In Memoriam: A Legacy in Aviation

The Joby hydrogen-electric eVTOL 523-mile flight, severe weather and the Southwest Dutch Roll, the danger of getting too close to an operating jet engine, excessive heat impacts on aviation, exploding soda cans that injure flight attendants, and turbulence and hot tea water burns. Aviation News Joby Aviation completes a 523-mile flight in an eVTOL powered by hydrogen-electric tech Joby Aviation, Inc. announced it has successfully flown a liquid hydrogen-electric eVTOL  demonstrator 523 miles over California. The aircraft was based on a Joby pre-production prototype battery-electric aircraft fitted with a liquid hydrogen fuel tank and fuel cell system. Joby Aviation photo. The liquid hydrogen fuel tank was designed and built by Joby. It stores up to 40 kilograms of liquid hydrogen which feeds the fuel cell system that produces electricity, water, and heat. The electricity powers six electric motors on the Joby aircraft. Batteries provide additional power primarily during take-off and landing. Joby plans to start commercial operations as soon as 2025 with its battery-electric air taxi. Press release: Joby demonstrates potential for emissions-free regional journeys with landmark 523-mile hydrogen-electric flight Video: The Complete Flight Profile of Joby’s eVTOL Aircraft https://youtu.be/cuJEf4v05Z0?si=5Lx3NWssz2LzpZ6I Airbus to freeze hiring as it battles cut-price Chinese rival In the face of competition from COMAC and a stronger Boeing, Airbus wants to cut costs. The company has a 6-year backlog of A320 family aircraft and is struggling to get production to the rate they desire. Aircraft owners who need narrowbody aircraft sooner are likely to look at Boeing and COMAC. So Airbus is seeking to focus its activity on an “improvement program,” although it may be years before the C919 is certified by Western regulators. For years, COMAC, the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, has worked to establish a viable Chinese commercial airframer. They started with the ARJ21 regional jet and then proceeded to develop the C919 narrowbody in the B737/A320 class. Lately, they’ve been working on a C929 widebody jetliner. A Southwest jet that did a ‘Dutch roll’ was parked outside during a severe storm Investigators looking at the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Max that experienced a Dutch roll say the plane had been parked outside during thunderstorms with wind gusts of up to 84 mph. After some routine maintenance, the pilots experienced “odd movements of the rudder pedals.” The NTSB hasn’t determined when the observed tail damage occurred. The speculation is that the tail damage occurred during the storm when the rudder slammed back and forth in the wind. Safety consultant John Cox, a former airline pilot, said “I do not see this as a Max issue. I do not see this right now as a 737 issue. I see this as a one-off.” Airport Ground Worker Killed After Getting Sucked Into Engine of Boeing 737 When They Stepped Into the ‘Danger Zone’ The accident happened in Iran during routine maintenance when the engines were powered for a test run. The worker was trying to retrieve a tool left near the engine. As extreme heat bakes the West, emergency helicopters struggle to fly Medical helicopter flights have been canceled in some areas due to high temperatures. Air temperature and tarmac temperature can be factors. Also, a confined area can require more engine power to land, which is affected by high temperatures. Amid Oppressive Heat, Broiling Airplane Cabins Add to Travelers’ Woes Unusually hot weather is causing cabin air conditioning systems to struggle to keep up. The Department of Transportation is studying whether to set minimum standards for cabin temperatures. Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants Are Being Injured By ‘Exploding’ Coca-Cola Cans as Summer Heats Soar The Southwest Airlines drink restocking process is different than the one used by other airlines.