Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp. is joining Starlab Space, the joint venture of Voyager Space and Airbus Defence and Space that is developing a commercial space station. Starlab Space announced recently that Mitsubishi has become a strategic partner of Starlab Space and would take an equity stake in the joint venture. A Starlab spokesperson declined to provide specific details about the agreement, including its financial value or the size of the equity stake. “We are excited to join forces with Starlab, a best-in-class team comprising Airbus and Voyager, to drive innovation and catalyze advancements in space exploration,” said Mikito Nakaniwa, division chief operating officer of Mitsubishi’s Infrastructure, Ship & Aerospace Division, in a statement. The announcement did not identify any specific roles or responsibilities for Mitsubishi in Starlab, stating only that the company would “significantly increase the value of Starlab” by using space research to support terrestrial product development in a range....
SpaceX could attempt to land a Starship booster as soon as the vehicle’s fifth flight as Elon Musk outlined plans to increase both the flight rate and the performance of the launch vehicle. SpaceX posted on social media April 6 the video of an undated, but apparently recent, presentation the company’s founder and chief executive gave at its Starbase facility at Boca Chica, Texas. The presentation focused on the Starship vehicle built and launched there. Musk said that the fourth Starship/Super Heavy launch is planned “in about a month or so.” That is consistent with comments by SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell at the Satellite 2024 conference March 19, where she said that flight was scheduled for early May, pending an updated Federal Aviation Administration launch license. If the company holds to that schedule, the launch would take place less than two months after the vehicle’s third flight. The goal of....
Just as the field of aviation has traditionally been dominated by men, women are now making their mark and soaring to new heights in the world of aviation. With a growing number of female aviators taking to the skies, women are breaking barriers and making significant contributions to the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Early Women Pioneers in Aviation Pioneers like Amelia Earhart and Bessie Coleman defied societal norms and achieved remarkable accomplishments in the male-dominated field of aviation. Their courage and determination paved the way for future generations of female aviators. Advancements and Setbacks in the 20th Century Women made significant advancements in aviation during the 20th century, with milestones like Jacqueline Cochran becoming the first woman to break the sound barrier. However, progress was often met with setbacks, including limited opportunities for female pilots and persistent gender discrimination within the industry. Another challenge for women....
Argentina has signed an agreement to buy 24 surplus F-16 fighter jets from Denmark. Denmark is replacing its F-16 fleet with new F-35 jets, both of which are made by the American company Lockheed Martin. Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri and his Danish counterpart Troels Lund Poulsen signed a letter of intent for the sale in Buenos Aires on March 26. The U.S. ambassador to Argentina, Marc Stanley, attended the event. “Denmark is donating 19 F-16 jets to Ukraine, and the government has decided to sell 24 Danish F-16 jets to Argentina,” Lund Poulsen said in a statement, describing the transaction as a “possible sale.” “The decision to sell the Danish jets to Argentina has been carried out in close collaboration with the American government, who has approved the sale of the US produced aircrafts,” the Danish Defence Ministry noted in the statement. Local military sources in Buenos Aires, speaking....
The first three F-16 Fighting Falcons that will be loaded with self-flying technology have arrived at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, the Air Force said recently. The arrival of the F-16s marks the service’s biggest step forward yet in standing up the program known as Venom, which stands for Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model-Autonomy Flying Testbed and aims to speed up the testing of autonomous technology on both crewed and uncrewed aircraft. The Air Force hopes the autonomous technology tested under Venom could help it more quickly shape plans to create a fleet of self-flying drones that team up with crewed fighters in battle, known as collaborative combat aircraft. The service is heavily focusing on creating a fleet of at least 1,000 CCAs, which will use autonomous capabilities to fly alongside aircraft such as the F-35 or future Next-Generation Air Dominance family of fighter systems. These drone wingmen....
An advanced electronic warfare system for the Air Force’s F-15 fighters successfully completed a key operational testing phase, according to the company that makes it. The Air Force recently finished the initial operational test and evaluation phase for the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System, or EPAWSS, BAE Systems said Tuesday. BAE builds EPAWSS, which provides electronic warfare capabilities for the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II fighters. EPAWSS is a more advanced electronic warfare system than F-15s have had in the past, and BAE says it will allow fighters to monitor, jam and deceive threats in highly contested environments. It provides radar warning, geolocation, situational awareness and self-defense capabilities, allowing a fighter to maneuver more deeply and freely in enemy territory and counter air defense systems. The advanced EW system was initially only a central component of the F-15EX. But the Air Force, F-15 manufacturer Boeing and BAE....
The United States has announced an $80 million grant to Zambia for the supply of four Bell 412EP helicopters to the Zambia Air Force (ZAF), together with a three year training, service, and parts package. Zambia is expanding and modernising its rotary wing fleet, whose ‘backbone’ was until recently provided by some half a dozen Mil Mi-171Sh and Mi-171E utility and assault transport helicopters delivered from Russia between 2015 and 2017, and seven Chinese Z-9s. But in recent years, about a dozen surviving Agusta-Bell 205s have been augmented by three Bell/Agusta-Bell 412 helicopters from Italy and South Africa, and a second-hand Bell 212 previously operated by Era Helicopters in Canada. Zambia has also ordered two Enstrom 480B helicopters from the United States in February, for training pilots and personnel. Further North, the Royal Moroccan Air Force has taken delivery of the first pair of H135M helicopters of 12 ordered from....
Etihad Airways has touched down for the first time in Boston on Sunday, marking the launch of regular services between Abu Dhabi and the US city. "We are thrilled to inaugurate flights to Boston, further extending our reach across the United States and enhancing connectivity for travellers," said Etihad’s chief executive officer Antonoaldo Neves. "This new route not only brings the allure of Abu Dhabi and Dubai to the American Northeast but also signifies our commitment to delivering exceptional travel experiences and fostering global connections. “The new route is timed to offer convenient links to our growing network for corporate business travellers and leisure guests connecting to destinations across the Middle East and our 11 routes across India.” “Massport is pleased to welcome Etihad Airways to Boston Logan International Airport with their new flight to Abu Dhabi,” said Massport Interim CEO and Aviation Director Ed Freni. “This route provides a....
Malaysia Airlines and IndiGo have signed an MoU for a codeshare partnership and cooperation agreement. The agreement will enable both carriers to provide customers with more options and flexibility for seamless travels between Malaysia and India. Pieter Elbers, chief executive officer, IndiGo, said: “We are pleased to announce our proposed codeshare agreement with Malaysia Airlines, the national carrier of Malaysia. This partnership will not only offer seamless travel experience between India and Malaysia, but also enhance international trade opportunities by improving accessibility. This codeshare is in line with our vision to provide access to an unparalleled network, while delivering on our promise of providing on-time, affordable, courteous, and hassle-free travel experiences.”
flynas celebrated taking delivery of the 50th aircraft out of an order for 120 A320neo aircraft from Airbus at a reception held at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. flynas said it is moving forward in its ambitious plans to double the fleet size after the Board of Directors approved an increase in purchase orders to 250 aircraft, in line with flynas strategic plan launched under the title (We Connect the World to the Kingdom), in parallel with the objectives of the Pilgrims Experience Program (PEP) to facilitate access to the Two Holy Mosques and the National Civil Aviation Strategy to enable national air carriers to contribute to connecting KSA with 250 International destinations and to accommodate 330 million passengers and to host 100 million tourists yearly by 2030. In parallel with upscaling flynas fleet, taking delivery of the new aircraft contributed to generating hundreds of quality jobs in the....
Mitsubishi Joins Forces with Voyager Space and Airbus for Commercial Space Station Project
Elon Musk Unveils SpaceX’s Starship Booster Landing Goals
The Rise Of Female Aviators
Argentina to Acquire 24 Surplus F-16 Fighter Jets from Denmark
Air Force Advances Autonomous Technology with Arrival of Self-Flying F-16s
Advanced Electronic Warfare System for F-15 Fighters Completes Key Testing Phase
Zambia Boosts Air Force Capabilities: Receives Four Bell 412EP Helicopters
Etihad Airways Makes Historic Arrival in Boston, Launching Abu Dhabi Route
Malaysia Airlines and IndiGo Forge Codeshare Partnership for Seamless Travel
flynas Marks Milestone with 50th A320neo Delivery, Plans to Double Fleet
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