New York Times
• Reis Thebault
A firefighting helicopter crashed near the Widemouth 2 wildfire in Utah, killing two people aboard. The aircraft was responding to a blaze that has burned more than 100,000 acres since it started last month, underscoring the operational risks facing aerial firefighting crews.
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A heavy-lift helicopter crashed while supporting firefighting operations near Richfield, Utah, but dangerous wildfire conditions prevented emergency responders from safely reaching the remote site. The incident came as rapidly spreading flames in Oregon killed a bulldozer operator, underscoring the hazards facing wildfire crews on multiple fronts.
A firefighting helicopter crashed near the Widemouth 2 wildfire in Utah, killing two people aboard. The aircraft was responding to a blaze that has burned more than 100,000 acres since it started last month, underscoring the operational risks facing aerial firefighting crews.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory has completed initial tests of a lightweight radar antenna for the planned SkyFall mission, which would deploy three small helicopters on Mars. The ground-penetrating system is designed to search for subsurface frozen water while enabling airborne exploration of the Red Planet.
Belgium has blocked the proposed acquisition of NHV Group by China-linked GD Helicopter Finance. The helicopter operator supports offshore energy and defense operations, making the decision a notable intervention in foreign investment involving strategically relevant aviation assets.
Hill Helicopters says its GT50 engine, described as the first new light helicopter turbine engine in 40 years, has successfully completed its initial run. The milestone marks the transition from development into early testing for the company’s in-house propulsion program.
Bell has been awarded a contract to provide Structural and Power Improvements for NextGen Effects (SPINE) upgrades to 49 H-1 aircraft at its Amarillo Assembly Center. The work will modernize the fleet’s structural and power systems for future operational requirements.
Recent demonstrations by Northrop Grumman, Boeing, the U.S. Navy and Royal Navy show accelerating investment in networked maritime autonomy: MQ-4C Triton and P-8A aircraft exchanged mission data, while British forces linked a Wildcat helicopter, drones and ground units across more than 200 miles.
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Marine One came within less than a mile of an Envoy Air passenger flight departing Reagan Washington National Airport after air traffic control failed to halt commercial traffic. The FAA cited “broken and unreadable” communications with the helicopter; the incident follows January’s crash that killed 67 people.
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