AVIATION DESIGN SOFTWARE

AND AEROSPACE

At the time, as a young pilot with a passion for anything that flies, I was doing mechanical work on the weekends.

My objective was to restore machines for which there was no longer either a manufacturer or a supplier of spare parts.

Thus, like the character (Baracouda from the A-Team, All Risks Agency in the French version), my comrades nicknamed me Mister T.

Welding, cutting, machining (lathe, milling machine, drill, file, etc.), all the means were good to repair and remanufacture the parts in order to put real flying museum pieces back in flight.

A little later, while still a student, I had the pleasure of embarking on the amateur construction of three machines with my group of friends.

At that time, the calculations were made by hand, the drawings made on a board with layers, pencils and "Rotring".

There was no CAD, CAD/CAM, calculation software, simulation, etc...

Once I finished my studies, unfortunately, the job of journalist left me little time, just enough to fly, mainly to move around and do a bit of instruction as a volunteer during my downtime.

Yes, things have changed a lot these days!

That's why I'm going to tell you about a great software for anyone, professional or hobbyist, with design needs in the field of aviation.

OpenVSP, the free aircraft modeling software developed by NASA, has become an essential reference in the field of aeronautics.

Its ambitious goal: to enable the creation of aircraft prototypes for simulation testing and in-depth engineering analysis.

Recognized by renowned institutions, OpenVSP is used in the prestigious training provided by the National School of Civil Aviation in France and the University of Cadiz in Spain.

In addition, the University of Munich in Germany has chosen this avant-garde software for its innovative aircraft development project, ADEBO (Aircraft Design Box).

From its launch, OpenVSP reveals a captivating interface with a working window and a "Geometry Browser".

The working window is the space where the 3D model of the aircraft comes to life, while the "Geometry Browser" lists the essential components such as the wings and the fuselage.

Like a conductor, the user of this exceptional software can select, add, modify and delete each component with ease, thanks to an ergonomic interface that is reminiscent of Computer Aided Design software ( CAD).

By clicking on a component in the "Geometry Browser" page, a window dedicated to the "component geometry" opens, allowing you to modify it with precision.

OpenVSP's API is a particularly powerful feature, giving users the ability to harness its full power through languages ​​such as Matlab, Python or AngelScript. This flexibility of integration is a major asset for aeronautical professionals.

The geometric modeling offered by OpenVSP is both rich and varied.

Aircraft designers have a multitude of basic shapes at their disposal, such as the wing, pod, fuselage and propeller.

But that's not all !

OpenVSP also offers more complex and sophisticated components, such as the body of revolution, the conduit or even the conformal geometry, thus opening up an infinite range of possibilities.

OpenVSP is not limited to modeling, it also offers a full range of aeronautical and structural analysis tools.

These tools include CompGeom, which generates meshes and handles model intersections, Mass Properties Analysis, which calculates crucial variables such as center of gravity and moment of inertia, and Projected Area Analysis, which allows to quantify the area of ​​the project.

For specialists in fluid mechanics, OpenVSP offers the CFD Mesh, capable of generating meshes suitable for aerodynamic analysis, while the FEA Mesh facilitates the analysis by finite element method by generating suitable meshes.

Designers will also appreciate the DegenGeom tool, which simplifies geometric representation by generating simplified structures, such as beams.

Aerodynamic experts will not be left out with OpenVSP's VSPAERO tool, allowing fine analysis of aerodynamic characteristics and flight dynamics using advanced methods based on vortexes or panels.

As for performance enthusiasts, the Wave Drag Analysis tool assesses the drag induced by certain shapes, while the Parasite Drag Analysis estimates parasitic drag by evaluating parameters such as the coefficient of friction or the wetted surface.

The precision of the models is not to be outdone with the Surface fitting tool, which makes it possible to create a parameterized surface from a cloud of points, thus offering a perfect match to specific needs.

OpenVSP also facilitates exchanges with other software, thanks to its extensive compatibility with formats such as STL, CART3D (.tri) and PLOT3D.

Point clouds can be imported and translated into parametric surfaces, while models can be exported in commonly used formats, such as STL, CART3D (.tri), PLOT3D, STEP, IGES, OBJ, SVG, DXF and X3D.

Thus, the shapes modeled in OpenVSP can be used to generate meshes in software for analysis of fluid mechanics or analysis by finite element method.

In short, OpenVSP is positioned as a reference software in the field of aviation and aerospace.

Its open source nature and its free nature make it an essential tool for enthusiasts and professionals in the aeronautical industry.

I can't hide that OpenVSP is ubiquitous in my last construction project (Homebuild, fourth construction of a 4-seater Vtol plane) which occupies my spare time.

AIR SHOW FRANCE AIR EXPO LYON BRON 2023

THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE COMAC C919

THE CHINESE PLANE A FUTURE COMPETITOR OF AIRBUS AND BOEING

This Sunday, May 28, 2023, the Comac C919, the first aircraft produced by China, made its maiden commercial flight. This flight raises high hopes for the country which wishes to compete with the giants of civil aviation, namely Airbus and Boeing.

This is an event of great importance for China.

After having long depended on the old Russian Tupolevs as well as the French-German and American Airbus and Boeing respectively, the Chinese aeronautical industry now has its own airliner, designed entirely in China: the Comac C919.

The latter therefore made its very first commercial flight this Sunday, May 28, 2023.

Before takeoff, state media showed dozens of passengers gathered at Shanghai airport, all admiring the sleek white aircraft.

Subsequently, these passengers boarded the plane which, after taxiing on the runway, took off.

After a little over half an hour of flight, the plane landed "smoothly" at Beijing International Airport, about 40 minutes early, around 12:30 p.m. local time.

Upon landing, several passengers shared their impressions of the flight, calling it "extremely smooth, comfortable and memorable" to Chinese media.

All passengers received red boarding passes and enjoyed a sumptuous themed meal on board to celebrate the event.

From this Monday, May 29, 2023, the Comac C919 will be deployed in China to operate scheduled flights between Shanghai and Chengdu, a city located in the south of the country, in collaboration with China Eastern Airlines.

China, which aims to become self-sufficient in the technology sector, has invested heavily in the production of this Chinese airliner.

THE FLYING CAR FINALLY IN THE SKY

The culmination of more than a year of tests during which the car took off and landed more than 200 times for nearly a hundred hours of flight up to 2500 meters above sea level.

“AirCar certification opens the door to the mass production of highly efficient flying cars,” said Stefan Klein, chief inventor of the hybrid vehicle.

Three minutes are enough to deploy the wings and lengthen the rear part equipped with a large fin and a pusher propeller.

Equipped with a 140 hp BMW engine. Running on conventional gasoline, the Air-Car took off at a speed of 120 km/h after a run of approximately 300 meters. No question of rushing on the highway: to travel the Slovak sky, it will always have to pass through an airport runway.

In flight, the 1-ton machine reaches 170 km/h for an estimated range of 1,000 kilometers and a consumption of around 18 liters per hour.

If the Klein Vision company never ceases to praise the stability of the machine, two parachutes are included, just in case.

After landing, the wings fold over the sides of the vehicle to make it an almost classic 5.2 meter long car.

To afford it, however, you will have to pay no less than 1 million euros.

MIRACLE IN SIBERIA

SURVIVORS IN A MISSING AIRCRAFT

The successful emergency landing put an end to several hours of dread. Helpers found alive the 18 people aboard an AN-28 which had disappeared hours earlier from radars in Siberia, then had been located after an emergency landing, the Russian aviation agency said on Friday. . “The 15 passengers and three crew members were found. All the people who were on board are alive, ”Rosaviatsia said in a statement, adding that the survivors were being transported to the city of Tomsk.

The aircraft, an Antonov operated by the company "Siberian Light Aviation" (SiLA), was connecting the small town of Kedrovy to Tomsk when it stopped broadcasting. For a few hours, the plane could not be found. From then on, the authorities expected the worst. And for good reason: the disappearance of the plane comes barely more than a week after another accident involving an Antonov. On July 6, an An-26 crashed while landing in the Kamchatka Peninsula (Far East), killing all 28 people on board. The authorities and the population therefore fear the worst for this distressed Antonov. But a few hours later, the news is good: the regional Ministry of Emergency Situations indicated that the An-28 had been located and appeared to have carried out a "Emergency landing",adding that survivors had been seen by the emergency services from the air.

"We all believed in a miracle"

“We all believed in a miracle. And thanks to the professionalism of the pilots, it took place and everyone is alive, ”greeted the governor of the Tomsk region, Sergei Zhvachkin, quoted in the press release.

An outcome all the more miraculous when we see the very damaged device placed on its back in the taiga. Images published by Russian media show dirt inside his cabin. Six of the plane's passengers refused to be airlifted to Tomsk, according to Interfax, after being evacuated from the landing site by helicopter. "They will be taken to Tomsk with a minibus," said a local official, Alexey Sevostianov. Initial sources had reported 17, then 19 passengers and crew aboard the Antonov. Citing aviation sources, TASS said the plane had passed all technical checks, but a SiLA executive told TASS that the plane had been delayed ten hours due to bad weather conditions.

Back to the story of this unexpected "miracle".

Essentially made in Soviet times, Antonovs are still used throughout the former USSR in civil and military aviation. They have been involved in several fatal accidents in recent years. Russia has significantly improved its aviation safety since the 2000s as the country's major airlines shifted from Soviet aircraft to more modern aircraft.

Maintenance problems and sometimes lax compliance with safety rules are still a problem, however, especially in remote areas of the country where planes or helicopters are preferred to connect isolated localities.

SAFRAN AND GENERAL ELECTRIC'S GREEN ENGINE

FOR AEROSPACE

The June 14, 2021 will be one of the great dates of aeronautics in its race to decarbonisation.

Barely six years after the entry into service of the LEAP engine, which brought about a 16% gain in fuel consumption, General Electric and Safran plan to launch an engine within the next fifteen years or so, with a complete technological breakthrough with the architectures. observed so far, which would further reduce fuel consumption by more than 20%. A key element for the decarbonisation of aviation, while this sector is singled out by part of the population for the CO2 emissions it generates, which are between 2 and 3% of global emissions.

The aircraft of the future will not fly at best before 2035, but it already has its engine. In this race for decarbonization, the French Safran and the American General Electric (GE), united in the partnership at 50-50 CFM International, announced, Monday, June 14, the launch of a program to develop new technologies for equip a new generation engine that is much less polluting and more fuel-intensive than current models.

Rise, the big bet of the green engine of Safran and GE

This is the bet that the boss of Safran Olivier Andriès and that of GE Aviation John Slattery are taking with an ultra-sober aircraft engine, running on 100% biofuel or hydrogen in 2035. Called “Rise” (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines), this program should develop an engine 20% more fuel-efficient than current reactors, and capable of running on liquid hydrogen or 100% biofuels. According to Olivier Andriès, CEO of Safran, and John Slattery, CEO of GE Aviation, the future propellant is expected to consume 20% less fuel and reduce its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions accordingly. A low estimate, because at Safran, we expect a technological breakthrough

"15-year journey"

“Despite the crisis, the time to invest is now,” says Olivier Andriès. We are embarking on a fifteen year journey. We know it will take billions to invest, but it is our responsibility to be at the forefront of this battle. "

The two partners are not at their first attempt. Created in 1974 in the wake of a meeting between Presidents Richard Nixon and Georges Pompidou in Reykjavik, their CFM joint venture has established itself as one of the greatest success stories in aeronautics. Owned 50-50 by the two manufacturers, it has developed the best-selling aircraft engine in history, the CFM56 (nearly 34,000 units delivered), on board the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737. It now surfs on the commercial carton of the Leap engine, which, since 2016, powers the Chinese A320neo, 737MAX and C919. With 18,000 copies sold, and very few cancellations during the crisis, its order book is estimated at 270 billion dollars.

Revolutionary motor

The Rise program is intended to be the third stage of the CFM rocket. “New design, new materials, hybridization… We want this engine to be a revolution,” says John Slattery. GE and Safran are considering a so-called “open fan” design, ie an engine without a fairing. This technical choice allows blowers of larger diameter, and therefore an engine with better energy efficiency.

Beyond the greening of aviation, the objective of this technological bet is also to keep a distance from formidable competition (Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and the new Chinese entrant Aero Engine Corporation of China).

DEATH OF CHUCK YEAGER

THE LEGEND OF AVIATION

"I announce with great sadness that the love of my life, General Chuck Yeager, passed away just before 9pm ET" (2 a.m. GMT Tuesday), wrote Victoria Yeager on her husband's Twitter account.

“An incredible life, well lived, of America's greatest pilot and his legacy of strength, adventure and patriotism will forever be remembered. Ms. Yeager did not specify the causes of her husband's death.

Born February 13, 1923 in the small town of Myra, West Virginia, Yeager grew up with his mechanic father who taught him the trade.

He joined the Air Force in September 1941, three months before the United States entered the war.

He started out as an aircraft mechanic before learning to fly. Yeager set many records, but spent most of his career in the United States Air Force in the 1950s and 1960s. He retired in 1975.

A pilot during World War II, Yeager made history by breaking the sound barrier in 1947 aboard a Bell X-1 aircraft. “It opened up space, Star Wars, satellites,” Yeager said in a 2007 interview.

His exploits as a test pilot were immortalized in a Hollywood movie called The Right Stuff.

AIR TRAFFIC OPTIMIZATION

WITH ZERO CARBON EMISSION AIRBUSES

Indeed, delays, waiting in mid-flight before being able to land or the use of longer trajectories due to saturation of the air corridors increase the consumption of kerosene.

"The cost of delays due to saturated traffic in Europe was estimated in 2019 at 6 billion euros and this led to the emission of 11.6 million tonnes of additional CO2", explains Commissioner Adina Vălean. But for the environmental NGOs, this optimization is not sufficient, it would require a drastic reduction in thefts, a too extreme solution, of course.

This is why the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus, aware of the new issues and challenges in aeronautics, has just unveiled three hydrogen-powered aircraft concepts on Monday and is aiming for the commissioning of a zero-emission commercial aircraft in 2035. A "major strategic axis" for the aircraft manufacturer, subject like the rest of the sector to growing pressure from the "flygskam" movement (ashamed to fly) for its CO2 emissions (2 to 3% of global emissions) .

Also undermined by the crisis due to the coronavirus, the aeronautical sector is therefore working hard to move towards the decarbonization of air transport.

"A historic moment for the entire commercial aviation sector, and we intend to play a leading role in the most important transition that our industry has ever known", summed up in a press release Guillaume Faury, the executive chairman of 'Airbus.

A response adapted to ambient aviation-bashing !

FIRST SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT OF BOEING 777 X

THE BIGGEST AIRPLANE IN THE WORLD

The aircraft landed at Boeing Field near Seattle after approximately 4 hours of flight in the skies of Washington State, in the northwest of the United States.

The largest twin-engine aircraft ever built

The 777X has something to impress. With the cessation of production of the Airbus A380, the 777X will also be the largest new aircraft in the world, capable of carrying up to 426 passengers in version over 14,000 km.

This modernized version of the current 777-300ER is also equipped with the largest aircraft engine ever built (the GE9X from General Electric), which should give it a 13% gain in fuel consumption compared to its predecessor.

Another visible feature of the 777X is its revolutionary new wings, 72 meters wide - three more than the 747 - made of composite material with foldable ends. This is to limit the size of the aircraft on the ground, while maximizing its lift in flight.

Compete with the Airbus A350

The 777X, which can carry 384 to 426 passengers, has an order book of 340 units, mainly from seven major airlines, including Emirates, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways.

Its order book now totals 340 orders and options, or even 309 by removing questionable options. At list price, this already represents some $ 57 billion.

The 777X is supposed to compete with the A350 from the European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. It is supposed to consolidate Boeing's domination of Airbus in the long-haul, a position weakened by the imminent reduction in production rates for the 787 "Dreamliner", due to the lack of firm orders from China.

The 777X will indeed have the heavy task of taking over from the 777-300ER, the best-selling long-haul widebody, facing the new Airbus A350. On its success therefore depends the future of the American aircraft manufacturer.

Turn the page of the 737 MAX

Especially since the American aircraft manufacturer was stuck in an unprecedented crisis since the close accident of two 737 MAX in October 2018 and March 2019, which killed 346 people.

The 737 MAX crisis was in everyone's mind on Saturday, including that of the director of the commercial division, Stan Deal: “This flight is the demonstration in the eyes of the world that we know what we are doing.

We know how to build safe planes and give confidence to the public. ”

With the 737 MAX crisis, which has widened the gap with Airbus in the medium-haul market for a long time, Boeing is counting more than ever on its long-haul 787 and 777X to maintain its rank and profits.

He is not the only one. In France alone, a dozen aeronautical equipment manufacturers, including Safran, Thales, Latécoère, contributed to the 777X.

The certification test

For the past three years, orders for long-haul carriers have certainly slowed. A slump in long-haul wide-body aircraft, linked to the drop in the price of oil and the setbacks of Gulf companies, which did not spare Airbus, including the A350-1000, the direct competitor of the 777X.

But in the opinion of the two aircraft manufacturers, the bulk of the wave of replacements for the 777, 747, A340 and A380 will not arrive until 2023-2024.

And in this new decade, Boeing hopes to sell between 60 and 100 long-haul widebody aircraft per year.

The main challenge for Boeing will be to quickly pass the certification phase, which promises to be particularly delicate, given the liabilities of Boeing with American civil aviation.

No doubt the FAA, which has been criticized for its lack of vigilance for the 737 MAX, will be particularly careful with the 777X.

DRAMA IN MALI THIRTEEN DEAD SOLDIERS

IN AN ACCIDENT OF TWO HELICOPTERS

The accident occurred Monday night as part of a Barkhane operation, which mobilizes 4500 soldiers in the Sahel. "Engaged on the ground for a few days, the commandos tracked down a group of terrorists, identified a few hours earlier, who evolved into pickups and motorcycles. Very quickly, they were reinforced by helicopters and a patrol of Mirage 2000, "said the Ministry of the Armed Forces in a statement.

"In all likelihood, a collision between these two aircraft operating at very low altitude would be at the origin of the accident," said the staff of the Armed Forces in a statement.

This incident is one of the heaviest human balance sheets suffered by the French army since the Drakkar bombing in Beirut in 1983. This accident brings to 38 the number of French soldiers killed in Mali since the beginning of the French intervention in this Sahel country in 2013, with Operation Serval.

Emmanuel Macron hailed "with the utmost respect the memory of these soldiers of the army (...) fallen in operation and died for France in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel".

Why the operation barkhane ?

The French operation, launched in August 2014 after Operation Serval 2013, is being conducted in five countries (Chad, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso) of the Sahelo-Saharan strip, a vast area like Europe.

Its aim is "the appropriation by the five partner countries of the fight against armed terrorist groups", according to the Ministry of Defense

Operation Barkhane took over from Serval to stabilize the Sahel, with 4,000 troops deployed in five countries (Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger and Chad).

But entire areas are still beyond the control of the Malian, French and UN forces, regularly targeted by deadly attacks. Jihadist groups can blend into a population they know well. Not only do they reign terror by imposing on the inhabitants their ultrar- riist version of the Qur'an, but they also exploit the evils of the country. the poor governance, the weakness of the state against banditry, impunity to spread their propaganda and recruit.

As a result, the country is more and more gangrenous in the face of the weakness of the Malian state, which is on the verge of "implosion".

So the military intervention must be coupled with a political vision.

RECORD OF THE LONGEST DIRECT FLIGHT OF HISTORY

Upon arrival, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce welcomed a "truly historic moment," both for his company and for the aviation world as a whole.

This experimental flight QF7879 is the first of three long-haul flights planned by the Australian company Qantas this year. "This is the first of three test flights after which we will be able to see what recommendations we can make for the way pilots manage their fatigue, and for passengers to manage jet lag," said Alan Joyce.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner party on Friday night from JF Kennedy Airport in New York was carrying only 49 people, mostly Qantas employees. The weight in the cabin was thus reduced, which allowed to board a sufficient amount of fuel for the 16,000 kilometers of the journey. According to the specialized website flightradar24.com, the aircraft weighed 233 tons on takeoff, including 101 tons of kerosene.

Four pilots took turns flying during the flight with devices to measure their brainwaves and their vigilance. The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) has requested a "long-term scientific study" on the impact of these flights on crews.

Researchers from two Australian universities were on board to observe how passengers slept and fed, and to monitor their level of melatonin, the "sleep hormone". At the end of the embarkation, passengers were asked to set their watch at Sydney time. They were then kept awake until nightfall on the eastern part of Australia.

For this, physical exercises were offered to them, caffeine and spicy meals were served in a lighted cabin. Six hours later, they were treated to a meal rich in carbohydrates before being asked to stop looking at screens. The lights were then dimmed to help them fall asleep.

The airline said the test flights are only part of the work it does to ensure that its flights are operated safely.

THE MYSTERY OF THE AJACIO-NICE FLIGHT CRASH FINALLY RESOLVED THANKS TO THE LIFTING

 OF SECRET-DEFENSE ?

Admittedly, an investigation had been carried out after the disaster, but it had led to a dismissal, concluding that a fire on board linked to the water heater in the toilets. The facts had been declared time-barred before the file was reopened for "subtraction and concealment of evidence" in 2011, at the insistence of the families.

At the end of March 2018, the investigating judge Alain Chemama officially requested a lifting of defense secrecy. The judge in charge of the investigation into the mysterious crash of the Ajaccio-Nice flight considered that the thesis of an accidental missile strike affecting the rear of the aircraft should be taken "very seriously".

To shed light on this crash of the caravel, Emmanuel Macron therefore asked the Minister of the Armed Forces to seize the National Defense Committee in order to obtain the lifting of the defense secret on classified documents.

In a letter addressed to Mathieu Paoli, president of the association of the families of the victims of this disaster, the Elysée ensures that the president of the Republic “hears your quest in favor of the manifestation of the truth”.

In a joint letter that the mayors of Ajaccio, Laurent Marcangeli, and Nice, Christian Estrosi made public, they denounced "51 years of silence, not to say indifference on the part of the State".

BOURGET AIR SHOW

THE SUCCESS OF THE AIRBUS 321 XLR

The A321 XLR is a medium-capacity, long-haul single-aisle aircraft that can connect Central Europe to the United States, Southeast Asia and Australia. The technical specifications of this A321 XLR (for eXtra Long Range) reports 700 miles (1,300 kilometers) of additional battery life, in addition to the 4,000 (7,400 kilometers) of the base version. With approximately 200 to 250 seats, this intermediate module responds to the demand for direct links between secondary cities without going through the hubs where large aircraft are operating.

This Wednesday, June 19, major names in aviation have come aboard this program. The Australian company Qantas has ordered 36 copies, American 50, and Indigo Partners, the US investment group owners of low-cost Frontier, Jestsmart (Chile), Volaris (Mexico) and Wizz Air (Hungary), 50 aircraft also. Orders in addition to those passed Monday and Tuesday by IAG (British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Aer Lingus, Level) for 14 copies, Saudi Arabian Airlines (15 aircraft), Cebu Pacific (10 aircraft), Middle East Airlines ( 4) and the ALC leasing company (27 aircraft). In total, Airbus already totals 206 orders for its new aircraft that could know other orders.

This marketing start reflects the relevance of this aircraft which is capable of providing flights of 10 hours with 200 to 250 passengers on board. This device also meets the demands of both conventional companies and low cost companies.

If this success is confirmed, such a commercial start could cause Boeing to give up its NMA project ("New Midsize Aircraft"), sometimes called B797, an aircraft destined to occupy the 200-270 seat market segment.

In any case, the A321 XLR seems tailor-made for low-cost long haul companies.

For Airbus this device creates new opportunities. Associated with the A321 LR but also with the A330-Neo, it can constitute a family of complementary planes on the long-haul.

BOEING 737 MAX PROHIBITED FLIGHT

FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD

The 737 MAX, which has been banned since March 13, is likely to suffer a long standstill following the Ethiopian Airlines accidents on March 10 (157 dead) and Lion Air on October 29 in Indonesia (189 dead). Indeed the meeting, held Thursday, May 23 in Fort Worth (Texas), on the initiative of the US Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), all the world aviation authorities has led to no date back in the air of the 737 MAX.

This uncertainty only reflects the distrust of the other regulators towards the FAA, to which they asked "many questions" and they wanted "clarifications" on the procedures.

Regulatory authorities should at best achieve a new certification in a dispersed order of the device. Elwell acknowledged that "each country would make its own decision," according to its own timetable.

Up to the setbacks of the aircraft it was a system of reciprocity that prevailed whereby the air regulators of other countries aligned themselves with the assessment of the original authority, in this case the FAA. Clearly, as soon as the FAA gave the green light, the other regulatory authorities followed suit. This time seems to be over.

The authorities of the sixty countries that participated in the meeting in Texas are all the less likely to rush that the FAA acknowledged that Boeing had still not submitted to it for evaluation the update of its anti-stall device MCAS. It is the malfunction of this device, implicated in both disasters that led to the temporary ban on the flight of the 737 MAX. The aircraft manufacturer had said last week that the patch was ready for certification

One can imagine a lifting of the ban in the United States towards the end of the summer and in "several months" elsewhere. The US airlines operating the 737 MAX - American Airlines, Southwest and United Airlines - hope to put the aircraft back into their flight programs by mid-August at the latest. But some countries, such as China in the context of the trade war between Beijing and the United States, could be very fussy.

To the reticence of the authorities are added those of the passengers and the pilots. The pilots do not seem willing to sign a blank check to the authorities and Boeing.

"Before the MAX returns to service: we need answers and transparency," responded Thursday ECA, the European Federation of pilots.

FIRST FLIGHT OF THE LARGEST PLANE

OF THE WORLD

Weighing 226 tons with a wingspan of 117 meters, powered by six Boeing 747 engines, the Stratolaunch is the largest aircraft in the world (compared to the Airbus A380 is 79.75 meters wide). It is capable of carrying loads of up to 250 tonnes, or up to three rockets according to its designers.

The wingspan of the craft is nearly half that of an Airbus.

The aircraft has two fuselages and is powered by six Boeing 747 engines.

The Stratolaunch plane took off from the Mojave, California, spaceport airport at 06:58 local time, and remained in the air for two and a half hours, the company said in a statement Sunday.

He flew at a maximum speed of 189 miles, or 304 km / h, and climbed to 17,000 feet (5,182 meters).

It is the aeronautical engineering company Scaled Composites in the Mojave Desert that built this beautiful aircraft.

It must theoretically be used to carry and drop at altitude a small rocket that will then light its engine, and will propel to space to place satellites in orbit!

But the future of Stratolaunch, funded by a co-founder of Microsoft Paul Allen, seems to compromise the computer scientist who died in October 2018.

Let's hope for a bright future in Stratolaunch, a potential player in the market for small satellite launches.

FABULOUS ORDER OF AIRBUS BY CHINA

"It's a contract of a very important dimension. This is a strong sign of long-term trust from our Chinese partners, "said Faury after the signing, welcoming" the confidence that is renewed today ".

On March 25, 2019, Airbus and China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) signed a General Terms Agreement (GTA) for the acquisition of a total of 300 aircraft valued at $ 35 billion at list price.

A larger GTA than the one announced by Emmanuel Macron in January 2018 (184 A320), which followed the one of July 2017 (100 A320 and 40 A350).

Airbus says the order "reflects the strong demand from Chinese companies in all segments of the market, including domestic, low-cost, regional and international long-haul flights," said Airbus in its statement.

Is it the fact of mistrust vis-à-vis the Boeing 737 MAX after after the double accident of Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines?

Or a consequence of the economic policy of Trump vis-à-vis China that hurts Boeing and benefits Airbus?

The operators of the aircraft in question are not specified by China. At the end of January, its fleet included some 1730 Airbus aircraft, including 1455 A320 family aircraft and 17 A350 XWB family aircraft.

However, we do not know the delivery schedule. It is to be hoped that the two-to-three-year order will be implemented quickly to justify the ramp-up of the assembly lines in Toulouse, Hamburg and Tianjin, near Beijing.

European industry would then be the big winner, especially since the Chinese Airbus factory, created in 2008 in Tianjin, will be able to assemble only a relatively small part of the aircraft.

Whatever the case may be, China needs some 7,400 passenger and new cargo aircraft over the next 20 years, nearly 20% of all global demand, which amounts to more than 37,400 new aircraft.

"It's an honor for us to support the growth of Chinese civil aviation through our single-aisle and wide-body families," said Guillaume Faury, President of Airbus Commercial Aircraft on Monday.

CRASH OF ETHOPIAN AIRLINES OF MANY COUNTRIES CLOUD BOEING 337 MAX ON THE GROUND

On Twitter, the US President commented on Tuesday the consequences of the crash suffered by the Boeing takeoff of Addis Ababa:

"Airplanes are becoming far too complex to fly. Pilots are no longer needed, but rather computer scientists at MIT (the prestigious Cambridge University that trains engineers, ed).

I see it all the time for many products.

We always try to advance to a useless stage when often the old and the simplest are better. Decisions must be made in a split second, but complexity creates danger. All this for a huge cost and very little gain. "

That's why the US put Boeing under pressure to force it to modify its 737 MAX aircraft after two fatalities in less than six months.

It is indeed another example of this model which had been damaged at sea in Indonesia in October, causing the death of the 189 people on board, there also a few minutes after the takeoff.

The crash of Lion Air in Indonesia drew attention to the incidence sensors (AOA), a malfunction of which may drive the computer on board, thinking to be in stall, to put the aircraft in dive while it should otherwise straighten it.

While the United States has not banned the flight of the said Boeing - the aircraft manufacturer employs more than 150,000 people in the United States - the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) has asked the American aircraft manufacturer to make changes "at the latest in April" on software and control system MCAS designed to avoid stalls. Boeing also needs to update the manual for pilot training.

By not completely immobilizing the 737 MAX 8, Boeing intends to limit losses.

But if a software or hardware modification of the Boeing 737 MAX had to be done, it would take several months.

For Boeing, it would be an industrial disaster, but it also concerns the entire international aviation industry.

157 DEATH IN THE CRASH OF A BOEING 737

"The group CEO who is currently at the accident site regrets to confirm that there is no survivor," the company said in a statement. The 157 people on board the aircraft come from 33 countries. A passenger information center and a telephone number have been set up.

According to the company's CEO, quoted by Reuters, the aircraft had "no known technical problems".

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he "would like to express deep condolences to the families of those who lost their beloved loved ones on the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 scheduled flight to Nairobi, Kenya this morning."

The crashed Boeing 737-800 MAX is the same type of plane that Indonesian airline Lion Air crashed into the sea last October, 13 minutes after taking off from Jakarta, killing 189 people.

Ethiopian Airlines, which is 100% owned by the Ethiopian State and has experienced a very strong expansion in recent years, enjoys a good reputation. Its fleet has more than 100 aircraft, the largest on the African continent.

STOPPING THE PRODUCTION OF AIRBUS 380

Emirates will not have saved the A380 program. The Dubai company finally decided to reduce its orders of superjumbo of 39 copies falling from 162 to123 the number of devices it ordered.

Since the beginning of the A380 program twelve years ago, the superjumbo has only registered 288 orders, far from the 1200 aircraft planned for its launch. Instead of the A380s, Emirates buys 40 A330 NEOs and thirty A350s.

In 2019 and 2020, Emirates will finish taking delivery of 14 A380s already ordered in the past. Immediate consequence: the production of A380 will be stopped during the year 2021.

"As a result of this decision, we do not have a substantial backlog to continue production despite all our commercial efforts with other airlines in recent years.

This brings us to stop A380 deliveries in 2021, "said Tom Enders.

The President of Airbus calls this decision "painful" especially as the A380 is on the technical and industrial plan a real success and that passengers around the world plebiscite. The A380 has twice been voted Best Airplane in the World.

But this device is no longer considered suitable for the current long-haul market. The airlines have indeed almost drawn a line on the aircraft with four reactors, for their preference for jets such as the Airbus A350, or Boeing 787 or 777, which have the same range of action as the A380.

Unlike the A380, the A350 or Boeing Dreamliner does not require airports to do additional work to accommodate them. They consume less, with optimized engines, and to fifty passengers, they have the same carrying capacity as the big carrier of Airbus.

This decision will cause a significant social impact since the aircraft manufacturer figures between 3000 and 3500 the number of jobs that will be affected in Europe by the shutdown of the A380.

The direction of the aircraft manufacturer will open discussions with the unions in the coming weeks.

However, the ramping up of other programs such as the A320 or A350 should offer important mobility opportunities for journeymen, technicians and engineers.

IN BELGIUM THE FRENCH RAFALE BAT OF THE WING

His choice fell on an American aircraft far from a Europe of the defense.

His equipment to come:

34 American F35 aircraft within 5 years. At the expense of the two European planes in the running: the Airbus Eurofighter, associated with the British BAE and the Italian Alenia, and the French Rafale of Dassault Aviation.

Either a market of four billion euros!

Dassault Aviation was shown:

"Not surprised by this decision of the Belgian government whose preference of certain actors for the F-35 is manifest for a long time.

Dassault Aviation participated in the global strategic partnership offer made by France to the Belgian Government by presenting the Rafale and offering an economic and societal return in the fields of high technology, valued at 20 billion euros over 20 years.

Once again, we are seeing an American preference in Europe. "

Following suit their Dutch colleagues who have already made this choice

the Netherlands thus remains a bridgehead faithful to the interests of America and with a plane that can carry a nuclear bomb on behalf of NATO.

RECORD FLIGHT FROM SINGAPORE TO NEW YORK

The Singapore-New York flight, the longest commercial flight in the world, landed Friday at Newark Airport, after nearly 18 hours in the air, the first flight of recovery of a line abandoned in 2013.

According to the site of Newark Airport (New Jersey), flight SQ22 arrived at 05H29 local (09H29 GMT), having taken off at 23H37 in Singapore, about 17H52 of flight. According to more In the case of specialized sites, notably Flight Radar 24, the actual flight time would actually be closer to 17:25 for a journey of approximately 16,500 km.

The travelers felt at ease in this flight, Singapore Airlines offering only places in premium eco and business on this flight, but no tickets in economy class. A raised cabin ceiling wider portholes a special LED lighting supposed to play on the colors reduce the "jetlag", the effects of jet lag. And a "well-being" menu, a very long catalog of films to watch

With this new flight, Singapore Airlines takes first place in the ranking of the longest flights. The palm was previously held by Qatar Airways' link between Auckland and Doha.

This is not the first time the company has offered this route. It operated for nine years before abandoning it in 2013 when the oil spill made it lose its profitability. It used an A340-500, a four-engine much more greedy than the new Airbus A350-900 ULR The aircraft, built in the factories of Toulouse, has a system of fuel supply of greater capacity. The A350-900 ULR consumes 25% less kerosene than the A340 and can take off with 165,000 liters of kerosene in its tanks, 24,000 liters more than the conventional A350.

Singapore Airlines will make these flights Singapore-New York three times a week initially but the link will become daily before the end of the year, as soon as the Asian airline has been delivered a second Airbus A350-900 ULR. In total, Singapore Airlines has ordered seven of these aircraft

One-way Singapore-New York flight costs about $ 2,150 in eco-premium class, according to the Singapore Airlines website.

In return, the ticket costs about $ 3,500, according to the company's website.

THE END OF AIR FRANCE

A CANADIAN AT THE COMMANDS OF KLM-AIR FRANCE

The appointment of a non-French boss at the head of the Franco-Dutch group: a first for Air France-KLM.

Benjamin Smith should be made official as CEO and not as CEO at a Board of Directors this Thursday afternoon, August 16:

Canadian, he is currently number two at Air Canada, the company's air carrier and chief operating officer.

In this position he reorganized with the Air Canada organization and its Air Canada Rouge low-cost, for a period of ten years by signing agreements with the two aircrew unions.

He is described on the Air Canada website as "the visionary for the strategic and diversified expansion of Air Canada's global network , " and "the lead architect" in transforming Toronto Airport into a hub. International Air Canada. .

He would succeed Jean-Marc Janaillac who had to resign more than three months ago after being disavowed during a staff consultation on a wage agreement on May 4th.

Social negotiations between the company and its pilots remained unresolved.

This nomination has already been rejected by the FO and SNPL unions, the FO union Air France denouncing for its part on Twitter "the increase of 300%" of this prospective boss while the SNPL, the first Air France pilots' union KLM, estimates that the turnover of Air France KLM "plays politics of the worst" by delivering "the keys of Air France to the Americans".

The union of airline pilots VNV transmitted its complaints: the management has until Friday to answer them under penalty of strike.

A new standoff in perspective?

PILOTS OF THE RED BULL AIR RACE AND AEROBATICS

For the 5 Tricolores competing in these Series (3 Masters and 2 Challengers), this race promises to be memorable.

The Croisette has all the assets to host the event and the thousands of fans: blue sky, sun, turquoise sea, the conditions are meetings for hallucinating images.

Cannes hosts for the first time in France a stage of the Red Bull Air race, an international aerobatic competition.

Embark on an Extra 330 XL airplane to experience the "G" felt by aerial acrobats.

Loopings, barrels and other eight Cubans on the program.

Helmet visor screwed on the head, parachute in the back .... For a flight with very strong sensations aboard an Extra 330 XL, kind of formula 1 airs.Harnaché rather) at the front in this hypermaniable two-seater and able to fly up to 400km / h, we test the effects gravity mixed with acceleration. The famous "G" that these aerial sprinters undergo at high doses at each turn.

"During races, you can go up to 12G", that is to say to support a load of twelve times its own weight. For the average person not trained, more than 6G is already more or less the loss of knowledge assured.

Two pylons installed for competitions in the bay of Cannes. The goal, for the pilots, is to pass in the center, the wings to the horizontal.Imaginez a little ... These doors measure only 25 meters of height and offer a space of a dozen meters only ... for a plane of a span of 8 meters.

All started at 400 km / h.

FIVE DEATHS IN CRASH

MILITARY HELICOPTERS

The two helicopters from Cannet-des-Maures were participating in a combat training flight as part of the preparation of the pilots of the Army. The five experienced pilots were killed on the spot

In a terse statement from the Prefecture of Var it was read that

"The rescue found three dead bodies in a helicopter and two other victims in a second."

It's about "five army officers" in

"Flight training mission in the Var," said the Prime Minister in a statement.

There were three instructors, one of whom had over five thousand hours of flying time, and two trainee pilots.

The Minister of Armies, Florence Parly, went there in the afternoon.

All had brilliant careers and had fought at in operations abroad.

1 ° The married lieutenant Sébastien Grève and father of 4 was part of an elite regiment of the Army. Engaged in the military in 2009, he had obtained his pilot's license two years later.

He had participated in Operation Sangaris in the Central African Republic in 2014. In 2016, he was a Gazelle helicopter pilot and student pilot at the 4th RHFS in Pau.

2 ° François Mille, 35, from Dieppe (Seine-Maritime) joined the army in 2001. Between 2005 and 2010, François Mille served in Côte d'Ivoire and Afghanistan. With more than 3000 hours of flight, this recognized pilot has become a "monitor that is obvious to trainees" . Married, this captain leaves three orphaned children.

3 ° - Stéphane Chaon, 44 years old from Grenoble (Isère). had been in the army for 23 years.

This lieutenant-colonel had participated in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia in 1998 and then turned to training " helicopter reconnaissance attack" since 2003. Married, he leaves a girl.

4. Patrick Vasselin, 52, from Vitry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne) joined the army in 1985 and served in Saudi Arabia, Kosovo and Côte d'Ivoire. He was now doing training

. 5 ° Captain Quentin Gibert, 29, joined the army in 2007 to serve in Mali and Djibouti. This Gazelle helicopter specialist was a pilot student at the 4th RHFS de Pau. He was married.

The circumstances of the helicopter accident remain mysterious and an investigation was opened at the Marseilles public prosecutor's office and is conducted by the research section of the Gendarmerie de l'Air.

" The working hypothesis is that of a collision between the two aircraft," said the Prosecutor of Marseille Xavier Tarabeux alongside the Minister of Armies Florence Parly, while excluding a collision with a high-voltage line.

"One of the two [devices] dislocated and fell on the departmental road, the second, about 150 or 200 meters, burned," said on the spot the prefect of Var, Jean-Luc Videlaine, adding that "the causes of the accident [were] at the moment not identifiable".

Army General Jean-Pierre Bosser, Chief of Staff of the Army, presented his sincere condolences to the families while President Emmanuel Macron claims to have learned these deaths with "great emotion"

The Army has paid tribute to its seasoned helicopter pilots killed in the line of duty.

This is one of the most serious accidents in recent years in France.

BELUGA XL THE GIANT OF AIRBUS

where he pointed the tip of his nose on the slopes of Blagnac.

In a few months the Belgula XL will be able to fly, but the first images already reveal its outsized dimensions exceptional. This super carrier, used by the aircraft manufacturer for trans carrying airplane parts between the various European Airbus plants for assembly, will be able to carry up to 53 tons and carry two long wings of the A350XWB at the same time, compared to only one for the current Beluga ST.

The Beluga is a cargo plane that is experiencing a new youth.

The "XL" will carry 30% more payload.

To get all these elements onboard, the Airbus engineers have planned a gigantic front cargo door:

with a surface of 140 m2 it weighs 3.1 tons alone!

In total, five copies will be built

It was the last time that Airbus had given news of the unusual carrier, it was in December when the installation of the famous cargo carrier!

It is 63.1 meters long, almost 19 meters high and has a wingspan of more than 60 meters.

This first release of Beluga XL marks the beginning of the test phase of this giant aircraft, first on the ground and then in flight.

The flight test campaign is scheduled to begin in mid-2018, leading to certification of the aircraft in the process to ensure a 2019 entry into service.

Commissioned in 2019

This new aircraft was launched by Airbus to cope with the increase in production rates of the aircraft manufacturer with the A350 and A320 NEO which delivered in 2017 more than 700 aircraft.

A MIRIFIC ORDER FOR AIRBUS

The sale was announced from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) at the International Air Show. A breath of fresh air for Airbus who has not sold a single A380 for two years.

So far Airbus had sold fewer aircraft this year than its rival Boeing .

Before the opening of the Dubai show, the European aircraft manufacturer was 35% to 40% behind US titan.

But thanks to this sale to an investment company , the European manufacturer takes the lead.It is the American company Indigo Partners, founded by the American Bill Franke , who buys devices and then rent them to airlines low cost.

In the end, the aircraft ordered by Indigo Partners are intended for four companies: the US company Frontier Airlines, the Chilean company JetSMART, the Mexican company Volaris and the Hungarian company Wizz Air.

This company has therefore set its sights on A320neo, the remotorized and less fuel-hungry version of the best-selling Airbus.

Part of these planes will be built in the US plant opened two years ago, but the order is such that all sites in the group should enjoy.

The legal difficulties of the European aircraft manufacturer involved in corruption cases have not disrupted buyers. Fabrice Brégier, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, did not make a mistake: "I welcome this new mark of confidence expressed by major airlines that are committed to this unprecedented trade agreement, " said Wednesday. , the number two of the Airbus group. "It's an overwhelming success for Airbus and its A320 aircraft in global air transport ," he added. In the wake of this announcement , the title of the European aircraft manufacturer jumped more than 3% to 86.14 euros.

This order is one of the latest big shots of Airbus' charismatic commercial director, John Leahy, who is preparing to leave after selling nearly 15,000 aircraft during his career and thereby allowed Airbus to rise to the rank of giant of the world. Global Aeronautics !

DISCONTENT AT THE EASYJET PILOTS

In an open letter to vitriol addressed to the company's founder and main shareholder, Stelios Haji-Ioannou , the SNPL, the main French pilot union, denounces a strategy where "the employee is reduced to an adjustment variable, a cost, and the passenger at a profit.

For the union the British company would program more flights than it can achieve by imposing "unrealistic" flight plans on pilots.

The safety of the flights would suffer the direction not hesitating to put pressure on the teams. The company would try to intimidate pilots who refuse to use their discretion . The latter allows the pilot to exceed two hours of the legal flight time. But it is a " prerogative, which is intended to be used only in exceptional circumstances or unforeseen circumstances, and if the crew is physically and mentally capable of doing so".

"Some drivers have been pressured because they refused to exercise their discretion, " said unionist Nicolas Frick . They have been threatened with disciplinary action while it is a measure that must remain exceptional. "

In addition , customer service is lacking.

"It is the customer who unfortunately falls victim to this infernal spiral with cancellations of daily flights, agents who do not know what to answer or even find a hotel room , " wrote the SNPL.

The SNPL wishes to participate in the development of rotation programs.

The British company EasyJet says it is "surprised" by these accusations and ensures to make "no compromise on the security".

The cancellation of flights would be due to "airspace congestion, harsh weather and air traffic control restrictions," according to a spokesman for the company.

BIG CONTRAT TO DASSAULT WITH BOEING

French software company Dassault Systèmes said Tuesday it had reached a $ 1 billion deal with Boeing (about 860 million euros).

This contract will allow the American aircraft manufacturer to modernize its entire production chain.
So it will become more competitive against Airbus. "Boeing will expand the deployment of products developed by Dassault Systèmes," said the French manufacturer.

The generalization of the "3DEXPERIENCE" platform - a set of software solutions for 3D design - used in the future by Boeing concerns all production, civil as well as military and spatial.

"While we are satisfied with the performance of the second quarter and the achievement of the upper limit of our software revenue and EPS (earnings per share) objectives, these results represent a simple step towards a trajectory of Growth more ambitious, "assured the general manager Bernard Charlès.

Dassault intends to emulate and renew this type of "strategic partnership". "Based on many strategic customer decisions, such as Boeing's, we should accelerate our development and demonstrate the quality of our positioning to bring value to the industrial sectors we serve," according to Thibault de Tersant.

This quarter sales increased by 7% to € 806.4 million, and by 6% at constant exchange rates.

JOON NEW AIR FRANCE COMPANY

The name of the new low-cost airline of Air France on behalf of Boost in the first version has finally found its new name: "JOON".

"JOON is another step in the deployment of the Trust Together strategic plan. Its creation will improve the profitability of the Air France group, allowing it to reduce its costs and thus ensure the sustainability of its business model, "explains Franck Terner, General Manager of Air France. The term "phonetic" is known as "short, percussive and international" and is intended to be similar to "young" in French and targets a clientele of active young people and, above all, its international travelers, the "millenials" 18-35 years) placing digital technology at the heart of their lifestyles.

"In the Air France-KLM group's portfolio of brands, Joon is the complementary sister of Air France, which will inspire its customers to travel with its elder." It is a clientele that until now has escaped Air France. Joon will offer a specific product with a "different", "connected" and "innovative" entertainment offer, according to the terms used internally to attract this generation of technophiles born at the time of the advent of digital, low cost or Of the economy of sharing. However, Air France said that "JOON will not be a low cost airline because it is an offbeat offer whose quality standards remain true to those of Air France". . The wifi should be free for all (funded by the pub). First, it will be an "internal wifi loop" and then a connection with the ground.

Jean-Michel Mathieu - director of e-commerce at Air France - will direct JOON joining the executive committee of the group.

The aim of this 100% Air France company is to compete with the low-cost airlines and the Gulf airlines, which have so far assumed this clientele.

At the end of September, we should know the tariff schedule. Mid-haul flights departing from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and then long-haul flights in the summer of 2018 are scheduled for autumn.

In 2020 this new company should have 28 aircraft, 18 of the A320 family to supply power to the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub, and 10 large carriers composed of A340 and A350. Overall, Air France's long-haul seat offer is expected to grow by 10% between 2017 and 2020.

With this project, a reduction in costs of 18% on long-haul and 15% on medium-haul is expected. Sources of savings are largely based on the position of hostesses and stewards (PNC). The latter will be recruited on the market with specific working conditions and remuneration, not Air France, "their cost will be 45% lower than in the parent company," said Gilles Gateau, 'Air France in charge of human resources.

The pilots will come from Air France and fly indifferently from one company to another. The cost reduction of 15% on the pilots' position will be achieved by pooling efforts.

130 million euros in savings to Air France by 2020 are expected.

The creation of this company shows however the inability of Air France to reform itself internally.

DIAMOND AIRCRAFT DA62 A SMALL JEWEL !!

"When you try this aircraft, you will realize that there is nothing comparable to the DA62 currently on the market." Christian Dries, Chairman.

This high-end aircraft can only dazzle you on all fronts.

State-of-the-art avionics, leather seats, LED interior lighting, butterfly doors and a very neat design, the DA62 is compared by its manufacturer to a "luxury SUV volan t" and Christian Dries, Chairman, CEO Diamond Aircraft is not wrong. .

Behind the pilots, two rows of seats accommodate five passengers. And for the luggage that you can take with you, two compartments are present, one in the front, and the other in the aft bay.

The large cabin is made to offer passengers unprecedented comfort and represents the new standard for General Aviation.

Distinguished style, a lightweight carbon design and superior flight qualities are what you can expect with the DA62.

A first class cabin, comparable in size to that of a luxurious SUV

Side specifications:

it is a twin-engine propeller has a range of 2,400 kilometers and flies at a cruising speed of 330 km / h.

Its average consumption is 45 liters per hour !!

Located sixty kilometers south of Vienna, Austria, Diamond Aircraft plans to produce fifty copies of its newest child this year.

Its selling price remains affordable for such a machine: it oscillates between 1 and 1.3 million euros depending on the options chosen

Diamond Aircraft sales teams will give you all the necessary information:

sales@diamond-air.at +43 2622 26700 1317.

SHOW OF BOURGET 2017 SEEN BY MIA

A REAL JOYAU

There are exhibitors of spare parts to improve our private jet.

But what I liked most is this exhibition of small private planes and his beautiful commanders in uniform.
I tried these smaller private planes, each more beautiful than the other, with beige leather interior.

All the biggest brands were there, Dassault's show was top.

We could see the different Falcons in miniature. In addition, the Zero plane did us the honor to privatize it for us.

This aircraft allows for weightlessness tests for experiments.

But I found the plane of my dreams at Diamond DA 62 Aircraft: neon pink green very trendy it will be very good for my arrival in Saint-Tropez.

A MUCH BETTER BETTER THAN EXPECTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL BOURGET FAIR 2017

A record turnover of 150 billion euros.

Le Bourget was a very good year with order books up 13%, reaching 150 billion dollars (134 billion euros). even though attendance has been eroded, partly because of the state of emergency.

The turnover generated during the show by professionals also representing the space industry reached 150 billion dollars, against 130 billion USD at the previous edition in 2015.

Boeing and Airbus alone accounted for $ 114 billion in orders, 74.8 for the US manufacturer and 39.7 for the European consortium, while CFM International, the aircraft engine subsidiary of General Electric and Safran, has Received 1,658 orders for Leap and CFM56 engines, for a total of 27.3 billion USD, at the show. "It's a very, very good vintage in terms of business," commented Emeric d'Arcimoles, the general curator of this show open to professionals only from Monday to Thursday, then to the general public the last three days

.It will be necessary to manufacture more than 41,000 new aircraft in the next 20 years

At Le Bourget, Philippe has also confirmed an increase in the defense budget.

Despite well-filled order books, the sector must continue to innovate and train young people. With a little less exhibitors in the halls, but also a little less airplanes on the tarmac and no major news in the Le Bourget sky, the SIAE 2017 can be considered a transition lounge.

We know that large aircraft manufacturers are "working" on new concepts and a new generation of aircraft which we will see perhaps the first copies at the next show, in 2019.

Success of the business jet and the Paris Air Lab

The SIAE 2017 will have fulfilled its mission "business" But at the same time, it pursues its objectives of opening new avenues and attracting young people to the aeronautical professions.

The Paris Air Lab, the first edition of a space devoted to research, innovation and foresight, attracted 50,000 people and allowed some start-ups to register their first orders

The Crafts Plane Hall continues to showcase the training required for the sector and as with each edition, it has met its public (60,000 visitors, students, schoolchildren and accompanying persons).

50,000 people visited the Paris Air Lab, located in the Concorde hall of the Bourget Air and Space Museum.

It was a question of showing the vitality of the numerous start-ups engaged in partnerships with the industrialists of the sector to prepare the aeronautics of tomorrow. In this field, ideas abound; The aeronautics and space sector must now rely on these "young shoots" for the challenges of tomorrow.

From Friday to Sunday, visitors were able to attend a flight program

Four and a half hours alternating fighter planes, helicopters, business planes and large planes, and even the Patrouille de France. About 70% of the aircraft present for the professional days had remained for the demonstrations but some big ones, like Boeing, had left on Friday. "Leaving a plane on a weekend is very expensive, flying it costs even more , " said the organizers.

The stand of the Directorate General of Armament (DGA) was a great success to see more closely the combat aircraft Rafale or Mirage 2000 or the massive military transport helicopter Caracal.

There has been too little environmental question this year.

On the tarmac or in air show, there were few electric planes as was the case with the E-fan in 2015.

Electric propulsion is still a concept in the making! But a charming designer of electric planes invited us to come and try Haguenau:

ALPHA Electro !!! which will be discussed later with precision.

BOURGET SHOW 2017

NATIONAL CENTER FOR SPATIAL STUDIES

PROMETHEUS A PRECURSOR ENGINE

During the interministerial conference of the European Space Agency, in Lucernes in 2016, the financing of the long-term strategy for the preparation of the launchers of the future finally materialized;

Europe of launchers is preparing the engines of tomorrow which will equip future European launchers. The goal: to guarantee Europe's access to space and ensure its competitiveness.

Space Europe "must prepare for the future" with a new family of Prometheus engines (PRecurseor Reusable Oxygen METHAN cost effective proPulsion System) at very low cost which can be used on conventional or reusable rockets, the Secretary of State said on Wednesday. French Research Thierry Mandon

"We have to win the game that comes - the development of the European launchers Ariane 6 and Vega C - and prepare for the next seasons at the same time", said Mr. Mandon, after giving an update to the French space agency Cnes with European launcher players.

Faced with the increase in the American budget devoted to space, "if Europe does not put a little energy into the financing of space research (...), we will run after the technological breakthroughs" of others, has he added.

Space Europe is under pressure from the exacerbation of international competition in the field of launchers.

The American company SpaceX is pursuing a very aggressive cost strategy and is moving towards the development of reusable rockets. Last week, she managed to recover the first stage of her Falcon 9 rocket for the fourth time.

Prepared by Cnes and Airbus Safran Launcher (ASL), with the support of the German space agency DLR, the Prometheus engine plays the technological “breakthrough” card .

It will run on liquid oxygen and methane. This hydrocarbon is "more interesting in terms of cost than hydrogen" currently used with liquid oxygen on the Vulcain engine of Ariane 5 and the first stage of Ariane 6, explained Jean-Marc Astorg, director of launchers at the Cnes.

It will be largely manufactured using 3D printing.

"This simpler engine will be ten times cheaper to produce ," said David Quancard. It will be largely manufactured using 3D printing.

Prometheus will be designed from the start to be reusable but it can also be equipped with conventional launchers.

"The goal is to produce a prototype of Prometheus that can be tested before 2020 ," Astorg said.

France and Germany hope to be joined by Italy in this dossier.

The cost of the prototype is around 125 million euros.

The objective is to bring, by 2020, manufacturing processes and technologies to a sufficient level of maturity to initiate rapid development. For a rate of 50 per year!

Benefiting from a heritage of more than 20 years of R and T, it will be radically different in its design compared to current engines: Vulcain and Vinci. (Respectively from the 80s and 90s)

Promeuteus (Pecurseor ReusableOxygen METHAN cost effective proPulsion System)

is a low-cost, reusable model that runs on liquid oxygen and methan. It will have a variable thrust with a maximum of 100 tons. Universal and inexpensive usable on a whole range of future launchers - from the micro-launcher to an evolution of Ariane 6, in lower and upper stage engine.

A new design:

Advances in production will be leveraged: in particular the extensive use of 3D printing.

“The Prometheus project will be considered by the conference of European space ministers in Lucerne whether they are conventional or reusable,” said Mr. Astorg.

Global cost of the demonstration: 110 M euros.

Simultaneously, France, Germany and Japan began researching a reusable first-stage prototype, dubbed Callisto.

Intended to be launched from French Guiana, this ten-meter-high mini vehicle, which will be equipped with a Japanese engine, will climb to an altitude of around one hundred kilometers before descending to land. Its promoters are aiming for the date of 2020 for a first test.

The Callisto project at this stage costs a hundred million euros. It will also be presented at the ministerial conference in Lucerne.

SHOW OF BOURGET

PRIME MINISTER EDOUARD PHILIPPE AND

ELIXIR AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER FRENCH

Indeed this one has made the choice of a young company Elixir Aircraft French manufacturer innovative standard Cs-Lsa Cs-Lsa passenger plane with extremely interesting characteristics.

He is one of the few aircraft manufacturers to manufacture almost entirely his plane in France in a market where the foreign competition turns ruthless with actors on this market of big sizes.

In the face of foreign products Elixir Aicraft presents a two-seater high-security aircraft with a large payload, an incredible speed range and an extraordinary range that make it an indispensable aircraft for both school and travel.

We bet that clubs and individuals looking for a good machine will not be wrong and will choose the acquisition of this little wonder produced by Elixir Aircraft.

Last point that may be important:

in addition to its high-level technical features the Elixir Aircraft machine has a beautiful design, a very successful interior which does not spoil anything.

It becomes clear that clubs and individuals looking for a good plane will be quick to choose Elixir Aircraft for its features and also for its design more successful. !!!!

RUSSIAN MINISTERIAL PLANE APPROACHED BY NATO FIGHTERS

NATO F-16 fighters approached Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's plane over the Baltic on Wednesday. The hunters were Polish, the Polish military said on Thursday.

Two Polish F-16s were carrying out the NATO Air Policing mission over the Baltic Sea. They had been tasked with tracking three Russian aircraft, an unarmed Tupolev 154 and two Su-27 fighters armed with air-to-air missiles, according to the Polish Joint Operational Command in a statement.

“The interception was carried out in accordance with the procedures in force at NATO” , adds the press release, without further details.

This air policing mission, which is intended to reassure the Baltic countries about their security, is carried out in turn by member countries of NATO.

According to journalists from the main Russian news agencies present on board the Tupolev, the planes of the Atlantic Alliance tried to frame the plane of the Russian minister, but when one of them wanted to approach it the Su-27 escorting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's plane forced it away.

“ The Su-27 showed (to the) NATO plane that it was armed by turning around. After that, the NATO F-16 moved away , ”said an Interfax journalist, present on board the ministerial aircraft.

For its part, NATO said it was “standard procedure”.

According to the Alliance, Russian military aviation have increased their flights over the Baltic in recent days, while NATO is currently deploying four multinational battalions in Poland and the Baltic countries. It is true that the Baltic countries live in fear of a possible Russian attack and do everything in terms of deterrence to the point of forming a very efficient army in their respective countries.

The Estonian Ministry of Defense declared on March 2 that “the arrival of British soldiers proved the unity of NATO members” and contributed “to maintaining the balance of forces in the region”. This is Tallinn's official position.

Thus the Alliance aviation has been stationed in Estonia for several yearsand in 2016, an American tank company was established. In addition, between 4,000 and 5,000 soldiers from NATO countries are arriving in the country as part of the traditional“spring maneuvers”. From now on, an Alliance battalion will be present in the country on a permanent basis, an objective for which the Baltic countries have long fought.

In Russia, the deployment of these forces has aroused concern, but above all on the part of politicians and not of the military.

Indeed, this reinforcement of NATO forces is interpreted by Russia as a desire for encirclement and very badly tolerated by President Vladimir Putin.

These plans include deploying a new brigade to the Alliance's eastern borders, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. The numbers are not very large, but it is a new step towards the consolidation of the NATO Response Force (NRF). The maintenance costs of the new international force will be largely borne by the Eastern European countries which will host it.

According to retired Colonel Viktor Kuznetsov, a military expert, the Russian military would not be worried about the reinforcement of the Alliance contingent :

“World practice has long known the notion of reacting to threats.

For example, in the event of large exercises near the borders of a country, the latter sends the ball by in turn organizing maneuvers in order to demonstrate its defensive capacity and reassure the population.

However, it is knowingly that Russia does not react to the Estonian spring manoeuvres.

Moscow does not consider it essential. The Russian army regularly launches surprise maneuvers in the Western Military District and organizes Western exercises. In addition, regular checks of the combat capability of the troops on the borders of Latvia and Estonia are carried out which, like the division exercises, are larger than all the war games launched by NATO. in the Baltic countries.

Also according to Viktor Kuznetsov, one of the main objectives of the new head of the White House, Donald Trump, is to increase the export of American military industry to Europe. The delivery of new equipment and the arrival of soldiers who will be responsible for training the Estonian army are in line with this policy. “US President Donald Trump has more than once said that Europe should pay for its own security,” he stressed.

NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller, who came to Bydgoszcz, Poland, reaffirmed that the Alliance was determined to prevent incidents of this kind from repeating themselves, according to her, "for the past ten years" .

"From NATO's point of view, we must prevent any such action, both airborne and with possible naval involvement, so that it does not develop into a deeper conflict or a misunderstanding," he said . Mrs. Gottemoeller in Polish.

“At the end of May, she continued , a group was supposed to meet to work out detailed provisions, because such situations do not benefit any of the parties” without providing the slightest precision.

The stationing of additional NATO contingents in the Baltic countries and in Poland was planned from the middle of last year, long before Donald Trump came to power.

Because NATO's concern is Kaliningrad, located in the westernmost region of Russia, which hosts large numbers of Russian troops.

“Tallinn as well as Brussels and Washington realize that it is impossible to launch an offensive against Saint Petersburg from Narva (north-eastern Estonia) by the force of one or even five battalions. one of Western source. The objective of NATO's Western contingent in Estonia is to train in the coordination of operations between the national army and its Western allies”.

"We welcomed with joy the initiative, which came a few years ago from the Baltic countries and Russia, to work together on a method to avoid the repetition of such incidents in the future", nevertheless underlined Mrs Gottemoeller.

A SUCCESSOR TO CONCORDE ?

For aeronautical enthusiasts!

An American firm presents the successor to the Concorde at Le Bourget

A Colorado start-up, Boom Supersonic Inc , has just presented a superb aircraft project at the Paris Air Show.

Boom Spsonic, Inc, a Colorado start-up was founded in 2014 by fledgling aircraft manufacturer boss Blake Scholl .

He announces an aircraft that can reach the speed of mach 2.2, or about 2700 kilometers per hour or a speed of 10% higher than that of the prestigious European predecessor !!!.

This beautiful plane should connect Paris to New York in three and a half hours!

Within six years, it could be operational and delivered to the first customers.

The first version of this new device, dedicated to test flights, will bear the name of "Baby Boom" to begin at the end of next year.

Deliveries to the first customers will begin in six years . Blake Scholl has already received 76 orders. Vrigin Atlantic, a British carrier run by Richard Branson has ordered some. The price of this plane will amount to 195 million francs each and should be able to carry up to 55 passengers.

A fuel-efficient engine makes it possible to compensate for the low number of passengers.

REVIEW OF THE 52nd INTERNATIONAL

BOURGET FAIR AERONAUTICS AND SPACE

"The Paris Air Show is a superb commercial showcase", according to Patrick Guérin, spokesman for

Grouping of the French Aeronautics and Space Industries (GIFAS), in charge of

the organization. A program of business meetings, intended to bring together

buyers and industrial exhibitors, is also planned throughout the event.

The program includes flight demonstrations of the A400M, the C295, the Eurofighter Typhoon and a Tiger helicopter from the French Army, while the H130, H135 equipped with Helionix avionics, H145M equipped with the HForce will be presented on the static board as well as a set of drones such as the "Harfang", the DVF 2000 VT Aliaca, the DVF 2000 ER Arrano and the Quadcruiser.

The Rafale made the show, the F-35, too, the Bourget at

the party

The Dassault Aviation fighter aircraft showed its muscles

in both first days at the international exhibition of aeronautics

and space. The Rafale made several spectacular figures in

the sky from Bourget.

The first steps for the F-35

The F-35 has not finished talking about him.

The defense plane of Lokheed Martin is criticized :

expensive, chaining problems and delays in his development...

But, the American fighter has at least managed his first Bourget. Back in pictures on his first demonstration.

The Tiger amazed us!

Every year, the Army presents its flagship equipment, the TIGRE HAD, the NH 90 CAIMAN and its

scanning. Representing 70% of the helicopter fleet of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, the Army Light Aviation (ALAT)

demonstrates once again it is inseparable from the air-land maneuver.

The Tiger is a combat helicopter capable of fighting day and night against slow ground or air targets. It provides support-protection missions (Tigre HAP version) and support-destruction (Tigre HAD version). Germany uses an anti-tank version called UHT.

Its high speed and maneuverability are optimal for tactical flight. He has a high level of discretion and survivability. The HAP version features a 30mm gun and rockets and can ship four Mistral air-to-air missiles. The HAD version can also embark missiles of destruction on the ground.

On Monday, June 15, the Airbus A400M made a first flight at the Paris Air Show. This transport aircraft is able to make takeoffs and landings on short track and also to roll in reverse . A real feat !!!!

GENERAL AVIATION SHOW

OF LYON BRON 2017

AIR EXPO LYON LFLY

Here are some pictures before our articles about everything that knows about the show at the end of it

RETURN TO EARTH BY THOMAS PESQUET

Here he is re-adapting to gravity by following a medical rehabilitation program for terrestrial life .

"I come out of two hours in the gym where I was a little tortured, but it's for my good" , explains the astronaut.

The return was a bit difficult at first.

After six months of floating like a butterfly in the ISS, getting back to gravity is difficult.

The balance is slightly modified.

But we get used to it pretty quickly. After twelve hours, I was functional. I could walk, climb stairs, turn, put on my socks all by myself."

It is certain that in space, the human body undergoes aggressions such as muscle and bone loss, loss of sight and cardiovascular problems.

This is the reason why 2h30 of sport every day was compulsory in space to compensate for the effects of the absence of gravity.

The effects on muscle mass and bone density resolve "fairly well" .

He specifies that he has had vision tests which show that she has not changed.

Moreover, one of Thomas Pesquet's missions consisted of numerous experiments on the subject .

"We are studying how the body adapts to space, but also how to recover once it returns to Earth," he explained from the top of the International Space Station.

After six months "floating like a butterfly" in the International Space Station, astronaut Thomas Pesquet has rediscovered the pleasure of being on Earth!

At the opening of the capsule, Thomas Pesquet had like "an overdose of sensations" , with "the smells of the steppe, of the slightly wet grass" .

The colors were also stronger, as "if we had turned the contrast of the television to the maximum".

Happy also to find his companion in Cologne!

But he is not ready to stay there all the time:

“Luckily, at the European Space Agency, it is that we have a lot of missions in space” ,

"Perhaps we can imagine that I will return to space fairly quickly. It will be a new challenge," he added.

The astronaut, who returned to Earth on Friday, said he was "very well" .

AIR FRANCE AND THE BOOST PROJECT

FROM CHALLENGER TO LEADER ?

The company plans to reduce its costs by -1.5% and achieve growth of 2 to 3% per year.

Announced in November a strategic plan to regain market share in transport, “Trust Together” provides for the creation of a medium/long-haul hybrid company.

Because Air France has never made the slightest net profit! but it somehow saved market share in short-haul against the aggressiveness of the low cost.

The goal is therefore with the creation of this newcomer the fight against competitors from the Gulf.

The most striking solution is of course the creation of this "lower cost therefore lower fare" company in the reconquest of the market on the medium-haul and especially the Asian long-haul, devoured by the Gulf companies.

There was already Air France, its subsidiary Transavia devoted to low-cost flights, or even Hop.

The Boost project is designed according to the Transavia France scheme : Air France pilots seconded from Air France on a voluntary basis and a Cabin Crew Member recruited by an external entity in terms of productivity, a fleet of ten aircraft equipped in two-class partially bearing the Air France brand, and test innovations such as berths in the hold, for example.

A new medium-haul price list must be put in place.

The leased fleet will drop by 40 to 20% as a cost saving measure.

"Digitalization" will be extended.

In 2020, the profile of the group would result in 28 billion euros in turnover for 100 million passengers and a fleet, excluding regional aircraft, of 435 aircraft.

Planned launch date: summer 2017 for medium-haul destinations and summer 2018 for long-haul routes.

TUPOLEV TU-154 CRASH SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF WITH RUSSIAN ARMY CHOIRS

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Sunday a day of national mourning Monday, December 26 in Russia, in tribute to the victims of the crash of the military aircraft Tu-154 in the Black Sea.

"There are no signs of survivors." 92 people lost their lives on Sunday morning in the crash of a Russian military plane, among them 64 members of the Red Army Choir who were traveling to Syria to celebrate the New Year with the soldiers engaged in the country.

Immediately, the Russian president announced that an investigation would be opened to determine the causes of the accident. He instructed the Prime Minister, Dimitri Medvedev to create a special commission of inquiry. Its members are to travel during the day on Sunday to Sochi.

Bad reputation and many precedents.

Voices are heard to denounce the obsolescence of the Tupolev Tu-154, a model which has already experienced numerous accidents since its creation in the 1960s. According to the Minister of Defense, quoted by Russian agencies, the device had been flying since 33 years old and had already flown 6,689 hours. Repaired last December, the last revision of the plane dates back to last September.

Investigators are questioning the technical staff who were in charge of preparing the plane before takeoff on Sunday morning around 5:20 a.m. local time. "It's a plane that does not have a very good reputation, confirms Jean Serrat, aeronautical specialist. It was banned from flying two years ago by the Russian authorities for investigations and which had finally been put back into flight."

AERONAUTICS ON ITS LITTLE CLOUD

Proof of the good health of this sector in 2014, still garnered 73 billion euros in orders.

The aeronautical sector presented a positive trade balance of 23.6 billion euros.

With such results, aeronautics is "the biggest contributor to the national trade balance", adds Gifas.

Well almost. When orders flow in at Airbus, a whole sector, upstream, benefits.

The business concluded by the European aircraft manufacturer has given signs of acceleration over the past year (1,456 aircraft ordered, 629 delivered), its suppliers have order books to bursting.

The strong growth of air transport (+5% per year) is part of this movement.

Even the military sector, long at half mast, is on the rise again, with the first export successes of the Rafale (Egypt, Qatar and soon India)...

Manufacturers are all faced with the same concern: increasing production rates.

Recruitment difficulties

Despite overflowing order books and rising production rates, aeronautics companies, which employ a total of 180,000 people, are struggling to hire.

In 2014, they recruited 10,000 employees in total, i.e. a net balance of 2,000 hires. But, for 2015, Gifas foresees only 8,000 recruitments.

Everything is going well, therefore, except that the equipment manufacturers and subcontractors, often SMEs, which are not completely in tune with the cycle of major aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus or Dassault.

As a result, orders for A330s are down. The A350 – which is to succeed it – is only in its start-up phase, while the arrival of a new aircraft requires significant investment for SMEs.

The increase in production rates goes through equipment manufacturers and subcontractors.

To improve performance and increase the industrial growth of the “supply chain”, the major contractors have financed, with the public authorities, a consultancy program for SMEs. 1,500 of them have already benefited from it and this program should be renewed in 2016.

In terms of human resources: difficulties in recruiting production personnel.

For aeronautical companies, which employ a total of 180,000 employees, the aeronautical sector has recruited no less than 70,000 people since 2010 and they have hired 10,000 employees in total, ie a net balance of 2,000 hires. But, for aeronautical companies, which employ a total of 180,000 employees, the aeronautical sector has recruited no less than 70,000 people since 2010.

In 2015, Gifas foresees only 8,000 recruitments. foresees only 8,000 recruitments.

Several hundred jobs in the metallurgy, positions of boilermaker, welder, cabler or fitter are not filled for lack of an attractive image among young people. This decrease is linked in particular to difficulties in recruiting production personnel.

From one region to another, the recruitment situation is very different. If Ile-de-France or the Midi-Pyrénées do not have a shortage, in Aquitaine it is more difficult, but elsewhere it is even harder.

DIAMOND AIRCRAFT

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DA62

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