Trio of Flight-test Dassault Falcon 6Xs Taking Shape
The first three pre-production Falcon 6Xs are taking shape at Dassault Aviation's facility in Bordeaux-Merignac, France, and the program is on track to achieve first flight early next year, the company announced yesterday. In tandem, Pratt & Whitney is ramping up production of the 6X’s PW812D engines and nacelles, with the first podded engines delivered last week to Dassault.
The first flight-test 6X has been powered up and is now in ground testing, while the second aircraft recently had its wings mated to the fuselage and the third aircraft has entered final assembly. Aircraft number three will also be outfitted with a full interior.
Electric, hydraulic, and fuel system tests have been completed, and testing of the Falcon 6X’s advanced digital flight control system has begun. Ground fatigue and damage tolerance testing are also underway.
Meanwhile, the new Falcon’s PW812D engine completed an initial airborne test campaign earlier this year aboard Pratt & Whitney’s Boeing 747 testbed and a second series of flight tests are scheduled for this summer. To date, the PW812D has accumulated more than 200 flight hours and some 1,600 hours on the ground. It has also completed initial certification tests, including bird strike, ice ingestion, and blade-off tests
Falcon 6X certification and entry into service are planned for 2022, keeping with Dassault’s original timetable.
People have been stuck inside during the pandemic, and now that the economy is working to reopen everyone is ready to get back out. We still have many obstacles in front of us, but the discussion of pent-up demand is taking center stage in our client discussions for preowned business aircraft.
Aircraft pricing and costs are also top areas of discussion. Today, owners and operators, buyers and sellers, are finding varying price weaknesses in the aircraft themselves. These vary between approximately 5 percent and 20 percent off of pre-Covid pricing. Much of that spread difference depends on an aircraft’s age, capability, and pre-Covid demand.
But don’t expect preowned aircraft prices to rebound—historically, they’ve never rebounded from a downturn. Realistically, one should expect the residual loss rate to slow to a more normal rate for an aircraft between 5 percent and 10 percent annually.
Will demand come back as travel restrictions are eased or lifted? We are getting calls from prospects saying, “I will never travel on a commercial aircraft again.” As the economy opens up and we begin to learn the reality of a vaccine, we will all better understand if people really act on those sentiments. We could actually end up with a larger industry, though.
Boom To Roll Out Supersonic Demonstrator in October
Boom Supersonic is hosting a virtual rollout event for its supersonic demonstrator, the XB-1, on October 7, marking a significant step toward its plans to develop a Mach 2.2 airliner. Powered by three GE J85-15 engines, the XB-1 is a one-third-scale demonstrator that will be used to pave the way for its planned 55-passenger Overture supersonic airliner. XB-1 testing will be used to demonstrate technologies for the Overture, such as carbon fiber composite construction, computer-optimized high-efficiency aerodynamics, and supersonic propulsion systems.
The announced rollout is the culmination of years of research, including wind tunnel and structural testing, and hundreds of simulations, Boom said. Plans call for ground tests later this year and flight trials beginning in 2021.
Despite the difficulties involved with development in the Covid-19 environment, Boom continues to make progress on the demonstrator as major structures come together. These include the recent completion of the vertical stabilizer, assembly of the aft fuselage, and attachment of the XB-1’s ogival delta wing to the forward fuselage.
“Our experiences in the Covid-19 pandemic underscore for all of us the fundamental human need for personal connection,” said Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl. “Faster travel enables us to experience the world’s people, cultures, and places, and XB-1 is the first step in bringing supersonic back to the world.”
Legacy Universal FMSs Face Obsolescence
Universal Avionics legacy flight management systems (FMS) are becoming obsolete and repairs may soon be unavailable for these units. Affected FMS models include the UNS-1K/1K+, -1Csp/1Csp+/1C/1C+, and -1D/1D+, which have been installed in more than 50 different aircraft types in all aviation segments.
According to Universal Avionics, the problem isn’t that these FMSs will suddenly stop working, but that parts such as the LCD display, CPU board, GPS board, and GPS sensor are no longer available. Universal is continuing to offer repairs to these FMSs as long as these parts are available or it can do repairs unrelated to these parts, but the parts are expected to run out around December.
It’s also important to note that older Universal Data Transfer Units are also reaching their end of life and need to be replaced with solid-state DTUs. Like the original DTU, the solid-state units are available in fixed or portable versions. The problem with the older units is they use disk drives for uploading data, and the Zip disks and drives are no longer available. The solid-state DTU uses SD cards or USB for uploads.
Hydrogen fuel cell developer HyPoint expects to have a full-scale 150-kW system ready to deliver to an undisclosed electric aircraft manufacturer during the first quarter of 2022. The California-based startup aims to announce the identity of this partner in September and hopes to have a 1-kW unit ready for testing by early 2021, followed by a 15-kW unit, as part of its strategy to advance hydrogen propulsion systems as an alternative to both battery-dependent motors and hybrid systems using jet-A-powered engines.
According to co-founder and CEO Alex Ivanenko, HyPoint already has a 35-kW low-temperature polymer electric membrane (LTPEM) unit ready to power drones of up to 50 kg (110 pounds) maximum takeoff weight. It is now working on the high-temperature polymer electric membrane (HTPEM) technology required for both eVTOLs and fixed-wing aircraft and has U.S. patents pending for key aspects of its technology. Back in June, Urban Aeronautics signed a memorandum of understanding under which HyPoint will provide zero-carbon hydrogen fuel cell technology for its planned CityHawk eVTOL aircraft.
On July 8, HyPoint announced three senior appointments to lead the company’s efforts to get its technology established on larger aircraft. The company also has joined the California Hydrogen Business Council, which also includes companies such as Honda, Ballard, Linde, Plug Power, Nel Hydrogen, and ITM Power.
Ruag MRO Adds Bombardier Global 7500 to Mx Certificate
Ruag MRO International has received an extension to its EASA Part 145 certificate for line and base maintenance at its Munich facility to include Bombardier’s flagship Global 7500. It builds upon Ruag’s capabilities as a recognized service center for Bombardier, approval to work on Gulfstream G650s, and authorized service center status for Embraer business jets.
“The approval for the Bombardier Global 7500 is especially meaningful as it directly addresses feedback we received from our customers—many of whom were pleased with our services on the other aircraft in their fleets, that they wanted us to take care of their Bombardier Global 7500s as well,” said Ruag MRO head of business jet sales Christian Karl. “Our customers rely on us to respond to their individual requirements. This expansion of our service portfolio allows us to provide for their growing aircraft needs while also ensuring that a new set of business aviation customers will also benefit from the complete range of services available at Ruag International.”
Ruag’s Munich facility can perform line, base and heavy, maintenance checks; cabin refurbishment; avionics and system upgrades; component services; aircraft painting; modifications; pre-purchase inspections; AOG and support; and consulting.
Bell Delivers First ENG Helo to China
Bell has delivered the first electronic newsgathering (ENG)-equipped helicopter to China. The Bell 429, intended for Chinese national broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), will also become the first ENG-configured 429 to enter service, according to a company spokesperson.
“It’s a great milestone for Bell to collaborate with the Chinese TV station,” said Jacinto Monge, managing director of the OEM’s northern Asia division. “We appreciate the support we have received from the media community all over the world.”
Reignwood, an independent Bell representative in China, will receive the helicopter and incorporate aerial photography systems before it officially enters service. Its CCTV-authorized subsidiary Reignwood Star will operate the rotorcraft.
“The Bell 429 is an extraordinary helicopter designed for multiple missions and it will help CCTV reach the scene of news first, which means a lot for media,” said Reignwood Star general manager and chief pilot Cao Wei. “We believe CCTV made the best choice.”
Textron’s Canada MSU Team Earns EASA Authorization
Textron Aviation’s mobile service unit (MSU) team based in Calgary, Canada, has received authorization for maintenance on EASA-registered aircraft, the Wichita-based airframer announced yesterday. It’s part of an effort by the OEM to strengthen its global customer support network with the extension of regulatory approvals to new regions.
“As travelers return to the skies, we’re enhancing our service offerings, ensuring our customers can access the safe, dependable support they value from Textron Aviation, wherever their journey takes them,” said senior v-p of customer support Brian Rohloff. “The extension of EASA approvals to our Canadian MSU team will be of value to owners whose aircraft are registered under that authority, particularly as the summer season brings business and leisure fliers alike to the region.”
Textron has more than 75 MSUs in its global fleet for AOG and unscheduled and scheduled maintenance events. The trucks are equipped for limited inspections, engine, tire, and brake service at a customer’s location.
Photo of the Week
Unfortunately, every day can’t be sunny. With a massive cold front passing Cape Town on June 27, heavy rain and extreme wind conditions prevented this Pilatus PC-12 (with towbar already attached) from being pulled into the Signature Flight Support hangar, where ops controller Garth Maurer stayed dry and took this photo. Thanks for sharing, Garth!
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