Joby Aviation has completed the first flight of its turbine-electric hybrid VTOL aircraft, developed with L3Harris Technologies to expand the range and operational use of its electric air taxi platform for commercial and defence applications. The company said the demonstrator builds on its all-electric aircraft, which has logged over 50,000 miles of flight testing and is in the final phase of Federal Aviation Administration type certification.
Airbus Helicopters and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency will pair a H225M medium lift helicopter with the Flexrotor UAS via its crewed-uncrewed teaming system called HTeaming, integrated on board the helicopter, to allow its crew to take full control of the drone.
“Unfortunately the LCA has not been able to meet the carrier capability required. So that is why we need an alternate aircraft now,” said navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba.
Steven Gillard of Rolls-Royce spoke to StratPost about the Naval Aircraft Yard milestone of overhauling the 50th Sea Harrier Pegasus engine and the role played by his company in helping achieve it.
Fire-X, an unmanned cargo version of the Bell 407 utility helicopter was supplied external power for the first time earlier this month and is expected to fly by the end of the year. The Fire-X combines the qualities of the Bell 407 and Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout.
