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Eurocopter Claims New Helo Speed Record
Eurocopter said on Tuesday its X3 hybrid helicopter reached 255 knots in level flight last week, unofficially breaking the helicopter speed record. Sikorsky's X2 had reached a speed of 253 knots before it retired in 2011. The X3 reached its top speed while flying at an altitude of about 10,000 feet during a 40-minute test flight over southern France. Eurocopter said the X3 is its technology demonstrator for a cost-effective vertical-takeoff-and-landing transportation system that would offer the speed of a turboprop-powered aircraft and the full-flight capabilities of a helicopter.
The X3 also flew last week at a speed of 263 knots during a descent, the company said. "The X3 is clearly in its element at high speeds," said Eurocopter test pilot Hervé Jammayrac. "While flying at both 255 knots and 263 knots, the X3 performed exactly as it has throughout its flight envelope, exhibiting outstanding stability and providing a low vibration level without any anti-vibration system." The X3 configuration utilizes a pair of RTM 322 turboshaft engines to power a five-blade main rotor system with two propellers installed on short-span fixed wings. The X3 first flew in September 2010, and has accumulated about 140 hours aloft. |
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'Last' Dornier Do-17 Raised From British Waters
A salvage crew Monday recovered the badly corroded but recognizable remains of a Dornier DO-17 that was shot down off England's Kent coast during the Battle of Britain 70 years ago, delivering to the terrestrial world what may be the only example of its kind. The aircraft's propellers were separated and dangling from wreckage, the fuselage was nearly split in two and outboard sections of wing were not attached to the aircraft when it was raised from 50 feet of water. There are plans to put the airframe through a two-year restoration with the goal of placing the aircraft on display at the RAF Museum in Hendon, north London. Museum spokesman Ajay Srivastava told bbc.co.uk, "The aircraft looks great" and that the operation "has been an absolute success." If authorities are correct in the aircraft's identification, 70 years ago, the aircraft's final flight had less successful outcomes for its crew.
Researchers believe the wreck to be that of aircraft call sign 5K-AR. The plane was shot down on Aug. 26, 1940, while the Battle of Britain raged. Two crewmembers are believed to have died in the crash. Two others, including a pilot of the Luftwaffe aircraft, are known to have survived to become prisoners of war. The wreckage was first discovered by divers in 2008. An RAF Museum then paid for a project that confirmed the identity of the aircraft with sonar scans. Experts had hoped to raise the fragile wreck whole, after building an aluminum frame to cradle the parts. That plan was set aside due to cost. While the bulk of the aircraft was recovered in one lift, salvagers expected early this week to perform multiple excursions to recover all related articles. The final effort has been delayed by weather, which changed for the better Monday. A grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund is credited with getting the project started. |
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Waco Great Lakes Production Underway
Waco Classic Aircraft Corporation has unveiled the first conforming new-production Great Lakes 2T-1A-2, culminating a project that launched a couple of years ago. The open-cockpit two-seat tandem biplane features a Lycoming AEIO-360 180-HP engine, fuel injection, and a Hartzell propeller. It's fully aerobatic, and sells for about $245,000. The first three aircraft for customers are already in production, the company said. Deliveries are expected to start in the next few months, with an initial production rate of one airplane per month.
The biplane is intended as an entry-level tailwheel sport aircraft, Waco President Peter Bowers said. "It's a little more affordable than our typical Waco that we produce in Battle Creek," he said. Compared to the company's classic YMF-5D model, the Great Lakes is smaller, less expensive, and features simpler avionics and systems. "Yet it offers the same open cockpit and thrilling experience that so many people desire," Bowers said. The airplane is based on a classic design but updated with modern technology and materials. The spar, for example, is crafted from aluminum instead of wood. The airplane can be ordered online at the Waco website. AVweb toured the prototype at Sun 'n Fun 2011; click here for the video. |
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Eclipse Jet OK'd For Longer Life
When the original Eclipse jet was certified, back in 2005, the FAA approved the airframe for a 10,000-hour lifetime, and last week, the owners of Eclipse Aerospace said the FAA had agreed to double that. "An actual Eclipse jet was subject to the movements, loads, and fatigue that would normally be experienced over more than 60,000 flight operations," said Cary Winter, vice president of manufacturing. "This testing also validated the strength and superiority of our patented friction-stir-welding process." With the new 20,000 hours/20,000 cycles limit and unlimited calendar life, an Eclipse jet that flies 400 hours a year would be approved for a 50-year lifetime.
The friction-stir-welding process replaces the requirement to manually drill holes and install more than 7,000 rivets in the airframe. Because rivet holes create opportunities for stress cracks to form, the elimination of rivet holes and the strength provided by the friction-stir-welded joint provides an airframe that is three times stronger than a traditional riveted airframe, according to Eclipse. Winter said the company invested hundreds of hours and several million dollars to achieve the approval change. |
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They've Made A Flying Bicycle? (With Video)
A group of Czech engineers and designers have successfully test flown via radio control a proof of concept hybrid bicycle/multi-copter, the FBike, at an exhibition in Prague, Wednesday. The group says they hope to perform a manned flight at a future date. Early design specifications made available last year included lithium-polymer batteries powering six electric motors together capable of producing 50 kW of power. Thrust is delivered by two sets of counter-rotating blades mounted fore and aft, and two stabilizing rotors on the left and right side. The design includes most of the limitations a skeptic might anticipate, including limited flight times (currently estimated at three to five minutes), limited redundancy, and limited real-world usefulness as a bicycle due to its roughly 200 pound weight. ... All of which may be of little concern to the bike's designers.
In 2012, the design team said the project was just a marketing exercise and was not intended for production. Still, the team is optimistic about future long-term developments in technology that would improve on the vehicle's safety and performance. "Because the capacity of batteries doubles about every ten years," Milan Duchek, technical director of contributing company Duratec Bicycles, told the Telegraph.co.uk, "we can expect that in the future the capacity would be enough" for some practical application. After the public test flight, remote pilot Jan Spatny stated that the craft was not especially easy to control. In its present configuration, FBike's engineers estimate it could lift a pilot provided that pilot weighed in at less than about 165 pounds, and they may make an attempt at a limited manned flight later this year. |
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| What You Missed in AVwebBiz This Week | back to top |  |
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FAA Seeks New GA Fuel Proposals
The FAA on Monday asked the world's fuel producers to submit proposals for new fuels that could replace 100LL in the general aviation fleet by 2018, a move that GA advocacy groups greeted with enthusiasm. The FAA said it will assess each of the candidate fuels, taking into account production and distribution infrastructure, impact on the environment, toxicology, and economic considerations. "General aviation is vital to the U.S. economy," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "We need to work with industry to develop an unleaded fuel that advances aviation safety and improves the environment." The General Aviation Avgas Coalition described the move as a "significant step" in the search for an unleaded aviation gasoline that will perform adequately in all types of general aviation aircraft.
The FAA is asking fuel producers to submit data by July 1, 2014, for evaluation. By Sept. 1, 2014, the FAA will select up to 10 suppliers to participate in laboratory testing. One or two fuels will then be chosen for engine and aircraft testing. That testing will generate standardized qualification and certification data for candidate fuels, along with performance data. Over the next five years, the FAA will ask fuel producers to submit 100 gallons of fuel for phase one testing and 10,000 gallons of fuel for phase two testing. "The FAA knows the general aviation community and the Environmental Protection Agency are focused on this issue," said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. "We look forward to collaborating with fuel producers to make an unleaded avgas available for the general aviation fleet." The FAA noted that it has tested 279 fuel formulations already, and a "drop-in" solution to replace 100LL "may not be technically feasible." The FAA said it will work with the GA industry to develop and deploy a new avgas "with the least impact on the existing piston-engine aircraft fleet."
On behalf of the GA Avgas Coalition, NBAA Chief Operating Officer Steve Brown said, "The general aviation community supports a deliberative, science-based exploration of aviation-fuel alternatives to 100 low-lead gasoline that focuses on preserving the safety, cost-effectiveness and feasibility of use for substitute fuel, among other considerations. We welcome the FAA's announcement, because we believe it is an appropriate next step in the conduct of an informed exploration for an aviation-fuel alternative to the avgas currently in use today." Other groups working in the coalition are AOPA, EAA, GAMA, NATA, and the American Petroleum Institute. The FAA's request for proposals is posted online. More information on the FAA's avgas-replacement initiative is posted here. The Avgas Coalition response is posted at the websites of each of the member GA groups. There are about 167,000 aircraft in the U.S. and a total of 230,000 worldwide that rely on 100LL for safe operation, according to the FAA. AVweb reviewed several alternative fuels in the works early this year; click here for that story.
Related Content:
A350 First Flight Friday
It's been a few years since there was a first flight of a clean sheet airliner design but it seems likely there will be two by the end of the month. Airbus announced the first flight of its A350 will be June 14 at 10 a.m. in Toulouse, France. Assuming that goes well, the A350 will become the main attraction at the Paris Air Show, which starts June 17. The company rolled out the prototype of the XWB (extra wide body) aircraft a month ago with a full paint job and the aircraft has been undergoing ground tests. The A350 is a direct challenge to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the highly successful Boeing 777, a new model of which will be on display at Paris. Meanwhile, in Canada, Bombardier is planning to fly its new CSeries single-aisle airliner by the end of the month.
Bombardier officials said earlier this month they would not make it to Paris with the CSeries but have said it will fly in Montreal before the end of the month. The CSeries is being touted as an efficient alternative to the Boeing 737 and A320, not to mention smallish airliners being developed in Japan, China and Russia. The CSeries will use geared turbofan engines from Pratt and Whitney that are projected to cut fuel costs by up to 20 percent and be noticeably quieter than other jet engines. Bombardier has potential orders for up to 400 aircraft and about 145 are firm.
AVwebBiz: AVweb's Business Aviation Newsletter
Delivered every Wednesday morning, AVwebBiz focuses on the companies, the products and the industry leaders that make headlines in the business aviation industry, making it a must-read.
Add AVwebBiz to your AVweb subscriptions today by clicking here and choosing "Update E-mail Subscriptions." |
Have you signed up yet for AVweb's no-cost weekly business aviation newsletter, AVwebBiz?
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| New on AVweb.com | back to top | |
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Podcast: The Future of 100LLFile Size 10.2 MB / Running Time 11:13
The FAA this week announced its new plan for finding a replacement fuel for 100LL. Doug Macnair, vice president for government relations at EAA, talks with AVweb's Mary Grady about the details of the plan and what it will mean to general aviation pilots and aircraft owners.
AVweb Insider Blog: When Tablets Go Belly Up -- It Happens
IPads are fabulous, no? But they have their foibles, especially apps that tank when you need charts or plates the most. On the AVweb Insider blog, Paul Bertorelli points out that this doesn't happen often, but reader reports suggest that it's not rare, either. What's the best way to back up your critical apps?
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| AVweb Video: Look, Listen, Laugh and Learn | back to top | |
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Video: Cirrus SR22T G5 Flight ReviewOriginal, Exclusive Videos from AVweb | Reader-Submitted & Viral Videos The 2013 Generation 5 Cirrus SR22T turbo offers more than a new 3,600-lb. gross weight increase and extra seating. Aviation Consumer's Larry Anglisano flew the new model halfway across the country to sample the compilation of recent improvements that could make the G5 SR22 the best Cirrus yet.
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| The Top Reporter on Our Crack Staff ... Is You! | back to top | |
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Question of the Week: Show PlansAir shows will look a little different this year without the U.S. military presence, but they're working hard to get you to come.
Last Week's Question: Results
Want to see the current breakdown of responses? Take a moment to answer the question yourself, and then you can view real-time results.
Survey: 'Aviation Consumer' Wants to Hear About Your Piper Warrior
Our sister publication, Aviation Consumer, is doing a Used Aircraft Guide on the Piper Warrior and is looking for input from Warrior owners and pilots. They want to know what it's like to fly and/or own a Warrior. How does it handle? How much does it cost to operate, maintain, and insure? What suggestions would you give to a person considering buying one? If you'd like your airplane to appear in the magazine, send along any photographs you'd care to share -- as high-res as possible. Comments on mods, support organizations, and anything you feel is pertinent to the Warrior are welcomed.
Send your email to consumereditor@hotmail.com by June 15.
The results will appear in a future issue of Aviation Consumer. For subscription information, click here.
AVweb's Refurbished Airplane of the Month
New airplanes sales may be a little soft, but we're seeing plenty of refurb work -- everything from new panels to fresh paint to full-up interiors. We would like to feature some of these airplanes in the pages of AVweb and spotlight the owners and shops doing the work. If you have photos of your restored aircraft -- single, twin or turbine -- send them along to us, and if we select your airplane as refurb of the month, we'll contact you for more information.
AVweb's Newstips Address ...
Our best stories start with you. If you've heard something 255,000 pilots might want to know about, tell us. Submit news tips via email to newstips@avweb.com. You're a part of our team ... often, the best part. |
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| Your Favorite FBOs | back to top | |
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FBO of the Week: Signature Flight Support (KRST, Rochester, MN)
Nominate an FBO | Rules | Tips | Questions | Winning FBOs
"FBO of the Week" readers know the smallest things can make a big difference. AVweb reader Terry L. Martin provides the case study as he tells us about a recent visit to Signature Flight Support at Rochester International Airport (KRST) in Rochester, Minnesota:
Very friendly faces and a desire to help. Prompt service and courtesy. In the little gift shop, they displayed a t-shirt that caught my eye. I asked if they had one in smaller children's sizes (grandchildren sizes). They did not. However, the gentleman behind the counter aksed if he could have my contact information and he would check with the supplier for avilability and let me know. I know it's not much, but sometimes it's the little things that cause someone to notice. I've been to this FBO numerous times over the last few years, and I receive top-notch treatment every time.
Keep those nominations coming. For complete contest rules, click here.
AVweb is actively seeking out the best FBOs in the country and another one, submitted by you, will be spotlighted here next Monday! |
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| Reader-Submitted Photos | back to top | |
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Picture of the Week: AVweb's Flying Photography Showcase
Our latest winning photo comes from George Kovacevic of Jamul, CA. Click here for the rest of this week's
submissions.
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| Names Behind the News | back to top | |
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Meet the AVwebFlash Team
AVwebFlash is a twice-weekly summary of the latest news, articles, products, features, and events featured on AVweb, the world's premier independent aviation news resource.
The AVwebFlash team is:
Have a product or service to advertise on AVweb? Your advertising can reach over 225,000 loyal AVwebFlash, AVwebBiz, and AVweb home page readers every week. Over 80% of our readers are active pilots and aircraft owners. That's why our advertisers grow with us, year after year. For ad rates and scheduling, click here or contact Tom Bliss, via e-mail or via telephone [(480) 525-7481].
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