Abstract: There is provided an aeronautic vehicle including a first engine capable of providing propulsion and pressurising air and an environmental control system. The environmental control system includes an electrically powered compressor capable of pressurising air and a first pressurised air powered environmental control system pack. The environmental control system is configurable to provide pressurised air from the first engine to the first environmental control system pack, and the environmental control system is configurable to a ground configuration in which pressurised air is provided from the electrically powered compressor to the first environmental control system pack. There is also provided an environmental control system for an aeronautic vehicle and a method of operating an environmental control system of an aeronautic vehicle.

Abstract: A method of casting a molten metal into a mould uses an apparatus which has a casting chamber which includes a mould into which molten metal is introduced when the casting chamber is at least partially evacuated, to fill the mould, a tundish connected to the casting chamber, the tundish having an opening in register with an inlet aperture of the casting chamber to provide an inlet flow path for the molten metal from the tundish into the casting chamber, a plug which includes a sealing part of a material with a melting temperature not greater than the temperature of the metal being cast, the method including locating the plug to close the molten metal flow path, at least partially evacuating the casting chamber, pouring a volume of molten metal into the tundish sufficient to provide the casting, whereby at least the sealing part of the plug melts to permit molten metal to flow along the flow path into the casting chamber.

Abstract: A method of operating an aircraft which includes a cabin for the aircrew which is pressurised in normal flight, and a deployment door which is opened in high altitude flight when the cabin will be depressurised, to enable a passenger and/or a load to be deployed from the depressurised cabin of the aircraft to the ground, the aircraft including an installed breathing gas system for providing a limited capacity supply of breathing gas to the aircrew in the cabin in the event of an emergency cabin de-compression, the installed breathing gas system including a source of breathing gas being substantially pure oxygen, and a line from the source to a face mask for delivering the breathing gas to an aircrew member, the method including prior to take-off on a mission according to a mission plan, determining whether the mission plan includes depressurising the cabin and opening the deployment door at high altitude, and where the cabin is planned to be depressurised at high altitude, prior to take-off on the mission, lo

Abstract: A method of casting a molten metal into a mould uses an apparatus which has a casting chamber which includes a mould into which molten metal is introduced when the casting chamber is at least partially evacuated, to fill the mould, a tundish connected to the casting chamber, the tundish having an opening in register with an inlet aperture of the casting chamber to provide an inlet flow path for the molten metal from the tundish into the casting chamber, a plug which includes a sealing part of a material with a melting temperature not greater than the temperature of the metal being cast, the method including locating the plug to close the molten metal flow path, at least partially evacuating the casting chamber, pouring a volume of molten metal into the tundish sufficient to provide the casting, whereby at least the sealing part of the plug melts to permit molten metal to flow along the flow path into the casting chamber.