European Spaceflight
• Andrew Parsonson
Airbus Netherlands has shipped the first lightweight Vulcain Aft Bay for Ariane 6, part of the rocket’s final Block 2 upgrades. The aft bay is a structural component, and its reduced weight supports the upgraded launcher’s performance goals.
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Airbus Netherlands has shipped the first lightweight Vulcain Aft Bay for Ariane 6, part of the rocket’s final Block 2 upgrades. The aft bay is a structural component, and its reduced weight supports the upgraded launcher’s performance goals.
The proposed airworthiness directive would require inspections of a connection to the main rotor servo-controls on affected Airbus AS350 AStar-family helicopters in the United States. The FAA estimates the directive would cover 980 aircraft; the notice concerns a potential safety issue and does not describe a final rule.
Airbus is implementing an automatic power reserve function on the A330neo to provide additional thrust if an engine fails during takeoff. The feature is intended to maximize takeoff thrust in that emergency, adding to the twinjet’s planned enhancements; the articles provide no deployment timeline or performance figures.
The article examines whether Airbus could offer two substantially different engine configurations, including the RISE open-fan concept, and why such a pairing would be difficult. The issue centers on the challenge of accommodating divergent propulsion architectures within one aircraft offering.
Airbus is accelerating development of the H160M, with deliveries targeted for 2028. The available report does not specify the development milestones or delivery schedule details.
Airbus has delivered the third A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport to Spain’s Air and Space Force, completing the three-aircraft acquisition launched in 2021. The aircraft add aerial refueling, strategic transport and medical evacuation capabilities to Spain’s fleet modernization program.
Airbus does not expect A330neo output to reach the peak rates previously achieved by the A330. The company says production capacity has been shifted to the A350 and A320neo programs, making the change in capacity allocation permanent.
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