Top 10 news of the international aviation industry in 2021
1. Airbus reorganizes aircraft structure business
Airbus said on April 21 that it will establish two new companies through reorganization to integrate its aircraft structure business in France and Germany in order to better enhance its core competitiveness and innovation. Airbus expects to complete the restructuring work before January 1, 2022. According to the plan, on the French side, Airbus will integrate the operations of the two regions of Saint-Nazaire and Nantes with the business of STELIA Aerospace; on the German side, it will integrate the operations of the two factories in Stade and Nordenham and part of the Augsburg area. Business integration.
2. The U.S. Air Force's "Sky Borg" project "Autonomous Core System" completed its first flight
The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) announced on May 5 that the Skyborg project team used the UTAP-22 UAV developed by Kratos on April 29 at the Tyndall Air Force in Florida. The base completed the first flight of the "Autonomous Core System" (ACS), which lasted 2 hours and 10 minutes. This maiden flight marked the achievement of the "Milestone 1" node of the "Autonomous Consumable Aircraft Experiment" (AAAx) program.
3. The Boeing 737-10 passenger plane flew for the first time, and the certification test flight has been carried out in China
The 737-10, the largest aircraft of Boeing's 737-MAX series, took off at Renton Airport in Washington on June 18 and landed smoothly at Boeing Airport in Seattle in the afternoon and successfully completed its first flight. Boeing has since started a comprehensive test of the aircraft. The aircraft can carry 230 passengers. Compared with the new-generation Boeing 737, it can reduce carbon emissions by 14% and reduce noise by 50%. The aircraft is expected to be put into operation in 2023. On August 4, a Boeing 737MAX 7 (N7201S) took off from Seattle and arrived at Shanghai Pudong Airport on August 7 after several stops. On August 11, the aircraft landed at Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport. This aircraft was also used for flight test re-certification by FAA and EASA. This time it came to China as the beginning of the aircraft's search for re-certification and flight test in China.
4. General Electric and Safran jointly develop a new jet engine RISE
In mid-June, CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and French Safran Group, announced that it will test-produce a new jet engine RISE that can reduce fuel consumption and emissions by 20%. The RISE engine will adopt an open-rotor design and is expected to be put into use in the mid-1930s.
5. Russia launches a new single-engine stealth fighter
At the 2021 Moscow Air Show (MAKS 2021) press conference, Rostec stated that the developed export-type Checkmate light single-engine stealth fighter has signed an agreement with startup customers, and the price is expected to be 25-30 million. U.S. dollars, hope that India and other Asian and African countries will order this new fighter jet. In addition, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov (Yuri Borisov) revealed that African countries, Vietnam and India are expected to demand about 300 aircraft for this type of aircraft. Rostec plans to make the first flight of this fighter in 2023, start manufacturing prototypes from 2024 to 2025, and conduct the first pilot training in 2026.
6. Russia's United Aircraft Manufacturing Group integrates air transport production enterprises
The United Aircraft Manufacturing Group (UAC), a subsidiary of the Russian State Technology Group, continues to promote the process of centralized management of its subsidiaries. The Ulyanov Aviation Star Plant, Voronezh Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, and Myasishev Machinery Manufacturing Plant will merge with Yier, a major company in the air transportation field of the United Aircraft Manufacturing Group, and these companies will become branches of the Yier company. After the merger, the company's main design and production business directions, traditional capabilities, and social security for employees will still be retained. In addition, in accordance with the framework of the United Aircraft Manufacturing Group's transformation plan, the executive agency management power of Sukhoi, a major company in the military aviation field, and Tupolev, a major company in the strategic aviation field, has been transferred to the UAC management.
7. ICAS will be held again in China after 29 years
On September 6, the 32nd International Conference on Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS2021) hosted by the International Council of Aeronautical Sciences (ICAS) and hosted by the Chinese Aeronautical Society (CSAA) was successfully held in Shanghai. Nearly 800 representatives from more than 40 countries passed the line. Participate online or offline. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter, hoping that this conference will play a positive role in promoting global aviation science and technology cooperation and bring more benefits to people around the world. Zhang Xinguo, vice chairman of the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, chief scientist of the Chinese Academy of Aeronautics, Tsinghua University Distinguished Professor, and member of the ICAS Executive Committee, won the ICAS "Daniel and Florence Guggenheim" award. Founded in 1956, ICAS is an important academic organization in the field of international aviation science and technology. The ICAS Conference enjoys the reputation of the "Olympic Conference" in the field of aviation science and technology, and is one of the most influential international academic activities in the field of aviation science and technology in the world. After multiple rounds of bidding, ICAS once again landed in China after 29 years. China's aviation technology and industrial progress is no longer what it used to be, and this conference has attracted worldwide attention.
8. The 13th China Air Show was successfully held
Due to the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the 13th China International Aerospace Expo was successfully held at the Zhuhai International Air Show Center from September 28 to October 3 through the efforts of all parties. The current air show attracted nearly 700 exhibitors from nearly 40 countries and regions online and offline, and signed a cooperation agreement with a total value of more than 12.5 billion U.S. dollars, and sold 159 aircraft of various models; the exhibition welcomed a total of 6 days There were more than 90,000 professional visitors and nearly 120,000 ordinary visitors. 312 media and 2,630 reporters from various countries and regions around the world came to the air show to conduct interviews. Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, many international and domestic exhibitions have been cancelled or postponed. The China Air Show was successfully held. The quality of the exhibition and the effect of the exhibition did not decrease. The number of exhibitors and the exhibition area exceeded expectations, which fully demonstrated China's strength in epidemic prevention and control and social and economic development. The number of organizers of this airshow has increased from 13 to 15, and the number of exhibition halls has increased from 8 to 11 in the previous year. The indoor exhibition area is 100,000 square meters, the outdoor exhibition area is 360,000 square meters, and the ground equipment dynamic demonstration area Covering an area of 120,000 square meters, 107 aircraft will be exhibited.
9. Embraer showcases two hydrogen-powered concept aircraft
At the beginning of November, Embraer launched four concept models of the Energia series, using innovative renewable energy propulsion technologies including hydrogen energy. The company has partnered with universities, aviation research institutions, and small and medium enterprises to understand which technologies are best for sustainable aviation. Among the four concept aircraft, two use hydrogen propulsion technology, named E19-H2FC and E50-H2GT. The E19-H2FC is a 19-seater aircraft that will be equipped with a hydrogen propulsion engine and is expected to be put on the market in 2035; while the E50-H2GT is a 35-50-seat aircraft that uses hydrogen energy or a sustainable aviation fuel propulsion system to provide power , Is expected to be listed in 2040.
10. Rolls-Royce "Spirit of Innovation" breaks the speed record for electric aircraft
On November 16, Rolls-Royce’s "Spirit of Innovation" electric aircraft set three world records for electric aircraft with an average flight speed of 3 kilometers and 15 kilometers and a climb speed of 3000 meters, which greatly enhanced the industry’s electrical propulsion of aircraft. Technical confidence. In the 3 km flight segment, the "Spirit of Innovation" had an average speed of 555 km/h, which increased the original record by 60%; in the 15 km flight segment, its average flight speed reached 532 km/h, which would reduce The original record has increased by 120%. In addition, the "Spirit of Innovation" climbed to 3000 meters in 3 minutes and 22 seconds.
