Aerospace

Airbus’ C295 Flight Test Bed 2 takes to the skies for the first time.

The Airbus C295 Flight Test Bed 2 (FTB2) has completed its first fly safely.The aircraft will now embark on a flight program to experience the new semi-morphing wing, a new inexpensive flight control system, and a SatCom antenna implanted inside the fuselage. The technologies that will be used in CS2’s future regional multimission aircraft are being evaluated

New materials and technology are used in the improvements to reduce noise, CO2, and NOx emissions. In a typical Search and Rescue mission of 400 nautical miles, using these technologies in a future conditions multimission configuration, up to 43% CO2 and 70% NOx savings, as well as 45 percent less noise during take-off, can be realised.

“After the successful integration of the new aero structures, power-on, and ground tests, the first flight of the C295 FTB2 is a critical milestone that represents an important step ahead in the programme. This programme was once only a pipe dream for a more sustainable aviation future. We’ve finally made it fly,” stated Francisco Javier Sánchez Segura, Executive Vice President Engineering of Airbus Defense and Space.

A redesigned high-efficiency semi-morphing wing, new dynamic winglets, and a flat panel SATCOM antenna built into the top of the fuselage are the aircraft’s principal upgrades. Innovative flight controls for primary control surfaces, including as ailerons, flaps, and flap tabs with improved aerodynamics, can also be adjusted in flight, contributing to a more efficient high lift system.

As an outcome, the C295 FTB2 improves not just the aircraft’s purely quantitative features, but also the design and production process.

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Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.