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

Hypersonic aircraft developer Hermeus completed the ground testing of its Quarterhorse M1 demonstrator this week, paving the way toward first flight.
Conducted at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the ground-test campaign was completed in 21 days, encompassing integrated testing of vehicle subsystems, along with the software and hardware in the flight deck of the remotely piloted vehicle. This included checks of the redundant RF lines to ensure protection against potential electromagnetic interference issues.
In addition, Hermeus said it tested the human-machine interface to optimize pilot control. The campaign culminated in 130-knot taxi tests with full afterburner on a dry lakebed at Edwards, Hermeus said, adding this helped validate aerodynamic model assumptions and control surface performance. With ground testing complete, Hermeus is working toward obtaining U.S. Air Force and FAA approvals for flight.
"Hermeus is redefining the pace at which aircraft can be developed, tested, and fielded,” said A.J. Piplica, co-founder and CEO of Hermeus. “With Quarterhorse Mk 1, we’ve proven our ability to design and build a clean-sheet aircraft in just 204 days. Now, through this test campaign, we are demonstrating how rapidly and rigorously our team can validate the aircraft for flight—safely and comprehensively."
Quarterhorse was designed to provide insights into designs that would ultimately be used in a hypersonic civil and/or military aircraft.&nbsp; The Mk 1 high-speed demonstrator will be used for takeoff and landing trials that will evaluate the effectiveness of control surfaces in flight performance and handling at high angles of attack, maneuverability under high-wing loading, and control gains and filters within the flight software.
Meanwhile, Hermeus has begun building the next iteration, Quarterhorse Mk 2, at its Atlanta facility.&nbsp; Powered by the Pratt &amp; Whitney F100, this aircraft will be capable of reaching supersonic speeds. These demonstrators will lead to the development of Darkhorse, a multi-mission hypersonic uncrewed aircraft designed for defense and national security missions, and ultimately, if all goes according to plan, the 20-passenger Mach 5 Halcyon aircraft.

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.

Hermeus Completes Quarterhorse Demonstrator Ground Tests

Testing on Quarterhorse Mk 1 was completed in 21 days

With ground testing complete, Hermeus is now seeking approval for the flight of its Quarterhorse Mk1 demonstrator.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Jessica Reed

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

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.

Leadership changes will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025

Dave Yip To Take Over as Acting CEO of Metrojet

Hanneke Weitering

N1000-XSS1 technology demonstrator achieves first test flight

U.S. Start-up Nimbus Flies Electric Bizjet Demonstrator

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Latest structural tests earned credits towards FAA type certification

Joby Completes Static Load Tests on eVTOL Aircraft Tail

Charles Alcock

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

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Confirmation of engine and avionics partners expected to come soon

Draco Selects MT-Propeller's Quiet Fan Jet for Hyper-STOL Aircraft

K-UAM Grand Challenge kicks off eVTOL demonstration flights

Joby Flies eVTOL Aircraft in South Korea

News about commercial airlines, including regulations, aircraft orders, safety, acquisitions, and mergers.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

The eVTOL manufacturer teamed with Anduril and raised $430 million for the program

Archer Plans Hybrid VTOL Aircraft for Military Use

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

In this article

More In Aircraft

Dave Yip To Take Over as Acting CEO of Metrojet

Leadership changes will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025

U.S. Start-up Nimbus Flies Electric Bizjet Demonstrator

N1000-XSS1 technology demonstrator achieves first test flight

Joby Completes Static Load Tests on eVTOL Aircraft Tail

Latest structural tests earned credits towards FAA type certification

Draco Selects MT-Propeller's Quiet Fan Jet for Hyper-STOL Aircraft

Confirmation of engine and avionics partners expected to come soon

Joby Flies eVTOL Aircraft in South Korea

K-UAM Grand Challenge kicks off eVTOL demonstration flights

Archer Plans Hybrid VTOL Aircraft for Military Use

The eVTOL manufacturer teamed with Anduril and raised $430 million for the program

VAI's James Viola To Succeed Pete Bunce at GAMA Helm

Bunce will retire in April and Viola will join GAMA after VAI's Verticon

Aero Friedrichshafen Show Teams with AIN for Bizav Boost

April 2025 trade show in Germany will feature an enlarged area for the business aviation sector

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN