Kerry Lynch stepped into the role of editor of the&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;monthly magazine in May 2022 after serving with&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;for eight years. She joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in December 2014 as a senior editor covering Washington and business aviation news. She has also served on Convention News teams, including as editor of&nbsp;HAI Convention News. Lynch previously spent 25 years with Aviation Week. During her time there, she reported for and later steered&nbsp;The Weekly of Business Aviation, oversaw business aviation content on the&nbsp;Aviation Week Intelligence Network, served on the&nbsp;Show News&nbsp;staff, and held roles as the Washington columnist for&nbsp;Business &amp; Commercial Aviation&nbsp;and&nbsp;Overhaul &amp; Maintenance&nbsp;monthly magazines. In 2021 she was honored with the National Business Aviation Association Platinum Wing Award for lifetime achievement in journalism and was the 2004 recipient of the National Air Transportation Association’s Aviation Journalism Excellence Award. She also has been a recipient of an Aerospace Media Award for business aviation (2022) and NBAA Gold Wing Award (2003, 2024). Lynch graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor of arts in journalism.

Editor, AIN monthly magazine

Kerry Lynch

High-speed aircraft developer Hermeus has brought online the first phase of a facility designed to address what it calls a critical shortage of hypersonic test infrastructure. The High Enthalpy Air-Breathing Test (HEAT) facility has already been used to complete a series of trials on a Pratt &amp; Whitney F100, the base engine model that will power Hermeus’ supersonic and hypersonic test vehicles.
Based at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida, the HEAT facility incorporates upgraded test infrastructure from the former Cecil Naval Air Station. Hermeus inherited test cells built in 1959 and an aircraft “hush house,” or sound-dampening structure, that followed in 1989, the company said. It is updating these facilities to provide a venue for modern military and commercial engine testing.
“In just three months since breaking ground, HEAT has come online and is positioned to unlock low-cost, high-capability propulsion testing that will support the delivery of hypersonic aircraft before the end of the decade,” said Hermeus co-founder and CEO A.J. Piplica. “Current hypersonic test facilities are booked a year or more in advance and are prohibitively expensive. HEAT will alleviate capacity limitations, offer more affordable options, and establish itself as a critical national resource for hypersonic testing.”
Plans call to continue to build out the HEAT facility incrementally, including adding a continuous high-Mach vitiated airflow to simulate more flight-like hypersonic testing conditions.
Current F100 tests involve its use in Hermeus’ next test vehicle, Quarterhorse Mk 2, which will fly at speeds exceeding Mach 2. Hermeus also plans to use the F100 as the turbine core for its Chimera engine, which will be capable of reaching Mach 5. Chimera will power Quarterhorse Mk 3, which will demonstrate turbine-to-ramjet mode transition in flight.

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

Hermeus Brings the HEAT with Hypersonic Test Facility

Location incorporates upgraded former NAS equipment at Cecil Airport

Hermeus has brought a test facility online to conduct trials of supersonic and hypersonic engine capabilities.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News about environmental issues relating to aircraft operations, including noise issues, emissisions, and regulations. See Fuel for biofuel.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Textron eAviation subsidiary has long been deep into propulsion R&D

Pipistrel Advances Hydrogen, Hybrid, and Electric Power Options

Mark Huber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

A range of traditional and new technologies are in the works for a variety of capabilities

New-generation Engines Driving Future of Aircraft

Hanneke Weitering

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

Hydrogen fuel prospects spark engine innovations

Fueling the Future: Engine Makers Bet on Hydrogen Power

No major business aviation OEMs have yet committed to hydrogen propulsion

French Start-up Beyond Aero Gets Backing for Hydrogen Bizjet

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

In this article

More In Engines

Pipistrel Advances Hydrogen, Hybrid, and Electric Power Options

Textron eAviation subsidiary has long been deep into propulsion R&D

New-generation Engines Driving Future of Aircraft

A range of traditional and new technologies are in the works for a variety of capabilities

Fueling the Future: Engine Makers Bet on Hydrogen Power

Hydrogen fuel prospects spark engine innovations

French Start-up Beyond Aero Gets Backing for Hydrogen Bizjet

No major business aviation OEMs have yet committed to hydrogen propulsion

Elfly Will Distribute Electric BR23 Training Aircraft in Nordic Countries

BR23 Energic is an electric version of the piston-powered two-seater

Serbia's Green Power Certifying Small Turboprop Engine

Low-cost turboprop engine could be suitable replacement for pistons

EcoPulse Partners Report on Hybrid-electric Flight Tests

Technology demonstrator based on TBM aircraft logged 100 flight hours

MagniX and NASA Complete Electric Propulsion Ground Tests

Magni650 electric propulsion unit simulated flight at 30,000 feet on a testbed aircraft

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN