Ben Sampson

London

Editor at Aerospace Testing International

Editor at Air Traffic Technology International Magazine

Editor at Business Airport International

Editor at Mark Allen Group. Writing about engineering and technology, mostly aerospace. The views from here are mine. Based in London / St Albans / Dartford

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Articles

US military flies Talon-A reusable hypersonic test vehicle

1 week ago | aerospacetestinginternational.com | Ben Sampson

The Talon-A reusable hypersonic air vehicle has successfully flown twice in less than three months, a key milestone in the USA’s bid to accelerate the development of hypersonic missiles. Talon-A, which has been built by California-based Stratolaunch, was first flown in December 2024 and then again in March, the US Department of Defense said in a statement issued last week.
Stations in the sky: How engineers are testing HAPS for the stratosphere

1 week ago | aerospacetestinginternational.com | Ben Sampson

Developing a new type of aircraft is always fraught with challenges. But when that aircraft is intended to fly in the stratosphere for months at a time, it’s a whole different set of problems. For companies working to bring high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) into service, there is no well-trod pathway.
Piasecki acquires US military Kargo drone program

2 weeks ago | aerospacetestinginternational.com | Ben Sampson

Rotorcraft manufacturer Piasecki is taking over development of Kargo, an autonomous cargo drone being developed for the US military. Piasecki is acquiring all intellectual property and assets associated with the Kargo drone program. All R&D and operational activities are to be relocated to Piasecki’s Heliplex facility in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Kargo is a medium-lift, autonomous drone that has completed fully autonomous flight testing for the US Army and Marines.
SiriNor tests electric jet engine in India

2 weeks ago | aerospacetestinginternational.com | Ben Sampson

SiriNor has successfully tested what it claims is the world’s first all-electric jet engine at its facility in Pune, India. The test on April 22 validated the engine at Technology Readiness Level 6 under NASA’s framework. The Norwegian aerospace company with an Indian subsidiary reported that its engine prototype exceeded the design intent of 40,000 RPM and 10 kgf thrust as measured by a load cell during the ground test. The company sees this as a critical step toward full commercialization.
IFS launches development service for bespoke industrial AI applications

3 weeks ago | aerospacetestinginternational.com | Ben Sampson

Industrial AI and enterprise software provider IFS has launched the Nexus Black service to quickly develop bespoke AI applications for industrial companies. The service works by deploying a team of data engineers and scientists from IFS to work with a customer to develop an AI application using the latest technologies.
A quick guide to nondestructive testing in aerospace

3 weeks ago | aerospacetestinginternational.com | Ben Sampson

In recent years, nondestructive testing technology has grown more important in the aerospace sector. An increasing number of companies view it as a key element of testing in development, manufacturing, maintenance and inspection processes. So, what are the different types of traditional and advanced methods and nondestructuve testing (NDT) processes?
Venus Aerospace tests new NASA nozzles on hypersonic engine

4 weeks ago | aerospacetestinginternational.com | Ben Sampson

Venus Aerospace has completed testing NASA-supported nozzle designs for its compact rocket engine and is preparing for a flight demonstration this summer. The Houston, USA-based Venus Aerospace has worked with NASA engineers to test the new nozzle designs for its Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) engine. The top-performing design exceeded expectations and will be integrated into the company’s ground-based launch test in the coming months.
First in-flight measurements of hydrogen aircraft contrails completed

1 month ago | aerospacetestinginternational.com | Ben Sampson

Researchers have conducted the world’s first measurements of contrails from a hydrogen-powered turbojet engine during flight, providing new insights into their potential climate impact. The project between Airbus, the Perlan team and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has completed the first-ever in-flight measurements of contrails formed by hydrogen combustion. The three-week flight test campaign took place in December 2024 in Minden, Nevada.
EASA introduces measures to reduce general aviation mid-air collisions

1 month ago | businessairportinternational.com | Ben Sampson

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has launched two initiatives aimed at preventing mid-air collisions in general aviation through improved aircraft visibility technology. Both programs address the safety challenge for general aviation (GA) operators who traditionally rely on visual separation in busy European airspace. The initiatives focus on making electronic conspicuity devices more accessible and standardized for smaller aircraft.
Aura Aero expands European distribution network

1 month ago | businessairportinternational.com | Ben Sampson

Aura Aero has signed agreements with three new European distributors for its Integral trainer and ERA hybrid-electric aircraft range. The French aircraft manufacturer announced the expansion of its dealer network at AERO Friedrichshafen event in Hamburg, Germany this week. Aura Aero said that the new partnerships with established aviation market players will strengthen its position in multiple European regions.