Come and see us at the on Stand 2018 AEROSPACE

November 2017

FLYING FOR THE DARK SIDE IS MARS GETTING ANY CLOSER? HYBRID-ELECTRIC PROPULSION

www.aerosociety.com November 2017 Volume 44 Number 11

TURBULENCE IN THE GULF

SUPERCONNECTOR AIRLINES BATTLE HEADWINDS Royal Aeronautical Society

N EC

Volume 44 Number 11 November 2017 Turbulence in Is Mars getting any 14 the Gulf closer? How local politics Sarah Cruddas and longer-range assesses the latest aircraft may 18 push for a human impact Middle mission to the Red East carriers. Planet. Are we any Contents Clément Alloing Martin Lockheed nearer today? 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. 58 The Last Word Short-circuiting electric flight 10 Antenna Keith Hayward considers the Howard Wheeldon looks at the current export tariff spat over MoD’s planned Air Support to the Bombardier CSeries. Can a UK low-cost airline and a US start-up bring electric, green airline travel Defence Operational Training into service in the next decade? On 27 September easyJet revealed it had (ASDOT) programme. partnered with Wright Electric to help develop a short-haul all-electric – with the goal of bringing it into service within ten years. If realised, this would represent a game-changing leap for aviation and a huge victory for aerospace Features in meeting or even exceeding its sustainable goals. Those with longer memories Irkut may recall when, in 2007, easyJet revealed the ‘ecoJet’ concept airliner featuring two open-rotor engines shielded by a twin U-tail designed to halve

CO2 emissions and cut fuel burn by 15%. The airline was reported at the time to be talking to and Boeing, as well as Rolls-Royce, about this concept with the news that it could be ready for service by 2015. However, both Airbus and Boeing opted to re-engine their existing narrowbody designs in the form of the Airbus A320neo and 737 MAX respectively, dashing the hopes of those 22 who dreamed of exotic new shapes gracing the skies. Hopes for fast tracking 34 Open Rotor technology have also been unfounded with a planned fly-off Flying for the dark side Onboard a Cobham Falcon between Rolls-Royce and Open Rotor demonstrator engines in the 20 providing operational Russia unwraps its new EU’s Clean Sky project now reduced to just ground tests by Safran’s model. Will readiness training. MC-21 battery-powered electric suffer the same curse as easyJet’s ecoJet? What are the commercial prospects for the new Irkut Championing this leap to electric flight is a bold and visionary move – and 26 Flying light MC-21 civil airliner? easyJet must be praised for its commitment to sustainable aviation goals. The Are UK GA airfields in crisis? innate conservatism of some parts of the aerospace industry, too, means that

it is easy to knock radical future concepts – when they may help shape the Zenum Aero debate, stimulate competition and spark innovation. The electric flight revolution 38 may be progressing faster than expected in some areas (GA and ‘aerial taxis’) 30 but, for larger passenger aircraft, there still remain significant obstacles. (See Charge of the electric flight brigade, p 30)

Tim Robinson, Editor-in-Chief Charge of the electric flight brigade Defence showcase [email protected] manufacturers NEWS IN BRIEF research into hybrid electric A report on the 2017 DSEI defence exhibition. Editor-in-Chief AEROSPACE is published by the Royal 2017 AEROSPACE subscription propulsion. Tim Robinson Aeronautical Society (RAeS). rates: Non-members, £160 +44 (0)20 7670 4353 Chief Executive Please send your order to: [email protected] Simon C Luxmoore Chris Male, RAeS, No4 Hamilton Place, Deputy Editor Advertising London W1J 7BQ, UK. 41 Afterburner Bill Read Simon Levy +44 (0)20 7670 4352 +44 (0)20 7670 4351 +44 (0)20 7670 4346 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Any member not requiring a print Publications Manager Unless specifically attributed, no version of this magazine, please 42 Message from our President Chris Male contact: [email protected] material in AEROSPACE shall be taken 43 Message from our +44 (0)20 7670 4352 to represent the opinion of the RAeS. USA: Periodical postage paid at [email protected] Chief Executive Reproduction of material used in this Champlain New York and additional Production Editor offices. Online publication is not permitted without the 44 Book Reviews Wayne J Davis written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. Postmaster: Send address changes Additional features and content +44 (0)20 7670 4354 to IMS of New York, PO Box 1518, 47 Library Additions [email protected] Printed by Buxton Press Limited, are available to view online on Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire Champlain NY 12919-1518, USA. 48 Streamlining the Specialist www.media.aerosociety.com/ Book Review Editor SK17 6AE, UK aerospace-insight Brian Riddle Awards ISSN 2052-451X Including: Expanding the envelope, Defeating Editorial Office Distributed by Royal Mail 50 Corporate Partners drones, Can easyJet short circuit electric Royal Aeronautical Society airliner flight?, Billion dollar in-flight broadband, No.4 Hamilton Place 52 Diary In the October issue of AEROSPACE, London W1J 7BQ, UK 56 RAeS Elections UK GA sector in crisis, DSEI 2017 +44 (0)20 7670 4300 [email protected] show report, UK aerospace research www.aerosociety.com after Brexit, Swedish air Front cover: control.

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INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT

Long and elegant The concept features high-aspect ratio wings for aerodynamic efficiency along with split winglets to cut drag. A reduction in wing sweep, to optimise energy and increase efficiency means that this airliner will cruise at slower speeds than current jet aircraft.

AIR TRANSPORT easyJet’s electric vision In September, UK budget airline easyJet revealed that it had teamed-up with US-start-up Wright Electric to help accelerate the drive towards zero-carbon commercial airline flight. Unveiling a concept for a 120-seat short-haul electric airliner, easyJet believes that such an airliner could be developed and operational within the next decade. Powered by batteries, the airliner would be optimised for short flights of two hours or less, which makes up 20% of the carrier’s network in Europe. As well as being greener and quieter than existing jets, easyJet's concept electric narrowbody would also, says Wright, see a 10% reduction in operational costs. Such is the pace of progress with battery and power technology that, within 20 years, predicts the airline, every short-haul flight could be electric-powered. easyJet

4 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Specifications Passenger capacity 120 Range 335miles

Swappable batteries Underfloor battery packs with‘ advanced cell chemistry’ provide power and are swappable – a necessary feature to provide rapid turnarounds for low-cost operations.

Embedded fans EasyJet's concept sees the aircraft using distributed electric propulsion, with eight ducted fans embedded in the wing each side. Buried fans and electric power mean that noise will be reduced by a staggering 50%, says Wright Electric.

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AIR TRANSPORT AEROSPACE AF A380 suffers serious Airbus swoops in to rescue CSeries engine failure

An investigation has an emergency landing at begun after parts from an Goose Bay, Canada. None A380 engine of the 496 passengers detached over Greenland and 24 crew onboard were on 30 September during injured in the incident. The a flight from Paris to French aviation accident Los Angeles. Following investigation agency the incident, which saw BEA, has now assumed large components shed responsibilty for the inquiry. from the Engine Alliance Meanwhile, Air France GP7200 No 4 including is now preparing to ferry the front cowling, and fan the A380 back on three disc, the aircraft made engines. Airbus DEFENCE In a surprise announcement on 16 October, Airbus revealed that it is to take a 50.01% stake in Bombardier's CSeries programme, entering a historic partnership with BAE Systems is to cut almost 2,000 jobs in BAE Systems the Canadian manufacturer and opening an assembly military air, maritime and intelligence arms, line for the airliner in its Mobile, Alabama, site. Describing as part of organisational changes to ‘boost to axe nearly it as a “win-win-win situation for everyone” by CEO Tom competitiveness, accelerate technology 2,000 jobs Enders, Airbus will take a majority stake in the CSeries in innovation and improve operational return for its global marketing, sales and support muscle. excellence’. A total of 750 jobs are to go at The move is a shot in the arm for the CSeries, which is the BAE’s Warton and Samlesbury plants which centre of a international tariff row after the US Commerce assemble the . Department imposed nearly 300% import tariffs on all An additional 400 jobs are to be lost from Brough, 230 from RAF Marham and 15 from Bombardier CSeries regional aircraft sold in the US. It RAF Leeming with the remainder in its maritime and Applied Intelligence divisions. follows a protest from Boeing that the aircraft was being  The news comes after a surprise announcement by Qatar in a Statement of sold below cost to Delta Air Lines. The tariffs have been Intent to purchase 24 Typhoons and six Hawks from the UK. BAE said in a statement: criticised by both the Canadian and UK Governments "However, the timing of future orders is always uncertain and, to ensure production with claims that it threatens jobs both in Quebec and in continuity and competitive costs between the completion of current contracts and Northern Ireland, together with threats to rethink Boeing anticipated new orders, we now plan to reduce Typhoon final assembly and Hawk military orders, as well as pointing out that Boeing does production rates." not manufacture an equivalent-size aircraft. BAE Systems NEWS IN BRIEF

a critical part of Reaction which was shot down Mojave airport ahead of was also unveiled by Safran The US subsidiary Engines’ SABRE air- over western Yemen on a first flight in 2019. The Helicopter Engines. A of , breathing rocket engine 1 October. CENTCOM six-engined aircraft, funded prototype of the AW189K Reaction Engines Inc, that slows and cools the said that an investigation by Microsoft co-founder first flew on 9 March 2017. has announced it has airflow. was underway after rebel Paul Allen and developed won a contract from the Houthi forces claimed by Scaled Composites, is The new jointly-developed US defence research Qatar Airways has to have shot the UAV designed to launch large Sino-Russian widebody agency, DARPA, to conduct ordered two Boeing down over the capital, rockets as a mothership for airliner from UAC and high-temperature airflow 747-8 Freighters and Sanaa, with video footage a space-access system.. COMAC is to be called the precooler ground testing. four 777-300ERs. The showing the drone falling CR929. The companies The ground testing, to airline also received the from the sky in flames. Leonardo unveiled a new revealed there will be a be carried out in the US, first of a previous order for variant of its AW189 baseline CR929-600 will use a HTX precooler 747-8Fs. The world’s biggest helicopter at the Helitech variant with 280 seats, a test article to validate its aircraft, the 385ft show in London. The shorter 230-seat CR929- performance in high-speed The US Pentagon has wingspan Stratolaunch, AW189K will be fitted with 500 and a stretch version flight regimes of up to confirmed that it has lost has conducted its first the new 2,500shp Aneto- with 320 seats called the Mach 5. The precooler is a MQ-9 Reaper UAV ground engine tests at 1K turboshaft engine which CR929-700.

6 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 SPACEFLIGHT AIR TRANSPORT Musk reveals revised Monarch ends reign Mars rocket plans after 50 years

Speaking at the eventually replacing the International Astronautical Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy and Congress (IAC) in Australia, Dragon to provide lower- SpaceX’s Elon Musk has cost space access for revealed new details about satellites and ISS resupply The UK CAA has carried out the biggest-ever peacetime repatriation of British his giant Mars rocket. The missions. Musk also claims holidaymakers after ailing airline Monarch Airlines collapsed and grounded all its flights ‘Big F***ing Rocket’ or that the ‘BFR’ could in the early hours of 2 October. Some 110,000 UK tourists were stranded abroad BFR is now narrower with be used for passenger after the airline went into administration and cancelled all flights. Some 300,000 future fewer (31 Raptor) engines suborbital travel, opening bookings were also cancelled. In the weeks before the grounding, the UK CAA had than the original launcher up 30mins flights to almost put together a repatriation fleet of around 34 aircraft from 16 different airlines to get concept. As well as Mars, anywhere on Earth at the Monarch passengers home. Launched in 1967, charter and holiday airline pioneer and a base on the Moon, price of today’s airliner Monarch had struggled in recent years due to increased competition from low-cost Musk sees the BFR as tickets. rivals, as well as terror threats in key destinations such as Egypt and .

Adrian Pingstone AEROSPACE DEFENCE Open rotor begins Russia wins Gulf defence ground runs sales After NATO member state visit of Saudi King Bin French engine manufacturer Turkey’s controversial Abdulaziz to . Safran has announced the first ground tests of its decision to  The United Arab Open Rotor demonstrator purchase the Emirates has been

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The tests, on an open-air o S-400 SAM i the final stages test rig, are the first phase system, Saudi of negotiation to of ground runs of the Open Arabia has buy Su-35 Rotor engine, which could reduce fuel consumption and also agreed multirole fighters. emissions by 30% compared a deal to acquire Reported by TASS, the to today’s engines. the advanced air defence UAE aims to acquire about Open Rotor is a project under system from Moscow. 12-14 Su-35s, with the the EU's Clean Sky R&D News of the confirmed deal contract signed by the end initiative. emerged during an official of this year.

Safran

aircraft was taking part in only OECD nation that youngest woman to Brazilian carrier Azul has the Russian Zapad 2017 currently lacks a space complete a solo round-the- As AEROSPACE goes ordered five - exercises. agency. world flight in a single- to press, bankrupt 900neos, with deliveries engine aircraft. European carrier Air due to start at the end of At the International Female pilot Shaesta Berlin is to cease flying 2018. The neos will be Astronautical Congress Waiz has completed her The Airbus laminar-flow by 28 October. German leased to Azul from Irish (IAC) in Adelaide in attempt to fly solo around BLADE demonstrator flag carrier Lufthansa aircraft lessor Avolon. September, the Australia the world in a Beechcraft aircraft made its maiden is to take on 81 aircraft Government announced Bonanza A36. Waiz’s flight on 26 September from the defunct airline, A Russian Tu-22M3 plans to set up its own circumnavigation flight from Tarbes in southern as well as take over ‘Backfire’ bomber crashed space agency. No budget began in May and has France. BLADE its subsidiaries Niki on take-off on 15 or mission goal has been included flying to over 20 (Breakthrough Laminar and LG Walter in a September at Shaikavka revealed yet but a charter countries as part of the Aircraft Demonstrator €210m deal. UK LCC airbase in western Russia, for the new agency would Dreams Soar campaign to in Europe) is a modified easyJet, meanwhile, is in when the aircraft overran be set up by the end of promote STEM education A340 fitted with two negotiations to acquire the runway. No crew were March 2018. Along with to the next generation. transonic laminar outer- up to 25 A320s from Air injured in the incident. The Iceland, Australia is the Shaesta is now the wings. Berlin.

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AEROSPACE AIR TRANSPORT

Boeing is to acquire US aerospace company COMAC announces 130 Flight Sciences which specialises in UAVs, new C919 orders autonomous systems and composite aerostructures. Aurora would operate as a subsidiary under Boeing's Chinese state manufacturer International Leasing (30); Engineering, Test and Technology division. COMAC has announced and ABC Financial Leasing  On 11 October Aurora Flight Sciences announced that it has secured (30). COMAC

C it had received a NASA contract for an additional 130 new O now has 730 M

A 12-months of continued development of the commitments C commitments and company's subsonic D8 X-plane concept. from Chinese orders in total for lessors for its the narrowbody C919 commercial airliner. aircraft.  Meanwhile, on The lessors are: 28 September, the Boeing to Nuclear Construction C919 made its second test Financial Leasing (40), flight after the first one in acquire Aurora Flight Sciences Huabao Leasing (30), AVIC early May. Aurora Flight Sciences Aurora DEFENCE GENERAL AVIATION GA reveals MQ-25 Electric flight? On yer bike! tanker UAV design General Atomics has Stingray UAV. Originally become the first of the UCLASS programme, four industry the project has been contenders scaled back from a

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design for S aerial tanker. I a carrier- As well as based General Atomics, A Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham's Institute for Aerospace unmanned other contenders Technology (IAT) has unveiled a concept for a detachable bike/scooter that tanker, after are Lockheed Martin, would act as a range extender for electric GA aircraft. The conventional the US Navy released Boeing, and Northrop powered bike, that is carried like a drop tank, provides an extra power source that would give a battery-powered aircraft around three hours extra endurance.

the RFP for the MQ-25 Grumman. University of Nottingham

NEWS IN BRIEF

Iridium communications and parapublic rotary-wing If approved, the deal could four twin-seat Mirage F1 The Bangladesh navy satellites. The second platforms, predicting an be concluded by Q2 next fighters from the French has placed an order for launch, on 11 October almost doubling of the global year. Government. They will two additional Dornier Do from Cape Caneveral in helicopter fleet by 2036. The be used to enhance the 228s for maritime patrol Florida, was a Falcon 9 airframer expects a demand New Caledonia carrier company’s pilot training missions. The navy already booster carrying an Airbus- for 21,822 new commercial Aircalin has confirmed solutions. operate two Do 228s for built communications rotorcraft in the next 20 a $840m order for two MPA missions which were satellite for SES and years, worth some €125bn. Airbus A330-900s and Virgin Orbit, the small delivered in 2013. EchoStar. The reusable Light single and twins will two A320neos. The A320s satellite launch subsidiary . first stage boosters used be the biggest sellers, says will be used on routes to of Virgin Galactic, has Commercial space in both launches made Airbus, representing 74% of Australia, New Zealand and announced that it will company SpaceX launched a controlled landing on total sales. the Pacific Islands and the conduct two missions per two Falcon 9 rockets SpaceX’s floating platform. A330s on routes to Japan. month in 2020, despite the within three days. The is to postponing initial flights of first, from Vandenberg Air has buy space, missile and South African aerospace its LauncherOne rocket, Force Base in California released a new 20-year composites manufacturer and defence group using the 747 air launch on 9 October, carried ten market forecast for civil Orbital ATK for $9.2bn. Paramount has bought system to early 2018.

8 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 SPACEFLIGHT DEFENCE Sentinel-5P launched Typhoon tragedies In the space of a month, Yemen. The second, on 24 to study atmosphere three Eurofighter Typhoons September, saw an Italian have crashed, killing their AF Eurofighter crash into On 13 October, the pilots in all three incidents. the sea during an air show. Sentinel-5P Earth- The first accident, on 13 Finally, on 12 October, a monitoring satellite September saw a Royal Spanish AF Eurofighter was launched from Saudi Air Force Eurofighter was lost when the pilot Russian Helicopters’ Kamov Ka-226T light utility helicopterPlesetsk Cosmodrome crash while carrying was landing at Los Lanos, is undergoing testing in , with a focus on evaluatingin the Russia by a Rockot out a CAS mission in Albacete. coaxial helicopter at very high temperatures – up to 50°C.launcher. Part of the EC and ESA's AEROSPACE Copernicus science programme, the Scaled Composites UK-Dutch developed Sentinel-5P will secret test flight measure atmospheric Scaled Composites and powered by a Pratt pollution. has announced details & Whitney JT15D-5D of a secret first flight turbofan mounted fuselage ESA made earlier this year of behind the cockpit. The AIR TRANSPORT a new manned company said that

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@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 9 Global Outlook and Analysis with antenna: HOWARD WHEELDON UK aggressor ASDOT dogfight

suspect that to a large number of former aggressor attack and in related support areas, such serving military the very idea of trained civilian as those of electronic warfare. personnel working for a private company or Under current MoD planning assumptions, consortia being used to act as ‘the enemy’ in ASDOT will be delivered in two incremental phases. live fast jet training and Royal Phase 1 will be introduced from 2020 and cover INavy exercises might be seen as the last straw! a period of 15 years with an estimated value of In fact, the process of using the private sector £750m. Phase 2 would add up around £500m companies in ‘adversary’ training exercises is hardly over the following eight years. Contents of the two new and the reality is that many air forces around phases will depend on solutions offered. The full the world are already flying ‘enemy’ training missions scope of the procurement by MoD covers provision flown by private sector companies using former of all live flying assets to meet the full training military pilots. The UK is belatedly catching up. requirement of air-to-air combat, air to surface The MoD’s planned Air Support to Defence combat, joint terminal attack controller (JTAC)/ Operational Training (ASDOT) programme is forward air controller (airborne) (FAC (A), electronic best seen as a further upscaling of private sector warfare, air traffic control (ATC), ground based air involvement in operational defence training. Delayed defence (GBAD) and aerospace battle management in part by existing contractual commitments, given (ABM) and live gunnery. its importance within the fast-jet pilot training The MoD’s ASDOT programme is designed to sphere, it is long overdue. replace a variety of current existing contracts that ASDOT is intended to cover existing live are due to expire before 2020. The programme ‘adversary’ training for the Royal Air Force, Royal is intended to both support, further enhance and Navy and the Army, including Red Air, EW and fleet evolve UK armed forces live-fly and tactical training support. The intention is that the winning bidder will needs over a period of 15 years. supply in the region of 5,000-6,000 hours of annual ASDOT is intended to be fulfilled by a single training to the UK military. ASDOT envisages that service provider or consortium of operators. contractors will also provide suitable fast- Providing the ‘enemy and aggressor’ training aircraft that are able to span multiple levels from requirements for all three armed services, ASDOT ‘low slow, type threats’ right through to fourth gen will replace the existing fleet of Cobham Aviation- (supersonic, agile with EW) and which will eventually operated aircraft, together with be able to offer suitable challenge to the Lockheed the /-operated fleet of BAE Martin F-35, a capability that will shortly come into Hawk T1 aircraft that are currently flown by 736 RAF and RN service plus that of RAF Typhoon Naval Air Squadron from both RNAS Culdrose and capability. RNAS Yeovilton. These aircraft are regularly used in Although some organisations which had FOST (Flag Officer Sea Training Training) exercises originally intended to bid have subsequently dropped and ‘Thursday War’ scenarios. While the Royal Navy out, Airbus, Babcock International, CAE, Cobham, fleet of BAE Systems Hawk T1 aircraft will all be Thales, Leonardo, QinetiQ and Draken International retired in 2020 when the ASDOT contract comes were some big named defence companies that into place, on present plans, my understanding expressed interest in the original bidding process of is that the Royal Air Force 100 Squadron fleet ASDOT programme requirement. of Hawk T1 aircraft will continue their existing Arguably one of the most interesting ‘aggressor’ training role through until 2027. outsourcing programmes to have appeared from Although ASDOT looks to be a fairly the MoD since SDSR 2015, ASDOT will see a straightforward training requirement, the intention single private company or consortium appointed to was always that it should be integrated with two provide the complete ‘enemy/aggressor’ aircraft other major UK MoD training requirements: the requirement. Flown by civilian pilots, most of whom Defence Operational Training Capability Air (DOTC will have previously been military pilots, their (A) and the Typhoon Future Synthetic Training principal role will be to assist in the training of UK (TFST) programmes. military fast jet pilots in the defensive role against an TFST is tasked to identify, and implement the

10 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Royal Navy Hawk T1s over St Michael's Mount, Cornwall. Royal Navy/Fleet Air Arm Hawk T1s operated by 736 Naval Air Squadron will be replaced by the winner of the ASDOT programme. Crown copyright

military staff and particularly former RAF personnel, Inzpire is also responsible for British Army Apache and Wildcat helicopter conversion and other training. The winning company or consortia will be expected to provide suitable new or low mileage jets that comply with ASDOT requirements. To that end, QinetiQ and Thales have announced an agreement with Textron AirLand that, if successful, would see them offer the Scorpion jet for the ASDOT programme. Although still evaluating its own range of options for ASDOT, Leonardo is thought most likely to offer the Aermacchi M-346 trainer. The M-346 military training aircraft is an already proven and best balance of investment solution for the Typhoon cost-effective platform operated by air forces in Force synthetic training, including new requirements, , Israel, Poland and Singapore. Importantly, this such as collective training and increased capacity, aircraft is also being used by NATO in an Adversary until the weapon platform out of service date, while Air Training role. DOTC (A) will look at the integrating networked Meanwhile, Airbus, which already provides simulation capabilities. It is hoped, given the training for the German Luftwaffe using modified momentum currently behind I-LVC, that the UK MoD Bombardier Learjets, has yet to confirm its current is co-ordinating these three major programmes to status in the ASDOT programme or, if it does decide eventually arrive at a holistic over-arching training to bid, the planned aircraft capability offer. The environment. position and intentions of Babcock International In what will be a very keenly fought contest and CAE, both of whom had originally teamed with by up to a dozen companies and consortia, the Draken on the ASDOT programme before the latter expectation is that a preliminary announcement THE MoD’S then chose to then team with Cobham, also remain from the MoD in regard of ASDOT could come unclear. before the end of this year. However, given that PLANNED Cobham, which is the current MoD supplier of the MoD will be heavily involved in NCSR planning AIR SUPPORT a variety of rotary and fixed-wing through the rest of this year, my personal view is TO DEFENCE operation and support to both the Royal Air Force that we may not see an initial announcement until OPERATIONAL and Royal Navy, including operation of the current early next year. The ASDOT contract is due for final Royal Navy Hawk T1 fleet, has certainly found a award in September 2018 with a start date of 1 TRAINING very interesting partner in Florida-based Draken January 2020. (ASDOT) International, a company that already owns a very In one of many interesting and innovative PROGRAMME large fleet of tactical ex-military jets, including industry teaming partnerships that the ASDOT Aero Vodochody L-159E Advanced Light Combat competition has brought about, Quebec-based IS BEST SEEN Aircraft, Douglas A-4 Skyhawks, Aermacchi Discovery Air Defence, a company that is already AS A FURTHER MB-339CB ex Royal New Zealand Air Force JTAC/ providing tactical and combat training for the UPSCALING FAC-As, MiG-21s and Aero L-39 Albatross jets. Canadian Air Force which is believed to have largest OF PRIVATE Before finally choosing to partner with Cobham privately owned fleets of ‘aggressor’ type military Special Missions, Draken had originally planned to fast jet aircraft, teaming with Lincoln-based Inzpire, SECTOR team with Babcock International and CAE. However, a fast-growing organisation comprising mostly INVOLVEMENT with its long record of successful working with of former RAF personnel that provides exercise IN the MoD, the Cobham/Draken combination is a management expertise and training support for the OPERATIONAL particularly interesting one, highlighting as it does RAF Waddington based Battlespace Training Centre not only Draken’s large tactical fighter aircraft fleet and live training exercises at the RAF Air Warfare DEFENCE but also Cobham’s considerable expertise in both Centre. Priding itself on employing having former TRAINING live and synthetic based ‘threat’ training capabilities.

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LETTERS AND ONLINE

displayed to the limits of Building a modern composite Mosquito their original operational envelopes. In ignorance of

RAeS (NAL) RAeS the facts I would suspect glass fibre might more closely reproduce the acoustics of the wooden versions compared to more f modern carbon composites. A bit of a ‘Mosquito nut’ I have often reflected on a EasyJet all-electric (2) claim I heard that if we had aircraft mass-produced Mosquitos instead of Lancasters,

their high speed, their easyJet bombing accuracy, their Two Mosquito BIVs in flight. semi-stealth, their need for only two crew and only The enduring fascination being accused of being fibre. Once the necessary two engines together with with WW2 aircraft and their pilloried by purists I venture design and mould-making the ability of each aircraft Is the tail a homage to the presence in air displays has to suggest that a capable have been financed and a to fly two missions a night VC10?! suffered a disproportionate firm such as Slingsby new prototype tested and with double crewing, the absence of the wonderful (now Marshall Slingsby certified it should be less campaign over Germany Kevin Bowen . Advanced Composites) be expensive to make enough would have cost fewer This, I understand, is due to commissioned to design to satisfy any air show that lives and hit more precise And the fuselage of a the difficulty in preserving and build a full scale wanted one. Also, being targets. Caravelle. the safe life of their few Merlin-powered display of a modern design with remaining glue and wood aircraft using more durable a long fatigue life ahead Denis Oglesby AMR Johnson Ayorinde . At the risk of composites such as glass of them they could be AeSoc (retired) Laminar flow wing research – some scepticism required

transition position are on incorporating high lift As an aerodynamicist surface pressure gradients, devices for low-speed Airbus with a background in shock waves, sweepback, conditions. Furthermore, supercritical aerofoil leading-edge shape etc. the need to avoid shock and wing design, I Some kind of transition waves on the forward read the article on the trip is almost always part of the upper natural laminar flow used on the model wing surface means that little demonstrator aircraft to ensure turbulent flow supercritical lift will be in the October issue(1) near the leading edge but available and the lift to with great interest but interpretation of the test drag ratio of the wing may considerable scepticism. data to predict aircraft not be much better than The detailed design of On 26 September, the Airbus BLADE laminar flow demonstrator the wing of a modern aircraft made its first flight from Tarbes, France. performance is very a supercritical turbulent civil transport aircraft difficult. In order to have flow design. Apart from the parameter, should be at a given atmospheric any hope of achieving geometry constraints, the exploits improvements achievable. However, condition. At lower in understanding of laminar flow at full-scale surface must be extremely without the special Reynolds numbers typical supercritical and viscous Reynolds numbers, the smooth, atmospheric treatments discussed in of the wings of aircraft flow development. This wing geometry must be turbulence low and aircraft the article, the thin shear models in wind tunnels, it understanding comes constrained to be very like operations such as take- layer over the wing surface, is practically impossible from interpretation of that on the outer wing of off and yaw very restricted. wind-tunnel test results on the boundary layer, can be to avoid extensive laminar the A340 demonstrator. In my opinion, the main aircraft models compared expected to be turbulent flow regions, Transition It is difficult to regard this value of the demonstrator with computational rather than laminar. A from laminar to turbulent as a realistic geometry will be to provide very flow dynamics (CFD) major reason for this is flow moves further for practical application to useful information to aid predictions. A practical the value of Reynolds forward with increasing other aircraft. Compared interpretation of viscous wing design of the number. Reynolds number Reynolds number until, with a supercritical flow development on full- required thickness and is a non-dimensional on the full-scale aircraft, turbulent flow design, the scale aircraft compared high values of lift to parameter whose value is transition is close to the sweepback is less and with wind-tunnel models. drag ratio, an important proportional to wing chord wing leading edge. Other the leading edge more aerodynamic efficiency length and flight speed factors which influence pointed, with constraints Allan Bocci FRAeS

12 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Future of UK airfields Airlander on cusp on new test flights(5) HAV

@Aerobility [On UK GA sector in crisis blog(3)] An important discussion on the future of our airfields.

@FrancesBekafigo BLADE demonstrator Good but I wish he had mentioned the @MehdiAsareh Great role of #WWII airfields piece on BLADE project specifically. If not as airfields, then as on NLF by @RAeSTimR in Fifth test flight of the Airlander hybrid . (HAV) October 2017 issue of monuments, museums – @AeroSociety’s history. @DawnSunrise1 Looking @tyrbiter #avgeek Will @CardingtonSheds As magazine(2) btw great to forward to seeing the miss Airlander when HAV the flights went on, the see first @ Airlander fly again soon in moves, but won’t miss the novelty would wear off. The flies. our local skies. Glad I have traffic chaos on the A600 numbers on the last flight my name on her! when she’s flying. were a lot less than before. Parcel delivery drones @TWMBooth [On RAeS Qatar Typhoon order Airbus aerial taxis RAeS Greener by gives evidence for parcel Design conference delivery drones in London] @jamesbird [On @__ice9 Safety issues to The security implications Qatar’s letter of intent for bystanders from the fans @GuyG_Boffin Takeaway of this are extremely Eurofighter Typhoons] and debris blown from 1 from @AeroSociety concerning. Not a step Anyone sensible shouldn’t sidewalks are likely. They Greener by Design 2017 forward. Indeed ... except if have always been doubting also don’t even have a – Steeper approaches you have several thousand @TeamTrumpUSA Use Qatar’s MoU. It wasn’t an full-scale vehicle yet. The may prove noisier, eg due scooting above London, them for delivering care order for starters, despite air-taxi space reminds me to earlier gear selection. how do you distinguish packages in hurricane & being widely misreported of ‘flying car’/’roadable Takeaway 2 – 31% people them apart? Impossible. It’s earthquake hit areas first as one. aircraft’ and electric aircraft affected by aircraft noise Pandora’s box. DUH, DUH. spaces: more smoke didn’t know about noise than fire, many overhyped before moving! Ignorance @hewasahero Why fizzles. or poor info? all three [F-15, Rafale & Low-level VC10 Takeaway 3 – Airport Typhoon]? Some doubling- community engagement up involved… @Totherchris Have folks only works with trust, talked about what happens respect and shared when one crashes in a understanding of issues. @Germano_Mezzana A metro/urban location? logistic nightmare... they volo libero YouTube are only buying political Lecture protection... @pietronurra I would not @hlockett6 Really enjoyed @jumbo747pilot [On low- @Aerostatpilot I was be happy to fly with just 15 Bill Brook’s lecture at the level VC10 there! Bloody marvellous minutes of autonomy. @AeroSociety tonight(6). display at 1977 Air Pageant but equally brave/foolhardy @kark_rieder Qatar isn’t We need to get students at White Waltham(4)] Watch thing to do. First time I buying aircraft, the country doing hands-on engineering the #flypast of the BA have seen anyone climb to is buying friends. while they study #stem. VC10! No display rules get over a hedge! back in those days! Love 1. AEROSPACE, October 2017, p 14 BLADE runner 2. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/can-easyjet-short-circuit-electric-airliner-flight/ the BA gyrocopter as well. 3. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/uk-ga-sector-in-crisis/ @ml_navigat I really 4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqdM9xvxBaA understand safety and 5. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/expanding-the-envelope 6. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/video-and-audio-archive-handley-page-named-lecture-2017/ @iainjblack Very cool but risk management and all not my aeroplane, please that but seeing an airliner and not while I’m standing manoeuvred that way behind a piece of safety down low is still bloomin’ Online Additional features and content are available to view string in the debris field! cool!! online at http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight

@aerosociety i Findlinkedin.com/raes us on LinkedIn f facebook.com/raesFind us on Facebook. www.aerosociety.comwww.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 13 AIR TRANSPORT Middle East airlines Turbulence in the Gulf KEITH HAYWARD FRAeS reports on how Middle Eastern carriers may face turbulence as regional geopolitics and longer-haul aircraft affect demand to superhub airports.

ver the last decade and a half, four Can this success be sustained in the face of Emirates will Middle Eastern airlines have set the commercial and increasingly political challenges? introduce a fourth pace for long-haul travel. With a There is also the question of whether technological superb reputation for all-round quality change may be eroding the foundation of their daily service and on-board service, competitive success – ‘Super connectivity’. from Dubai to Oticket pricing and flying the newest of aircraft, Sydney from 25 Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Super connections March 2018, Airways have challenged the best of European, Asia and especially US long-haul carriers on key routes. The key to the quartet’s success was taking complementing The ‘Big Four’ have grown from some 30m advantage of great circle geography and proximity its existing passengers carried in 2003 to well over 150m in to some of the densest air travel markets in the three daily 2015 – with the two leaders, Turkish and Emirates, world. They also benefited from the arrival of aircraft A380 services responsible for some two-thirds of the quartet’s total. particularly well suited to their emerging business and improving Globally, Emirates is currently ranked 4th, Turkish model based on ‘hub-and-spoke’ route structures, 13th, Qatar 14th, and Etihad 19th in total passenger and the core of the ‘super-connector’ strategy – connections traffic. Emirates was the leading international carrier feeding transit passengers into well-appointed globally and generated the most revenue (7th placed globally airports and moving them on to destinations further – twice as much traffic as any of the other three). afield. Emirates

14 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 The airlines employed a mix of A380s and Dubai’s wider strategy of building a global tourist Boeing 777s and smaller wide-bodies for thinner destination as well as an airline connection hub. routes. A key element was a rapid expansion in International Airport is set to reach the sheer number of destinations served; all but 40m passengers by 2017 with the new $6.8bn Qatar are in the world top ten for destinations, Midfield Terminal Building (MTB) project. The with Turkish top placed. The four are virtually 700,000m² terminal building is one of the key Africa’s collective ‘flag carrier’ – with only Ethiopian strategic infrastructure projects to be undertaken Airways able to resist. in the UAE and will initially handle 27m passengers

The apparently irresistible rise of the ‘Big per year. It will be 70% complete by the end of Clement Alloing Four’ did not go unopposed. Several US airlines this year. The new terminal is a part of Abu Dhabi’s Qatar Airways - – echoed by a number of airlines in the EU – broader plans to increase tourist traffic, as part of 861. wanted the American Government to end air its Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. service pacts with Qatar and the UAE citing unfair Even more ambitiously, in 2013 Turkey began state-subsidized competition. The Gulf carriers and to build the world’s largest airport in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines have undoubtedly benefited from Costing $7bn, the six-runway airport is planned extensive public investment, as well as lower labour to open next year. It will replace Turkish Airways’ costs and virtually no pension debt. However the current main hub at Ataturk Airport. real key to their success was quality as much as Again, this is either direct public money or subsidy. private investment backed by government planning. The value of this level of indirect support for a Infrastructure investment national carrier cannot be understated. However, there is a cloud hovering over these developments. ‘Super connectors’ need ‘super hubs’ all four While most airlines welcomed the fall in fuel prices, airlines benefitted from public investment in new or the decline in oil revenues have hit the budgets of upgraded airports. Currently, Dubai International is most of the Gulf States, affecting state budgets ranked third in the world by passenger movements, and economic plans, including aviation and tourism. Istanbul 14th and Qatar’s Hamad International 50th. Hamad is also the Middle East’s second Sanctions by another name busiest regional airport behind Dubai. None have yet figured in the Skytrax annual airport awards but While the US government has not yet moved Dubai is ranked sixth for shopping. officially on the subsidy challenge, the Trump Overall, investment in Middle Eastern airports Administration’s ban on cabin-carried large is set to reach $100bn over the next decade. electronic devices affecting ten airports in the Dubai alone is investing in a $34bn Dubai World Middle East, including those of the Gulf, followed Central (DWC) project, which involves construction by a similar ban by the UK, had an immediate of five runways and the capacity to handle 160m affect on premium traffic. The first impact of the passengers a year (currently 71.5m). This is part of US travel ban was to lop 35% off Emirates trans-

NOVEMBER 2017 15 AIR TRANSPORT Middle East airlines

Atlantic traffic. More importantly, the airlines lost commercial gains will offer longer-term comfort but a chunk of premier traffic, as laptop dependent this depends on a quick resolution of the current business travellers went elsewhere. Turkish Airlines spat with its neighbours. announced its first loss since 2004. Making a virtue of a necessity, the ever-bullish Although initially stymied by US courts, the Qatar CEO Akbar Al Baker announced plans to qualified restrictions eventually imposed on some bring forward the launch of new routes in the passengers flying from Muslim countries could Balkans, as well as more destinations in Iran using have an even more profound impact on business. excess narrow-body capacity freed up as a result According to the International Air Transport of the blockade (a move unlikely to placate the Association (IATA), airlines in the Middle East are neighbours). Qatar will launch new long-haul flights expected to post a profit of $400m in 2017, down to South America in January in spite of the much 63.6% from $1.1bn in 2016. ‘Trading conditions increased flight times, up to two hours in some for the Middle Eastern carriers have sharply cases; and several of the new narrowbodies may declined over the past six months. Profitability and be used to start up a proposed airline in India. load factors are down significantly, as traffic and The airline has also increased its stake in IAG some business models have come under pressure. to just over 20%, making it the group’s largest There is growing evidence that the ban on large single shareholder. Qatar’s holding is described as electronic devices in the cabin and the uncertainty ‘financial’ but it does work closely with BA, through created around possible US travel bans is taking a membership of the Oneworld alliance and flies toll on some key routes.’ BA cargo to Doha. On the other hand, the airline In recent months market conditions seemed to abandoned a plan to take a stake in American have eased, with Emirates re-instating a number Airlines only a month after announcing a decision of flights to the US and traffic picking up. With the to buy up to a 10% stake in the US carrier. Trump Administration, still prone to instant policy responses to events, the future, remains uncertain. Etihad also in trouble – but for commercial reasons Local politics hit Qatar Etihad faces the most challenging medium term. Following the To this list of woes, the sanctions applied by Its attempt to build a European-based network leading Gulf States and Egypt to the Qatar centring on stakes in Air Berlin and Alitalia has beginning of Government over its support for the Muslim unraveled with a vengeance. With losses of their partnership, Brotherhood, a militant Islamic group prohibited some £2bn over the Past six years, Etihad ended Emirates in much of the region, and its more positive views financial support for the bankrupt Air Berlin. Alitalia about Iran, precipitated a direct crisis for Qatar entered administration in May and Etihad has given and flydubai Airways. This led to closure of airspace to Qatar up funding the struggling Italian carrier. The result announced Airways and a ban on Qatar flights to neighbouring has left Etihad’s business strategy in disarray but that Emirates countries, representing about a fifth of its global Etihad was always struggling to make sense of its will expand seat capacity. ‘partnerships’, failing to generate the extra traffic The sanctions forced expensive diversions that the plan originally envisaged. These losses its network to (increasing fuel burn) for Qatar Airways and longer will now cease, but the airline’s investor reputation 29 flydubai travel times – all undermining a ‘super connector’s in Europe has been undermined and it remains a destinations raison d’être. Qatar Airways was confined to loss-making carrier. across three one channel in and outbound over Bahrain. This continents. led to bottlenecks and delays and necessitated The others cross their fingers some additional refuelling stops on some very longhaul routes. and the UAE are While Turkish Airlines has suffered less from the Qatar Airways’ top two markets. Foreign carriers Trump Administration’s actions, it too has been flying to Qatar also had to seek special overflight affected by the turmoil in the region, as well as permission. Limited access to Doha airport also by internal political turbulence. Emirates, with affected members of the Oneworld alliance which a broader business model and more room for uses the airport as its largest regional hub. manoeuvre in terms of traffic is the best placed to While traffic did fall initially, there are some weather the current storm. The Emirati government signs of a speedy bounce back and the prospect has invested heavily in a broader tourist-centric of Football World Cup traffic and attendant strategy to build up Dubai as a stopover or

16 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Emirates Airbus destination in its own right. This, combined with been the direct or proximate source of much of an ambitious airport expansion programme the violence and terror that has led to ever tighter should also help. aviation security measures. In recent years, the However, while the negative affects of effects of full-scale hostilities have so far missed the travel ban and other external factors may the Big Four. The move against Qatar is a warning diminish or disappear. The rest of the world that the region’s intrinsic volatility can spill over airline industry has not stayed still either, upping quickly into the airline business. quality on long-haul services to match Gulf and Irrespective of geopolitics, there is also a sense Turkish standards. There is also the prospect of that the Gulf model is facing a more fundamental a ‘low cost’ challenge across the Atlantic that challenge from changes in the world airline might tempt some passengers to downgrade if transport geography. There is another imminent the price is significantly cheaper. While this is a technologically driven shift in world air transport general threat to traditional carriers, any leaking – the advent of the ultra long-haul airliner (Airbus of traffic will impact on the Big Four. Finally A350 and Boeing 787) that may undermine the there is the little matter of prospective legal ‘hub-and-spoke’ concept, or at least take some challenges in the US over government subsidies of the traffic away from the ‘super-connectors’.. that have not gone away; moves which the Trump The age of operating to and from a large hub Administration might yet choose to run with. airport may just be passing; or if not entirely Singapore waning, losing some of its attractions. Where this Manufacturers may be worried leaves four airlines supported as much by national Airways recently prestige as commercial rationality is hard to ordered an The aerospace industry has a big stake in the forecast. ultra long range health of Middle Eastern airlines. Over a quarter In a more realistic commercial environment version of the of Boeing and Airbus wide-body orders are held (if that is still something of an oxymoron in the by the region’s carriers, many by the Big Four. airline business), at least one of the Gulf airlines A350 capable of While Airbus is selling lots of A350s – 750 at could be looking vulnerable. There have been hints flying 8,700nm the last count – its A380 is massively dependent of possible mergers – with Emirates supposedly directly from (around 50% of the total) on the Gulf airlines, interested in either Qatar or Etihad. In practice, the especially Emirates, which deferred six A380 region’s dominant carrier has proffered to snap Singapore to orders into 2018. An Emirates’ order for more up smaller LCC’s in the region. In any case, such New York without A380s is pending but is likely to depend upon moves may have to wait resolution of the region’s calling in at the assurances from Airbus that it is still committed political storms and government shareholders Middle East. to the slow-selling flagship. Boeing is also acquiring more commercial sense. significantly exposed to Qatar, with a total of 104 As long as government support for local outstanding Boeing 777 orders. Qatar is also an aviation remains solid, it is just as likely that all of A350 customer and is introducing the Airbus the Gulf carriers and Turkish Airlines will soldier on A350-1000 later this year, making Qatar an with crossed fingers waiting for better times. This important A350-1000 customer now that Cathay may require another more favourable shift in the and United switched to the smaller -900. pattern of global air transport. There may only be a However, given the size of order backlogs limited market for sitting 24 hours in an aeroplane generally, Airbus and Boeing are unlikely to be and a stopover, however brief, in guaranteed sun badly hit over the medium term, although the at a luxury resort could still be a critical advantage. future of the A380 and proposed variants space Keeping calm and further investment in quality uncertain. should help to keep the ‘super connectors’ ahead of the game. Flying through a paradox

The Middle East is hardly a quiet place. There is no doubt that its disputes and rivalries have

NOVEMBER 2017 17 SPACEFLIGHT Human missions to Mars

Is Mars getting any closer?

Over 40 years on from the Apollo Moon missions, human explorers have yet to take the next giant leap to Mars. SARAH CRUDDAS talks to astronaut and Mars evangelist Buzz Aldrin and others on how we might finally get there.

t is now more than 60 years since the dawn of will be hard. However, according to Aldrin, the man the Space Age. On 4 October 1957 Sputnik who fulfilled Kennedy’s and a nation’s vision for the became the first man-made object to leave Moon, challenges are good for us; “what brings the confines of our home planet. In fewer than out the best in a person is to come to grips with four years, humans had travelled to space and, difficulties.” Iin little over a decade, humans were walking on the It is without a doubt that one of the loudest Moon. voices and the strongest advocate for humans From the Moon, Mars seemed like the logical to travel to Mars is Buzz Aldrin. At 87 his travel next step for many and the Space Race of the schedule would exhaust a person half his age. Along 1960s inspired people from all walks of life to dream with Neil Armstrong he became one of the first

of a future in space. In fact, according to Apollo humans to ever set foot on another world. “It wasn’t NASA 11 Moonwalker and one of the first men on the beautiful. I contrast things. So I said “Magnificent Astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the Moon, Buzz Aldrin: “if we had carried on at the same Desolation.” Recalls Aldrin of his experience on the Apollo 11 Lunar Module. momentum as Apollo, we could have been on Mars lunar surface. However, Aldrin is not content for by the 1980s or 1990s.” his legacy to be merely footprints and a flag on the Instead, just 12 humans walked on the surface Moon. For him, Mars is where we should be heading of the Moon and, due to many reasons, humans and he has the vision to get us there. Not just for haven’t ventured beyond low Earth orbit since an Apollo-style mission but a continuous human December 1972. To put things into perspective, presence on Mars, achievable within the first half of since that date, people have not ventured much the decade: “I believe that the people who will be the further into space than the distance between London first to land on Mars in 2039 were born in 2000.” and Newcastle. A rather depressing fact when you see it on a map. However, change is happening and The limits of human factors it is happening fast. Human spaceflight is becoming exciting again and, after a stall, there is once again Of course a Mars landing in the first half of the a public appetite for exploration, as well as a rise century is not without huge challenges, many of in space activity from countries, such as China and which we simply don’t yet have the answer to. “The India and a private sector which is competing in a challenges, costs and risk are immense,” Says Dr new commercial race. Once again, exploring beyond Daniela Petrova, space medicine expert and co-chair our home planet is no longer a dream and a human of the UK Space Biomedicine Association and a voyage to Mars is being planned and discussed with RAeS Aerospace Medicine Group member, “and it’s more seriousness than ever before. not just about technology – the human factors in Echoing the words of former US President a long-duration mission are also very important – Kennedy – ‘We do these things not because they spending 500 days well away from Earth throws up are easy but because they are hard’ – it goes without all sorts of psychological issues.” saying that getting humans to the surface of Mars From the launchers to take humans there, to

18 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 food, medical and psychological issues, there are mission to Mars needs to bring with them, the lower many hurdles to get over. Today, Mars seems as far the cost of the launch will be. away as the Moon did when Kennedy challenged a A mission to Mars would have gruelling effects nation to land there by the end of the 1960s, when on the human body in ways that other space missions America’s experience in space came to just minutes. have not. It’s not just because of the length of the It is a sentiment echoed by those trying to get us to mission, astronauts will have to endure three different IF WE HAD the Red Planet: “Taking humans to Mars and bringing types of gravity. In order to understand more about CARRIED ON them safely back to Earth will be very challenging.” this, NASA is currently exploring the issues of gravity says Matthew Duggan, Manager for Exploration at fields, where astronauts journeying to the Red Planet AT THE SAME Boeing. Compared with the Moon, Mars is at least will have to experience Earth’s gravity, microgravity MOMENTUM 100 times further away from the Earth. To get there and then Martian gravity, which is about a third of that AS APOLLO, WE the ideal launch window comes about every 26 on Earth and the effect that changes from different months, as the Earth is catching up with Mars in its gravity fields has on the body. Transitioning from one COULD HAVE orbit as this gives you the shortest distance. The gravity field to another is trickier than it sounds. It BEEN ON MARS shortest journey would take six months. Even robotic affects your spatial orientation, head-eye and hand- BY THE 1980S missions to Mars have a high failure rate. eye co-ordination, balance and locomotion, making OR 1990S Regardless of these hurdles, Mars is still the it likely that you will experience motion sickness. If number one goal for human exploration in space. “It an astronaut is impaired because of the changes in Buzz Aldrin is one of spaceflight’s long-term desires to have a gravity field, it could make landing a spacecraft on human presence on Mars,” says Tracy Lamm, Chief Mars very difficult. However, NASA is already working Operating Officer at Space Center Houston, in Texas. to overcome these challenges. By analysing how the One of the key differences now is space is no longer body changes in weightlessness and after returning the preserve of governments. There is a new private to Earth’s gravity, protection against these changes space race, which is in fact no different to any other for a Mars mission can be developed. As well as types of exploration throughout history. “It’s how it was techniques such as exercising – something astronauts historically; lots of exploration was by private industry,” living and working on the ISS have to do every day explains Sean McDaniel, CEO of Atlas Space – compression ‘cuffs’ are also fitted onto the thighs Operations, which is working to develop a commercial of astronauts to help keep blood in their own lower deep space communication network. “If governments extremities, to counteract vision changes. won’t do it, it’s up to private industry.” Yet, without many of us realising it, our mission Getting there to Mars has already begun, with long duration space missions on the International Space Station (ISS). The next step is how to get there. For NASA and one Not only is this enabling us to understand more about of its partners, Boeing, which is helping to develop the the physical hurdles faced by astronauts but also the heavy lifting rocket known as the SLS (Space Launch mental challenges. This has also been supported by System), it doesn’t mean starting with a direct mission experiments on Earth looking into the effects of long to Mars. “Phase One, we envision, will be developing periods of confinement on human psychology with an outpost around the Moon, in what we refer to as a small group of people. Results from these types of cis-lunar space. It would be a place that crews could test on Earth will eventually help scientists understand visit and be in the radiation environment of deep the type of person suited to a mission to Mars. space, not protected by the magnetic field of the There are some obvious hurdles to overcome, Earth,” says John Elbon, Vice President and General such as food (there will be no supply ship to bring Manager for Boeing Space Exploration. “Phase Two supplies) and water will have to be reused and would be living in that area for a long period of time. recycled. There are also some less obvious ones, such Phase Three would be travelling to the vicinity of Mars as clothing: “Garments are currently thrown away, and then eventually go down to the surface.” there is no washing machine on the ISS,” says Ted One logical step would be a Lunar base, such as Southern, President of Final Frontier Design, which the Moon Village being proposed by ESA (European is developing commercial spacesuits and safety Space Agency), using this as a place to hone skills garments. “We are working on clothes that can be needed for a Mars mission – as well as a replacement worn for long durations and also waterless washing for the ISS. A return to the Moon would then enable techniques.” While garments may seem unimportant, humans to develop the skills and technology needed because of the cost of launch, every pound of weight for a Mars landing and permanent human occupation really does count. The fewer things an astronaut on a of Mars.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 19 SPACEFLIGHT Human missions to Mars Buzz Aldrin.com The Aldrin Cycler

The Cycler system alters the philosophy behind a Mars program. It makes possible the dream of regular flights to the Red Planet and a permanent human presence there. That’s the only way we’ll ever succeed in taking mankind’s next giant leap: a subway-in-the-sky between our planet and our future second home. Buzz Aldrin

Endless orbits on the Moon which has no real atmosphere. The largest object to land so far is the NASA Curiosity For Aldrin, his visions of occupying Mars would Rover, which is about the size of a car. Currently mean cycling orbits, which would see spacecraft NASA is testing new types of landing techniques cycling between the Moon and Earth and Mars in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, which is similar to and Earth. A crew would launch from Earth and Mars’, things which sound like science fiction, such NASA’s SLS rocket will rendezvous with the spacecraft on the Earth-Mars as inflatable ‘flying saucers’ could help land the provide heavy lifting muscle cycling orbit in order to get to Mars. Spacecraft first human crew on the surface. for missions beyond LEO. would then continue on these cycling pathways On the surface yet more challenges from NASA bringing more astronauts and supplies. habitats to radiation but also less obvious things, Most importantly of all, just as the ISS such as dust. “Dust is an issue on Mars,” says required co-operation, getting to Mars will likely Southern. “By the end of the missions to the Moon require collaboration not just with governments the suits were covered in dust. The suits for Apollo of different nations, but private industry also. “The also had less mobility and required pre-breathing.” mission timeline and distance to enable deep New types of spacesuits will be needed for Mars, space human exploration will require innovative crew will also need to work around radiation on technologies from countries and individuals the planet (as Mars, unlike Earth, does not have a across the globe,” says Lamm. Collaboration protective magnetic field), though it is likely that instead of competition is something also favoured voyages away from habitats will be timed with by Aldrin. “Compete in the concept, co-operate safer levels of radiation. in the area of operations. That is what we need Finally, one of the most vital aspects of to do in space. It is very wasteful to compete out any mission to Mars, communications. Imagine there.” astronauts landing on the planet, only to discover they can’t communicate well with Earth. “NASA Martian challenges recently had to shut down its Curiosity Rover and put it in a standby state, as it risked losing Once at Mars, there are yet further technological contact. They had to wait for orbit alignment to challenges. Mars has a far thinner atmosphere enable Earth to Mars communications,” explains than the Earth, making landing difficult and McDaniel. “You can’t risk communications outages something which can’t be compared to landing when there are people on Mars. Optical should

20 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Lockheed Martin

Above: At the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2017, Lockheed Martin revealed this concept of a Mars Lander spaceplane and orbital Base Camp designed to ferry crews and cargo be the primary way of communicating, with radio as from an orbital base camp to the surface of Mars. secondary.” Below: Also at the IAC, SpaceX’s Elon Musk revealed new details on his giant Mars rocket as well One thing is for sure, a mission to Mars will be as an ambitious vision for a Martian colony. unlike anything humans have ever seen or done before. Whereas the Apollo missions to the Moon, took humanity to a new world, humans on Mars will be our first step to becoming a multi-planetary species. Throughout history on Earth, exploration has been a one-way trip and, while it may seem like science fiction to some now, when we go to Mars it will likely be the start of a continuous human presence on the planet. While there may be many excuses not to go, there are far more reasons to go. Humans were built to go over the hill, space is that next hill. It is our curiosity for what is ‘out there’ which has helped differentiate us from animals. Exploring space is as much about improving life on our own planet, as it is about expanding into the universe. It is not a case of SpaceX moving to Mars instead of Earth, but exploring Mars to expand as a species and improve life for all. Of course we will likely fail on the way. But whereas failure was not an option for Gene Kranz and the team at Mission Control while trying to successfully bring home the crew of Apollo 13, failure is something which, according to Aldrin, we must embrace in trying to get to Mars. “There is nothing wrong with failing. People fail all the time and we learn. It’s how humanity progresses. Not everyone gets a chance to be successful.”

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 21 DEFENCE Adversary training Flying for the dark side Cobham

TIM ROBINSON joins the crew of VADER 61, a Cobham Special Mission Falcon 20 on a mission providing operational readiness training to RAF fighter pilots.

he wing drops, I'm pushed into my seat (RRS) and RAIDS (Rangeless Airborne Instrumented and everything feels heavy. Outside a small Debriefing System) which tracks the aircraft using window I see contrails curve above us in GPS and provides missile shot validity. Underneath the blue sky as the jet pulls hard and the the fuselage a fairing hides an ESM receiver which G increases. We’ve ‘trashed’ (dodged) allows us to listen for radar signals. Ta simulated BVR missile shot at our aircraft from a Over the North Sea in restricted airspace, our fighter we cannot see and we are still in the fight. flightplan includes a forward and rear CAP, a Bullseye The pilot unloads the G, and straightens up, while the and a REGEN zone off to the northeast that will allow EWO monitoring the electronic warfare suite keeps ‘killed’ aircraft to retreat and then come back into the up a running commentary over the headset on how fight after a time-out. For this mission, with the Blue this mock air battle, 27,000ft above the North Sea, Strike package attempting to ingress from the south is developing. I’m aboard a Cobham Special Mission to a ground target at Bamburgh on the coast in the Falcon 20, callsign VADER 61, a civilian aircraft north west, Red Air will have two ‘lives’ (or regens) as providing operational readiness training that is worth Flankers before coming back as less formidable MiG- its weight in gold in helping prepare RAF Typhoon 23s. With the strike package having to fight its way in fighter pilots about to deploy to the world's crisis and out of the target and with an additional aggressor zones. Hawk (SAVAGE) lurking as a close-in threat, a Today’s scenario involves Typhoons from 3(F) combined maximum total of 16 enemy aircraft means and 11 Squadrons and Hawks from 100 Sqn and this is an extremely tough challenge – even for RAF is a complex multi-aircraft mission that will pit three Typhoons. Typhoons (RAMPAGE), one Hawk (SAVAGE 1) and WE’RE NOT Yet this complex aerial exercise takes detailed two Falcon 20s (VADER) playing ‘Red Air’ against HERE TO WIN preparation – with Cobham crews and mission a Blue Air package consisting of four Typhoons AT ALL COSTS. planners working closely with RAF and other services (RAZOR) escorting a single Hawk strike asset WE ARE HERE to meet training requirements. Though these are (SAVAGE 2). civilian pilots and a civilian operator, today's mission As VADER 61 (and wingman VADER 62) this TO PROVIDE briefing echoes a front-line RAF squadron, with mission sees Cobham’s Falcon 20s replicating a REALISTIC time hacks, met brief, NOTAMs radio callsigns and fourth generation ‘Flanker-J’ threat – with the capacity THREAT frequencies as well as a mission line-up card. Mission not only to jam radars but also communications – as REPLICATION and training objectives for the day are reviewed so well as launch (simulated) BVR AA-10 missiles. Three that all crews are on the same page with the agreed external pods carried under the wings comprise an AND TO PUNISH exercise plan with 3(F) and 11 Sqns. Emergency electronic warfare jammer, Radar Signal Simulator POOR TACTICS procedures (today a rear compartment fire) are also

22 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Cobham's Falcon 20 with RAF Typhoons. The company uses the aircraft to provide operational readiness training for UK, NATO and other armed forces. gone over. Briefings and take-off times are run to Were all communications adequate (a faint callsign military precision – with the aircraft launching exactly is noted)? What lessons can we learn? A look at on time. the RAIDS pod data gives a top-down overview and replay of the air battle – vital for assessing and BVR battle over the North Sea understanding what actually happened. These results are then forwarded on to RAF With the call that the Blue strike package is running Typhoon squadrons to help them debrief and conduct in hot as a ‘Wall’ – the combat begins to develop at post-mission analysis. Though times have changed a frighteningly fast pace. The front CAP of three from 1960-era ‘bar debriefs’ with hand-waving and RAMPAGE Typhoons, having fired a simulated volley, ‘I shot you/no you didn't’ claims, even with today's runs back north towards our station with the Blue situational awareness aids such as TCAS, ADS-B, escorts hard on their heels. ‘Contacts, hot, pressing’ and RAIDS, it takes an experienced crew and Our turn next! specialists to analyse, sort through and understand With 11 aircraft heading towards each other at a what was going on at any given time. In this mission, combined closing speed of between 1.65-1.8Mach, Red Air successfully defended the target, with the time to decide and act is short. Cranking hard we striker and escorts withdrawing rather than tangle ‘trash’ a couple of long-range missile shots, while again with regenerated MiG-23 Floggers heading RAMPAGE flight attempt to ‘grind’ and reposition back into the fight. “We trashed a lot of missiles for follow-up shots. With the combat taking place at today” observed a Cobham EWO reviewing the replay 25miles, or further, ahead of us, from the cramped of the scenario. interior of VADER 61 there is little to see, apart from This may sound like a triumph for Red Air but occasional contrails up above and the changing as one Cobham source stressed: “We’re not here horizon as the jet twists and turns. In the back of the to win at all costs. We are here to provide realistic Falcon, at her console, VADER 61s EWO (electronic threat replication and to punish poor tactics.” In this warfare officer) sets up jammers, ‘spikes’ our targets case, the debrief assessment is that Blue Air, with Cobham’s Falcon and calls when we are being targeted – building depleted BVR weapons after pressing us hard initially, 20s have been up the fast-changing picture of how the fight is made the sound tactical choice to withdraw and fight updated with progressing. another day. Unlike in the movies, this was judged to Rockwell Collins With the EWO activating ‘music’ (jamming) we be a correct approach – especially if their target was select another target and launch three Fox 1s (radar- assessed as a low-priority one. as guided AAMs) in succession at a single Typhoon well as the latest heading towards us. However, after splitting from Aggressors – assemble! enhancement, our wingman, we are ourselves targeted by another real-time RAIDS Blue force Typhoon and ‘killed' by a missile shot. This complex, challenging and highly dynamic Our pilot transmits a brief change in squawk code mission is a window into changed and evolving display (real time to indicate we are ‘dead’ and the Falcon begins to training requirements from UK and NATO customers monitoring system descend towards the North East at about 14,000ft for high-threat, full-on, dynamic threat scenarios. (RTMS) consoles, to ‘regenerate’. However, coming back into the fight Only five or six years ago, says Cobham, the typical with our second ‘life’ we hear over the radio from mission for the RAF was far different – replicating in the back of two BLACKDOG that Blue has aborted their mission a stand-off jammer that would see the Falcon 20 of the fleet. without striking the target and the package is now bore holes in the sky orbiting or providing a simple egressing away from us to the south. A solitary ‘canned’ fully-scripted encounter. While these ‘canned’ RAZOR flight Typhoon momentarily snaps back towards VADER 62 but then thinks better of it and rejoins the rest of Blue flight hastily beating a retreat. With that, BLACKDOG calls the exercise terminated and VADER 61 and 62 form up for the short flight back to Durham Tees airport. After a straight in ILS approach and landing, we taxied back to park next to Cobham’s other Falcons on the line. Though we had been in the air one and a half hours, such was the intensity of that it only felt like we were airborne for 15 minutes.

Debrief and lessons learned

Once landed, the VADER crews debrief today’s flight in detail. Was the mission objective achieved? Who had any technical problems? What was unexpected?

JUNE 2017 23 DEFENCE Adversary training

encounters are still useful – especially for introducing GLOSSARY acquired a Diamond DA42 as a UAV surrogate. new Typhoon pilots to EW (now earlier in the training Equipped with a MX15 camera sensor and syllabus coming out of OCU level compared to Trash – defeat a missile downlink, it allows the RAF Reaper UAV to be previously) there is now a focus on real-world, launch kinematically emulated in exercises in airspace where the RPAS high-intensity threats, with the Falcon’s providing a BLACKDOG – Red Air cannot currently fly. jamming and offensive (missile) threat replication. GCI Ground Control “We’ve really evolved the service we provide,” said VADER – Cobham Aggressors on tour Jen Trafford, Cobham EWO and an ex-Tornado F3 Special Mission Falcon navigator/WSO. callsign But it is not just RAF pilots and RN warships whose As in the mission I experienced, today, Cobham’s RAMPAGE – Red Air tactical skills are honed and sharpened by fighting Falcons are replicating fourth generation threats and Typhoon callsign Cobham’s electronic aggressors. Its Falcons also are embedded in a CAP as a missile-laden fighter, deploy to support overseas exercises, both with RAZOR – Blue Air with the only thing it can't do, within visual range RAF aircraft and even sometimes on their own. Typhoon callsign (WVR) dogfighting. However, aggressive flying by the Recent exercises have included NATO Frisian Flag SAVAGE – pilots, along with chaff and EW, means that the Falcon Hawk in April, as well as working with the US Navy USS can still hold its own at BVR ranges. In addition, the callsign George Bush carrier air wing and the Royal Navy in simulated missile ranges are tweaked to account for Music – Jamming Exercise Saxon Warrior more recently. Says Spike the Falcon’s slower speed when entering the merge Nails – RWR indication Jepson: “We had a pretty significant part in that, with compared to a supersonic fighter. This, says Cobham, of an AI radar in search seven aeroplanes deployed, as well as the DA42 as provides a highly cost-effective threat simulator, giving mode a simulated UAV.” 80% of capability of a fast jet at just a fraction of the Spike – RWR indication Other overseas deployments (sometimes at cost. of radar in tracking/ short notice and with challenging clearances and Partnered with the RAF’s 100Sqn Hawks, which launch mode logistics) have included , Malaysia and even give an agile opponent to fight in the visual arena this Snap – immediate Cape Town recently to support RN training. “Those allows Cobham’s Falcon’s to give RAF Typhoons (and change of direction of kind of challenges, getting aeroplanes, people, role other fighter communities) something to test their hostile group/bogey equipment from the UK to overseas exercises is skills. Bullseye - reference logistically very challenging, but is one of the areas point from which BRAA we really pride ourselves in,” says Jepson. Falcon 20s – still going strong – (bearing/range/ The company also currently holds the NATO altitude/aspect calls are SHAPE EW Flying Training contract – making its Cobham Special Mission operates a fleet of 15 made to callsigns) Falcons a familiar sight outside the UK on major Falcon 20s, with ten routinely supplied for UK Wall – contacts or exercises. It is also currently rebidding for an defence training and operational readiness tasking. groups heading in a line existing contract to provide EW training for the These are split roughly equally between its main abreast formation . base in Bournemouth (RN support and where maintenance is handled) and Durham Tees Valley The Cobham team (RAF support) but these can vary depending on the Cobham's Falcon tasking. Its contract with the UK MoD provides for 20s also deploy Like some other defence companies today, Cobham 6,000 flying hours annually, based on availability and on international can be thought of as part of the RAF or MoD's performance. 'Whole Force' concept, providing an outsourced Cobham’s Teesside-based Falcon 20s not training exercises commercial service (EW training) that used to be only provide electronic warfare/electronic Attack to provide performed in house. It is thus no surprise that its training for RAF Typhoons but also provides adversary support. aircrew comprise some extremely experienced ex- threats to help train Tornado GR4, rotary-wing military pilots and WSOs, with Tornado F3, Phantom and C-130 crews. Falcon 20 crews will also help F-4, Typhoon experience and exchange tours flying train QRA intercepts by posing as ‘rogue airliners’ with, at times, the entire UK command and control apparatus (right up to the UK Cabinet's COBRA committee) involved. Though the threat of a 9/11 style terror attack has receded in the public mind, it is critical that responses to this nightmare scenario are trained for and rehearsed. For the Royal Navy, Cobham's Falcon 20s play the role of maritime attackers, ensuring that every member of the ship’s crew, sensors and weapons are calibrated and prepared. Working with 736 Naval Air Sqn’s Hawk T1As, Cobham's Falcons will simulate missile attacks on RN warships with the Hawks acting as sea-skimming missiles. As well its Falcon 20s, Cobham also recently

24 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Cezary Adamczewski/Cobham Cobham

single industry contractor provide air-to-air, JTAC, naval aerial support and other airborne tactical training services. Set to be formally launched later this year, the reported £1.5bn, ten-year contract has already seen industry partnerships formed as companies jockey for position. Textron Air Land, for example, has joined with QinetiQ and Thales with the Scorpion jet as the centrepiece of its bid. Meanwhile, training and mission provider Inzpire has teamed with Canadian ‘aggressor’ contractor Discovery Air Defence (see Train Virtual, Fight Easy, F-16s, F/A-18s, F-15Cs, US Aggressors and even AEROSPACE June 2017). the F-117. General Manager of Cobham Special For its part, as the incumbent of two of the Missions, EMEA, Spike Jepson is himself a former core missions (RAF EW operational readiness and RAF Red 1 and Team Leader and the company is Cobham RN threat emulation) earlier this year, Cobham set to take on its first ex-F-35 pilot later this year. has teamed announced it had partnered with the US Red These pilots (with some 130,000 military flying with Draken Air contractor Draken International. Draken hours between them out a total of some 293,000 International, which operates A-4Ks, surplus flying hours total) thus provide a deep core of International to L-159Es and is also acquiring 20 ex-Spanish operational service experience to Cobham. This bid for the UK's Air Force Mirage F1Ms, is already busy in the provides a level of long-term continuity in Red Air Red Air ASDOT US providing private aggressors to train against training for the customer. fifth generation F-35s – the newest and most However, interestingly Cobham also recruits from requirement. challenging platform that is entering service. The the civil sector with some pilots joining without a thought of this new partner, with fast jets, able to military background and making their way in via the take training to the next level is “thrilling for us” said right-hand seat. Chief Flying Instructor at Durham one Cobham source. Tees Valley, George Jameson, for example, has been ASDOT will thus see the Falcon 20s replaced with the company a decade – yet has a non-military with a new platform (or platforms). Says Jepson: flying background and, as VADER 61’s Captain, was “It is our intent to undertake a fleet replacement the flight leader for this highly demanding mission programme which would see the Falcon 20 aircraft described above. This is a very attractive career path phased out and new platforms introduced with zero for anyone perhaps looking for a high-tempo flying transition risk to the UK MoD.” He adds: “A key part job that is civil, yet features low-level, exciting flying of our ASDOT solution includes ensuring that we and contributes directly to UK front-line readiness. include innovative technology solutions that build on It is also a job for people who like flying – with our pedigree in providing relevant and realistic live aircrew flying roughly 460hr a year or double their Operational Readiness Training that, where possible, counterparts in the military, with the Falcons flying link into any future synthetic, networked DOTC(A) two or sometimes three times a day. programme”. Indeed, Spike Jepson notes that Cobham's ASDOT and beyond existing contract will see the company provide the first operational support training to UK F-35B when However, a big change is on the horizon with the 617 Sqn touches down in the UK in 2018. The UK’s upcoming ASDOT (Air Support to Defence company has started engaging with the MoD to Operational Training) requirement – an all-in-one understand what the F-35B’s training requirement Red Air aggressor training project that will see a might look like. ASDOT comes at a critical time with the introduction of new air platforms like F-35, new weapons like Meteor and new warships like Type 45 and HMS Queen Elizabeth – all of which point to larger ranges and airspace needed. In this, the fusion of live and simulated assets (or LVC), via DOTC(A) will be key to train and utilise these assets to the max. Add in new threats, such as GPS spoofing and cyberattacks and the ‘operational readiness’ is set to see a step-change in how tactical training is provided in the future. “These are fundamental shifts and we have to a take an innovative approach to them,” says Jepson. “It’s really so that, when F-35 comes fully online, we’re really delivering at the top end.”

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 25 GENERAL AVIATION UK airfields under threat Flying light Zodski Pilatus Paul Bowen Photography

Is the UK general aviation (GA) sector withering on the vine? LAURIE PRICE FRAeS looks at why this underappreciated national resource and the aerodromes that support it are vital for the wider air transport industry.

n the heady days of the 1930s, the UK led the Most of the major recent advances in GA world in production and innovation of light aircraft aircraft design, development and operation have to supply the increasing demand and interest been to air sport aircraft, including homebuilt and in aviation that was sweeping the country. microlight aircraft and gliders using new lightweight Names like Miles, Whitney Straight, de materials and powerplants. Lighter touch regulation IHavilland and Chilton, were regular features in that is vigorously encouraged by the Light Aircraft reports of air shows, air races and record-breaking Association (LAA), British Gliding Association GA STILL flights. While their pilots, such as Cobham, Mollison (BGA), British Microlight Aircraft Association ACCOUNTS FOR and Johnson, became national celebrities. (BMAA), British Helicopter Advisory Board (BHAB) NINE TENTHS OF Despite some increased post WW2 activity in and others, who between them, support over general aviation (GA), as Tiger Moths and other light 10,000 aircraft, has allowed innovation to thrive OUR AIRCRAFT wartime types were sold into the civil market, the last and with it new aircraft, systems and products to be AND OVER HALF UK-produced light aircraft was the Beagle 206 that developed for GA. Those same organisations and OF OUR PILOTS, had followed the Beagle Pup, while its big brother, their informed approach have enabled operations IT DIRECTLY the Bulldog was produced as a military trainer by to mature. For instance, some LAA Permit Aircraft . Meanwhile, the BN Islander light can now fly at night and in IMC. Additionally, again SUPPORTS utility aircraft is now produced in Switzerland, primary driven by GA, green shoots of lighter regulation ALMOST 10,000 production having moved from Bembridge IOW to are emerging from the European Aviation Safety JOBS AND Romania and Belgium and subsequently to Pilatus. Agency (EASA) and with that the freedom to INDIRECTLY Who now remembers GA projects such as the BN develop new aircraft less encumbered by red tape Nymph, Trago Mills SAH, ARV2, Pilot Sprite light and costs. But will it be enough to catalyse the NEARLY 30,000 aircraft initiatives, which have all foundered? renaissance of UK GA? MORE.

26 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 GA in context under-recognition and over-regulation. The economic research into the value of GA that we publish Although getting accurate data on UK GA is difficult alongside this Strategy shows the dramatic impact of (as identified as an issue for future planning by the this decline and the effect it has had on the sector’s GA Red Tape Challenge Panel), there are some economic contribution to the UK. But importantly, 27,000 civil aircraft registered in the UK, of which it also recognises the need and the scope for over 90% are involved in GA. GA covers most of renaissance so that the sector can thrive once more.” aeh Roberts Gareth Alan Wilson

aviation that is not commercial air transport, or airlines From opposite page left to this Moving forward page right: Pilatus PC12NG, to most people. It also includes aerial survey work for 2017 Piper M600, Cessna utility and transport companies as well as emergency As the background confirms, the health of UK GA Grand Caravan, Microlights at medical services, such as organ donation ferry flights, is crucial to the future of both the air transport and Salisbury airfield, Marganski air ambulance and, of course, the police. aerospace sectors by encouraging early interest in MDM-1 Fox ‘G-IIFX’ Seen There are some 50,000 pilots licensed by the aviation and as a source of potential recruitment. displaying as the ‘FX Glider display team’ at the 2014 UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to fly powered But UK GA is under threat from airfields being Little Gransden Air & Car aircraft with about half holding private pilot licences developed for housing and encroachment by controlled Show. or equivalent focused on GA. The remainder hold airspace, changes often based on spurious traffic professional pilot licenses. In addition, there are forecasts. From increasing cost through taxation on some 10,000 active glider pilots, with membership of training, unique to the UK and on AVGAS. Alternative aviation-related sport and recreational associations technology and attractions for young people – smart such as the LAA, BGA and the Aircraft Owners & phones, IPad, virtual reality games, all conspire to Pilots Association (AOPA) etc. at 36,000. make flying real aircraft and waiting for weather or late The number of aerodromes supporting GA is arrivals to train in 40-year-old aircraft less attractive. circa 500, albeit over 1,000 ‘airfields’ have been A number of significant airfields have closed in identified in previous studies of UK GA. recent years, including Filton, Panshanger, Manston The 2015 Government GA Policy document and Plymouth; albeit FlyPlmouth have a scheme to stated that: reopen the airport initially based around GA activity, “When we published our response to the including single-engine aircraft in IMC (instrument Challenge Panel in October we noted GA’s role in meteorological conditions) conditions (SEIMC) training future pilots and engineers and employing operations. Others remain under threat of housing skilled workers. GA still accounts for nine tenths development, including all GA airfields in Surrey of our aircraft and over half of our pilots, it directly – Fairoaks, Redhill and – leaving Surrey, supports almost 10,000 jobs and indirectly nearly despite many of its residents working in aviation at 30,000 more. These are skilled careers, including Heathrow and Gatwick and in aerospace, with no aerospace engineers, those involved in advanced operational airfields. and those training the next generation of Many other airfields, over 20 in total, such as Old pilots. And it is worth three billion pounds annually to Sarum, North Weald, Blackpool and Wellsbourne the UK economy. Yet for many years GA has been are hanging on by a thread, as Government Brown a Cinderella sector, suffering from a combination of Field designation and local authorities looking for

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 27 GENERAL AVIATION UK airfields under threat

easy wins to solve housing shortfalls threaten their ‘The APPG on general aviation believes that, over continued existence and airfield operating costs a period of decades, successive governments have rise and revenues decline. All compounded by failed to fully appreciate the critical role that general CAA airfield licensing requirements and associated aviation plays in promoting UK plc. costs having forced some airfields to operate as Commercial, industrial and military aviation unlicensed, limiting the type of traffic and activity has a strong interest in keeping a thriving general they can accept. The total of licensed airfields having aviation sector alive. Many organisations have already reduced from 144 to 124 (Government GA Policy approached the APPG to offer their support. Put paper 2015). simply, the importance of general aviation to boosting With airfield closure, so flying schools and scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical associated maintenance capability and employment (STEM) skills in the wider economy cannot be GA CAN BE has been lost. Even at once thriving GA airfields overestimated. such as Shoreham, the number of flying schools has Yet no aviation sector can exist without a network A WAY OF reduced. It’s a vicious circle which needs to be broken. of airfields and virtually every airfield was a product BOOSTING The only airfields that seem to be countering that trend of wartime Britain. When they are closed and built on, INTEREST IN are those such as Gloucester where an energetic they are never replaced. Therefore, without a shift in management has encouraged business diversity and Government policy, the UK will, by default, exit both STEM SUBJECTS those that are now unlicensed. general aviation and overall aviation as a critical sector AS WITH THE With Boeing and Airbus forecasting a requirement of our economy within a generation. We are delighted RAeS/BOEING for 600,000 new and replacement pilots over the next that industry more broadly is supporting the aims of SCHOOLS 30 years, if the issue of funding such training can be this important APPG on general aviation and we are addressed, it could be the catalyst for the renaissance proud to display their support here’. BUILD-A-PLANE. of UK GA. The Government is latest Consultation ‘Beyond the In addition, there is a significant opportunity to Horizon – The future of UK Aviation’ says on GA: improve UK connectivity, particularly cross country and ‘General aviation (GA) covers a wide range of cross the radial roads and rail links using new types of activities, from business jets and air taxis through to air service such as SEIMC, which with nine or fewer hobbyists flying aircraft they have built themselves.’ passengers can operate into unlicensed airfields. The GA sector plays an important role in the overall This would in turn provide new and faster links which aviation world, delivering economic benefits but also bypass increasing road congestion and overcrowded encouraging many people to become involved in and expensive rail services. This opportunity also aviation. The most recent general aviation Strategy extends beyond the UK into Europe. set out the Government’s vision for the GA sector and The DfT is commissioning a study on the value of made a number of commitments for reform. There are the UK airfield network as originally recommended specific issues that the Government is keen to better by the GA Red Tape Challenge Panel. It’s seldom understand. These include: the decline in the numbers recognised that the UK has over 500 airfields of leisure pilots and aircraft; the tensions between (many more according to some sources) but only the needs of scheduled and non-scheduled aviation 50 are currently served by commercial air services regarding access to airspace and airport infrastructure; constituting an underused transport resource. If we and the closure of some smaller airports, airfields and don’t have airports to fly from and access to airspace, airstrips. The Government is interested in gaining a GA will continue to shrink and the seed corn of British better understanding of the benefits and requirements aviation will die. of the sector and whether it is possible to identify a The establishment of the All-Party Parliamentary strategic network or level of infrastructure to enable Group (APPG) for general aviation, chaired by keen the sector to continue its valuable role. private pilot Grant Shapps MP, will help UK GA, but Major aviation, air transport and aerospace groups Gypsy Moth – a product of Britain’s once thriving light they, in turn, require help in identifying key constraints back UK GA recognising its crucial role. aircraft sector. to UK GA. Against that background of significant Government, Parliamentary and industry support for GA, then all should be working to encourage the sector in its own right, also as a foundation and recruitment ground for commercial aviation and aerospace and to help UK regional connectivity and enhanced links to Europe for the majority of airfields not served by commercial air services.

Policy priorities for UK GA

If UK GA is to regenerate, a number of key policy issues need to be addressed by Government, but

Via Auther Via supported by the sector. These include:

28 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 1. GA and industry recruitment. GA is the foundation for air transport and aerospace recruitment. Without GA, industry is not going to be able to fill all the vacancies in the sector that is so crucial to the UK economy. The industry needs 600,000 pilots and 600,000 engineers worldwide over the next 30 years. Plus other specialists such as air traffic control officers (ATCOs), designers, technicians, programmers etc, the UK can and should contribute to providing for and training those. But it needs a positive Government focus and a co-ordinated industry approach if it is to be achieved. Jobs in aviation and aerospace are skilled and two and half times more productive than the average. 2. GA and UK regional connectivity. Use GA to help UK regional and European connectivity,

particularly now that SEIMC is permitted in UK and Sterling Peter Europe. Only 50 UK airports in the UK have regular scheduled services. There are 500 or more airfields Project Phoenix, a community hobby for future generations. Inspire such interest in the UK, so using GA air taxis, ad hoc services, campaign to save Panshanger by encouraging electric flight air racing? self-fly or via Business Aviation can help improve airfield and backed by Carol connectivity across the country and beyond. The Vorderman and local MP 6. Sustain the UK airfield network. Maintaining the Department for International Trade confirms that Grant Shapps, has just been network of UK airfields helps connectivity, regional local airfields attract inward investment for local launched. access, economic development and employment. businesses from outside the UK. The start should be by de-designating them as brownfield sites. National planning rules need to 3. GA statistics for planning. We need up-to- change to stop airfield closures and encourage large date data on GA pilot licences issued, number of towns to provide an airfield, as in France, where it is certified aircraft, operational airfields, flying hours proven it can be good for commerce and sporting and overall activity in the GA sector, if the true role activity. In Plymouth the local Council has recognised and opportunity of UK GA is to be understood and the economic, connectivity and social benefits of requisite policies developed to enable its future reopening the airport. Unless the airfield network development. is secured, there will be fewer places to train future 4. GA and taxation. The unique imposition of VAT pilots and engineers, so denying the UK part of a on flying training and tax on AVGAS must be training market that it is well equipped to assist due addressed. Given the opportunity for the UK in to the reputation for high standards of regulation, 1 above, we should seek a level playing field, adherence, operation and the use of English. particularly with overseas training organisations 7. GA fair access to airspace. The current allocation and competitors who don’t incur such levels of tax. and assessment of UK designated airspace by Flying Training is the only academic / vocational the Directorate of Airspace Policy (DAP) needs training in the UK subject to VAT; it puts UK flight a complete overhaul. Proposals for new airspace training schools at a significant disadvantage, as restrictions seems to ignore improved commercial does the additional tax on AVGAS, still the most aircraft performance and the needs of GA. They are widely used aviation fuel for Flying Training. This often based on spurious forecasts of commercial tax increases the cost of an already more costly traffic growth on which no independent economic specialist fuel. In addition, Government policy should tests have been applied. Additionally, there needs encourage use of new fuels and electric flight for to be greater consistency in the decision process. GA training and recreation. Wider acceptance of Mode S, automatic dependent 5. GA and education/training. Policies should be surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) and transponder adopted to integrate flying training into STEM and mandatory zone (TMZ) plus improved GPS-based other Government education initiatives. More should GA navigation and instrument procedures will help, be done to encourage young people into aviation but may need an associated change to the private via Cadet and other organisations, adapting school pilot’s licence (PPL) training curriculum. curricula as required. The excellent RAeS and Boeing Build-a-Plane initiatives and the scholarship The future for UK GA is potentially bright but it programmes of those, the Air League and British RAeS Light Aircraft Design will need a concerted effort by the industry and its Women Pilots’ Association (BWPA) etc. should also Conference 2017 learned bodies such as the RAeS to keep up pressure be encouraged further. The aim must be to show 20 November 2017 on Government to allow a positive, enabling policy aviation as offering an exciting career, opportunities No.4 Hamilton Place, framework to evolve for it to achieve its full potential London W1A and GA as both a stepping stone and potential and grow rather than ‘wither’.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 29 AEROSPACE Electric propulsion Charge of the electric flight brigade Zunum Aero

As the US and Europe see significant investments into electric aircraft, ROB COPPINGER asks how are jet engine manufacturers responding to this long-term development?

or powerplant makers there is a sceptical Main picture: Zunum Aero’s The cost of electricity compared to jet fuel tone regarding the replacement of jet fuel Hybrid to electric aircraft that between 2003 and 2017 showed that, for most of they believe will transform burning turbines with electric ‘propulsors’ regional air travel. that period, jet fuel was cheaper, Epstein explained and a battery power source. “Unless you Pratt & Whitney’s (P&W) in a presentation he gave at a Royal Aeronautical combine it with some aircraft-level benefit Technology and Environment Society Washington, DC event held on 11 May 2016 For even stored energy where you’re using electricity Vice President, Alan Epstein, at the British Embassy in the city. that’s been generated by other means, it does not speaking at the RAeS event Safran’s Research and Technology and Innovation make much sense to move to electrification,” said held in Washington DC at the Senior Executive VP, Stéphane Cueille, has a similar British Embassy. Alan Newby, Rolls-Royce’s Director of Aerospace view. He told AEROSPACE: “In principle, full electric technology and future programmes. propulsion brings thermodynamic efficiency benefits A future all-electric aircraft would use power and zero local emission compared to thermal engines stored in batteries to operate all the avionics and the but the weight of the batteries limits drastically the propulsors. A propulsor is defined by General Electric potential use of such a technology.” as: ‘a mechanical device that provides propulsion, As such, Safran’s focus is on hybrid solutions. “We such as a propeller, driven by electric power.’ A hybrid- are, of course, exchanging with airframers to identify electric system can involve a charging the the best hybrid architectures suitable to deliver actual batteries that power the aircraft but there are also benefits. Our aim is to offer the right technologies to other concepts, including providing some the market on future CFM engines with our partner thrust and also electrical power for the avionics and GE, as well as on our other Safran engines for one or more propulsors. helicopters and aircraft.”

Efficient jets Testing houses

Currently, the jet turbines that power aircraft are Despite this sceptical note, Airbus is building a new sufficiently efficient to be more environmentally E-Aircraft Systems House based in Ottobrunn which friendly than the power stations that would produce is set to become operational by the start of 2019. the battery-charging electricity and better than the Airbus’ E-House is a 4,500m² building that will be electric propulsors, according to Pratt & Whitney’s able to test the integrated systems of an entire (P&W) Technology and Environment VP, Alan Epstein. aircraft. Gas turbines, electricity generation, power

30 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 distribution, batteries and other electrical systems will that it then takes less energy and fuel to increase the all be tested at the E-House. ingested boundary layer air’s speed for thrust. Meanwhile, Boeing is involved with NASA at the It is this fuel burn improvement that can make US space agency’s Glenn Research Center’s NASA up for the power losses inherent in a hybrid-electric Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT) facility. An existing system. At every stage of the hybrid-electric NASA facility built in 1968 and converted for electric powertrain, the turbine, electricity generator, battery aircraft work, NEAT is already operational. Because of and power cables that come before the propulsor that its past use for the space programme, NEAT has an finally produces the thrust, there will be power losses altitude chamber, can provide high power and is able from inefficiency. to handle both cryogenic fluids and normal jet fuel. To reduce those losses and the weight associated At a Rolls-Royce facility in Bristol, the company with electrical systems, Newby identified a couple has been experimenting with generating power of technologies that could deliver substantial using an embedded generator. While Newby does improvements in power cable efficiency. “These strike a sceptical note, he added that: “We will need include ultra-wire which is graphene and copper type to continue to optimise the gas turbine and I think, things and, ultimately, carbon nano tubes. If you’re just as the technology develops, you will see increased sticking with copper, they carry a lot of weight.” electrification.” The experimentation at the Bristol Today, Rolls-Royce talks about gas turbines but facility involved embedding electrical machines on an Newby does not rule out the company producing engine to demonstrate that power can be generated electric propulsors in the future. “Whether or not we Below small: Engineers from an embedded generator. “So, it might start with make or buy propellers is a discussion we need to conduct the first test of an an embedded machine in the gas turbine which have in the future. We do propulsion systems, so it electric aircraft engine in produces enough power for a boundary layer fan at would be natural to look at operating in that space as NASA’s Electric Aircraft the back of the aircraft. Then, I might get into a more well. We’ve got the electrical capability through our Testbed (NEAT) at Plum Brook Station. hybrid solution,” he explained. marine division.” Below large: Artist’s concept However, the technical challenge cannot be of NASA’s X-57 aircraft. Improving efficiency underestimated. In Epstein’s presentation he wrote Image: NASA Langley/ that: “Battery-powered commercial aircraft require Advanced Concepts Lab.

The use of boundary layer ingestion for an engine’s non-existent technology” and “if such technology NASA air intake is a key part of the aircraft-level benefit that existed, gas turbines still produce lower net (carbon

Newby mentioned. With these aircraft configuration dioxide) CO2 (output).” Epstein was not available for concepts, such as a blended wing body or a interview. His presentation also stated that: “electric conventional shape with a propulsor in the tail cone, propulsion will not reduce aviation’s CO2 (output)”. the propulsion is embedded. Boundary layer ingestion involves the air flowing over the being slowed Aggressive research by drag and entering the engine inlet at a slower velocity than the free-flowing air would be entering an General Electric has provided AEROSPACE with a engine on a traditional pylon. This has the advantage White Paper that has not been previously published NASA

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which shows GE being more upbeat. In it, GE states Safran’s copper bird that it has been: “aggressively researching hybrid electric and electric propulsion concepts for aircraft.” For more than ten years Safran has invested in and GE sees clear benefits with reduced fuel consumption, been operating an electric test bench, a ‘copper bird’, emissions and noise. The company expects hybrid- Cueille explained, dedicated to the integration and electric propulsion to provide: “an aircraft with evaluation of more-electric aircraft configurations. extended range and lower operating costs.” This work is the foundation of the firm’s hybrid Its research has included powering a 1MW motor propulsion system testing capability, he added. to drive a Dowty propeller. GE said: “A one megawatt Despite the problem of battery weight for the motor is the equivalent of 1,340 mechanical foreseeable future, Safran sees advantages in electric horsepower to the propeller in a traditional aircraft with new propulsion and energy architectures, mechanical power system.” The company has also “bringing savings at the overall aircraft level – reduced extracted 1MW from a F110 engine while it was drag, safety or noise improvement, better energy producing thrust. GE obtained 250kW from what it management,” Cueille said. “However, the savings refers to as the F110’s ‘high-pressure turbine,’ and have to offset the additional weight of electrical 750kw from the ‘low-pressure turbine’. GE declined systems which is a challenge, especially regarding to clarify if it meant a high-pressure compressor and batteries but also with electrical converters.” low-pressure compressor but added that: “1MW of Within the Safran organisation, the company’s electricity, in general, is about ten times the electrical corporate R&T centre, Safran Tech, is working with power being (generated) on today’s aircraft engine/ , Safran Helicopter engines, generation systems.” Safran Power Units and Safran Electrical & Power, For heat management, GE is using silicon carbide a developer of high-power, energy density electrical metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors machines and components on hybrid propulsion. (MOSFET), to switch the power in electronic circuits. This business unit has designed electric generators, Developed by GE, the MOSFET wide-bandgap motors and power electronics in the range of Honeywell and devices have a high temperature and high current several hundred kilowatts for ‘in-service aircraft and Rolls-Royce carrying capability. They can switch power faster helicopters’. than the traditional silicon devices used today. GE “We’re working on scaling up those (generators, have partnered said: “Silicon carbide (is) a next-generation power motors, converters) to satisfy power (levels) and the to develop a conductor that provides 2X the power density and 3X power density required for short and medium-term 1MW-class hybrid the temperature capability of current technology.” hybrid propulsion systems. Safran is actively working propulsion system GE has been investing in test sites. In 2013 it on future aircraft, helicopter and VTOL (vertical opened its $51m electrical power integrated system take-off and landing) energy and propulsion systems, for the Aurora center (EPISCenter) facility in Dayton, Ohio. The including hybrid electric architectures. The topic Flight Sciences EPISCenter has capabilities for electric power system is one of the priorities of … Safran Tech,” Cueille XV-24A, a testing, research and development. It can support revealed. six wide-body aircraft laboratories simultaneously Safran is developing what it calls ‘micro- demonstrator for and provide a capability to test systems from 500W hybridisation’ for ‘fast-restart and boost’ of helicopter the US Defense to 2.5MW in size. GE has no plans to increase this engines and it plans to have flight tests. The firm Advanced capability towards the 20MW that an airliner uses but is also working on ‘highly distributed turbo-electric Research said that the facility has the potential for expansion. propulsion’ for multi-rotor VTOL, and ‘turbofan internal Two years before EPISCenter started work, GE electrical assistance’. At the 2017 , Projects Agency. Aviation opened its electrical power integration Safran signed a technology partnership with Alstom centre, a 30,000ft² facility in Cheltenham, UK, which for high-power technologies for motors, generators focused on power distribution and management. and associated power electronics and wiring. Aurora Flight Sciences Aurora

32 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Electric commuters Zunum Aero

Despite the scepticism and technical challenges, there is one aircraft whose electric propulsor, a ducted fan, will be tested within the next 12 months. “We are currently working on ground prototypes which are integrated into the (ducted) fan and then testing at a sub-scale within the year,” said Zunum Aero’s Aero Chief Engineer, Matt Knapp. “This means a wind- tunnel test and a full-scale ground test and then going to the flying test bed within about two years.” The flying test bed, Knapp explained, will be an existing aircraft modified to take the Zunum Aero’s ducted fans. Knapp and his team expect the first production The Zunum Aero hybrid- technology cycle life has a maximum of about 1,500 aircraft to be flying in the early 2020s. electric aircraft. cycles and a commercial hybrid-electric regional Zunum Aero is developing a hybrid-electric commuter operator flying five times a day will use regional aircraft with 10 to 50 seats and a range of all of those cycles in less than a year. “The operators between 700 to 1,000 miles. Boeing’s ventures arm, will be replacing these batteries on a fairly frequent HorizonX, is an investor in Zunum Aero. “Over the basis,” Knapp pointed out, but he expects battery next seven years we expect to see the electric motor improvement progress to deliver better performance coming into regional travel, with much of the same every time an operator replaces their batteries. efficiency and economy as we’ve seen developing in With a timeframe considerably shorter than the conventional (jet fuel powered) aviation,” explained engine manufacturers, certification rules are on Knapp. Knapp’s mind. “Congress did us a big favour and told The aircraft would operate from airports and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to get out many of the 13,500 smaller airfields that dot the of prescribing technology and stick with legislating US. Eventually the aircraft would be all-electric with safety,” Knapp said. “It gives us more flexibility to bring batteries powering a ducted fan propulsor. Knapp in new technology and to show the FAA that we have adds that the aircraft will be able to cope with an an aircraft that is now safer than what used to fly. unprepared runway, such as a grass airfield. The reliability of electric motors is higher. And then It is this local airfield, short-haul trip market that combustion engines, we have redundancy built in. All Zunum Aero is initially aiming for and the company’s these things make us an actual safer market entry unique selling proposition is its low emissions for such for it.” flights. “Right now, about 40% of all emissions are The regulation that is relevant to Zunum for the for flights of fewer than a thousand miles. We can ten-seater in the short term is the FAA’s FAR23 take a significant whack at those by around 2030, as or EASA’s CF23. “Those sections of the (FAA) we’re seeing more and more of these (hybrid-electric) regs have recently been substantially re-written aircraft come online,” claimed Knapp. and upgraded to facilitate the introduction of Matt K To achieve this, Knapp stated that his firm is: na hybrid-electric flight,” Knapp explained. He expects pp , C “developing platforms that scale,” and that: h regulations for larger aircraft to develop more slowly ie f “the fundamental properties of the hybrid- E based on the experience with FAR23. n g i electric powertrain,” in the initial ten-seat n Knapp described a turbofan as a ducted fan and e

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r business type aircraft are very similar to said that his aircraft’s propulsor is replacing the jet

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the properties of the powertrain for the n engine core with an electric motor. Knapp said of the u

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50-seat, product. While A electric motor: “(the) power density of that motor is e

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Rolls and P&W say that battery technology ) at, or beyond, the jet engine core at this point. It’s a is inadequate now and for the foreseeable very, very power dense motor. It’s also very short (in future, for the Zunum Aero business model, length).” While declining to state where the motor Knapp is far more confident. “We could fly (the ten- is from, Knapp cited the electric Formula 1, called seater) with the batteries that are out there right now.” Formula E, as a source of high-power density electric For Zunum’s aircraft design the existing plan is to motors, and added: “Siemens has its motor which locate the batteries in the wing. “We’re designing it so it has been flying on the Extra (330 LE). Motors of that we are battery agnostic. Batteries are changing this class have been produced. The point is that the and they’re going to continue to change but the technology is there and people know how to build aircraft has a long service life. So, for us, the important these things and we’ll be building them as well.” part is that we develop a system which is flexible, Regional jets, short-range airliners, medium range, modular and allows us to continue to upgrade as the long range, jumbo jets – the variety of types of civil storage technology improves,” Knapp explained. aircraft and possible technology solutions will ensure However, those batteries will have to be replaced that there will be at least as many electric powertrain quite regularly. Knapp said that today’s battery concepts as there are aircraft.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 33 AIR TRANSPORT Irkut MC-21 Russia unwraps its new MC-21

EUGENE GERDEN reports on the current progress of the long-awaited Irkut MC-21 and its future sales prospects in the international market.

he new Irkut MC-21 commercial airliner performed its first test flight on 28 May in the Russian city of Irkutsk. Built by Russian aircraft manufacturer Irkut, which is part of Tthe United Aircraft Corporation, the MC-21 has now commenced flight testing. First deliveries of the MC-21 will begin after completion of all the necessary certificates at the end of 2018. Designed to compete with Boeing and Airbus mid-sized passenger aircraft, the 42.9m long, single-aisle, twinjet MC-21 will be the first civil aircraft of this type to be produced in Russia. It is expected to replace the old Tu-154 and Tu-204 models in the Russian aviation fleet, both of which were designed during the Soviet era after the end of WW2. According to initial plans, the new aircraft should have been called the Yak-242 but this name was later changed.

With a little help from my friends

The MC-21 is jointly designed by the Irkut Aircraft Corporation, the Design Bureau, and the Sergey Aviation Complex, Russia’s leading aviation design bureaus. The initiative for building the MC-21 MC-21 on its first test flight. aircraft was first put forward at the beginning The MC-21 ready for its close up of the 2000s. However, actual implementation at its launch earlier this year. of the project only started in 2008-2009, after the provision of state guarantees for support of UAC the project. According to data from the Russian Ministry of Transport, the total investment in the development of the MC-21 amounted to RUB 245bn ($6bn). The MC-21 has a cruising speed of 870km/h, while its maximum take-off gross weight varies from 72.5 to 79.2tonnes, depending on modifications. The maximum flight distance of the new aircraft is about 5,000km. The initial production will be produced in two versions: the MC-21-200 and the MC-21-300. The first of these models has the capacity of 132-165 seats, while the second model will have between 165- 211 seats. Avionics were supplied by Concern Radio-Electronic Technologies, a company that develops and manufactures military radio- electronics.

34 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 UAC

Russia unwraps its new MC-21

The MC-21 will be equipped with either composite-based wings. The use of carbon plastics the Pratt & Whitney PW1400 engine, or the has allowed Irkut to increase the wingspan of domestically produced PD-14 manufactured the aircraft which, in turn, allowed it to improve its by leading Russian aero-engine producer, Perm aerodynamic quality during cruising flight. According Engine Company. Certification of the PD-14 to Irkut, around 40% of the MC-21 will be should be completed by the end of this year, after manufactured from composites, including the tail. which series production will be started. The design Sergey Loktionov from United Aircraft of the engine was started in November 2015 by Corporation, said that the composite wing of the United Engine Corporation. The PD-14 is the the MC-21 was designed using the innovative first varifan designed in Russia since the collapse technology of vacuum infusion. Loktionov of the USSR in 1991. comments: “This method allows us to save on According to recent statements from Dmitry weight, as there is a no need for large numbers Rogozin, Russia’s first deputy prime minister (and of rivets and bolts. In addition, it also allows more UAC the person responsible for the development of slenderness and a better geometry to the wing, both aviation and space industry in the Russian which will save up to 6-8% of fuel compared to government), there are longer-term plans to build aircraft from Western producers. The production a larger version of MC-21 for 240 passengers of the and Boeing 787 also involves with a fuselage diameter of 4.06m. This long-haul the use of composite materials but on the basis of THE version of the aircraft will be capable of flights up other technologies. Previously, nobody in the world COMPOSITE to 7,000km. used similar technologies in the design of such WING OF THE large units as aircraft wings.” Cost-saving wings Wings of the Motherland (one of Russia’s MC-21 WAS leading papers in the field of aviation and aircraft DESIGNED An official spokesman from Irkut claims that manufacturing), adds that, in addition to its USING THE operating costs for the MC-21 will be 12-15% high share of composites, the new aircraft is INNOVATIVE lower compared to equivalent Airbus A320 and characterised by an innovative system for load models. These savings will be derived reduction and management system. According TECHNOLOGY from the unique wings of the MC-21 which is to the publication, the new system, combined OF VACUUM claimed to be the world’s first narrowbody airliner with the high thrust-to-weight ratio of the aircraft, INFUSION with a capacity of around 130 passengers to have reduces the MC-21’s take-off run by almost 300m

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and increase its service ceiling by almost 600m, researcher at the Transport Economics Institute compared to the equivalent aircraft from Airbus and of the Higher School of Economics, said the new Boeing. aircraft design is potentially very interesting and will be in high demand among domestic and foreign Awaiting orders customers. Borisov comments: “The lightweight composite wing of the aircraft compensates for the In the case of the MC-21, according to Alexander weight of its wider fuselage, which gives a higher Veprev, General Director of Irkut, the company plans level of comfort to passengers.” to produce 20 MC-21s annually from 2020, while Another advantage of the MC-21 over Airbus’ production will be increased up to 70 units per year and Boeing’s models, he says, is its lower price of after 2023. between $89m-91m, compared to $97.5-124.4m To date, Irkut has received several orders for for the Airbus A319neo and $90.2m- $116.6m the new aircraft. A spokesman speaking on behalf Boeing’s 737 MAX. Borisov also says that the MC- of Maxim Sokolov, Russia’s Minister of Transport, 21 will have better fuel consumption characteristics, said that Russian airline Red Wings has signed a compared to its Western competitors, while the contract with Russian aviation leasing company emission of harmful substances will be 20% lower. Ilyushin Finance for 16 MC-21-300s over the next In the words of Dmitry Rogozin: “Politics 12 years. The aircraft will be provided to the airline is always taken into account during signing of through operating leasing. large-scale export contracts. Leading Western In addition to Red Wings, another ten MC-21s manufacturers dictate their rules in the global have been ordered by Iraero, another Russian aviation market, affecting buyers in third world airline. It is also planned for 50 MC-21-200s to be countries through their political influence. The purchased by , Russia’s flagship air carrier. MC-21 should be of particular interest to UAC UAC

The Irkut MC-21 in However, although the airline has expressed an governments of third world countries, as they will production. interest in the MC-21, no final agreements have yet receive an aircraft that will become their sovereign been signed. property, without any possibility of blockades of its The overall capacity of the Russian aviation on-board electronics by Western manufacturers market for middle-sized, medium-haul aircraft over that can be conducted through satellites.” the next 20 years is estimated at about 720 units. Russian state plans anticipate that up to It is predicted that the MC-21 will account for up to 60% of future production of the MC-21 will be 50% of this sector by 2036. exported abroad after 2020. To date, interest in the new aircraft has been expressed by , Export orders Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Iran and a number of other countries. A preliminary agreement for up to ten As well as interest in the new aircraft from domestic MC-21s was also recently signed with Egyptian airlines, Irkut and the Russian government are Cairo Aviation. hopeful that the new aircraft will acquire export According to Denis Manturov, Russia’s Minister orders from abroad. Fyodor Borisov, a leading of Industry and Trade, up to 1,000 MC-21s will be

36 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 sold to both domestic and foreign buyers during the aviation believe that its implementation may next 20 years. face serious difficulties. The MC-21 is the second large-scale Russian project in the field Not just competing with Airbus and of civil aviation following the Boeing fly-by-wire twin-engine , designed by However, according to Maxim Sokolov, Russia’s Sukhoi Corporation in 2010-2011, sales of Minister of Transport, the new MC-21 will have to which were significantly lower than those compete not only with Airbus and Boeing models but expected by the manufacturers and the Russian also with the new Chinese COMAC C919 aircraft. government. Both China and Russia are keen to encourage According to Irkut’s initial plans, first deliveries export sales, planning to make their aircraft the of the MC-21 should have started in 2016. world’s third best-seller in their class in the coming However, by this time, new medium-haul aircraft years. In the case of both countries, implementation were available from Airbus and Boeing, a new of these plans will take place with the help of state A320/321neo model and the Boeing 737 MAX, support and administrative resources. The latter both of which claimed to be at least 15% more could be in the form of state pressure on domestic efficient than their previous versions. airlines to buy new aircraft. Vladimir Stepanichev, a former colonel of Air Despite the fact that China has larger financial Forces of the Soviet army and one of the country’s resources than Russia to promote the new aircraft, leading experts in the field of aviation, said that the Chinese aircraft-building industry still lags The MC-21 is lack of experience in the development, production significantly behind Russia in terms of production and post-sales support of commercial passenger technologies and know-how, which could make the jointly designed by aircraft remains a major problem at Irkut, as the MC-21 more attractive for its potential customers. the Irkut Aircraft company has always specialised in the production In the case of the new Chinese C919, the Corporation, the of fighters rather than civil aircraft. majority of Russian and Western aviation experts Yakovlev Design Vladimir Stepanichev cautions that: “The believe that most of the demand for the new Chinese MC-21 will only become a successful project if it aircraft will come from within the domestic Chinese Bureau and the secures large exports abroad. Otherwise, it may market and some Asian countries close to it. Sergey Ilyushin fail, the Sukhoi Superjet, the demand for which was Aviation Complex, low both in the domestic and foreign markets. The Will it sell? first years of commercial deliveries of the MC-21 Russia’s leading will be a period of guaranteed losses by Irkut but Despite state optimism regarding with MC-21 aviation design it is hoped that profits will come by the end of the project, many Russian analysts in the field of bureaus. next decade.”

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SHOW REPORT DSEI 2017 Defence showcase xxx

BILL READ FRAeS reports on the latest news from the 2017 DSEI show held in London from 12-15 September.

Netherlands-based eld every two years, the Defence and During DSEI there were a number of conferences Delft Dynamics Security Equipment International (DSEI) focusing on different aspects of defence, including air, land exhibited the exhibition provides an international and maritime capability, the future of military rotorcraft and DroneCatcher – a showcase for companies from the land, sea, medical trauma innovation and military nursing. multicopter UAV air, space and cyber sectors of the defence There was also a series of presentations from designed to intercept Hindustry. six different theatres during the show from leading and catch other drones According to show organisers, Clarion Events, this international VIPs. Speakers included UK Secretary of using an air-launched year’s show held at the London ExCel was the largest ever, State for Defence, Michael Fallon; International Trade net. with 36,000 visitors from over 40 countries. There were Secretary, Liam Fox; Ben Wallace, Minister of State 1,600 exhibitors (of which 300 were new), 600 from the for Security; Harriett Baldwin, Minister for Defence UK, 400 from mainland Europe, 300 from the USA, 90 Procurement; CASS ACM Sir Stephen Hillier; First Sea from Asia, 50 from Australia and 50 from . Lord Sir Nicolas Carter; and Jorge Domecq, CE of the The organisers were also expecting 2,500 VIPs from 60 European Defence Agency. countries. The exhibition was divided into a number of dedicated British-built morphing UAV zones, including air, land, sea and security. There was also an ‘innovation hub’ designed to encourage companies new Lockheed Martin took advantage of the show to unveil to the defence sector or wishing to expand. The final day its new Outrider surveillance UAV which can be launched of the show featured a People and Skills Day focusing on from air, land or sea. Lockheed’s International Business advancement of the industry’s personnel, skills and STEM Development Manager for Outrider programmes (UK), development. Paul James, explained how the 4in wide when folded UAV

38 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 (right

was launched from a canister and then unfolded into a Life-saving award Lockheed Martin- flying platform. The Outrider can also be launched from a owned Sikorsky submarine, the canister floating to the surface which then presented a Bristow launches the UAV from sea level. The electric propeller- S-92 Helicopter Crew with the Sikorsky powered Outrider is fitted with gimballed HDTV and Winged-S Rescue infrared sensors at the rear. Able to operate autonomously Award in recognition or remotely piloted, the morphing UAV is currently of a recent life-saving controlled by COTS SW but an updated version will move mission in the North to Lockheed’s mobile ground control station. It will also be Atlantic. Bristow possible to control multiple Outriders from one controller. Helicopters operates If launched underwater, the UAV can be controlled from S-92 search and rescue a submarine at periscope depth. The 1.7kg Outrider can helicopters on behalf fly up to 50kt and remain in the air for over 2.5hrs and in of the UK Maritime most cases the UAV can be recovered after use. Lockheed and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as part of the Martin has worked with UK motorsport company Wirth Sikorsky presents the Sikorsky Winged-S Rescue Award. ten-year UK SAR Research on the design of Outrider, including modelling contract from the UK computational fluid dynamics and composite construction. Department for Transport. In May 2017, a Bristow S-92 crew operating out of To avoid US International Traffic in Arms (ITAR) export HM Coastguard Prestwick rescued 22-year-old surfer Matthew Bryce who was restrictions, the Outrider is made in the UK and is now on stranded at sea for 32 hours. sale to third parties.

Scaleable trainers

UK military training specialists Inzpire showcased its new Targeted Fidelity simulator (TFS) which can be customised to simulate different types of aircraft, weapons systems and training requirements. Designed to be upgradable and scalable, the TFS can be installed in much smaller spaces than traditional full motion simulators. Multiple TFS can be networked together from different locations.

Laser wars QinetiQ has completed its modernisation of the new Empire Test Pilots’ School QinetiQ exhibited a mock-up of the future DRAGONFIRE (ETPS) fleet with the purchase of two Grob G120TP fixed wing trainers (model laser directed energy weapon which it is developing as part pictured above). The Grob aircraft join the fleet together with two new Pilatus of the UK DRAGONFIRE consortium. Designed to develop PC-21 trainers and four Airbus H125 helicopters.. key technologies for a high energy defensive laser weapon system to be ready for testing by 2019, DRAGONFIRE would be capable of detecting and destroying incoming Enter the Aggressor missiles from land, sea and (eventually) air platforms. Headed by MDBA, QinetiQ and Leonardo, the consortium also includes BAE Systems, GKN, Arke and Marshall ADG.

Other DSEI news in brief:

 UMS Skeldar has joined forces with JetLease, a private aircraft leasing company, to launch the first global leasing product for its V-200 UAV.  Threod Systems' new Stream C tactical unmanned The mock-up of the new Gripen Aggressor trainer (right), together with a Tornado GR4. aerial system has now entered its second phase and is Swedish aerospace and defence company Saab launched a trainer version of its expected to complete development in 2018. Gripen fighter based on the Gripen C (with the two-seat Gripen D as an additional   Rockwell Collin has completed the integration of the option. Named the Gripen Aggressor, the unarmed aircraft is fitted with advanced first flight avionics system the for French Air Force sensor and datalinks. Saab is hoping that the Gripen Aggressor can be a contender C-130H Hercules modernisation programme. for the RAF’s 15-year ASDOT (Air Support to Defence Operational Training)  Leonardo and Thales are to demonstrate their next programme to provide ‘Red Air’ adversaries for RAF fighter training and ‘Blue generation Threat Warner and Directed Infra-Red Air’ platforms for the training of joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs) and Counter Measure protection system with the UK fighter controllers. The Aggressor is also being pitched for a US Air Force advanced Ministry of Defence. adversary requirement that could be contracted in early 2019.

The next DSEI exhibition is scheduled to be held from 10-13 September 2019.

@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 39 No.4 Hamilton Place

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210x280_4hp_ aerospace_advert_oct17.indd 1 2017-10-12 11:18 AM Afterburner www.aerosociety.com

Diary 5 December Wilbur and Orville Wright Lecture Advancing aviation, keeping the skies safe Martin Rolfe FRAeS Chief Executive Officer, NATS

The view from the Heathrow tower. NATS. No.4 Hamilton Place 42 Message from RAeS 44 Book Reviews 50 New Corporate Partners No.4 Hamilton Place is a magnificent, central London venue for wedding ceremonies and - President Aerospace Project Management, Gear Up, Mishaps Four new companies join the Society’s Corporate Down and Churchill’s War Against the Zeppelin Partner Scheme. receptions. It has a picturesque, heated roof terrace with views over Hyde Park, making “As I write this article, the short-haul European 1914-1918. airline market is in a distinct state of flux. The 52 Diary it a stunning location for your celebrations. With the elegant old-world grandeur of the unfortunate demise of Monarch Airlines and the apparent shortage of pilots at Ryanair have 47 Library Additions Find out when and where around the world the Edwardian Town House and its wonderful location in Mayfair, it is an incredible setting for delivered a timely reminder of the economic factors latest aeronautical and aerospace lectures and and competition that is very active in this market.” Books submitted to the National Aerospace Library. events are happening. one of the most important days of your life. - Chief Executive 48 Streamlining the 56 Elections “The Society has provided a response to the UK Specialist Awards New Society members elected in the past month. The team at No.4 Hamilton Place have a passion for quality and style, demonstrated by Government’s proposed approach for developing a new long-term aviation strategy for the UK up Following a major review of the Awards scheme, the their personal service and creative expertise, ensuring that your wedding will be a truly to 2050. The Society welcomes the Strategy, so Medals and Awards Committeew has suggested a long as it does not distract the Government from revised arrangement for the 2018 Awards. memorable day. implementing priority policies such as extra runway capacity and airspace modernisation.” For more information visit www.4hp.org.uk or contact the Venue Team on 020 7670 4314 or [email protected] | No. 4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 41

210x280_4hp_ aerospace_advert_oct17.indd 1 2017-10-12 11:18 AM Afterburner Message from RAeS OUR PRESIDENT

ACM Sir Stephen Dalton As I write this article, the short-haul European airline market is in a distinct state of flux. The unfortunate demise of Monarch Airlines and the apparent shortage of pilots at Ryanair have delivered a timely reminder of the economic factors and competition that is very active in this market. For years, the strong competition on short-haul routes in particular, have driven airlines to seek diverse incentives to make them more competitive and give them that vital edge. Looking forward to the predicted steady rise in the consumer demands for more and more seats on existing routes and flights to and from more regional airports is putting greater pressure on airlines to operate at sharper and sharper margins. One of the more challenging questions facing Attendees at the inaugural Hardingham Sword winners’ lunch on the industry is about the availability of trained and 12 October. The Hardingham Sword is named after Sir Robert qualified pilots to fly their aircraft, the subject of Hardingham and is awarded annually ‘for outstanding service to the recent RAeS Annual International Flight Crew the Society’ by the President in consultation with the Chairman of the Medals and Awards Committee. Training Conference. The cost of training the pilots From left: Lee Balthazor, Dr Graham Coleman, Sir Michael is now a major factor for the individual pilots, as are Graydon, David Wilson, Capt David Rowland, Sir Donald Spiers, their understandable demands for suitably assured Peter Barrett and Gordon Woolley. and rewarding contracts of employment with the airlines. The time may well come when the debate ways forward, in good time, before the critical ‘issue’ turns to the question of whether all flights require lands on wrong ‘terminal’! two pilots in the cockpit or whether a different Many of you will have heard/read of Elon Musk’s arrangement is feasible, safe and acceptable to intent to build and fly a ‘spaceplane’ that can fly regulators and passengers alike. However, many passengers from Europe to Australia in minutes will remember the Germanwings incident of only a rather than hours and to do so in the next five years. THE TIME couple of years ago and will not even want to start To many, this may seem over-ambitious and even MAY WELL that conversation. a dream. However, Mr Musk, a Society Gold Medal However, like so many issues facing aviation, Winner in 2012, has shown that he can make the COME WHEN there is a need to ensure that those possibilities, apparently impossible become reality and to deliver THE DEBATE those challenges and the potential solutions are revolutionary capabilities rather than wait for ‘mere’ TURNS TO THE discussed by well-informed and impartial experts evolution to bring about the solution. This is just QUESTION OF and that is where our Society can step up to the the sort of challenge that is needed to give the mark. As with all aerospace technical, regulatory brightest aerospace engineers a vision, a challenge WHETHER ALL and operating questions, if they are based on what (or two) and the motivation to get involved. It will FLIGHTS REQUIRE can and should be done within and on the leading also give our next generation the idea that there is TWO PILOTS IN edges of aviation, our Society has a role to play and, still lots to do in our industry and in the research and with the competences of our membership, we stand development that underpins deliverable engineering THE COCKPIT ready to provide that independent and impartial and technology. OR WHETHER advice. These future goals and possibilities should A DIFFERENT Our most recent Council Meeting took as its form a significant part of our Society’s programme ARRANGEMENT main theme the big questions facing the sector of lectures and seminars and I would strongly as the UK withdraws from the EU; the questions encourage our Branches and Society to look to IS FEASIBLE, SAFE that are being addressed range from licensing and include some of these exciting challenges and AND ACCEPTABLE taxation of aircraft components across borders possibilities in our programme over the coming TO REGULATORS to the availability and access to landing slots at years. It is such events and discussions that will European airports after March 2019. Our aim is attract our younger membership to get involved and AND PASSENGERS to ensure that European governments and others put us on the very nose cone of new and innovative ALIKE acknowledge the requirement to discuss and agree aerospace thinking.

42 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Simon C Luxmoore  In September the Society published a paper Horst Prem who delivered a lecture on aircraft looking at options for aerospace and aviation design and safety. It is very much hoped that industry regulatory oversight post-Brexit (www. the Berlin momentum can continue and grow aerosociety.com/PostBrexit). Through through 2018. explanation of the technical complexities of  Only days until Careers in Aerospace LIVE European regulation, analysis of the reasons 2017. We are looking forward to another for co-operation across the Continent over the fantastic event and, if you are recruiting and past 50 years and consideration of the costs haven’t yet booked a stand, please do get and benefits of the EASA regime, the Society’s in touch with the Careers team (careers@ paper explores the desirability and practicality aerosociety.com). There is just time to of repatriation to the UK. Based on evidence ensure you don’t miss out on meeting talented available and Society member expertise, the individuals from across the UK with a passion paper concludes the best outcome for the for aerospace. We are also delighted that the sector, and the country, is to remain members Cool Aeronautics programme has kicked off of EASA. The paper has been circulated among again for the new term in partnership with our Ministers, Advisors, senior officials, as well as new sponsor AAR Corp. We have a packed Shadow Ministers. programme of events until Christmas and, if you  The Society has provided a response to the UK are interested in becoming involved in inspiring Government’s proposed approach for developing younger audiences, again please contact the a new long-term aviation strategy for the UK up Careers team. to 2050. The Society welcomes the Strategy,  We look forward to renewing the 2018 so long as it does not distract the Government subscriptions for all our members as the annual from implementing priority policies such as extra renewal notifications have been sent out. I’d runway capacity and airspace modernisation. encourage members to renew online and take The Society response also cautions against the the opportunity to review the contact information Government developing a long-term strategy and mailing preferences the Society holds without having confirmed yet what they want for you so we can continue to communicate the aviation sector to look like post-Brexit, which effectively with you. is a matter of urgency. Beyond the initial call  The Librarians at the National Aerospace Library for evidence, the Government has identified a hosted almost 60 people for our book fair in range of issues that is keen to explore with the Farnborough on 28 September, raising over industry and will do so in a series of themed £900 for our conservation fund and stimulating BASED ON consultation papers, which will be published more interest in our collection and archives. We EVIDENCE during 2017 and 2018. The Society will are hosting another book fair on 20 November provide responses to each of those themed at Hamilton Place, so arrive early to snap up AVAILABLE consultations and is planning on hosting a series some great Christmas aviation gifts. AND SOCIETY of events based on each theme when more  Christmas party bookings are in full swing after MEMBER details become available. a busy summer of BBQs and receptions on the  This autumn the Rolls-Royce Dahlewitz facility terrace. Enjoy the stylish (and newly refurbished) EXPERTISE, kindly hosted the first RAeS lectures to take Marshall of Cambridge Room and Foyer for THE PAPER place in Berlin. The first lecture took place on 20 an intimate Christmas lunch or dinner or the CONCLUDES THE September and was delivered by former RAeS elegant Argyll Room and Terrace is perfect for BEST OUTCOME Gold Medal winner Prof Gunter Kappler on the larger Christmas celebrations. The roof terrace BR700 engine series history. This was followed will be covered with a full marquee this year, FOR THE on 28 September by a visit and lecture given by to allow guests to enjoy a drinks reception SECTOR, AND RAeS President-Elect Rear Adm Simon Henley with magical views of Hyde Park, whatever the THE COUNTRY, FRAeS on the JSF programme. The visit also weather. The Venue team would be delighted IS TO REMAIN included a tour of the Trent XWB-84 Assembly to discuss your requirements and create a Room and the Power Gearbox Test facilities. A memorable Christmas 2017 for you and your MEMBERS OF further RAeS event in Berlin took place on 26 guests, so get in touch on email to hello@4hp. EASA October when the Dahlewitz site hosted Prof org.uk

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 43 Afterburner Book Reviews AEROSPACE PROJECT MANAGEMENT Edited by M A G Darrin and P A Stadter

CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL, 33487-2742, USA. 2017. Distributed by Taylor & Francis Group, 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, UK. 423pp. Illustrated. £145. [20% discount available to RAeS members via www. crcpress.com using AKQ07 promotion code]. ISBN 978-1-4987-7652-3.

This is a comprehensive overview of project management from the perspective of those involved in space systems. However, it will be of value to all those involved in, or learning about, managing aerospace programmes, as it covers the principles and practice of managing complex aerospace systems. Sections on project development, process and control, technical implementation and human factors conclude with an interesting section on emerging topics. While NASA and the US Department of Defense clearly have great Above: Merlin rocket engines at SpaceX headquarters. Roger Gilbertson/SpaceX. experience in space systems, of the 28 contributors, Below right: Falcon 9 first stage landing on droneship ‘of course I still love you’.SpaceX. all but one discuss US programmes, so an opportunity has been missed to understand if European or Asian practices might offer some alternative ways of This is a The systems engineering section is especially managing such challenges. comprehensive well done. The chapter on software underlines The specific emphasis of space programmes that ‘quality metrics’ for software are really hard on criticality and risk with innovative, cutting-edge overview to define. It would be nice to see examples. Small technology is one that potentially should provide a of project project management is well covered, as are major competitive edge for any aerospace organisation management projects elsewhere, However, it would be good seeking to introduce product or process innovation. from the also to see coverage of medium-sized project There is wide treatment on the detail of how to management in the book to avoid the inappropriate manage complex systems, although surprisingly perspective of application of large project systems and controls. little on the management of risk. It certainly not those involved The appendices include checklists and easy to define probability when there is not a great in space suggested process documentation that would have deal of data to draw upon, such as there might be systems benefitted from flow charts to help understand for aircraft programmes but, nevertheless, there relationships between the sections and enhancing are techniques to help deal with such uncertainty. an overall system awareness. It was encouraging to Managing project risk threats is touched upon, with see ‘lessons learned’ included in each checklist to nothing on managing business risk opportunities. communicate problems and recoveries encountered, There is a chapter on Civilian Space Program but disappointing that ‘risk management plan’ did Management that would have been strengthened not appear so that potential problems were not by a more detailed analysis of the differences considered. between the ways that ‘NewSpace’ companies, The section on ‘Aerospace Project Management such as SpaceX, manage projects and the Emerging Topics’ is perhaps the most stimulating traditional approaches detailed in this book. The one in the book, touching upon the disruptive Payload sample team structure is unnecessarily project management approach now happening. The complex and doesn’t have the right flowdown and agile elements of ‘individual interaction over process flowup connected to each other. The Requirement & tools, customer collaboration over contract Definition Document definition (and process) is negotiation, working software over comprehensive severely under-emphasised. If either spacecraft or documentation, and responding quickly to change payload are over-constraining on a requirement, it over following the plan’ are the lessons for all drives cost up on the other side when there could project managers today. be a more optimal solution. The Requirements Documentation driving the Interface Control Lee Balthazor Document should be more strongly emphasised. CEng FRAeS

44 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 GEAR UP, MISHAPS DOWN

The Evolution of Naval A Douglas A-4C Skyhawk, rates applied to USN land-based operations. The 148526, about to depart from broader context is post-war demobilisation and the Aviation Safety, 1950-2000 the USS Independence (CV-62). RAeS (NAL). struggle between the USN and the USAF for the By R F Dunn future of power projection into the Cold War. The book initially identifies the historical Naval Institute Press, 291 Wood Road, Annapolis, USN executive command culture being applied MD 21402, USA. 2017. Distributed by Eurospan inappropriately to Naval Aviation which, combined Group, 3 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8LU, UK. with transition to jets, resulted in an unacceptably 204pp. Illustrated. £30.50. ISBN 978-1-68247- high accident rate. The improvements were driven 005-3. The ‘Evolution by the formation of the USN Safety Center but of Naval also by better selection for Command posts and The ‘Evolution of Naval Aviation Safety’ sounds a Aviation Safety’ the creation of a ‘readiness’ cycle for Air Wings. dry and unexciting title but is an interesting, relevant Equipment improvements, such as the angled and thought-provoking description of the effort sounds a dry deck, steam catapults and mirror landing sights, required to change culture in a large organisation. and unexciting as well as better aircraft design, moved in parallel. The starting point for the book is a period where title but is an Refreshingly, at the working level at least, the the US Navy (USN) accident rate for some types interesting, USAF and USN shared best practice to improve was close to 1 in 500 flying hours, with one example outcomes. The book has useful statistics to back of a squadron sailing on a cruise in the 1950s with relevant and up the narrative and is an excellent companion 22 aircraft and returning with none. The end point is thought- to Harnessing the Sky: Frederick ‘Trap’ Trapnell, the evolution to the F-18 Hornet in the late 1990s, provoking the US Navy’s Aviation Pioneer, 1923-1952, with a 10+ factor improvement for comparative with its particular parallel focus on test flying and activity, and the wider all Navy accident rate description improvements to USN aircraft. equalling the US Air Force (USAF), and approaching of the effort It is an excellent read for naval historians, some elements of US civil aviation. required to pilots and safety managers but perhaps also chief Intuitively, the reader might think that the change culture executives who need an example of successful improvement is dominated by mitigating the risk culture change within a large organisation. associated with a high-energy carrier landing but in a large as the book repeatedly highlights, the high accident organisation Tony Rae

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 45 Afterburner Book Reviews CHURCHILL’S WAR AGAINST THE ZEPPELIN 1914-1918

Men, Machines and Tactics By L Bennett

Helion & Company Limited, 26 Willow Road, Solihull B91 1UE, UK. 2015. Distributed by Casemate, 10 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford OX1 2EW, UK. 406pp. Illustrated. £29.95. ISBN 978-1-909982-84-0.

As the title suggests, a host of officers, engineers and pioneer airmen assisted Winston Churchill in combating the Zeppelin menace during WW1. Leon Bennett takes us through these complex events logically from the emergence of the aerial vehicle to the repercussions of decisions made during Churchill’s time as First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, Reginald McKenna, Chancellor of the Exchequer; and long after he was forced from office. He also Lord Montagu and Claude Grahame-White at the Parliamentary aerial examines the topic from the ‘other side of the demonstration held at Hendon in May 1911. RAeS (NAL). fence’, to demonstrate how difficult, expensive and ultimately impossible it was for the Germans to execute an effective bombing offensive at that time. The work does show us that Churchill’s interest in ‘the air’ was driven by a long-held fascination in technology. The book pinpoints Churchill as an influential player in the development of aviation. He was there at the beginning. His naval career began at the Admiralty in 1911, just two years after Blériot crossed the Channel. Churchill found himself in a powerful office at this critical time. Bennett reminds us that Churchill fraternised with technophiles like John Fisher and solicited their advice in office. He fought opposition to his spendthrift policies, both in Parliament and in the Navy, as he sought to explore all avenues would build such theory into its doctrine in the Above: The remains of of this new technology; particularly the airship 1920s. Churchill and his staff pioneered the idea of Zeppelin L32 (LZ74) at Great Burstead, Billericay, and seaplane. He cultivated relationships with naval craft launched from ships, catapults and from 24 September 1916. practitioners Claude Grahame-White, Murray Sueter, the sea surface to assist in air defence and attack. Below: Zeppelin L15 (LZ48) C R Samson and became a leading light in efforts Indeed, some of these methods were used nearly over Woodford Church, to found a naval air service with the most able men 30 years later in the next World War. 13-14 October 1915. RAeS (NAL). he could find. Churchill also took to the skies and The book is careful to convey the scientific began learning to fly, evidence of his hands-on complexities of flight and it spends much time and approach. space explaining the inner workings of The author has exposed the forward-thinking and other vehicles so that we might appreciate the that Churchill brought to the Admiralty. By no means British predicament. While there were sufficient was he clairvoyant and he made errors of judgement ideas of what do and where, the practitioners and could be politically naive but Churchill was struggled to realise those visions until the last years relatively quick (too quick) to alter his position if his of the war. In so doing, Bennett does not distract preconceptions failed – manifesting in his decision us from the efforts made by Churchill and his to withdraw his support for airship programmes as successors to contain the German threat but rather war loomed. enhances our understanding of their attempted Interestingly, Bennett explains Churchill’s counter measures, and the precise danger Britain approach to the air defence of Britain was similiar faced in 1914. to the methods contemplated upon and used Overall the book is a useful addition to the in subsequent decades; search lights, fighter Churchill literature. It explores yet another aspect aeroplanes, bomber aircraft and anti-aircraft artillery. of military development in Britain that Winston In 1914 and 1915 Churchill embarked up Churchill was part of. a bomber offensive against Zeppelin sheds and production facilities; defence by offence. The RAF Daniel Pilfold

46 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Library Additions BOOKS

AEROMODELLING spreadsheet to cover any fuel photographs illustrate this Fonthill Media Limited, Millview Control 2017: Proceedings over a wide range of variables. pictorial biography of the House, Toadsmoor Road, of the 40th Annual Northrop F-5E and F-5F life and career of Charles Stroud GL5 2TB, UK. 2017. AAS Rocky Mountain Tiger II. Spotlight On ENVIRONMENT Lindbergh, one of the most 240pp. Illustrated. £25. ISBN Section Guidance and series. A Guedes. Published famous airmen in American 978-1-78155-629-0. Control Conference by Stratus, Poland, on behalf of aviation history. held 2-8 February 2017, Mushroom Model Publications, SPACE Breckenridge, Colorado. 3 Gloucester Close, Messerschmitt Bf 109: the Advances in the Astronautical Petersfield, Hants GU32 3AX, Design and Operational Saturn V: the Complete Sciences Vol 159. Edited by UK (www.mmpbooks.biz). History. J Forsgren. Fonthill Manufacturing and R R Rohrschneider. Univelt, PO 2017. 42pp. Illustrated. £19. Media Limited, Millview House, Test Records – plus Box 28130, San Diego, CA ISBN 978-83-65281-59-3. Toadsmoor Road, Stroud Supplemental Material. A 92198, USA. 2017. 1022pp Produced for GL5 2TB, UK. 2017. 272pp. Lawrie and R Godwin. Apogee + CD-ROM. Illustrated. $240. aeromodellers, a compilation Illustrated. £25. ISBN 978-1- Books, Burlington, Ontario. ISBN 978-0-87703-635-7. of detailed colour diagrams 78155-586-6. 2005. 336pp + DVD. Illustrated. ‘Human Exploration of recording the variety of ISBN 1-894959-19-4. the Solar System by 2100’, camouflage and markings A well-illustrated account ‘Two-Axis Stabillity of a High- used on the Northrop of the structure, F-1/J-2 Altitude Balloon Payload’, lightweight fighter/attack rocket engines and testing ‘Guidance, Navigation and aircraft by air forces around facilities is accompanied with a Control for the Entry, descent the world. very detailed account of each and Landing of the Mars stage of the launch vehicle’s 2020 Mission’, ‘Assessment AIR TRANSPORT Green Aviation: Reduction manufacture, assembly and of Aerodynamic Flaps for of Environmental flight testing. Planetary Entry Trajectory Impact through Aircraft Control’, ‘The PRISMA Technology and Alternative Formation Flying Mission’, Fuels. Edited by E S Nelson ‘Landing on Europa’, ‘The and D R Reddy. CRC Press, PROBA Family’, ‘Leonardo Fine Taylor & Francis Group, 6000 Guidance Sensor’, ‘AURIGA Broken Sound Parkway NW, Star Tracker for Constellations Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL, and Small Satellites’, ‘Airbus 33487-2742, USA. 2017. Defence and Space Control Distributed by Taylor & Francis Momentum Gyro’, ‘Conceptual Group, 2 Park Square, Milton Design of an Electric Sail Park, Abingdon OX14 4RN, The Women Who Flew for Technology Demonstration UK. xxxviii; 355pp. Illustrated. Hitler: the True Story of Mission’, CryoSat 2 and the £170. [20% discount available Hitler’s Valkyries. C Mulley. LISA Pathfinder are among the to RAeS members via www. Macmillan, Pan Macmillan, subjects discussed. crcpress.com using AKQ07 20 New Wharf Road, London promotion code]. ISBN 978-0- N1 9RR, UK. 2017. 486pp. Spaceflight Mechanics 415-62098-7. Illustrated. £20. ISBN 978-1- 2014: Proceedings of the Gone But Not Forgotten: 4472-7420-9. 24th AAS/AIAA Space Defunct British Airlines HISTORICAL Space Traffic Control. Flight Mechanics Meeting since 1945. A Phillips. Fonthill Progress in Aeronautics held 26-30 January 2014, Media Limited, Millview House, Javelin Boys: Air Defence and Astronautics series Sante Fe, New Mexico, Toadsmoor Road, Stroud from the Cold War to Vol 251. S Eves. American USA (4 vols + CD-ROM). GL5 2TB, UK. 2017. 128pp. Confrontation. S Bond. Institute of Aeronautics and American Astronautical Illustrated. £16.99 ISBN 978- Grub Street, 4 Rainham Close, Astronautics, Reston, VA. Society (AAS) Advances in the 1-78155-627-6. London SW11 6SS, UK. 2017. 2017. xi; 129pp. Illustrated. Astronautical Sciences Series An alphabetical 200pp. Illustrated. £20. ISBN $119.95. ISBN 978-1-62410- Vol 152. Edited by R S Wilson compilation of concise 978-1-910690-40-6. 400-8. et al. Univelt, PO Box 28130, summaries of the rise and fall Beginning with the first San Diego, CA 92198, USA. of over 75 British post-WW2 service deliveries in 1956 PAPERS 2014. 3815pp + CD-ROM. airlines, illustrated by over 170 through to its withdrawal Illustrated. $760. ISBN 978-0- photographs. from RAF service in 1968, R101 Airship Disaster 87703-611-1. a compilation of numerous and the Broken Elevator Over 270 papers COMBUSTION recollections from personnel Cable: Extract from ‘The reviewing developments in involved (both air and ground WK275: the Restoration International Journal for astrodynamics, orbit/attitude Combustion Temperatures: crew) of the Gloster all- and Preservation of the the History of Engineering determination, spacecraft Computation of weather fighter aircraft. Last Swift & Technology’ Vol 87 (1). dynamics, navigation and Equilibrium Values over F4. G Ellis. Grub Street, 4 B Lawton. Taylor & Francis trajectory design, aeronomy, Wide Ranges of Fuels : the Rainham Close, London Group, Abingdon, UK. 2017. asteroid retrieval, space debris, and Operating Conditions Multirole Fighter. P Birtles. SW11 6SS, UK. 2017. 160pp. pp 96-124. Illustrated. the space environment and in Air. E M Goodger and P Fonthill Media Limited, Millview Illustrated. £20. ISBN 978-1- Based on computer lunar mission design are Herbreteau. Obtainable from House, Toadsmoor Road, 910690-50-5. modelling of the crash, the among the subjects discussed Dr E M Goodger, Landfall Stroud GL5 2TB, UK. 2017. A well-illustrated history possibility that a broken in this extensive conference Press, Limes, 78 Church Road, 442pp. Illustrated. £40. ISBN of the design evolution, elevator cable may have been proceedings. Woburn Sands, Bedfordshire 978-1-78155-587-3. prototypes and service responsible for the crash of MK17 8TA, UK. 2017. 43pp + operations of the Supermarine the rigid airship R-101 near USB data card. Illustrated. £17. Lindbergh: a Photographic swept-wing fighter aircraft, Beauvais in France in the early ISBN 978-0-9520186-5-0. Biography of the Lone concluding with the individual hours of 5 October 1930 is The theoretical principles Eagle. B McAllister and S aircraft history and restoration examined. The reasons why upon which systems of Wilkinson. Roundup Press, of WK275, the only surviving the Court of Inquiry rejected computing combustion Boulder, CO. 2017. Distributed complete Swift F4 in the world. this theory, believing that the For further information temperature in air – based in by Gazelle Book Services Ltd, cable broke after the crash, are contact the National continuous flow applications White Cross Mills, Hightown, LIGHTER-THAN-AIR also discussed. Aerospace Library. such as gas turbine and ramjet Lancaster LA1 4XS, UK. T +44 (0)1252 701038 engines – are outlined in this 232pp. Illustrated. £51.99. Umberto Nobile and the SYMPOSIA or 701060 publication which culminates ISBN 978-0-692-70524-7. Arctic Search for the E hublibrary@aerosoci- into a single universal working Over 230 captioned Airship Italia. G Cameron. Guidance, Navigation and ety.com

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 47 Afterburner Society News HONOURS, MEDALS, AWARDS AND WRITTEN PAPER PRIZES Streamlining the Specialist Awards

Specialist Awards (SAs), have been conferred at Gold, Silver and Bronze level by the Society since they were established as a result of the 2004 Honours, Medals and Awards Review. Specialist Group Awards (SGAs), have been conferred since 2009, although uptake by the Specialist Groups has been limited. Named Awards (NAs), usually awarded for achievement in relation to particular specialist disciplines associated with those they commemorate or to other particular interests, have been a feature of the Society’s Awards scheme for almost 100 years. Confused? If so, you are in good company. Feedback on these awards has consistently indicated that they are seen as complex and confusing. A major Review of the Awards scheme recently undertaken by the Medals and Awards Committee (the ‘2017 Review’), has suggested that they add substantially to the number and complexity The merged awards will not be divided into Gold, Astronaut Major Tim Peake of the awards and risk the perception of unfair Silver and Bronze ‘levels’ (nominations selected for HonFRAeS was awarded the 2016 Geoffrey Pardoe Space and unreasonable preference and privileging of possible recommendation for awards will be those Award for his significant particular groups or disciplines. The Review also reaching at least Bronze medal equivalent standard contribution to space. highlighted the lack of active support across the but will not otherwise be ‘graded’). All eligible ESA/NASA. Specialist Group (SG) community, some consequent nominations for awards received in a given year may dissatisfaction among specific SGs and the extent be considered for a possible award recommendation to which the specialist disciplines to which the within any award category, inclusive of the SAs, awards relate are poorly reflected in nominations. irrespective of origin, but a given nomination may The 2017 Review therefore concluded that the be recommended for an award within one award status quo with respect to the SAs, SGAs and NAs category only in a given year. No more than one SA is not acceptable. It nonetheless recommended that for a particular specialism will normally be conferred a revised arrangement that continues to recognise in any given year. specialist endeavour remains relevant, useful The Society’s Council approved the and desirable. The Council has agreed specific recommendations of the 2017 Review at its recommendations in this latter respect including the meeting on 4 September 2017. The merged following: Specialist Awards category will therefore form part of the Society’s Honours, Medals and Awards 1. A single ‘Specialist Award’ category will clarify portfolio for the first time in the 2018 round of the purpose and prestige of this type of award. awards, for which the deadline for receipt of THE 2017 2. The current SAs, SGAs and NAs should nominations is 31 March 2018. therefore be merged into a single, unified Revised criteria for the Society’s Honours, REVIEW ‘Specialist Award’ category. Medals, Awards and Written Paper Prizes were THEREFORE 3. Those NAs in current use will be retained also included in the recommendations of the 2017 CONCLUDED as an integral part of the merged Specialist Review approved by the Council, taking into account Award category, and will be the form in which a the merger of the SAs, SGAs and NAs. These THAT THE specialist award is conferred when appropriate. criteria will be the subject of a further article to be STATUS QUO 4. New NAs may only be created in exceptional published in the next issue of AEROSPACE and will WITH RESPECT circumstances when supported by a business be made available on the Society’s website. case, accepted by the Medals and Awards The Society’s Honours, Medals, Awards and TO THE SAs, Committee and at the discretion of the Council. Written Paper Prizes are the global aerospace SGAs AND 5. Specialist Awards will take the form of a community’s most prestigious and long-standing certificate unless alternatives are provisioned by awards honouring achievement, innovation and NAs IS NOT Specialist Groups. excellence. The Royal Aeronautical Society has ACCEPTABLE

48 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 been honouring outstanding achievers in the global aerospace industry since 1909, when Wilbur and Orville Wright came to London to receive the Society’s first Gold Medal. Over the years, celebrating aerospace achievers in this way has become an annual tradition. The Society’s Honours, Medals and Awards programme recognises and celebrates individuals and teams who have made an exceptional contribution to aerospace, whether it is for an outstanding achievement, a major technical innovation, exceptional leadership or work that otherwise further advances aerospace art, science or engineering.

Dr Mike Steeden1 2017 Medals and Awards CEng FRAeS Ceremony Past-President 2009-10 Chair, Medals and Awards Committee 2011-17 21 November 2017 Top: The obverse of the Alan No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1 Marsh Medal. Bottom: Royal Aeronautical The 2017 Royal Aeronautical Society Medals, 1 Society Flight Simulation Awards and Priazes, including the Centennial Dr Mike Steeden stood down from the Medals and Silver Medal. Scholarship Awards, will be announced at the Awards in September after completing two three- Above right: Elon Musk, right, 2017 Awards Ceremony which will take place on year terms as Chair. Dr Steeden has been a member receives his 2012 RAeS Gold of the Committee for some 17 of the past 21 years. Medal from Lee Balthazor. the evening of the 2017 President’s Conference. We hope many of our members will be able to join He is succeeded by Air Commodore Bill Tyack, RAeS (NAL). us for this complimentary networking event and previously Deputy Chair of the Committee and Past- reception. President 2014-15.

Making Your New Year’s Resolutions? Why not start the year with an upgraded membership or finally finish that application for professional registration!

Apply before 5 December closing date to have your application reviewed in January 2018

Apply online now: www.aerosociety.com/login

or find out more: [email protected]/ +44 (0)20 7670 4384/4400

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 49 Afterburner Corporate Partners NEW PARTNERS EVENTS

Please note: Attendance at Corporate Partner Briefings is strictly exclusive to staff of RAeS Corporate Partners.

AURIGNY AIR SERVICES Wednesday 8 November 2017 / London La Panque, Forest, Guernsey GY8 0DT, UK Partnering with UK MoD to deliver weapon capability now and into the future T +44 (0)1481 268817 Corporate Partner Briefing by Keith Garden BA FRAeS, Portfolio Programme E customerservices@.com Director & Deputy MD UK and Rear Admiral Simon Charlier CBE FRAeS, W www.aurigny.com Senior Defence & Political Adviser UK, MBDA Missile Systems Contact Sponsor: Mark Darby, CEO Aurigny Air Services is a regional airline based in Guernsey, connecting Guernsey to the UK operating Embraer E195s, ATR72s and Dornier Thursday 23 November 2017 / London 228s. Overview of the sub 150-seat market (title tbc) Corporate Partner Briefing by John Slattery FRAeS, President & Chief Executive Officer, Embraer Commercial Aviation WAVES Picquet House, South Esplanade, Rohais, Monday 4 December 2017 / London St Peters Port, Guernsey GY1 3AF, UK Corporate Partner Parliamentary Reception E [email protected] House of Commons W www.flywaves.gg Sponsors: Contact Nick Magliocchetti, CEO Waves is an on demand air taxi business which uses #00A1E9 #000000 R:0 G:161 B:233 R:0 G:0 B:0 five pieces of proprietary technologyC:75 M:20 toY:0 K:0 facilitateC:93 M:88 Y:89 K:80 the movement of its travellers within a network. www.aerosociety.com/events A company composed of leaders from aviation, For further information, please contact Gail Ward technology and business growth. Waves has E [email protected] or T +44 (0)1491 629912 dissected aviation process and rebuilt a new and fresh model which it will licence across the world.

THE AIM OF THE #0873B9 C.T. FREIGHT R:8 G:115 B:185 C:89 M:49 Y:1 K:0 CORPORATE PO Box 88, Mascot, New South Wales 1460 #0586D4 R:5 G:134 B:212 Australia C:82 M:37 Y:0 K:0 PARTNER #00A1E9 SKY-FUTURES R:0 G:161 B:233 T +612 8337 8888 C:75 M:20 Y:0 K:0 SCHEME IS TO 5th Floor, The Shipping Building, Blyth Road, E [email protected] Hayes, Middlesex UB3 1HA, UK W www.ctfreight.com BRING TOGETHER T +44 (0)20 7148 7002 Contact ORGANISATIONS E [email protected] Wade Bollard, Manager TO PROMOTE W www.sky-futures.com Contact C.T. Freight was established in 1981 by Clive BEST PRACTICE Thomas who is owner and CEO of the company. Nick Rogers, Chief Regulatory and Training Officer WITHIN THE We are the largest independently-owned The mission of Sky-Futures is to improve safety forwarder in the Australian market with offices INTERNATIONAL and reduce risk across industries through drone at all major ports as well as international offices AEROSPACE technological innovation. Sky-Futures has used in NZ, Fiji, Singapore and the US and a global industry-leading operational expertise and network of agents. SECTOR experience to develop revolutionary software A core segment of C.T. Freight’s business is and technology solutions that allow enterprise the aerospace industry and we service a number clients to effectively harness the power of drone- of major companies in our territory with their driven data collection and analysis. Sky-Futures international freight requirements. software, training and services enables enterprise C.T. Freight is the strategic partner in Australia to perform safe and cost-effective drone for the Aviation Logistics Network which is a Contact: inspections of a variety of vertical infrastructures, group made up of specialist aerospace-focused Simon Levy Head of Business Development including but not limited to the following freight companies around the world allowing us to E [email protected] industries: oil and gas; renewables; utilities; offer our clients end-to-end solutions worldwide. T +44 (0)20 7670 4346 telecoms; and bridges. M +44 (0)7775 701153

50 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Join us as a Corporate Partner

RAeS Corporate Partners are organisations, both large and small, across civil and defence, from the breadth of the aerospace, aviation and space sectors. We provide a high-level commitment to professional recognition, continuous professional development, networking and knowledge sharing.

4 Exclusive Corporate Partner briefings 4 Access to our global network of Branches 4 Free access to AEROSPACE and The Aeronautical Journal 4 Discounted conference rates 4 Free accreditation costs 4 Discounted individual member joining fees 4 Free meeting room and discounted room hire at RAeS HQ 4 Use of the RAeS Corporate Partner logo

Find out more about corporate membership: [email protected] www.aerosociety.com/corporate +44 (0)20 7670 4300 @aerosociety Afterburner Diary

EVENTS www.aerosociety/events LECTURES www.aerosociety/events

1 November Aviation’s Global Market Based Measure – CORSIA, Latest Progress and Developments Air Law and Greener by Design Groups half-day seminar

2 November Human Factors in Aircraft Maintenance Human Factors Group seminar

9 November Space Group Lecture Major Tim Peake HonFRAeS

10 November Careers in Aerospace LIVE

14-15 November Modelling and Simulation in Air Traffic Management Flight Simulation Group Conference

14 November Capt Ray Jones Lecture: A Personal History of Matters An artist’s impression of the Beluga XL which is expected to make its first flight in the middle of Learned and Learned Again 2018. Mark Cousin will discuss the project at Chester on 8 November. Airbus. Jeffery Schroeder, Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor, Federal Aviation Administration Flight Simulation Group Named Lecture ADELAIDE Development and operation Defence and Space. Joint 20 November University of South Australia, of the lecture with IMechE and IET. Light Aircraft Design Conference Building MM 1-05, Mawson Lightning. Richard Norris, 23 November — Advanced General Aviation Group Conference Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Founder member, Lightning fast-jet helmets – STRIKER Lakes, SA 5095. 5.30pm. Preservation Group. II. Kevin Hill, BAE Systems, 20 November 28 November — Adelaide 18 January — Chasing Bears Rochester. Aviation Book Fair Airport airside tour. in the Phantom. Capt Nick 14 December — The C-17 Anderson, Virgin Atlantic and and aeromedical airlift. Sqn 21-22 November BAY OF PLENTY ex-RAF fighter pilot. Ldrs Chris Powell and Jon Commercialisation of Space: Realising UK Goals for Innovation Classic Flyers, 9 Jean Vollam, No99 Squadron, RAF. and Growth Batten Drive Mt Maunganui. BOSCOMBE DOWN 18 January — Solar Orbiter President’s Conference 6pm. Lecture Theatre, MoD – mission to the Sun. Kyle 3 November — Helicopter Boscombe Down. 5.15pm. Palmer, Airbus Defence and 21 November pilot training. Ross Dawson. Visitors please register at Space. Lecture Theatre 2. 2017 Medals and Awards Ceremony least four days in advance BEDFORD (name and car registration CANBERRA ARA Social Club, Manton required) E secretary@ Military Lecture Theatre, ADFA. Lane, Bedford. 7pm. Marylyn BoscombeDownRAeS.org 6pm. Wood, T +44 (0)1933 7 November — Competition 14 November — Branch 353517. gliding. Brian Birlison. AGM. 8 November — Lights, 21 November — F-35B ski camera, data – optical jump testing. Gordon Stewart. CARDIFF measuremeant techiques for 5 December — Reaction Swansea University. 7pm. the modern wind tunnel. Neil Engines. Gerrie Mullen. E [email protected] Stokes, Aircraft Research Ltd. 9 January — Nova Systems 15 November — Airlander. MoD/Crown copyright (2017) MoD/Crown 13 December — Airlander: – future symbology. Jools Lee Chris Daniels, Hybrid Air imagine the possibilities. Paul and Mark Purvis. Vehicles. USW Conference & Hammond, Hybrid Air Vehicles. Events Services, University of 10 January — Exploring BROUGH South Wales, Pontypridd. Mars: past, present and future. Cottingham Parks Golf Club. 6 December — Lightning. Prof John Bridges, Leicester 7.30pm. Ben Groves, T +44 Rhys Phillips. Queens Campus, 23 November University. Joint lecture with (0)1482 663938. Cardiff University. Flight Test Regulation; Enabling Aviation Capability Bedford Civils. 8 November — Branch AGM 17 January — Engine power Michael Jordan, Experimental Test Pilot, followed by The filmmaker pilot – Where will it come from in Empire Test Pilots School BIRMINGHAM, – how drone technology has the future? Conrad Banks, Flight Test Group Lecture WOLVERHAMPTON AND opened our eyes. Jonathan Rolls-Royce Defence. COSFORD Richards, cameraman, director National Cold War Museum, and editor. CHESTER 27 November RAF Museum Cosford, 13 December — Trawler Room 017, Beswick Building, Brabazon Lecture: Turnaround, Technology and the Future of Shifnal, Shropshire. 7pm. Man Memorial. Peter Naylor. University of Chester, Parkgate Travel Chris Hughes, T +44 (0)1902 Joint lecture with IMechE. Road. 7.30pm. Keith Housely, Alan Joyce, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, 844523. Robert Blackburn Building, Hull T +44 (0)151 348 4480. Qantas 16 November — The Univesity. 7pm. 8 November — Beluga XL Named Lecture development of aero engine – oversize transport for the control systems. Chris Weir, CAMBRIDGE 21st century. Mark Cousin, 5 December Engineering and Technology Lecture Theatre ‘0’, Cambridge former Head of Directorate Wilbur and Orville Wright Lecture Executive, Rolls-Royce Control University Engineering and Beluga Chief Engineer Martin Rolfe, Chief Executive Officer, NATS Systems. Rolls-Royce Control Department, Trumpington and currently Head of Group Named Lecture Systems, 5000 Solihull Street, Cambridge. 7.30pm. Demonstrators, Airbus CTO, Parkway, Birmingham Business Jin-Hyun Yu, T +44 (0)1223 Airbus. All lectures start at 18.00hrs unless otherwise stated. Park, Birmingham B37 7YN. 373129. Conference proceedings are available at Pre-registration and photo ID 2 November — Gravitational CHRISTCHURCH www.aerosociety.com/news/proceedings required. waves – Pathfinder and LISA. Cobham Lecture Theatre, 21 December — by Christian Trenkel, Airbus Bournemouth University, Talbot

52 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Britain’s future flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed into her home port of Portsmouth for the first time on Wednesday, 16 August. T M Dannatt will discuss the carrier programme at Derby on 15 November. Alliance.

Campus, Wallisdown. 7.30pm. DERBY 19 December — Electroflight 6.15pm. For security passes MANCHESTER Roger Starling, Nightingale Hall, Moor Lane, high performance electric please contact Dr Ana Pedraz, 7pm. Bryan Cowin, T +44 E rogerstarling593@btinternet. Derby. 5.30pm. Chris Sheaf, flight. Roger Targett, CEO, E [email protected] (0)161 799 8979. com T +44 (0)1332 269368. Electroflight. or T +44 (0)7936 392799. 22 November — Flying for 23 November — The quest 15 November — Queen 16 January — Stealth attack 9 November — Personal science. Prof Guy Gratton. for a flyable spacecraft. John Elizabeth-Class aircraft carriers helicopters. Jeremy Graham, experiences of the T2 and T5 Manchester Metropolitan Gough, Weybridge Branch. – Flagships for the Future. T Chief Engineer (Ret’d), openings. Andy Garner, LHR University (MMU). 6pm. 14 December — The M Dannatt. Joint lecture with Leonardo Helicopter. T2 Operations & Programme 6 December — Recent Icarus Project. Dr Angelo EMESP. Director. developments in Martin-Baker Niko GrubiŠic�, University of 24 January — Towards virtual, HAMBURG 14 December — The role of ejection seats. Phil Rowles. Southamption. self-designing, aircraft. Paul Hochschule für Angewandte a Rolls-Royce test pilot. Phil Manchester University. 25 January — Helicopter Tucker. Wissenschaften Hamburg, O’Dell, Rolls-Royce. 15 January — High-speed air-to-air refuelling. Andy Hörsaal 01.12 Berliner Tor 5 11 January — The future of transport: evolution or Strachan, Leonardo. FARNBOROUGH (Neubau), 20099 Hamburg. UK aerospace and satellite revolution. Prof Kostas Kontis. BAE Systems Park Centre, 6pm. industry. Anita Bernie, Director RVP Manchester Airport. 8pm. COVENTRY Farnborough Aerospace 28 November — Annual of Spacecraft Platforms and Lecture Theatre ECG26, Centre. 7.30pm. Dr Mike Christmas Dinner & Lecture. Demonstration Missions, MEDWAY Engineering & Computing Philpot, Anglo-German Club, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd Staff Restaurant, BAE Building, Coventry University, T +44 (0)1252 614618. Harvestehuder Weg 44, (SSTL). Systems, Marconi Way, Coventry. 7.30pm. Janet Owen, 14 November — Green 20149 Hamburg. 7pm. Rochester. 7pm. Robin Heaps, T +44 (0)2476 464079. Lecture. The MoD Aircrew 11 January — Airbus HIGHLAND T +44 (0)1634 377973. 9 November — Annual Systems research programme. Aerodynamics – integrating Elgin Library. 7.30pm. Wg Cdr 15 November — John Dinner and Talk. Capt Prof Chris Goff, DSTL and excellence. Dr Klaus Becker, Mark Quick, T +44 (0)1343 Shepherd Lecture. BAE Bryan Pill, Mission Aviation Sarah Day, QinetiQ. Aerodynamic Policies & 817382. Systems Hawk. Fellowship. Citrus Hotel, 5 December — Strategies, EGA-Germany, 8 November — The Typhoon London Road, Ryton on Aerodynamics of future Airbus. Joint lecture with contribution to Op Shader. Gp MELBOURNE Dunsmore, Coventry. commercial aircraft. Rob DGLR, VDI and HAW. Capt James Walls, CO, RAF Engineers Australia, Lvl 31, 6 December — Powering Greg III, Boeing Commercial Lossiemouth. 600 Bourke Street, Melbourne. the Airbus A400M, the Rolls- Airplanes. HATFIELD 6.30pm. Royce TP400. Jerry Goodwin, 16 January — Airlander Lindop Building, Room A166, LOUGHBOROUGH 8 November — The Chif Engineer, Rolls-Royce airships. David Stewart, Hybrid University of Hertfordshire, Room U020, Brockington achievements of Barnes Wallis. TP400. Air Vehicles. College Lane, Hatfield. 7pm. Building, Loughborough Peter Rix, a trustee of The 17 January — Three- Maurice James, T +44 University. 7.30pm. Colin Moss, Barnes Wallis Foundation. dimensional printing and GLOUCESTER AND (0)7958 775441. T +44 (0)1509 239962. digital technology. Kevin Smith, CHELTENHAM 22 November — From Easy 7 November — Bloodhound MONTREAL Consultant Global TCT. , Jet to Costa Froth. Andrew Land Speed Record. Daniel Conference Room 3 (CR3), Restaurant Conference Room, Harrison, ex CEO, easyJet and Jubb. International Civil Aviation CRANWELL off Down Hatherley Lane. Whitbread. 5 December — Corporate Organization (ICAO) Daedalus Officers’ Mess, 7.30pm. Gary Murden, T +44 13 December — African jet cabin evolution. David headquarters, 999 Robert- RAF Cranwell. 7.30pm. For (0)1452 715165 bush flying. Capt Brian Pill, Velupillai, Marketing Director, Bourassa Boulevard, Montréal, non-pass holders notification 21 November — MAF. Airbus Corporate Jets, Québec H3C 5H7. 6pm. of intended arrival should be Airlander, Chris Daniels, Toulouse. 7 December — 14th made to the Branch Secretary. Head of Partnerships and HEATHROW 16 January — The real story Assad Kotaite Lecture. The 13 November — Civil Communications, Hybrid British Airways Theatre, of the Comet disasters. Paul Honorable Robert L Sumwalt helicopters. Stephen Hogarth. Air Vehicles Ltd. Waterside, Harmondsworth. Withey, Rolls-Royce. III, Chairman, United States

Find us on Twitter i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com NOVEMBER 2017 53 Diary

National Transportation Safety 14 November — Subject and Board (NTSB). speaker TBC. 12 December — Flight MUNICH tracking. Claude Pichavant, Deutsches Museum München, Airbus. Ehrensaal. 7pm. 23 January — Gordon Corps 22 November — Willy Lecture. safety aspects of Messerschmitt Lecture. the space shuttle and the Airbus – Von der Realisierung International Space Station. eines visionären Traumes. Prof Claude Nicollier, ESA Herr Dipl-Ing Jürgen Thomas. astronaut, École Polytechnique, Voranmeldungen an Hon Fédéral de Lausanne. Secretary (secretary@ raes-munich.de) bis zum WASHINGTON DC 15 November notwendig. British Embassy, 3100 Begrenzte Anzahl von Plätzen. Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC. 6pm. OXFORD 9 November — Counter-UAS Magdalen Centre, Oxford (military) panel discussion. Science Park, Oxford. 7pm. Nigel Randall, E oaktree. YEOVIL [email protected] Dallas Conference Room 1A, 21 November — IAF Vintage Leonardo Helicopters, Yeovil. Flight. Mike Edwards, Chief 6.30pm. David Mccallum, The Norwegian Air Force has ordered 16 AW101s for search and rescue to replace Westland Adviser to and E david.mccallum@ Royal Jordanian Air Force. Sea Kings. Steve Vellacott will discuss the aircraft at Yeovil on 16 November. Norwegian Air Force. leonardocompany.com 2 November — Nuclear PRESTON Fusion. Mark Shannon, Head Personnel and Conference of the Project Management Centre, BAE Systems, Warton. Sheffield Hallam University. 9 January — Flying the not later than five days before Office, UKAEA. Joint lecture 7.30pm. Alan Matthews, 12 December — Yorkshire Bf109. Flt Lt Charlie Brown, the event. Photo ID will be with IMechE. T +44 (0)1995 61470. Air Ambulance Service. Tracey Flying Instructor, RAF Cranwell. required at the gate (Driving 16 November — The AW101 8 November — Synergistic Gregory. Licence/Passport). Advise for Norway. Steve Vellacott. Air Breathing Rocket Engine STEVENAGE attendance preferably via email (SABRE). Sophie Harker, BAE SOLENT Fusion Restaurant, Airbus to [email protected] or YEOVILTON Systems Warton. HMS Sultan. 7.15pm. Defence and Space, Gunnels Branch Secretary Colin Irvin, The Nuffield Sports Centre, 13 December — Memories 2 November — The X-35 vs Wood Road, Stevenage. 6pm. T +44 (0)7740 136609. RNAS Yeovilton. 6.30pm. of the Moor flight testing for X-32: The F-35 competitive Matt Cappell, E matthew. 1 November — PanAm Lt Marc Stone RN, T +44 the Cold War. Dennis Morley, concept demo. Rear Admiral cappell@-systems.com 103 Lockerbie accident (0)1935 456241. ex Flight Test Engineer HSA/ (Ret’d) Simon Henley, RAeS 14 November — Sea Venom investigation. Mike Charles, 28 November — Bush flying BAe Holme Upon Spalding President Elect. FASGW(H) weapon system. Lead Investigator AAIB. operations. Bryan Pill. Moor. Paul Goodwin. 6 December — Never drive SOUTHEND 6 December — Robotic faster than your guardian angel PRESTWICK The Royal Naval Association, arm for use in future space can fly. Sqn Ldr (ret’d) Derek The Aviator Suite, 1st Floor, 79 East Street, Southend-on- missions. Elie Allouis. J Sharpe. Terminal Building, Prestwick Sea. 8pm. Sean Corr, T +44 10 January — Alcock and Airport. 7.30pm. John Wragg, (0)20 7929 3400. SWINDON Brown. Cyril Mannion. 14 November — T +44 (0)1655 750270. The air war The Montgomery Theatre, over Korea 1950-1953. Sqn The Defence Academy of the TOULOUSE Copy date 13 November — Taranis for the next issue flight testing. Jon Wiggall. Joint Ldr Mike Pugh-Davies (Retd). , Joint Services Symposium Room, B01, Airbus 12 December — Gone Command Staff College, lecture with IMechE. HQ/SAS, 1 rond point Maurice of AEROSPACE is bush! – recollections of a bush Shrivenham. 7.30pm. New Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac. 11 December — Flying for pilot. Capt Paul Catanach, Line attendees must provide details 6pm. Contact: Pass@RAeS- 2 November. life. Tim Allen. Training Captain, TAG Aviation. of the vehicle they will be using Toulouse.org for a security pass. 15 January — Availability contracting. Sean McGovern.

QUEENSLAND Hawken Auditorium, Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), is a development and acquisition programme intended to replace a wide range of existing fighter, strike Engineering House, 447 and ground . After a competition between the Boeing X-32, left, and the Lockheed Martin X-35, right, a final design was Upper Edward Street, Spring chosen based on the X-35, the F-35 Lightning II, with the contract for System Development and Demonstration (SDD) awarded on 26 Hill, QLD 4000. 6.30pm. October 2001. The competitive concept demonstration will be discussed by Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Simon Henley at the Solent Branch 21 November — Flight on 2 November. USAF. planning – yesterday, today and tomorrow. Capt Allen Dickinson, Head of Flight Operations Systems, Flight Operations, Qantas Airways.

SHEFFIELD AMRC Knowledge Transfer Centre, Brunel Way, Advanced Manufacturing Park, Rotherham. 7pm. E [email protected] 28 November — Inaugural Sir Eric Mensforth Lecture. From ancient origins to the world’s most advanced SX casting foundry. Steve Irwin, Associate Fellow: Manufacturing – Casting Processes, Rolls-Royce. Sir Eric Mensforth Building,

54 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 The Autumn UK recruitment fair dedicated to aerospace and aviation

REGISTER NOW!

LIVE l 2017

RAeS, No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ Friday 10 November 2017

Business Class exhibitors include:

Premium Economy exhibitors include:

@RAeSCareers http://bit.ly/2gqrAbD #CIALIVE17 Afterburner Elections

FELLOWS Jan Marcinkowski Valentina Picardi Krystina Pearson- Alexander Taylor SOCIETY OFFICERS Michael Davidson Rampeearee Nick Wong Kenneth Fairbank Karol Puterla Michael Wykes President: ACM Sir Stephen Dalton Volker Paltzo Stefan Rassmann President-Elect: Rear Admiral Simon Henley Cameron Ross Daniel Turner AFFILIATES Angus Rupert Akif Wyne BOARD CHAIRMEN Timothy Simpson Daniel Pechev ASSOCIATES Louisa Wells Learned Society Chairman: MEMBERS Air Cdre Peter Round Rukshan STUDENT AFFILIATES Membership Services Chairman: Daniel Adams Amaradiwakara Philip Spiers Khalid AlHashmi Anthony Snook Jeremy Kimmons Professional Standards Chairman: James Bickley Jamie Markwick Prof Jonathan Cooper Christopher Brooking E-ASSOCIATES Kuhn Warrick Chris Drotsky DIVISION PRESIDENTS Anthony Gregory Raj Arya Angus Kennedy Sajana Medagedara Australia: Andrew Neely New Zealand: John MaciIree Pakistan: AM Salim Arshad Date for your diary South African: Dr Glen Snedden 27 November 2017 — Brabazon Lecture:

Turnaround, Technology and the Future of Boeing Travel. WITH REGRET Alan Joyce, Managing Director and Group CEO, The RAeS announces with regret the deaths of the Qantas, will give an insight into how Qantas following members: transformed its business in three years and the part technology played and is playing in Patrick Noel Borradaile IEng AMRAeS 80 supporting sustainable profitability and meeting Neil Christopher Grayson CEng MRAeS 86 customer expectations. He will also talk about taking delivery of the state-of-the-art 787-9 Dreamliner, right, which will connect Australia and Europe in one hop, and how Janet Mary Gulland CEng FRAeS 83 Qantas has set its sights on the last frontier of aviation – the ultra long-haul flight from the east coast of Australia to London or New York. Howard Humphries CEng FRAeS 89 John William Knight CEng MRAeS 89 Graham Glynne Parker CEng MRAeS 71 COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2018 Ronald Dennis Watts CEng MRAeS 97 Would you like to help guide the Society?

The Society would like to hear from members who are interested in standing for the Council in the 2018 elections to be held next spring. Only by having a good number of candidates from all sectors of the aviation and aerospace community can the Council benefit from a variety of backgrounds and experience. As members will be aware, the Council now concentrates on the outward facing aspects of the Society’s global activities. Indeed, as the Society becomes ever more global, it is critically important that our offerings to members, to Corporate Partners and especially to the public — indeed the whole of the aerospace sector that we serve — are of the highest quality. To lead output of the highest quality we need members of Council from every part of the aeronautical community and this is where you come in. As such, please give serious thought to whether you could serve the Society in this most important role. If you are interested, or require further information, please visit our website at http://aerosociety.com/elections or contact Saadiya Ogeer, the Society’s Governance and Compliance Manager, on +44 (0)20 7670 4311 or [email protected]. Please note that all nominations must be submitted no later than 31 January 2018 at 23.59 GMT.

56 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 Flight Simulation Conference

ROYAL AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY MODELLING AND SIMULATION FOR No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1 AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT Aviation Book Fair LONDON / 14-15 NOVEMBER 2017 Monday, 20 November 2017 11am – 6pm This conference seeks to review the challenges associated with future air traffic management through the lens of their associated modelling and simulation solutions, as they converge with live deployable systems.

Please visit our website to view the programme and to register.

100s of donated aviation books, biographies, www.aerosociety.com/events memoirs and magazines for sale Sponsors FREE ADMISSION T +44 (0)20 7670 4345 E [email protected]

President’s Conference Weapon Systems and Technology Conference

MAXIMISING THE VALUE OF AIR COMMERCIALISATION OF SPACE WEAPON SYSTEMS

REALISING UK GOALS FOR INNOVATION AND GROWTH

LONDON / 21 - 22 NOVEMBER 2017 LONDON / 23 NOVEMBER 2017

The 2017 President’s With the cost of weapon conference will give systems and their integration innovators, manufacturers, onto platforms, a smaller operators and users the inventory is inevitable opportunity to engage in an to cover a wide range unbiased discussion with of capabilities. Defence government, regulators, Lines of Development investors and educators offer a framework to study on the growing impact of opportunities where cost commercial space activities benefits can be achieved. The to the benefit of the UK conference seeks to identify economy and society in areas where best value can be general. achieved through the life cycle of the weapon system.

www.aerosociety.com/space2017 www.aerosociety.com/WSTConference

Sponsors Sponsors: The Last Word COMMENTARY FROM Professor Keith Hayward FRAeS

A bit of bother for Belfast

n attacking the Bombardier CSeries, the 1959/60, it stymied incorporation into either Boeing subsidy warriors have located a new the BAC or HSA groups as a possible conflict of target. The Canadians do have some form interest for the Government. Isolated from the rest here – WTO rulings in the 1990s hit both of the domestic aircraft industry, with higher costs Bombardier and Embraer, forcing changes in and labour problems, as one official noted, ‘Shorts is ICanadian Government aerospace support policy. something of an embarrassment’. This time the US is threatening unilateral action In the 1960s, employment fell by 50%and through the Department of Commerce International the Government was close to closing Shorts and Trade Commission. Federal and provincial developing the site as a trading estate. However, investment in Bombardier has been extensive and there was a chance that the firm ‘might stay in vital to its survival. However, attacking an aircraft in business in a small way as an engineering concern a class in which Boeing has no competitor, smacks with perhaps some interest in missiles’. The Cabinet of ulterior motives and an opportunist riding of the concluded that there was ‘nothing to be lost by Washington protectionist wave. waiting a while’. The Belfast design team was also The real aim may be to poison pill any Chinese working on a small transport aircraft, the Skyvan investment in a financially-stretched company. While which, combined with a range of successful guided Boeing might suffer some damage from Canadian weapons, proved to be its salvation, especially retaliation, the loss of F/A-18 Super Hornet orders when the USAF chose the Sherpa follow-on. The might be worth heading off Chinese competition Bombardier sale in 1989 provided the basis for to the north. The UK also has a dog in this fight – Shorts emergence as a first-rate aerostructures Bombardier Belfast, (aka Shorts) and poses serious centre, and its key role in the CSeries programme. domestic political questions. Still a politically sensitive company Aerospace in Northern Ireland – a HOWEVER, special case Bombardier Belfast is now the largest manufacturing employer in Northern Ireland and, while now free of ATTACKING AN The history of aircraft manufacturing in Northern its sectarian heritage, Bombardier Belfast remains AIRCRAFT IN A Ireland is no stranger to politics. Nationalised in a key factor in Unionist politics. With the London CLASS WHICH 1943 following internal problems, Shorts’ location Government dependent on DUP votes, Mrs May BOEING HAS NO and the jobs it supported has been a continual and others have joined Canadian protests and theme in its post-war history and survival as an have threatened to retaliate. However, even if COMPETITOR, independent company. Although it did have a design future Boeing military orders might suffer, Boeing SMACKS OF capability – and was a pioneer in VTOL research – investment in the Sheffield AMRC and the key role ULTERIOR mainland firms were encouraged by London to sub- of Boeing aircraft in current UK defence plans may contract work to maintain employment in Belfast. suggest a lot of noise signifying nothing. The post- MOTIVES In the late 1950s, Shorts faced a crisis: Brexit trading environment could also serve to mute AND AN dependent on Canberra and Britannia subcontracts criticism of the Trump White House. OPPORTUNIST and with limited orders for the Belfast military The proposed deal between Bombardier and RIDING OF THE transport, it was then unceremoniously dumped Airbus to build CSeries aircraft in Alabama might from the TSR-2 competition. The Government did by-pass US anti-dumping sanctions but the move WASHINGTON look for a link with a mainland company (Bristol is likely to infuriate Boeing and the White House. PROTECTIONIST already had a shareholding) but public ownership London could still face being caught between WAVE was a problem; during the rationalisation of several rocks and a hard place.

58 AEROSPACE / NOVEMBER 2017 ONLINE VISITOR THE DESTINATION REGISTRATION FOR AEROSPACE NOW OPEN

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