Search Results for: skunk works

Sikorsky and Aurora Flight Sciences have been awarded the first two development contracts in an effort by the Air Force’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to create a hybrid aircraft that can hover but also reach a top speed of up to 400 knots. The VTOL X-Plane project gave Sikorsky $14.4 million and Aurora […]

Does general aviation need new piston engines? Well, sure, it always does, but thats not the same as saying it can sustain new engine designs. Nor does it stop companies from telling the R&D department to push around some ideas. In business in general, we call this progress, while in general aviation, its known as […]

Fly-by-wire control system are standard issue in military aircraft — including drones — and in major new transport aircraft. Within three years, Diamond says it hopes to offer such systems for light aircraft and it’s further along the developmental road than we imagined. When we visited Diamond Aircraft’s skunkworks in Austria earlier this year, the […]

EBay seller “stevessupercoolstuff” says it’s an “original SR-71 Blackbird vertical tail rudder,” the “buy it now” price is $1,000,000 (you’d be responsible for shipping and handling), and he or she will accept PayPal. For the asking price, the seller’s posting Friday offered one picture and a four-sentence description. Two of those sentences don’t describe the […]

HalogenGuides Jets, which calls itself the “Insider’s Guide to Private Aviation,” is reporting that Cessna is working on development of a supersonic business jet. Cessna spokesman Doug Oliver declined comment. “We generally dont discuss what we may or may not be doing in the world of advanced design,” he said. However, the Web site, which […]

No-Fly Zones AVweb wrote (NewsWire, Mar. 1): On Feb. 11, Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) proposed the bill (H.R. 3798 that would require the DHS to establish no-fly zones around nuclear plants and chemical facilities for the duration of any high threat levels, including level orange or above. The zones could also be implemented anywhere […]

The controller rapped out the approach clearance with the ease of ordering a pizza: “Cross HOLOW at 3000, cleared approach, radar service terminated, change to advisory frequency approved, report canceling IFR this frequency or on the ground with flight service.” The airplane was miles from the airport, and the pilot later said that he “felt […]

One Saturday after I walked back into the house from my shop reeking of varnish, my wife said I must be high on the fumes. I wasn’t; I wear a good filter mask when I’m varnishing or doping, but I was on a natural high. I’d just finished putting the second coat of epoxy varnish […]

It is certainly awe-inspiring to witness the cascade of new avionicsthat are unveiled continuously. But what about the future? Whatcan we expect to see in the months and years ahead? Well, theblack box manufacturers are notoriously reticent about revealingwhat’s being cobbled up in their respective skunkworks; for onething, they don’t want to give away their […]