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• Oliver Johnson
Airbus Helicopters has begun installing Eco Mode on its Racer compound helicopter demonstrator. The system is designed to let one of the aircraft’s two engines run at idle during cruise flight, a capability the company is evaluating on the technology demonstrator.
Airbus
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Airbus Helicopters has begun installing Eco Mode on its Racer compound helicopter demonstrator. The system is designed to let one of the aircraft’s two engines run at idle during cruise flight, a capability the company is evaluating on the technology demonstrator.
Airbus is applying quantum computing research to computationally demanding aerospace problems, including aerodynamic simulations and cargo-loading optimization. The work points to potential uses in both aircraft development and day-to-day operations, though the article provides no timeline or performance results.
Spain plans to retire its two ageing VIP-configured A310-300s and acquire two A330-800(MRTT+) aircraft configured for military operations as well as transport of state officials, Spanish military sources told ABC. The move would replace the government transport fleet with aircraft intended to serve both state and military missions.
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The UK Commercial Court has ordered a worldwide freeze on VietJet’s assets in a dispute over unpaid lease fees and judgments tied to four Airbus A321s. The order follows a long-running case brought by aircraft lessor FW Aviation Holdings; separate reporting puts the broader debt claim at about $360 million and links the dispute to VietJet’s reported plans for an Australian subsidiary.
Airbus commercial aircraft chief Lars Wagner says the company’s initial hydrogen fuel-cell airframe is likely to have around 80 seats and use propellers. He described the zero-emission design as “becoming a reality,” offering a clearer indication of the aircraft concept Airbus is pursuing.
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Lufthansa has operated its final A340-600 flight, while Lufthansa and SWISS are retiring their A340 fleets after 23 years of service. Separately, Lufthansa plans to retire its last eight 747-400s; Edelweiss expects to keep one A340-300 in service until January 2027.
SAS commercial chief Paul Verhagen says the carrier expects new widebodies to create a step change in its global long-haul network, adding both reach and depth. The plan follows an earlier deal for up to 40 Airbus aircraft to bolster the Scandinavian airline’s widebody fleet.
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