Boeing Successfully Flies Fuel Cell-Powered Airplane

Boeing announced today that it has, for the first time in aviation history, flown a manned airplane powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The recent milestone is the work of an engineering team at Boeing Research & Technology Europe (BR&TE) in Madrid, with assistance from industry partners in Austria, France, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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VISTAGY Announces FiberSIM 5.4 for Composites Designs

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X PRIZE Foundation to Announce the $10 Million Progressive Automotive X PRIZE

The X PRIZE Foundation and Progressive jointly announced the company’s Title Sponsorship of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE competition and its funding of the million prize purse. The newly renamed Progressive Automotive X PRIZE is an international competition designed to inspire a new generation of viable, super fuel-efficient vehicles. The independent and technology-neutral competition is open to teams from around the world that can design, build and bring to market 100 MPGe (miles per gallon energy equivalent) vehicles that people want to buy, and that meet market needs for price, size, capability, safety and performance.

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Dassault Systèmes Announces Software Partnership with AutoForm

Dassault Systèmes (DS), a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced that AutoForm Engineering GmbH, a leading global supplier of software solutions, has become a Dassault Systèmes Component Application Architecture (CAA) Software Partner to deliver sheet metal forming solutions integrated with CATIA.

As a DS software community partner, AutoForm will work closely with our R&D teams to enhance the capabilities of their sheet metal forming solutions directly in CATIA, as well as extend their solution through integration within SIMULIA’s realistic simulation product portfolio.

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Siemens Gets Major Teamcenter Order from Volkswagen

Siemens PLM Software, a business unit of the Siemens Industry Automation Division and a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services, has received a major order from Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft for delivery and implementation of its Teamcenter product data management (PDM) software.

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Global research partnerships keep swimwear brand in the fast lane

NASA Langley Research Centre's eminence in fluid and thermodynamics was integral to the development of the LZR PULSE fabric. Fabrics were subjected to rigorous surface friction tests in one of the world's most accurate wind tunnels, similar to those used in the research and development of spacecraft components.

Speedo also enlisted the expertise of ANSYS, Inc. and its leading CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software that can simulate and test air and liquid flows, including the drag and flow of water around a “virtual swimmer's” body.

The technology is used extensively by aerospace, civil, naval industries and other sports such as F1 motor racing and America 's Cup yacht racing. Chris Reid, vice president of marketing at ANSYS explained, “Computer-aided engineering (CAE) software from ANSYS offers an incredibly accurate and cost-effective way of applying engineering principles to help develop and assess potential sports performance involving fluid flows.

Speedo recognises the value this technology can bring by creating leading, innovative products that reinforce its number 1 position and enhance its brand in the market”.

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New Learjet 85 Aircraft Features All-Composite Structure Design

Corporate aviation leader Bombardier Aerospace today announced it has selected Grob Aerospace to develop the all-composite structure of its new Learjet 85 aircraft, the next generation in Learjet excellence. Grob will also build the first three prototype aircraft for the program. In addition, the jet’s official name, Learjet 85, was revealed today.

An extraordinary advancement in next generation flight, the Learjet 85 aircraft’s all-composite structure will allow Learjet designers to maximize cabin comfort while minimizing drag and improving performance. Exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, reduced maintenance and extended service life are key characteristics of all composite airframes and the ultra smooth surfaces of the carbon fiber structures permit superior aerodynamics. Other competitive advantages of composites include reduced structural part count and significantly less vulnerability to corrosion or fatigue damage than metal.

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Virgin Galactic has released the final design of the launch system that will take fare-paying passengers into space

It is based on the X-Prize-winning SpaceShipOne concept - a rocket ship that is lifted initially by a carrier plane before blasting skywards.

The Virgin system is essentially a refinement, but has been increased in size to take eight people at a time on a sub-orbital trip, starting in 2010. Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson said the space business had huge potential. SpaceShipTwo (SS2) is about 60% complete, Virgin Galactic says.

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Gone with the wind on «kite ship»

Ten thousand tonnes of metal heaving through the water, the ship's giant masts glistening in the winter sun. But there is something even more magical about being aboard MS Beluga SkySails.

On the face of it, this vessel - which is carrying parts of a timber production line to Venezuela - looks like any other cargo ship. The kind of vessel that would burn lots of fuel and produce heaps of carbon emissions.

After all, it is no secret that when it comes to greenhouse gases, commercial shipping is normally the villain of the transport world. Of all the CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere today, 4% comes from ships. In fact, shipping produces more emissions than the aviation industry.

MS Beluga SkySails, though, is different. Once the ship has reached the open sea, it reveals its brand new weapon in the fight against global warming - a kite.

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The Winds of Change for F1 Teams

Recent news that has attracted a lot of attention in the motor racing world is that Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, has declared its intention to introduce dramatic measures to reduce costs within the sport. One of the more controversial measures being proposed is the restriction of aerodynamic testing and the new right to be given to the FIA to swoop and inspect factories at their choosing.

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