Mentor Blogs

A new, non-lethal microwave weapon is causing a great deal of excitement in the military and aerospace (mil/aero) community. Military officials the world over have been asking for new, non-lethal options, such as directed-energy deterrents, with which to counter irregular, or non-traditional and asymmetric, warfare tactics, especially in urban environments with large civilian populations. The U.S. Air … Read More

Hardware, Geek, Kirtland Air Force Base, The Dark Knight Rises, AFRL, Milaero, Boeing, Military, Raytheon’s Ktech subsidiary, Aerospace, Sandia National Laboratories, Mentor, Directed Energy Directorate, Mentor Graphics, EMP, Mentor.com, Boeing Phantom Works, Mil-Aero, Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project

Look, up in the air. It’s a microwave missile. It’s a smart bomb. Actually, it’s CHAMP, the Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project, and it’s arguably the hottest directed-energy innovation in the military and aerospace (mil/aero) market today. Government and industry—including the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Boeing Phantom Works, Raytheon’s Ktech subsidiary, … Read More

Hardware, Geek, Kirtland Air Force Base, The Dark Knight Rises, AFRL, Milaero, Boeing, Military, Raytheon’s Ktech subsidiary, Aerospace, Sandia National Laboratories, Mentor, Directed Energy Directorate, Mentor Graphics, EMP, Mentor.com, Boeing Phantom Works, Mil-Aero, Counter-electronics High-powered Microwave Advanced Missile Project

I’ve recently spoken with several people about the security of connected vehicles and I learned, among other things, that providing 100 percent protection for cars 100 percent of the time is most likely not possible. Cars are increasingly connected in a variety of ways, and connected cars will eventually be hacked. The threat is not dire at the moment but it could become so, and now is when auto … Read More

intel, Icon Labs, Lockheed Martin, Cisco, connected cars, Boeing, U.S. Army, Freescale, Green Hills, Wind River, connected vehicles, embedded firewall

Airbus and The Boeing Company might appear to have little in common, but they certainly share a fascinating, and even intertwined, history. Both aviation firms are pioneers, having contributed numerous innovations in the field throughout the years. As technology advancements, new aircraft models, and litigations continue in the years that follow, so too does the competition between the two airframe … Read More

Mentor, Geek, Mentor Graphics, Airbus, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Design Automation, Mil-Aero, Engineer, Boeing, Milaero

Airbus delayed the availability of the A350-1000, intended to compete with The Boeing Company’s enhanced 777 twinjet; yet, customers continue to cancel early orders for the upcoming Airbus wide-body jet. This delay is giving Boeing the chance it needs to push its 777 successor (being called the Boeing 777X) forward, while utilizing all the lessons learned from its infamously delayed 787 Dreamliner. … Read More

Engineer, Embedded Systems, Geek, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Airbus, 777, Hardware, DoD, Jet, electrical, Mentor, Mentor Graphics, Boeing

“The delays are not caused by bungling or production glitches,” EADS CEO Louis Gallois is quoted as saying at the 2011 International Paris-Le Bourget Air Show (http://www.paris-air-show.com/). “The A350 is the best-managed program at Airbus by far and the program is under control. This is not about delays but about improvements in the program.” Airbus executives decided to delay by one year the new … Read More

Mentor, Design Automation, Mentor Graphics, A350-1000, Aerospace, 700-300ER, Mentor.com, Boeing, Milaero, Airbus, Technology

Airbus and The Boeing Company have been the subjects of much criticism when it comes to production delays. While one company works to rationalize a delay in entering new aircraft into service, the rival often uses the other’s delay to its own advantage; in both cases, the public is often entertained by the sometimes creative “spins” on an unfortunate happenstance. In mid-2011, Airbus executives reluctantly … Read More

Mentor, Hardware, Mentor Graphics, Airbus, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Geek, Boeing, Milaero, Design Automation, Technology

The Boeing Company was enjoying its newfound military aviation success, but never abandoned its pursuit of the growing international and domestic airmail delivery market. In 1923, the company released the Boeing Model 40, which would go down in history as the first Boeing aircraft to carry passengers. Soon after, The Boeing Company produced the aircraft’s cousin, the Model 40A. This new mail aircraft … Read More

Mentor, Geek, Mentor Graphics, Model 80, BAT, Model 80A, William H. Boeing, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Boeing Air Transport, Mil-Aero, Milaero, Bertha Boeing, Military, Boeing

The Boeing Company, perhaps contrary to popular belief, did not quickly or easily skyrocket to top of the aviation market; in fact, the company suffered several significant setbacks that would have caused many to throw up their hands and close their doors. Founder William Boeing would not be dissuaded or deterred, however. In 1923, The Boeing Company started to turn around and began its transformation … Read More

Mentor, Geek, Mentor Graphics, William H. Boeing, Warfighters, Model 15, Boeing, P-12, U.S. Army Air Corps, Aerospace, U.S. Navy, Mentor.com, Engineer, Mil-Aero, F4B, Milaero, Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co., Military

The Boeing Company, William Boeing, and Pilot Eddie Hibbard all solidified their place in history in 1919, delivering mail internationally between Canada and the U.S.—first while flying a Boeing C-700 and later a Boeing B-1. The historic Boeing B-1 aircraft was partially constructed of wood laminate veneer, plywood, and spruce. When aviation geeks think of wood planes, Howard Hughes no doubt comes … Read More

Mentor Graphics, Mentor, Mentor.com, BB-L6, William H. Boeing, Wood Plane, Boeing, Aerospace, Mil-Aero, Geek, Milaero, Hardware, Military, Mount Rainer, Eddie Hibbard

The Boeing Company was struggling after World War I, but Founder William Boeing and his management team pressed on, encouraging and funding the proactive research and development of many different commercial biplane designs. As it turns out, none of the new biplane designs ever made it into production. Not to be dissuaded by this unfortunate fact, Boeing continued to innovate and make history. On 3 … Read More

Mentor, Geek, Mentor Graphics, U.S. Navy, B-1, Warfighters, William H. Boeing, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Eddie Hibbard, Mil-Aero, Engineer, Milaero, Boeing, Military, C-700

World War I ended in 1918 and brought with it a huge surplus of aircraft. This surplus caused the newly formed Boeing Company to experience some growing pains as the extra military aircraft were sold into the commercial aircraft market. Making things worse, the company’s commercial sales of the Model C biplane hit a slump at the same time. This challenging era did not bode well for the 337 people that … Read More

Mil-Aero, Mentor.com, Milaero, Boeing, Curtiss Aeroplane Company, Aerospace, Mentor, Military, Model C, Mentor Graphics, Geek, Red Barn, HS-2L, William H. Boeing

Virtually everyone knows of Boeing, but how many are aware of its history? This geek finds it fascinating. In 1916, Yale University Alumnus William E. Boeing formed The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington. Why Seattle? Seattle’s booming wood industry included a wealth of Spruce, a wood deemed to be perfect for manufacturing airplanes. Interestingly enough, Boeing began his career in the timber industry … Read More

Mentor.com, Mentor Graphics, Mil-Aero, Seattle, B&W, William H. Boeing, Yale University, Aerospace, Milaero, George Conrad Westervelt, Navy, Mentor, Pacific Aero Product Co., Boeing, Seaplane, Geek

Airbus aircraft, in stark contrast to some Boeing airliners, are largely manufactured in Europe. The company’s origin as a consortium of European aerospace companies no doubt is a contributing factor; yet, the company is not entirely immune to outsourcing. In fact, Airbus opened a plant in China, one of the fastest-growing consumers of air travel, in 2009. The name “Airbus”, interestingly enough, was … Read More

Mentor Graphics, Mentor, Mentor.com, Aerospace, Airbus, A300, Mil-Aero, Boeing, Milaero, Geek, Outsourcing, Aviation History

The Boeing 747 was the pinnacle of success in aviation. The jumbo jet became the symbol for aviation and opened up the world to global travelers. Boeing was reaping the rewards and reveling in the success that was the 747. Airbus wasn’t resting on its laurels, however, and had set its sights on the popular jet. In 1988, Airbus lead engineer Jean Roeder and a team of engineers began to develop … Read More

Paris Air Show, Military, Mentor Graphics, A380, Aerospace, Mentor.com, Mil-Aero, Milaero, 747, Engineer, European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company, BAE Systems, Geek, Aérospatiale-Matra, Mentor, Airbus, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, Boeing, EADS, Technology