All articles tagged with #flight tests
SpaceX's Starship program has completed 10 flight tests, experiencing successes like controlled landings and reentries, as well as failures such as explosions and fires. The program has made significant improvements over time, culminating in a successful catch and reuse of a booster in Flight 5, and is now transitioning to the next phase with Block 3 vehicles aimed at operational missions and Starlink launches.
Boeing is providing initial details of the certification test plan for its 777-9 flagship aircraft, which is targeted for entry-into-service in 2025. The FAA is expected to grant type inspection authorization (TIA) soon, marking the formal start of certification. Boeing has conducted over 1,100 flights and 3,200 flight hours on the program, addressing design and system safety assurance questions. The certification effort will be performed primarily by the third test aircraft, which will focus on engine and steady state performance. The fourth aircraft will incorporate a production-representative cabin configuration and undergo extended twin-engine operations (ETOPS) testing.
NASA's experimental X-59 aircraft, part of the Quiet Supersonic Technology project, is being prepared for its first test flights. The aircraft, designed to fly at supersonic speeds without creating disruptive sonic booms, aims to create a "sonic thump" as loud as a car door being slammed from 20 feet away. If successful, NASA hopes to overturn the 1973 ban on non-military supersonic flights over land and gather data for new sound-based regulations. The X-59 is smaller and slower than the Concorde, with a cruising speed of mach 1.4, and could be flying as early as 2025.
NASA's X-59 supersonic plane has been moved to the flight line at Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works facility in California, marking a milestone in its preparation for ground and initial flight tests. The X-59 is part of NASA's Quesst mission to demonstrate supersonic flight without generating loud sonic booms. Data collected from flights over select U.S. cities will be shared with regulators to potentially enable commercial supersonic flight over land. The aircraft is designed to reach a speed of Mach 1.4 and fly at an altitude of 55,000 feet.
Joby Aviation has received clearance from the FAA to conduct flight tests on its first production prototype air taxi. The company aims to start customer deliveries in 2024 and launch an air taxi service by 2025. The aircraft can take off and land like a helicopter, then transition to flying like an airplane at speeds of up to 200 MPH. It is designed to carry a pilot and four passengers over a distance of up to 100 miles on a single charge. Joby's partnership with Toyota and its appointment of Toyota North America CEO to the board of directors further solidify its position in the industry.