Dominic Perry
Dominic Perry is Aerospace Editor, Europe contributing extensively to flightglobal.com. Although specialising in the coverage of the helicopter industry, he has written on most topics in aerospace – be they commercial, defence or business aviation. In addition, there has been an increasing focus on the decarbonisation of the industry and zero-emission flight initiatives. He also helps to edit Flight International.
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NewsVertical shines light on streamlined Valo design but glamorous launch belies continued funding need
If you could see past the dry ice and lasers the Valo, the aircraft Vertical Aerospace intends to bring to market, was surprisingly beautiful. The rough edges – metaphorical and literal – of the VX4 prototype have been sanded off, leaving an elegant aircraft. However, not everyone is impressed with the new design.
NewsSpain formalises 100-unit order with Airbus Helicopters, becomes H175M launch customer
Spain has formalised a huge order for 100 new military rotorcraft, contracting Airbus Helicopters for a previously approved deal which comprises 50 H145Ms, 31 NH Industries NH90s, 13 H135s, and 6 H175Ms.
NewsClean Aviation details call 4 project plan, including trio of hybrid-electric ground demonstrators
Up to three engine makers could share €60 million ($70.3 million) in EU funding to build ground demonstrators of hybrid-electric narrowbody powerplants under Clean Aviation’s next round of projects.
NewsITP Aero continues to build MRO business with Aero Norway acquisition
ITP Aero is to further reinforce its growing MRO business with the acquisition of Stavanger-based Aero Norway.
NewsFrance’s Gendarmerie Nationale readies for H160 operations after first delivery milestone
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first of 10 H160 medium-twins for operation by France’s Gendarmerie Nationale (GN).
NewsGermany speeds NH90 Sea Tiger deliveries as first ASW helicopter arrives at Nordholz home
Having received its first example, Germany is accelerating the delivery of its navy’s new NH Industries NH90 Sea Tiger fleet, to ensure it can field helicopters equipped with Software Release 3-standard upgrades by 2029.
NewsCanada picks Global 6500 for six-unit RCAF buy
Bombardier is to supply six Global 6500 business jets to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) under a C$753 million ($546 million) contract.
NewsUK takes latest Jupiter HC2 pair ahead of Brunei and Cyprus deployments
Airbus Helicopters has handed over another pair of H145-based Jupiter HC2 utility rotorcraft to the UK armed forces ahead of their deployment ‘in-theatre’ early next year.
NewsAirbus details next round of fuel-saving fello’fly tests following GEESE success
Airbus will next year launch a further round of flight tests under its fello’fly initiative as it bids to bring the fuel-saving Wake Energy Retrieval (WER) concept into commercial service in the first half of next decade.
NewsGermany firms 20 H145M LKH options, taking total commitment to 82 helicopters
Germany has exercised options for 20 Airbus Helicopters H145Ms, adding to the 62 examples of the light-twin it ordered in December 2023.
In depthSmartLynx Airlines closure leaves fate of sister Estonian and Maltese carriers unclear
SmartLynx Airlines’ operation in Estonia appears to have followed the wet-lease specialist’s Latvian arm and been sold to its management and Dutch company Break Point Distressed Asset Management, although there is as yet no clarity on fate of the Maltese unit. Meanwhile, crews have pointed to mounting issues at the main Latvian carrier in the run-up to its closure.
NewsStaff exodus hits ZeroAvia’s UK operation
Following recent redundancies at its US site, ZeroAvia’s UK operation now also appears to be facing a staff exodus, casting doubt on its capacity to meet stated certification timelines.
NewsSkyeton Prevail plans further Raybird UAV demonstrations after Iron Titan exercise success
Anglo-Ukrainian joint venture Skyeton Prevail Solutions is planning further UK demonstrations of its Raybird uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) following its successful participation in the British Army’s recent Iron Titan exercise.
NewsSpanish navy eyes Standard 2 special forces variant for next batch of NH90s
Spain has confirmed its interest in the acquisition of an advanced special forces variant of the NH Industries NH90 helicopter for operation by its navy as part of an upcoming order for another batch of the 11t rotorcraft.
NewsSay hello to Valo: Vertical bids farewell to VX4 with updated design and new name
Vertical Aerospace has unveiled Valo, the certification-intent version of its VX4 prototype, which features multiple updates, including aerodynamic improvements, over its predecessor.
NewsSpirit carve-up complete as Boeing and Airbus take on key sites
Boeing has completed its acquisition of 737 Max fuselage supplier Spirit AeroSystems, while Airbus-focussed facilities have been simultaneously divested to the European airframer.
NewsGKN to boost 3D-printing capabilities with Norwegian investment
GKN Aerospace is to invest millions of pounds alongside the Kongsberg Technology Cluster to expanding the company’s additive manufacturing capabilities in the Norwegian city.
NewsBeyond Aero casts eyes on multiple sites for manufacturing campus on back of feasibility study work
French business jet developer Beyond Aero has kicked off the hunt for a location for its future production centre, having completed feasibility studies for a facility sized to build up to 60 of its fuel cell-powered BYA-1s per year, a figure that could eventually rise to 120.
NewsUK MoD mulls funding for pair of Proteus concept demonstrators through Defence Investment Plan
UK defence procurement officials are considering investing hundreds of millions of pounds to fund the development of two Proteus uncrewed concept demonstrators for the Royal Navy’s 700X Naval Air Squadron.
NewsAvincis eyes doubling of windfarm support business as industry expansion spurs growth plan
Aerial solutions provider Avincis hopes to double the size of its wind farm support operation by the start of next decade on the back of its entry into the segment with the September acquisition of Danish operator KN Helicopters.