Space Highlights - February 17, 2016

February 17, 2016

The European Space Agency successfully launched its Sentinel-3A oceanic monitoring satellite this past week aboard a Russian Rokot booster.
http://motherboard.vice.com/read/europe-is-launching-sentinel-3a-the-latest-in-its-all-seeing-satellite-network-copernicus
http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/esa/sentinel-3a-earth-observing-satellite-successfully-launches-plesetsk/


The U.S. launched its NROL-45 spy satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base this past week, aboard a Delta IV booster.
http://www.space.com/31888-us-spy-satellite-dazzling-launch-nrol45.html


Japan has delayed the launch of an X-Ray observatory until the end of the week due to bad weather.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/02/15/national/science-health/launch-japanese-x-ray-satellite-rescheduled-wednesday-weather-may-remain-concern/#.VsPB3bQrLs1


NASA has released additional images Saturn's moon Tethys as a the Cassini space probe continues to wind down its mission.
http://www.sci-news.com/space/nasas-cassini-spacecraft-saturns-moon-tethys-03626.html


A new study suggests that the amount of mass that Saturn's volcanic moon Enceladus ejects into Saturn's magnetosphere is roughly equivalent to the mass escaping from the planet's atmosphere.
http://phys.org/news/2016-02-saturn-enceladus-amount-plasma.html


NASA has released a geological map of Pluto's "heart" region, compiled from photographs captured by the New Horizons spacecraft.  The map uses color-coding to identfy terrains of different origin.
http://stgist.com/2016/02/nasa-maps-mysterious-pluto-heart-with-new-horizons-help-6946
http://www.space.com/31930-pluto-geology-map-new-horizons.html

Wide Body Report - February 16, 2016

February 16, 2016

A Russian Boeing 777-200, operated by Orenair, made an emergency landing shortly after take-off while en route from the Dominican Republic to Moscow, due to an engine fire.  No passengers were injured, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
http://www.pravdareport.com/news/world/11-02-2016/133311-boeing_dominican_republic-0/
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160211/1034557252/plane-emergency-landing-safety.html


Boeing is expected to face an audit from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) surrounding its accounting for the costs and expected sales for the 787 Dreamliner and 747 jumbo jet.  The probe is in response to a whistle-blower's complaint.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-11/boeing-said-to-face-sec-probe-into-dreamliner-and-747-accounting
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-wp-blm-boeing-06b7353c-d0d7-11e5-90d3-34c2c42653ac-20160211-story.html


Philippine Air is reportedly close to confirming a deal with Airbus for half a dozen A350-900 aircraft.  This deal reportedly may involve a lease arrangement, rather than a direct buy, however.
http://www.reuters.com/article/singapore-airshow-pal-idUSL3N15T052
http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/philippine-air-nears-deal-acquire-airbus-a350s


Airbus has begun final assembly of its first A350-1000 prototype, with the joining of fuselage sections taking place at Toulouse.
http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2016/02/10/a350-1000-final-assembly/
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/picture-airbus-starts-final-assembly-of-a350-1000-421764/


Malaysia Airlines has delayed plans to sell some of its A380 jumbo jets, electing instead to keep all six until at least 2018.  The airline had previously examined selling the aircraft to cut costs as part of a restructuring plan.
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/02/127572/malaysia-airlines-says-delays-airbus-a380-sale-two-years-least


NASA has proposed a series of civil X-planes to be built in the next several years to advance key technologies, including a low-sonic-boom test vehicle and an ob-round fuselage section for future airline applications.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/nasa-proposes-x-plane-revival-with-supersonic-subso-421736/

Single Aisle News - February 15, 2016

February 15, 2016

Executives at Canada's WestJet Airlines have ruled out a C-Series buy, saying that the airplane is too small for its mainline operations, and too large for its Encore regional carrier - which relies on Bombardier Q400 turboprops.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/westjet-says-bombardiers-c-series-is-too-small-for-its-mainline-service/article28682130/


British Airways' chief executive, Willie Walsh has signaled that the carrier is contemplating a buy of C-Series aircraft to bolster its regional fleet at Iberia Express.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/news/british-airways-could-bolster-the-fleet-with-bombardiers-cseries-34439386.html


Canada's federal government has reportedly come out with a six-point checklist for steps that Bombardier would need to take before a bailout from Canada's national government could be approved.  The list includes changes in the company's family-dominated governance system.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-12/here-is-trudeau-s-six-point-checklist-for-bombardier-s-bailout


The provincial government of Quebec, meanwhile, is reportedly considering a follow-on aid package for Bombardier, after already investing $1.3 billion.
http://www.wallstreet.org/quebec-considering-further-investment-in-bombardiers-cseries-tsebbd-b/
http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCAKCN0VJ2R7


The first Embraer E190 E2 prototype is expected to roll-out next week.
http://aviationweek.com/singapore-airshow-2016/embraer-roll-out-next-gen-e-jet-next-week


Mitsubishi Aircraft has resumed flight test of its MRJ90 prototype, following structural improvements on the airframe.  The prototype had been grounded since November, while its wing and wing-fuselage structure was reinforced.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/02/10/business/corporate-business/test-flights-resume-for-mitsubishi-aircrafts-mrj/


Lufthansa has taken delivery of its second Pratt & Whitney powered A320 NEO.  However, the airline will only use the airplane on internal, German routes until engine issues are corrected.  Pratt & Whitney has pledged to resolve the engine issues, which require a longer engine start-up time, by April.
http://atwonline.com/airframes/lufthansa-takes-second-a320neo-first-neo-engine-issues-resolve-april
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-12/lufthansa-keeps-a320neo-inside-germany-until-pratt-engine-fixed
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbus-a320neo-engine-idUSKCN0VL11Y


The first A321 NEO prototype flew last week, using the CFM International LEAP-1A engine.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbus-a321neo-idUSKCN0VI1R2


Despite questions about engine start-up issues, the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G has entered service exceeding its fuel efficiency guarantees - a first for commercial jet engines.
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2016/02/13/leaner-greener-quieter-the-first-a320-neo-in-service-exceeds-targets/


The dominance of the A320 NEO in the single aisle market may force Boeing to invest in an all-new design sooner than it had planned.
http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/a321neo-success-key-factor-airbus-market-share-advantage


Morocco's state airline, Royal Air Maroc appears to have selected the Boeing 737 MAX for its next single aisle order - based on the appearance of the airline's insignia together with dozens of others on the first 737 MAX prototype.  The airline has not officially announced the sale, however.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/insignia-indicates-ram-is-737-max-customer-421695/


Russia's Perm Engine Co. has assembled an additional three PD-14 engines (engines seven through nine of the test program), and has entered flight test with the new engine type.  The PD-14 is being developed as a Russian-built alternative to the PW1400G engines that will equip the first models of the Irkut MC-21 aircraft.  First flight aboard the MC-21 is slated for 2018.
http://atwonline.com/airframes/irkut-s-pd-14-engine-equipped-mc-21-begins-flight-laboratory-tests


China's three largest state-run airlines have continued to hold back from ordering larger numbers of the new Comac C919 airline until further progress is made in the ambitious development program.  The three airlines are currently obligated to take only five C919 aircraft each.
http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/big-three-c919-orders-await-program-progress

Book Review: Modern Israeli Air Power

Thomas Newdick and Ofer Zidon
Modern Israeli Air Power: Aircraft and Units of the Israeli Air Force
Houston, TX: Harpia Publishing, 2013
Category: Israel Air Force - Aircraft

Rating: 3-Stars


This book makes only passing mention of Israeli air force experience during the 20th century, focusing instead on the 21st century, and on documenting current Israeli aircraft, squadrons, and air bases.  Illustrated with a wide assortment of photographs, plus a selection of aircraft side-views, the book documents Israeli squadron badges and aircraft roles in the early 21st century.

What this book lacks is a level of depth - either technical or historical - to properly place the photography into perspective.  Any air force can look impressive when you only look at the pictures.  It's the operational element that sets the Israeli air force apart.  Modern Israeli Air Power isn't a bad book for the new reader, for whom this might be their first introduction to the Israeli air force.  But it has been vastly overshadowed by volumes such as Bill Norton's Air War on the Edge: an encyclopedic volume which provides both the technical background for each aircraft as well as their operational history.

Again, not a bad first book on the IDF/AF, just not a great one.

Fighter Jet Times - February 12, 2016

February 12, 2016

The US Air Force is contemplating a delay in declaring Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the F-35, due to issues with the airplane's complex software.  IOC is scheduled to be announced in August of 2016.  Currently the airplane's software suite needs to be rebooted once every four hours, and there are also faults in the Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS) that is expected to manage the airplane's maintenance and spares schedule.
http://www.investors.com/news/two-major-issues-with-f-35-before-its-ready-for-combat/


The Pentagon has revealed a new funding profile that would cut twenty F-35 fighters from the procurement package over the next five years, to make room for other priorities such as air refueling tankers and the development of a new bomber.  As proposed, the reduced fighter buy would eventually be made up in later years.
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/air-force/2016/02/12/f-35-production-drop-20-but-air-force-officials-downplay-price-impact/80239400/
http://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-still-plans-long-term-f-35-increase-1455151328


The U.S. Navy is seeking an additional 16 F/A-18E/F Super Hornets to maintain fleet strength, in response to the proposed slow-down in F-35 deliveries.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-navy-seeks-16-more-fa-18-super-hornets-421845/


A first batch of European-built, advanced short-range air-to-air missiles (ASRAAM) have been delivered to the U.S. for flight tests aboard the UK's F-35B fighters.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/first-asraams-delivered-for-uk-f-35-testing-421685/


A high-level Russian delegation has arrived in India to continue talks on developing an Indian derivative of the PAK-FA stealth fighter now under development.  India has already contributed $290 million towards the program, but additional funding has been put on hold over cost and performance concerns surrounding the program.
http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/india-and-russia-resume-talks-for-indian-air-force-s-5th-generation-stealth-fighter-250564.html


Israel's Rafael is expected to receive a $500 million contract to supply Litening targeting pods and Spice 250 precision-guided bombs to India.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/rafael-anticipates-litening-spice-deal-with-india-421767/


Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has unveiled a suite of new technologies slated for flight test aboard its X-2 prototype, including a new radar-absorbing carbon-fiber composite, and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
http://compositesmanufacturingmagazine.com/2016/02/tokyos-first-ever-homemade-stealth-jet-features-composites/
http://www.janes.com/article/57839/mitsubishi-reveals-industrial-strategy-behind-x-2-development-project


Japan's X-2 fighter demonstrator began taxi tests this past week, in preparation for first flight later this month.
http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/171151/japanese-stealth-demonstrator-begins-taxi-trials.html
http://www.combataircraft.net/view_article.asp?ID=9433&pubID=49&t=0&s=0&sO=both&p=1&i=10

Space Highlights - February 10, 2015

February 10, 2016

North Korea has successfully placed another satellite into orbit this past week - although the satellite is reportedly tumbling in orbit and incapable of useful function.
http://www.space.com/31860-north-korea-satellite-launch.html
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/02/north-koreas-successful-satellite-in-orbit-but-tumbling-and-useless/


SpaceX is planning its next launch attempt for February 24th, when it plans to place the SES-9 commercial broadcasting satellite into orbit.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2016/02/09/ses-says-spacex-will-launch-its-satellite-in-late-february/


NASA has completed installation of the 18 primary mirrors for the James Webb Space Telescope.  The telescope is expected to be launched into space in October 2018, where the mirrors will unfold into a 21.3 feet (6.5 meters) wide structure: the largest telescope ever launched into space.
http://www.universetoday.com/127121/all-primary-mirrors-fully-installed-on-nasas-james-webb-space-telescope/
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/mirror-assembled-for-hubbles-successor-james-webb-space-telescope-0209201623/


NASA has released a 360-degree video survey from the Curiosity rover, as the robotic explorer investigates a Martian sand dune.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3439103/Is-ultimate-selfie-Tour-red-planet-sofa-360-degree-interactive-video-Curiosity-rover-Mars-dunes.html
http://techcrunch.com/2016/02/08/nasa-releases-360-degree-video-of-martian-surface/


215 years after it was first discovered by telescope, the Dawn spacecraft has settled into its final, lower orbit around Ceres.
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Dawn_now_circling_Ceres_in_its_final_orbit_999.html
http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/ceres-flyover/
http://www.space.com/31840-ceres-still-stuns-215-years-later.html


Gravitational measurements taken from the Rosetta spacecraft indicate that comet 67P, which it is currently in orbit around, is highly porous all the way down to its core, with roughly four times more dust than ice by mass, and twice as much dust as ice by volume.
http://news.discovery.com/space/rosettas-comet-is-fluffy-dust-to-the-core-160203.htm
http://www.astrobio.net/topic/solar-system/meteoritescomets-and-asteroids/inside-rosettas-comet/


Researchers poring through the images supplied by the New Horizons spacecraft have discovered water ice "hills" that appear to be "floating" on top of the nitrogen ice glaciers that make up the Sputnik Planum.
http://www.universetoday.com/127225/floating-ice-hills-on-pluto/

Wide Body Report - February 9, 2016

February 9, 2016

Officials at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have agreed to the first carbon dioxide emissions standards for new and existing airplanes.  The new standards are expected to go into effect in 2020, and remain to be approved by the UN aviation agency's governing council.
http://www.reuters.com/article/climatechange-aviation-options-idUSL2N15N24U
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/boeing-supports-icao-aircraft-co2-emissions-standard-300217001.html


Cathay Pacific has announced its first scheduled flight for its new A350 fleet, to occur on May 1st, on a flight between Manila and Hong Kong.  Delivery of the first A350 was originally expected to occur this month, but has been delayed due to supplier issues at Airbus.
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/economy/article/1910842/cathay-pacific-set-fly-worlds-most-advanced-airliner


China Eastern Airlines is expected to announce a substantial order for long-range aircraft during the next several months, as part of an announced plan to expand its fleet by 69% within the next five years.  The airline currently flies a mixed fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft, with a large contingent of single-aisle aircraft already on order.  However, the airline currently has only 16 long-haul aircraft on order.
http://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/china-eastern-plans-2016-20-fleet-growth-boost


Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce has announced a reduction in the dividends that it pays out for the first time in over two decades.
http://investcorrectly.com/20160208/3-reasons-rolls-royce-holding-plc-adr-rycey-is-cutting-dividends/