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AEROSPACE 2017 April 44 Number 4 Volume Society Royal Aeronautical April 2017 IMPORTANCE OF REGIONAL AIRLINES RAF TO STIMULATE AIR POWER DEBATE IN-FLIGHT CONNECTIVITY BOOST www.aerosociety.com YOUR TAXI AWAITS... ARE DUBAI’S FLYING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES THE FUTURE OF SHORT-RANGE PERSONAL TRAVEL? Use the coupon ‘ ARE DELIGHTED TO OFFER GATE8 - THE BRAND OF CHOICE FOR FREQUENT FLYERS, CREW AND PILOTS 20% RAES ’ at www.GATE8Luggage.comOFF Perfect for holiday & SIZE business travel via train & plane MATTERS Cabin Approved bags • GATE8 is the UK’s leading BRAND for cabin approved bags • GATE8 is the world’s most functional luggage brand (with unique 2-in-1 designed bags) • Trusted & tested by airline pilots & cabin crew • Trusted & tested by sales & field teams in leading corporations BALLISTIC NYLON Advanced Nylon GUARANTEED for 5 years GARMENT STORAGE 1-4 day FAST. CABIN BAGS. 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Contents Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: The Editor, AEROSPACE, No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK [email protected] Comment Regulars 4 Radome 12 Transmission The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets aeronautical intelligence, and feedback. analysis and comment. 62 The Last Word The ascent of mammals 10 Antenna Keith Hayward on the Howard Wheeldon asks positive role of humanitarian whether there may be air power. How long might the conventional helicopter, as we know and love it, survive? further UK defence cuts Certainly it is probable that, for some tasks, traditional rotorcraft will continue ahead. for decades and Bell’s FCX-001 (see p 4) represents a futuristic look at where technology may go. Yet, for some missions and roles there are now early stirrings of what might be termed VTOL mammals, to rotorcraft’s Features dinosaurs. This new breed of VTOL aircraft – smaller, quieter and more agile TAI – may begin by scurrying around the urban undergrowth but for how long? This year, for instance, Dubai plans to lead the world by putting into service a fully automated, electric-powered aerial passenger ‘drone’ (see p 14) to Airbus Helicopters enhance urban mobility. Others now believe we are close to realising a goal of aerial urban transport. Airbus is to fl y its fi rst Vahana electric VTOL vehicle by 18 30 the end of the year and has other concepts on the go. Meanwhile, Google co- Faster helicopters, quicker founder Larry Page is working on a secretive ‘fl ying car’ project with a start- Stealth partners innovation up called Zee.Aero. Israel’s Urban Aeronautics has conducted autonomous The UK is collaborating with How Airbus Helicopters is Turkey on an indigenous fl ights of its Cormarant ducted-fan UAV – which is aimed at urban rescue designing a new generation stealth fi ghter for the Turkish of rotorcraft. and MEDVAC missions. Finally, ‘ride sharing’ service, Uber has outlined what Air Force. it forsees as a workable urban aerial passenger service business model. The 34 Better connections Inmarsat and Honeywell dreams of ‘fl ying cars’ or personal aerial VTOL machines have been around 22 Centenary countdown The RAF prepares for have developed new satellite for almost as long as the car and the aeroplane. Today, a convergence of its 100th anniversary in broadband systems which technologies, including electric motors, more effi cient batteries, autonomous 2018 with a forthcoming can offer faster and more reliable in-fl ight Wi-Fi. systems, big data and lightweight composite materials, is rapidly redefi ning conference on air power. the art of the possible. Could conventional helicopters go the same way as the fl ying boat after WW2? Will future generations of aviation archaeologists look on the traditional helicopter as today’s paleontologists look on fossils of Aeromexico pterosaurs? Tim Robinson 24 Bergstrom Aircraft 38 The force awakens [email protected] Is it time to review regulatory An Aeromexico wave to NEWS IN BRIEF requirements for pilot control the new 787-9 Dreamliner loads based on a pilot’s Aeromexico prepares its new Editor-in-Chief AEROSPACE is published by the Royal AEROSPACE subscription rates: physical strength? Dreamliners for service entry. Tim Robinson Aeronautical Society (RAeS). Non-members, £160 +44 (0)20 7670 4353 Chief Executive Please send your order to: [email protected] Simon C Luxmoore Dovetail Services Ltd, 800 Guillat Deputy Editor Advertising Avenue, Kent Science Park, 39 Afterburner Bill Read Simon Levy Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8GU, UK. +44 (0)20 7670 4351 +44 (0)20 7670 4346 +44 (0)1795 592939 [email protected] [email protected] +44 (0)844 856 0650 (fax) 42 Message from our President [email protected] Publications Manager Unless specifi cally attributed, no 43 Message from our Chief Executive Chris Male material in AEROSPACE shall be taken Any member not requiring a print +44 (0)20 7670 4352 to represent the opinion of the RAeS. version of this magazine, please 44 Book Reviews [email protected] contact: [email protected] Reproduction of material used in this 47 Library additions Online Production Editor publication is not permitted without the USA: Periodical postage paid at Wayne J Davis written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. Champlain New York and additional 48 Minutes of the 151st AGM Additional features and content +44 (0)20 7670 4354 offi ces. [email protected] Printed by Buxton Press Limited, 50 Yeovil Branch Cool are available to view online on Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire Postmaster: Send address changes www.media.aerosociety.com/ Book Review Editor SK17 6AE, UK to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518, Aeronautics Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. aerospace-insight Brian Riddle 52 NAL survey Including: RAF Air Power conference, Offsetting Editorial Offi ce Distributed by Royal Mail 53 NAL Sound Archive carbon, Regional repercussions, Bright sparks – Royal Aeronautical Society ISSN 2052-451X the quest for electric speed, In the March issue No.4 Hamilton Place 54 Corporate Partners of AEROSPACE, Space in 2017 – London W1J 7BQ, UK +44 (0)20 7670 4300 56 Diary a look ahead, Dubai’s aerial taxis, [email protected] Blast off from Britain. www.aerosociety.com Front cover: eHang passenger-carrying drone. eHang 59 YPN in the spotlight 60 RAeS elections @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2017 13 Radome INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT Morphing blades The rotor blades on the FCX-001 would incorporate variable geometry or ‘morphing’ outer sections to optimise for different fl ight modes. For example, the tips would adjust to be straight for maximum lift in the hover, then sweep back to an angle for high-speed cruise fl ight. Augmented reality cockpit As well as increased visibility thanks to new transparencies, the FCX-001 features a single-pilot fl ight deck incorporating augmented reality (AR) for ‘heads-out’ situational awareness, as well as artifi cial intelligence (AI) assistance. In a radical move, Bell envisages that there would be no physical cyclic or collective controls – instead an AR headset would recognise the pilot’s gestures and movement to create ‘virtual’ controls or displays to customise them as necessary. AR would also be available in the modular eight-seat passenger cabin. AEROSPACE Bell reinvents rotorcraft Unveiled at Heli-Expo in Dallas, Texas, last month was Bell Helicopter's futuristic FCX-001 concept helicopter. The full-scale mock-up at the exhibition was not a helicopter destined for production, nor even a prototype but is a ‘concept’ rotorcraft similar to how motor manufacturers present their visions of the future with concept cars. The fl y-by-wire, optionally piloted FCX-001 is the result of an internal innovations team established by Bell in September 2016 to study emerging technologies to develop 'safer, smarter rotorcraft'. 4 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2017 Hybrid propulsion No engine is specifi ed but the medium helicopter would use twin powerplants in a hybrid propulsion package to power the electric anti-torque tail system, doing away with the gearbox and tail rotor shaft, thus saving weight. Look ma, no tail rotor The FCX-001 would dispense with a Advanced landing gear traditional tailrotor in favour of an The FCX-001 features a retractable electrically actuated fan-driven anti- tricycle undercarriage which takes torque system. Vectoring high power fans advantage of ‘non traditional’ geometries would lead to a reduction in noise. for the wheels and support structures to create high-energy absorbing landing gear. Bell Helicopter @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2017 5 Radome AEROSPACE AIR TRANSPORT A tale of two aviation cities Qatar Airways plots On 7 March two new launch of Indian airline airliners rolled-out on the same day in North and Qatar Airways CEO Akbar carriers, foreign investors South America. In Seattle, Al Baker has revealed can now own 100%, Boeing rolled out the fi rst plans for the Gulf airline opening up the airline to 737 MAX 9. The second to enter the Indian market be fully owned by Qatar’s member of the re-engined with a 100%-owned sovereign wealth fund.