Model Airplanes

WASHINGTON Feb. 24, 2017 Supersonic passenger airplanes are another step closer to reality as NASA and Lockheed Martin begin the first high-speed wind tunnel tests for the Quiet Supersonic Technology (QueSST) X-plane preliminary design at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.

The agency is testing a nine percent scale model of Lockheed Martin’s X-plane design in Glenn’s 8′ x 6′ Supersonic Wind Tunnel. During the next eight weeks, engineers will expose the model to wind speeds ranging from Mach 0.3 to Mach 1.6 (approximately 150 to 950 mph) to understand the aerodynamics of the X-plane design as well as aspects of the propulsion system. NASA expects the QueSST X-plane to pave the way for supersonic flight over land in the not too distant future.

“We’ll be measuring the lift, drag and side forces on the model at different angles of attack to verify that it performs as expected,” said aerospace engineer Ray Castner, who leads propulsion testing for NASA’s QueSST effort. “We also want to make sure the air flows smoothly into the engine under all operating conditions.”

The Glenn wind tunnel is uniquely suited for the test because of its size and ability to create a wide range of wind speeds.

“We need to see how the design performs from just after takeoff, up to cruising at supersonic speed, back to the start of the landing approach,” said David Stark, the facility manager. “The 8′ x 6′ supersonic wind tunnel allows us to test that sweet spot range of speeds all in one

Article source: http://gsnmagazine.com/article/48004/nasa_conducts_wind_tunnel_tests_lockheed_martin_su

Boeing Co (BA.N) has approached India’s SpiceJet Ltd (SPJT.BO) and Jet Airways Ltd (JET.NS) as it gauges airlines’ interest in its 737 MAX-10 aircraft, the stretched version of the yet-to-be-delivered 737 MAX narrow-body jetliner, a senior executive said.

Indian carriers are rapidly expanding to meet demand in the world’s fastest-growing aviation market, with most of the growth involving flights into and out of the country’s biggest cities.

“We have presented it to both the airlines what the airplane looks like, and it’s in a very preliminary stage,” Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president, Asia Pacific and India sales, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, told Reuters.

“If you are flying to the metros this (737 MAX-10) will be a perfect airplane, because runways are long, demand is there, frequency is already there.”

Airplane makers typically line up orders before deciding whether to formally undertake building a new aircraft.

SpiceJet and Jet Airways have the option to substitute some of their existing orders of MAX planes with the MAX-10, Keskar said.

In January, budget airline SpiceJet agreed to buy 100 new 737 MAXs aircraft with an option for 50 more, while Jet Airways had 75 orders for the 737 MAX through January 2017.

SpiceJet and Jet Airways did not respond to requests for comment.

Article source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-airplane-india-idUSKBN16A1LO

BY JAMES FARRELL
Staff Writer

Delta Airlines will stop flying a particular plane model, the MD-88, known for its louder engine, from LaGuardia Airport, the company announced today.

The change is effective March 2. In a statement, Delta’s New York Vice President Henry Kuykendall emphasized consideration of the surrounding community as a motivation for the change.

“We’re committed to providing our customers an exceptional flying experience when traveling through New York airports while also considering our responsibility to the communities where we live and serve,” he said. “Delta flights on quieter, more efficient and larger aircraft are good for the community and will also support NextGen initiatives around more fuel-efficient GPS routes in New York airspace, the most congested in the world.”

There were 30 daily scheduled MD-88 departures from LaGuardia before the announcement, which was issued in a press release. The airline will now use the “quieter, more fuel-efficient” Airbus A320 family aircrafts, Boeing 737s and MD-90, “minimizing environmental impact at the busy airport and reducing overflight noise for millions of nearby residents.”

Queens airplane noise advocates and elected officials alike praised the decision.

“Airplane noise is a major concern for many Queens residents, but also one that has proven difficult to solve,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “That’s why we appreciate Delta’s effort to help quiet the skies around LaGuardia Airport by updating its fleet of airplanes. We are pleased with this important investment and thank

Article source: http://queenstribune.com/delta-stop-flying-noisy-plane-model-lga/

Article source: http://www.nasdaq.com/article/boeing-sounds-out-indian-carriers-on-737-max10-aircraft-20170303-00417