Kimberly Johnson Archives - FLYING Magazine https://cms.flyingmag.com/author/kimberly-johnson/ The world's most widely read aviation magazine Tue, 15 Oct 2024 14:03:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 First Space Force Guardian Heading to ISS Orbital Outpost https://www.flyingmag.com/first-space-force-guardian-heading-to-iss-orbital-outpost/ Thu, 01 Feb 2024 22:09:43 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=194378 NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission is set to launch no earlier than August.

The post First Space Force Guardian Heading to ISS Orbital Outpost appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
The U.S. Space Force will soon have its first astronaut among its ranks.

Later this year, Space Force Colonel Nick Hague will pilot a NASA mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission aboard the Dragon spacecraft, the service announced. The mission will be the ninth rotation admission at the space station under NASA’s commercial crew program.

“The core of our mission on the space station is to perform science experiments and collect data,” Hague said. “The [ISS] provides a unique platform in microgravity, which allows researchers from around the world to explore and discover processes that could have significant impact on the behavior of our bodies and the environment around us, both on Earth and off planet.”

The launch, scheduled for no earlier than August, is a history-making first for a Space Force Guardian but marks Hague’s second mission to ISS. In March 2019, Hague, who was then in the Air Force, began a 203-day mission at the space outpost, where he spent nearly 20 hours conducting spacewalks.

Joining Hague on the Crew-9 mission will be Commander Zena Cardman, Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov. Once the crew arrives at the station, Hague will transition to a flight engineer role. The Crew-9 mission will then conduct a handover with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission, which is set to launch to the ISS no earlier than February 22. 

Official NASA SpaceX Crew-9 portrait of Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson, Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov, U.S. Space Force Colonel Nick Hague and Commander Zena Cardman. [Courtesy: NASA]

“Being a part of this mission is a unique honor, but it’s truly a collective effort,” Hague said. “Guardians worldwide ensure safe and secure operations of critical systems for launch and on station. From GPS satellites that underpin our station navigation systems, to space domain awareness sites around the globe that help NASA prevent orbital debris from colliding with the space station, to the launch range that my crew will use when we lift off, Guardians provide critical support without which our NASA human spaceflight program wouldn’t be possible.”

The post First Space Force Guardian Heading to ISS Orbital Outpost appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
U.S. Air Force Releases New Video of B-21 Raider https://www.flyingmag.com/military/u-s-air-force-releases-video-of-b-21-raider-taking-off-landing/ Wed, 18 Sep 2024 21:11:01 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=217944&preview=1 The service has also announced two additional Air Force base locations for the stealth bomber.

The post U.S. Air Force Releases New Video of B-21 Raider appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
The U.S. Air Force released footage of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber undergoing flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Wednesday’s video (below) marks the service’s first reveal of the aircraft’s flight operations.

“A B-21 Raider conducts flight testing, which includes ground testing, taxiing, and flying operations in California,” the Air Force said in a statement accompanying the video. “Flight testing is a critical step in the test campaign managed by the Air Force Test Center and 412th Test Wing’s B-21 Combined Test Force (CTF) to provide survivable, long-range, penetrating strike capabilities to deter aggression and strategic attacks against the United States, allies, and partners.

“The B-21 will be the backbone of the service’s future bomber force, and will possess the range, access, and payload to penetrate the most highly contested threat environments and hold any target around the globe at risk,” the service said.

The stealth strike bomber was unveiled in December 2022 and officially moved into low-rate production earlier this year. In January, Northrop Grumman said six B-21 bombers are in various stages of final assembly and testing at its facility in Palmdale, California.

The Air Force has said it intends to purchase at least 100 of the aircraft. Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota, has been designated as the first main operating facility for the B-21 and its formal training unit. The bomber is expected to arrive at Ellsworth by the mid-2020s.

Friday, the Air Force announced that the service’s newest bomber would also be based at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and Dyess AFB, Texas.

“We continue to achieve B-21 production milestones,” General Thomas Bussiere, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, said in a statement. “Through digital engineering and open architecture design, we are getting an agile strategic deterrent that delivers a decisive response as required.” 

The post U.S. Air Force Releases New Video of B-21 Raider appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Reports: Bayraktar Combat Drone Played Role In Sinking Russian Warship https://www.flyingmag.com/reports-bayraktar-combat-drone-played-role-in-sinking-russian-warship/ https://www.flyingmag.com/reports-bayraktar-combat-drone-played-role-in-sinking-russian-warship/#comments Tue, 19 Apr 2022 21:29:34 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=130845 Russia is offering a 50,000 ruble reward for each destroyed Bayraktar TB2 combat drone, according to social media reports.

The post Reports: Bayraktar Combat Drone Played Role In Sinking Russian Warship appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
A 1,500-pound combat drone was an integral part of an operation that allowed Ukrainian forces to sink the Soviet-era missile destroyer Moskva, Russia’s Black Sea flagship, last week, according to reports.

At least one Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone operated by Ukrainian forces was involved in the operation when it was used to distract the Russian war ship’s air defenses, Forbes reported.

If true, the news is the latest development celebrating the combat drone to emerge since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The TB2 has become not only a force multiplier overhead, but also a symbol of Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion, and a source of national pride.

The ship, along with its crew of about 500, was a symbolic military target because of its role leading the naval assault on Ukraine, including soldiers stationed on Snake Island, the BBC reported.

Ukrainian officials quickly took credit for the sinking, claiming the ship was taken out by two Neptune anti-cruise missiles—a claim quickly dismissed by Russia.

“It has been confirmed that the missile cruiser ‘Moscow’ today went exactly where it was sent by our border guards on Snake Island!” Odessa Regional State Administrator Maxim Marchenko said April 13. “Neptune missiles guarding the Black Sea caused very serious damage to the Russian ship.”

Russian state news agency TASS said the ship went down during a storm while it was being towed after it had suffered damage when ammunition onboard detonated during a fire.

On Friday, a U.S. defense official confirmed the Ukrainian account, saying that the ship had been struck by the Neptune missiles, CBS News said.

Ukraine’s Navy purchased six of the TB2 drones last year as a surveillance force multiplier in the Black Sea in order to relay enemy location to ground-based assets, according to defense blog Oryx. 

Reports that Ukraine effectively used a TB2 to distract the Moskva crew have also emerged unofficially from Russia, however, are likely not true, the defense blog said.

“Though it makes for a compelling tale, this narrative is almost certain to be false,” Oryx said. “Not only are the radars and their operators onboard a warship like the Moskva more than capable of detecting and tracking more than just a single target, and would in fact do so virtually automatically so long as they were operating, but if they were in fact tracking a drone then situational awareness should have been at at a higher level than if the attack had occurred out of the blue.”

The TB2 drones have played a critical role in Ukraine’s fight against the invasion of Russian ground forces. The drones are capable of carrying up to four laser-guided munitions that have a reputation for being effective against ground-based targets, such as Russian tanks and mobile air defense systems. The drones have a flight range of up to around 186 sm, and can fly up to 27 hours and at a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet. Taking off, landing, and flight control are all fully automated. 

It’s the kind of threat that has prompted a Russian bounty, according to a photo circulating on social media. For every TB2 drone destroyed, Russia is said to offer a 50,000 ruble reward— worth about $626.

The post Reports: Bayraktar Combat Drone Played Role In Sinking Russian Warship appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
https://www.flyingmag.com/reports-bayraktar-combat-drone-played-role-in-sinking-russian-warship/feed/ 1
Heart Aerospace Unveils Full-Scale Demonstrator https://www.flyingmag.com/sustainability/heart-aerospace-unveils-full-scale-demonstrator/ Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:20:09 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=217624&preview=1 The 30-seat test aircraft marks a 'major milestone' in the ES-30 development, the Swedish hybrid-electric aircraft manufacturer said.

The post Heart Aerospace Unveils Full-Scale Demonstrator appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Swedish hybrid-electric aircraft manufacturer Heart Aerospace unveiled Wednesday a 30-seat demonstrator dubbed Heart Experimental 1, or Heart X1.

The aircraft—the company’s first full-scale demonstrator of its ES-30 aircraft under development—will serve as a testing platform and marks a “major milestone” for development of the regional airplane set to make its fully electric first flight in the second quarter of next year, the company said.

Heart X1 will initially be deployed for ground-based testing, including taxiing, turnaround procedures, and charging operations, the company said. 

The aircraft, which boasts a 32-meter (105-feet) wingspan, will produce less emissions and noise pollution and be cheaper to operate in comparison to conventionally fueled regional aircraft, according to the company.

“Our industry is approaching a 30-year innovation cycle, and we have less than 25 years to decarbonize aviation,” Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, said in a statement. “It is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of our team that we’re able to roll out a 30-seat aircraft demonstrator with a brand-new propulsion system, largely in-house, in less than two years. “

Earlier this year, Heart Aerospace announced it had raised $107 million in a series B round, which was earmarked for ES-30 type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency. It also received a $4.1 million grant from the FAA’s Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) program in August for development of the aircraft’s hybrid-election propulsion management system.

The post Heart Aerospace Unveils Full-Scale Demonstrator appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Egypt Air Force Adding C-130J-30 Super Hercules to Fleet https://www.flyingmag.com/military/egypt-air-force-adding-c-130j-30-super-hercules-to-fleet/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 19:12:26 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=217215&preview=1 The purchase will make Egypt the 23rd country to operate the tactical airlifter.

The post Egypt Air Force Adding C-130J-30 Super Hercules to Fleet appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
The Egyptian Air Force is adding two C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlifters to its fleet, Lockheed Martin announced Thursday.

The Egyptian Armed Forces announced the purchase of the stretch variant of the C-130J that boasts an additional 15 feet of cargo space at the Egypt International Airshow. The purchase makes Egypt the 23rd country to operate the tactical airlifter.

The acquisitions will add to the country’s C-130H fleet, which is among the largest in the world, according to the aircraft manufacturer. 

“Egypt is a distinguished C-130 operator, flying its Hercules fleet to support some of the most challenging mission requirements,” Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s air mobility and maritime missions line of business, said in a statement. “With these new C-130J-30s, the Egyptian Air Force’s tactical airlift presence will deliver unmatched capabilities and aligned force amplification to serve Egypt, North Africa and the world.”

More than 545 C-130J Super Hercules airlifters have been delivered to operators around the world, Lockheed Martin said.

The post Egypt Air Force Adding C-130J-30 Super Hercules to Fleet appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Regent Seaglider Prototype Cleared for Testing https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/regent-seaglider-prototype-cleared-for-testing/ Thu, 29 Aug 2024 20:26:01 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=214347&preview=1 The U.S. Coast Guard's approval of the navigational safety risk assessment allows the company to test its full-scale seaglider in Rhode Island.

The post Regent Seaglider Prototype Cleared for Testing appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Regent Craft, the developer of electric-powered, wing-in-ground effect craft called seagliders, has received a green light from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to test its prototype, the company said Thursday.

Regent’s Viceroy seaglider seats up to 12, is capable of flying routes as long as 180 sm (156 nm) on a single charge, and is designed to combine the speed of an aircraft (cruising at 180 mph or 156 knots) with the functionality of a boat. It flies 20 to 30 feet above the water using ground effect, propelled both in the air and on the water by on-wing propellers.

While the craft is defined as a maritime vessel, it is regulated by USCG with FAA technical support, according to the company.

Approval of the navigational safety risk assessment will allow Regent to test its full-scale seaglider in Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound, the Rhode Island-based company said.

The move also clears the way for another significant step in the seaglider’s development, according to a company official.

“U.S. Coast Guard approval of Regent’s navigational safety risk assessment marks a significant step in bringing us closer to seaglider prototype testing with humans on board,” said Ted Lester, the company’s vice president of certification.    

Regent said it expects testing of the full-scale seaglider prototype with humans on board will begin by the end of the year.  

The post Regent Seaglider Prototype Cleared for Testing appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Greece Signs Deal to Buy 20 F-35 Lightning IIs https://www.flyingmag.com/military/greece-signs-deal-to-buy-20-f-35-lightning-iis/ Thu, 25 Jul 2024 16:03:12 +0000 https://www.flyingmag.com/?p=212157&preview=1 The deal with Lockheed Martin also includes an option to purchase an additional 20 fighter jets for the Hellenic Air Force.

The post Greece Signs Deal to Buy 20 F-35 Lightning IIs appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Greece has signed an agreement to purchase 20 F-35 Lightning II jets with an option to double the order, Lockheed Martin announced.

Government officials signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) through a U.S. government foreign military sale Thursday, making the country the 19th to purchase the aircraft, the company said.

“We are excited to welcome Greece into the F-35 enterprise,” U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Mike Schmidt, director and program executive officer of the F-35 Joint Program Office, said in a statement. “The F-35 will provide exceptional capability to the Hellenic Air Force, build interoperability between our allies, and strengthen the combat effectiveness for all of NATO.”

The Hellenic Air Force also operates F-16s and C-130s, as well as S-70 B and MH-60R helicopters, according to Lockheed Martin. Earlier this year, Greece also signed an LOA worth nearly $2 billion for the purchase of 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.

The post Greece Signs Deal to Buy 20 F-35 Lightning IIs appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Donation to Expand Bob Hoover Academy Fleet https://www.flyingmag.com/aviation-education/donation-to-expand-bob-hoover-academy-fleet/ Tue, 23 Jul 2024 20:45:31 +0000 /?p=212028 The California-based aviation program for at-risk youth will receive three EX-2 CarbonCubs over the next three years.

The post Donation to Expand Bob Hoover Academy Fleet appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
The Bob Hoover Academy will receive three CubCrafters EX-2 CarbonCub kit airplanes over the next three years for its students to build, thanks to a donation by The Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation, the organization announced at EAA AirVenture on Tuesday in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The Salinas, California-based aviation nonprofit focuses on inspiring at-risk youth to  engage in STEM education. The program has a Cessna 152 and Redbird Flight Simulations FMX AATD, which allow students to pursue a private pilot certificate. 

The program also offers students an opportunity at completing ground school utilizing the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) high school curriculum.

The foundation’s $1.5 million donation, which was funded by Tom Siebel, Craig McCaw, and David Leushchen, also includes operational support for the aircraft and guaranteed job interviews for program graduates with industry partners Cirrus, CubCrafters, and Game Composites.

“This donation is about providing hope and tangible opportunities for a better future,” Siebel said in a statement. “Salinas is a city where many young people face daunting challenges daily. We are honored to support the Bob Hoover Academy led by impassioned aviator Sean D. Tucker. They are changing lives through the magic of aviation combined with a solid education.” 

The post Donation to Expand Bob Hoover Academy Fleet appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
Embraer Signs A-29 Super Tucano Deal With Paraguay https://www.flyingmag.com/military/embraer-signs-a-29-super-tucano-deal-with-paraguay/ Tue, 23 Jul 2024 18:21:14 +0000 /?p=211993 Under the agreement, the Paraguayan Air Force will take delivery of the first of the six light combat aircraft beginning next year.

The post Embraer Signs A-29 Super Tucano Deal With Paraguay appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
The Paraguayan Air Force (PAF) has entered into an agreement to purchase six Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light combat aircraft, the manufacturer said Tuesday. 

Under the terms of the purchase agreement, which was announced Tuesday during the Farnborough International Airshow in the U.K., deliveries will begin next year.

Originally designed for the Brazilian Air Force in 1999, the A-29 offers armed reconnaissance, close air support, light attack, and advanced training mission capabilities. It is currently operated by 16 air forces, according to the company.

The PAF intends to deploy the aircraft as part of its mission “safeguarding territorial integrity,” according to the service’s top official.

“To face emerging threats, we are in the process of modernizing our aerial and detection capabilities, and we intend to be up to the technological standards that allow us to correctly apply the measures established in the Law on Surveillance and Protection of Paraguayan Airspace in a to effectively contribute to the preservation of regional and international peace and security,” Air General Júlio Rubén Fullaondo Céspedes, commander of the Paraguayan Air Force, said in a statement. 

The post Embraer Signs A-29 Super Tucano Deal With Paraguay appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
B-21 Flight Testing, Production ‘Continues to Make Progress,’ Air Force Says https://www.flyingmag.com/military/b-21-flight-testing-production-continues-to-make-progress-air-force-says/ Thu, 23 May 2024 19:55:59 +0000 /?p=208232 Test pilots report the jet is performing as expected with the aircraft flying like the simulator, Northrop Grumman said.

The post B-21 Flight Testing, Production ‘Continues to Make Progress,’ Air Force Says appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>
The B-21 Raider “continues to make progress” in flight testing and production, the U.S. Air Force said Wednesday. 

The stealth strike bomber was unveiled in December 2022 and officially moved into low-rate production earlier this year. In January, Northrop Grumman said six B-21 bombers are in various stages of final assembly and testing at its facility in Palmdale, California.

On Wednesday, the Air Force released a new image of the aircraft it calls the “backbone of the  U.S. Air Force bomber fleet.”

Northrop Grumman on Thursday released an additional image of the bomber in flight, saying the test campaign at Edwards AFB was led by a Combined Test Force (CTF) composed of personnel representing the Air Force and the manufacturer.

The B-21 Raider continues its flight test campaign at Edwards Air Force Base, California. [Courtesy: Northrop Grumman]

“CTF test pilots indicate the jet is performing as expected with the aircraft flying like the simulator, reflecting the precision of the digital environment on B-21,” Northrop Grumman said in a statement.

Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, addressed the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month on the B-21’s progress.

“We are in the flight test program, [and] the flight test program is proceeding well,” said Hunter. “It is doing what flight test programs are designed to do, which is helping us learn about the unique characteristics of this platform, but in a very effective way.” 

In this January 17, 2024, photo, a B-21 Raider conducts flight tests, which includes ground testing, taxiing, and flying operations, at Edwards Air Force Base, California, where it continues to make progress toward becoming the backbone of the U.S. Air Force bomber fleet. The B-21 will possess the range, access, and payload to penetrate the most highly-contested threat environments and hold any target around the globe at risk. The B-21 program is on track to deliver aircraft in the mid-2020s to Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, which will be the first B-21 main operating base and location for the B-21 formal training unit. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Designed to carry out long-range conventional and nuclear missions, the B-21 is set to eventually replace aging B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets. The B-21 is scheduled to hit full operational status in the mid-2020s.

The Air Force has said it intends to purchase at least 100 of the aircraft. Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, has been designated as the first main operating facility for the B-21 and its formal training unit. 

The post B-21 Flight Testing, Production ‘Continues to Make Progress,’ Air Force Says appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

]]>