Paris Air Show 2023

May 24, 2023

TIM ROBINSON FRAeS, STEPHEN BRIDGEWATER and CHARLOTTE BAILEY provide a look at some of the most exciting news and highlights ahead of the first trade day at the Paris Air Show 2023.

Visitors to Le Bourget on Sunday got a sneak preview of some the highlights of what promises to be a busy and fascinating week ahead.From fast jets to attack helicopters, autogyros to drones and airliners to aerobatic aircraft there really is something for everybody spread out on the ramp at #PAS2023. However, with an overriding push for decarbonisation one of the undoubted highlights of this year's event is the large number of eVTOLs on display.

Volocopter will be flying daily at around 1.30pm. (Tim Robinson/RAeS)

Set to make its debut as the first eVTOL in a Le Bourget flying display this week during both trade and public days, is Germany's Volocopter with its VoloCity. Volocopter plans to launch its commercial services in the French capital in the summer of 2024 and says the public flights at the show will allow the public to witness the low noise signature and zero in-flight emissions of the VoloCity air taxi first-hand. A VoloCity mockup is also on display in Hall 5, giving visitors the chance to hop inside and imagine what it will be like to fly in an air taxi.

The company made its first flight in French airspace in March 2022 and has been collaborating with authorities ahead of its intended commercial debut during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. “We went. We tested. We’ll fly there for real” the company proudly proclaims. “Our overarching goal is still to see our VoloCity air taxi take to the skies (or, more specifically, the lower airspace) first, before any other UAM competitor flies an eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft) commercially in the western hemisphere. In short: we want to do this in Paris by 2024.”

The A350s 175in main cargo door will be the largest in its class, says Airbus. (Airbus)

First flying on 14 June 2013, Airbus' flagship widebody airliner, the A350 is now celebrating its tenth birthday. Readers with long memories may recall it was initially revealed as a tweaked A330, before lukewarm responses from the market sent Airbus back to the drawing board. The rest, they say, is history, with the widebody having evolved into a firm favourite with airlines and passengers alike. "The A350 is shaping the future of air travel and airfreight" according to Stan Shparberg, SVP Head of Marketing for Airbus Commercial and International.

Today, according to data from Cirium, some 495 A350s are in service with 91 airlines - with a further 435 set to be delivered to customers in the future.

Airbus' next plans for the A350 include the A340F cargo version of the airliner, which was launched in 2021 and now features a 111t payload. Entry into service is set for 2026. Meanwhile, Australian flag carrier Qantas has picked the A350 passenger variant for its Project Sunrise initiative to fly non-stop from the east coast of Australia to London, Paris and New York.

Hall 5 exhibits eVTOLs in a simulated urban environment. (Charlotte Bailey/RAeS)A first for this year, a dedicated eVTOL space - located inside Hall 5 - showcases a variety of movers and shakers in the eVTOL market, some moving notably more than others. Nestling between building fascias and pedestrian crossings, Volocopter's Volocity and Archer's Midnight craft take centre stage, surrounded by prototypes from Archer, Ascendance Technologies, EHang, Lilium and Eve (the latter of whom are represented by fuselage segments only). Boeing's sixth-generation Wisk is sited elsewhere, yet Vertical - the undisputed instagram star of last year's show - is certainly conspicuous by its absence. With the 'Instagrammable impact' of a mockup alone having perhaps faded since Farnborough, it's all eyes to the skies for the flying show this week, where Volocopter have promised daily demonstrations.

The Aarok is taking aim at Reaper and Eurodrone MALE markets. (Turgis and Galliard)

The prototype of a new French-manufactured drone dubbed the ‘Aarok’ has emerged ahead of the Paris Air Show. Conceived by the French defence contractor Turgis and Galliard (who have been developing the Aarok for three years), this new Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) is immediately distinctive on account of its size: weighing in at an estimated 5.4t maximum take-off weight and boasting a 72ft wingspan. Driven by a 1,200hp Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6 turpobrop powering a conventional front-mounted propeller, the Aarok project has been entirely self-funded thus far. With an endurance of more than 24 hours, the Aarok is the latest addition to the Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) family of drones. It is intended to operate in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capacities alongside strike missions, with its robust landing gear facilitating operations from rough fields. The drone has a maximum payload of 6,000lb (including up to 3,000lb of weapons), including the precision-guided French-made AASM Hammer, with options to integrate various sizes of bombs. The Aarok will be capable of carrying out “high-intensity strikes even in congested areas” and will include “high-performance optronic and electromagnetic sensors”. The manufacturers are working towards an initial flight before the end of the year, potentially aiming to enter service from mid-2025 subject to required authorizations being secured. According to a report in the French media, the Aarok will be displayed “a few metres from [the stand] of the Ministry of Armed Forces,” potentially symbolising Turgis and Galliard’s ambition to offer France a domestically-produced alternative to the MQ-9A Reaper drone.

Embraer and Nidec executives unveil a scale model 3D printed electric motor during Sunday's press conference. (Charlotte Bailey/RAeS)On Sunday morning, Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer and Japan’s Nidec corporation - the “world’s leading comprehensive motor manufacturer” – announced a joint venture partnership to develop electric propulsion systems for the aerospace sector, most notably the electric motor projected to power the Eve eVTOL. The newly-formed Nidec Aerospace LLC will combine the aeronautical expertise of Embraer with the skillsets of Nidec, building on synergy between the two companies to create what Embraer CEO Francisco Gomes Neto describes as “agnostic disruptive solutions for the aerospace sector”. Initially focusing on the eVTOL market, the proposed electric motor represents “a natural extension of both companies’ respective and continual interests in green technologies across multiple interests to accelerate global carbon neutrality,” notes Michael Briggs, Senior Vice President at Nidec. Although the Eve Air Mobility is projected to be the launch customer, the corporation plan to extend availability across the eVTOL segment and ultimately scale up to larger types as technology matures. A 50% scale model electric motor, unveiled Sunday and allegedly capable of producing just 70 kilowatts, is testament to the “work still required on engineering prospective prototypes” if the Eve is to meet its initial type certification target of 2026. Eve Air Mobility also announced two further suppliers: BAE Systems (which will provide an advanced energy storage system for the eVTOL) and DUC Hélice propellers, that will supply the rotors and propellers. “Eve has taken a ‘building blocks’ approach to further enhance the maturity of the technology and its eVTOL,” explained Alice Altissimo, Vice President of programme management and operation of Eve. Assembly of the first full-scale prototype is expected later this year, with a flight test campaign scheduled to commence in 2024.

Boeing is reflective over certification and supply chain problems. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)

Speaking in Charleston, South Carolina just a few weeks prior to Paris, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun provided a candid overview of the status of the OEM’s products, with particular reference to the 737 MAX. “When I became CEO of the company in January 2020 we were at an interesting moment in time. Boeing was facing a self-inflicted existential crisis and, as everybody knows, we accumulated over 400 aeroplanes sitting on the tarmac. We then went through three rounds of expectations around certification or recertification of the MAX and every three months we were disappointed. “So we finally came to realisation that we needed to take a fresh look at things and own up to whatever failures we needed to. And we did. So we basically allowed the FAA to determine for themselves when and whether to recertify. We were patient, we stayed disciplined, we responded to every request – whether we liked it or not – because that's what you have to do in times like those. We got that aeroplane certified a year into my tenure and since then they have accumulated 4 million flight hours and the MAX is returning one aeroplane at a time. That's our philosophy. Each and every one of them has to be reliable, has to meet all those expectations – even though we’re pulling them off the tarmac having sat for a year or two - or in some cases three. I think it speaks to the legacy of our company, our people, their commitment and dedication. You have to get tested every now and then. I wish it wasn't that way. But I think so far Boeing has passed that test.”Although passenger numbers returned faster than expected post-pandemic, Calhoun expressed concerns over the strength of the supply chain network. “Slowly, steadily, the supply chain is rebuilding itself but it’s something that effects everybody. It's at the airline level, manufacturer level, assembler level, ourselves and our counterparts” he said. “We have a very large, very fragmented supply chain relative to most industries. Many of those suppliers make one part and they are the only supplier that makes that part and when they fall down or can't respond to a rate increase. We all suffer – but we can't just get mad at them and call them out in the press. We simply have to work with what we have to help them get their workforces back to where they were. And it's not the numbers that are important, it's skills, it's talent, t's experience, its people. This is where everybody is struggling and I honestly think it will probably be the end of the next calendar year before we get to the types of rates we need and have a stable supply chain.”

Prior to the war in Ukraine, Boeing had engineering centres in Moscow and Kyiv, both of which employed around 1,000 people. “We are doing everything in our power to keep the Kyiv office open”, Calhoun told the media. "Moscow got shut down pretty much immediately but believe it or not the Kyiv team still shows up for work every day.”China’s first domestically produced passenger aircraft, the C919, made its maiden commercial flight on 28 May, but does Boeing’s Calhoun see the new narrow-body, 164-seat jet as potential threat to the 737 MAX family? “It’s a good aeroplane and it will satisfy demand in China for quite some time” he conceded. “It will take a long while to build up production capacity, but having three payers in the market is good news for everybody. It is a growing global market and scale should not be the most intimidating thought in the world. So for us to get overly anxious about the C919 is a silly prospect [but] we should stay focused."

The small gas turbine will be tested on SAF later this year. (Rolls-Royce)

Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce unveiled a new small gas turbine it has been developing for hybrid-electric applications as part of a turbogenerator aimed at the advanced aerial mobility market for up to 19 seats. The company has been working on this in its Dahlewitz, Germany facility and says R-R: "The turbogenerator system will complement the Rolls-Royce Electrical propulsion portfolio by delivering an on-board power source with scalable power offerings between 500kW and 1200kW enabling extended range on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and later, as it becomes available, through hydrogen combustion."

Olaf Otto, President – Electrical at Rolls-Royce said: “The Pass-To-Test (PTT) of our brand-new small engine is an important step forward. This product will enable our customers to extend the routes that electric flight can support and means more passengers will be able to travel further on low to net zero emissions aircraft.”The turbogenerator system combines Rolls-Royce’s electrical and gas turbine development competencies and can be used in serial or parallel hybrid applications. The company claims it is well suited to recharge batteries as well as provide energy to electrical propulsion units directly and therefore enables aircraft to switch between power sources in flight. The engine will be tested on SAF in the coming months and will be used for the commissioning of Rolls-Royce’s test facility in Dahlewitz, Germany.

Saab's r-TWR will support dispersed operations. (Saab)

Ahead of the show, Saab revealed a new military application for its digital Remote Tower technology - already in service with selected civil airports as a well to increase redundancy, resilience and situational awareness. But with Western air forces shifting to dispersed and agile operations in the wake of the war in Ukraine, there is now a a need for ground support and ATC equipment that can deploy in the field and stay mobile with aircraft and personnel.

Dubbed r-TWR Deployable, the system provides high availability, mission-to-mission modularity and flexibility that can be mission ready within an hour and can be operated remotely from a secure location at a base or connected to a centralised facility hundreds of miles away. The system includes everything needed for air traffic management at an established or temporary landing strip and can be rapidly transported by road or rail on one or two standardised trailers, or in a cargo aircraft of C-130 Hercules size. The system also has applications in disaster relief missions.

The r-TWR Deployable can be integrated with various Saab capabilities depending on customer needs. This includes TactiCall Voice Communication System for safe and cyber secure communications, Giraffe 1X lightweight multi-mission surveillance radar with Drone Tracker capability, Sirius Compact passive surveillance for tactical applications and Barracuda camouflage for a reduced multispectral signature.

Can SAF be accelerated faster?

In a rare joint message, the Chief Technology Officers (CTO) of seven aerospace firms, Airbus, Boeing, Dassault Aviation, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Safran and Rolls-Royce came together to issue a statement on the importance of accelerating a shift to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in meeting aviation's decarbonisation goals. While they noted this was a 'critical step' in the pathway to net zero CO2, "the production of SAF is currently estimated at less than 0.1% of the global demand for jet fuel today. Moreover, SAF prices are typically two to five times higher than the price of conventional jet fuel."

The CTOs urged governments and decisionmakers to support policies and initiatives that "stimulate investment in production capacity, reduce costs, and encourage greater industry uptake" of SAF and noted that "Public-Private Partnerships can play a key role in increasing the development and use of SAF through policy definition and alignment, along with financial incentives."

Meanwhile on 16 June, French President Emmanuel Macron announced of a total of Euro 8.5bn of investment between now and 2027 to assist the French aviation industry in helping meet EU decarbonization targets. Following a working dinner on 15 June with key industry leaders from Airbus, Dassault, Air France, KLM and Paris Airport – alongside visits to engine manufacturer Safran on Friday 16 June – a number of incentives were announced to highlight France’s commitment to sustainable aviation, concerning the development of both new aircraft and the fuels powering them. Euro 300m a year will be provided from 2024-2030 to support the industry via the French public Civil Aeronautics Research Council (CORAC), a threefold increase in investment. This will be allocated towards a range of incentives: developing cleaner engines, creating lighter and stronger aircraft components, and financing the technological development of smaller business engaged in “new propulsion systems” such as electric and hydrogen-powered aircraft. Detailing his government’s commitment to the “ultra-sober aircraft”, Macron also outlined his intention for these clean, green aircraft to be in production “by the end of the decade”. Additionally, an additional Euro 200m will be committed to develop biofuels, with the aim of producing 500,000 tonnes of SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) in France; reinforcing the EU’s aim of blending 6% of biofuels into conventional kerosene by 2030. Macron also highlighted the industry’s desire, “as in the US,” to embrace an ambitious target of a 10% biofuel blend by 2030; something which would also support France’s domestic fuel production by upping the “development and structuring of the sustainable air fuels industry”.

The flight was conducted from the company’s headquarters in Weiner Neustadt, Austria. (Diamond Aircraft)

The new aerobatic trainer from Diamond Aircraft, the DART-750, has made its maiden flight powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6-A25C turboprop engine.

The inaugural test flight, piloted by Diamond’s Head of Flight Test Sören Pedersen and Senior Test Pilot Niko Daroussis, lasted 30 minutes during which “all basic manoeuvres including performance and handling checks” were covered. Robert Kremitzer, Diamond’s Head of Design Organisation, explained that “the positive results make [Diamond] confident in moving forward as intended”.

The civil-certified, all-composite, tandem-seat trainer is equipped with “state-of-the-art Garmin G3000 avionics” and forms part of the DART training solution, comprising the aircraft, a DART FNPT II simulator and DART CBT (computer based training experience). This package is projected to cover all phases of basic training including Ground Based Training Systems (GBTS) and Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA).

As was announced in January 2022, the DART-750 will be powered by the 750SHP PT6A-25C turboprop engine from Pratt & Whitney Canada. Diamond describe the PT6A – an engine fleet with more than 440 million flying hours - as a powerplant that has “defined General Aviation for more than 60 years” and considers it the “benchmark in reliability”.

Basic EASA certification is expected in 2024 and the DART-750 will be on static display during the show.

Greener by design. (Raytheon Technologies)

One the opening morning of the 2023 Paris Air Show, Pratt & Whitney and Virginia Tech today jointly announced a pioneering new technology for calculating thrust using lasers to enable high fidelity measurement of key gas turbine engine parameters including velocity, temperature, and density.

Known as Filtered Rayleigh Scattering for Thrust measurement (FRST), this new optical instrumentation technique offers significant advantages compared to traditional sensors and probes, which will support the development of more efficient engine core technologies and could enable the measurement of non-CO2 particulate emissions in flight.

“The ability to use lasers and optical sensors represents a major step forward in engine instrumentation technology,” said Geoff Hunt, senior vice president, engineering and technology, Pratt & Whitney. “It provides a less intrusive and more cost-effective method for measuring a range of engine metrics. We see exciting potential for FRST to help advance gas turbine propulsion technologies, particularly involving smaller and more thermally efficient engine cores, which are key to our next generation military and sustainable commercial engines.”

A patent-pending technology, FRST makes use of the ultraviolet light spectrum and relies on the principle that light scattering back from air molecules passing over a laser-illuminated area can provide information about the gas flow field, from which thrust can be derived. Applied to a turbofan engine, the light is provided by a laser beam directed across the turbine’s gas path, while the resulting scatter is recorded by a high-performance camera and “filtered” for corruptions in the signal.

FRST optical instrumentation potentially eliminates the need for traditional sensors and probes, which can be difficult to install and cause flow blockage, particularly on smaller engine cores where space is limited. FRST also presents opportunities to measure non-CO2 particulate emissions, which could contribute to industry wide efforts to understand and mitigate the environmental impact of those emissions, particularly with regard to contrail formation.

“Though the principle of Rayleigh scattering has been known for centuries, Pratt & Whitney and Virginia Tech engineers have harnessed recent advancements in computing power, laser and camera technology to demonstrate the first successful application on a turbofan engine,” said Todd Lowe, Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Virginia Tech. “As we work towards in-flight demonstrations of FRST, we expect the technology will have other applications in the development and certification of aircraft engines.”

JAPETIS will deliver sovereign EO. (Prométhée)

French-based Prométhée and Hemeria have signed an agreement for the supply of the first satellite of the JAPETUS Earth Observation constellation, as well as the provision of 20 additional satellites after the deployment of the first unit.

This partnership makes Prométhée the first European operator capable of delivering real-time and highly responsive data and services. Through this strategic alliance, Prométhée will have a sovereign Earth Observation infrastructure, enabling it to meet the growing needs for environmental and climate intelligence, as well as defence and security, in service of the protection of citizens and territories.

“Climate change, anthropogenic pressures, and the new global political landscape create risks of social, economic and political instability” says Prométhée. “The increasing number of areas of interest to monitor and their size (forests, oceans, critical infrastructures, etc) require the availability of space systems offering unprecedented observation frequencies to date. These observation frequencies must now be less than an hour, with onboard-to-ground communication times of less than 15 minutes. JAPETUS will provide these performances through the number of satellites in orbit and an innovative interconnection system between constellations, while ensuring high precision in the delivered data and services.”

The satellites provided by Hemeria weigh just 50kg and are based on the new HP-EOS platform. They will be equipped with high-resolution multispectral cameras manufactured by SAFRAN.

Artificial intelligence is at the heart of the project, particularly onboard the satellites, to optimise decision-making responsiveness and overall system performance. Finally, the industrial experience of the project partners will guarantee reliability and a lifespan that meets the expectations of the most demanding clients and investors.

Pining for the fjords? (Elfly)

Ahead of the air show, Norway's Elfly Group unveiled its plans to create a pure, all-electric commercial seaplane, dubbed Noemi (for No Emission) in Oslo.

Noemi is being designed for flexible mobility in Norway with the prototype (non-passenger version) of Noemi is being readied for flight in 2025. Ultimately, Elfly hopes Noemi will be capable of 200km air journeys, and flying at up to 250km/h. Power will come from a pair of electric motors with up to 1MW combined output. Noemi is being offered in various cabin layouts including a nine-seat business/executive transport, a six-seat VIP version, a 13-seat pleasure flight model and cargo and medevac versions. All will feature a large cargo door and its cabin will be fully accessible for wheelchair users.

Unlike other electric aircraft developers, Elfly intends to pursue an operator's certificate and bring the first aircraft into service, initially connecting the fjords of Norway. The desire is to have the first 15 seaplanes flying along the west coast of Norway by 2030. “Thereafter, we could expand into other short hop markets, considering that 80% of the world's population live by the sea,” said Eric Lithun, CEO and Founder of Elfly. “Our goal is to bring innovation to the whole supply chain and make the process as seamless as possible,” added Lithun, a technology entrepreneur who has invested in several start-up companies.

Norway is ideally located for environmentally friendly seaplanes, with more than 1,000 fjords and 450,000 lakes. “With the world focused on sustainability and the environment (Norway has pledged to be all-electric in 2040; Denmark and Sweden a decade earlier) we see wider opportunities with the creation of affordable sea terminals, versus complex infrastructure,” Lithun added.

With sustainability a key focus at the 2023 Paris Air Show the results of a recent online survey of UK traveller's independent creative market research agency Atomik Research on behalf of Ansys seem more apt than ever.

Of the 1,504 respondents, 63% said they were concerned (either very or somewhat) about carbon emissions from aircraft and 38% said they checked the carbon footprint of the flight (either always or sometimes) when booking their flights. A further 43% said they did not because they did not know how to whereas just 19% said they didn’t care.

Interestingly, 48% of males said that they checked the carbon footprint of a flight before booking whereas just 28% of females saying the same.

Of all the respondents 36% said they planned to reduce their air travel carbon footprint in the future and of those who said this 56% said they planned to do so by reducing the amount they travel. 41% said they planned to only book direct flights and 29% planned to avoid booking short distance flights. Interestingly, only 27% indicated that they planned to pay extra to offset their carbon emissions.

When questioned whether they felt the aviation industry was doing all it could to make flights carbon neutral just 14% thought that was the case. Meanwhile, 33% said they felt industry was doing “something but not enough”, 12% said it was not doing anything and 7% said it should be doing more if it didn’t want to fall behind other industries. Quizzed on what airlines and manufacturers were doing to make flights carbon neutral 34% of respondents said they didn’t actually know what was being done.

Just 19% of males quizzed thought that the aviation industry were doing all it could to reduce its footprint, with only 9% of females saying the same.

When it came to whether passengers would be more likely to fly with a ‘green’ airline, 28% of those quizzed said they would be more likely to fly with a carrier committed to reducing its carbon footprint whereas 41% said they would, but only if cost was not a factor.

Further analysis revealed that 27% of passengers said they would be willing to pay 1-10% more for greener air travel, 12% would pay 11-20% more and a further 12% said they would be happy to pay an extra 21-30% more.

While research into new aviation fuels has been ongoing for decades survey respondents seemed unaware of this. In fact, 62% said they would be more likely (either significantly more or somewhat more) to trust alternative fuel sources “if they knew that aviation had been testing these methods for the past half a century.”

Meanwhile, 39% said they would be more comfortable flying in a standard carrier if they were using alternative fuel sources, 14% said they would be more comfortable in a budget carrier and 27% said they would feel equally happy in either.

As to be expected, perhaps, is that younger consumers were more likely to say they were concerned about carbon emissions from aircraft – 38% of the 18-34s and 33% of the 35-44s said this, versus just 18% of the 65+ age group.

Props away! (Tim Robinson/RAeS)

Making its international air show debut at Paris this year was the EcoPulse hybrid distributed propulsion demonstrator from Airbus, Dahler and Safran. The aircraft uses a Dahler TBM 900 converted with six electric motors, propulsors and batteries. The sole EcoPulse has so far amassed around 15 hours of flight time, albeit with the electric propellers feathered. Flight tests of the hybrid-electric powertrain are due to begin following the aircraft’s appearance at the Paris Air Show.

Sky Sonic is taking aim at hypersonic threats. (Rafael)

With Russia's use of hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, a once-conceptual threat of ultra high-speed (Mach 5+) has now become a reality. Though the Russian air-launched Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles have been so far, been successfully countered by Ukrainian PAC-3 Patriot SAMs, future hypersonic glide/cruise missiles, able to manoeuvre present a tougher challenge. Enter Israeli missile specialists Rafael, (makers of the 'Iron Dome' and 'David's Sling' SAMs), which on the eve of the show, unveiled a new concept for a hypersonic interceptor. The two-stage interceptor features a kinetic kill vehicle to destroy incoming hypersonic threats.

Aerospace merger and acquisitions (M&A) activity is entering a strong upcycle after a quiet few years, according to Michael Richter, Managing Director and Global Head of Aerospace and Defense Investment Banking Group at Lazard Freres. Speaking ahead of the Paris Air Show, he cites a notable easing up in supply chain issues which has hindered growth these past 12 months, with a new vitality coming into the market.

The upswing in commercial aviation is in part due to the primary manufacturers bolstering their monthly production rates (up to 40 units and above) especially on best-selling narrowbody Airbus A320 and B737 aircraft. Also, OEMs have become creative and focused on overcoming supply chain disruptions and labour shortages, which combined to keep actual production rates below target. M&A is seen as a critical tool because visibility drives deal making, says Richter. Robust health in the supply chain also delivers better capitalised suppliers, he adds.

Year to date merger and acquisition completions in the commercial aerospace and defence sector (up to 15 May, 2023) totalled US$6bn and dominant themes since the start of the year have been portfolio optimisation; smaller defence and government services transactions and a heightened focus on aftermarket MRO and FBO assets.

The MRO sector, typically delivering average margins owing to plentiful competition, is especially buoyant as airliner fleets are now back in service and airlines catch up on deferred maintenance. Sponsor-backed M&A deals should take global spending back to 2019 levels, Lazard believes. Engine MRO, too, is set to exceed year 2019 levels in 2023, driven by air travel demand and utilisation. Newer generation engines, such as the LEAP and GTF, are larger than current generation engines, produced with more expensive materials, which in turn drives high maintenance growth over the long-term.

MRO providers with access to IP, a breath of capabilities, and local customer access are expected to shine, especially as the market shifts to next-generation aircraft, said Richter. Private equity-backed aerospace companies and corporate divisions are also emerging as attractive acquisition targets, including those with specialised fabrication processes.

H2FLY are aiming to test its hydrogen fuel cell system in a Dornier 328. (H2FLY)

On the opening morning of the Paris Air Show hydrogen-electric powertrain pioneer H2FLY announced that it was working on the next generation of a high altitude fuel cell systems as it moves closer to realising sustainable commercial air travel. The H175 programme will provide a series of fuel cell systems that can be combined and upscaled to power hydrogen-electric aircraft in the megawatt-class range, with 20 to 80 seats.H2FLY is responsible for the development, integration and testing of the overall fuel cell systems hardware and software of what it describes as a “high-performance and modular power unit.”

Josef Kallo, CEO and co-founder of H2FLY said: “With H175 we introduce a completely new generation of aviation-grade fuel cell systems, pushing forward the state of the art in the industry. By developing this new system, but also working to solve the challenges of using liquid hydrogen with fuel cells in the HEAVEN project [established to demonstrate the feasibility of using liquid, cryogenic hydrogen with fuel cells in aircraft], H2FLY is bringing together all crucial elements to realize truly sustainable, commercial air travel.”H175 systems will be capable of providing their full power range in flight altitudes of up to 27,000ft, marking an important step on the path from lower altitude viability flight demonstrations to real-world commercial aircraft applications.

H2FLY is planning to test the first generation of its H175 system in aircraft flight demonstrations later this year and as part of the German government’s “328 H2-FC” project, it intends to integrate H175 fuel cell systems into a Dornier 328 demonstrator aircraft.

Over the past decade, H2FLY has led the way in hydrogen-electric powertrain systems for aircraft, building and testing six generations of powertrains to date. Last year, the company’s testbed aircraft HY4 set what is believed to be a world record for hydrogen-electric passenger aircraft flying at an altitude of 7,230ft.

A digital decoy for next-generation threats. (Elbit)

Elbit Systems unveiled the Nano SPEAR decoy at the 2023 Paris Air Show. The expendable active RF decoy is designed to protect aircrews and platforms from anti-aircraft threats. The advanced, digital and miniature system is designed as a countermeasure against radar-guided air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles.The Nano SPEAR is part of the Self Protection Electronic Attack and Reconnaissance (SPEAR) product family, which includes the Micro SPEAR for very small installations; Light SPEAR for installation on medium-large sized helicopters and UAVs; and the Advanced SPEAR ECM Pod currently on contract for providing active self-protection for the Embraer C-390 transport aircraft.

Nano SPEAR is an advanced, expendable RF decoy that weighs just 800 grams and uses the aircraft's existing Counter Measure Dispenser System (CMDS). Once launched, it acts independently to lure away hostile radar-guided missiles and and provides effective RF protection to legacy and new platforms.

Sustainability and global connectivity are two of the major focuses of this year's Paris Air Show and Swiss-based Oerlikon is demonstrating innovative surface solutions, new materials and cutting-edge additive manufacturing technologies that are crucial in helping the aerospace industry embrace these trends.

To reduce CO2 emissions during flight operations Oerlikon uses abrasion-resistant coatings for core components in aircraft engines. These coatings increase safety by significantly reducing abrasion, resulting in slower wear. At the same time, they help reduce fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions, by reducing the friction of moving parts and improving the efficiency of aero engines. The added advantage that Oerlikon offers its customers is the ability to test all abrasion-resistant and heat-resistant coatings in the company's own laboratories, where their use in engines is precisely simulated. Various components using Oerlikon innovative materials and coating technologies are on display at its booth at the show.

For both engine manufacturers and aircraft producers, it is not only the material properties of coatings that are important, but also the production process. Continuously digitally networked coating machines improve productivity through higher capacity utilization and faster error correction. In addition, real-time analysis of centrally recorded data from several coating plants increases the quality through traceability of individual production steps. This year, for the first time, experts from Oerlikon are giving live demonstrations of Metco's IIOT (Industrial Internet of Things) solution, which enables end-to-end data networking of Oerlikon coating systems.

Ortec Engineering’s Business Unit is taking part in the event under the banner of innovation, skills development and environmental transition. The company’s expertise covers all aspects of aerospace engineering and employs 1,500 engineers and technicians spread over some 30 branch offices in nine countries (Canada, France, Germany, India, Malaysia, Romania, Spain, UK and US). During the Paris Air Show, the Ortec Engineering team will present their professions, their offers for the sector and their latest innovations including 3D printing, virtual training solutions and Building Information Modelling (BIM).

The first image of the Wisk 6th Generation eVTOL. The company is now wholly owned by Boeing. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)Wisk will be debuting its ‘Generation 6’, autonomous four-seat eVTOL air taxi. Larger and more spacious than its predecessors to provide an accessible service for those with disabilities the craft will not have a pilot but will have human oversight from a ground station.

A sneak preview of the Cassio 330. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)

VoltAero had planned to fly its Cassio S propulsion testbed (a modified Cessna 337 Skymaster) at Farnborough last year but a technical problem with the demonstrator’s prototype hybrid-electric power unit prevented the aircraft being flown to the UK.

The aircraft dispenses with the push-pull Cessna’s front engine completely and replaces the aft unit with a converted 228hp Nissan automobile engine. Two Safran ENGINeUS 45 motors are mounted on the wing, each producing a maximum of 70kW (94hp) and 45kW (60hp) continuously. The aft hybrid system pairs a 60kW (80hp) Emrax electric motor on the same shaft as the Nissan engine.

The wing-mounted engines are used during the take-off and landing phase of flight and the rear propulsion unit is also used during these phases in electric mode. It also provides propulsion in thermal or electric mode during ferry flights.

Ultimately, VoltAero – which was formed by ex Airbus ATO Jean Botti – plans to incorporate these technologies in a series of four, six and ten seat eco-airliners. The company says it intends to fly the Cassio S each day of the week at Paris.VoltAero will also unveil its Cassio 330 airframe on the opening day of the show.

Midnight in Paris. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)

Fresh from appointing former FAA Administrator Billy Nolen as its Chief Safety Officer on 13 June, Archer Aviation is exhibiting its Midnight aircraft in the centre of the Air Mobility event. According to Archer, the first flight-ready Midnight prototype is complete, and ready to begin testing after Paris. It will carry four passengers and a pilot over distances up to 100 miles. Components are already being manufactured for the next (conforming) prototype, says Archer. The current version of the AAM Reality Index lists Archer as the third-closest eVTOL company to getting a product onto the market at mass scale behind Joby Aviation and Volocopter, as well as the third-best funded.

However despite the appointment of this ex-FAA heavyweight, US-based Archer ruffled feathers recently when its CEO, Adam Goldstein, said that stiffer EASA eVTOL regulations were 'not good for business'. Can Nolen help solve these differences between US and European views of 'air taxis'?

Sustainable on the inside. (Autoflight)

A full-scale mock-up of the AutoFlight Prosperity I eVTOL at Paris has unveiled the type’s interior design for the first time. Legendary designer Frank Stephenson created the layout and décor drawing on previous successes with brands including Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren and Mini. Interestingly, AutoFlight is working on selecting sustainable, recycled, and reusable materials for the aircraft, in line with its commitment to sustainable urban mobility. With the longest eVTOL flight on record (250km / 155mi), Prosperity I is undoubtedly one to watch in this sector and it will be exhibited at its exhibition stand all week.

Ascendance's Atea is on display in Hall 5. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)

French start-up Ascendance Flight Technologies is also promising to exhibit a mock up of its proposed Atea eVTOL at the show. With a claimed range in excess of 400km and turn-around time of only 10 minutes thanks to a unique hybrid propulsion system, the aircraft is designed to provide a wide range of missions such as passenger transportation, Emergency Medical Services, sightseeing, or surveillance and patrol. The entire aircraft has been designed in compliance with the requirements of EASA SC-VTOL regulations.

Atea will use a ‘lift + cruise’ configuration with two separate modular hybrid engines systems for vertical and horizontal flight. The highly unusual fan-in-wing system being developed inhouse by Ascendance consists of eight rotors integrated into two fixed wings and two horizontal propellers for level flight.

Daher's Kodiak and TBM 960 on display at Le Bourget. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)Daher is exhibiting its Kodiak utility aircraft at the show. Originally designed and built by Quest Aircraft as an aircraft uniquely suited to the rugged flying environment found in missionary and humanitarian aviation, the Kodiak first flew in 2004. Daher acquired the programme in 2019 and unveiled the latest Series III variant in March 2021.

The high-wing Kodiak is powered by the ubiquitous PT6 turboprop and available on wheels or floats. A number of the 300+ examples so far delivered have been provided via the Quest Mission Team (QMT) programme, which sold one of every 11 Kodiaks built to a missionary organisation at cost price.

An Azul ATR-72-600F demonstrates its cargo credentials. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)Seen here on the static line is the cargo version of the ATR turboprop. ATR is marketing the 72-600F as “the responsible choice for operators looking to reduce emissions.” The purpose-built freighter variant of the -600 was launched in November 2017 with 30 firm orders from FedEx plus 20 options and the clean-sheet design fuselage is optimised for cargo with 75m3 capacity. The first flight of the variant took place on 16 September 2020 and FedEx received the first example three months later.

Pilatus' PC-24 at Paris against a backdrop of ominous clouds. The weather remained dry on Sunday although large storms moved through the area on Saturday night. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)The PC-24 has now been flying for nearly a decade and more than 100 have been delivered to owners around the globe. The jet’s rough-field operating capabilities mean it has been selected by Australia’s Royal Flying Doctor Service for use as a high speed flying ambulance.

The latest generation of the 50+ year old Let 410. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)Czech-based Aircraft Industries (formerly Let) has sent its latest L-410NG regional airliner and cargo aircraft to Paris The modernised version of the Let 410 Turbolet – which itself first flew in 1969 – flew in 2015 and boasts more powerful GE H85-200 engines as well as quieter AV-725 propellers. A new wing design incorporated an integrated fuel tank while the modern cockpit is fitted with Western Garmin avionics. Following investment from the Czech government, production started in 2018 following EASA certification.

The T925 is here in mock-up form. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)Making its debut in mock-up form for the first time at Le Bourget is Turkish Aerospace's T925 multirole medium helicopter. Aimed at civil and military roles, the first flight of the 11t machine is planned for 2024-25.

Hydrogen fuel cell-powered Elixer is one of many variants of the basic airframe on display at PAS 2023. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)Up until recently, France’s light aircraft sector has been dominated by Robin Aircraft – formerly Avions Pierre Robin – but with the company entering a ‘protected’ regime (the equivalent to US Chapter 11 protection) earlier this year following an EASA Emergency AD affecting the wing spars of certain models it seems unlikely the company will be exhibiting at Paris 2023.

This leaves new-start Elixir Aircraft to pick up the mantle for the very proud French GA sector. La Rochelle-based Elixir launched its range of side-by-side two-seat light aircraft at the 2015 Paris Air Show and unveiled the prototype at the 2017 event. The Elixir first flew in August of that year and was awarded an EASA type certificate in 2020.

The airframe is a low-wing monoplane powered by a variety of Rotax engines. It boasts a stylish T-tail and has a ballistic parachute for emergency use.

Elixir claims the aircraft introduces the ‘4th Generation’ of aircraft production techniques. Wood and canvas was the first generation of manufacturing, followed by aluminium and rivets and then aluminium and composites. However, Elixir uses what it refers to as OneShot composite assembly that “removes rivets, glue and screws, making ribs and spars belong to the past!”It is also displaying its much anticipated 140hp Turbotech TP-90 turbine-powered prototype. The engine forms part of what Turbotech says is a family of eco-friendly engines. Included in this line-up is a planned cryogenic hydrogen propulsion system for light aircraft, which Elixir is also supporting. The aircraft will form part of the BeautHyFuel research programme that was officially launched in April 2020 in collaboration with France’s CORAC civil aviation research council, Safran, Daher and Air Liquide, the latter designing the hydrogen fuel tank.

Gyroplanes are here. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)

Germany's Fraundorfer Aeronautics' Tensor 600X gyroplane is a two-seat design mainly targeted at personal use, but the company claims it could soon scale up to a certified six-seater for air taxi purposes.The Tensor 600X at Paris is a tech demonstrator for this future aircraft and is powered by a Rotax 915iS engine. It is being used to test e-fuels and although it's possibly the smallest aircraft at the show it has the potential to be very big news.

Safran's Patroller is one of many drones you may be looking for at the show. (Stephen Bridgewater/RAeS)Safran is exhibiting its Patroller drone, which has been designed to provide ISR capabilities as well as fly humanitarian, maritime surveillance and homeland security missions. Patroller is equipped with the high-resolution Euroflir 410 EO/IR pod, combined with a COMINT sensor or a synthetic aperture radar to detect moving targets. It provides data on tactical situations, while also conducting EW operations.

For maritime surveillance missions, it is fitted with a multimode surveillance radar, enabling the long range detection of maritime activity over a large zone. This also includes an Automatic Identification System (AIS) to perform ships classification.

Meanwhile, Turkish Aircraft Industries will be exhibiting mock-ups of both its Aksungur and Anka UAVs. The Anka family first flew in 2010 and is now available in several versions and in use with Chad, Kazakhstan and Tunisia as well as Turkey. Algeria, Indonesia and Malaysia have also ordered or stated an intention to buy the type.

Aksungur uses existing technology developed for the Anka series but is a much larger machine. The first unit was delivered to the Turkish Naval Forces in October 2021. The twin-engined Aksungur is a medium-altitude long-endurance drone and used for tactical surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Power comes from a pair of indigenous PD-170 dual-turbocharged diesel engines developed by Tusaş Engine Industries. It can also be fitted with smart munitions ad conventional weapons including the MK82 bomb.

Ten Aksungers are believed to be in service with Turkish forces with two other flying with the Kyrgyz Air Force. Orders have also been placed by Algeria and Angola.

Also appearing in mock-up form at Paris will be the Airbus Defense Eurodrone, which the manufacturer describes as “the first unmanned aerial system designed for flight in non-segregated airspace.”

Designed for ISR and multi-mission roles, Eurodrone is a four-nation project being conducted by Germany, France, Spain and Italy and under the management of the international armaments agency, OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en Matière d'Armement). The scheme is being billed as one to “strengthen European sovereignty by establishing and expanding an independent technological base in the field of unmanned aviation” and “promote European cooperation in the field of security and defence.”

Participating industry partners Dassault Aviation, Leonardo and Airbus Spain claim the Eurodrone programme will generate 7,000 high-tech jobs within the EU and as it is ITAR free and based on nearly 100% European technologies it offers manufacturers a wide range of opportunities in the areas of development, production and operation.

On 20 June, US-based start-up Avian Dynamics will unveil its Fyrebyrd UAV at Paris. Described as an all-new modular fixed wing STOL drone designed specifically for wildfire surveillance and suppression, Fyrbyrd promises to offer real-time aerial imaging for the detection and monitoring of fires along with a 1,000 mile range and the ability to precisely drop 300 gallons of fire suppressant.

That's a 'wrap' for Day Zero... all should be revealed when the masses begin flooding through the gates on Monday morning. Join us tomorrow for all the day's news.

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Editor-in-Chief Tim Robinson @RAeSTimRDeputy Editor Stephen Bridgewater @RAeSSteveBNews Reporter Charlotte Bailey @penandpaper1989

TIM ROBINSON FRAeS, STEPHEN BRIDGEWATER & CHARLOTTE BAILEY 19 June 2023