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Aerospace

17 May 2019

Img credit: Faradair

Considered as the world’s first real hybrid airplane, the Faradair BEHA (Bio-Electric-Hybrid-Aircraft) is a “triple box-wing design concept”. It’s a clever combination of electric motors and a bio-diesel engine fitted with several energy saving and recovery technologies. This includes solar panels on all flight surfaces and high-lift, low-speed flight capabilities.

The concept was first realised back in 2014 when UK firm, Faradair, proposed a Bio-Electric-Hybrid-Aircraft (BEHA). They have now announced that their plans are in place for a small BEHA airliner. The hybrid aircraft could be ready to take flight in 2025 as one of the world’s most environmentally friendly airplanes.

5 Mar 2019

In today’s modern manufacturing world, not too many products are made without CNC machining. This includes the basics like toys, household appliances and machines but also cars, aeroplanes and medical devices among others. CNC machining is incredibly versatile and many industries cannot do without it.

Some of the main industries that rely heavily on CNC machining include aerospace, automotive, medical manufacturing and woodworking. Here, they use it use for various operations such as drilling and routing where the aerospace industry favours CNC machining because it offers the five-axis option when required. This functionality means they can more easily manage hard-to-cut materials such as Inconel.

In healthcare or the medical sector, CNC machining plays an essential role for micro-machining. This involves fabricating all the tiny parts made from different types of materials for various life-saving applications. Examples of CNC machined parts are pacemakers or titanium joints not to mention tools and implements for medical professionals.

30 Dec 2018

Image Credit: Sikorsky/Boeing

When it comes to military aircraft, vehicles and other emerging technologies, the Sikorsky-Boeing SB>1 Defiant is the future. This next-generation military helicopter shows just what today’s technologies and advanced systems are capable of. After years of research and development, Sikorsky and Boeing have revealed their master plan for the latest in military aircraft.

16 Nov 2018

Img Credit: Yahoo News Singapore

China continues to impress with their latest innovation, new stealth combat drones known as Tian Ying (CH-7). It featured at the air show in Zhuhai, a biannual event that showcases China’s latest developments in military and civilian aviation. There were several Chinese state-owned arms companies also displaying their drones. It appears China is investing heavily in unmanned aircraft with plans to develop drones capable of flying from one of its future aircraft carriers. Could this be a role for the CH-7 to fulfil?

According to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, more than 350 private Chinese firms are now capable of making unmanned aerial, surface or ground vehicles.

12 Oct 2018

The Farnborough Air Show in July 2018 featured several new projects, concepts and prototypes but one that stood out was the Tempest, UK’s new combat aircraft. A number of companies are involved with this project including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Italy’s Leonardo and missiles expert MBDA. Reports suggests that the UK will invest £2bn in the project with the aim of a first flight in 2035.

There is no denying that the UK has been a leader in aerial combat for over a century with a wide range of skills and technology. This latest project sends a clear message that they are determined to make sure they remain at the top.

14 Sep 2018

The future of aviation may be closer than we think thanks to an electric aircraft start-up company, Impossible Aerospace. One of their newly-designed electric drones is capable of flying non-stop for two hours. With $9.4 million in funding from Airbus and two Silicon Valley venture capital firms, electric drones are just the beginning.

Spencer Gore, CEO and founder of Impossible Aerospace, is a former Tesla battery engineer with invaluable industry experience. His vision is to transform aviation using electric drones as proof of concept. The plan is to make longer-range electric passenger aircraft with today’s low energy-density batteries. If all goes according to plan, the future looks bright for zero-emission passenger aircraft. We take a closer look at the technology and the young mastermind behind it all.

7 Sep 2018

Flying cars are once again a hot topic of discussion but this time it involves Metro Skyways, a subsidiary of Israel’s Urban Aeronautics (UA). The company has announced that they are going into the full-scale development of the CityHawk VTOL flying car. The first manned flights of this hybrid-powered six-seater will take place in 2021 followed by full FAA certification. They plan to convert the CityHawk to run on hydrogen fuel cells after the launch.

Urban Aeronautics Ltd has developed advanced aerodynamic technologies that form the basis of a new internal rotor (ducted fan) aircraft known as Fancraft™. They capitalise on their extensive portfolio through two subsidiary companies, Tactical Robotics Ltd and Metro Skyways Ltd. Both companies are developing unique Fancraft™ for specific markets. The CityHawk, wingless flying car with “land anywhere” technology is their latest project and looks impressive, to say the least.

17 Aug 2018

Much has been said about the promising future of UK manufacturing and engineering but what does the future hold? Everyone knows that Britain is the birthplace of the industrial revolution and remains a global leader in manufacturing. This applies especially to the aerospace sector as it’s the largest in Europe and only second to the US. In 2016, there were more than 2.6 million people directly employed in manufacturing in the UK alone.

The south-west of England is the largest aerospace region in Europe and home to 15 large aerospace companies. In addition, the cluster also consists of a large network of world-class supply chain companies.

Manufacturers have started to make the transition to new processes striving for greater productivity and functionality. Technological advancements in the last few years mean

10 Aug 2018

Plating services are important in any industry but particularly for the application in military vehicles.  The brave men and women in our armed forces are often required to place themselves in dangerous situations. For that reason, the quality of equipment and machinery they use could literally mean the difference between life and death. To protect our military personnel, the defence industry always ensures that they have the best products at their disposal.

3 Aug 2018

We see the benefits of 3D printing all the time from manufacturing, medical, the fashion industry to prototyping and production. With construction in mind and large-scale 3d printers, it is now possible to think about bigger projects. There’s no doubt that that additive manufacturing is an ideal building solution for creating models in architecture.

With that in mind, 3D printing has made headlines once again. This time though, it’s not a 3D printed house in your neighbourhood unless you live on Mars. We take a closer look at how the 3D printed habitat challenge from NASA and their partners have developed. If you are remotely interested in aerospace design, engineering and space exploration, you should really watch these videos.

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