During the golden age of flight test, the name of the game was higher, faster and louder. No manned x-plane ever exceeded the X-15 in any of these categories. X-15 66670 (Ship 1) flew 81 times, all originating from the undisputed home of experimental flight test – Edwards Air Force Base, California. Continue reading
NASA to Hold Teleconference on Unmanned Aircraft Flight in Public Airspace
NASA will host a teleconference for members of the media and aviation industry at 4 p.m. EDT on Thursday, June 28, to discuss the details and preliminary results of the agency’s first large-scale, remotely piloted aircraft flight in the national airspace using detect and avoid technology to fly without a safety chase aircraft. Continue reading
Australia to Buy Six MQ-4C Tritons
The security of Australia’s maritime borders will be significantly strengthened with another major military investment. The Turnbull Government will invest $1.4 billion and acquire the first of six MQ-4C Triton remotely piloted aircraft through a cooperative program with the United States Navy. Continue reading
Boeing HorizonX Invests in Urban Aerial Delivery Startup Matternet
Boeing has announced its investment in Matternet, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based startup pioneering safe, on-demand unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) delivery operations in urban environments. Matternet’s advanced logistics platform – combined with Boeing’s expertise in complex logistics, integration and manufacturing capabilities – will further enable reliable, efficient cargo air transportation. Continue reading
Suppressing Air Defenses by UAV Swarm Attack
In terms of complexity and amount of missions to be performed, the leading positions belong to military aerospace robotic complexes (MARC). While 37 countries are engaged in development and manufacture of on-land MARC, the air- and space-borne types are, respectively, the domain of 45 and 11 countries. Continue reading
Hundreds of Drones at 2018 Shenzhen Intl. UAV Expo
The world’s leading drone manufacturer is located in Shenzhen, China, so it’s only right that the 2018 World Drone Congress and the third annual Shenzhen International UAV Expo 2018 held their collective three-day exhibitions in the industrial Chinese city this past weekend. Continue reading
US, European Air-Safety Agencies Follow Different Paths on Drone Regulation
Europe’s commercial-drone industry likely faces slower growth and tighter initial safety restrictions than U.S. operators, based on comments by the head of the European Aviation Safety Agency. Continue reading
World Economic Forum starts Drone Innovators Network
The World Economic Forum, the international organization for public-private cooperation, has created the Drone Innovators Network as a platform to bring together pioneering aviation authorities to share research, best practices and innovative new policies. The mission of the network, the first of its kind, is to inspire and accelerate the responsible use of drones across society.