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AEROSPACE
www.aerosociety.com
February 2020
Volume 47 Number 2
ROCKETMAN February 2020
VIRGIN GALACTIC’S CHIEF TROUBLE AHEAD FOR
PILOT ON THE COUNTDOWN TO ASIAN-PACIFIC AIRLINES
COMMERCIAL SPACE TOURISM RUSSIAN AIR POWER
TODAY
Royal Aeronautical Society
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Volume 47 Number 2
February 2020
EDITORIAL Contents
All change at the top Regulars
4 Radome 12 Transmission
The start of the year saw news that three global aerospace and aviation The latest aviation and Your letters, emails, tweets
aeronautical intelligence, and social media feedback.
leaders are to move on. It was perhaps no surprise that Boeing chief analysis and comment.
Dennis Muilenburg was finally fired over Christmas as the 737 MAX crisis 58 The Last Word
continues to drag on – many observers had expected him to be pushed out 11 Pushing the Envelope Keith Hayward talks to Lord
earlier. Yet with the aircraft waiting to be ‘ungrounded’ in Boeing’s words Rob Coppinger looks at Heseltine about the UK
the application of bio- aerospace industry in the
until at least June/July and the MAX production line silent, his successor mimicry in aerospace. 1970s and its relevance to
David Calhoun inherits an immense challenge in returning the aircraft to the UK’s post-Brexit future.
flight and restoring trust of the public, regulators and airlines in a damaged
brand. Unlike Muilenburg, Calhoun is a non-engineer – leading some Features
observers to question whether he might be the right choice for a company
24 Caring for pilots
Virgin Galactic
that needs to put engineering, not shareholder value, back in the pilot’s A report on a RAeS
seat. Meanwhile, long standing President of Emirates, Sir Tim Clark, steps conference on the wider
down after over 30 years at the helm of the fast-growing Gulf megacarrier. 14 issues of pilot mental health.
Having built up the airline into a global force and turned Dubai into a
superhub, Emirates now faces headwinds, with slowing traffic, increased
Russian President
competition and regional tensions all affecting its growth. He thus leaves Plane Speaking
giant-sized shoes to fill for whoever takes over. Finally, IAG’s Willie Walsh is An interview with David
also to retire later this year as head of the airline group that now includes Mackay, Chief Pilot, Virgin
Galactic.
British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling. Working his way up from a
737 pilot at Aer Lingus, it was Walsh who consolidated BA and Iberia into Balance of power
28
Airbus
a European airline powerhouse. His successor will thus have to navigate A review of the current
capabilities of the Russian
turbulence from Brexit and growing pressure on climate change – as well aerospace forces.
as an outstanding commitment for 200 Boeing 737 MAXs that Walsh
placed last year – at a time when the aircraft was widely expected to be
18 32 Is gender still holding
women back in the
flying again last month. Turbulent skies aviation industry?
Economic, environmental What are the barriers to
Tim Robinson, Editor-in-Chief and political problems cause women’s advancement in the
tim.robinson@aerosociety.com trouble for the Asia-Pacific aerospace industry and how
aerospace industry. can they be overcome?
Per Lindstrand
Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office 2020 AEROSPACE subscription
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Bill Read
+44 (0)20 7670 4351 www.aerosociety.com aerosubs@aerosociety.com
bill.read@aerosociety.com AEROSPACE is published by the Royal Any member not requiring a print Behind the scenes of Japanese aerospace −
Aeronautical Society (RAeS). version of this magazine should
Production Manager
contact: membership@aerosociety.com
The Aeronauts upping its game
Wayne J Davis Chief Executive
Sir Brian Burridge CBE FRAeS USA: Periodical postage paid at
Veteran balloon pilot Per An analysis of the Japanese
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wayne.davis@aerosociety.com Advertising Champlain New York and additional Lindstrand looks at the aerospace industry and its
+44 (0)20 7670 4346 offices. making of the recent film. prospects for the future.
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Production Executive to represent the opinion of the RAeS. ISSN 2052-451X
Annabel Hallam
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Reproduction of material used in this
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Afterburner
annabel.hallam@aerosociety.com written consent of the Editor-in-Chief. 42 Message from our President
Printed by Buxton Press Limited,
Book Review Editor
Palace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire
essage from our Chief Executive
43 M
Brian Riddle
brian.riddle@aerosociety.com SK17 6AE, UK 44 Book Reviews
Distributed by Royal Mail
48 Library Additions
49 Cool Aeronautics at Yeovil
Additional content is available to view online at: www.aerosociety.com/aerospaceinsight
Including: Women in the aerospace industry, The secret history of Santa interceptions, In the January
52 Diary
issue, Caring for pilots, High time for hydrogen, Countdown to CORSIA, Analysis of the Iranian air 54 Obituaries
Online force, Spottlight on RAeS fellow Erika Armstrong, Behind the scenes of The Aeronauts.
56 Elections and new member spotlight
@aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com FEBRUARY 2020 13
Blueprint
INTELLIGENCE / ANALYSIS / COMMENT
Precise control
The production Airlander
now features a bow thruster
for precise manoeuvring
during ground operations.
In addition, the front ducted
propulsors have been
replaced by unducted
propellers. These reduce
weight and improve
vectoring control. HAV is
now working with Collins
Aerospace to develop an all-
electric propulsion system.
Larger cabin
HAV has made changes to the cabin module − moving fuel and
services into the airship’s hull. This means that the cabin can
now be up to 46m long, with 2,100ft2 of floor space. The cabin
Hybrid Air Vehicles
can also be offered in shorter lengths, depending on customer
requirements. The flightdeck cabin has also been streamlined
compared to the prototype.
4 AEROSPACE
Streamlined shape
Flight test, CFD and wind-tunnel data has
led HAV to subtly change Airlander’s hull
shape to reduce drag and improve
performance. The airship is now 5m longer
and features a more rounded nose and a
revised tail section. All told, HAV says the
changes amount to a 75% reduction in
emissions over comparable aircraft.
Retractable landing gear
HAV has changed the Airlander’s previous
fixed twin landing gear ‘skids’ to six
retractable landing gear ‘legs’ to significantly
reduce drag, improve passenger views and
increase ground clearance.
W
AEROSPACE
Updated Airlander unveiled
The UK’s Hybrid Air Vehicles has released details of design changes for the production
version of its Airlander 10 next-generation airship. The tweaks include lessons from the first
prototype, customer requirements resulting in enhanced maintainability, increased efficiency
and performance. HAV says it now has letters of intent (LoI) for over ten aircraft and is now
negotiating the first four production slots. First deliveries of the revamped airship could be in
2024.
FEBRUARY 2020
5
Radome
SPACEFLIGHT DEFENCE
ESA announces space LM delivers 134 F-35s in 2019 − as
debris removal mission Singapore signs up for F-35Bs
The European Space The upper stage has a
Agency (ESA) has mass of 100kg, making it a
announced plans to suitable first target for the
conduct the world's first mission − before moving
space debris removal on to larger objects. The
mission in 2025. Called mission will be conducted
ClearSpace-1, the mission by a consortium headed by
will rendezvous and Swiss startup ClearSpace
USAF
deorbit the ESA Vespa established by a team of
(Vega Secondary Payload space debris researchers Lockheed Martin finished 2019 by beating its goal of F-35 deliveries to US customers
Adapter) upper stage based at Ecole and allies with 134 airframes handed over. It exceeded its target of 131 by three aircraft
which was used for the Polytechnique Fédérale de – with a goal of 141 deliveries in 2020.
second flight of ESA’s Lausanne (EPFL) research Meanwhile, the US State Department has approved a potential $2.75bn foreign military
Vega launcher in 2013. institute. sale of up to 12 Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning IIs for Singapore.
AEROSPACE AIR TRANSPORT
Iranian SAM shoots down Wizz Air to launch Abu
Ukrainian 737 with 176 killed Dhabi subsidiary
Iran is reported to have made Low-cost Eastern Airbus A321neos − with
a number of arrests following European carrier Wizz Air future plans to reportedly
the accidental shootdown Holdings has announced expand this to 50 in the
of a Ukrainian International plans to set up a next decade. The venture
Ukrainian Presidential Press Office
Airlines Boeing 737-800 subsidiary in the UAE, is Budapest-based Wizz
by a Tor-1M SAM after the in conjunction with the Air’s first low-cost airline
aircraft had taken off from Abu Dhabi Development outside Europe and
Tehran airport with the loss of Holding Company will be 51% Abu Dhabi
176 lives on 7 January. The (ADDH). Subject to owned. Initial routes will
shootdown occured while the approval from the UAE focus on connecting
Iranian air defence system General Civil Aviation its existing network in
was on high alert after Tehran Authority, Wizz Air Abu Europe, before moving on
had attacked a US military base in Iraq with ballistic missiles. The missile attack was Dhabi could begin flying to new markets in India,
in retaliation for a US drone strike which killed Iran’s top general Qassim Suleimani in in the second half of 2020 Africa and the Middle
Baghdad on 3 January. using a small fleet of three East.
NEWS IN BRIEF
UK flights against carbon media said that the with the ISS. The capsule seater passenger EHang
Aerospace suppliers emissions. The airline aims accident was caused by was launched using 216 urban air mobility
Hexcel and Woodward, to be carbon-neutral by a flight control system an Atlas V rocket from vehicle. The autonomous
which supply parts 2050. failure. The jet also was Cape Canaveral on 20 aircraft was flown without
including actuators and the first production December, returning two passengers on 7 January
composites for both On 24 December, a example of the Su-57 and days later via parachute to as part of the North
Airbus and Boeing, are Sukhoi Su-57 stealth was set to be handed a landing in New Mexico, Carolina Transportation
set to merge creating a fighter crashed in the over to the Russian Air US, after 33 orbits. The Summit.
$13.7bn super-supplier. far east of Russia, with Force by the end of the failure to dock with the
The new company, to be the pilot ejecting safely. year. ISS was said to be linked Twelve people including
called Woodward Hexcel, Russia’s UAC announced to a software glitch which the captain were killed
would have combined that the aircraft had Boeing’s commercial took incorrect timings for when a Fokker 100,
sales of $5.3bn and gone down 111km crew transport, Starliner thruster burns. operated by local airline
employ 16,000 workers. from its home airfield at CST-100 landed back Bek Air, crashed on
Komsosolsk-on-Amur in on Earth early after an Chinese manufacturer take-off from Almaty
British Airways has begun the Khabarosk region. unpiloted test flight failed EHang has made the first in Kazakhstan on 27
offsetting all its domestic Reports from Russian to rendezvous and dock flight in the US of its two- December. Nearly 100
6 AEROSPACE
AEROSPACE GENERAL AVIATION
Look − no hands (on take-off) Nissan boss escaped
using bizjet box swap
Former Nissan CEO was too large for the
Carlos Ghosn was security scanners. Ghosn
smuggled out of Japan was then flown to Istanbul,
where he was awaiting before switching to a
trial for financial second private jet and
misconduct inside a crate flying to his home country
designed for musical of Lebanon. A Turkish
instruments. The box private jet operator, MNG
Airbus
reportedly escaped Jet, whom two bizjets
Airbus has conducted what it describes as the 'first fully automatic vision-based take-off' normal security screening were leased from, has
using an A350-1000 test aircraft on 18 December at its HQ in Toulouse. Eight take-offs at the private terminal claimed no knowledge of
were performed using the system, with the pilots not touching the sidestick. The system, at Kansai International the escape plot, blaming
part of Airbus' Autonomous Taxi, Take-Off & Landing (ATTOL) project, uses image Airport, Osaka, on 29 a rogue employee for
recognition technology to maintain the runway centreline. December, because it falsifying records.
DEFENCE AIR TRANSPORT
Leonardo wins US Navy Flybe rescued by Government
chopper trainer order
Leonardo has won an type will begin in 2020
order for 130 of its light, and continue to 2024.
single-engined TH-119 In total, the contract is
helicopters from the US worth $648m. The aircraft
Navy. The Navy will use will be built in the US in
Flybe
the helicopter as a basic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
rotary trainer to replace The contest to supply
its aging fleet of 117 Bell the Advanced Helicopter The UK Government has stepped in to rescue struggling regional carrier Flybe. The airline,
TH-57B/C Sea Rangers. Training System saw Europe’s largest regional carrier, was reported to be near to collapse on 12 January −
In naval service the type Leonardo’s TH-119 beat despite being acquired by a Virgin Atlantic-led consortium in 2019. The Government will
will be classified as the competitors Airbus with its defer part of its tax liabilities, as well as examine exempting it from air passenger duty (APD)
TH-73A. Deliveries of twin H135 and Bell which for domestic flights to help its finances. Its owners are also to provide a cash injection. The
the Pratt & Whitney was offering the single- rescue plan has provoked criticism from British Airways and Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary −
PT6B37A-powered engine 407GXi. who has demanded that the same APD tax holiday be extended to his airline.
people were onboard an order for 18 Airbus the Longitude will enter a Delta Air Lines Boeing
the aircraft and dozens A320neo narrowbodies. SpaceX has launched a service in early 2020. 777 fell on two schools
were also injured in the The aircraft are set to be payload of 60 more small in the Los Angeles
accident, when the aircraft delivered in 2022/23. satellites for its Starlink China’s COMAC has area. Flight 89 from Los
scraped its tail on take-off, global Internet network. flown the sixth prototype Angeles to Shanghai
and then crashed into a The US DoD has agreed The satellites were lifted of its new C919 single- experienced an engine
building. Some 49 people to acquire up to 50 into orbit aboard a Falcon aisle airliner. The flight on issue shortly after take-off
were taken to hospital C-130J Super Hercules 9 rocket on 6 January 27 December, took place requiring the aircraft to
following the crash. aircraft for the USAF, from Cape Canaveral. from Shanghai Pudong return to LAX.
Kazakhstan authorities USMC and US Coast Airport with the aircraft
have now grounded Guard. The multi-annual Fractional ownership staying aloft for 2hr and On 30 December,
the airline and Fokker contract includes operator NetJets has taken 5mins. Indonesian Aerospace
100 aircraft while an orders for extended- delivery of its first Cessna rolled out the first
investigation is underway. range, special forces Citation Longitude super- Up to 60 adults and prototype of its 16m
and inflight refuelling midsize business jet on children are reported to wingspan Elang Hitam
Singapore-based lessor, variants, and comes with 31 December 2019. have had medical attention (Black Eagle) indigenous
BOC Aviation, has placed a discount on list prices. NetJets anticipates that after fuel dumped from MALE UAV.
FEBRUARY 2020 7
Radome
SPACEFLIGHT DEFENCE
US stands up new Space Military battles Australian wildfires
Force
On 20 December, the US Operations Command
formally stood up a new (SPOC). SPOC will
sixth branch of its military provide capabilities such
− United States Space as domain awareness,
Force (USSF) − the first electronic warfare,
Australian DoD
new armed service since satellite communications,
the USAF was formed missile warning, nuclear
in 1947. USSF, created detonation detection,
out of Air Force Space environmental monitoring, Australia has deployed aircraft to assist in evacuation and fire-fighting operations as the
Command, comes under intelligence, surveillance country is gripped by immense wildfires. Firefighters have been flown in using RAAF
the Department of the and reconnaissance, C-130J and C-27J transports, while Army Black Hawks, Chinook and NH90 helicopters
Air Force. Meanwhile, navigation warfare, and Navy S-70 choppers have been used to evacuate residents cut off from rescue due
the US Fourteenth Air command and control, and to the ongoing bushfires and deliver emergency supplies.
Force has been officially positioning, navigation and On 23 January, three civilian US aircrew aboard a Coulson Aviation C-130
redesignated as Space timing. waterbomber were killed when their aircraft crashed in New South Wales.
AEROSPACE AIR TRANSPORT
Hyundai, Toyota get into eVTOLs Air freight down 1.1% in
Joby Aviation
13th consecutive fall
The global air freight considering that the
market contracted by fourth quarter is usually
1.1% in November air cargo’s peak season,”
2019 compared to the said Alexandre de
same period in 2018, air Juniac, IATA’s Director
transport trade body IATA General and CEO.
Hyundai
has announced. Despite the contraction in
“Demand for air cargo demand, IATA recorded
Two car companies have unveiled Urban Air Mobility projects. At the Consumer in November was down that capacity rose by
Electronic Show (CES) exhibition in Las Vegas, South Korea’s Hyundai revealed a 1.1% compared to the 2.9% year-on-year.
model of its S-AI five-seat eVTOL (top left) which it is developing in partnership with previous year. That’s better Capacity growth has
ridesharing service Uber as a future air taxi. Meanwhile, Japan’s Toyota has invested than the 3.5% decline now outstripped demand
$294m into California-based Joby Aviation, which has also released images of its four- posted in October. But it growth for 19 consecutive
seat eVTOL, (top right) current in development. is a big disappointment months.
NEWS IN BRIEF
a new partnership with the first time since 2012. A320 family aircraft − was and a King Air were also
Arianespace launched iconic British sportscar In 2019 Airbus delivered temporarily grounded on reported to have been
a Russian-built Soyuz manufacturer Aston 863 aircraft while 13 January for unspecified destroyed in the attack
rocket from its French Martin with a custom Boeing’s deliveries up reasons. – with eight insurgents
Guiana spaceport on 18 edition of its single-engine to the end of November being killed in return. The
December, carrying a ACH130 helicopter. The stood at just 345 aircraft. One US serviceman and AFRICOM base provides
payload of five satellites. ACH130 Aston Martin However, Boeing did two contractors were ISR and support for US
The satellites included Edition features a choice deliver 225 widebodies in killed on 5 January when special operations forces
the Italian COSMO- of interiors and exteriors 2019, compared to 147 Al-Shabab insurgents involved in countering
SkyMed radar sat and – with the bespoke VIP from Airbus. attacked a US forward Islamic terror groups in
the ESA CHEOPS version being customised operating base at Manda East Africa.
(Characterising at Airbus Helicopters’ UK Italian authorities are to Bay Airfield in Kenya.
Exoplanet Satellite) HQ in Oxford. suspend the operating The attack also saw six China launched a solid-
probe. licence of Milan-based aircraft either destroyed fueled Kuaizhou 1A
Airbus has overtaken low-cost Ernest Airlines. or damaged, including a rocket from the Jiuquan
Airbus Corporate Boeing as the world’s top The airline, which operates secretive US Army Dash 8 space base on 16
Helicopters has revealed aircraft manufacturer for a small fleet of four Airbus spyplane. Two helicopters January. The launcher
8 AEROSPACE
AEROSPACE SPACEFLIGHT
Boeing reverses course
of 737 MAX sim training
In a reversal from its
previous requirement,
there being only 34 737
MAX simulators in service SpaceX
Boeing is to mandate full
flight simulator training for
worldwide. The 737 MAX
has yet to receive approval
conducts
all returning and new 737 from the FAA. Crew Dragon
MAX pilots. Previously the Wichita-based Spirit
abort test
SpaceX
company had claimed that AeroSystems, which
pilots would not need flight supplies 737 MAX
simulator time to convert fuselages to Boeing, has On 19 January, SpaceX performed the final uncrewed test of its human-rated Crew
to the MAX from 737NG laid off 2,800 workers Dragon spacecraft, with an in-flight abort test on launch. The flight, from Kennedy Space
models. The move is in January as Boeing’s Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida, saw the Crew Dragon successfully clear the Falcon 9
expected to add additional 737 MAX production line booster − which was then exploded deliberately as part of the escape test. The Crew
cost and time to the shutdown ripples through Dragon then splashed down in the Atlantic by parachute. The test clears the path for the
MAX’s return to flight, with the global supply chain. first piloted Crew Dragon mission to the ISS with two NASA astronauts.
GENERAL AVIATION DEFENCE
Europa launches Elite kitplane Naval Tejas makes first
landing at sea
On 11 January the service as being too
navalised variant of unpowered for carrier
India’sHindustan operations. Instead it is
Aeronautics Limited aiming to leverage this
(HAL) Tejas Light Combat experience into a larger,
Aircraft (LCA) made its more capable follow-on
first arrested landing and twin-engine LCA Navy
Europa Aircraft
take-off on the Indian Mk2, with more powerful
Navy’s aircraft carrier INS GE F-414 engines. First
Vikramaditya. However, flight of this twin-engine
UK GA manufacturer Europa Aircraft has announced the launch of a new kitplane for the Indian Navy has naval fighter is being
2020. The Elite is an all-composite, two-seat VLA-catergorised home-built aircraft. The rejected the single-engine targeted for 2025-26, with
aircraft includes a ballistic recovery parachute and choice of engines. Tejas Mk1 for operational entry into service in 2031.
was carrying the Yinhe 1
commercial broadband
certain requirements in
order to operate. Those Avion Express is to wet-
ON THE MOVE
communications satellite with unregistered drones lease four Airbus A320s David Calhoun has taken as President of its
for commercial company may face prosecution. to the Polish flag carrier over as President and Commercial Engines
GalaxySpace, which is Singapore introduced LOT. The first two aircraft CEO of Boeing from business.
planning to launch up mandatory registration for entered service on 14 Dennis Muilenburg.
to 144 spacecraft for a UAVs weighing more than January, following by the IAG Chief Executive Willie
space-based 5G network 250g on 2 January. second two on 1 February. Emirates President Sir Tim Walsh is to step down
over the next few years. Clark is set to step down on 30 June. He will be
Rolls-Royce has opened The Finnish Air Force in June 2020. succeeded by the Chief
Drone owners and a new facility for civil has begun in-country Executive of Iberia, Luis
operators in India need to aircraft engines in Bristol evaluations of contenders Virgin Galactic has Gallego.
register with the Ministry UK. The £25m composite for its next fighter to appointed Enrico Palermo
of Civil Aviation by the technology hub will replace its F/A-18s. In as Chief Operating Officer. James A Viola is to be the
end of January. They develop components for the fly-off are the F/A-18 next President and CEO of
will be given a unique R-R's next generation Super Hornet, Rafale, Pratt & Whitney has the Helicopter Association
identification number and UltraFan turbofans and Eurofighter, F-35 and appointed Carroll Lane International (HAI).
a permit, and must meet employ 150 workers. Gripen.
FEBRUARY 2020 9
By the Numbers
Understanding the world of Aerospace through data
Air Cargo in 2019
IATA Economics
Airports Council International
REGIONAL CONTRIBUTION TO INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRAFFIC GROWTH 2018–2040
Annual World Airport Traffic Europe
Forecasts 2019-2040 31.5%
North America
8.8% Middle East
GLOBAL AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE 2018–2040
12.2% Asia-Pacific
37.3%
Latin America Africa
3.7% PASSENGER 2.3% AIR 2.0% AIRCRAFT
TRAFFIC CARGO MOVEMENTS Caribbean 3.2%
7.0%
CHANGING AVIATION MARKET SHARES OVER TIME
FASTEST GROWING COUNTRIES TOP
PASSENGER
TRAFFIC
AIR
CARGO
AIRCRAFT
MOVEMENTS
FOR PASSENGERS 2018–2040:
(Over 50 million passengers per annum) 10
2018 2040 2018 2040 2018 2040 BY 2023 PASSENGER TRAFFIC IN
EMERGING ECONOMIES TO
Vietnam 1 6.2%
US CHINA US US US US SURPASS ADVANCED ECONOMIES
20.4% 17.8% 27. 2% 21.0% 30.2% 23.0%
India2 6.1%
Emerging economies Advanced economies Saudi Arabia 3 5.5%
CHINA US CHINA CHINA CHINA CHINA
14.4% 15.1% 13.6% 17. 1% 11.1% 15.7% 2018 47. 3% 4.2 billion 4.6 billion 52.7% Philippines 4 5.3%
INDIA INDIA JAPAN UAE FRANCE INDIA 2024 50.5% 5.7 billion 5.6 billion 49.5% Indonesia 5 5.2%
3.9% 6.4% 4.8% 4.9% 4.2% 4.2%
Colombia 6 5.1%
2040 58.4% 11.5 billion 8.2 billion 41.6%
United Arab Emirates 7 4.9%
BY 2040 INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRAFFIC WILL APPROACH PARITY
WITH DOMESTIC TRAFFIC Mexico 8 4.7%
International Domestic China 9 4.7%
2018 41.4%
40.4% 3.6 billion 5.1 billion 58.6% FIND OUT MORE AT Malaysia 10 4.4%
www.aci.aero/watf
All are emerging and
2040 45.7% 8.9 billion 10.6 billion 54.3% developing economies
10 AEROSPACEPushing the Envelope
Exploring advances on the leading edge of aerospace
Robert Coppinger
Flying with nature
W
hether evolution or intelligent either side of an aircraft’s wake vortex core can provide
design made the animal kingdom a smooth updraft for the aircraft that can position
the way it is has been a debate itself there, three kilometres behind. Airbus declined to
since Charles Darwin’s 1859 say what technology would be used for the airliner to
book The Origin of Species was detect the location of this smooth updraft.
published. There has been no such debate about Mimicking a bird wing’s in-flight flexing to reduce
how humanity’s intelligent designs can be aided by drag is another Airbus idea. The firm’s engineers
the animal kingdom. The application of evolutionary stated last June that in February 2019 they had flown
principles to design has gone on for decades, and a scale-model remote-controlled aircraft based on
the adoption of technical solutions based on Mother the Airbus A321 which they called AlbatrossOne. It
Nature’s way of doing things is emerging as a force has in-flight flapping wing tips that act like a semi-
potentially as powerful as natural selection itself. aeroelastic hinge that reacts autonomously during
turbulence. Its movements can reduce drag and overall
Feathers will fly wing weight because it lessens the aerodynamic wing
loading allowing for lighter wing boxes; while also
When those magnificent men in their flying machines combating turbulence and wind gust effects. In theory
threw themselves off jetties with bird-like wing the wing tips can be as much as a third of the wing
designs, they could not have imagined that a century length. The idea came from the albatross which locks
later there would be an aerofoil concept that literally its wings at the shoulder for long-distance soaring but
has a feather-like design. Revealed at the 2019 Royal unlocks them when wind-gusts occur, or manoeuvring
International Air Tattoo, the visionary Bird of Prey is required.
Airbus concept uses avian-like wing and tail structures,
along with a blended wing-to-fuselage joint, to deliver Reducing friction
the sorts of beneficial aerodynamics that nature’s
flyers are born with. These bird-like features would be Aircraft can also benefit from the biology of mammals.
used by a theoretical hybrid-electric turboprop regional The skin of cetaceans is rippled to reduce friction
airliner design. Airbus hopes to fly a sub-scale Bird of with that more viscous of fluids, water. Airbus has
Prey demonstrator to prove the concept. been aware of this and studied it in the past, how
a rippling airliner skin could deliver reduced friction
Formation flying and fuel savings. The challenge of many biomimicry
proposals, such as bird like tails, is that the engineering
Another avian biomimicry concept is Airbus’ fello’fly is fiendishly hard. Animals are molecular machines with
which would see two aircraft flying in formation over multifunctional materials and structures that grow into THE ADOPTION
oceanic airspace for a 10% fuel saving. Announced being, defying humanity’s manufacturing techniques.
OF TECHNICAL
last November, a chase airliner gains a 10% fuel Can intelligent design also find the manufacturing
saving thanks to the energy of the preceding aircraft’s solutions to realising, for aviation, the benefits of SOLUTIONS BASED
wake. Referred to as wake energy retrieval, the air millions of years of evolution? ON MOTHER
NATURE’S WAY OF
DOING THINGS
IS EMERGING
AS A FORCE
POTENTIALLY
AS POWERFUL
AS NATURAL
Airbus
SELECTION ITSELF
FEBRUARY 2020 11Transmission
LETTERS AND ONLINE @aerosociety i Find us on LinkedIn f Find us on Facebook www.aerosociety.com
Gender equality and aerospace
I was tempted to have enter. Women don’t need to groups and individuals recommend a woman If you have an idea,
a comprehensive moan learn from men. We need active online promoting instead. Look into ways of write in too. Put yourself
about being told by yet to change the system and women in the industry. providing financial support or a colleague forward
another man ‘to adopt some make it work for us. All of us Interact with organisations for younger women to to promote the industry
important habits used by should play our part. A stall such as the UK’s Fawcett attend events. Support in the media. Visible
men to raise my profile’(1) at a university careers fair is Society for advice and women of colour and representation matters. Join
(p 32). However, I thought simply not enough. Schools guidance on practical LGBTQ+ groups – they are with others and integrate
that enough readers were always look for speakers ways to change your own facing additional barriers. As programmes. It isn’t enough
similarly eye-rolling, and and universities for mentors. workplace. Contact women’s an industry we need to set to just network; we need to
decided to move on to more From a very young age, officers and outreach up more coordinated peer actively coordinate schemes
positive matters. girls need to discover the programme leaders from circles to encourage women and events. We need to
Schemes to address career paths available to other industries to share and of all ages to give each shape a new debate and
the problems of gender them and see that every gain advice. Conferences other advice and support. move it forward. Make a
inequality – and let us job, at every level, is open highlighting the work of Leadership grows from a commitment to doing one
accept that this is a to them. Children know women and outreach strong base. Until all women additional thing this year
significant problem – are what a pilot does but how programmes to engage and are well represented in all to further the careers of
unco-ordinated and often many could explain what the invite in the next generation aspects of the industry, women in aviation. We have
outdated. In an age of role of an engineer is? Go are crucial. Seek them out, given the hiring practices to fundamentally change or
Instagram influencers, back to school – they are support them and offer to at senior levels, it is unlikely yet another generation of
we also have a visually always looking for speakers join a panel. Organisers the situation will improve. It’s women will read the same
beautiful industry to show to inspire. Ask if your old should no longer have too late if we only focus on article again in the next
off and encourage the next university had a mentoring unrepresentative panels the boardroom; we need to decade.
generation of women to scheme or a women’s and, if you find you are focus on how people reach
alumni group. Seek out on one, see if you can that boardroom. Dr Jasmina Lijesevic
Titan Airways
The Titan factor Bob Boulton and the Merlin 102
The December issue of
AEROSPACE has an
historic photo of a Rolls-
Royce Merlin engine line(3),
mentioning production in
the UK and US (Packard
Merlins) but fails to mention
Merlin Mk 102s produced
by the Commonwealth
Aircraft Corporation (CAC)
Titan Airways A320 at Turin Airport. at its facility in Sydney.
I have attached a photo First of type Merlin 102 engine manufactured at CAC Lidcombe
Interesting article in I believe its own availability (right) of the first type circa 1940. Left to right: Arthur Marshal – Assistant Engine
January’s AEROSPACE was limited and so the vast manufactured at Lidcombe Superintendent; Roy Hollis – Foreman Engine Department; Bob
Boulton – Engine and Test Superintendent; Bert Clifton – Engine
regarding the Thomas Cook amount of flying was sub- circa 1940, with four of the
Inspection and Don McCorquodale – Machine Shop Superintendent.
collapse and the CAA’s chartered to the carriers your staff (and several others
two-week ‘airline’.(2) However, article mentions, mostly flying not in the picture) still being and pilot (he flew with Croydon aerodrome. Bob
you have overlooked a key under a Titan flight number. employed there when I Australian National Airways was a gentle and most
process in the repatriations Titan is a competitor of joined the company (by then and Kingsford Smith Air unassuming man, who I
– that of Titan Airways who mine and so I don’t want to part of Hawker de Havilland) Services), the early years was privileged to know
were broker and airline for sing their praises too much! in 1966. The photo is taken being alongside Sir Charles as a work colleague
the entire operation, not However, to omit mention of from a limited edition (about Kingsford Smith. He also and family friend for
the CAA. The CAA had their pivotal role from your 100 only) of Bob Boulton’s prepared the Lockheed several years. His
arranged for Titan’s services article is rather like telling memoirs (Aviators of the Altair Lady Southern Cross significant contribution
some weeks before under the story of the sinking of Charles Ulm and Kingsford for Kingsford Smith in to the establishment
a cloak of secrecy (so as the Titanic without mention Smith Era), which was the US and UK, before and development of
not to cause concern over of the iceberg. Nonetheless, published by his family in its final ill-fated flight to aviation in Australia is
TC’s financial crisis) and had your publication is always 1991, some years after Australia. The cover of largely unknown and
tendered the role to several a good read over a huge his passing in 1982. Bob Bob’s book has a photo of unrecognised.
other charter brokers. variety of topics. had a remarkable career him with KS and Tommy
Titan won it and began (which later earned him Pethybridge standing Mike Cuming
preparations well in advance. Tim Proctor FRAeS an MBE) as an engineer in front of the Altair at CEng MRAeS
12 AEROSPACEf
Iranian Tomcats
@cydney0071 [On Could
Iranian F-14 Tomcats still
surprise the US in any
conflict?(4)] Can’t believe
they’ve got any F-14s
serviceable. NG have had a
parts embargo for years. It
put all the vintage flyers out
In praise of the F-14 Regulations post Brexit of business too sadly.
IRIAF
Tony Stevens [On Iranian @GbhvfRon [On UK and @KompositeVision
air force article(4)] It may EASA divergence after OSINT is scarce on Iranian IRIAF F-14A Tomcats.
be outclassed but most Brexit] So, what are the deployments. I do know
people have a soft spot for RAeS and CAA positions on there’s a dedicated F-14 @AsiaJetWatch Good
@CoffeeAndPaul Iran
the Tomcat. It is still one Raab’s attitude to ‘not being squadron for defending story but how many hours
has access to additive
cool machine outdated, rule takers’ from the EU, in airspace over Tehran; a are Iranian pilots getting?
manufacturing. 3D printing
outclassed, tired but still a view of the close integration friend of mine in the Iran And how realistic is their
means you can remake
fantastic aircraft. of EASA standards and military was actually present a part that even matches training for a foe like the
regulations in respect of as a translator when Russian the manufacturing USA? A good move for
i
aircrew licensing, design techs were overhauling the IRIAF could well be to
discrepancies found in the
certification and many F-14s in Merhbad. There’s maintain most of its strength
original.
other aspects affecting another F-14 Sqn in Isfahan. deeper in Iran’s interior. As
aerospace? If I had to guess perhaps much as I, and everyone
backup F-14 squadron that @NZAircraftFan I would else, loves the F-14A, it
Preserving history rotates between Tehran, love to see a F-14 operate really belongs in a museum
Bandar Abbas and Shiraz. from a motorway. I am also along with the other super
@Satcomm_guru [On Primary airspace threats to cool types like the F-8, A-5,
sure they would be spotted
What can companies Iran come from West+Gulf, A-6 ... and so many more...
by satellite very quickly, as
and organisations do to so these areas are priority there is no cover out in the
preserve aviation history?] for F-14 Patrols. Iran only
Hydrogen power desert. I agree HASs are
Get everything online. has a fleet of around 70 @peterryhshughes It will
no protection from modern
Scan, digitise and share F-14s; half of which are be another Marianas Turkey
Clifford Chan [On weapons. The Iraqis found
freely. Encourage writers serviceable at any given shoot.
hydrogen-powered that out during the First
to use the material. point.
aircraft(5)] Amazing fuel. Gulf War.
Create searchable text to
accompany any recording.
Embry-Riddle approval So much information is
locked up in audio but it is
Alex Walker [On Embry-
not accessible unless you
can take the time to listen,
Boeing concept airliner design RAeS Specialist Groups
Riddle Aeronautical @BurkhardDomke [On @Spaceman_pete
Boeing
which does not scale.
University Worldwide Boeing truss-braced- [On Specialist Group
Campus receiving RAeS wing airliner − a possible Mobilisation Day] Interesting
approval of six training Helicopter girl 737 MAX replacement?] strategy and review day
programmes] Great news! Academic and capability @AeroSociety. Multi-
@PeteZaccagnino [On research usually need at disciplinary. Space to think
helicopter-mad eight year least a notional product and discuss how we could
old girl invited to visit application context for
Jonathan Cooper Great work better. Good example
Leonardo in Yeovil] Great budget justification. This
news – looking forward to Boeing’s Transonic Truss- promoting diversity and
to see stories like this. Love is not well understood by
visiting in January. Braced Wing concept. inclusion: ALTA mentoring
her ambition! PR departments and the scheme for women in
media. Hence the notion is @BernieBaldwin For a aerospace aerosociety.com/
Ameen Budagher An inevitably turned into ‘This is 180-230 seat family? get-involved/
@SouthernFairy16 Girl the future of –’ headlines.
amazing aviation institution. I doubt it.
after my own heart
1. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/is-gender-still-holding-women-back-in-the-aviation-industry/
2. AEROSPACE, January 2020, p 34, Organising Operation Matterhorn
3. AEROSPACE, December 2019, p 41, Afterburner contents page
4. https://www.aerosociety.com/news/the-iranian-air-force-unexpectedly-sharp-teeth/
5. AEROSPACE, January 2020, p 14, High time for hydrogen
@aerosociety i linkedin.com/raes f facebook.com/raes www.aerosociety.com FEBRUARY 2020 13PLANE SPEAKING
David Mackay
Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic
Plane Speaking with:
David Mackay
On 10 December, ex-RAF Harrier pilot, test pilot and Virgin Atlantic airline
captain, DAVID MACKAY FRAeS, Chief Pilot, Virgin Galactic, gave the Royal
Aeronautical Society’s 2019 Wilbur and Orville Wright Lecture. As the space
tourism company counts down to its first planned commercial services in 2020.
AEROSPACE caught up with him to quiz him about preparing for suborbital flights.
AEROSPACE: It’s been a long road since Sir major part of what’s going on right now is preparation
Richard Branson launched Virgin Galactic at the Royal for our move to New Mexico. This is where
Aeronautical Society HQ in 2004. What is the current commercial operations will start once we complete the
status of the programme? test programme. So, we are moving the spaceship to
David Mackay: The bottom line is that we’re New Mexico and from there we will complete the test
planning to be in commercial service in 2020. We programme and then get into commercial operations.
had a very successful flight in February last year
and that essentially proved out the concept that
AEROSPACE: Your background includes military
we started with many years ago − fly the vehicle
flight testing. How does the adrenaline rush of piloting
into space and allow someone to unstrap and float
SpaceShipTwo compare to flying a Harrier low level at
around in the cabin and get back into their seats for
night on NVGs?
re-entry. However, the vehicle is still very much in
a test programme. On the basis of that successful DM: I think there’s a similarity with flying a rocket-
flight in February, we’re now installing the full powered spaceship, in that a lot of people think it’s a
commercial interior, completing some planned vehicle rocket motor and something could go wrong. Sure,
modifications and maintenance and getting Unity a rocket motor releases a lot of energy in a very
ready to relocate to New Mexico. We always look at short space of time and that’s got to be controlled
the data that we receive from every flight, obviously, carefully. We go about it in a very safe and controlled
and make changes and improvements to make the manner and we have a great deal of safety checks
vehicle easier, safer to fly, more reliable and more and balances along the way, including getting in very
intuitive to operate. We’re doing all of those things. A experienced external experts.
14 AEROSPACEAEROSPACE: What is the conversion course for also do a Monte Carlo analysis, with all those vehicle
SS2 like? How do you keep currency? variables and atmospheric variations.
DM: Yes, we have our own flight simulator and that’s For that, we’ll randomly pick combinations of those
hugely important. We have a conversion course variables and we just fly them. We do all of that in
which was written many years ago that was based the simulator. That’s hugely valuable, not just for pilot
around a kind of ab initio spaceship pilot. That ab training to expose you to combinations which are YOU WILL,
initio spaceship pilot, however, would come in with considered extremely unlikely but also to formulate INSTANTLY −
the basis of a very experienced background as a test our limitations for the flight. Out of all those simulator
pilot. That is our basic building block if you like. We will
BECAUSE IT’S
evaluations we draw up a set of limitations, which we
always (in the short term at least and probably for the will adhere to in flight. If we come up against those ABSOLUTELY
foreseeable future) have highly experienced test pilots limits − the vehicle roll rate, or pitch rate, or whatever ENTHRALLING
as our basis. it is we feel is a limitation − we will abort, come back, − WANT TO GO
The way we have trained ourselves so far is look at the data, and fly again another day.
really by going through the test and development
TO A WINDOW
programme, building up through captive carry flights AND JUST GAWP
AEROSPACE: Since the tragic accident of
with WhiteKnightTwo, then glide flights and eventually
SpaceShipTwo in 2014, what lessons (for example,
AT WHAT IS
powered flights. What I’ve tried to do for SS2 powered OUT THERE,
human factors, HMI design or operations) have you
flights is to keep the crews down to a small number
because, during the test flight programme it doesn’t fly
learned and incorporated? BECAUSE IT’S
very often, it doesn’t fly for very long and we don’t want DM: In terms of the changes that were made, we THE MOST
to dilute the experience too thinly. We have a small [Virgin Galactic] didn’t have the spaceship at that time, INCREDIBLE
core of four SS2 pilots at the moment. In the fullness it was still being tested by Scaled Composites, but we
had already instituted our own programme of changes. SIGHT
of time, once we start flying regularly and once we
get our two additional vehicles, which are under However, what happened in Powered Flight Four was
construction right now, and start flying more frequently, not expected by anyone. We were aware that the
then we’ll get more pilots in and broaden the support feather was unlocked. There was logic behind doing
a little bit. that but we didn’t expect it to be unlocked when the
Going back to the simulator, it is absolutely vital to motor was on. No one had seen that coming.
us and hugely important. We use it for each part of the As an outcome of that accident, the first thing we
test and development programme, verifying that what had to do was to change the [feather lock] system so
we are doing is safe. We do that by looking at how that couldn’t happen again. We now have a system
the vehicle is predicted to behave as our basis and that can only be unlocked when it is safe to do so.
then looking at variations from that basic prediction That was priority number one but similar to other
model and we will look at anything up to variations that major accidents that have happened in the past, this
are considered extremely unlikely. In addition to that, was the time where you just sit down and go through
we will also input variables in the atmospheric model everything. We did that with both vehicles − not just
that are also considered to be extremely unlikely. We SS2 but on VMS Eve as well. We went through every
Left: SpaceShipTwo Unity’s
powered flight in February
2019 saw Beth Moses,
Virgin Galactic Chief
Astronaut Trainer obtain
Virgin Galactic
her commercial astronaut
wings with a fllight above
the 50mile/80km line.
FEBRUARY 2020 15PLANE SPEAKING
David Mackay
Virgin Galactic
Above - Virgin Galactic single system looking for single point failures or things which is called The Gateway to Space, designed
customers will begin their that somebody could perhaps do if they were having a by Sir Norman Foster and Partners. It is a fantastic
suborbital experience at really bad day, and tried to eliminate every single one space age facility. We’re finishing off the customer
The Gateway to Space
of those. We haven’t tallied them all up but we’ve made level at the moment, they have the third floor of the
spaceport in New Mexico.
hundreds of changes to SS2’s instrument panel, it’s a building with fantastic views over the airfield. In there
manually flown vehicle so the pilot interaction with the they will learn about the experience, what to expect,
vehicle is really important. We made the changes to the what noises, what movements, when and what
vehicle to make it more intuitive and simpler to operate. communications they have with the flight crew.
That has been, really, one of our main aims as test They will learn how to strap into their seats, how to
pilots over the past few years − to make this vehicle as get out of their seats when they’re in weightlessness,
safe, simple and as intuitive as possible to operate. how to get back into their seats in weightlessness.
How the communication system works, when they
can expect to hear from us, what sort of calls they
AEROSPACE: What’s the customer sub-orbital
can expect to hear on the radio, when we will not talk
experience going to be like? Are there weather
to them − deliberately so, because we’re focusing on
limitations? Is there safety training?
other important phases of flight as pilots.
DM: Starting with the weather then, yes, obviously Also what they can realistically expect to do
there are weather limitations. We haven’t decided in weightlessness. Weightlessness is a wonderful
exactly what the crosswind limitation is going to be sensation but if you’re kind of floating around, say
in SS2 but we have a good idea and will continue to in the middle of a large room, you would have no
test this as we complete our test program. As with any control over your body because you can’t reach out
aircraft there are weather limitations but we aim to fly to anything. Luckily our cabin is big enough to float
on days when the weather is pretty good. That is one around in but actually small enough such that you
of the reasons we’re in New Mexico because they can just gently reach out and touch things and give
have this incredible weather factor down there. yourself some control. My own advice to people would
The customer experience will be quite be just to float, enjoy this zen-like experience and the
extraordinary, as you can imagine. Very few people view.
have had the opportunity to travel at three times the In terms of what it actually feels like, there’s
speed of sound into space and back and because of the climb up to launch altitude, which is like being
that we want them to be prepared for the experience, under any other four-engine airliner and it’s very
to get the most out of it. We don’t want them to be comfortable. Then the release itself, you’ll hear the
distracted by something they aren’t expecting, some countdown to release as the spaceship is released
sounds, some movement or something they are from WhiteKnight.
feeling. We want them to be prepared. So that when Release feels like you’re going over the
they get in the vehicle, they are going to have the top of a rollercoaster. So you’ve got that slight
experience of a lifetime, which I think they will have reduction in G and then it’s silent for just a few
anyway! seconds because you’ve left the four engines
It will be a three-day training programme and it under WhiteKnight. Then we light a rocket motor
all takes place at Spaceport America in our facility, and you get this 3G push in the back and that will
16 AEROSPACEVirgin Galactic
go on for 60 seconds. You hear the noise of the intercom and that kind of thing. The idea is that this Left: Virgin Galactic’s
rocket motor, even when you’re supersonic. You experience should be open for as a large a portion of third SS2 vehicle under
hear the noise because it’s transmitted back up the population as possible. construction at The
Spaceship Company in
through the structure. It is actually very smooth
Mojave, California.
but there’s a tiny little bit of vibration, so you know
something’s happening. There really is a big AEROSPACE: There was an announcement last
acceleration force. As we start to pitch it up into year that the Italian air force will pay for researchers
the vertical we’re still being pushed in the back, to fly microgravity science missions. Do you expect
even though we’re in the vertical, we’re being a steady stream of government and scientific
pushed upwards with this 3G push, which is just researchers wanting to fly on SS2 too?
really amazing. The sky goes from blue to dark DM: Yes, we’ve already flown several payloads under
blue very quickly, then to black. You’re still bathed the NASA flight opportunities programme and there
in sunlight but you’re looking at a black sky, which are more to come. There is interest from, not only Italy,
is a little bit funny for the brain the first time you but from other countries and operators around the
see it. world. I think one of the great things about this system
Then, at the end of 60 seconds we go from a 3G is that it is so flexible, you can strap SpaceShipTwo
push to weightlessness and at that point you’re going to WhiteKnight and fly to wherever in the world you
to be allowed to unstrap, unbuckle and float away from have permission to operate from. Almost any country
your seat. You will, instantly − because it’s absolutely now can have its own space launch system and it
enthralling − want to go to a window and just gawp doesn’t have to be customers that you fly, you can
at what is out there, because it’s the most incredible pull the seats out, put payload racks in, which we’ve
sight, and enjoy your weightless experience. At the done already, and fly experiments in space and do
point of re-entry you go from this silent incredible it frequently. There’s a lot of interest in that from the
place with no forces on your body and no sound and scientific community. I believe there is a big market out
no motion, to starting to meet the atmosphere again. there.
You’ll ride down in the feather configuration to
about 65,000ft. At that point the feather is lowered
and, as the last few degrees come down, then the AEROSPACE: What would your dream launch
vehicle nose pitches down a little bit and glide all the location be then, anywhere in the world?
way down to landing. DM: I guess my dream would be Scotland. The UK
So that’s really the experience. We get them really is a small island and I think the views that you would
familiar with that and we encourage them to go to a get from anywhere in the UK would be fantastic. I’m
centrifuge beforehand, if they can. We also encourage biased because I’m from the very North of Scotland
them to do Zero G parabolas beforehand, if they can, and I love the north and the west coast. They’re
Space Situational
but it is not essential. We will offer them flights in an absolutely superb. That’s where I come from. I’d love
Awareness
Extra aerobatic aircraft, just as an initiation to give to see that from space. That’s me being selfish. I think
Conference
them a feel for what elevated G level feels like and the views of the Earth wherever you fly from are
14 July 2020 –
what zero G feels like. That will also get them used astonishing from space. It’s just an amazing thing to
RAeS HQ, London
to flying with their pilot and communicating over the see.
FEBRUARY 2020 17You can also read
