Aviation

DARPA demonstrates robotic landing gear for helicopters

Helicopters while being versatile are quite bound when it comes to lending and holding off. They require a level surface for executing both and such ideal scenarios can hardly be found in rescue and combat missions. The current array of helicopters relies on a simple skid or wheel landing gear that requires the machine to remain level in order to avoid tilting the rotors. DARPA has demonstrated a new robotic landing gear system in an unmanned flight near Atlanta, Georgia. The landing gear system allows helicopters to set down on broken or uneven terrain while sporting a high degree of safety. DARPA demonstrates robotic landing gear for helicopters

The automatic landing gear is being developed by the Georgia Institute of Technology under funding from DARPA’s Mission Adaptive Rotor (MAR) program. The late flight was demonstrated at the DARPA’s ‘Wait, What? A Future Technology Forum’ held in St. Louis. DARPA demonstrates robotic landing gear for helicopters 2 DARPA demonstrates robotic landing gear for helicopters 3

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Aviation

Aeroflot Buys Used Planes for Spare Parts Amid Sanctions

In the face of ongoing Western sanctions that have severely impacted Russia’s aviation industry, Aeroflot, the country’s largest airline, has devised a strategic plan to bolster its fleet’s spare parts inventory.

The airline is set to acquire five Boeing 737-800BCF freighters from Atran Airlines, a move that will allow it to dismantle the aircraft for critical components. The planes, which will be transferred to Aeroflot’s low-cost subsidiary Pobeda, will not be converted into passenger jets but instead will be stripped for valuable parts to support existing operations.

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Aeroflot’s plan to purchase these Boeing 737-800BCF freighters comes as part of a broader strategy to mitigate the effects of Western sanctions, which have crippled the Russian aviation sector. With the sanctions restricting access to essential aircraft parts and spare components, Aeroflot is exploring alternative ways to maintain and repair its fleet.

Instead of converting the freighters from cargo to passenger planes, a process deemed “unreasonably expensive” under current sanctions, the airline intends to focus on extracting high-value components such as engines, landing gear, avionics, and other essential systems.

The deal will be structured in a way that allows Aeroflot to indirectly purchase the freighters through an insurance settlement with the aircraft’s lessor, AerCap.

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The Russian government’s insurance company will reimburse the aircraft’s value, and the planes will then be leased back to local operators. This method circumvents some of the restrictions imposed by international sanctions while ensuring that the airline gains access to the necessary components to support its fleet.

By dismantling the aircraft for spare parts, Aeroflot aims to secure critical resources for the ongoing maintenance of its existing fleet. Components from the Boeing 737-800BCF freighters, such as engines and avionics, are expected to be reused in other aircraft within Aeroflot’s network, ensuring that the airline can keep its operations running smoothly