Aerospace Bristol’s Post

'Next generation' as a term gets applied rather loosely - but in the case of future rotorcraft, this is worth watching. If you consider the technology pathways available, there look to be three ways to squeeze out more speed/range (on top of upgrades and life extensions for legacy technology - which largely preserve the status quo): - Tiltrotor (Bell) - Co-axial rotor (Sikorsky X2 concept) - Hybrid with Pusher prop (Airbus Racer X3 concept) Boeing and Bell partnered during the 1990s to produce the Osprey as a military tiltrotor, and Bell has leveraged the experience of some 700,000 flying hours to develop the V-280, winning FLRAA in Dec 2022. Bell also partnered with Leonardo (then Agusta) in the late 1990s to produce the AW609 commercial tiltrotor, which is now nearing certification. Leonardo has already designed a V-280-like concept for their Next Generation Civilian Tiltrotor (NGCTR) program. It makes sense to look together at future opportunities. Why are these pathways important? Because from the mid-2030s, most of the global military rotorcraft fleet will approach obsolesence. US Army have chosen a tiltrotor future in FLRAA, to be fielded from 2030. USN and USMC have yet to define future roadmaps. USN options are being considered under the FVL-Maritime Strike program, which is expected to report in about 2025, with a 'family of systems' approach as a mix of manned/unmanned rotorcraft. In Europe, the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) is a 7-member NATO study launched in 2020 and led by UK to determine a replacement with 'vastly improved flight characteristics', including 180KIAS cruise or higher. IOC target is 2035-40. In essence, they're running about a decade behind FLRAA. Europe is also host to the Next Gen Medium Helicopter (NGMH) program, as a cooperation between four EU members, led by France. This builds on an Airbus/Leonardo ENGRT study which examined future technologies and concepts. Whilst a late starter (launched in 2023), NGMH may yet lean towards an existing Airbus solution, the Racer X3 having debuted at Paris in 2017. None of the above is clear cut, and some members are participating in multiple programs as options and pathways become more defined. Some NGRC members (UK, NLD) also have MOUs with US Army for FVL. Also not to be confused with the UK NMH program, which tenders are currently being evaluated, as a 'gap filler' pending maturation of the programs above. And then there is the HSVTOL program...

The aircraft speeds which are much greater than the speed of sound, the aircraft is said to be hypersonic. Typical speeds for hypersonic aircraft are greater than 3000 mph and Mach number M greater than five, M > 5.

Firefly Aerospace onboarded as launch provider for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) with Alpha Rocket Firefly Aerospace announced it was selected by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to serve as a launch provider with Firefly’s Alpha rocket. As part of the NRO’s Streamlined Launch Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract (SLIC), the agreement has a 10-year ordering period with a ceiling value of $700 million across all firm fixed-price task orders. “Firefly is ready to support the NRO’s responsive space needs as we continue to advance our rapid launch operations capability,” said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace. “In order to support the increased demand for Alpha launches, we’ve doubled the size of our facilities, implemented automated carbon composite technologies, and fine-tuned our operations to rapidly produce, test, and launch in response to our customers’ urgent mission needs.” The SLIC program was established by the NRO’s Office of Space Launch to leverage commercial best practices for responsive space missions and encourage competition among emerging launch providers. SLIC is open to US launch vehicles with a proven orbital record and allows providers to bid dedicated, rideshare, or multi-manifest launch services. #Space #Launch #Rocket #Aerospace #US https://lnkd.in/ehaigYpK

Have you secured your visitor trade pass for Farnborough International Airshow 2024?✈ This biennial event extends beyond a five-day gathering, serving as a catalyst for innovation and excellence within the aerospace and defense sectors on a global scale. #FIA2024 will center around six key themes, each of which carries a significant message for today's industry. These themes have been carefully curated to facilitate networking opportunities with industry peers and to explore potential collaborations in various areas. Prepare to delve into: 🚀Space ✨Defense 🌏Sustainability 🛠Innovation 🛩Future Flight 👩✈️Workforce Secure your pass today and get ready to join us for an airshow that not only showcases the future of the industry but also inspires progress and represents the Apex of Aviation! 📲 https://lnkd.in/eTM29aUn #ApexofAviation #Aerospace #Airshow #Space #Sustainability #Innovation #FutureFlight #Workforce #PioneerTomorrow #FuturePioneers

Did you know that at Morgan we serve both the aviation and space portions of aerospace? Learn more about Morgan in the aerospace market 👇. https://bit.ly/47Mo4fR #Aerospace #Aviation #Space

The Aerospace, Defense, Aviation, and Space Industry is overcoming obstacles and transforming in uncertain times. Discover strategies for success post-pandemic in our "Flight Plan to Recovery". Explore how a global company benefited from Product Portfolio Optimization. Learn more here: https://okt.to/VsRmFo #Aerospace #Defense #Aviation #Space

I was blown away by my visit to the Science Museum in London, particularly the Aerospace and Aviation section. For the first time ever, I saw a real V2 rocket, the very same kind of technology that paved the way for both modern missiles and space exploration! The Science Museum's comprehensive collection not only showcases the technological advancements in aviation but also highlights the human stories of pioneers and innovators who pushed the boundaries of flight. This blend of technology and human achievement makes the aerospace and aviation sections a truly inspiring part of the museum. #military #defense #defence #aerospace #aviation #aircraft #aircrafts #airplane #airplanes #aviationlovers #militaryaviation #militaryaircraft #fighterjet #engineering #technology #militarytechnology #defensetechnology #defenseinnovation #defenseindustry #airforce #technology #aerospace #space #spacemission #moon #rocket #rockets #spaceexploration #aerospace #satellite #satellites #spacetechnology #spaceinnovation #spacecraft #spacenews #spacestation

📅 Did You Know? ✈️ Aerospace engineering, the field dedicated to designing and developing aircraft and spacecraft, experienced remarkable advancements during World War II. 🌍💡 This era brought groundbreaking innovations in jet engines, which revolutionized speed and performance in aviation. Additionally, radar technology evolved rapidly, enhancing detection and combat strategies. These advancements not only transformed aerial warfare but also laid the foundation for modern aerospace engineering, impacting everything from commercial aviation to space exploration today! 🚀✨ #AerospaceEngineering #WWII #Innovation #JetEngines #RadarTechnology #AviationHistory #SpaceExploration #DidYouKnow

July 16th, 1969, The Apollo 11 crew aboard their Saturn V, launching from LC-39A at 13:32:00 UTC en route to the surface of the moon. "We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win" President John F. Kennedy 1962 Pictured: The mighty Saturn V rocket as she passes though Max Q. The max q condition is the point when an aerospace vehicle's atmospheric flight reaches maximum dynamic pressure. After the Saturn V's seven and a half million pounds of thrust pushes her through max q, its all downhill from there, and the opposite becomes true. The dynamic pressure acting against the craft decreases as the air density decreases, ultimately reaching 0 Next stop, Tranquility Base... www.Sierrahotel.net  <<

A rare sight indeed, something we may never witness again. In the background, a Concorde takes off, the world's only supersonic passenger jet. In the foreground, a space shuttle is being transported atop a specially modified 747. This extraordinary moment captures two iconic symbols of aerospace innovation and achievement. #technology #aerospace #space #spacemission #moon #rocket #rockets #spaceexploration #aerospace #satellite #satellites #spacetechnology #spaceinnovation #spacecraft #spacenews #spacestation #military #defense #defence #aerospace #aviation #aircraft #aircrafts #airplane #airplanes #aviationlovers #engineering #technology #airforce #pilots