General Dynamics’ Gulfstream G700 has completed its first flight, demonstrating the program's maturity and officially launching its flight-test program. The G700 departed Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport at 1:19 p.m. EST, Feb. 14, 2020, and landed two hours and 32 minutes later. The aircraft made the flight on a blend of sustainable aviation fuel.

"The G700's first flight is a momentous occasion and the next step forward in Gulfstream's vision for the future, a vision that has been guided by the strategic leadership of our parent company, General Dynamics, and the innovation of the Gulfstream team," said Gulfstream president Mark Burns.

The G700 was introduced as the new industry flagship in October 2019. The program includes five already manufactured flight-test aircraft and a structural test article that has completed load testing.

The G700 features 20 Gulfstream panoramic oval windows and up to five living areas. The aircraft introduces an ultra-galley with more than 10ft of counter space and a crew compartment or passenger lounge; an ultra-high-definition circadian lighting system; speakerless surround sound; and a master suite with shower.

The G700 is powered by Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines and refined with Gulfstream-designed aerodynamics and an all-new winglet. The aircraft can fly at its high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90 for 6,400nm (11,853km) or at its long-range cruise of Mach 0.85 for 7,500nm (13,890km).

The G700 also includes the Gulfstream Symmetry Flight Deck with electronically linked active control sidesticks, extensive use of touchscreen technology, and Gulfstream's Predictive Landing Performance System. 

Hannover, Germany – With increasing volumes of data, innovative technologies, and a growing awareness of climate protection, the industry is met with increasing opportunities for change. At this year’s HANNOVER MESSE exhibition, taking place April 20-24, the keynote theme will focus on Industrial Transformation. In order for the global industry to grow, it must adapt to change. There will be nearly 6,000 exhibitors from 70 different countries showcasing how that transformation can be positive and how change can lead to more innovation and growth.  

There are four megatrends that are changing the world: digitization, individualization, climate protection, and demographic change. Due to this, industry faces a major design task. The current economic and political climates pose additional challenges that make it difficult to maintain reliable partnerships.

HANNOVER MESSE shows global industry the way forward.

“The way we live, produce things and work is undergoing extremely rapid change,” says Dr. Jochen Kockler, CEO of Deutche Messe. “The Manufacturing industry is in the driver’s seat. The challenge is to take the wheel and shape the change.

The major trends and topics taking the stage during the show will include:

• 5G and smart logistics
• Future hub
• Automation, motion, and drives
• Digital ecosystems
• Energy solutions
• Logistics
• Engineered parts & solutions

There will also be more than 80 conferences and forums, helping to answer the question of how to develop the future.

Indonesia’s roadmap to Industry 4.0

Indonesia is the official partner country of HANNOVER MESSE 2020. With a growing digital economy, Indonesian industries are taking a big leap toward the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0. This transformation is spreading to several sectors in the country with the support of digitization, several start-up companies, programmers, and software developers.

Under the tagline “Connect to Accelerate, more than 170 Indonesian exhibitors will demonstrate their industrial capabilities in the Indonesian Pavilion, located in Hall 21.

Young companies shake up the industrial sector

The rise of digitization is empowering small companies to become big players in the industry, introducing disruptive technologies and new ideas. These companies are helping to shape the industry’s transformation through artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software, virtual reality applications, sensor technologies, smart materials, and energy solutions.

For more show information and to find out how to register, visit the website. 

Collins Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp., is entering the final stages of a nine-year project with NASA to enable unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to operate safely in the National Airspace System (NAS). The project, co-funded by Collins Aerospace and which is expected to be completed in Sept. 2020, has facilitated the development of a Command Non-Payload Control (CNPC) data link waveform that informed the initial certification standards for UAS Command and Control in the NAS.

Collins Aerospace invested in a series of prototype radios to house the waveform for NASA's flight tests. A C-Band prototype CNPC data link radio, the CNPC-5000, was the baseline for the most recent testing and will continue to be a key component in future research and test flights for other programs. (The CNPC-5000 device has not been authorized as required by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.)

"CNPC is critical to maintaining positive control of UAS in complex operations within national airspace, such as flights beyond visual line of sight or above 500ft. We've already applied our CNPC waveform to the FAA's Pathfinder program with BNSF Railway," said Heather Robertson, vice president and general manager, Integrated Solutions for Collins Aerospace. "Our CNPC-5000 data links provide the reliable, safe, and secure connection needed to maintain control of unmanned aircraft at all times while operating in the complex environment of controlled airspace."

The prototype CNPC-5000 radio will be supporting NASA's System Integration Operationalization (SIO) program through flights with General Atomics' SkyGuardian. Multiple CNPC-5000 demonstrations are also planned throughout 2020.

Bell Textron Inc., Sumitomo Corp., and Japan Airlines Co. Ltd. are partnering to explore Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and to foster the required infrastructure and regulatory environment. The collaboration will inform development of an on-demand air mobility ecosystem in Japan using Bell’s air mobility solutions including Bell’s Air Taxi, the Nexus 4EX electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

“We are excited to take this substantial step to bring together an international airline, a major infrastructure provider, and a VTOL original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to work collaboratively on a more connected mobility future,” said Scott Drennan, Bell’s vice president of innovation. “While we are known for our 80 years of creating vertical lift aircraft that move people, goods, and data, we also want to help shape the operational infrastructure in which they will live.”

Sumitomo, a 100-year-old global enterprise based in Japan, is working to leverage its broad business portfolio spanning metal products, transportation and construction systems, infrastructure, media and digital, real estate, mineral resources, energy, and chemicals to support development of the necessary infrastructure and business use cases for air mobility.

“We have been inspired by Bell’s vision and their capability of penetrating into this urban air mobility market,” said Eiji Ishida, Sumitomo’s executive officer of lease, ship & aerospace business division. “All three companies bring a unique perspective, and we are excited to work together toward this new future.”

Japan Airlines (JAL), Japan’s first international airline, reaches 405 airports in 66 countries and regions together with its codeshare partners with a modern fleet of 238 aircraft.

Tomohiro Nishihata, Japan Airlines’ managing executive officer of innovation stated, “Japan Airlines is eager to explore the future of air travel beyond its existing framework, and we believe this is the right team to set the standard in Japan for future cities to implement urban air mobility systems.”

Together, these companies will develop policy and planning recommendations, identify entry into service use cases and pilot programs, and develop infrastructure requirements that integrate into both current and future transportation systems and city standards to provide safe, accessible, and sustainable multi-modal transportation system to our communities.