On September 25, 2015, Boeing’s first fully equipped KC-46A tanker is scheduled to make its first flight. The executive officer for the Air Force tanker programs, Brigadier General Duke Richardson, stated that despite previous schedule delays, the tanker program was doing well overall. At the annual Air Force Association conference, Richardson stated, "We are definitely struggling with schedule, but I can tell you we are not struggling with performance." Read more >>

Engineers from NASA and Lockheed Martin have recently welded the forward bulkhead and tunnel of the Orion crew module which will fly on top of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. This module for the Orion is currently being worked on at an assembly facility in New Orleans. The main structure of the Orion crew module requires seven substantial aluminum pieces. The forward bulkhead, which sits on top of the spacecraft, will feature vital systems such as the parachutes which will deploy during re-entry. The tunnel of the Orion crew module will act as a passageway for astronauts to navigate through between the module and other spacecraft. Read more >>

The Japanese multinational information technology equipment and services company Fujitsu has recently developed a wireless communications receiver which is capable of transferring data at a rate of about 20 gigabits per second, while also being compact enough to fit inside of a smartphone. Fujitsu’s receiver would allow mobile devices to transfer 4K or 8K videos almost instantly. Read more >>

LG Electronics Inc., the South Korean multinational electronics company headquartered in Yeouido-don, Seoul, will be showcasing its most recent smart home technology in Berlin this week at IFA 2015. The company will be revealing their new SmartThinQ, which will hopefully enhance the lives of LG consumers by enabling their customers to convert many of their traditional home appliances into “smart-aware” technology.  In addition to this, LG will also be revealing their Smart Air Conditioner and Smart Lightwave Oven, which are both compatible with AllJoyn, an open platform developed by the Allseen Alliance for the internet of things. Read more >>

Australian carrier Qantas has ordered eight Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. These 787-9 Dreamliners are going to be powered by the GEnx-1B engine which will be ready to go by 2017/2018. The GEnx-1B is considered the most widely used engine on the Dreamliner. Read more >>

Sony Corporation, the Japanese multinational conglomerate headquartered in Konan Minato, Tokyo, Japan, has recently announced that they will be starting a new drone subsidiary in order to serve their business customers. Through a joint venture with ZMP Inc., a Tokyo-based startup which specializes in autopilot technology, Sony plans on creating a drone company called Aerosense. Read more >>

Boeing has recently been awarded a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for its new type of unmanned aerial drone which has the capabilities of converting into a small submarine. This drone, if ever built, will be adaptable for both water and flight travel as it has been designed to rapidly deploy in water or air. The water and air vehicle would be powered by a propeller, wing, and stabilizer. Launching this vehicle would require a large carrier aircraft in order to reach the deployment area. The remotely piloted aerial drone would then detach from the carrier aircraft, at which point it would operate on its own with the option of diving into the water. Read more >>

South Korean display maker LG announced that they will invest around USD$8.47 billion into organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays through 2018. The money will primarily be used to develop OLED displays suitable for television sets and mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and wearables. The company is also interested in looking into using OLED technology in signage and auto manufacturing. A small part of the funds will also be allocated to liquid crystal display (LCD) products destined for the premium and luxury markets. Read more >>

Embraer announced that they have received type certification from the Brazilian Civil Agency (ANAC) for its Legacy 450 mid-light executive jet. The company was granted certification at the Latin American Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (LABACE) in São Paulo, Brazil. The approval campaign included two prototype aircraft featuring flight test instruments and production-conforming interiors, respectively. Read more >>

At the beginning of the week, the International Airlines Group (IAG) announced that they have placed an order for a total of 31 Airbus aircraft which are worth around USD$5 billion. IAG owns both British Airways and Iberia. The purchase is made up of 3 wide-body A330-200s, 8 A350-900s, and 20 A320neos. IAG said that the A350s and A330s will be used by the Spanish airline Iberia for its fleet modernization to serve new long-haul routes and the 20 A320neos will be used for their own fleet replacement. Read more >>