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- Saab delivers fourth GlobalEye to the UAE
- Birds of Goodness executes 37th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- Birds of Goodness executes 36th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- Birds of Goodness executes 35th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
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- Birds of Goodness executes 34th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- Birds of Goodness' executes 33rd humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
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- On the 2nd day of Eid al-Fitr... Birds of Goodness Executes 31st Humanitarian Airdrop and Eid Clothing in North Gaza
- On the first day of Eid Al-Fitr,UAE and Jordan conduct 14th joint food aid airdrop in northern Gaza
- UAE and Jordan conduct 13th joint food aid airdrop in northern Gaza
- 'Birds of Goodness' Executes 29th Humanitarian Aid Airdrop and Eid Clothing in North Gaza.
- UAE and Jordan conduct 12th joint food aid airdrop in northern Gaza
- 'Birds of Goodness' Executes 28th Humanitarian Aid Airdrop and Eid Clothing in North Gaza
- UAE and Jordan conduct 11th joint food aid airdrop in northern Gaza
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- 'Birds of Goodness' executes 26th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- 'Birds of Goodness' executes 25th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
- UAE and Jordan conduct 10th joint food aid airdrop in northern Gaza
- 'Birds of Goodness' executes 24th humanitarian aid airdrop in north Gaza
2018-06-03
Global Aerospace Industry Congregates in Berlin for ILA 2018 Air Show
With its focus on current and future technical innovations, ILA Berlin continues to evolve as the aerospace industry’s leading trade show, this year selecting France as its partner country.
From 25th-29th April, around 1,100 exhibitors and 180,000 visitors from 41 countries presented a wide spectrum of their products, with 200 aircraft on the ground alongside global aviation and space R&D projects.
Franco-German defence projects
German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened ILA 2018, joined by Federal Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen who confirmed that “The ILA has kept its promises again” with “ultra-modern aircraft and helicopters” as “impressive proof” that, “The ILA is an outstanding exhibition of German products and services, and this year in particular symbolises Franco-German friendship and partnership.”
ILA’s Franco-German defence programmes included development of next-gen of fighter aircraft, a new long-distance naval reconnaissance aircraft and a new generation of armoured vehicles, all of which bear joint responsibility for a strong Europe “able to defend its citizens and values”, said Minister von der Leyen. Visiting French Defence Minister Florence Parly also noted that this “historic agreement” was necessary to make the armed forces of both countries “more powerful, modern and versatile” by 2040, to ensure they had a strategic advantage and to create a “Europe focused on defence.”
Four-engine A400M transportation
The Airbus A400M that brought the two Defence Ministers to the ILA is the first four-engine, strategic and tactical transport to be powered by propellers and jointly built by Germany and France.
Germany’s Bundeswehr is gradually replacing the ageing Transall C-160 with significant improvements in capacity, speed, flexibility and range. Carrying a 20 tonne load, the A400M has a non-stop range of 6,400 kilometres, a maximum take-off weight of 141 tonnes, a length of 45 metres and a 42.3 m span to make it smaller than existing transport aircraft, so flying at lower speeds and landing/taking off from 1 kilometre runways. Although delivery of the A400M commenced in 2013, 66 had been delivered to international customers by the end of March.
200 aircraft on display
Alongside aircraft from many epochs of aviation history, there was an unprecedented display of the “giants of the air” such as the 100th A380 to be delivered to Emirates, the modern commercial aircraft A350 and A340 BLADE, the Beluga Super Transporter from Airbus, the Boeing 747-8 of Lufthansa and the largest transport aircraft in existence, the six-engined Antonov 225.
The presentation also featured an impressive and diverse range of military aircraft, including the Eurofighter combat aircraft, the A400M military transport, the Tiger combat helicopter and the French Rafale, the CH-53K (Lockheed Martin) and CH-47 Chinook (Boeing) heavy lift transport helicopters, the Kawasaki P1 marine reconnaissance aircraft from Japan and the ultra-modern multi-role F35 combat aircraft from Lockheed Martin.
Boeing offers H-47 to Germany
The U.S. Department of Defence displayed several Boeing platforms, including the H-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter, the V-22 multirole tiltrotor, the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and the F-15 fighter.
In answering Germany’s requirement for a new heavy lift helicopter, Boeing’s H-47 Chinook has provided a modern, proven platform at a very competitive cost, while the exhibit also included Boeing’s new commercial airplane programmes and “made in Germany” technology, with special focus on the 777X as the first test airplane in production.
HENSOLDT’s first year
Recently taken from the Airbus Group, platform-independent sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT is No. 3 amongst German defence companies, with approx. 4,300 employees and revenues of more than €1bn. HENSOLDT CEO Thomas Müller summarised the first year’s achievements while looking at current technology trends, further growth and the development of new markets.
The Antonov An-225
The world’s heaviest and largest operational aircraft visited ILA Berlin - the An-225 “Mrija” (Dream) from Ukrainian manufacturer Antonov Airlines. Originally developed to transport the Soviet space shuttle “Buran” on its fuselage, the six-engined jet was re-introduced by Antonov in 2001 to transport extremely heavy loads weighing up to 250 tonnes.
The An-225 has a maximum take-off weight of 640 tonnes, an overall length of 84 metres and a wingspan of 88.40 metres. The horizontal tail surface has a width of 32.65 metres, equivalent to the Airbus A320 wingspan.
Bundeswehr exhibits emergency aircraft
The Bundeswehr used an emergency assistance demonstration to show the NH-90 and CH-53 transporter helicopter, while their cyber-forensic experts demonstrated how data can be read from a destroyed USB stick.
Eurofighters to replace Tornados
Germany’s Tornado combat aircraft have been in service since the 1980s but since 2015, the new Typhoon have started to serve as fighter-bombers and for electronic surveillance with over 600 ordered and are already in Luftwaffe. “I am confident that the Eurofighter Typhoon can represent a cost-effective and attractive solution for Germany, satisfying every requirement and capable of fulfilling every mission for the Luftwaffe in Germany”, stated Volker Paltzo, the CEO of Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH.
DLR pilot assistance system
The German Aerospace Centre (DLR) is collaborating with Deutsche Lufthansa to develop the Low Noise Augmentation pilot assistance system to assist pilots with complex low-noise landing. DLR is currently collaborating with the environmental research facility Umwelt- und Nachbarschaftshaus (UNH) in Kelsterbach, and the operator of Frankfurt airport FRAPORT AG in carrying out trials in daily flight operations.
Boeing Chinook heavy loading
Two three-blades rotors mounted in tandem rotating in opposite directions, each with a diameter of more than 18 metres, the Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a unique large helicopter capable of lifting loads up to eleven tonnes. Since its first flight in September 1961, more than 1,200 have been built with the current version in the running to replace the CH-53 as a transport helicopter for the Bundeswehr. ILA 2018 featured one model from the U.S. military and flying displays from the UK’s Royal Air Force.
ESA’s Copernicus debuts
ILA 2018 introduced the World Space Alliance digital trading platform, offering a range of space-supported data and products from the ESA’s Copernicus programmes. The partnership between the ESA and the world market leader for business software facilitates access to business applications based on geodata closing the gap between standard earth observation and the digital business world.
DLR revolutionary rudder
Seen on static display, the DLR and Airbus carried out Europe’s first airborne trials over April-May 2018 using an A320 ATRA with a converted vertical control surface and weak, directed suction to reduce the fuel consumption of aircraft substantially.
Sikorsky design presentation
Having been responsible for coordinating the Bundeswehr’s helicopter procurement programme throughout the last century, Sergei Sergei Igorovich Sikorsky made a remarkable appearance in ILA as an ambassador for the Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter which Lockheed Martin, the parent company of the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, aims to market as a heavy transport helicopter.
In Tsarist Russia, Sergei’s father Igor Sikorsky designed the world’s first large-scale airplane (Le Grand), before emigrating to the U.S. prior to the communist revolution. He successfully designed large seaplanes before devoting himself to his beloved helicopters in 1939.
Nonetheless, each time he was addressed as the “inventor of the helicopter”, Sikorsky replied that “the world’s first functioning helicopter was the 1936 Focke-Wulf Fw 61” attributed to the German designer Henrich Focke (1890-1979).
Bombardier CSeries debuts
Air Baltic’s latest CS300 Bombardier CSeries was on display, of which the Latvian airline has purchased eight and been impressed by the plane’s reliability and positive passenger feedback, welcoming its one-millionth passenger on board the aircraft. CEO Martin Gauss praised the aircraft’s low fuel consumption, low noise emissions and high comfort level in the spacious passenger cabin. Air Baltic will take delivery of another six CS300s, completely replacing its fleet of Boeings by 2020 and replacing its Q400 turboprops with CSeries aircraft by 2022.
Lockheed Martin F-35A bid
The F-35 Lightning II is a called 5th-generation, multi-role supersonic combat aircraft combining stealth technology, massive computing power, open-systems architecture, powerful sensors and great agility. Intended as a replacement for the F-15/F-16/F/A-18 in service with western European air forces, Lockheed has constructed the majority for all branches of the U.S. military.
Lockheed tendered their billion-dollar bid just prior to ILA, “In response to an enquiry from the German defence ministry”, said Jack Crisler, Vice President F-35 Business Development and Strategy Integration at Lockheed Martin, who is contending with competition from Airbus and a more advanced version of the Eurofighter Typhoon. Just under 300 of the F-35 stealth fighters have already been supplied to various customers, with deliveries of a further 91 expected in 2018 at an average cost of around 80 million dollars each.
Self-repairing smart engine
Rolls-Royce presented its vision of an Intelligent Engine at ILA 2018, one envisaging all the engines in an airline’s fleet communicating with one another and identifying required maintenance work in advance. This smart engine makes it possible for minor engine repairs to be carried out autonomously in future without human intervention.
Airbus airborne laboratory
Funded by the EU’s Clean Sky programme, BLADE, or “Breakthrough Laminar Aircraft Demonstrator in Europe” debuted at ILA 2018. Replacing the external parts of A340 wings with new components whose external shape is designed to moderate the airflow, “Normally turbulence is created at the leading edge of the wing, but in this case, it only occurs in the middle of the wing”, explained Alex Flaig, Senior Vice-President Research & Technology.
ATLA marine reconnaissance
Japan’s Acquisition, Technology Logistics Agency was set up in 2015 as part of the national Defence Ministry to intensify cooperation in defence equipment and technology. The spectacular presentation of the new Kawasaki P-1 marine reconnaissance aircraft at the ILA Berlin was “to demonstrate to the world our advanced technological capabilities”, said Captain Ryota Ishida, P-1 project manager at ATLA. Designed for marine reconnaissance, the P-1 is the world’s first aircraft controlled by “fly-by-light” technology, using light signals to prevent electromagnetic interference to the sensors.
MBDA defence system
MBDA Missile Systems presented the integration air defence, European armaments programmes and new technologies at ILA 2018. Germany’s TLVS Tactical Air Defence System has replaced the “Patriot” system as the new, flexible air defence system protecting against tactical ballistic short and medium-range rockets, combat aircraft, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles. “MBDA is the result of 20 years of efforts to integrate former competitors from Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain”, explained CEO Antoine Bouvier. “We are proud that MBDA has become like the Airbus of rockets.”
International delegations
Many members of parliament from Germany and abroad attended the 9th International Parliamentarians’ Day on 25 April.
Air and ground attractions
Of 2018’s impressive exhibits, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, Emirates’ 100th Airbus A380, made an appearance alongside the European aerospace group’s most up-to-date long haul aircraft the A350 XWB, the A340BLADE research aircraft and the Beluga transporter. Lufthansa also introduced its Boeing 747-8, the latest version of the jumbo jet, while the CS-300 from Bombardier was also shown to trade visitors.
TORO walking robot
A bipedally-based robot has several advantages over wheel-based movement in occupying a relatively small standing area and climbing over small obstacles, while still having issues with walking stabilisation and balance regulation. The Institute for Robotics and Mechatronics at DLR has thus developed a bipedal humanoid robot known as TORO (TOrque Controlled Humanoid RObot) whose torque-controlled drive unit combines with sensors to deliver flexible movement, robust contact with unknown environments and safe interaction with humans.
Russian high-tech products
Russian manufacturers’ combined stand featured many interesting products from the aviation supply industry and advanced drone technology from numerous developers. The Autonomous Aerospace System from Siberia specialises in versatile and powerful unmanned air systems, including a hybrid device that can move at high speed through the air but take off and land vertically like a helicopter. SEL from Samara also specialises in drones while Hydromash from Nischni Novgorod is a specialist in highly robust landing gear systems popular with Russian airliners.
The Moscow-based TFT Thin Film Technology Special provides highly responsive sensor technology for automated applications and the CTP (Centre of Technical Projects) presented its latest construction and structural tests equipment, technical publications and interactive training tools for industry. Aviaexport from Moscow specialises in the import and export of aircraft in marketing and international joint ventures alongside the organisation of maintenance contracts.
Day of the giants
The first public day of ILA 2018 was a veritable Day of the Giants when four record-breaking aircraft were assembled at Schönefeld. The first to arrive were the Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 “Brandenburg” and the Airbus Beluga, a super-freighter with an extra-high and extra-wide fuselage and a 1,820 cubic metre cargo-carrying space. A regular visitor to the ILA, the A380 is the largest Emirates Aircraft with 615 passengers, but saw mid-week competition in the form of the largest and heaviest aircraft to take to the skies, the Antonov An-225 heavy lift freighter (88 x 84 metres, 285 tonnes).
Schturmowik in the skies
The Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack (“Schturmowik”) aircraft were an ever-present sight in the Berlin skies during the final days of World War II. Those who built the 36,000 aircraft called it the “Flying Tank”, but German soldiers knew it as the “Flying Death”.
The Il-2 on show on the ground and in the air at ILA was shot down in northern Russia in November 1943 before making an emergency landing on the frozen Krivoe Lake, where it subsequently sank although the pilot and gunner survived. Some 65 per cent of the material is from the original aircraft as one of only two airworthy examples in the world.
Elfin powered glider
Reiner Stemme.aero GmbH (RS.aero) is currently developing the “Elfin” RS10, a fascinating electric hybrid sports aircraft in the 20 m FAI twin-seater category. Powered by an innovative and “green” electric motor from Siemens, it also has a conventional engine option for greater range and charging the electric motor during flight.
Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall’s CH-53K
The new Sikorsky CH-53K heavy lift helicopter is “the most powerful helicopter ever built in the USA”, claimed Sikorsky President Dan Schultz at the ILA Media Briefing. This grey giant is notable for its many improvements, including three external load hooks, fly-by-wire controls, a digital cockpit and the widespread use of carbon fibre compounds.
Together with the Lockheed Martin subsidiary Sikorsky, Rheinmetall is bidding for the “Heavy Lift Transport Helicopter” as a successor to the older CH-53G currently in service with the German armed forces. “We want to keep our German clients happy”, said Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall, who believes his company is well equipped to provide simulation and training services as well as on-site maintenance, so offering Germany’s armed forces a comprehensive solution extending beyond helicopter procurement.
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