824 Robinson Hydrogen-Powered Helicopter

Airplane Geeks Podcast

A Robinson hydrogen helicopter, Boeing machinists’ new contract, furloughed Boeing staff and impending layoffs, Jeppesen possibly for sale, incendiary devices at DHL, Boom Supersonic XB-1 test flight, shots fired at Spirit, and air tanker minimum drop height.

Aviation News

Unither Bioelectronics Signs Agreement with Robinson Helicopter Company

Unither Bioelectronics Inc. (UB) and Robinson Helicopter Company have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement to accelerate UB’s development and certification of hydrogen-powered helicopters based on Robinson R44 and R66 models. UB is a subsidiary of United Therapeutics Corporation and CEO Martine Rothblatt said “…we look forward to using protons from green hydrogen to drive the membrane-based fuel cell powerplants in our Robinson R66 organ delivery electric helicopters.”

Robinson R66 (Courtesy Robinson Helicopter Company)

United Therapeutics adds hydrogen to its electric helicopter plans

United Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that says it has been working on a hydrogen-powered R44 prototype for about a year and a half, and its first hover is “hopefully imminent.” In 2016, United Therapeutics began developing a battery-electric-powered Robinson R44 through a partnership with Tier 1 Engineering. A Guinness World Record was set in 2018 for the farthest distance traveled by an electric helicopter—30 nautical miles. UT also has partnerships with eVTOL developers EHang and Beta Technologies.

Boeing strike ends as workers accept new contract

The Machinists Union members accepted the contract with Boeing. Workers will get pay rises over four years. The union had demanded a 40% wage increase and restoration of a defined-benefit pension. The 38% wage increase plus a $12,000 bonus amounted to a 40% increase. The new contract does not restore the pension but promises that the next Boeing airplane will be built in the Seattle area. According to some analysts, the strike cost Boeing around $100 million a day in lost revenue.

Boeing to repay furloughed staff, proceed with job cuts

During the strike, Boeing furloughed some salaried employees, but CEO Kelly Ortberg said they would be repaid for lost wages. At the same time, Ortberg said a 10% cutback of the global workforce would proceed.

A Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) spokesperson said it was informed that 60-day notices of job losses would be issued to its members on Nov. 15, 2024. SPEEA has reached a tentative agreement with Spirit AeroSystems on a new four-year contract that offers at least a 19% pay increase over four years. It includes provisions for greater increases if needed to keep up with labor market conditions, and a guaranteed minimum 5% bonus in the spring of 2025.

Report Says Boeing Eyeing Sale Of Jeppesen

As Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg looks to sell off non-core assets, Bloomberg quotes unnamed sources as saying Jeppesen is a candidate. Jeppesen is the world’s largest provider of aviation charts and air navigation materials. Boeing may be looking to get $6 billion for the company. Boeing paid bought Jeppesen in 2000 for $1.5 billion. Boeing also owns ForeFlight but the Bloomberg report does not mention that company,

Russia Suspected of Plotting to Send Incendiary Devices on U.S. Bound Planes

Electric massagers that held a magnesium-based flammable substance were shipped via DHL from Lithuania and ignited at DHL logistics hubs in Germany and England. Security officials say this was part of a covert Russian operation seeking to start fires on aircraft flying to the U.S. and Canada.

Boom Supersonic’s XB-1 jet sets new speed record during 7th test flight

Boom Supersonic plans ten subsonic test flights of their XB-1 supersonic demonstrator aircraft before supersonic speed testing begins. Boom has now completed the seventh of those ten subsonic test flights reaching an altitude of 23,015 feet (7,015 meters) and a new top speed of 629 mph (1,012 kph), or Mach 0.82. Boom Supersonic officials said the flight “focused on flutter envelope expansion and cockpit pressure testing in order to ensure safe performance and handling qualities as XB-1 approaches supersonic speeds and higher altitudes.”

Video: Boom Supersonic XB-1 Hits New Speed Record in Latest Test Flight

https://youtu.be/DEqMwHfHUwQ?si=9bsVo_HBSkNO64dG

Flight Attendant Injured After Spirit Airlines Flight Hit By Gunfire as it Tries to Land in Haiti

Spirit Airlines flight NK-951, an Airbus A320, departed Fort Lauderdale on November 11 for a two-hour flight to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. However, on final approach to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, it came under gunfire, injuring a flight attendant. Airlines were forced to divert and cancel flights to Port-au-Prince. The Spirit flight diverted to Santiago in the Dominican Republic. Spirit has suspended all flights to Port-au-Prince as it evaluates the situation. American Airlines and JetBlue suspended flights to Haiti.

Mentioned

Air safety watchdog releases final report into WA water bomber crash

Safe Drop Height for Fixed-Wing Airtankers

Hosts this Episode

Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, Max Trescott, Rob Mark, and David Vanderhoof.