$14.95 JUNE 29-JULY 12, 2020 Quest for Speed BOOM XB-1 TAKES SHAPE RICH MEDIA EXCLUSIVE Europe’s Hydrogen- Powered Aircraft Push PRIME TIME FOR How Safe Are HYPERSONICS Aircraft Cabins? Canada’s Fighter RICH MEDIA EXCLUSIVE Strategy Digital Edition Copyright Notice The content contained in this digital edition (“Digital Material”), as well as its selection and arrangement, is owned by Informa. and its affiliated companies, licensors, and suppliers, and is protected by their respective copyright, trademark and other proprietary rights. 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Number 13 By Article: AviationWeek.com/awst By Issue: AviationWeek.com/awst_current Download and Read Offline: AviationWeek.com/download DEPARTMENTS 22 6 | Feedback 15 | Airline Intel In addition to the airframe, 8 | Who’s Where 64 | Classified Pipistrel itself developed 10-11 | First Take 66 | Contact Us the motor, battery system, 12 | Up Front 65 | Aerospace propeller and avionics for 13 | Going Concerns Calendar the Velis Electro. 14 | Inside Business Aviation PIPISTREL FEATURES ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT URBAN AIR MOBILITY 19 | Hydrogen Strategy 22 | Pipistrel certification paves way for 39 | Beta Technologies begins testing Europe focuses research on electric aircraft commercial use ALIA eVTOL for organ transport hydrogen-powered aircraft to meet sustainability targets DEFENSE SPACE 24 | Testing and development of the 59 | Bridenstine hands reins of human 34 | Safer Spaces Su-57 continues after 2019 crash spaceflight program to Lueders Manufacturers and airlines aim to restore passenger confidence 26 | Germany first to modernize 60 | New agreement enables use of U.S. with new protective technologies Eurofighters with AESA radar launchers from British spaceports 61 | How the FAA is building a 40 | Not So Fast 28 Seoul’s Surion attack-mission | spaceport network Hypersonics projects advance decision nears in the U.S. and abroad but face ASK THE EDITORS hurdles in funding and physics 29 | Japan’s Aegis Ashore program 62 | What is forecast aircraft mechanic suddenly crashes 56 | Pathfinder Progress near-term supply and demand? Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 opens 30 | Canada mimics Marine Corps POINT/COUNTERPOINT the way for the 21st century’s first makeover for its F/A-18C/D fleet 66 | Russia’s military cannot hide supersonic commercial airliner under the Open Skies Treaty REDUCED CREW OPERATIONS 36 | New research and technologies 66 | Kremlin violations of the Open COMMERCIAL AVIATION fuel single-pilot operations debate Skies Treaty justify a U.S. exit 16 | European industry bailouts set ambitious environmental goals 31 | Contactless technologies to help ON THE COVER airports ensure safe recovery After many false dawns, new high-speed aircraft and weapon projects are underway in the U.S. Boom Supersonics’ XB-1 demonstrator will pave the way for the Mach 2.2 Overture, the first clean-sheet 32 | Safety management programs airliner of the 21st century, while heading into faster flight regimes. Our hypersonics special package coming to OEMs led by Propulsion Editor Guy Norris and Defense Editor Steve Trimble begins on page 40. Boom Supersonics photo. ROTORCRAFT Aviation Week publishes a digital edition every week. Read it at AviationWeek.com/AWST 21 | Airbus planning fuel-thrifty Ecureuil successor DIGITAL EXTRAS Access exclusive online features from articles accompanied by this icon. AviationWeek.com/AWST AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY/JUNE 29-JULY 12, 2020 3 Editor-In-Chief Joseph C. 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