Airbus’ autonomous rotor drone aces flight trials in gale conditions

Airbus’ VSR700 robotic helicopter has successfully completed sea tests under operational conditions, including fully autonomous take-offs and landings in strong gale force wind conditions, from a civilian ship’s helicopter deck.Continue ReadingCategory… Continue reading Airbus’ autonomous rotor drone aces flight trials in gale conditions

Airbus tanker plane takes autonomous control of multiple drones

In another milestone on the road to fully Autonomous Formation Flight and Autonomous Air-to-Air Refueling (A4R), Airbus Defence and Space has autonomously guided and controlled a drone using an A310 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) flying testbed.Con… Continue reading Airbus tanker plane takes autonomous control of multiple drones

Video: Airbus launches loyal wingman combat drone out of a carrier

Next-generation fighter jets will go into combat with semi-autonomous wingman drones designed to act as force multipliers. Here’s one in development: Airbus has just dropped its Remote Carrier demonstrator out of a cargo plane, for a mid-air launch.Con… Continue reading Video: Airbus launches loyal wingman combat drone out of a carrier

Airbus looks to run full-size airliners on liquid hydrogen by 2035

Airbus says it’s on track to have a fully operational megawatt-class electric powertrain, fueled by cryogenic liquid hydrogen, tested in flight by 2026, ahead of a full-scale zero-emissions passenger airliner it plans to put into service by 2035.Contin… Continue reading Airbus looks to run full-size airliners on liquid hydrogen by 2035

Airbus looks to run full-size airliners on liquid hydrogen by 2035

Airbus says it’s on track to have a fully operational megawatt-class electric powertrain, fueled by cryogenic liquid hydrogen, tested in flight by 2026, ahead of a full-scale zero-emissions passenger airliner it plans to put into service by 2035.Contin… Continue reading Airbus looks to run full-size airliners on liquid hydrogen by 2035

RAF makes world’s first military flight entirely on sustainable fuel

A Royal Air Force (RAF) Voyager air-to-air refueling tanker made history on November 16 in the sky over RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, UK, becoming the world’s first in-service military aircraft to complete a flight using 100% Sustainable Aviation Fu… Continue reading RAF makes world’s first military flight entirely on sustainable fuel

Unexpected end to Zephyr 8’s record-smashing 64-day endurance flight

The US Army’s record-breaking Zephyr 8 uncrewed ultra-long endurance drone demonstration came to an abrupt end on August 18 at 9 pm PDT after an unprecedented 64 days in flight, when an unspecified and “unexpected” event brought the aircraft down over … Continue reading Unexpected end to Zephyr 8’s record-smashing 64-day endurance flight

Zephyr UAS smashes its own endurance record, may still be up there

The remarkable Zephyr is a stratospheric UAV designed to fly ultra-long endurance missions acting as a solar-powered observation and comms platform. In its latest test, it sailed past its old endurance record two weeks ago, and may still be up there.Co… Continue reading Zephyr UAS smashes its own endurance record, may still be up there