically needed for regular aircraft to lift-off on the runway.

The latest taxi test brings Stratolaunch closer to take-off

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Intelligent Energy claims new endurance record for hydrogen-powered multicopters

Loz Blain January 10, 2019

This fuel cell-powered coaxial octacopter just stayed aloft for 70 minutes of continuous flight, while carrying a 5kg (11-pound) weight. The record demonstrates the flight endurance capabilities of hydrogen-powered electric aircraft.

Intelligent Energy's drone, powered by 6 liters of compressed hydrogen and a fuel cell, flew for ...

Aircraft

First KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling jet headed for the US Air Force

David Szondy January 10, 2019

The US Air Force has signed off on the first of a tranche of four Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft, which will be delivered to McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas in the next month. Today's announcement comes after extensive testing of six KC-46 that involved over 3,800 flight hours.

Nick Cenci, Major, USAF Chief of Flight Operations DCMA (Seattle) (left) and Anthony Mariapain, Major, USAF ...