UAV camera gimbal system

Cloud Cap Technology tells Thirty Thousand Feet they are developing a small, low cost, stabilized pan tilt and zoom camera gimbal system called TASE LT. This smaller version of TASE is being designed specifically for the NAVAIR expendable Sonabuoy Launched UAV (SLUAV) program, but will have wider application, especially in the emerging small electric UAV market.

The proposed Cloud Cap solution will combine the autopilot and gimbal functionality into a single common autopilot/gimbal electro-mechanical package. This is expected to provide a reduction in the overall size, complexity, and cost compared to other solutions.

This program is being funded under a Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) Phase II SBIR program focused on developing payload solutions for the NAVAIR Coyote and Voyeur UAVs.

For more information about this program, contact: Ross Hoag at (541) 387-2120 ext. 23. www.cloudcaptech.com.

For more UAV resources, see the Thirty Thousand Feet Unmanned Aerial Vehicles page.

Wings Over Houston Airshow

The Ron Carter Dealerships Wings Over Houston Airshow will be held Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October 7, 2007. It promises to be quite an event.

Expected to perform are the Canadian Air Force Snowbirds and demonstrations by the F-18F Super Hornet, F-15E Strike Eagle and AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter, USAF Heritage Flight, C-17 and USCG Demos.

Also look for a World War II air power reenactment of Tora!Tora!Tora!, Greg Poe’s MX-2 Ethanol Edge powered by Fagen, David Martin & Brietling, Tim Weber and the GEICO air show team, Houston’s own John McGillis, the NeXplore Shockwave Jet Truck and the RE-MAX sky diving Team.

Static displays include the F-117A Stealth Fighter, B-52, “Hurricane Hunter” KC-135, WWII trainers, fighters and bombers, and a wide array of modern military aircraft.

Kids will enjoy the children’s carnival area with rock walls, power jumper, water wars, and three BMX bike stunt demonstrations per day.

This event will be held at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. See www.wingsoverhouston.com for more information.

Green Aviation Webinar

The Green Challenge in Aviation: How “Clean” Technology Will Affect You is a webinar from Aviation Today scheduled for Tuesday, July 31, 2007, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET.

A concerted effort is now underway to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint and to make the industry a better world citizen. New technologies are either under development or already implemented. Stepping up to the plate to meet the green challenge are the major OEMs, including Boeing and Airbus, as well as the major engine makers, including Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, GE, and Turbomeca. This webinar will examine all manifestations of clean technology in aviation.

There is a fee for this, and time is short (literally, and maybe figuratively, depending on your beliefs) so act quickly if you want to participate.

Boeing X-48B takes flight

Well, a prototype anyway. This 500 pound, 21 foot wingspan blended-wing-body research aircraft flew to 7,500 feet at Edwards Air Force Base.

The theory behind the shape is that it's more aerodynamically efficient and when used as an airliner, it could carry larger numbers of passengers.

The downside is, not too many window seats!

Seattle Times, Boeing's futuristic plane passes its first flight test

A green airplane

Boeing's Challenge magazine focuses on engineering, operations, and technology, and is published twice a year for all Boeing employees. In Into the wild green yonder, Boeing describes it's zero-emission Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane. That's right, fuel cells that produce just water and heat as byproducts.

The modified Dimona motor glider, built by Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria, should have a cruise speed of 100 km/hr. It's electric motor is powered by both lithium-ion batteries and a Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell.

The batteries help power the 45 kilowatt electric motor for takeoff and climb, but the fuel cell alone provide power for cruise. First flight is planned for some time later in 2007.

Boeing engineers believe this technology could have application in airliners as auxiliary power units (APU's) in 10 to 15 years.

See also the Boeing press release, Boeing Prepares Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane for Ground and Flight Testing and the Boeing image.

Free moving map at Oshkosh

Approach Systems Corporation, developer of the APIC (APproach Integrated Cockpit) glass cockpit software, has announced the availability, of APIC MAP. This version of the system includes just GPS-based moving map and map related features. It includes the moving map functionality typically found in other aviation GPS moving map systems. The difference with APIC MAP is that it’s free and all 28 day updates are free as well.

Approach will be demonstrating and giving away free APIC MAP at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007, July 23-29, 2007. Find them in Hanger A, Booth 1078, 1079.

APIC MAP works with Microsoft Windows XP™, VISTA™ Tablet PC versions and Pocket 2003, Mobile 5.0 PDA versions. Approach Systems will send you a link every 28 days informing you when the latest updates are available.

787 Dreamliner roll-out

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner roll-out is scheduled for Sunday, July 8, 2007. Boeing tells us:

The 787 Dreamliner premieres before the public live on the web and across 42 satellite TV networks around the globe July 8, 2007 at 3:30pm PDT (-7 GMT)

You can find a channel listing at:

http://www.boeing.com/commercial/787family/787premiere.html

See http://www.newairplane.com/ for more information and the webcast. The premiere page is http://787premiere.newairplane.com/.