Boeing’s defence group and Canadian start-up SkyHook International today announced a five-year-plan to develop and produce a hybrid rotorcraft/airship that can lift a 40 ton payload as far as 200 miles.

The so-called Jess Heavy Lifter, or JHL-40, is launched to service a niche market of commercial oil and mining companies operating in Canada’s far north. The US Army’s requirement by 2015 for a heavy lift rotorcraft capable of lifting at least 30 tonnes is also being considered.

The Boeing/SkyHook team estimates a potential commercial market of about 60 aircraft. The JHL-40, designed by SkyHook founder Peter Jess, will leverage rotor technology from the CH-47 Chinook, avionics and flight controls technology from the 787 and Boeing’s experience as a lead systems integrator.

“If you have to develop all of that technology from scratch on this aircraft we wouldn’t be sitting here today,” said Pat Donnelly, Boeing’s director of advanced rotor systems.

The Boeing/SkyHook also has the benefit of lessons learned from Piasecki Aircraft’s failed attempt to develop a similar, quad-rotor heli-stat. The PA-97 prototype, an airship powered by four H-34 helicopters, was canceled after crashing in 1986.

Boeing’s review of Piasecki’s records attributed the crash to an aerodynamic phenomenon called “dynamic resonance”.

“We are experts in dynamic reactions,” Donnelly said. “Helicopters are a million pieces trying to shake themselves apart.”

SkyHook also is designing the aircraft to be neutrally buoyant, meaning the helium filled envelope is sized to lift the empty weight of the aircraft. The four rotors, which generate 21,000shp, are used to lift a 40t payload.

By comparison, the world’s largest helicopter – Russia’s Mil Mi-26 – must lift both its own empty weight and payload, and it needs roughly 22,000shp to lift a 20 ton payload.

The JHL-40 will be powered by four sets of lifters and thrusters, with the latter generating a total of about 7,000 to 8,000lb-thrust to maintain aircraft stability.

Boeing is leveraging the rotor technology of the CH-47, but perhaps not the engine. Jess said that the CH-47’s Honeywell T55 could face export control problems for a commercial aircraft. The Boeing/SkyHook team is evaluating three engines. The Rolls-Royce 1107C Liberty engine and the General Electric T64 are in roughly the same thrust class.

With The Club Kudos Jet Card you only pay when you are in the air so your hours will not be used for positioning the aircraft to you. This offers you maximum value for money yet no compromise on service

In addition, when you use the hours you have purchased, our minimum chargeable flying time is just 30 minutes thus giving you the most possible flying time for your money.

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At just £2.950 per hour (7/8 - Seater Cessna Citation II aircraft) The Kudos Club Jet Card is the most cost effective Jet Card available today.

Other companies try andtie you to a minimum of 25 hours. We believe that you should decide how many hours you need. So, you can purchase from as little as 10-hours for £29,500 or you can simply purchase the amount of hours you require.

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“the-jet” Cirrus Design Corporation’s v-tailed, single-jet engine light jet flew for the very first time on Thursday July 3 2008 at 10am (CDT) from the manufacturer’s headquarters at Duluth International Airport in the United States of America.

According to Cirrus, the aircraft N80CJ, designated “V1,” “performed flawlessly” during the 45-minute test flight.

The single-engine jet, powered by a Williams International FJ33-4A-19 engine, this aircraft is capable of flying at about 300 kt. airspeed at a 25,000-ft. maximum operating altitude. Its backpack mounted-engine design keeps the power plant outside of the fuselage structure.

This technologically advanced aircraft is designed for single-pilot operations, and a flexible-seating design allows for transport of up to seven people in the pressurized cabin.

On Sunday the 6th of July 2008 the British F1 World Championship comes to the UK and to Silverstone.

Kudos Aviation will be flying passengers in to Silverstone in the ultimate of luxury from all around the South of England.

You can take this opportunity to join these very lucky people because Kudos Aviation have very limited availability VIP time slots allocated for our Helicopters to land on Race Day Sunday.

We have all types of aircraft available including, Agusta 109’s, Bell 206 Jet and Long Rangers, Eurocopter EC120 and many more.

Dont miss this chance to make your Silverstone F1 Grand Prix even better than ever!

Contact Neil Flack on 0845 230 3141 or by e-mail: neil@kudosaviation.com to secure your aircraft.

Honda Jet sales have got off to a flying start in Europe. The first customer for Europe is Formula 1 driver and business entrepreneur Jenson Button. Button has ordered two HondaJets for a new air charter company he is creating. Button says ” The US$3.9 million aircraft is the fastest, most fuel efficient, and most spacious jet of its size and incorporates many advanced technologies that offer reduced noise and emissions levels relative to other similarly sized jets.”

Button also says that the HondaJet will help him meet his busy racing schedule efficiently and help ensure frustration-free travel outside the world of racing.

The HondaJet, however, will give Jenson and his charter passengers predictable and consistent reliability. Michimasa Fujino, Honda Aircraft Company president and CEO says that Honda will establish a new European network of three HondaJet exclusive sales and service centres.

Fujino says: “Honda’s decision to expand sales of its advanced light jet to the rapidly growing European market is in response to strong demand for the aircraft from customers throughout the region. We have received a steady stream of inquiries from interested customers all around europe.”