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The Airframer Bulletin

Aerospace manufacturing, week by week — reported by Airframer’s editors

All news ✕ Clear Jump to press releases ↓
Edition of 10 September Published every Thursday
Lead story

South Korea's KF-X prototype arrives at final assembly

The KF-X's mission computer and flight control computer are scheduled to be mounted on the prototype after performance tests this year, in time to perform ground tests. First flight is slated for 2022.

9 September 2020
Final assembly of the KF-X prototype has begun.
Final assembly of the KF-X prototype has begun.

Curtiss-Wright selected for eVTOL avionics and networking

An unnamed fully electric fixed-wing aircraft, designed to function as a piloted urban air taxi, is to use Curtiss-Wright flight control computer and vehicle Ethernet switch solutions during the flight testing.

9 September 2020
The F414-GE-100 engine, which will power NASA’s X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology X-plane (QueSST), is unboxed at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. (Photo: NASA Photo / Ken Ulbrich)

NASA takes delivery of GE jet engine for X-59

It may be based on the design of the Gripen's engine, but the F414-GE-39E is a whole brand-new engine birthed from raw metal. It will have longer duration missions at high altitude with high power.

9 September 2020
Skydrive has successfully completed a manned flight of its eVTOL, model SD-03.

SkyDrive's SD-03 makes first public manned flight

A four minute hop with a computer-aided pilot onboard has taken the SkyDrive program past a major development milestone. The company says it has created a flying coupe with dreams and charisma.

9 September 2020
More news – SkyDrive, Airframer
EconCore, Toray Advanced Composites and Bostik have developed a thermoplastic honeycomb core sandwich panel for use in aircraft interiors.

Thermoplastic honeycomb for interiors passes muster

The parts are less time-consuming to make, and more sustainable than the traditional thermoset materials used which are not recyclable. EconCore, Toray and Bostik combined to create the new material.

9 September 2020
An artist's impression of Exosonic’s low boom supersonic airliner converted into an executive transport aircraft - although the design has since further evolved.

USAF calls on Exosonic to develop supersonic transport

Boom softening techniques developed by Exosonic should enable a future business jet to travel over land or water at around twice the speed of current aircraft. All the president's men could be onboard.

9 September 2020
More news – Airframer
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Edition of 3 September 2020

Pipistrel unveils long-range autonomous eVTOL model

Eight independent battery-powered Pipistrel E-811 electric engines will power the new Nuuva V300 as far as 2,500km. For shorter trips the tandem-wing design could have a payload of 460kg.

3 September 2020
More news – Airframer
Edition of 27 August 2020

Robotic docking boosts efficiency on Il-76 production line

Aviastar-SP aims to increase the production rate of the Il-76MD-90A to up to twelve a year, and has implemented a laser-guided production line powered by robots to help make it happen.

27 August 2020
More news – Airframe Assemblies