The first production A340-600 completed its maiden flight on 11 June from Toulouse, in the colours of Virgin Atlantic. The 380-seat, Rolls-Royce Trent 500-powered aircraft received European Joint Aviation Authorities certification on 29 May and is undergoing final preparations ahead of delivery to launch customer Virgin next month. It will initially be used on transatlantic services.
Source: Flight International
US regulator the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will take no immediate action to address a smoke-related issue involving the CFM International Leap-1B engines that power the Boeing 737 Max.
The engine-maker says the successful demonstration involved a GE Aerospace CT7 turboshaft engine combined with internally-produced electric machine and power electronics.
GE Aerospace in 2025 plans to use two of the world’s fastest computers, both at US-government-funded research facilities, to study how its open-fan engine concept will integrate with an aircraft’s wings and other structures.
