NASA's&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;rover&nbsp;has for the first time captured the low-pitched whirring of the&nbsp;Ingenuity&nbsp;helicopter's blades as it flies through the rarefied Martian atmosphere.

The space agency&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday released new footage shot by the six-wheeled robot of its rotorcraft companion making its fourth flight&nbsp;on&nbsp;April 30 -- this time accompanied by an audio track.

Also read |<a href="NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter flies faster, farther on third flight">&nbsp;NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter flies faster, farther on third flight</a>

The nearly three-minute-long video begins with the low rumble of wind blowing across the Jezero Crater, where&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;landed in February&nbsp;on&nbsp;a mission to search for signs of ancient microbes.

Ingenuity&nbsp;takes off, and its blades can be heard humming softly as they spin at nearly 2,400 rpm&nbsp;on&nbsp;the 872-foot (262-meter) roundtrip.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="NASA's Mars helicopter makes second flight">NASA's Mars helicopter makes second flight</a>

The mission's engineers weren't sure they would pick up the flight&nbsp;sound&nbsp;at all, given that&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;was parked 262 feet (80 meters) away from the takeoff and landing spot.&nbsp;

The Martian atmosphere is about one percent the density of our planet's, making everything much quieter than&nbsp;on&nbsp;Earth.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="In a first, Perseverance Mars rover makes oxygen on another planet">In a first, Perseverance Mars rover makes oxygen on another planet</a>

"This is a very good surprise," said David Mimoun, a professor of planetary science at Institut Superieur de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) in Toulouse, France, and science lead for the SuperCam&nbsp;Mars&nbsp;microphone.&nbsp;

"We had carried out tests and simulations that told us the microphone would barely pick up the sounds of the helicopter, as the&nbsp;Mars&nbsp;atmosphere damps the&nbsp;sound&nbsp;propagation strongly," he added.

The SuperCam is an instrument&nbsp;on&nbsp;board&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;that laser-zaps rocks from a distance, in order to study their vapor with a device called a spectrometer that reveals their chemical composition.&nbsp;

It also comes with a microphone to record the sounds, which yields additional insights into the physical properties of the targets, like how hard they are.

Similarly, explained Mimoun, the new recording of&nbsp;Ingenuity's flight "will be a gold mine for our understanding of the Martian atmosphere."

Apart from having a lower volume, sounds emitted&nbsp;on&nbsp;Mars&nbsp;travel slower than they do&nbsp;on&nbsp;Earth, because of cold temperatures, which average -81 degrees Fahrenheit (-63 degrees Celsius)&nbsp;on&nbsp;the surface.

The speed of&nbsp;sound&nbsp;on&nbsp;the planet is therefore around 540 mph (roughly 240 meters per second), compared to about 760 mph (roughly 340 meters per second) here.

The atmosphere of&nbsp;Mars, made up of 96 percent carbon dioxide, tends to absorb higher-pitched sounds, so only lower-pitched sounds can travel long distances.

NASA enhanced the audio, which was recorded in mono, by isolating the pitch of the helicopter blades at 84 hertz, and reducing audio at frequencies below 80 and above 90 hertz. They then increased the volume of the remaining signal.

Soren Madsen,&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;payload development manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said the recording was an example of how the mission's instruments are able to work in tandem to enhance our understanding of the Red Planet.

As&nbsp;Ingenuity&nbsp;moves away from&nbsp;Perseverance&nbsp;and out of shot, the pitch decreases and as it returns the pitch increases.&nbsp;

This is known as the Doppler effect, and it provides an additional layer of confirmation of the helicopter's flight path when it is out of visual range.

Ingenuity&nbsp;made the first powered, controlled flight&nbsp;on&nbsp;another planet&nbsp;on&nbsp;April 19, and flew a fifth time&nbsp;on&nbsp;Friday at 3:26 pm Eastern Time (1926 GMT).&nbsp;

After receiving telemetry data several hours later, NASA confirmed the flight's success&nbsp;on&nbsp;Twitter, posting a new picture of the chopper taken from&nbsp;Perseverance.

Friday's sortie was&nbsp;Ingenuity's first one-way trip, setting the stage for it to begin a new job as&nbsp;Perseverance's scout.

The next phase extends the rotocraft's mission beyond the original month-long technology demonstration. Now, the goal is to assess how well flyers can help future exploration of&nbsp;Mars&nbsp;and other worlds.

The four pound (1.8 kilogram) mini-chopper was given this assignment after proving itself more robust than its engineers had anticipated.

Perseverance's science team also decided they wanted to stay in the immediate surroundings longer than they first thought, making it possible for the two robots to work together.

The type of reconnaissance&nbsp;Ingenuity&nbsp;performs could one day also prove useful to human missions, by scoping out the best paths for explorers to traverse, and reaching locations that aren't otherwise possible.

NASA's Perseverance rover has for the first time captured the low-pitched whirring of the Ingenuity helicopter's blades as it flies through the rarefied Martian atmosphere.

NASA's Perseverance rover has for the first time captured the low-pitched whirring of the Ingenuity helicopter's blades as it flies through the rarefied Martian atmosphere. The space agency on Friday released new footage shot by the six-wheeled robot of its rotorcraft companion making its fourth flight on April 30 -- this time accompanied by an audio track. Also read | NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter flies faster, farther on third flight The nearly three-minute-long video begins with the low rumble of wind blowing across the Jezero Crater, where Perseverance landed in February on a mission to search for signs of ancient microbes. Ingenuity takes off, and its blades can be heard humming softly as they spin at nearly 2,400 rpm on the 872-foot (262-meter) roundtrip. Also read | NASA's Mars helicopter makes second flight The mission's engineers weren't sure they would pick up the flight sound at all, given that Perseverance was parked 262 feet (80 meters) away from the takeoff and landing spot. The Martian atmosphere is about one percent the density of our planet's, making everything much quieter than on Earth. Also read | In a first, Perseverance Mars rover makes oxygen on another planet "This is a very good surprise," said David Mimoun, a professor of planetary science at Institut Superieur de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) in Toulouse, France, and science lead for the SuperCam Mars microphone. "We had carried out tests and simulations that told us the microphone would barely pick up the sounds of the helicopter, as the Mars atmosphere damps the sound propagation strongly," he added. The SuperCam is an instrument on board Perseverance that laser-zaps rocks from a distance, in order to study their vapor with a device called a spectrometer that reveals their chemical composition. It also comes with a microphone to record the sounds, which yields additional insights into the physical properties of the targets, like how hard they are. Similarly, explained Mimoun, the new recording of Ingenuity's flight "will be a gold mine for our understanding of the Martian atmosphere." Apart from having a lower volume, sounds emitted on Mars travel slower than they do on Earth, because of cold temperatures, which average -81 degrees Fahrenheit (-63 degrees Celsius) on the surface. The speed of sound on the planet is therefore around 540 mph (roughly 240 meters per second), compared to about 760 mph (roughly 340 meters per second) here. The atmosphere of Mars, made up of 96 percent carbon dioxide, tends to absorb higher-pitched sounds, so only lower-pitched sounds can travel long distances. NASA enhanced the audio, which was recorded in mono, by isolating the pitch of the helicopter blades at 84 hertz, and reducing audio at frequencies below 80 and above 90 hertz. They then increased the volume of the remaining signal. Soren Madsen, Perseverance payload development manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said the recording was an example of how the mission's instruments are able to work in tandem to enhance our understanding of the Red Planet. As Ingenuity moves away from Perseverance and out of shot, the pitch decreases and as it returns the pitch increases. This is known as the Doppler effect, and it provides an additional layer of confirmation of the helicopter's flight path when it is out of visual range. Ingenuity made the first powered, controlled flight on another planet on April 19, and flew a fifth time on Friday at 3:26 pm Eastern Time (1926 GMT). After receiving telemetry data several hours later, NASA confirmed the flight's success on Twitter, posting a new picture of the chopper taken from Perseverance. Friday's sortie was Ingenuity's first one-way trip, setting the stage for it to begin a new job as Perseverance's scout. The next phase extends the rotocraft's mission beyond the original month-long technology demonstration. Now, the goal is to assess how well flyers can help future exploration of Mars and other worlds. The four pound (1.8 kilogram) mini-chopper was given this assignment after proving itself more robust than its engineers had anticipated. Perseverance's science team also decided they wanted to stay in the immediate surroundings longer than they first thought, making it possible for the two robots to work together. The type of reconnaissance Ingenuity performs could one day also prove useful to human missions, by scoping out the best paths for explorers to traverse, and reaching locations that aren't otherwise possible.

Perseverance rover captures sound of Ingenuity flying on Mars

NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity has been dropped on the surface of the Red Planet ahead of its historic first flight scheduled for April 11.

Ingenuity flew to Mars while being attached to the belly of NASA’s Perseverance rover, which made a February 18 touch down on the Red Planet.

"#MarsHelicopter touchdown confirmed! Its 293 million mile (471 million km) journey aboard @NASAPersevere ended with the final drop of 4 inches (10 cm) from the rover’s belly to the surface of Mars today," NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, tweeted late on Saturday.

"Next milestone? Survive the night."

The US space agency last week announced the decision to push back the date of the first attempt to fly the helicopter on Mars from April 8 to 11.

Flying in a controlled manner on Mars is far more difficult than flying on Earth.

The Red Planet has significant gravity (about one-third that of Earth’s), but its atmosphere is just 1 per cent as dense as Earth’s at the surface.

During Martian daytime, the planet’s surface receives only about half the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth during its daytime, and nighttime temperatures can drop as low as minus 90 degrees Celsius, which can freeze and crack unprotected electrical components.

To fit within the available accommodations provided by the Perseverance rover, the Ingenuity helicopter must be small.

To fly in the Mars environment, it must be lightweight. To survive the frigid Martian nights, it must have enough energy to power internal heaters.

The system, from the performance of its rotors in rarified air to its solar panels, electrical heaters, and other components, has been tested and retested in the vacuum chambers and test labs of NASA’s JPL in Southern California.

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity has been dropped on the surface of the Red Planet ahead of its historic first flight scheduled for April 11. Ingenuity flew to Mars while being attached to the belly of NASA’s Perseverance rover, which made a February 18 touch down on the Red Planet.

NASA’s Mars helicopter Ingenuity has been dropped on the surface of the Red Planet ahead of its historic first flight scheduled for April 11. Ingenuity flew to Mars while being attached to the belly of NASA’s Perseverance rover, which made a February 18 touch down on the Red Planet. "#MarsHelicopter touchdown confirmed! Its 293 million mile (471 million km) journey aboard @NASAPersevere ended with the final drop of 4 inches (10 cm) from the rover’s belly to the surface of Mars today," NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, tweeted late on Saturday. "Next milestone? Survive the night." The US space agency last week announced the decision to push back the date of the first attempt to fly the helicopter on Mars from April 8 to 11. Flying in a controlled manner on Mars is far more difficult than flying on Earth. The Red Planet has significant gravity (about one-third that of Earth’s), but its atmosphere is just 1 per cent as dense as Earth’s at the surface. During Martian daytime, the planet’s surface receives only about half the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth during its daytime, and nighttime temperatures can drop as low as minus 90 degrees Celsius, which can freeze and crack unprotected electrical components. To fit within the available accommodations provided by the Perseverance rover, the Ingenuity helicopter must be small. To fly in the Mars environment, it must be lightweight. To survive the frigid Martian nights, it must have enough energy to power internal heaters. The system, from the performance of its rotors in rarified air to its solar panels, electrical heaters, and other components, has been tested and retested in the vacuum chambers and test labs of NASA’s JPL in Southern California. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA's Ingenuity helicopter touches down on Mars’ surface

The United States has prevented Turkey from supplying 30 locally made attack helicopters to Pakistan, Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said.&nbsp;

During a briefing on Monday, Kalin noted that the US blocked Turkey's helicopter sale to Pakistan, which will likely lead to Islamabad buying it from China and cause more detriment to Washington down the line, Daily Sabah reported. &nbsp;

The ATAK-12 is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform and is equipped with American engines, according to Dawn. &nbsp;

The US is holding up export clearance for the LHTEC engine. Turkey and Pakistan signed a USD 1.5 billion deal for the Turkish-made helicopter gunships in July 2018. But the delivery date was pushed back after the Pentagon refused to issue the Turkish company an export license for the engines, Dawn reported.&nbsp;

United States' blockade comes as the impact of US sanctions on Turkey, triggered by Ankara's decision to buy S-400 missiles from Russia. The United States announced the first blockade in July 2019, days before a meeting between the former US president, Donald Trump, and Prime Minister Imran Khan in Washington.&nbsp;

In January 2020, the head of Turkey's Defence Industries (SSB) said that Ankara and Islamabad had extended the delivery deal by another year to ensure a smooth delivery. The agreement gives Pakistan the option to buy the Chinese Z-10 helicopters should the Turkish deal not materialise.&nbsp;

Reports in the Turkish media said that the Turkish-built T-129 ATAK helicopter was still on the Pakistan Army shopping list.&nbsp;

In August 2020, Turkey hired a Washington law firm to lobby with the US administration and Congress for securing an export licence, which will help complete its biggest-ever defence deal with Pakistan.&nbsp;

The latest blockade, however, is likely to force the two allies to cancel the deal, persuading Islamabad to look for other options. US officials in Washington were contacted for comments on the announcement made in Ankara but did not respond, Dawn reported.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The United States has prevented Turkey from supplying 30 locally made attack helicopters to Pakistan, Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said. During a briefing on Monday, Kalin noted that the US blocked Turkey's helicopter sale to Pakistan, which will likely lead to Islamabad buying it from China and cause more detriment to Washington down the line, Daily Sabah reported.

The United States has prevented Turkey from supplying 30 locally made attack helicopters to Pakistan, Turkish Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said. During a briefing on Monday, Kalin noted that the US blocked Turkey's helicopter sale to Pakistan, which will likely lead to Islamabad buying it from China and cause more detriment to Washington down the line, Daily Sabah reported. The ATAK-12 is a twin-engine, tandem seat, multi-role, all-weather attack helicopter based on the Agusta A129 Mangusta platform and is equipped with American engines, according to Dawn. The US is holding up export clearance for the LHTEC engine. Turkey and Pakistan signed a USD 1.5 billion deal for the Turkish-made helicopter gunships in July 2018. But the delivery date was pushed back after the Pentagon refused to issue the Turkish company an export license for the engines, Dawn reported. United States' blockade comes as the impact of US sanctions on Turkey, triggered by Ankara's decision to buy S-400 missiles from Russia. The United States announced the first blockade in July 2019, days before a meeting between the former US president, Donald Trump, and Prime Minister Imran Khan in Washington. In January 2020, the head of Turkey's Defence Industries (SSB) said that Ankara and Islamabad had extended the delivery deal by another year to ensure a smooth delivery. The agreement gives Pakistan the option to buy the Chinese Z-10 helicopters should the Turkish deal not materialise. Reports in the Turkish media said that the Turkish-built T-129 ATAK helicopter was still on the Pakistan Army shopping list. In August 2020, Turkey hired a Washington law firm to lobby with the US administration and Congress for securing an export licence, which will help complete its biggest-ever defence deal with Pakistan. The latest blockade, however, is likely to force the two allies to cancel the deal, persuading Islamabad to look for other options. US officials in Washington were contacted for comments on the announcement made in Ankara but did not respond, Dawn reported. (With inputs from agencies)

US blocks Turkey's 30 locally-made attack helicopter sale to Pakistan 

After surviving a helicopter crash and being dropped by a medical worker, a donated heart managed to make its way to the recipient. WION's Palki Sharma gets you the story of this 'brave heart'.

Gravitas: Donated heart survives helicopter crash

After surviving a helicopter crash and being dropped by a medical worker, a donated heart managed to make its way to the recipient. WION brings you a report.

Donated heart survives chopper crash | A 'brave heart'... quite literally

A helicopter carrying human organs in&nbsp;Los Angeles crashed near the helipad of the&nbsp;Keck Hospital of USC on Friday. The pilot of the helicopter has incurred some injuries, but no lives were lost in the crash.

The&nbsp;Los Angeles Fire Department was called on the spot who then attended to the medical experts onboard and the pilot. The two people onboard claimed they had not suffered any injuries and refused medical treatment from the&nbsp;paramedics who had rushed to the site of the crash,&nbsp;a spokeswoman with the Los Angeles Fire Department told the local reporters.

“The aircraft is stable on its side, on the helipad,” LAFD said in a news alert at 3:18 p.m. Friday. “There does not appear to be a significant fuel leak.”

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-cases-in-us-hit-record-for-third-day-topping-127000-341298" hreflang="en">Covid-19 cases in US hit record for third day, topping 127,000</a>

Nobody in or around the&nbsp;Keck Hospital of USC suffered any loss, and no disruption to patient care was reported&nbsp;due to the crash, the hospital reported. While no major damage has been reported, as of now&nbsp;Norfolk Street between Soto Street and San Pablo Street has been temporarily closed for investigation.

The helicopter was a private eight-seater ambulance and was registered to&nbsp;Prime Healthcare Air Transportation of Ontario. The helicopter was carrying a donated heart which was being transferred to the hospital. After the crash, the organ was found to be undamaged and was handed over to the hospital officials for the treatment of the patient, the&nbsp;Los Angeles Police Department reported.

Patients and their caretakers in the hospital assumed it to be an earthquake as they felt a slight tremor, local media reported. The pilot is being treated for light injuries.

An investigation has been launched into the matter by the Federal Aviation Administration and the&nbsp;National Transportation Safety Board

A helicopter carrying human organs in Los Angeles crashed near the helipad of the Keck Hospital of USC on Friday. The pilot of the helicopter has incurred some injuries, but no lives were lost in the crash.

A helicopter carrying human organs in Los Angeles crashed near the helipad of the Keck Hospital of USC on Friday. The pilot of the helicopter has incurred some injuries, but no lives were lost in the crash. The Los Angeles Fire Department was called on the spot who then attended to the medical experts onboard and the pilot. The two people onboard claimed they had not suffered any injuries and refused medical treatment from the paramedics who had rushed to the site of the crash, a spokeswoman with the Los Angeles Fire Department told the local reporters. “The aircraft is stable on its side, on the helipad,” LAFD said in a news alert at 3:18 p.m. Friday. “There does not appear to be a significant fuel leak.” Also read| Covid-19 cases in US hit record for third day, topping 127,000 Nobody in or around the Keck Hospital of USC suffered any loss, and no disruption to patient care was reported due to the crash, the hospital reported. While no major damage has been reported, as of now Norfolk Street between Soto Street and San Pablo Street has been temporarily closed for investigation. The helicopter was a private eight-seater ambulance and was registered to Prime Healthcare Air Transportation of Ontario. The helicopter was carrying a donated heart which was being transferred to the hospital. After the crash, the organ was found to be undamaged and was handed over to the hospital officials for the treatment of the patient, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. Patients and their caretakers in the hospital assumed it to be an earthquake as they felt a slight tremor, local media reported. The pilot is being treated for light injuries. An investigation has been launched into the matter by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board

Helicopter carrying human organs crashed in Los Angeles; pilot injured

Two daredevils have flown through the famed 'Heaven's Gate' in China wearing jet packs. Frenchmen Fred Fugen and Vince Reffet jumped out of a helicopter in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province before flying with carbon fibre wings powered by four reactors.

'Jetmen' make daring flight through 'Heaven's Gate'

Thirteen French soldiers fighting jihadists in Mali were killed in an accident between two helicopters, the French presidency said on Tuesday, the single biggest loss of French troops in combat in the region since intervening there in 2013.

France has a 4,500-strong Barkhane force countering Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel region, where violence by militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in the sparely-populated area has proliferated in recent years.

"The president announces with deep sadness the death of 13 French troops in Mali on the evening of November 25, in an accident between their two helicopters during a combat mission against jihadists," the statement from the president's office said.

The circumstances surrounding the accident were not immediately clear. France's Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said the incident occurred while the helicopters were in flight.

The Defence Ministry said the helicopters involved were a Tiger and Cougar and the operation took place in central Mali.

"They were supporting commandos from the Barkhane force who were engaged with armed terrorists," the ministry said in a statement.

France, the former colonial power in the region, intervened in Mali six years ago to drive out Islamist militants who had occupied the north and still use swathes of the country as a launchpad for attacks across the largely desert region.

Paris has since kept troops in the region as part of Barkhane counter-terrorism operations, while western powers have provided funding to a regional force made up of soldiers from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mauritania.

France has been frustrated that it is taking the brunt of operations on the ground, although other European countries have provided logistical support, trainers and some special forces.

By reinforcing African forces, Paris sees an eventual exit strategy for what is its biggest foreign deployment, diplomats say.

Monday's deaths bring the total number of French soldiers killed in the Sahel to 28.

Thirteen French soldiers fighting jihadists in Mali were killed in an accident between two helicopters, the French presidency said on Tuesday, the single biggest loss of French troops in combat in the region since intervening there in 2013.

Thirteen French soldiers fighting jihadists in Mali were killed in an accident between two helicopters, the French presidency said on Tuesday, the single biggest loss of French troops in combat in the region since intervening there in 2013. France has a 4,500-strong Barkhane force countering Islamist insurgencies in the Sahel region, where violence by militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in the sparely-populated area has proliferated in recent years. "The president announces with deep sadness the death of 13 French troops in Mali on the evening of November 25, in an accident between their two helicopters during a combat mission against jihadists," the statement from the president's office said. The circumstances surrounding the accident were not immediately clear. France's Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said the incident occurred while the helicopters were in flight. The Defence Ministry said the helicopters involved were a Tiger and Cougar and the operation took place in central Mali. "They were supporting commandos from the Barkhane force who were engaged with armed terrorists," the ministry said in a statement. France, the former colonial power in the region, intervened in Mali six years ago to drive out Islamist militants who had occupied the north and still use swathes of the country as a launchpad for attacks across the largely desert region. Paris has since kept troops in the region as part of Barkhane counter-terrorism operations, while western powers have provided funding to a regional force made up of soldiers from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mauritania. France has been frustrated that it is taking the brunt of operations on the ground, although other European countries have provided logistical support, trainers and some special forces. By reinforcing African forces, Paris sees an eventual exit strategy for what is its biggest foreign deployment, diplomats say. Monday's deaths bring the total number of French soldiers killed in the Sahel to 28.

Thirteen French helicopter troops killed in Mali combat operation

Two American service members have been killed in a helicopter crash in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistans-president-claims-victory-over-islamic-state-263202">Afghanistan</a>, US forces there said Wednesday,&nbsp;adding that the crash appeared to be an accident, though the Taliban claimed they had shot it down.

A statement from US Forces Afghanistan said the crash on Wednesday was being investigated, "however preliminary reports do not indicate it was caused by enemy fire".

It did not reveal the crash location and said it was withholding the names of those killed until next of kin could be told.&nbsp;

The Taliban claimed they had shot the helicopter down in Charkh district of Logar province at 1.00 am.

"The Americans wanted to raid a mujahideen base, but their helicopter was shot down and caught fire. All on board were killed," their main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said.

Roughly 13,000 US troops remain in Afghanistan, 18 years after Washington invaded in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump has been eager to withdraw, but General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told US media this month that American forces are likely to remain "for several more years". &nbsp;&nbsp;

More than 2,500 Afghan civilians have been killed in the fighting so far this year, the United Nations says.

Two American service members have been killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, US forces there said Wednesday, adding that the crash appeared to be an accident, though the Taliban claimed they had shot it down.

Two American service members have been killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, US forces there said Wednesday, adding that the crash appeared to be an accident, though the Taliban claimed they had shot it down. A statement from US Forces Afghanistan said the crash on Wednesday was being investigated, "however preliminary reports do not indicate it was caused by enemy fire". It did not reveal the crash location and said it was withholding the names of those killed until next of kin could be told. The Taliban claimed they had shot the helicopter down in Charkh district of Logar province at 1.00 am. "The Americans wanted to raid a mujahideen base, but their helicopter was shot down and caught fire. All on board were killed," their main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said. Roughly 13,000 US troops remain in Afghanistan, 18 years after Washington invaded in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. US President Donald Trump has been eager to withdraw, but General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told US media this month that American forces are likely to remain "for several more years". More than 2,500 Afghan civilians have been killed in the fighting so far this year, the United Nations says.

Afghanistan: Two US troops killed in helicopter crash

The fifth China helicopter exposition was held recently in the northern port city of Tianjin. Attracting over 415 exhibitors from 18 countries and regions, it was the largest one ever held. In this segment of WION Wings, we show you some of the highlights of the expo.

WION Wings: Highlights of the 5th China Helicopter Exposition 2019

Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies is taking to the air in New York City where users with a little cash to spare will soon be able to book helicopter flights to John F. Kennedy International airport through their apps.

Uber Copter takes off from Manhattan to JFK

European aerospace giant Airbus has issued instructions for the immediate inspection of several models of its helicopters following an accident in Norway in which six people were killed.

About 400 aircraft are concerned by the order, which Airbus said should require about one hour per helicopter.

The firm said it had issued on Tuesday "an Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) instructing operators to conduct an inspection of the interface between the engine and the main gearbox on all recently delivered H125 (AS350 B3e), AS550 and H130 helicopters."

A crash of an H125 in the far north of Norway near the town of Alta on August 31 killed six people.

"This is a precautionary measure in the light of initial findings by the official investigation," said Airbus Helicopters.

"We would emphasise that it does not imply that the root cause of the accident is known," it added.

Norway's Accident Investigation Board (AIBN) for its part called the bulletin an emergency alert calling for an immediate visual inspection of the area.

"According to Airbus Helicopters, issuance of the (alert) is a precautionary measure to ensure the continued airworthiness of the helicopter type," it said in a statement on Wednesday.

AIBN said the helicopter which crashed had only 73 flight hours and there was no indication the owner had performed any work on the area in question.

The alert was issued following the first detailed examinations of the components of the crashed helicopter on Tuesday, which AIBN said was done in cooperation with its French counterpart BEA as well as Airbus Helicopter and the engine manufacturer, Safran Helicopter Engines.

"The examinations of the accident helicopter is still ongoing," said the AIBN, which also added that no conclusions about the cause of the accident had been made.

European aerospace giant Airbus has issued instructions for the immediate inspection of several models of its helicopters following an accident in Norway in which six people were killed.

European aerospace giant Airbus has issued instructions for the immediate inspection of several models of its helicopters following an accident in Norway in which six people were killed. About 400 aircraft are concerned by the order, which Airbus said should require about one hour per helicopter. The firm said it had issued on Tuesday "an Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) instructing operators to conduct an inspection of the interface between the engine and the main gearbox on all recently delivered H125 (AS350 B3e), AS550 and H130 helicopters." A crash of an H125 in the far north of Norway near the town of Alta on August 31 killed six people. "This is a precautionary measure in the light of initial findings by the official investigation," said Airbus Helicopters. "We would emphasise that it does not imply that the root cause of the accident is known," it added. Norway's Accident Investigation Board (AIBN) for its part called the bulletin an emergency alert calling for an immediate visual inspection of the area. "According to Airbus Helicopters, issuance of the (alert) is a precautionary measure to ensure the continued airworthiness of the helicopter type," it said in a statement on Wednesday. AIBN said the helicopter which crashed had only 73 flight hours and there was no indication the owner had performed any work on the area in question. The alert was issued following the first detailed examinations of the components of the crashed helicopter on Tuesday, which AIBN said was done in cooperation with its French counterpart BEA as well as Airbus Helicopter and the engine manufacturer, Safran Helicopter Engines. "The examinations of the accident helicopter is still ongoing," said the AIBN, which also added that no conclusions about the cause of the accident had been made.

Airbus orders inspection of 400 helicopters following Norway crash

Seven people including two children were killed in a mid-air collision between a helicopter and a light aircraft over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-sends-warship-to-pick-up-migrants-off-italys-coast-244491">Spain</a>'s Mallorca island on Sunday, authorities said.

The two aircraft crashed over the central town of Inca at 1:35 pm (1135 GMT), the regional Balearic Islands government said on its Twitter account.

Everyone aboard the two aircraft two on the plane and five on the helicopter perished in the crash, a police spokesman said.

A couple and their two children were aboard the helicopter along with the pilot, the spokesman told AFP.

The helicopter was registered in Germany, "which doesn't necessarily mean the occupants were of this nationality," he said, stressing that an investigation into the victims' nationalities was still underway.

Police said the two aircraft crashed into a field.

Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands are popular with both Spanish and foreign tourists, especially in the summer season.

Spanish <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spains-pedro-sanchez-to-seek-second-term-as-prime-minister-in-july-23-parliament-vote-232361">Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez</a> expressed condolences to the victims' families and said in a tweet that he was "following the news from... Mallorca with concern."

Seven people including two children were killed in a mid-air collision between a helicopter and a light aircraft over Spain's Mallorca island on Sunday, authorities said.

Seven people including two children were killed in a mid-air collision between a helicopter and a light aircraft over Spain's Mallorca island on Sunday, authorities said. The two aircraft crashed over the central town of Inca at 1:35 pm (1135 GMT), the regional Balearic Islands government said on its Twitter account. Everyone aboard the two aircraft two on the plane and five on the helicopter perished in the crash, a police spokesman said. A couple and their two children were aboard the helicopter along with the pilot, the spokesman told AFP. The helicopter was registered in Germany, "which doesn't necessarily mean the occupants were of this nationality," he said, stressing that an investigation into the victims' nationalities was still underway. Police said the two aircraft crashed into a field. Mallorca and the other Balearic Islands are popular with both Spanish and foreign tourists, especially in the summer season. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed condolences to the victims' families and said in a tweet that he was "following the news from... Mallorca with concern."

Spain: Seven dead in mid-air collision in Mallorca

Military tanks, a helicopter and an ambulance are just some of the items that can be found resting on the seabed near the Jordanian city of Aqaba, in a bid to form the country's first underwater military museum and promote marine life. Aqaba residents stood at the shore watching and taking photos as a helicopter and a tank was slowly submerged into the water. The city's Special Economic Zone, which is responsible for promoting business and tourism in the city, hopes the underwater structures will encourage more diving enthusiasts to visit by enhancing the environment for marine life.

Jordan hopes underwater tanks will draw tourists and fish

A<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-killed-in-un-helicopter-crash-in-disputed-region-196377"> helicopter crashed </a>onto the fog-shrouded roof of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Monday, killing at least one person and unnerving a city still scarred by memories of September 11, 2001, airplane attacks on the World Trade Center.

The crash occurred shortly before 2 pm&nbsp;(1800 GMT) on a rainy, grey day atop the 750-foot (229m) AXA Equitable Center at 787 Seventh Avenue, a few blocks north of Times Square. Dozens of emergency vehicles swarmed the area, shutting down traffic and evacuating offices in one of the city`s busiest areas.

The person killed is "presumed" to be the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/video-pilot-steered-helicopter-from-crowds-before-beijing-crash-155750">pilot</a>, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference. No injuries, either to people in the building or on the ground, have been reported.

"The helicopter is pretty obliterated at this point. It was obviously a very hard hit," de Blasio said during the briefing.

He said the cause was unknown but that there was no indication the crash was an "act of terrorism." It was not clear if limited visibility due to the weather was a contributing factor.

Nicolas Estevez was standing across the street from the building when a 12-inch (30 cm) piece of metal that appeared to be from the helicopter landed on the pavement just feet away.

The crash, which sent people streaming out of the building within seconds, reminded him of Sept. 11, Estevez said.

"I saw the explosion and the smoke coming out," he said.

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the aircraft was an Agusta A109E, a twin-engine, lightweight helicopter. The pilot was the only person aboard, and FAA air traffic controllers did not handle the flight, according to the agency.

The chopper took off from a heliport on Manhattan`s east side at 1:32 p.m. and crash-landed on the building 11 minutes later, causing a fire that was quickly extinguished by responding firefighters, officials said.

The site is about half a mile from Trump Tower, where US&nbsp;President Donald Trump maintains an apartment. The area has been under a temporary flight restriction since his election in November 2016.

The pilot would have required permission from air control at La Guardia Airport in New York, and investigators are trying to determine if the pilot was in contact with the tower there or at any other airport, de Blasio said.

Nathan Hutton, who works in information technology for the French bank BNP Paribas on the 29th floor, said the building shook when the helicopter slammed into the roof.

"It felt like you were just standing there, and someone takes their hand and just shoves you," he said. "You felt it through the whole building."

Trump called New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was at the scene soon after the crash, to offer assistance if needed, the governor`s office said.

"Phenomenal job by our GREAT First Responders who are currently on the scene," Trump said on Twitter after being briefed on the crash. "The Trump Administration stands ready should you need anything at all."

Cuomo told reporters shortly after the incident that there was no indication of terrorism, while acknowledging that it likely stirred memories of Sept. 11 for many city residents.

"If you`re a New Yorker, you have a level of PTSD from 9/11," he said.

The AXA Equitable Center was built in 1985 and includes more than 50 floors.&nbsp;

In addition to BNP Paribas, the building houses offices for a number of other corporate tenants, including law firms Willkie Farr &amp; Gallagher and Sidley Austin and investment manager New Mountain Capital. Le Bernardin, one of New York City`s most celebrated restaurants, is also located in the AXA building.

The skyscraper is managed by the Los Angeles-based CommonWealth Partners. Reached by telephone, LeAnn Holsapple, the office manager for CommonWealth, said the company had "no comment at this time."

Manhattan has three heliports in operation. Rooftop helipads were banned in New York City in 1977 after a rotor blade snapped on a helicopter on the top of the former Pan Am building, killing five people.

Helicopters are a regular sight in the air around Manhattan, and they have occasionally been involved in crashes.

Nearly a month ago, a chopper crashed into the Hudson River in New York City shortly after taking off from Manhattan, injuring two people. A sightseeing helicopter went down in New York City`s East River in March 2018, killing five passengers.

A helicopter crashed onto the fog-shrouded roof of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Monday, killing at least one person and unnerving a city still scarred by memories of September 11, 2001, airplane attacks on the World Trade Center.

A helicopter crashed onto the fog-shrouded roof of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Monday, killing at least one person and unnerving a city still scarred by memories of September 11, 2001, airplane attacks on the World Trade Center. The crash occurred shortly before 2 pm (1800 GMT) on a rainy, grey day atop the 750-foot (229m) AXA Equitable Center at 787 Seventh Avenue, a few blocks north of Times Square. Dozens of emergency vehicles swarmed the area, shutting down traffic and evacuating offices in one of the city`s busiest areas. The person killed is "presumed" to be the pilot, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference. No injuries, either to people in the building or on the ground, have been reported. "The helicopter is pretty obliterated at this point. It was obviously a very hard hit," de Blasio said during the briefing. He said the cause was unknown but that there was no indication the crash was an "act of terrorism." It was not clear if limited visibility due to the weather was a contributing factor. Nicolas Estevez was standing across the street from the building when a 12-inch (30 cm) piece of metal that appeared to be from the helicopter landed on the pavement just feet away. The crash, which sent people streaming out of the building within seconds, reminded him of Sept. 11, Estevez said. "I saw the explosion and the smoke coming out," he said. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the aircraft was an Agusta A109E, a twin-engine, lightweight helicopter. The pilot was the only person aboard, and FAA air traffic controllers did not handle the flight, according to the agency. The chopper took off from a heliport on Manhattan`s east side at 1:32 p.m. and crash-landed on the building 11 minutes later, causing a fire that was quickly extinguished by responding firefighters, officials said. The site is about half a mile from Trump Tower, where US President Donald Trump maintains an apartment. The area has been under a temporary flight restriction since his election in November 2016. The pilot would have required permission from air control at La Guardia Airport in New York, and investigators are trying to determine if the pilot was in contact with the tower there or at any other airport, de Blasio said. Nathan Hutton, who works in information technology for the French bank BNP Paribas on the 29th floor, said the building shook when the helicopter slammed into the roof. "It felt like you were just standing there, and someone takes their hand and just shoves you," he said. "You felt it through the whole building." Trump called New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who was at the scene soon after the crash, to offer assistance if needed, the governor`s office said. "Phenomenal job by our GREAT First Responders who are currently on the scene," Trump said on Twitter after being briefed on the crash. "The Trump Administration stands ready should you need anything at all." Cuomo told reporters shortly after the incident that there was no indication of terrorism, while acknowledging that it likely stirred memories of Sept. 11 for many city residents. "If you`re a New Yorker, you have a level of PTSD from 9/11," he said. The AXA Equitable Center was built in 1985 and includes more than 50 floors. In addition to BNP Paribas, the building houses offices for a number of other corporate tenants, including law firms Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Sidley Austin and investment manager New Mountain Capital. Le Bernardin, one of New York City`s most celebrated restaurants, is also located in the AXA building. The skyscraper is managed by the Los Angeles-based CommonWealth Partners. Reached by telephone, LeAnn Holsapple, the office manager for CommonWealth, said the company had "no comment at this time." Manhattan has three heliports in operation. Rooftop helipads were banned in New York City in 1977 after a rotor blade snapped on a helicopter on the top of the former Pan Am building, killing five people. Helicopters are a regular sight in the air around Manhattan, and they have occasionally been involved in crashes. Nearly a month ago, a chopper crashed into the Hudson River in New York City shortly after taking off from Manhattan, injuring two people. A sightseeing helicopter went down in New York City`s East River in March 2018, killing five passengers.

Helicopter pilot presumed killed in crash atop fog-shrouded Manhattan skyscraper

Two women IAF officers from Punjab were part of the country's first all-women crew to fly a medium-lift helicopter Mi-17 V5 on Monday.

Flight Lieutenant Parul Bhardwaj (Captain), Flying Officer Aman Nidhi (co-pilot) and Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal (Flight Engineer) flew the chopper, which took off from a forward air base in South Western air command, a defence release said.

"The all-women crew flew a Mi-17 V5 helicopter for a Battle Inoculation Training mission taking off and landing from restricted areas at a forward airbase in South Western air command," it said.

Flt Lt Parul Bhardwaj hails from Mukerian in Punjab and is incidentally also the first woman pilot to fly the Mi-17 V5, while Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal from Chandigarh is the first woman flight engineer of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the release said.

Flying officer Aman Nidhi hails from Ranchi, Jharkhand and is also the first woman IAF pilot from the state, it added.

The pilots had undergone their basic flying training at the Helicopter Training School at Air Force Station Hakimpet followed by advanced training at Air Force Station Yelahanka.

The helicopter was certified airworthy by Squadron Leader Richa Adhikari the unit Engineering officer, the release said.

This is yet another achievement of women officers in the IAF, it added.

Two women IAF officers from Punjab were part of the country's first all-women crew to fly a medium-lift helicopter Mi-17 V5 on Monday. Flight Lieutenant Parul Bhardwaj (Captain), Flying Officer Aman Nidhi (co-pilot) and Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal (Flight Engineer) flew the chopper, which took off from a forward air base in South Western air command, a defence release said.

Two women IAF officers from Punjab were part of the country's first all-women crew to fly a medium-lift helicopter Mi-17 V5 on Monday. Flight Lieutenant Parul Bhardwaj (Captain), Flying Officer Aman Nidhi (co-pilot) and Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal (Flight Engineer) flew the chopper, which took off from a forward air base in South Western air command, a defence release said. "The all-women crew flew a Mi-17 V5 helicopter for a Battle Inoculation Training mission taking off and landing from restricted areas at a forward airbase in South Western air command," it said. Flt Lt Parul Bhardwaj hails from Mukerian in Punjab and is incidentally also the first woman pilot to fly the Mi-17 V5, while Flight Lieutenant Hina Jaiswal from Chandigarh is the first woman flight engineer of the Indian Air Force (IAF), the release said. Flying officer Aman Nidhi hails from Ranchi, Jharkhand and is also the first woman IAF pilot from the state, it added. The pilots had undergone their basic flying training at the Helicopter Training School at Air Force Station Hakimpet followed by advanced training at Air Force Station Yelahanka. The helicopter was certified airworthy by Squadron Leader Richa Adhikari the unit Engineering officer, the release said. This is yet another achievement of women officers in the IAF, it added.

Two Punjab pilots part of IAF's first all-women crew to fly Mi-17 chopper

Six people, including five members of the Mexican Navy, died when their helicopter crashed during operations to put out forest fires, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Saturday.

The crash occurred in a remote, hilly area of the north-central state of Queretaro on Friday.

The MI-17 helicopter, which took off from Valle Verde in the neighbouring state of San Luis Potosi, was carrying a helibucket with 2,500 litres (660 gallons) of water to fight a fire, the navy said earlier.

Difficulties accessing the accident site meant authorities were not able to confirm the deaths until Saturday.

"We are going to express our condolences to the relatives of the sailors and the public servant of the Forestry Commission who lost their lives," López Obrador said at a public ceremony, as he read out their names.

Central Mexico has suffered hundreds of wildfires in recent months due to low rainfall and high temperatures.

A lack of wind and rain have prevented the smoke from dissipating, which worsened the air quality of the capital Mexico City to such an extent that authorities last week declared an environmental alert and warned residents to avoid physical activity outdoors.

Six people, including five members of the Mexican Navy, died when their helicopter crashed during operations to put out forest fires, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Saturday.

Six people, including five members of the Mexican Navy, died when their helicopter crashed during operations to put out forest fires, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Saturday. The crash occurred in a remote, hilly area of the north-central state of Queretaro on Friday. The MI-17 helicopter, which took off from Valle Verde in the neighbouring state of San Luis Potosi, was carrying a helibucket with 2,500 litres (660 gallons) of water to fight a fire, the navy said earlier. Difficulties accessing the accident site meant authorities were not able to confirm the deaths until Saturday. "We are going to express our condolences to the relatives of the sailors and the public servant of the Forestry Commission who lost their lives," López Obrador said at a public ceremony, as he read out their names. Central Mexico has suffered hundreds of wildfires in recent months due to low rainfall and high temperatures. A lack of wind and rain have prevented the smoke from dissipating, which worsened the air quality of the capital Mexico City to such an extent that authorities last week declared an environmental alert and warned residents to avoid physical activity outdoors.

Six killed in Mexican navy helicopter crash

Passengers and crew aboard a US military helicopter were injured when the chopper they were travelling in was destroyed during a "hard landing" in Afghanistan, a US official said Saturday.&nbsp;

According to Colonel David Butler, a spokesman for US Forces Afghanistan, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter "hit the ground hard on the way to drop passengers off" during a mission in Helmand province.&nbsp;

Butler said the helicopter had been totally destroyed during the landing.

"Both Afghan and US personnel were injured but all are stable and expected to recover," he told AFP.&nbsp;

"No hostile fire or enemy contact involved."

Chinooks, easily recognisable because they have one rotor at the front and one at the back, are the workhorse aircraft for foreign forces in Afghanistan and are used to ferry troops and supplies across the country.

Passengers and crew aboard a US military helicopter were injured when the chopper they were travelling in was destroyed during a "hard landing" in Afghanistan, a US official said Saturday.

Passengers and crew aboard a US military helicopter were injured when the chopper they were travelling in was destroyed during a "hard landing" in Afghanistan, a US official said Saturday. According to Colonel David Butler, a spokesman for US Forces Afghanistan, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter "hit the ground hard on the way to drop passengers off" during a mission in Helmand province. Butler said the helicopter had been totally destroyed during the landing. "Both Afghan and US personnel were injured but all are stable and expected to recover," he told AFP. "No hostile fire or enemy contact involved." Chinooks, easily recognisable because they have one rotor at the front and one at the back, are the workhorse aircraft for foreign forces in Afghanistan and are used to ferry troops and supplies across the country.

US military helicopter destroyed in Afghanistan 'hard landing'

A chopper carrying Nepal's Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari and five others crashed Wednesday in Taplejung district in the country, according to a media report.

The Air Dynasty helicopter was carrying Adhikari as well as Ang Tsering Sherpa, a prominent aviation and hospitality entrepreneur, and Yubaraj Dahal, personal aide to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Inspector General of Nepal Police Sarbendra Khanal was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post.

The two other passengers were Birendra Prasad Shrestha, Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, and Arjun Kumar Ghimire. The helicopter was being flown by Captain Prabhakar KC.&nbsp;

Sherpa, managing director of Yeti Airlines, is the chairman of Air Dynasty.&nbsp;

Moments after the chopper was reported missing, local residents in Pathibara area informed the police about a huge flame at the crash site, the daily said.

"Our people are about to reach the site of the crash and we will know more then,"said Sarbendra Khanal, the Inspector General said.

 
&nbsp;

A chopper carrying Nepal's Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari and five others crashed Wednesday in Taplejung district in the country, according to a media report.

A chopper carrying Nepal's Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rabindra Adhikari and five others crashed Wednesday in Taplejung district in the country, according to a media report. The Air Dynasty helicopter was carrying Adhikari as well as Ang Tsering Sherpa, a prominent aviation and hospitality entrepreneur, and Yubaraj Dahal, personal aide to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Inspector General of Nepal Police Sarbendra Khanal was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post. The two other passengers were Birendra Prasad Shrestha, Deputy Director General of Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, and Arjun Kumar Ghimire. The helicopter was being flown by Captain Prabhakar KC. Sherpa, managing director of Yeti Airlines, is the chairman of Air Dynasty. Moments after the chopper was reported missing, local residents in Pathibara area informed the police about a huge flame at the crash site, the daily said. "Our people are about to reach the site of the crash and we will know more then,"said Sarbendra Khanal, the Inspector General said.

Helicopter carrying Nepal's Tourism Minister Rabindra Adhikari, five others crashes

Boeing Co said on Wednesday its flying car prototype hovered briefly in the air during an inaugural test <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/jeff-bezoss-blue-origin-rocket-makes-10th-flight-test-192329&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwimwZz2w4XgAhWHv48KHWV7BP4QFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0haqT6p7pKShw7BEIpV9sU">flight</a>, a small but significant step as the world's largest planemaker bids to revolutionise urban transportation and parcel delivery services.

Boeing is competing with arch-rival Airbus SE and numerous other firms to introduce small self-flying vehicles capable of vertical takeoff and landing.

The investments, fuelled by leaps in autonomous <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/world/china-already-leads-the-world-in-some-military-technology-pentagon-report-190597&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiqhOiIxIXgAhWbfCsKHXFfBv4QFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3ekAPZiSXuWJencWbAvlVH">technology</a> as much as frustration with road congestion, could change the face of the aerospace industry within the next decade.

Boeing's 30-foot-long (9 meters) aircraft - part helicopter, part drone, and part fixed-wing plane - lifted a few feet off the ground and made a soft landing after less than a minute of being airborne on Tuesday at an airport in Manassas, Virginia, Boeing said.

Future flights will test forward, wing-borne flight.

"This is what revolution looks like, and it's because of autonomy," John Langford, president, and chief executive officer of Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences, said in a news release announcing the test flight.
<img alt="Boeing's Autonomous Passenger Air Vehicle (PAV) prototype is shown during an inaugural test flight." data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9a628d6b-9a06-4435-beaa-4726ba65cef4" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2863%29.jpg" />
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;(Image source: Reuters)

Major hurdles to Boeing's vision of "low-stress" mobility - as it is called in the company's marketing materials - include sorting out numerous critical safety and regulatory issues to meld traditional roadway traffic with fleets of flying cars.

Boeing is working with startup SparkCognition Inc and the US Federal Aviation Administration to develop a traffic management system for three-dimensional highways, as well as the regulatory framework that will allow waves of autonomous vehicles to zip safely around buildings, the company has said.

Boeing bought Manassas-based Aurora Flight Sciences last year to speed development of a fleet of autonomous air vehicles. With Aurora, Boeing is also working on Uber Technologies Inc's&nbsp;UberAIR service for flights that are planned to be available for order via smartphones around 2023.

Boeing is looking to achieve a range of 50 miles with two flying car variants capable of carrying two and four passengers each. Tests are planned for later this year on a package-hauling version that can lift up to 500 pounds (226.8 kg).

Competitors range from Airbus, which says it has already conducted numerous flying vehicle test flights, to Volocopter, which has tested drone taxis that resemble a small helicopter powered by 18 rotors, and AeroMobil, with a stretch-limousine concept that can turn into a fixed-wing aircraft.

Vertical Aerospace, which completed a flight test last year, aims to offer short inter-city flights in the coming years with a piloted aircraft capable of carrying multiple passengers.

“The future of mobility – moving goods, moving cargo – moving people - that future is happening now and it’s going to accelerate over the next five years and ramp up even more beyond that," Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing's president, chairman, and CEO, told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. 
&nbsp;

Boeing Co said on Wednesday its flying car prototype hovered briefly in the air during an inaugural test flight, a small but significant step as the world's largest planemaker bids to revolutionise urban transportation and parcel delivery services.

Boeing Co said on Wednesday its flying car prototype hovered briefly in the air during an inaugural test flight, a small but significant step as the world's largest planemaker bids to revolutionise urban transportation and parcel delivery services. Boeing is competing with arch-rival Airbus SE and numerous other firms to introduce small self-flying vehicles capable of vertical takeoff and landing. The investments, fuelled by leaps in autonomous technology as much as frustration with road congestion, could change the face of the aerospace industry within the next decade. Boeing's 30-foot-long (9 meters) aircraft - part helicopter, part drone, and part fixed-wing plane - lifted a few feet off the ground and made a soft landing after less than a minute of being airborne on Tuesday at an airport in Manassas, Virginia, Boeing said. Future flights will test forward, wing-borne flight. "This is what revolution looks like, and it's because of autonomy," John Langford, president, and chief executive officer of Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences, said in a news release announcing the test flight. (Image source: Reuters) Major hurdles to Boeing's vision of "low-stress" mobility - as it is called in the company's marketing materials - include sorting out numerous critical safety and regulatory issues to meld traditional roadway traffic with fleets of flying cars. Boeing is working with startup SparkCognition Inc and the US Federal Aviation Administration to develop a traffic management system for three-dimensional highways, as well as the regulatory framework that will allow waves of autonomous vehicles to zip safely around buildings, the company has said. Boeing bought Manassas-based Aurora Flight Sciences last year to speed development of a fleet of autonomous air vehicles. With Aurora, Boeing is also working on Uber Technologies Inc's UberAIR service for flights that are planned to be available for order via smartphones around 2023. Boeing is looking to achieve a range of 50 miles with two flying car variants capable of carrying two and four passengers each. Tests are planned for later this year on a package-hauling version that can lift up to 500 pounds (226.8 kg). Competitors range from Airbus, which says it has already conducted numerous flying vehicle test flights, to Volocopter, which has tested drone taxis that resemble a small helicopter powered by 18 rotors, and AeroMobil, with a stretch-limousine concept that can turn into a fixed-wing aircraft. Vertical Aerospace, which completed a flight test last year, aims to offer short inter-city flights in the coming years with a piloted aircraft capable of carrying multiple passengers. “The future of mobility – moving goods, moving cargo – moving people - that future is happening now and it’s going to accelerate over the next five years and ramp up even more beyond that," Dennis Muilenburg, Boeing's president, chairman, and CEO, told a panel at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

Boeing's flying car takes off, makes short flight

One person has died and another been seriously injured after shots were fired in the historic centre of the Austrian capital Vienna, an ambulance service spokesman told AFP.

Police said in a statement that the shooting happened in the Lugeck area of the city's first district at 1:30 pm.

The circumstances were still unclear, it added.

"Following the shooting in the city centre, there are intensive search operations going on throughout the city," police said in a tweet.

"There is no danger to bystanders at this time!" it added.

A police helicopter could be seen over the city centre near where the two casualties were found.

One person has died and another been seriously injured after shots were fired in the historic centre of the Austrian capital Vienna, an ambulance service spokesman told AFP.

One person has died and another been seriously injured after shots were fired in the historic centre of the Austrian capital Vienna, an ambulance service spokesman told AFP. Police said in a statement that the shooting happened in the Lugeck area of the city's first district at 1:30 pm. The circumstances were still unclear, it added. "Following the shooting in the city centre, there are intensive search operations going on throughout the city," police said in a tweet. "There is no danger to bystanders at this time!" it added. A police helicopter could be seen over the city centre near where the two casualties were found.

One killed, another wounded in Vienna shooting

24 hours after Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was sworn in as&nbsp;President of Maldives,&nbsp;new Defence Minister Mariya Didi told WION that Male won't be returning two Indian helicopters which New Delhi had gifted.&nbsp;

Maldives, under Yameen, had asked New Delhi to take back the helicopters.&nbsp;

Speaking to WION Didi said, "It’s not in our culture to ask neighbours to take back what they give."&nbsp;

One chopper is deployed in the Indian Ocean nation's southernmost&nbsp;island of Addu and the other in the strategically-located Lammu, he said.&nbsp;

The helicopters which were gifted in 2013 following a request from Maldives.

"The helicopters can be put to good use such as evacuations and search and rescue," he said.&nbsp;

It's for the first time the new Maldivian defence minister spoke to any Indian media after taking charge.

"They were very useful in the past but with the development of adequate infrastructure, facilities and resources, we are in a position to handle medical evacuations on our own" former Maldives ambassador in India Ahmed Mohamed had told news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

Yameen had junked pro India "India first policy" and increasingly aligned with China.

Former President Nasheed had indicated that China was responsible for the development and told WION a few months ago that Yameen was under pressure from "external forces to remove these helicopters".

Indian PM Modi was present at the oath-taking the ceremony of the new president on Saturday. The new President, in his first address after being sworn in had said, "We will endeavour to fortify existing ties with India. Maldives will hereupon bolster its shared role to retain enduring peace &amp; harmony of the Indian Ocean."

24 hours after Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was sworn in as President of Maldives, new Defence Minister Mariya Didi told WION that Male won't be returning two Indian helicopters which New Delhi had gifted.

24 hours after Ibrahim Mohamed Solih was sworn in as President of Maldives, new Defence Minister Mariya Didi told WION that Male won't be returning two Indian helicopters which New Delhi had gifted. Maldives, under Yameen, had asked New Delhi to take back the helicopters. Speaking to WION Didi said, "It’s not in our culture to ask neighbours to take back what they give." One chopper is deployed in the Indian Ocean nation's southernmost island of Addu and the other in the strategically-located Lammu, he said. The helicopters which were gifted in 2013 following a request from Maldives. "The helicopters can be put to good use such as evacuations and search and rescue," he said. It's for the first time the new Maldivian defence minister spoke to any Indian media after taking charge. "They were very useful in the past but with the development of adequate infrastructure, facilities and resources, we are in a position to handle medical evacuations on our own" former Maldives ambassador in India Ahmed Mohamed had told news agency Reuters. Yameen had junked pro India "India first policy" and increasingly aligned with China. Former President Nasheed had indicated that China was responsible for the development and told WION a few months ago that Yameen was under pressure from "external forces to remove these helicopters". Indian PM Modi was present at the oath-taking the ceremony of the new president on Saturday. The new President, in his first address after being sworn in had said, "We will endeavour to fortify existing ties with India. Maldives will hereupon bolster its shared role to retain enduring peace & harmony of the Indian Ocean."

Maldives won't return helicopters India had gifted, says new Defence Minister 

The family members of the late Thai billionaire boss of Premier League club Leicester City paid tribute to him on Monday at the site where his helicopter crashed. &nbsp;

Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's son and wife were seen laying a wreath among a sea of tributes from fans outside the stadium.&nbsp;

Vichai's son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, is chief executive of his father's duty-free empire King Power and also vice-chairman of the football club Vichai bought in 2010.

A team investigating Saturday night's crash has recovered the aircraft's digital flight data recorder

Five people died in Saturday's crash, including two members of Vichai's staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and the pilot's partner, Izabela Roza Lechowicz.

Vichai, 60, a regular at matches who used to fly to and from home games, was much-loved in the city as the driving force behind the club's historic 2016 Premiership victory.

His blue helicopter took off from the pitch after the stadium emptied following Saturday's 1-1 draw with West Ham, but crashed moments later in the car park.

The family members of the late Thai billionaire boss of Premier League club Leicester City paid tribute to him on Monday at the site where his helicopter crashed.

The family members of the late Thai billionaire boss of Premier League club Leicester City paid tribute to him on Monday at the site where his helicopter crashed. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's son and wife were seen laying a wreath among a sea of tributes from fans outside the stadium. Vichai's son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, is chief executive of his father's duty-free empire King Power and also vice-chairman of the football club Vichai bought in 2010. A team investigating Saturday night's crash has recovered the aircraft's digital flight data recorder Five people died in Saturday's crash, including two members of Vichai's staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and the pilot's partner, Izabela Roza Lechowicz. Vichai, 60, a regular at matches who used to fly to and from home games, was much-loved in the city as the driving force behind the club's historic 2016 Premiership victory. His blue helicopter took off from the pitch after the stadium emptied following Saturday's 1-1 draw with West Ham, but crashed moments later in the car park.

Late Leicester City boss' family visits helicopter crash site

The Baloch Liberation Army has said its fighters had damaged the Pakistan Army helicopter, which crashed near Quetta, in the mountain range of Sibi Balochistan on Thursday.

"Our fighters have targeted and damaged the military helicopters with sniper rifles and other automatic weapons in Sathak Bun area of district Sibbi Balochistan which later crashed on the outskirts of Quetta," BLA`s spokesperson Azad Baloch informed media sources in Balochistan.

He claimed from the past many days, Pakistan army have been carrying military offensives against innocent Baloch villagers and nomads in different areas of Kahan town in Balochistan.

Azad Baloch added that Pakistan military`s ground forces backed by helicopters have conducted offensives in Kahan`s Sohrod, Shameni, Hathpod and other surrounding areas.

"Several Baloch women and children have been wounded because of indiscriminate bombardment and military offensives. The Pakistan army during their aggressions has harassed and terrorised Baloch women and children. Women were pulled out of their houses and made to stand outside in the scorching heat for several hours to teach them a lesson in the words of Pakistani troops," he further said.

On June 3, in a gun battle between BLA fighters and Pakistan army, seven Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others injured whereas three BLA fighters also lost their lives.

In retaliation, on June 7, the BLA fighters attacked a convoy of Pakistan military with IED, completely destroying the vehicles and killing and wounding personnel on board.

Azad Baloch said, "The army helicopter was transferring the wounded soldiers to Quetta when our fighters attacked and damaged it near Sibbi.

"The Pakistan military media wing spokesperson also confirmed the attack and told media, "The helicopter, on a medical evacuation sortie, was en-route to Quetta from Kohlu. A BLA fighter was injured and was being evacuated by the Army helicopter."

Azad Baloch further said, "Since the `occupation of Balochistan` in 1948, Pakistan Army has been trying to extract oil and other natural resources in Kohistan Marri region but due to the strong resistance of Baloch fighters the state's (Pakistan)&nbspprevious attempts failed."

He asserted that natural resources of Balochistan are considered a national wealth for Balochs and "our fighters are paying the price of their lives to protect these resources from Pakistani state exploitation".

The spokesperson of Baloch resistance group added that some local notables are collaborating with Pakistan Army and assisting Pakistani forces to exploit the natural resources."We urge these people (local notables) to refrain from becoming part of Pakistan`s exploitative policies in Balochistan because such actions are not in the national interest of the Baloch nation,"&nbspAzad Baloch further said.&nbsp

The BLA is a militant group. The chopper had crashed on the outskirts of Quetta on Thursday

The Baloch Liberation Army has said its fighters had damaged the Pakistan Army helicopter, which crashed near Quetta, in the mountain range of Sibi Balochistan on Thursday. "Our fighters have targeted and damaged the military helicopters with sniper rifles and other automatic weapons in Sathak Bun area of district Sibbi Balochistan which later crashed on the outskirts of Quetta," BLA`s spokesperson Azad Baloch informed media sources in Balochistan. He claimed from the past many days, Pakistan army have been carrying military offensives against innocent Baloch villagers and nomads in different areas of Kahan town in Balochistan. Azad Baloch added that Pakistan military`s ground forces backed by helicopters have conducted offensives in Kahan`s Sohrod, Shameni, Hathpod and other surrounding areas. "Several Baloch women and children have been wounded because of indiscriminate bombardment and military offensives. The Pakistan army during their aggressions has harassed and terrorised Baloch women and children. Women were pulled out of their houses and made to stand outside in the scorching heat for several hours to teach them a lesson in the words of Pakistani troops," he further said. On June 3, in a gun battle between BLA fighters and Pakistan army, seven Pakistani soldiers were killed and several others injured whereas three BLA fighters also lost their lives. In retaliation, on June 7, the BLA fighters attacked a convoy of Pakistan military with IED, completely destroying the vehicles and killing and wounding personnel on board. Azad Baloch said, "The army helicopter was transferring the wounded soldiers to Quetta when our fighters attacked and damaged it near Sibbi. "The Pakistan military media wing spokesperson also confirmed the attack and told media, "The helicopter, on a medical evacuation sortie, was en-route to Quetta from Kohlu. A BLA fighter was injured and was being evacuated by the Army helicopter." Azad Baloch further said, "Since the `occupation of Balochistan` in 1948, Pakistan Army has been trying to extract oil and other natural resources in Kohistan Marri region but due to the strong resistance of Baloch fighters the state's (Pakistan)&nbspprevious attempts failed." He asserted that natural resources of Balochistan are considered a national wealth for Balochs and "our fighters are paying the price of their lives to protect these resources from Pakistani state exploitation". The spokesperson of Baloch resistance group added that some local notables are collaborating with Pakistan Army and assisting Pakistani forces to exploit the natural resources."We urge these people (local notables) to refrain from becoming part of Pakistan`s exploitative policies in Balochistan because such actions are not in the national interest of the Baloch nation,"&nbspAzad Baloch further said.

Baloch Liberation Army says it brought down Pakistan military chopper

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