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☆ The US military is keeping it secret who won the real-world dogfight between a human pilot and an AI flying an F-16 fighter jet
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US military won't say who won the dogfight between an AI-controlled F-16 and a human fighter pilot. Back in 2020, AI smoked a seasoned Air Force F-16 pilot 5-0 in simulated dogfights. The AI-controlled fighter jet, called the X-62A Variable Stability In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft, is a modified version of an F-16. Back in August 2020, AI won a simulated dogfight against a human operator 5-0. #AI successfully pilots fighter jet ✈️.#ICYMI @deptofdefense artificial intelligence agents successfully pilot a fighter jet making AI history!

Persons: they'd, —, Ryan Hefron, James Valpiani, Luke, Hefron, Valpiani, @officialafmc, hsfgaw0kVx —, we've Organizations: Air Force, Service, DARPA, Edwards Air Force Base, US Defense, Research Projects Agency, US Air Force, Falcons, 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Key West, US Navy, hsfgaw0kVx — Edwards Air Force Base Locations: California, Ariz, Florida, Fla, @afresearchlab, @EdwardsAFB

☆ Take a look at the workhorse C-130 cargo plane that the US Air Force is reinventing to fight like a bomber
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Elias Chavez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The first of its kindThe first C-130 Transport flying back from its early flight paces over California's Mojave Desert. Bettmann/Getty ImagesThe C-130 Hercules was created to address deficiencies in the US Air Force fleet during the Korean War. At the time, no plane could simultaneously achieve all the objectives the Air Force needed. To this day, Lockheed still makes C-130 models and their upgraded versions. The US Air Force has not stopped production of the C-130 class plane since it was invented in the 1950s, making it the longest continuous aircraft production run in history.

Persons: Hercules, Fairchild, Lockheed Martin, Jeff Rhodes, Rhodes Organizations: US Air Force, Air Force, Boeing, Douglas, Lockheed, Popular Mechanics, YC, Edwards Air Force Base Locations: Burbank , California, Kern County , California

As Dwight progressed through the Air Force, he was handpicked by President John F. Kennedy’s White House to join Chuck Yeager’s test pilot program at Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Mojave Desert. That fabled astronaut breeding ground, site of “The Right Stuff,” might have turned Dwight into one of the most famous Americans and the first Black man in space. Dwight astronaut future took a more drastic turn when Kennedy was assassinated on Nov. 22, 1963. “Everybody was wondering, ‘What’s going to happen with Dwight?’" says Dwight. To the Black astronauts who followed in his footsteps, Dwight braved their path.

Persons: Ed Dwight, he’d, ’ ” Dwight, Dwight, ”, “, ‘, John F, Chuck Yeager’s, Edwards, Kennedy, —, ” Dwight, Zoom, Guion, Bernard Harris, ” Harris, Ed, who’s, Lisa Cortés, Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, that’s, Eddie Dwight, Satchel Paige’s, Edward R, Murrow, James Webb, “ Yeager, Jimmy Stewart, Yaeger, ’ ” Yeager, Yeager, Tom Wolfe’s “, Bobby, Wolfe, ‘ What’s, ’, ” Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Patterson, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Barack Obama, it’s, Hurtado de Mendoza, isn’t, He’s, Chuck, Jake Coyle Organizations: Air Force, Edwards Air Force Base, NASA, Geographic, Disney, Century America, Negro Leagues, Kansas City Monarchs, Soviet Union, Sputnik, Mercury, U.S . Information Agency, Negro, Aerospace Research, House, Arizona State University, “ NASA, White, Congress, Civil Rights, Justice Department, Wright, IBM, Fine Arts, Sculpture, University of Denver, Orion Locations: Kansas, Korea, Hulu, Denver, Soviet, U.S, Edwards, Washington, Germany, Canada, Ohio

☆ The US' first electric 'air taxi' was just delivered to the Air Force — meet Joby's eVTOL
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Electric aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation delivered its first eVTOL to the US Air Force in September. The aircraft will run a range of missions as Joby develops an electric air taxi for passenger service. Take a look at Joby's eVTOL, which will fly with the USAF for a year as part of a $131 million DoD contract. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementTake a look at Joby's experimental eVTOL and how testing at Edwards will help further carve a path toward its eventual commercial use.

Persons: —, Joby, Edwards Organizations: Electric, Joby Aviation, US Air Force, USAF, Service, Edwards Air Force Base, US, Air, DoD Locations: California

☆ Air Force Receives Its First Electric Air Taxi
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Niraj Chokshi | More About Niraj Chokshi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Air Force said on Monday that it had received its first electric passenger aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically, a milestone for the companies that hope to one day sell thousands of such vehicles to serve as air taxis. Joby Aviation, an air taxi start-up, delivered the aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California, where the first supersonic flight took place. Joby, which is based in Santa Cruz, Calif., said that its electric aircraft is substantially quieter than helicopters or planes. The delivery is the first under an Air Force contract that Joby said was valued at up to $131 million and gives the government the option to receive up to nine aircraft. The Air Force and Joby will operate the vehicle, but Joby will still own the aircraft and receive both fixed and variable payments for hours flown.

Persons: Joby Organizations: Air Force, Joby Aviation, Edwards Air Force Base, NASA Locations: Southern California, Santa Cruz , Calif

☆ Archer shares jump on air taxi deal with US Air Force
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 31 (Reuters) - Archer Aviation (ACHR.N) shares jumped as much as 33% on Monday after the air taxi maker entered into a deal to provide up to six of its "Midnight" aircraft to the U.S. Air Force. The deal, worth up to $142 million, includes delivery of vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, pilot training, development of maintenance and repair operations, and share data such as additional flight test and certification-related test reports. The California-based company in May completed the final assembly of its first "Midnight" (eVTOL) aircraft. It can carry four passengers and a pilot and has a range of up to 100 miles (160.9 km). Last month, Joby Aviation (JOBY.N), which also has a deal with the U.S. Air Force, said it would deliver the first two electric aircraft in March 2024 to the Edwards Air Force Base after completing their initial testing.

Persons: Archer, Billy Nolen, Archer's, Pratyush Thakur, Maju Samuel Organizations: Archer Aviation, U.S . Air Force, Joby Aviation, Edwards Air Force Base, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Thomson Locations: California, Bengaluru

☆ Joby receives FAA nod to begin flight testing of its first built aircraft
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 28 (Reuters) - Joby Aviation (JOBY.N) said on Wednesday the U.S. aviation regulator has given the nod for flight testing of its air taxi, as it edges towards securing approval to begin commercial operations. The California-based company also said Toyota North America's CEO, Tetsuo Ogawa, will join its board on Saturday. Joby said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had granted a Special Airworthiness Certificate which allows flight testing of its first production prototype without passengers. The aircraft will be delivered to Edwards Air Force Base after completing initial testing, the company said. The delivery is made under Joby's $131 million contract with the U.S. Air Force.

Persons: Tetsuo Ogawa, Joby, Aishwarya Nair, Krishna CHandra Organizations: Joby Aviation, U.S, Toyota North, Toyota, Archer Aviation, Vertical Aerospace, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Edwards Air Force Base, U.S . Air Force, Thomson Locations: California, Bengaluru

☆ Joby receives FAA nod to begin flight testing of electric air taxi
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Joby Aviation founder JoeBen Bevirt poses next to a Joby Aviation Air Taxi ahead of their listing at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., August 11, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File PhotoJune 28 (Reuters) - Joby Aviation (JOBY.N) said on Wednesday the U.S. aviation regulator has given the nod for flight testing of its electric air taxi, taking it a step closer to securing approvals for commercial operations. Joby said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had granted a Special Airworthiness Certificate, which allows flight testing of its first production prototype without passengers. Rival Archer received the green signal for flight testing in 2021. Joby's aircraft will be delivered to Edwards Air Force Base after completing initial testing, the company said.

Persons: JoeBen Bevirt, Andrew Kelly, Tetsuo Ogawa, Joby, Archer, Germany's, Aishwarya Nair, Krishna Chandra Eluri Organizations: Joby Aviation, Joby Aviation Air Taxi, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, U.S, Toyota North, Toyota, Archer Aviation, Vertical Aerospace, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Aerospace, Edwards Air Force Base, U.S . Air Force, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, California, Joby's, Bengaluru

☆ Joby stock soars 44% after the flying-taxi company receives permit to begin flight test
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Matthew Fox | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Joby Aviation stock soared as much as 44% on Wednesday after the company received a permit to begin flight testing. The company launched its production line and expects to deliver the first ever eVTOL aircraft. Joby has received investments from Toyota and Delta Air Lines, among others. Joby received a Special Airworthiness Certificate for the first aircraft it built at its production line in Marina, California, according to a Wednesday press release from the company. Toyota president and CEO of Toyota Motor North America Tetsuo Ogawa will join Joby's board of directors, according to Joby.

Persons: Joby, —, Tetsuo Ogawa Organizations: Joby Aviation, Toyota, Delta Air Lines, Service, Toyota Motors, Toyota Motor, Edwards Air Force Base, US Air Force Locations: Marina , California, Manhattan, JFK

☆ Remembering Sally Ride: 40th anniversary of her historic spaceflight
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —It has been 40 years since Sally Ride became the first woman from the United States to travel into outer space. She was not open about her personal life, according to former NASA astronaut Steve Hawley, who was married to Ride from 1982 to 1987. However, the educational company she cofounded, Sally Ride Science, revealed more of her personal life in her 2012 obituary, recognizing her longtime partner, Tam O’Shaughnessy, after Ride died of pancreatic cancer. NASASherr’s book “Sally Ride: America’s First Woman in Space” was first published in 2014. A trailblazer’s legacyRide’s ambition and love of knowledge extended far beyond her role as an astronaut, Sherr noted.

Persons: Sally Ride, Steve Hawley, Sally, Tam O’Shaughnessy, Ride, NASA hasn’t, General, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Artemis, NASA's, Lynn Sherr, “, Sherr, ” Sherr, Dale Moore, ”, Billie Jean King, Martin Luther King Jr, ’, King Charles III, Prince of Wales, ‘, Valentina Tereshkova, Svetlana Savitskaya, Ride’s, Lyndon B, Johnson, Gloria Steinem, Richard Drew, Tam O'Shaughnessy, Barack Obama, Kevin Dietsch, O’Shaughnessy, Charles Tasnadi, Eileen Collins, NASA’s Koch, Jessica Meir, —, Rob Navias Organizations: CNN, NASA, Sally Ride, NASA’s, Space Center, CAPCOM, Johnson Space Center, ABC News, Ride, Edwards Air Force Base, Stanford University, Stanford Daily, Soviet Union, Girls Club of America, Magazine, White, UPI, Sally Ride Science, University of California, UC San Diego, Poets, State Department, United Nations Locations: United States, Houston, California, Soviet, New York, Washington ,, San Diego, Columbia

☆ The stealth F-22 Raptor's days are numbered, and the Air Force is officially looking for designs for the fighter jet's next-gen replacement
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Air Force is officially seeking designs for the next-gen fighter to replace the F-22 Raptor. "We will lose that edge if we don't move forward now," Frank Kendall, Air Force secretary, said. "No one does this better than the US Air Force, but we will lose that edge if we don't move forward now." There are two of these sixth-generation projects currently underway, one for the Air Force and the other for the Navy. The Air Force has pushed for the retirement of some earlier F-22s, but it has received pushback from Congress.

☆ Joby Aviation lands $55 million contract from US Air Force
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 25 (Reuters) - Electric aircraft maker Joby Aviation (JOBY.N) will deliver up to nine air taxis to the U.S. Air Force under a $55 million contract extension that marks the company’s first revenue-generating operations, the company announced on Tuesday. Joby will deliver the first two aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base in California by March 2024 for field exercises that will help the Air Force determine whether to adopt electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Under the contract with the Air Force, Joby will maintain ownership of the air taxis but will teach military pilots to fly them for the first time. Joby previously obtained the first airworthiness approval from the Air Force for an uncrewed electric aircraft in 2020. The latest award brings the total value of Joby's contracts with the Air Force up to $131 million.

☆ The US military let artificial intelligence fly a fighter jet and even battle simulated enemies in air-to-air combat
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A recent series of US military tests saw AI fly a fighter jet and battle simulated enemies. The modified jet practiced beyond-visual-range engagements and dogfighting, the 412th Test Wing revealed. It can be piloted by autonomous AI programs and mirror the flight characteristics of aircraft like the F-16 jet or MQ-20 drone. One of the two programs tested by the US military was a product of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Autonomous Air Combat Operations, or AACO. This program piloted the VISTA in one-on-one engagements against a simulated enemy beyond visual range, the 412th Test Wing said.

☆ A-10 pilot reveals what it was like trying to land an attack aircraft that was literally falling apart around her
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Taylor Bye's A-10 attack aircraft started falling apart on a training flight. US Air Force photo by Andrea JenkinsWhen Bye attempted to fire the cannon on a strafing run, she heard a troubling pop. Bye commissioned into the Air Force in 2015 straight out of the United States Air Force Academy, where she first flew. Her first ever solo flight was in a DA20 in Colorado during Air Force pilot training, and the experience, she said, "was so much fun." 995, for the first time since the Air Force maintenance and repair teams finished putting it back together.

☆ A sneaky photo taken the last time a stealth bomber was unveiled shows why some parts of the new B-21 are still under wraps
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

On December 2, the US Air Force revealed its new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider. That may have been an effort to avoid what happened the last time a stealth bomber was unveiled. One reason for that may be what happened the last time the Air Force unveiled a stealth bomber. Scott told Aviation Week in an article about the photo scoop published on the same day as the B-21's rollout. A US Air Force B-2 stealth bomber.

☆ Apollo 9 commander James McDivitt dies at 93
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON — James A. McDivitt, who commanded the Apollo 9 mission testing the first complete set of equipment to go to the moon, has died. He passed on a chance to land on the moon and instead became the space agency’s program manager for five Apollo missions after the Apollo 11 moon landing. ... it was like cellophane and tin foil put together with Scotch tape and staples!”Unlike many of his fellow astronauts, McDivitt didn’t yearn to fly from childhood. McDivitt didn’t have money for college growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. “And being the second or third guy wasn’t that important to me.”So McDivitt went into management, first of the Apollo lunar lander, then for the Houston part of the entire program.

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