We Make It Fly

The X3’s legacy lives on with today’s RACER demonstrator, part of the European Union's Clean Sky 2 research programme. RACER improves upon the X3’s simple, proven formula, marrying higher speed with cost efficiency and fuel savings.

Flying 50% faster than a conventional helicopter by combining a main rotor with boxed wings and propellers, RACER could have a major impact on missions where speed means lives, such as emergency medi...

Creating the X3 required exceptional secrecy and a unique team. Up until its first flight, only a small group knew of the X3’s existence. In this episode, X3 flight test engineer Dominique Fournier explains the tactics that made this possible; from isolating teams, to early-morning truck rides in the cover of darkness.

This secrecy also helped create a tightly welded team of exceptional profiles from around the world. How does ...

When Randy Bresnik was a young child, all he wanted to do was fly. Fast-forward to 2020 and the retired U.S. Marine has surpassed even his wildest dreams – having distinguished himself both as a fighter pilot and test pilot before making two trips to space as a NASA astronaut.

Bresnik discusses a broad range of topics in Airbus’ latest podcast, providing insights on space cooperation between Europe and the United States, his experie...

Over the course of its three-year journey, Airbus Helicopters' high-speed helicopter demonstrator, the X3, performed nearly 200 flights on two continents, while breaking a world record and pulling off incredible stunts – like racing a high-speed TGV train. 

Guiding the X3 each step of the way was test pilot Hervé Jammayrac. On the tenth anniversary of X3’s first flight, Jammayrac, now chief test pilot at Airbus Helicopters,...

In this episode, Jean-Brice Dumont, Executive Vice President Engineering at Airbus explains what HEPA (High-Efficiency-Particulate Arrestor) filters are, and why the air in the cabin is clean with its utilisation.

As we take to the skies again, we will continue to provide you with the facts that reassure and dispel any myths around air travel in this period.

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The A400M is the “topic du jour” for Airbus’ latest podcast, including insights from someone who knows this advanced military aircraft inside and out: John Taylor, an experimental test pilot at Airbus Defence and Space.

Based at the San Pablo site near Seville, Spain – where A400Ms are assembled – Taylor says it’s a privilege to fly the aircraft and underscores key capabilities that set it apart from the competition, both now an...

In our society today, a world without satellite communications, navigation and Earth observation systems is unimaginable. Services provided by space-based systems have become omnipresent - simply think about navigation, TV broadcasts, weather forecasts, climate monitoring or military communications, even the Internet of Things stays connected through satellite communications. All acquired and distributed data is valuable, often sen...

Asteroids are not just an abstract danger out of blockbuster movies. They are very real. That’s why Airbus is developing new and innovative technologies to unlock the secrets of asteroids. In this podcast interview Albert Falke, Program and Project Manager of Asteroid detection at Airbus Defence and Space, explains what they are made of and how they can be diverted to keep our planet safe from harm.

More info: https://www.a...

Across nearly all major industries, many are looking toward a future of mass adoption of geospatial technologies. But what technical and commercial barriers do we need to break down to truly democratize access to geospatial data and analytics?

Globally, institutions and companies have gathered more Earth observation (EO) data than can ever be analyzed using traditional image processing methods. With emerging companies racing to ...

700 km above us, Airbus-built Pléiades satellites are taking high-resolution images of areas affected by Covid-19. This imagery is vital for a project launched by the European Space Agency ESA. It is called RACE – short for Rapid Action on COVID-19 and Earth Observation – and aims at providing information on the state of European society and economy in times of Corona.

In this podcast interview Hervé Foch, Head of Imagery, Mappi...

The Airbus-built Solar Orbiter (SolO) is on an epic journey to unlock the Sun’s secrets. Listen to our latest podcast, which includes insights from Ian Walters, the Solar Orbiter Project Manager. Podcast topics include SoIO’s testing prior to launch in February 2020 and protecting the deep space probe from temperatures exceeding 500°C when it reaches the Sun’s vicinity.

Ian Walter has been with Airbus since 1982. He has previously h...

Find out how Airbus’ wind-sensing satellite Aeolus supports meteorologists where aircraft can’t in Corona times.

The recent drop in commercial flights has also affected measurements for weather forecasting. But thanks to an Airbus-built satellite launched two years ago for our ESA customer, meteorologists are still able to give reliable forecasts.

In our latest podcast interview, Philippe Pham, who leads Airbus’ space activit...

Traditionally, 2020 would have been a busy airshow year. We were looking forward to updating you on the many new developments and business highlights at various trade shows. As of today, the significant meeting, travel and event restrictions have made physically hosting these shows impossible. In order to adapt to these changes, we will reach out to you digitally instead!

Martin Agüera interviews Marco Gumbrecht, Head of Future ...

Airbus reaches beyond the skies and into space, and the technologies it builds and develops, keeps vital global communications that we all depend upon, working. 

Colin Paynter is the Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space, based in the UK. Colin heads up a workforce of more than four thousand people, most of whom are involved in building communications and observation satellites. Airbus is by far the biggest play...

We're delving into the fascinating world of Airbus Helicopters and our guide for this episode has been with the company for over 30 years.

Didier Delsalle is an experimental test pilot, who spends his days pushing the limits of aviation technology. He is known for being the first and only person who landed a helicopter, the NH90 or Squirrel, on the world's highest mountain, Everest, back in 2005. He has accumulated over 10,000 h...

For many people, Airbus is associated with aircraft, but it also does much more. In all that it does, the company always aims to reach beyond the clouds.

Till Eisenberg is one of those who have helped Airbus make its mark in the final frontier of Space. He led an Airbus team that designed a floating electronic brain – called CIMON – that was sent to the International Space Station to help astronauts with their work. CIMON fl...

Being international is at the heart of Airbus – from its European beginnings to its current global reach. And its workforce is no exception! There are more than 130 thousand people working at Airbus, drawn from over 120 countries.

Shashwath Vummidilakshman’s journey eventually led him to Airbus. But it wasn’t easy realising his dream, coming from the bustling streets of Bangalore in Southern India, to verdant Toulouse in Souther...