Sikorsky increases production of new CH-53K helicopter

The US Navy approved full-rate production of the Sikorsky CH-53K helicopter on Friday, a decision that is expected to increase production to more than 20 helicopters annually in the coming years.

“Ramping up production of the most technologically advanced helicopter in the world allows the U.S. Marine Corps to build out its CH-53K King Stallion fleet,” said Bill Falk, director of the Sikorsky CH-53K program. Sikorsky is a Lockheed Martin company.

A network of more than 200 suppliers across 35 states supports the CH-53K program.

The Marine Corps’ approved acquisition objective is 200 aircraft.

In October 2020, the CH-53K program had five aircraft on the line at Sikorsky facilities in Connecticut and over two dozen in various stages of production.

The Corps declared Initial Operational Capability for the CH-53K helicopter in April, validating the platform’s operational readiness to forward deploy Marines and equipment across the globe.

Production through 2032 and beyond

The CH-53K is a multi-mission helicopter with heavy-lift capabilities that exceed all other U.S. Department of Defense rotary wing aircraft and is the only heavy-lift helicopter that will remain in production through 2032 and beyond. The CH-53K can carry a 27,000-pound external load over 110 nautical miles, which is more than triple the external load-carrying capacity of the legacy CH-53E aircraft.

The CH-53K King Stallion is designed to conduct expeditionary assault transport of armored vehicles, equipment, and personnel to support distributed operations deep inland from a sea-based center of operations. The aircraft can also support humanitarian relief, firefighting, and search and rescue.

Rep. Lofgren appointed lead Democrat for science, space, and technology committee

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-19) has been selected by the House Democratic Caucus to be the ranking member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee in the 118th Congress.

Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30) welcomed the appointment in a press release.

“Congresswoman Lofgren has been a longtime friend and colleague, has served on this committee for many years, and has been integral to moving forward key legislation to improve our scientific enterprise,” Johnson said. “I’m also very glad that the lead Democrat of the committee will continue to be an example to rising generations that women belong in places of leadership and science.”

The committee has exclusive jurisdiction over NASA, the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. The committee also has authority over research and development activities at the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency,  Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, and the Department of Homeland Security.

“I intend to work in a bipartisan manner to continue to improve the speed of scientific research, strengthen domestic manufacturing, and support our nation’s scientific and space enterprises,” Lofgren said.

Lofgren is also a member of the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot

New Mexican airline to begin service in first quarter of 2023

Mexico's new regional airline Aerus has purchased two Cessna SkyCourier and four Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft from Textron, Inc. The airline recently took delivery of the first three Grand Caravan EX turboprops.

The aircraft are designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Inc.

“Both aircraft offer superior performance and low operating costs in combination with flexibility in cabin and payload,” said Marcelo Moreira, vice president of Sales, Latin America region, Textron Aviation.

Based in Monterrey, Mexico, Aerus will cover unserved national and international routes in order to meet the needs of its customers.

“When we looked at options within the market to operate the routes we had in mind, it was a no-brainer decision to choose the Grand Caravan EX and the SkyCourier from Textron Aviation, which will be the cornerstone of the Aerus project,” said Javier Herrera, CEO, Aerus. “We are very proud to be one of the first operators of the new SkyCourier.”

Aerus is part of Grupo Herrera, which has 80 years of experience in the automotive, financial, and real estate industries, and has had an air taxi permit since 1990. The company plans to begin its airline operations in the first quarter of 2023.

Cessna SkyCourier

Built for high utilization operations, the Cessna SkyCourier is a twin-engine, high-wing, large-utility turboprop offered in both cargo and passenger variants. The efficient 19-passenger variant includes crew and passenger doors for smooth boarding.

Cessna Grand Caravan EX

The Grand Caravan EX turboprop was engineered for challenging missions, high and short payloads, and rough runways. It can carry up to 14 occupants with an increased speed and climb capability and offers low operating costs.

RCI Hospitality Holdings buys a restaurant, taproom, and video game arcade in Colorado

RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. announced Wednesday they have purchased a restaurant and taproom in Greenwood Village, Colo. The location is a full-service bar, brewery, and video game arcade. The purchase is part of the company's planned expansion in the greater Denver area.

“Consideration paid was $5.2 million, consisting of $1.875 million in cash and a five-year, 6.67% bank financing note with a 25-year amortization,” the company said in a press release.

The popular 12,500-square-foot food hall offers sushi, Italian sandwiches, Korean dumplings, Mexican dishes, pizza, and Mediterranean specialties. The restaurant is located at 6575 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard.

The plan is to add a mini Bombshells kitchen featuring its famous wings and salads as well as many of its popular appetizers and use the brewery to create its own, signature craft beers for sale in other RCI locations to further differentiate its brands in Colorado.

RCI recently announced the acquisition of sites in Aurora for a Bombshells restaurant and Central City for a Rick's Cabaret Steakhouse and Casino, adding to the company's five adult nightclubs in Denver.

Potential upside in stock shares

Shares of RCI Hospitality Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RICK) were trading in the $95 range on Wednesday following the restaurant acquisition news. Stock shares have gained 4.6% over the past four weeks.

In an article on Tuesday, Zacks Equity Research says “there could be plenty of upside left in the stock if short-term price targets set by Wall Street analysts are any guide. The mean price target of $122.67 indicates a 35.4% upside potential."

Nevada casino will open two safes that have been locked for 40 years

Nevada's longest-operating casino is offering an exciting look at its history with the opening of two safes that have been locked for the last 40 years. DeSimone Gaming's Railroad Pass Casino in Henderson, Nev., will display the historic findings from the safes on Dec. 29.

The event will kick off at 3:00 p.m. with a champagne toast and reception.

"Because of the vault room's space limitations, the actual openings will be live-streamed into the casino,” DeSimone said in a press release. DeSimone Gaming's founder, Joe DeSimone will open the safes.

Festivities will continue throughout the day culminating with the dedication of a new time capsule at 5:00 p.m. To maintain its place in Nevada's history, artifacts will be included from the Boulder City Council, Henderson City Council, Boulder City Historical Society, Boulder City Chamber of Commerce, Hoover Dam, and DeSimone Gaming. It will be opened in 2048, allowing future generations a look at life today.

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Wallops launch may be visible from US East Coast

Rocket Lab will launch its Electron rocket from Virginia in January. Rocket Lab has already conducted 32 Electron launches from their launch site in New Zealand. This will be their first Electron launch from the United States.

The mission, named “Virginia is for Launch Lovers,” will deploy radio frequency monitoring satellites for HawkEye 360. The 59-foot-tall Electron rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island.

Weather permitting, residents throughout much of the US East Coast could get a glimpse of the rocket launch in the night sky after launching from Wallops Island. Viewers from southern Maine, down to Georgia, and as far west as Kentucky, may see the Wallops launch.

Viewing locations on Chincoteague Island include Robert Reed Park on Main Street or Beach Road spanning the area between Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. The Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware beaches also provide good viewing locations. The NASA Visitor Center at Wallops will be open for the launch.

The US Post Office in Assawoman is a popular viewing location for a Wallops launch. The Post Office is just a few miles from Wallops Island.

This is the first Electron launch from Wallops and the first-ever use of the jointly-developed Pegasus automated flight termination system for U.S. Electron launches derived from NASA’s Autonomous Flight Termination Unit (NAFTU). The FAA has approved both NAFTU and Pegasus to support this flight, and the NASA Wallops Range Safety team has verified Rocket Lab has met all NASA launch range safety criteria to move forward with launch operations.

HawkEye 360 satellite constellation

The “Virginia is for Launch Lovers” mission will deploy three satellites for HawkEye 360, Inc., based in Herndon, Va. The three satellites, known as Cluster 6, will monitor and deliver precise geolocation of radio frequency (RF) emissions anywhere in the world and map their locations.

This is the first of three dedicated Rocket Lab flights contracted by HawkEye 360.

“We’re proud to be a Virginia-based company, with Virginia-developed technology, launching out of the Virginia spaceport,” said HawkEye 360 CEO John Serafini in a company press release.

The launch of Cluster 6 will mean HawkEye 360 will have placed 15 next-generation satellites into orbit within two years. This rapid pace will continue in 2023, with Cluster 7 anticipated to launch in February and Clusters 8 and 9 mid-year. Once Cluster 6 is commissioned, HawkEye 360 will be able to collect RF data as frequently as every hour anywhere in the world.

Navy will recover wreckage of aircraft that crashed in Mutiny Bay

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the U.S. Navy will recover the wreckage of the DHC-3 Turbine Otter that crashed on Sept. 4 off Whidbey Island, Washington, the NTSB said Friday.

The main recovery effort to raise the wreckage is expected to begin on Sept. 26.

The U.S. Navy will use the Deep Drone 8000 remotely operated vehicle (ROV), a barge and a crane to recover the wreckage from the seafloor. Once the barge is outfitted and in place, it will be a 24/7 operation. The crane will lift the aircraft wreckage pieces. The ROV will work on the seafloor collecting smaller pieces of wreckage into baskets and connecting the wreckage to the crane to be lifted.

NTSB also released a preliminary report for the investigation. The report contains facts only; the NTSB will determine the probable cause of the crash at the end of the investigation.

According to the preliminary report, the aircraft departed from Friday Harbor, Washington, around 2:50 p.m. Pacific time, with a destination of Renton Municipal Airport. At 3:09 p.m., the aircraft impacted the water and sank. The pilot and nine passengers were fatally injured.

The airplane was operating as a business charter flight. The accident occurred during the pilot’s second trip of the day. Each trip involved multiple flight legs.

Witnesses near the accident site reported the airplane was in level flight before it entered a slight climb, then pitched down in a near-vertical descent. Several witnesses described the airplane “spinning,” “rotating” or “spiraling” during portions of the descent.

NTSB coordinated with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Navigation Response Team and the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory to locate the wreckage in Mutiny Bay. A sonar survey located the main wreckage and debris field at a depth of approximately 190 feet.