Airbus has announced it has performed a test drop of a quarter-scale spaceplane demonstrator aircraft.
The test drops from an AS350B3e helicopter saw the demonstrator dropped from 3,000 metres and piloted remotely to simulate conditions in the end-of-flight phase after a return from space.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
The quarter-scale demonstrator used in the tests was built in partnership with HOPE Technik and Airbus Group Innovations, while the test flight was supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board and was conducted over the South China Sea with a support fleet of seven ships.