First Flight of an Airplane with no Moving Parts

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Did Digital Globe Snap a Picture of a Chinese "Fast Mover" UAV?

Jane's ran a story this morning claiming a Digital Globe satellite snapped images on June 7th and June 10th a possible new unmanned aerial vehicle was spotted at Malan air base in western China. The link has since gone 404.

That said, I went and did a little asking in other circles about the image.

I was provided with:

The unknown aircraft is superficially similar to the Dark Sword UAV that caused some hullabaloo in June.  Interestingly, the Dark Sword photo popped up on June 5th.  The photo above was supposed to be taken by Digital Globe on June 7th and seen again on June 10th.  The time is interesting, but may just be a coincidence.

The primary difference between this aircraft and the Dark Sword is the wings look...wrong.  Everything looks lined up here and without the angled out wings for the Dark Sword.  OTOH, that could be an artifact for of the resolution of the satellite.  I'm not convinced, to be honest.

Jane's does note, in the now nuked article, there are two known high speed UAVs in development by China.  The preview does not state what they are or if the Dark Sword is one of them.  It should be noted, the shape of this aircraft is quite similar to the various images Lockheed put out of the proposed SR-72.  A purported sighting of a flying SR-72 UAV was seen recently in Texas, fwiw.

The aircraft to the right of the triangular bird is a Soaring Dragon, a joint or tandem wing UAV.  That aircraft is 47 ft long.  That would give our new unknown a length of between 30 to 40 ft (9m to 12m).  The wingspan only looks to be between 10 to 15 ft (3m to 4.5m) at most.  

It should be noted this COULD be a hoax.  Whether a prank or misinformation by the PLAAF on anyone looking at Malan AB.  Or it could be some other sort of hoax.  Healthy skepticism should be kept.

However, it should be noted that just because its Chinese, doesn't mean its not possible.  Indeed, the laws of physics don't care what color your flag happens to be.  They work the same for everyone.

India may buy 4 Tu-22M3 Backfire Bombers

Russia’s Interfax is quoted to have said that India is keen to buy four Tu-22M3 strategic bombers from Moscow.

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China Wants One Thousand Y-20 Transport Aircraft

During a 1-7 June technology innovation exhibition in Beijing, an official from the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) told the People's Daily newspaper that China required "more than 1,000" Xian Aircraft Corporation (XAC) Y-20 heavy strategic transport aircraft and that the country also plans to build transport aircraft comparable in size to that of the Antonov An-225 Mriya.

"More than 1,000 Y-20s will be needed," Zhu Qian, head of AVIC's Large Aircraft Development Office, told reporters, referring to the 200-tonne, 50- to 60-tonne cargo capacity, four turbofan-powered transport aircraft that first flew in January 2013.

While Zhu stated that this estimate "was based on the experience of the United States and Russia", he did not provide any further details. In 2014 the People's Liberation Army (PLA) National Defence University issued a report stating that China might require up to 400 Y-20 transport aircraft.

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Russian AF Supposedly Testing SR-10 Trainer

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First There was Future Shock: now There is Future Chop!

Its a Real Life Goblin Glider: Say Hello to Franky Zapata's FlyBoard

US Military Considering CoProducing Aircraft in India

The Pentagon has a team in India evaluating the potential for coproduction on fighter aircraft, days ahead of a visit to the nation by Defense SecretaryAsh Carter.

Carter also hinted that a new project announcement may come during his visit to India next week, during which he will visit New Delhi and Goa.

“While in India, I will meet with Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi and Defense Minister [Manohar] Parrikar to discuss the progress we have made together in aircraft carrier, jet fighter, and jet engine collaboration,” Carter said in prepared remarks at the Council for Foreign Relations in New York. “And we will talk about exciting new projects, the details of which I cannot go into this afternoon, but stay tuned for when I'm with Minister Parrikar.”

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Did the Russians Just Test a Tilt Rotor VTOL?

A convertiplane developed by the Russian Helicopters Group has performed its first flight, the company’s representatives told TASS at the rotocraft maker’s exhibition stand at the Singapore Airshow 2016 on Wednesday.

"The works on developing the unique machine started in 2015. Over that time, we have achieved considerable results and have already started the first state of flight tests," the representatives quoted Alexander Okhonko, the CEO of VR-Technologies, a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters Group, as saying.

The project is being implemented as part of the Speed program in cooperation with the company Aerob, a resident of the space cluster at Russia’s Skolkovo hi-tech hub outside Moscow.

The project aims at developing a family of multi-purpose rotocraft, Russian Helicopters said.

The convertiplane is equipped with a hybrid power plant expected to allow it to develop a speed of up to 500 km/hr.

Today only the consortium of US companies Bell Helicopter and Boeing is serially producing convertiplanes, in particular, the MV-22 Osprey. These machines are delivered to the US Marine Corps and the Air Force, as well as to Japan, which has ordered five such aircraft.

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2nd link, but still same source.

US Air Force Shows off its Arsenal Plane Concept

The US Air Force has offered the first artist’s impression of the Pentagon’s “arsenal plane” concept in a video presented by service secretary Deborah Lee James at an Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida.

Since no aircraft has been announced, air force graphic artists appear to have blended the eight-engine Boeing B-52 bomber with the body of a Lockheed Martin C-130 turboprop. The aircraft is seen in the video launching a barrage of networked Raytheon Small Diameter Bomb II glide bombs at mobile enemy radar warning and air defence targets.

The cargo-bomber airplane concept appears to be unmanned since it doesn’t have a cockpit window, but does have a side cargo bay door. It’s not known if the arsenal plane – based on an old, repurposed aircraft – will carry weapon specialists, similar to current AC-130 gunships.

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Flight Video of the Russian Forward Swept Wing Trainer Aircraft, the SR-10

The Future is Finally Starting to Arrive: Chinese Ehang Working on 'Flying car'

Think Amazon delivery drones are a radical idea? A Chinese startup called Ehang has used the same technology to build an aircraft to carry a passenger more than 20 miles.

The EHang 184 AAV is a one-person pod lifted by eight rotors mounted in pairs on four folding arms -- thus the number 184. Announced Wednesday at the CES tech show in Las Vegas, the battery-powered aircraft will carry a passenger for 23 minutes at about 60 miles per hour.

For decades, people have dreamed of soaring over traffic jams with jetpacks, flying cars and other personal aircraft. EHang's 184 AAV is joining company like the Icon A5 and Terrafugia flying car that aim to make that personal aviation dream a reality despite difficulties with cost, safety, engineering and regulations.

"The 184 provides a viable solution to the many challenges the transportation industry faces in a safe and energy efficient way," said EHang Chief Executive Huazhi Hu in a statement. And though it's initially aimed at commuters and adventuresome people, "EHang will make a global impact across dozens of industries beyond personal travel," he said.

But EHang's ambition will have to reckon with sharp regulatory limits.

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British Desparately Want P-8 Poseidons to Hunt Russian Subs

With Russian subs and bombers nosing around the British Isles while the Islamic State massacres Parisians just two hours by train from London, the British Defense Ministry is besieged from both sides. The new Strategic Defense Review aims not only to rebuild the UK military after 2010’s cuts but to make it capable of confronting both nation-state and terrorist threats, said UK Secretary of State for Defense Michael Fallon.

“Clearly, it had a galvanizing effect,” Fallon said of the Paris attacks, inspiring Parliament to reverse a 2013 decision and authorize British airstrikes inside Syria.

But the Russians are pretty galvanizing too, Fallon made clear in his remarks this morning to the Atlantic Council. In particular, ever since the UK retired its Nimrod reconnaissance planes, it can’t properly track Russian submarines, whose activity in the Atlantic has only increased. That leaves the Royal Navy nervous about the safety of its sea-based deterrent, a small fleet of Vanguard nuclear-missile submarines (SSBNs).

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Joby Aviation's Crazy Electric Tilt Rotor

Personal electric VTOL (vertical take off and landing) commuting may not be far off, thanks to accelerating improvements in battery technology. Joby Aviation has put forward an incredible two-seater plane concept that uses 12 tilting electric propellers to provide multirotor-style balanced VTOL capabilities. Once it reaches cruising speeds, these rotors fold away into aerodynamic bullet shapes, and the aircraft can reach speeds of up to 200 mph (322 km/h) and ranges of up to 200 miles using four additional cruise-optimized props on the backs of the wings and tail fins.

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Y-20 Chief Designer and Engineer Resign Effective Immediately

In a regulatory filing with the stock exchange, Xi’an Aircraft International Corporation said chief designer Tang Changhong and chief engineer He Shengqiang have both tendered their job resignation letters on Nov. 16.

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WANT! The Cobalt Valkyrie

Looking more like a high-tech fighter than a light plane designed for private use, the Valkyrie from Cobalt aircraft has just been launched. With a canard front wing, sleek aerodynamic shape and a turbocharged 350 hp (260 kW) engine, the new Valkyrie is claimed to be capable of traveling at speeds of up to 260 knots (482 km/h, 300 mph) and has capacity for up to five adults and their luggage.

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Watch the MIT Drone 'Sense and Avoid' Autonomously at 30 mph

Future Military March #1: of Lasers, Pain Rays and Railguns

I had started out writing about military lasers and how they were virtually here and some of the history and implications.  Its only about a third done.  However, the blogosphere exploded with tons of news on lasers and their status and whatnot.  So I am going to scrap that post in favor of a quick run down on on the news and links much like the Robopocalypse Reports.

First off the Russians are doing their classic pull out the old Soviet equipment (or claim to) to try to compete with the American new tech.  In this case, they are claiming they are pulling back from museums (or threatening to) old blinding laser tanks.  Yup, the USSR built lasers in turrets on T-80 chassis to blind optics and whatnot.  Its a larger version of what the US Army developed with the AN/VLQ-7 Stringray laser for the Bradley IFV.

Secondly, the Iranians decided to fire a laser on a US Navy ship and helicopter in the Gulf of Aden.  It was low powered and obnoxious rather than damaging.  However, it prompted Secretary of the Navy Mabus to tell the US Navy to get its act together and move faster with deploying those lasers they have been developing.

 Breaking Defense walks through the status of various laser programs and the battle they face.

The US Air Force has retained some retired C-130U gunships for laser weapon demonstrations.  These demos would be for both offensive (attack ground target, etc) and defensive (shoot down incoming antiaircraft missile) weapons.  Even for Active Denial System (aka pain ray) tests.  Actually the US Special Forces want the ADS specifically for nonlethal options.  The USAF has stated they believe lasers will allow more flexibility and capability.

It should be noted the HELLADS laser which is, at report, 150 kw is being tested at WSMR. DARPA has offered the laser to the navy to test on a Burke class destroyer in 2018 and to the US Air Force as well.  The goal, which seems to have been met, is to have no more than 5 kg per kilowatt of beam power.  A 150 kw HELLADS would weigh 750 kg.  A single module, each producing a 75 kw beam, is said to be 130 cm by 30 cm by 50 cm (51.2 inches by 11.8 inches by 19.7 inches).  The modules can be aggregated to at least 300 kw or possibly more (as I've said before).

The USNI discusses the Navy's plans for laser - to send a 150 kw laser to sea in 2018 - and its plans for railguns.  A manually loaded railgun will be put to sea on a Joint High Speed Vessel next year.  The follow-on railgun with the ability to fire 10 rounds per minute will go to sea in 2018.  The Navy finished the study on placing a railgun on the last Zumwalt class destroyer.  As I have stated before, in the tour de force USS MC Perry class (and here), they really ought to place one on the Independence derived class Small Surface Combatant frigate.  The space and the layout just makes sense.

The US Army is beginning to get into the railgun mood (but Jane's hides it well).  Their interest is in ballistic missile defense and presumably general air defense since there will be times when the Army's lasers will be degraded by weather.

Robopocalypse Report 2

Checking an aircraft for damage can be arduous and meticulous work, but last week’s issue of The Economist highlights an experimental commercial approach. In simple terms, the Remote Intelligent Survey Equipment for Radiation (RISER) drone is a quadcopter with LIDAR and forms the basis for a system to use lasers to automatically detect damage to airliners.

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Google's Self Driving Cars are Driving in Austin and DC now.

Google self-driving cars have hit the road in Austin, Tex., the first time the project’s testing program has expanded beyond the streets around its hometown in California.

Google said late Monday one of the company’s Lexus RX450h SUVs has been cruising around a few square miles north and northeast of downtown Austin for a few weeks. The car, outfitted with cameras and sensors, is creating a detailed map of the streets, lane markers, traffic signals, curb heights, “keep clear” zones, and other information that helps the driverless software understand where the car is in the world.

In recent days, the software and sensors have started doing the driving after being guided by drivers, Google said. Two safety drivers will be in the car to take over if needed and provide feedback to Google engineers about how the car is behaving, suggesting things like smoother cornering.

Since the self-driving car project began in 2009, Google has mostly tested the technology in Mountain View, Calif., near its headquarters. The company has taken cars to other places like Austin and Washington D.C. in the past to give demos for a day or two.

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Uber Wants Over 500k Driverless Teslas (that's not a sharing economy!)

Tesla Motors is one of several automakers planning to put a self-driving car on sale sometime in the next few years, and it already seems to have at least one big fan.

This person isn't a celebrity owner or safety advocate, but rather the CEO of preeminent ride-sharing company Uber.

If Tesla can build a fully-autonomous car by 2020, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick says his company would it. In fact, he'd buy every one Tesla builds.

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Boeing Just Patented a Laser Fusion Jet Turbine

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