Hydraulic systems power landing gear deployment, flight control surfaces, braking systems, and so many other vital functions on an aircraft. While hydraulic fluid is mainly essential for transmitting force within these systems, the right fluid formulation must also reduce friction, prevent corrosion, and maintain overall cleanliness in order to uphold performance long-term. To help you identify the best option for different system demands, this blog will discuss the composition, advantages, and limitations of three main types of lubricating hydraulic fluids used in aviation.
Learn MoreThe United States Air Force has awarded a contract to Orbital ATK for the initial production of the MJU-73/B.
Learn MoreInternational engineering group Meggitt signed a deal to acquire Cobham’s advanced composites unit for $200 million in cash.
Learn MoreJapan’s Ministry of Defense has selected Fuji Heavy Industries, a Japanese multinational conglomerate and corporation primarily involved in ground and aerospace transportation manufacturing, as the primary developer of the UH-X, a next-generation multipurpose military helicopter. Fuji Heavy Industries, alongside the collaboration of Bell Helicopter of the United States, will be developing a commercial helicopter with the Japanese ministry. This commercial helicopter will then be customized in order to meet the requirements of Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force. This “commercial-to-military” approach is believed to help cut development costs.
Learn MoreIn June 2015, the space technology firm Orbital Sciences successfully launched their 40th Coyote supersonic sea-skimming target (SSST) vehicle for the US Navy. The goal of the Coyote program, which is managed by the US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), is to provide an SSST system that will simulate high speed, anti-ship cruise missiles for fleet training and weapon systems research, development, tests, and evaluation.
Learn MoreInvented by Roger Shawyer, the EmDrive is a theoretical propulsion system that supposedly could propel objects to near-relativistic speeds. However, the system is being met with much skepticism as it seems to clearly violate the laws of physics. Shawyer explains that it works by repeatedly bouncing microwaves back and forth in a chamber with the idea of creating a propellant-less thruster that can move a spacecraft at extraordinary speeds if enough pressure is applied. He claims that it could gain 3 tons of thrust with 1 kilowatt of power input by essentially moving the particles around the chamber of the thruster in a vacuum.
Learn MoreFor the fourth year in a row, NASA will be holding the Space App Challenge event in multiple locations across the globe. Part of the NASA incubator innovation program, the Space App Challenge is a three-day coding competition in which over 10,000 participants develop applications, software, hardware, and data visualization platforms which address 35 challenge areas provided by NASA. This year, the competition’s main themes are: outer space, earth, humans, and robotics.
Learn MoreIn March of 2015, the US Army announced that they will be installing a new communications capability onto a select few of their Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft. Beginning in May, an in-flight technology known as enroute mission command capability (EMC2) will allow soldiers to communicate via internet, rather than solely rely on conventional voice and data communications. Although commercial airliners have been offering Wi-Fi technology to passengers for a long time, this marks the first occasion that military aircraft will be equipped with internet connectivity to this extent. From EMC2, the aircraft will communicate with satellite terminals and pilots will be able to access a range of applications.
Learn MoreAnnounced on March 23rd, NASA awarded Orbital ATK a USD$253 million contract to build a U.S. civilian polar-orbiting weather satellite. They expect to allocate another $240 million for the construction of two additional satellites in the near future. This Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)-2 is expected to be built by July 31, 2021 and launched seven years later on July 31, 2028. Several variations of the JPSS is still being discussed. The $130 million JPSS-3 will launch in 2024, while the JPSS-4 is only worth $87 million and has an expected launch date of 2026. In general, the JPSS has the functionality to record and provide global weather coverage. This can be essential in preparing for natural disasters and harsh weather conditions, thus, saving lives, money, and resources.
Learn MoreChuck Norris roundhouse kicked his way into the debate involving the pending retirement of the Warthog, the nickname for the A-10 Thunderbolt, a close air support jet originally manufactured by Fairchild and, subsequently, Northrop Grumman. The Warthogs are planned for retirement in 2015 in favor of the developing F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, one of the most expensive procurement projects ever undertaken by the United States military. In an online exclusive for WND (formerly WorldNet Daily), the frequently “meme-d” action star argued that the Warthog’s low-flying and tactical close air support accuracy is not replaceable by other high-performance, high-altitude, and technologically advanced models in the military’s aircraft fleet.
Learn MoreIn March of 2015, Northrop Grumman announced that they have awarded a contract to the Intel subsidiary Wind River to deliver its VxWorks 653 platform for integration onto the Black Hawk UH-60V helicopter. This commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) platform belongs to Wind River’s product portfolio of safe and secure operating systems and was ordered as part of Northrop Grumman's latest helicopter digitization avionics mission equipment package. The platform which was recently updated is designed to support delivery of safety-critical, integrated modular avionics (IMA) applications.
Learn MoreThe aluminum production giant Alcoa, Inc. has set its sights on a greater focus towards the aerospace industry. On March 9, 2015 Alcoa agreed to acquire the titanium supplier, RTI International Metals for USD$1.3 billion with the goal of generating greater profits in aerospace products. Approximately 80 percent of RTI’s business is in the defense and aerospace industry as titanium is currently the fastest growing metal used in aerospace production. Current customers of RTI include big names in the aircraft industry such as Boeing. With the deal in place, Alcoa looks to save approximately USD$100 million in 2019 and generate USD$1.2 billion in revenue.
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