DRONE ACADEMY - RUSSIAN HYPERSONICS THE RISE OF COMMERCIAL NEWSPACE - PLACING AIRMANSHIP AT THE HEART OF UAV TRAINING - Royal Aeronautical Society
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April 2019
AEROSPACE
RUSSIAN
HYPERSONICS
THE TURBOPROP
REVIVAL
THE RISE OF
COMMERCIAL NEWSPACE
www.aerosociety.com
April 2019
Volume 46 Number 4
DRONE ACADEMY
Royal Aeronautical Society
PLACING AIRMANSHIP AT THE HEART OF UAV TRAINING
Volume 46 Number 4 School of drones Return of the
HALO Drones
ATR
April 2019 Tim Robinson joins turboprop
a commercial drone Can the commercial
14 training course with
HALO Drones. 26 turboprop still
compete with
new regional jet
designs?
Contents
Correspondence on all aerospace matters is welcome at: The Editor, AEROSPACE, No.4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ, UK publications@aerosociety.com
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
End of an era at Farnborough 10 Antenna
Howard Wheeldon looks
Keith Hayward reviews the
future prospects for the UK
back at the achievements of aerospace industry post
the RAF Tornado fighter. Brexit.
On 5 March the organisers of the Farnborough Air Show announced that
the public flying days, held on the weekend, would now be discontinued,
although the Friday of the show would now be fully opened up to the public. Features
A spokesperson also blamed ‘negative’ feedback from a dwindling number
30
MoD of the Russia Federation
of visitors on the public days as being behind the move. Predictably this
announcement led to yet more negative feedback and criticism – with the
feeling that Farnborough is set to lose an important part of its show. But this
decision has been a long time coming and owes more to the urban growth of
London and its suburbs over the past 70 years than malice. What was once
MoD
the home of the RAE and a sleepy town centred on aeronautics has become 18 Sharing the skies
encroached on all sides by housing estates and business parks. Increased The latest progress on
health and safety considerations has led to a progressively smaller airspace Russia accelerates integrating UAVs into both
hypersonics race military and commercial
to display aircraft, as well as fewer new types of aircraft to showcase – with Russia is currently working airspace.
the Shoreham tragedy in 2015 being the final straw. However, a thought on a range of hypersonic
occurs. Why not make the whole week open to the public? Although vehicle projects, including 34 NewSpace matures
missiles, airliners and drones. NewSpace start-ups promise
exhibitors might grumble that this would detract from the B2B trade aspect,
affordable launches and
it perhaps is worth considering. It would let people see the latest aircraft smallsats constellations.
before they depart to resume busy testing schedules and allow companies
Thales
to have their STEM and careers opportunities every day. Farnborough is
the showcase for global aerospace innovation and technology and if this
Operation Migration
can be communicated by allowing keen young people to directly interact
with workers on exhibition stands, then surely this is a small price to pay for
running out of a few extra corporate pens and badges?
22
Tim Robinson, Editor-in-Chief
Under pressure
38
tim.robinson@aerosociety.com The RAF now has a new
Flocks away
training centrifuge which can
How drones can be used
replicate the high-G forces
NEWS IN BRIEF which pilots will experience
flying modern fighters.
to divert birds away from
airports and how microlights
are used to encourage bird
Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office Printed by Buxton Press Limited, migration.
Tim Robinson Royal Aeronautical Society Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire
+44 (0)20 7670 4353 No.4 Hamilton Place SK17 6AE, UK
tim.robinson@aerosociety.com
41 Afterburner
London W1J 7BQ, UK Distributed by Royal Mail
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43 M
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58 M
Unless specifically attributed, no Champlain New York and additional aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight
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019 Anniversaries
publication is not permitted without the March issue of AEROSPACE, New RAF pilot
Book Review Editor
Brian Riddle written consent of the Editor-in-Chief.
ISSN 2052-451X
56 Elections training centrifuge, Turboprop revival?,
Requiem for a superjumbo, Space in
2019 – a look ahead, EASA’s new
rules on pilot mental fitness.
Front cover: UAV training course. (HALO Drones)
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Radome
INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT
Specifications
Length 38ft
Range 2,000+nm
Testing in the outback
Three ATS prototypes will be built and tested in Australia, with the
large airspace ranges and low-population density ideal for flight
testing advanced military UCAVs.
Keeping the cost down
Key to ‘attritable’ UCAVs is making them
affordable to field in large numbers along-
side manned aircraft. For ATS, Boeing says
it plans to use an undisclosed commercial
turbofan engine to reduce costs.
4 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019
W
DEFENCE
Boeing’s loyal wingman
Unveiled at the 2019 Avalon air show in Australia on 26 February was a mock-up of a new
UCAV from Boeing designed to act as a 'Loyal Wingman' with piloted platforms. The Airpower
Teaming System (ATS) is a long-range, high-speed, fighter-sized stealth drone and will be
developed in a partnership between Boeing Defense and the Australian Government, which is
putting up to A$40m torwards the project. This will be the first Boeing unmanned system to
be built outside the US. First flight is aimed for 2020.
Long range
The ATS will have a long reach with a range
of over 2,000nm − ideal for Australia’s
requirements in the large Asia-Pacific region.
Advanced AI
Described as a ‘game-changer’ by Boeing,
the ATS would use advanced autonomy to
allow it to fly independent missions or act
as support/escort with manned platforms,
such as the F-35, E/A-18G Growler, E-7
Wedgetail or P-8 Poseidon.
Modular payload
No weapons or sensors have been
described yet but the company has
revealed the ATS will be designed so
that payloads (such as ISR or EW) can
be swapped around for other customers.
Some Loyal Wingman concepts also see
UCAVs acting as airborne ‘reloads’ for air-
to-air or air-to-surface weapons.
Boeing
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5
Radome
AEROSPACE GENERAL
Nations race to ground 737 MAX after second AVIATION
fatal MAX accident in four months Shoreham
As AEROSPACE goes accident follows the pilot
to press, the global fleet
of over 370 Boeing 737
October 2018 crash of
a Lion Air 737 MAX 8
acquitted
MAX airliners has been which killed 189. Ethiopia Andy Hill, the pilot of the
grounded in the wake has grounded the 737 Hawker Hunter that crashed
of a fatal accident on MAX along with national at Shoreham in 2015, and
10 March, involving an aviation authorities which killed 11 people
Ethiopian Airlines 737 including Australia, on the ground, has been
MAX 8 which killed all Canada, China, Oman, acquitted of manslaughter
149 on board. The aircraft Malaysia, South Korea, UK at a trial at the Old Bailey.
The jury cleared Hill after
Ethiopian Airlines
had departed from Addis and EASA. On 13 March
Ababa airport when it the US FAA followed suit. the defence argued he had
plunged into the ground An investigation into the been ‘cognitively impaired’
after six minutes. This crash is underway. during the incident.
AIR TRANSPORT DEFENCE
Agreement on UK-EU IAF MiG-21 Bison shot down in
no-deal flights reached skirmish over Kashmir
The UK has reached a EU-licensed airlines
temporary agreement continued access to the
with the European Union UK as the EU proposes
that will permit flights to give to UK
between the UK airlines in Europe.
Br
itis
and the EU to This reciprocal
h A irw a y s
continue after agreement
29 March, even would apply An Indian Air Force MiG-21 Bison was shot down by Pakistan Air Force (PAF)
if there is no deal for a year up to
fighters and its pilot captured during two days of aerial skirmishes over Kashmir
on Brexit. The UK 29 March 2020, or
in late February. The shootdown happened during a PAF strike aimed at Indian
Indian Air Force
Department for Transport until the negotiation of a
targets, in retaliation for an earlier IAF raid on suspected terrorist camps. The
has said that it will grant permanent deal.
pilot was later returned to India. India, meanwhile, claimed that a PAF
F-16 had also been shot down during the dogfight.
NEWS IN BRIEF
18 Boeing 777-9Xs plus Department of the Navy’s This is the first ‘space the wreckage of an Atlas
The Colombian aviation 24 options to be used by first F-35C squadron tourist’ flight to the ISS Air Boeing 767 cargo
authority is investigating British Airways. Due to be completed aircraft carrier since 2009. aircraft that crashed in
the crash of Laser Aereo delivered between 2022 qualifications aboard USS Trinity Bay in Anahuac,
DC-3 which came down and 2025, the new aircraft Carl Vinson. Airbus Helicopters has Texas, on 2 March killing all
in central Colombia on 9 will replace 14 Boeing won a five-year service and three people onboard.
March, killing all 14 people 747-400s and four Boeing Russian space agency maintenance contract from
aboard. The aircraft, which 777-200s. Roscosmos and US-based the UK's National Police The Vietnamese travel
first entered service as a Space Adventures have Air Service to support 15 x group FLC has confirmed
USAAF C-47 in 1942, was The F-35C, the aircraft signed a deal to fly two EC135s and 4 x EC145s. an order for ten Boeing
on a scheduled flight from carrier variant of the ‘space tourists’ to the 787-9s for its newly started
San José del Guaviare to Lockheed Martin Lightning ISS and back. The flights The US National Bamboo Airways unit.
central Villavicencio when II, has achieved initial would use spare seats on Transportation Safety
the accident occured. operational capability the Russian Soyuz-MS Board (NTSB) has Spain has joined the
(IOC). The announcement capsule, with the goal of recovered both the cockpit Franco-German project to
The International Airlines was made on 28 the flight taking place voice recorder and the develop a future combat
Group (IAG) has ordered February after the US before the end of 2021. flight data recorder from air system (FCAS)
6 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019
SPACEFLIGHT AIR TRANSPORT
An unmanned SpaceX BMI Regional goes
Dragon astronaut capsule
returned to Earth on bankrupt
8 March following a Passengers of UK regional valuable flying contracts
successful test flight operator BMI Regional were in Europe due to business
to the International stranded across Europe uncertainty over Brexit.
Space Station (ISS). after the airline BMI Regional was
Carrying a test dummy ceased operations created in 2012
and 90kg of supplies, the
Tra
on 16 February as a new airline,
ns
Crew Dragon capsule docked
p ort Pixels
and filed for after mainline
autonomously with the ISS on 3 administration. carrier BMI was
March. The Crew Dragon splashed down 230 The airline, which sold to British
miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral where it
was recovered by SpaceX’s ship, Go Searcher. Enter operated under
the brand name Flybmi,
Airways parent IAG.
BMI Regional is part of
SpaceX will next conduct an unmanned inflight
abort test mission, after which the first crewed
the attributed its bankruptcy Airline Investments which
mission is planned for July. Dragon to fluctuations in fuel cost also owns Scottish operator
NASA
and being unable to secure Loganair.
AEROSPACE GENERAL AVIATION
R-R backs out of NMA CityAirbus eVTOL makes public debut
engine race
On 11 March
Rolls-Royce has had proposed for the NMA. Airbus revealed
announced that it will Boeing has yet to formally its CityAirbus
no longer be competing launch the NMA. eVTOL prototype in
to supply an engine for Meanwhile, the public for the first
Boeing’s proposed New company has also time in Ingolstadt,
Midsize Airplane (NMA) revealed it has pulled Germany. The
aircraft. The engine out of an effort to supply aircraft has been
manufacturer said that it engines for Turkey's undergoing ground
was unable to commit to TF-X fifth generation tests ahead of a
the planned timeline for the stealth fighter project. first flight within the
project, although it would Negotiations fell apart next few weeks.
continue to develop its new due to concerns over IP
Airbus
UltraFan design which it sharing.
manned/unmanned materials needed for will provide high-
fighter. Scheduled to Dassault Aviation has the MC21 and the time The US Marine Corps resolution surveillance
enter service by 2040, taken over the European needed to develop has retired the last of the imagery for the Egyptian
FCAS is intended as a MRO activities of TAG alternative sources. Grumman EA-6 Prowlers military and other
future replacement for Aviation Group. The from active service. They government agencies.
Eurofighter and Rafale. maintenance activities Southwest Airlines has have now been replaced
will be incorporated into received a warning from in the EW role by Boeing Kaman has announced
On 21 February Japan’s Dassault over the next few the US FAA raising E/A-18G Growlers. plans to offer an optionally
Hayabusa 2 spacecraft months. concerns about safety piloted variant of its K-Max
successfully landed on after the airline’s ongoing An Egyptian Earth- helicopter to commercial
the asteroid Ryugu and Production of Russia’s dispute over new contracts observation satellite was customers by 2020.
collected material from new passenger jet, the with the AMFA (Aircraft launched into orbit from Kaman believes that
the object, using a pellet UAC MC21, is set to be Mechanics Fraternal Baikonur aboard a Soyuz an UAV autonomous
gun to kick up dust. It is delayed until the end of Association) mechanics’ 1.b rocket on 21 February. helicopter could be useful
then set to lift-off and 2020. The slippage has union. The dispute has Built by RSC Energia in for lengthy or hazardous
return back to Earth in been put down to US seen the airline cancel over Russia, the EgyptSat-A civil missions, such as
2020. sanctions on composite 100 flights a day. remote sensing satellite forest fire fighting.
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Radome
AIR TRANSPORT AEROSPACE
Etihad scales back orders Farnborough axes public days
On 5 March, Farnborough International, the organisers of the biennial
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad announced orders for 26 Farnborough International Air Show announced that the traditional two-day
Airways has formally Boeing 777s to six public display weekend is to be scrapped. Declining visitors and negative
cancelled orders 777-9s. The airline feedback were behind the move. Instead, says FIA, for the 2020 exhibition, the
Friday careers-focused ‘Futures Day’ will be merged with public access to the
A ir
for 42 A350s says it will also
bus
show and exhibition halls.
(40 A350- take delivery of
900s and two five A350-
A350-1000s) 1000s and 25
with airframer A321neos in the
Airbus. The 'coming years'. The
cancellations form part of airline has been struggling
a larger rationalisation and to make profits and has
restructuring of Etihad's racked up losses of more
Francis Mok
future fleet, with the carrier than $4.75bn in the past
also cutting previously three years.
DEFENCE SPACEFLIGHT
NASA mulls sidelining
SLS rocket
In a hearing to the launchers in order to meet
Lockheed US Senate, NASA
Administrator Jim
the deadline of sending
the Orion spacecraft on its
pitches Bridenstine, revealed that
the agency is exploring
first uncrewed test mission
around the Moon in 2020,
‘F-21’ to options to launch the as delays with SLS mean
India crewed Orion capsule
using commercial rockets,
it is unlikley to be ready.
NASA has already called
At the Aero India air show in Bangalore, Lockheed Martin revealed a new instead of its own heavy-lift for commercial launchers
proposed variant of its F-16 for the Indian Air Force – the F-21. The F-21, which Space Launch System to help build its Lunar
builds on earlier advanced F-16s such as the F-16V, F-16 Block 70 and F-16IN,
Lockheed Martin
(SLS) designed to launch Gateway outpost, as well as
features conformal fuel tanks, a retractable refuelling probe, dorsal spine for
avionics and triple AMRAAM launchers. Inside the cockpit the F-16's separate Orion. NASA appears to launch the Europa Clipper
MFDs have now been replaced by a single F-35-style wide area display. be considering commercial science mission in 2023.
NEWS IN BRIEF
lithium ion cells to be and the UK Space Agency, aircraft (Bio Electric Hybrid over 7m passengers a year.
Mitsubishi's MRJ regional carried on cargo aircraft. ahead of ground-based Aircraft) for commercial
jet has now began testing. passenger operations by At the 2019 Aero
certification flight tests The USAF Air Force 2025. India exhibition, India’s
using its fourth prototype. Research Laboratory has Daher has unveiled its Aeronautical Development
The company is aiming revealed that the Kratos latest single-engined Greece has signed a Agency (ADA) unveiled
to deliver the first MRJ in XQ-58A Valkyrie UCAV turboprop − the TBM contract to build a new a planned upgrade from
2020 to launch customer made its first flight on 940. The 940 features an civil airport on the island the HAL Tejas Mk2 Light
All Nippon Airways. 5 March at a test range autothrottle, improved anti- of Crete. The new airport, Combat Aircraft (LCA)
in Arizona. The Valkyrie icing and a revamped cabin. located at the former to a Medium Weight
The US FAA and DoT have is a high-speed 'Loyal Certification is expected Kastelli military airfield near Fighter. The changes
introduced a new interim Wingman' combat drone. this month. Heraklion, will be built and include canards, uprated
rule banning lithium ion operated by the Ariadne engine, extra fuel and
batteries being carried Reaction Engines' SABRE UK start-up Faradair has Airport Group consortium. wingtip missile stations
as cargo on passenger air-breathing engine core revealed it is aiming to The new Kastelli Airport is which boosts the aircraft's
aircraft. However, the has had its preliminary certify its 18-seat hybrid- scheduled to open in 2023 weapon payload from 3.3t
regulations will still permit design reviewed by ESA electric BEHA M1H and is expected to handle to 6.5t.
8 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019
GENERAL AVIATION AIR TRANSPORT
Global 7500 stretches Lufthansa doubles down on big
out its long legs twins
A Bombardier Global 7500 Airport in Singapore to
bizjet has completed, what Tucson International
is claimed to be, the Airport, Arizona, in
longest non- the US.
stop flight by a Airborne for
B om
purpose-built approximately
b a r d ie r
business jet in 16 hours,
history, flying for the aircraft
8,152nm on 4 also landed The Lufthansa Group has placed an order for 40 new widebodies, split between
March – over and with 4,300lb of Airbus and Boeing. The $12bn order, for 20 Airbus A350-900s and 20 Boeing 787-
above its advertised remaining fuel, or 9s will be used to replace older four-engined airliners in its fleet. As part of this,
Lufthansa
range of 7,700nm. The almost 1.5hrs of additional Lufthansa is to sell six of its A380s back to manufacturer, Airbus.
aircraft flew from Changi flight time.
AEROSPACE SPACEFLIGHT
OneWeb confirmed as
Tyre manufacturer Goodyear has revealed a concept for a dual purpose road tyre and ducted
fan for autonomous eVTOLs or ‘flying cars’. The AERO tyre, unveiled at the Geneva Motor
Show, would see fan blades used as spokes of the wheels, while an outer rim would allow the
vehicle to be driven on roads. The fan/wheel would feature a bearingless magnetic drive.
first Ariane 6 customer
Arianespace has Soyuz rocket launched
announced that the from French Guiana on
launch customer for its 27 February. A further 20
new Ariane 6 launcher Soyuz OneWeb launches
in 2020 will be high- are due to follow, with the
speed Internet provider rockets placing 32-36
OneWeb, which plans to satellites into orbit each
deploy a constellation of time.
Goodyear an eventual 600+ micro
satellites into low-Earth
On 18 February
UK-based OneWeb was
envisages tyre/ orbit. The first six OneWeb awarded £18m of ESA
Gooodyear
rotor hybrid satellites were deployed
from an Arianespace
funding by the UK Space
Agency.
ON THE Supersonic civil aircraft DEFENCE
manufacturer Aerion
MOVE has appointed Cathy INFOGRAPHIC: Stuck in the holding
Rice as VP Business
Secretary of the US Air Management and Scott pattern − UK military flying training
Force Heather Wilson is Kalister as VP Worldwide
to step down at the end Support & Logistics. There are approximately 350 trainee pilots from the Royal Navy,
of May. Army and RAF in ‘holding’ in the military flying training pipeline
Boeing has named Anne and the average time from Elementary Flying Training to...
The Royal Air Force has Toulouse as Senior VP of
appointed Sue Gray to the Communications.
rank of Air Marshal and
Rotary training 112 Weeks
Director General of the Sharon Bryson has been
Multi-engine training 72 Weeks
Defence Safety Authority. confirmed as the new
MD of the US NTSB.
Fast jet training 58 Weeks
L Don Miller is the new
President and CEO of the Norman Lee is the new 0 30 60 90 120
Bristow Group. VP of Marketing at Atlas
Weeks
Space Operations.
RAeS
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antenna: Global Outlook and
Analysis with
HOWARD WHEELDON
The Tornado finally bows
out from RAF service
A
final series of official flypasts in following the merger of Fiat Aviazione and Aerfer
February by Royal Air Force Panavia and, from 1990 following the merger with Selenia,
Tornado GR4s provided a fitting Alenia Aeronautics). VFW-Fokker was also involved
tribute to mark Tornado capability in the initial phase. A separate partnership, known
bowing out of the RAF inventory at as Turbo-Union, comprising Rolls-Royce, MTU and
the end of March. These took place over many of the Fiat, was established to develop what would become
bases that this superb variable sweep-wing multi- the RB199 three-spool turbofan engine which was
role combat aircraft has operated from over the past equipped with both afterburners and thrust reversers.
38 years, culminating in a brilliant nine ship display One year later, in 1970, MRCA was authorised
over RAF Marham on 28 February. by the partner governments for prototyping as a twin-
For the past 28 years RAF Tornado jets have seat, multi-role aircraft capability, with initial provision
been in almost continual deployment either in theatre for carrying a range of air-to-air missiles and which
or in support of our allies. In terms of the capability would later, as a separate type, also be optimised
that it provides, the platform bows out at the very to carry air-to-ground weapons. The first aircraft of
top of its game, with the last two RAF Tornado GR4 what would eventually be nine MRCA prototypes flew
Squadrons to operate the aircraft (1X (B) and 31 from Manching, Germany, in August 1974, followed
Squadron) having only in February returned back to two months later in October 1974 by the first British
base at RAF Marham from RAF Akrotiri following four prototype.
years of continuous primary precision attack missions
over Syria and Iraq as part of ‘Op Shader’. The Panavia Panther?
Birth of the Tornado Originally called Panther for a short period, by 1977
MRCA had morphed into the Tornado in the form of
Although not yet known by that name, the Tornado two primary variants, one designed for Interdiction
was effectively born when, on 5 July 1967. The then Strike (IDS) and the other, an Air Defence Variant
Minister of Defence Denis Healey announced not (ADV). The Royal Air Force took delivery of what by
only that France had suddenly withdrawn from the then had become the Tornado GR1 in July 1980. In
Anglo-French Variable Geometry (AFVG) project but all, a total of 992 Tornado aircraft would be built for the
also that, as a direct consequence of that decision, he three governments by the Panavia partnership, with
was authorising the two British companies in the now Saudi Arabia being the only export customer.
defunct Anglo/French partnership, British Aircraft The development phase, particularly in relation
Corporation (BAC) and Bristol Siddeley, to continue to testing of the RB199 engine – which was done
variable-geometry military fighter aircraft studies to initially under an Avro Vulcan – suffice to say that
amended specifications. development and entry into service phases of Tornado
BAC (BAE Systems today) already had a long was not without problems. Of the two variants, it
history of research in what was originally termed was the F3 Air Defence variant that posed most
‘polymorphic aircraft configurations’ (aircraft that problems but even so, by the time of the first Gulf War
changed their shape in flight), stretching back to (Operation Desert Storm) in 1991, Tornado F3 proved
original work done by the late Sir Barnes Wallis. to be a very potent capability in the air defence role
Pleasingly, from its early beginnings, the and the GR1 quickly established itself as the primary
Tornado programme was one of those collaborative precision attack capability in the Royal Air Force.
partnerships that worked very well. The formal With the Tornado having been a sizable part of
beginnings of the project development date back to my own professional life in respect of following its
March 1969 with the UK, Germany and Italy agreeing development and through life, I have often imagined
to take what had by then become known as the that the aircraft could well have begun life in the early
Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MRCA) programme into 1960s as a few scribblings by some RAF officers of a
a newly formed industrial company partnership to be swing-wing variable geometry aircraft type that could,
known as Panavia. From an industry standpoint this in separate forms, be capable of conducting both the
comprised British Aircraft Corporation, Messerschmitt- air-to-air attack or defence or air-to-ground attack
Bölkow-Blohm (MBB), Fiat Aviazione (later Aeritalia roles.
10 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019MoD
At the peak of its powers
While Tornado will remain in service with the German
and Italian Air Forces, along with the Saudi Royal Air
Force for many years yet, the RAF Tornado Force has
been in almost continuous operational deployment
from the Gulf War in 1991 all the way through and
including ‘Op Shader’ in Iraq and Syria until the final
1X (B) and 31 Squadron aircraft returned to their
RAF Marham base in February this year.
They say that a combat jet aircraft is never as
good as the day that it is retired from service and that,
in capability terms, is certainly true of the Tornado
GR4. To the very end, equipped with a formidable
array of complex weapon capability, the RAF Tornado
GR4 has provided all that has ever been asked of it
and more besides.
The Tornado F3 Air Defence Variant (ADV) A farewell formation of nine Tornado GR4s from RAF Marham marked the aircraft's
variant was retired from RAF service in 2012. The retirement from RAF service.
more numerous GR1, or in upgraded form (142
of the original 228 GR1 aircraft were upgraded
to GR4 standard by BAE Systems between 1997 support for ground forces, in its final form Tornado
and 2003) GR4, air-to-ground precision attack and GR4 carried Paveway III and IV dual-mode laser-
reconnaissance Tornado GR4 has, until the recent guided bombs together with Storm Shadow missiles.
advent of the Typhoon to become the RAF’s primary These afforded the platform with capability for
air-to-ground attack role platform, been the backbone precision strike against bunkers and other hardened
of frontline capability for as long as many can facilities, together with Dual-Mode Seeker Brimstone
remember. for precision strike against specific targets deemed to
In service for 38 years, Tornado has a capability present the possibility of collateral-damage challenge,
that we have seemingly taken for granted for so long, as well as other targets such as static and moving
that it is even now hard to imagine the RAF without it. armoured vehicles. With its Reconnaissance Airborne
Pod Tornado (RAPTOR) system and the Litening III
The Tornado bows out on a high targeting pod used on intelligence gathering missions,
THEY SAY THAT Tornado GR4 was recognised and respected by our
Having been enhanced over the years through a A COMBAT allies as having formidable capability.
series of upgrades, the Tornado GR4 is very far JET AIRCRAFT With the substantial work done under the
removed from the platform that was conceived in IS NEVER AS Project Centurion exercise and with the transfer of
the late 1960s to meet the variety of multinational capabilities such as Brimstone and Storm Shadow to
requirements imagined at that time. Carrying a vast
GOOD AS THE the RAF Typhoon now complete, the Tornado GR4
array of complex weapon capability and having DAY THAT IT can be retired in the knowledge that it has a worthy
served in almost every conflict that UK armed IS RETIRED successor in the Typhoon. Tornado has done its job
forces have subsequently been involved, it is hard to FROM SERVICE and it has done it very well. Few would disagree that,
think of any other post-war RAF fast jet capability in respect of both platform and complex weapons
that has been worked so hard and achieved so AND THAT, IN capability, this has been a remarkable aircraft and a
much during its long service life. That said, I well CAPABILITY story of great success. Not only did Tornado prove
understand that Harrier pilots might argue with that TERMS, IS itself to have a formidable capability in service and
statement. one that was able to achieve everything that it said
Designed to fulfil dual ground attack and armed
CERTAINLY on the tin it could do more besides and also proved
reconnaissance mission roles, the former against TRUE OF THE that collaborative projects can and do work, provided
targets of opportunity and also to provide close air TORNADO GR4 politics are not allowed to get in the way.
@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019
11Transmission
LETTERS AND ONLINE
@Al_Brock Discussed this
Carrying spare engines on wing with Riona over dinner after
the lecture. This [E-FanX]
With regards to the item position an engine under
Wikipedia
programme is a technology
in the March issue of the wing and then winch
demonstrator. Several ideas
AEROSPACE about a 747 it up into position before
ranging from mechanical
with a spare engine on the bolting it on. The concept
buckets/ diverters,
wing(1), it reminded me of has also been used on the
controlled deceleration
an occasion when I saw a Lockheed TriStar which
to run in reverse or even
diagram of a VC10 showing can carry an engine on
Another aircraft type with variable pitch fan blades.
a spare engine on the the starboard wing and
a spare engine – a Qantas None of these are part of
starboard wing. Naturally I the Douglas DC-10 which Switching into reverse
Boeing 707 with a spare the programme.
was curious about this so used the port wing like
engine under its port wing
asked my step-grandfather the Boeing 747. I have @PaulMarks12 [On
at Frankfurt Airport in 1972.
(Alan Campbell-Orde) about no doubt that numerous reverse thrust on hybrid- @cydney0071 Then
this, as he would have been to transport an engine other large aircraft have the electric airliners] Just run it up in reverse which
familiar with the concept which would otherwise be capability to carry a spare wondering: will electric- takes time. Thrust reverse
from his days with BOAC extremely difficult to load engine on the wing rather motor-based aircraft is instant and instantly off
as Operations Director. It onto an aircraft to get it to than waiting for a cargo powerplant need thrust also!
transpired that the idea was an operating base in some aircraft to turn up. reversers or will they simply
first used on seaplanes in far flung outpost. Much reverse the current?
Africa as the easiest way easier to use a launch to Roderick Douglas
Concorde at 50
i
Airbus
@mikeheywood [On why
does Concorde still grab
our imagination 50 years
on(4)] Because it’s 50 years
old but looks like it was
designed yesterday.
@CdnAvSpotter The
world of aviation was
booming in the 1960s…
Let’s hear it for the A380 Airbus did propose a freighter version of the A380 when the and everything was
project was first launched. It was a great feeling
designed on paper with
[On Requiem for a returning from JFK in
slide rules. My grandfather
Superjumbo(2)] It’s a their morning and arriving
worked for Avro, de
real shame. The flying Can’t help but feel that the LHR totally refreshed in
Lithium battery safety Havilland, Canadair, Boeing
experience is excellent for freighter market might have the evening (UK time) and
and NASA from 1948
passengers. Sadly, we will saved the programme. I not having to endure the
[On RAeS Lithium battery to 1986 and worked on
all be expected to cram into have an old A380 freighter overnight red-eye special!
safety conference(3)] so many cool airplanes,
smaller twin-engine aircraft model in FedEx livery rockets and airplane
A massive thanks to
from now on. Personally I signed by Fred Smith ... and systems.
all those involved in @ColinWBurns
would be happy to pay a yet they never went ahead
the organisation of the Because it’s aesthetically
little more to actually be with the purchase.
conference today. This beautiful and magnificent
comfortable on a long-haul @Waternook Lucky
emerging risk is something engineering.
flight but the airlines simply Peter Coles enough to have flown on
we can’t just ignore given
view us as two-legged FRAeS Concorde, even if it was just
the evidence. Some
cattle. a short loop over Europe
fascinating discussions @pflusk What we couldn’t
A good article delivering and back. Never guessed it
and an impressive practical do now with modern cfd,
Julian Maynard sound judgements on an would be so significant and
demonstration of available ceramic metal composites
emotive project. The A380 that such an iconic aircraft
mitigations. In the words and fly-by-wire. Concorde
She is a great aircraft to fly was a niche market aircraft was not set to stay.
of John Cox: “So what are is remembered for being
in and surely re-engining but that niche appears to
you going to do?” state-of-the-art and
could bring down operating have closed.
costs. aesthetically perfect.
Michael Kitching @PhillipCovell Pure
Geoffrey Wardle Elegant Class!
Philip Wyld MRAeS
12 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019Launching the Vixen UK military flying
training in crisis?
FIA announce end to Farnborough Air Show public days
@Centeclan [On Sea
@MarkHortenPhoto The
Airbus
Vixen carrier launches
@KieranByeJRPSS It display restrictions meant
(lecture Gatwick Branch
affects all the way down that the flying displays have
13 March)(5)] They ditched
to potential recruits for been massively neutered to
a cable on each launch?
sure. Cutbacks on pilot be honest.
How did they know it
recruitment also means
wouldn’t get wound around
setting the bar much higher,
the propellers (or screws –
potentially missing out on @MichaelJPryce That is,
whatever naval people call
some serious talent with frankly, pants! Yes, the show
them!)?
slightly lower scores. was withering, yes, there
is RIAT, but Farnborough
@TimRuff3 It’s called a was about the latest and
@wilhelmscream4 greatest. Now just a dismal
bridle. Have a google at
Effects of this are yet to STEM day for corralled sixth
aircraft bridle catcher, the
be felt. Pilots arriving at FL formers, not wide-eyed 12
reason for the strange
28 or 29. No longer single year-olds seeing their first
protruberances refitted on
entities, can be married with marvel. Iconic no more.
aircraft carriers becomes @Steveaprocter I think @oat_cuisine You cannot
kids. They aren’t on flying
apparent. more young people who are let the lifeblood and public
pay. Contemporaries in
military are promoted well to be the next generation appreciation for the UK
@Varcs There will still
ahead of them. All means are likely to come from the aerospace industry drain
@GbhvfRon My late friend be an industry show, and
less time in the cockpit and large crowds on public days away without taking a
‘Fred’ Frederiksen received a public open day, but
retention negative. rather than some smaller stand. Please consider a
a tankard for his ‘untyring’ let’s face it, the show has
‘formal’ initiative that won’t strongly worded article and
efforts (bursting Sea Vixen changed and it was no
have anywhere the same #oped on the subject.
tyres) during a carrier longer a huge draw even
@RAF_Simmer The numbers attending.
detachment. among airshow goers.
whole purpose of MFTS
was to avoid exactly these
kinds of holds. I think we
simply need more aircraft Nancy-Bird Walton Named Lecture in Montreal
and more instructors – ten
@ICAO At second Nancy-
John Stringfellow – Texans and five Phenoms,
Bird Walton Memorial
first powered flight? for example, are nowhere
Address, presented by
near enough.
#Australia’s Mission to
RAeS/NAL
ICAO & @AeroSociety,
Fastest climb? @Qantas Capt Lisa
Norman provided useful
@peterryhshughes OK, and inspiring insight into
which plane go upwards her experience as a female
the quickest? My money is pilot and about ways to
on a Lightning or maybe a achieve #genderequality in
Vulcan, as I have seen both #aviation. #WomensDay
of them do it very quickly.
Qantas Captain Lisa Norman.
Why is Stringfellow not The Nancy-Bird Walton Named Lecture was established by the RAeS Montreal Branch in 2016 in tribute
@Hush_Kit Fastest climb to Nancy-Bird Walton AO OBE DStJ, pioneering Australian aviatrix and founder/patron of the Australian
more widely known?
rate? Typhoon or MiG-35, Women Pilots’ Association. In the 1930s, defying the traditional role of women of her time, she became a
I’d guess – or Su-57. fully qualified pilot at the age of 19 and the youngest Australian woman to gain a pilot’s license.
rogerkb2012 A question!
I watched an interesting
video on Eastchurch Airfield @CombatAir Records
and thoughts turned grabbed by the Sukhoi 1. AEROSPACE, January 2019, p 13, Transmissions, 50th anniversary of first 747 flight draws memories
to Chard where John 2. hhttps://www.aerosociety.com/news/requiem-for-a-superjumbo/
P-42, I think. 3. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/proceedings-lithium-battery-a-rising-risk-in-aviation/
Stringfellow is said to have 4. AEROSPACE, January 2019, p 14, Beautiful bird, lovely plumage
made the first powered 5. https://www.aerosociety.com/events-calendar/carrier-operations-with-the-dh110-sea-vixen/
flight in 1848. Why is his @TWPILOT1 Did you
Online
flight not recognised in the consider the TSR-2?
same way as the Wright It could outperform a
brothers’ 1903 flight? #Lightning by a big margin. Additional features and content are available to view
online at http://media.aerosociety.com/aerospace-insight
@aerosociety i linkedin.com/raes
Find us on LinkedIn f facebook.com/raes
Find us on Facebook. www.aerosociety.com
www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 13GENERAL AVIATION
Commercial drone training
School of drones
How one company is aiming to raise standards to new levels in training
remote UAV pilots – by the latest innovative coaching and learning. TIM
ROBINSON joins a commercial drone training course with HALO Drones.
‘R
ogue drones’ may have hit headlines somewhat recently, there is still the wider concern
recently but one company is going that ‘rogue drone’ users could slow or stifle the
above and beyond in preparing development of this innovative and fast-growing
commercial UAV operators to have sector – with the Gatwick incident last year already
the mindset of professional aviators at having lead to tougher regulations around airports.
the highest possible standards. Building public confidence with responsible and
The two-day residential training, from professionally-orientated UAV operators is vital –
commercial drone operator HALO Drones, was which is where HALO comes in.
first launched in 2018. The course – Foundation
Certificate in Commercial Drone Operations Accelerated learning
(FCCDO) – seeks to prepare students to apply for
their PfCO (Permission for Commercial Operation) Key to HALO’s approach is taking the latest
from the CAA and covers everything from teaching techniques in ‘accelerated and experiential
airmanship, to air law, weather, airspace, aircraft learning’ to provide an interactive and (dare one say)
knowledge and the workflow for a commercial ‘fun’ course to prepare them for the PfCO test and
drone task. To attain a PfCO from the CAA, becoming a safe UAV operator.
candidates must pass a theory exam and practical Philip Tarry, Director of commercial UAV operator
flight assessment, as well as have two hours of HALO Drones, as well as being co-founder of UAV
minimum experience. industry group ARPAS and a member of the RAeS
Note that in the CAA’s eyes the ‘Operator’ with UAS Specialist Group, explains the thinking and the
the PfCO is the person (or organisation) responsible haphazard way in which he became a commercial
for the Operations Manual and for standards and drone operator and which led him to developing a
safety – rather than the UAV pilots themselves training course of his own.
(although a UAV operator and pilot could “Through my experience of completing training
theoretically be the same individual). There are now with an NQE and entering into the market as an
some 3,500 PfCO holders in the UK flying UAVs for operator, it became clear that my course had not
commercial work.
However, it is an increasingly crowded market
and, while the influx of new operators has slowed
14 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019sufficiently prepared me for what I intended to do with
drones in my business. I spent the following two years
working the rest out for myself and this was time
consuming and expensive. I had to hire in more
experienced pilots for jobs that I didn’t feel
confident enough to conduct myself. I
made mistakes and lost customers
and brand reputation. I invested in the
wrong equipment and even damaged
drones.”
Tarry thus spotted there was a
gap in the market for a higher standard
of training that would prepare drone
operators for the PfCO test and also create
a nucleus of UAV ‘aviators’ who would help
become ambassadors for this growing sector.
Unlike other training courses that rely on ‘learning
by rote’ one-sided lectures from an instructor and
death by Powerpoint, followed by an exam (memory
test) where the answers are swiftly forgotten, HALO’s
approach has been to utilise some of the latest
thinking in ‘accelerated and experiential’ learning
which combines facilitation with Q&As, quizzes,
freeplay and scenario-based training to provide a
deeper and richer consolidation of understanding.
Unlike some courses, there is no formal exam at
the end, removing the pressure of ‘cramming’ for
a test over 48 hours. The PfCO theory and flight
assessments are postponed to a later date which can
be booked at the convenience of the candidate.
Says Tarry of the course’s development: “We
were starting from scratch. First and foremost, HALO
Drones is formed by subject matter experts, not
adult learning specialists but, through our previous
experience as instructors for other NQEs, we
recognised that traditional lecture-based training
methods are ineffective. With the objective to create
an effective training course, we engaged adult
learning specialists who consulted for us in the
development process of the course. They challenged
our conventional understanding of what makes a
good training course and we tested their skills by
developing something that would effectively deliver
on our design objectives, while meeting the market’s
expectations which have been set by our competitors.”
This course, which launched last year, took 16
months to develop, admits Tarry: “That is a long time,
and it has been a very expensive process but we were
not willing to make any compromises at the expense
of the quality of our course.”
This sort of training of course is not unique,
with Airbus and other organisations now embracing
evidence-based training where ‘learning by discovery’
now forms part of the syllabus but HALO believes that
it is the first UAV training organisation to roll this out.
Why airmanship?
HALO Drones
As well as incorporating some of the latest thinking in
‘accelerated and experiential learning theory’ through
APRIL 2019 15GENERAL AVIATION
Commercial drone training
HALO Drones
HALO Drones
‘playful discovery’, reflective practice and interaction,
another innovation is that the course sets to put
‘airmanship’ at the core of its approach.
The philosophy that HALO is intending to embed Training materials
in its students is that, although they will not have the
huge responsibility of a Boeing 787 captain, they The two-day course is supported by highly impressive
Key in HALO’s are still professional aviators. Understanding and training materials, including a 75-page full-colour
approach is developing this situational awareness and decision handbook along with a student workbook – packed
taking the making is a key part of ‘airmanship’ – even if ‘aviation’ with tips, further reading, quizzes and real-world
is not a core part of their company. As the course examples. Indeed, the layout and presentation of the
latest teaching handbook proudly tells its students on the first page: handbook, in this author’s opinion, is of the standard of
techniques in ‘You are to become aviators’. a far larger manned aviation organisation.
‘accelerated Notes Tarry: “The psychology of a pilot is Students are also supplied with online web
something that must be at the forefront of any resources and guides, such as the best places to find
learning’. aviation-related training course. It underpins a pilot’s NOTAMs, weather information, airspace guides, charts
ability to make decisions (judgement), as highlighted and (particularly useful for non-aviation clients) – a
in Kern’s model of Airmanship, which is why this is the website (What3Words) that divides the globe into
first module of our course.” 3m × 3m squares allowing precise geo-location of
An important part of this, he explains, is turning properties or tasks – without requiring users to know
drone operators into active stakeholders: “Aviation is exact GPS co-ordinates.
a world that few people get to interact with and it is This was backed up with a very high-level of
therefore difficult to become a stakeholder in. The interaction and discussion with the instructor Michael
closest most people get is when flying abroad on Surcombe, an ex-BBC veteran – who was able to
holiday but even then, everything is closed behind dedicate time to individuals and their particular questions
locked doors. Once a person feels like a stakeholder, – particularly guiding the group through the different
their mindset changes and a sense of responsibility parts of air law and regulatory instruments that apply to
comes with this ownership. We have found that this can UAS – such as the ANO, CAP 393 and CAP 722.
transform an individual’s approach to how they conduct As well as covering the essentials of air law, how
themselves. They tend to display greater respect for to interpret aerial navigation charts and weather
the responsibility that comes with becoming an aviator considerations, the course also includes information
who will eventually share the airspace with others.” on when things go wrong and emergencies. What,
Giving professional drone operators this for example, constitutes a ‘Reportable Incident’? Who
‘ownership’ and equipping them with the same should a near-miss be reported to? In emergency
vocabulary and knowledge (where to check NOTAMS, procedures, what would you do if your pilot reports
METARS, awareness of different kinds of airspace they are feeling sick mid-way through a task? Some of
etc) as traditional aircrew is thus a key step in building these will have clear-cut answers – others may depend
trust between this new, fast-growing part of aerospace on the company’s Operations Manual.
and its older sibling.
Thus, the course includes modules on air law (as Real-world scenarios
applies to UAS), different kinds of airspace, human
factors, meteorology, navigation, charts and aircraft Yet, despite the high-quality ground school materials,
knowledge. the focus is always on real-world examples. Video
16 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019HALO Drones
HALO
HALO Drones
shown during the course includes footage taken by Feedback
(and of) some less than professional drone users, with
the students asked to critique and provide assessment The response from students on this course has so far
of the legality and safety issues in each case. been extremely positive. “The handbook is fantastic
Part-way through the course, students were given – it really sets you up to be a commercial pilot,” said
a surprise and plunged into assessing a fictional Conner, who was from a surveying company that
inspection job, with a role-playing phone-call from a was looking to expand into aerial UAV operations.
potential customer giving a location and asking their Another, Greg Rawell, who was taking the course
advice as a commercial drone operator. before taking up a post in HALO itself, noted how
Two locations (one in London, the other at the it was “quite different” to a previous course he had
training venue) were given and it was up to the attended, This had been a larger class of 15 students
students to use all the tools and knowledge at their and the briefings had been “formulaic, matter-of-fact
disposal to assess the feasibility of the work and fill and very military-like.”
out a risk assessment. For example, what class is the
airspace? Where is the nearest airport? Is it an urban Summary
environment? Who has permission? Can we control
access? How long will it take? Sometimes it may be This course, and the operators it produces, comes
that the cost/benefit equations mean that, for a given at a highly critical time for the fast-growing UAV
price, a task may not be viable and might have to be sector, as it seeks to move beyond visual LOS
declined. operations and integrate into manned airspace. Trials
With the central London job declined, the next are underway but are dependent on winning over
step for the students was an onsite survey of the regulators, politicians, media and the public – who
course location, a country hotel, for a potential roof justifiably have concerns about safety and privacy.
inspection job. With the students divided into teams, As the course handbook itself notes; ‘By default you
again the knowledge acquired during the first day was will become the ambassadors of this revolutionary
rapidly needed. What is the weather forecast? What technology and the face of our industry. The key to
do the latest NOTAMs say? Will the helipad be busy? growth is public perception.’ Though some might
Where are the best take-off and landing sites (and argue that this level of training for UAVs is overkill,
alternatives)? Can staff and guests be controlled and raising the standards to higher levels is critical to
encourage to use other doors? Sometimes it may be unlocking more operationally useful drones, with
that a drone is not the best way to collect the imagery longer ranges, higher endurance and bigger air
or data – if might be that a camera on a long pole is a vehicles – and able to seamlessly operate in the
more suitable method. same airspace as manned aircraft.
Another hands-on session demonstrated the HALO Drones’ Tarry sums up: “We are proud
importance of checklists (even when assembling and of what we have achieved and are confident that
flying small palm-sized drones indoors). Finally, there we have set a new standard of training in our
are also practical tips on putting together equipment industry. Our course intends to create pilots who are
lists for commercial drone tasks. Some of these ‘commercially ready’, rather than simply compliant
may be self-evident (such as spare batteries and with the standards set by the CAA, which will in turn
propellers), others more valuable (a folding trolley to help them save money and be more competitive in a
carry equipment boxes apparently can be a lifesaver). market that is already saturated.”
@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook.com www.aerosociety.com APRIL 2019 17AEROSPACE
Russian hypersonic projects
Russia accelerates
hypersonics race
Is speed the new ‘stealth’ in the 21st century? EUGENE GERDEN provides an
update on Russian supersonic and hypersonic projects, which encompass
everything from missiles to business jets.
R
ussia plans to significantly accelerate its Minister on the issues of the military-industrial
R&D activities in the field of hypersonic complex in the Russian government, comments:
technologies and to expand the range “With the rapid development of artillery,
of products from strategic missiles to aviation and defence nuclear technologies,
space drones in the years to come, the speed characteristics of either aircraft or
according to recent statements by some leading weapon carriers have become issues of a
Yury B
local state officials in the field of defence o ri s
ov
Jr
particular importance. Since the 1940s,
(
and domestic experts in aerospace. mankind has passed through at least
O
ffi
In recent years an interest in two scientific and technological
ce
of M
hypersonic technologies from Russian revolutions. They are associated
o D of t h e R u s
aerospace and military aviation has with the emergence of jet engines
significantly increased, which has and supersonic technologies and
resulted in the implementation of new have changed the understanding
sia
THE DESIGN AND
n
Fe
projects in this field and the resuming of the effectiveness of aviation and
de
MASS PRODUCTION
ra
ti o
n)
of some old ones, many of which were weapons systems of the modern era. The
suspended in the country due to the financial design and mass production of hypersonic OF HYPERSONIC
crisis and its consequences. devices, undoubtedly, is the next scientific DEVICES,
and technological revolution, and those states UNDOUBTEDLY,
Superiority of speed that will be able to accomplish it, will gain a
noticeable military and geopolitical advantage IS THE NEXT
Implementation of the majority of these projects has over their rivals in the foreseeable future.” SCIENTIFIC AND
a strategic importance for the Russian government. In fact, Russia has been conducting large- TECHNOLOGICAL
Yury Borisov, a former Russian Deputy Minister scale studies in the field of hypersonics since
of Defence, who currently serves as Deputy Prime the beginning of the 2010s. In August 2011,
REVOLUTION, AND
THOSE STATES
THAT WILL BE ABLE
TO ACCOMPLISH
IT, WILL GAIN
A NOTICEABLE
MILITARY AND
Russian Defence Ministry Press Service
GEOPOLITICAL
ADVANTAGE OVER
ITS RIVALS IN THE
FORESEEABLE
Video footage from Russia’s
FUTURE
Defence Ministry shows
the Avangard hypersonic
Yury Borisov
strategic missile blasting Deputy
off last December in what
President Vladimir Putin said
Prime Minister,
was a successful test. Russia
18 AEROSPACE / APRIL 2019You can also read
