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One of our favorite training birds is back... and upgraded, to boot! The high demand for single engine training aircraft has led to the return to production of the Diamond DA20-C1, powered by a 125HP Continental IO-240 engine and equipped with new state-of-the-art G500TXi Avionics. With over 1,000 DA20’s already operating worldwide, the strong desire for lower cost new single engine aircraft in training environments continues. The DA20 is proven to be the safest and most efficient aircraft for primary t

Iconic Bomber Will Need A New Engine

The Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is launching a fundraising campaign on behalf of their iconic bomber, the CAF B-17 Flying Fortress, Texas Raiders, which resides at Conroe-North Houston Regional Airport. Fondly known as “TR” by her volunteer crew, the big bomber suffered a performance issue on one engine while in transit on September 4, and out of an abundance of caution the decision was made to land the aircraft in Texarkana. Upon further inspection it became apparent that an engine change would be needed. The iconic aircraft had to be left on the ramp at Texarkana while the aircrew made their way home to prepare for the engine change. It’s a tough enough task to change an 1

Pilots Must Conduct A Pre-Flight, Comprehensive Review Of Weather, Including An Assessment Of Icing Potential

The NTSB issued Safety Alert SA-082 this week, highlighting the importance of pilots assessing, understanding and preparing for the risk of wet snow and icing conditions before flight. The “Flight in Snow” safety alert provides guidance to pilots, dispatchers and operators regarding flight during wet snow and icing conditions. Wet snow contains liquid particles on the snowflakes or liquid particles falling amongst the snowflakes compared to dry snow in which there is no liquid. The liquid in wet snow has the potential to compromise flight safety through structural, engine and windshield ice accumulation.

Firescout Arrived Sept. 15 Aboard Naval Station Norfolk

HSC-22 marks the first East Coast squadron to operate all three systems to include the MH-60S Knighthawk, MQ-8B Firescout, and MQ-8C Firescout. The new added capability of the MQ-8C combines the capabilities of the MQ-8B with the MH-60S Knighthawk to improve the Navy’s ability to investigate and target hostile surface contacts. “Incorporating the MQ-8C will represent a significant improvement in our unmanned air vehicle mission capability,” said Cmdr. Matthew Wright, HSC-22’s commanding officer. “The ‘Charlie’ is bigger, faster, can carry more mission equipment, and remain airborne over twice as long as our already-proven MQ-8B’s.”

This Infrastructure Will (First) Enable BVLOS Flights In Mckenzie And Williams Counties

The Northern Plains UAS Test Site (NPUASTS) has begun the initial stages of implementing infrastructure for North Dakota’s statewide UAS beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) network. The key site location chosen for this initial deployment of the BVLOS network is in the surrounding areas of Watford City and Williston, ND, due to the proximity of many potential use cases and existing state and local government infrastructure that can be leveraged for this deployment.

FAA 'Looks Forward To Working With The Committee To Implement Improvements Identified' (In The Report)

The FAA has responded to the long awaited report from the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure has been published and as many government reports are wont to do, it places a lot of blame... but not always prioritized according to the realities of the situation at hand. We noted in our original report that 'While the politicians were patting themselves on the back generously, the report fails to prioritize the ponderous issues involved with the airlines (and the training issues associated with them), that the airlines involved in the two accidents, presented. It also makes sweeping judgments about improper/fraud

From 2009: T-28s Celebrate 60 Year Anniversary

On July 29th, 2009, AirVenture visitors watched an exciting celebration during a special section of the air show.  This year marked the 60th year of the North American Aviation's T-28 Trojan. As jets began to replace piston aircraft after the end of World War II, the Air Force needed a more appropriate aircraft for trainers. In September of 1949, the first T-28 prototype made a successful maiden flight. Soon after, the T-28s began full production replacing the T-6s as the primary training aircraft.

"Flight Appeared To Be Losing Altitude Rapidly And (Controller) Advised The Pilot To Level The Airplane's Wings"

HISTORY OF FLIGHT: On September 4, 2020, about 2055 central daylight time, a Cirrus SR22 airplane, N733CD, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Chester, Arkansas. The private pilot and three passengers sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to initial information, the accident pilot called his flight instructor/airplane mechanic at the Muskogee-Davis Regional Airport (MKO), near Muskogee, Oklahoma, on September 4, 2020, about 1900, and advised the mechanic that he intended to fly to North Carolina. The mechanic advised the pilot t

AD 2020-18-09 Prompted By A Report Of An Engine Experiencing An Uncontained Release Of LPT Blades

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) ALF502L, ALF502L-2, ALF502L-2A, ALF502L-2C, ALF502L-3, ALF502R-3, ALF502R-3A, ALF502R-4, ALF502R-5, ALF502R-6, LF507-1F, and LF507-1H model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by a report of an engine experiencing an uncontained release of low-pressure turbine (LPT) blades. This AD requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of the overspeed fuel solenoid valve assembly and the fuel filter outlet. Depending on the results of these inspections, the AD may require inspection of the adjacent fuel system tube assemblies as well as replacement

AD 2020-18-14 Prompted By A Report From The Manufacturer That A Subsurface Anomaly Was Found

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all General Electric Company (GE) GE90-110B1 and GE90-115B model turbofan engines with a certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor stage 2 disk installed. This AD was prompted by a report from the manufacturer that a subsurface anomaly was found on a HPT rotor stage 2 disk. This AD requires an ultrasonic inspection (USI) of the HPT rotor stage 2 disk and, depending on the result of the inspection, replacement of the HPT rotor stage 2 disk with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective October 21, 2020.

Aero Linx: The Aircraft Engine Historical Society, Inc. The Aircraft Engine Historical Society, Inc. was organized in July of 2001 by a small group interested in preserving the rich history of all engines used in aerial propulsion, including rocket engines. The organizers hoped to achieve this goal by bringing together aircraft engine authors, collectors, operators, researchers and enthusiasts within a single non-profit organization. Since that time, the AEHS quarterly journal, Torque Meter, has been read by tens of thousands, and the AEHS web site has been visited by millions of people from around the world. Publication of Torque Meter was abandoned at the end of 2008 in favor of a

Flight Recorder A general term applied to any instrument or device that records information about the performance of an aircraft in flight or about conditions encountered in flight. Flight recorders may make records of airspeed, outside air temperature, vertical acceleration, engine RPM, manifold pressure, and other pertinent variables for a given flight.

“As we go into the fall season with cooling temperatures, pilots need to remain vigilant for snow and icing conditions. Pilots must conduct a pre-flight, comprehensive review of weather, including an assessment of the potential for icing, particularly when snow is part of the forecast.” Source: Dana Schulze, Director of the NTSB’s Office of Aviation Safety, discussing the recent NTSB Safety Alert, SA-082, highlighting the importance of pilots assessing, understanding and preparing for the risk of wet snow and icing conditions before flight.