Flight Tests

Two variants of the Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) being developed for DARPA and the US Air Force have completed their final captive carry flight tests and are now cleared for their first free-flight tests within the next year.

DARPA has announced that its unmanned Gremlins X-61A air vehicle has completed a second round of aerial tests at the US Army’s Dugway Proving Ground, a step closer to the program's goal of air-launching and air-recovering up to four unmanned drones.

Lockheed Martin and the US Air Force have completed the first flight test of a tactical version of the hypersonic AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW, which was strapped beneath the wing of a B-52 Stratofortress bomber.

Virgin Galactic today completed the second successful glide test of its VSS Unity spaceplane since relocating there earlier in the year. It saw the spacecraft hit new speeds as the company presses ahead with its testing program at Spaceport America.

ZeroAvia says it has successfully completed the first-ever flight of a commercial-scale electric-powered aircraft in the UK. On June 22, the company's HyFlyer aircraft with a hydrogen fuel cell powertrain took off from Cranfield Airport, Bedfordshire.

The most advanced version of the F-15 multi-role jet fighter has made its maiden flight. The F-15QA being developed for the Qatar Emiri Air Force took off from Lambert International Airport in St. Louis on April 13 for a 90-minute flight.

Boeing has announced that it will refly the failed unmanned first flight of its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. The do-over of the December 2019 Orbital Test Flight is aimed at fulfilling the test objectives of the shortened original mission.

The final test prototype of Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation's SpaceJet M90, in its certifiable baseline configuration, has made its maiden flight. It flew for two hours over the Pacific Ocean for basic performance tests before returning to base.

Rolls-Royce and Gulfstream Aerospace have scored a double first as the Gulfstream G700 business jet and two Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines made their maiden flights at the same time from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport.

Another stunning milestone for the Jetman team, as pilot Vince Reffet demonstrates the new ability to take off from the ground, then hit the gas on the carbon jet wing's four turbine engines and soar away into the sky.

Airbus Helicopters' VSR700 unmanned naval helicopter prototype recently successfully completed its maiden flight. On November 8, 2019, at a drone test center in the south of France, the aircraft carried out a series of tethered flights.

Boeing's CST-100 Starliner capsule passed a major milestone today as it successfully completed a launch pad abort test. At the White Sands Missile Range, the unmanned spacecraft lifted off under its own power and executed a 95-second flight.