MTU Empowered by Growing Hydrogen Propulsion Consensus

MTU Aero Engines is stepping up efforts to support the adoption of hydrogen as a carbon-free fuel for air transport, with the start of engineering work for its joint project with the DLR German Aerospace Center to convert a Dornier 228 regional airliner. The partners expect to be ready to start ground testing subsystems during the second quarter of 2021 as they prepare for the first flight of the technology demonstrator in 2026.

The 19-seat aircraft, which has already been procured, will have one of its two Honeywell TPE331 turboprop engines replaced by a 500-kW electric propeller motor, powered by electricity produced by hydrogen fuel cells. Under a partnership announced in early August, MTU will provide the propulsion system while DLR—the government-backed Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft und Raumfahrt agency—will be responsible for systems integration and certification. The partners will use the project, which has funding from the Bavarian state government, to validate MTU’s powertrain architecture.

At the same time, MTU said it also views direct combustion of liquid hydrogen in gas turbine engines as a potentially faster means of adopting the alternative fuel. According to Dr. Stefan Weber, senior v-p of technology and engineering advanced programs, the required changes to the combustion chambers of engines could be made within “a few years” to allow for relatively easy modification of existing aircraft.

AINsight: ‘Expedite My Case, Please’

Whether before, or during the Covid pandemic, any pilot grounded while awaiting an FAA review of their medical documents is understandably anxious. Everyone wants their case reviewed ASAP, and everyone hopes to receive either a favorable letter of eligibility or formal special issuance authorization immediately thereafter.

FAA reviews of complicated cases typically take several months. The case documents need to be received, sent to scanning, arrive in a reviewer’s inbox, then ultimately wind up in the hands of an FAA physician. Once that case is reviewed, it goes from the FAA physician back into the logistical chain for the preparation of the letter to the pilot and, hopefully, the medical certificate itself.

If the case is going to require a review by one of the consultation panels or by an independent outside physician consultant, this often adds considerable time. Such cases include, for example, the first review of a cardiac case that involved bypass surgery, stent placement, cardiac valve replacement, and/or cardiac pacemaker implantation.

All pilots waiting for an FAA ruling want their cases expedited. Again, given human nature, this is both natural and expected. However, this is also a time for exercising patience—and understanding.

Boom Rolls Out XB-1 Supersonic Demonstrator

Boom Supersonic on Wednesday staged an online rollout ceremony for its one-third scale XB-1 demonstrator, scheduled to make its first flight sometime next year. Powered by three General Electric J85-15 turbofans, the composite-bodied XB-1 will fly up to Mach 2.2 ahead of the planned introduction of the Overture supersonic airliner, expected to make its own first flight in 2025.

Boom expects the XB-1 to demonstrate technologies planned for the 55-seat Overture such as carbon-fiber composite construction, computer-optimized high-efficiency aerodynamics, and supersonic propulsion systems.

The design includes what Boom calls one of the highest-efficiency civil supersonic intakes ever tested. During the rollout Boom CEO Blake Scholl explained the importance of the aircraft’s engine intakes, which act to slow the speed of the airflow to roughly half the speed of sound to accommodate the subsonic GE engines. Boom has worked for the last five years with Rolls-Royce on the planned medium-bypass turbofans for the Overture.

Boom plans to start building the Overture at a new, still unidentified factory location in 2022 and ready the first production airplane for passenger service around 2029.

One Aviation Future Up In Air after SE Falcon Sale Nixed

One Aviation withdrew its motion yesterday for a Section 363 sale of the bankrupt company's assets to Florida-based real estate holding firm SE Falcon, three days after the Office of the U.S. Trustee objected to the proposal and questioned its legality. What the withdrawal could mean for the Eclipse 500/550 support provider and one-time manufacturer's ability to successfully reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy remains unclear.

Efforts to culminate that deal had been cleared to proceed by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher Sontchi in early September. In the objection filed earlier this week, U.S. Trustee Andrew Vara noted while the proposed $13 million sale amount would have compensated several major creditors, it wasn’t enough to fully cover One Aviation's outstanding administrative or priority claims, a violation of U.S. bankruptcy laws.

The trustee's objection followed subpoenas issued by former debtor-in-possession Citiking International—which One Aviation motioned to have dismissed from the case after failure to fulfill its own court-approved bankruptcy emergence plan—for documents related to the SE Falcon sale.

A twice-delayed October 14 hearing before Sontchi, originally intended to review and approve SE Falcon’s purchase of One Aviation, will now proceed as a status conference.

Wichita Aviation Testing Firm Expands Facilities

Twenty-one years ago Kevin Campbell formed Aviation Consulting & Engineering Solutions (ACES) from a spare bedroom of his house. This week, Campbell’s ACES held a grand opening of a new campus housing 20,000 sq ft of facilities near northwest Wichita, nearly quadruple the size of its previous facility.

The aviation engineering, design, certification, and testing company’s new facilities accommodate seven different laboratories, including for flammability and structures testing. Sitting on nine acres in the Wichita suburb of Maize, the company performs testing on a variety of aircraft components such as lithium-ion batteries, seatbelts and shoulder harnesses, seats and cabinets, and cargo pallet covers. Its customers include business, general, and commercial aviation OEMs, as well as helicopter manufacturers, MROs, and suppliers.

“We’ve had literally hundreds of clients that we have worked with over the last 21 years,” Campbell told AIN. “I used to count the number of clients we had…I remember when we hit 40 I quit counting because they were coming in so quickly then it was like every week you picked up a new client and it was just word of mouth, people [found] out what we did and what we could do for them.”

ACES employs 16 and has a number of designated engineering representatives on staff. Its work includes testing for parts manufacturer approvals, supplemental type certificates, and new aircraft programs.

Jet Linx Builds On Support of Breast Cancer Patients

For a sixth consecutive year, jet card membership and management company Jet Linx will continue its October fundraising efforts for the Tutu Project. The Tutu Project and its #Dare2Tutu campaign provide financial assistance to breast cancer patients and their families to pay for expenses not covered by insurance, including groceries, utility bills, and transportation. Since it began its partnership with the nonprofit in 2015, Omaha, Nebraska-based Jet Linx has raised more than $180,000 for the organization.

“We recognize that this year's fundraising efforts are more important than ever before, given the inevitable stress and concern created by the Covid-19 pandemic for immunocompromised populations, and we are dedicated to encouraging as many people as we can to participate in the #Dare2Tutu campaign throughout October,” said Jet Linx president and CEO Jamie Walker.

During the month, Jet Linx will donate $10 for every photo submitted of people wearing tutus. Jet Linx also is hosting a silent auction at the 18 locations it serves for a photo of Tutu Project founder Bob Carey alongside a business jet, as well as offering to match up to $15,000 in direct donations made to the organization.

Russia Developing Fast Hybrid Helicopter with AI

Russian Helicopters and the Russian Advanced Research Projects Foundation are working on a concept helicopter driven by a hybrid powerplant and artificial intelligence, according to Russian government news service TASS. The foundation is the Russian equivalent of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the U.S. but is believed to have an annual budget that is substantially less than its U.S. equivalent. Researchers working on the project said performance will be modeled to reflect future anticipated helicopter technologies in 10 to 20 years.

Stated performance parameters include a seven-hour mission duration and top speed of at least 265 knots. Key components will include artificial intelligence (AI) based controls, electromechanical transmission, electric servo drives, and hybrid power. Current efforts concentrate on the creation of the aircraft’s integrated electric power system. Created in 2012, the foundation already has an extensive portfolio of AI projects, including satellite imagery decoding and augmented reality “smart helmets” for fighter pilots. 

Several Russian organizations have indicated they are involved in the development of high-speed rotorcraft in recent years. Last year, the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute (TsAGI) revealed that it was working on a fast civil compound design to conduct search and rescue missions in the Arctic. In 2018, the Kamov design bureau released images of a different compound design it claimed would have a top speed of 378 knots.

WAI’s Girls in Aviation Day Expands Around Globe

Women in Aviation International’s (WAI) 6th Annual Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) has reached its most expansive draw yet with thousands of participants from at least 55 countries tuning into this year’s festivities virtually. Kicked off on September 26 with the launch of a new U.S. Air Force-sponsored Aviation for Girls app, the event went online this year with many of the activities available year-round for free.

“Our goal in delivering a virtual experience for this year’s Girls in Aviation Day was to extend our reach and inspire girls—no matter where they live or learn,” said WAI CEO Allison McKay. “Last year, our in-person events reached girls in 18 countries. This year, the app has already tripled our reach and connected with girls all around the world, providing them with access to hours of inspiring content to expand their knowledge about all the opportunities in aviation and aerospace.”

The GIAD app enables participants to explore and engage when it’s convenient to them, said Molly Martin, outreach director for WAI. Since this year’s events are not limited by the location of WAI chapters or corporate members, WAI virtual could reach new places.

GIAD already has drawn participants from countries ranging from Argentina, Bolivia, and Venezuela, to Cape Verde, Zambia, Botswana, Rwanda, Egypt, Syria, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Serbia, Poland, Finland, and Uzbekistan, among many others.

Webinar: An Expert Take on Cybersecurity for Bizav

Aircraft systems in both the cockpit and cabin are vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, and the vital connectivity on which aircraft owners and operators depend needs to be kept secure from security risks that are constantly evolving. Please join us on October 21 for a webinar that will offer expert perspective and guidance from leading companies providing connectivity and the security capability to protect it. AIN senior editor Charles Alcock will moderate this discussion with Rob Hill, v-p, product line management of CCX Technologies, and Rich Pilock, director of fleet accounts at SmartSky Networks.

Photo of the Week

While rainbows are synonymous with Hawaii, Gary McClure sent us this beautifully staged photo on the ramp of Duncan Aviation in Battle Creek, Michigan. The photo captures the morning of September 8 looking east. Thanks for sharing Gary!

If you'd like to submit an entry for Photo of the Week, email a high-resolution horizontal image (at least 2000 x 1200 pixels), along with your name, contact information, social media names, and info about it (including brief description, location, etc.) to photos@ainonline.com. Tail numbers can be removed upon request. Those submitting photos give AIN implied consent to publish them in its publications and social media channels.