Also: Junkers A50 Heritage, Montaer Grows, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Vans' Latest 

Officially, the Carbon Cub UL and Rotax 916 iS is now in its 'market survey development phase', meaning it's just about to head into the oven, but the recipe isn't inked just yet. CubCrafters VP Brad Damm wants to see everyone chip in with their two cents to see how they feel about the prospective aircraft. So far, everything that's been shown off paints a very attractive portrait of a lightweight, capable, eager little bird, boasting an empty weight "well below 900 lbs..." CKD Aerospace hit innovation preview with a couple goodies right off the bat, updating fans on their line of kit aircraft, Fisher Flying Products. Now, Fisher Flying Products are looking to moving from spruce into rag & tube. The Affordable Flying Expo is on the books for January 9th through the 11th of 2025. The new fly-in offers a well-timed excuse to take the family down south to e

Shell Game of SAF Storage Shows That Nascent Fuel Industry Requires Some Planning At This Stage

Boeing was pleased to announce the purchase of 9.4 million gallons of blended sustainable jet fuel for use in its US commercial operations, offering a small pocket positive PR in a never ending slurry of drama. The blended fuel sports a 70/30 split, with the lesser portion coming from waste by-products like kitchen fats, greases, oils, and the like. All 10 million gallons will be put into the Boeing ecoDemonstrator program, for one, with the rest spread out over company flights when they can use it. Interestingly, Boeing couldn't just grab all of that fuel in one place, having to spread out their total order across their own facilities and partner tanks. Boeing's own fuel facilities in the Pacific Northwest will see 4 million gallons, while Neste will ship 2.5 million to EPIC Fuels and 1.5 million to Avfuel.

Model Finds Home in Kids' Museum

Northrop Grumman has handed over ownership of a full scale model of the NASA James Webb Space Telescope, granting it to the Space Foundation for display in their museum in Colorado. The model once graced skylines across the country for a time, garnering interest as it displayed the unusual multi-sail protective sheeting and convex lens. The model helped to raise awareness of the next-gen telescope program, but now it can head on to rest at the Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs. "From New York to Paris, this life-size replica of the Webb Telescope inspired communities around the world and, in doing so, invited friends and families to explore the cosmos together to better understand the origins of the universe," said Chris Adams, vice president and general manager, strategic space systems, Northrop Grumman.

Wilbur Air Goes Shopping for Sustainable Aviation Down Under

Electric air taxi operator Skyportz announced a new subsidiary to provide all-electric operations under the Wilbur Air name, adding another future carrier to the Australian travel landscape. Wilbur Air opted to go with Electra.Aero's eSTOL for their flagship aircraft, inking a deal for 100 units with the American manufacturer. Wilbur Air does say that they won't just rest with the single-model fleet though, future buys will add everything from heavy lift and drone delivery to long-range sustainable passenger transit. 

Reised NetJets Pilot Contract Comes After Year of Negotiations

NetJets pilots have ratified a revised employment contract after a year of tough negotiations, marking a significant development in the aviation industry. This new agreement, approved by a majority vote among the pilots, promises a substantial 52.5% increase in overall compensation, reflecting the pilots' pivotal role in the company's operations. The ratification process ended a period of acrimonious discussions between NetJets and the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP). The negotiation outcomes have been overwhelmingly positive, with 78.31% of the voting members in favor of the new terms, compared to 21.69% against, showcasing strong support for the revised contract provisions.

Engineer Dies of Prop Strike at Gray Butte Airfield

The tragic incident involving Stephanie Cosme at Gray Butte Airfield underscores critical issues in operational safety and situational awareness in high-risk environments. Cosme, a 32-year-old test engineer employed by Sumaria Systems, LLC, was fatally injured on September 7, 2023, when she walked into a rotating propeller of an MQ-9A Reaper drone during a ground test. The Air Force's investigation into the accident highlighted several key factors contributing to the unfortunate event. Firstly, the report indicates that Cosme was inadequately trained on how to properly approach the aircraft while conducting telemetry readings.

Also: Martha King Scholarship, Montaer Grows, Textron Updates Pistons, FlySto

The FAA is hiring thousands of air traffic controllers, but the window to apply will only be open for a short time. The FAA has issued a call to action, requesting anyone and everyone meeting the relatively accommodating standards. They will have to bolster their numbers soon, with plans to hire 1,800 more controllers this year, and another 2,000 in 2025. Spirit Airlines announced its decision to defer the delivery of new Airbus aircraft and furlough approximately 260 pilots. The budget airline, headquartered in Miramar, Florida, is taking these measures as part of its strategy to boost liquidity amidst challenging times. Redbird Flight, manufacturer of flight simulators and training devices, came out in force to Sun 'n Fun 2024, with all kinds of new goodies in tow. Their new friends at the Recreational Aviation Foundation have kept up their momentum in keeping a presenc

Also: Flight Club, Jet Shades, MyGoFlight’s FlightFlix Acquisition

FIFTY YEARS! What a milestone for the aviation world’s master aero-education duo! John, Martha, along with their CEO Barry Knutilla have come to Sun ‘n Fuin to celebrate a half-century of keeping us educated while also casting eyes upon the future. Ya want to land and take off REALLY short? Ya want to keep it simple? Ya want it to cost less than your house? Bryce Angell’s newly created Top Rudder aircraft has some affordable, highly capable STOL-ready aero-toys for you! The ultimate cockpit visual aid? Aileronics has introduced the Sentinel, a portable sensor that can be mounted in any cockpit and assist with the chores of seeing and avoiding hazards in your flight path. There is a cool new offering by the name of Flight Club... Flight Club is a double-sided marketplace that connects aircraft owners with pilots looking to rent an aircraft. The idea is not a n

Also: Seaplane Pilots Association, Rotax 916’s First Year, Gene Conrad

After a decade and a half of struggling with the FAA and other aero-politics, G100UL is in production and there are a million gallons currently available. You can NEVER have too many good aids in keeping a flight safe... Holy Micro has an interesting approach to keeping pilots informed. The folks at Plane Tags have collected memorabilia from over 200 aircraft of all makes and categories... And offer mementos of great planes in aviation’s proud history. SPA’s Steve McCaughey updates the Airborne team on the latest and greatest in one of the aviation world’s coolest (sometimes we mean that literally) aviation pursuits. ANN had the honor of helping to introduce the Rotax 915 at last year’s Innovation Preview and we got a chance to review what a year in the field is teaching the aviation biz. Gene Conrad Catches His Breath During Our Morning Brief... an

Also: Bushcat Woes, Hummingbird 300 SL 4-Seat Heli Kit, Carbon Cub UL

The newest Junkers is a faithful recreation that mates a 7-cylinder Verner radial engine to the airframe offered last year with a Rotax 912... but a desire for more historic accuracy led to the A50 Heritage. The Helicycle has gone through a number of owners and iterations but looks to be in good hands with a company that keeps tweaking and improving this unique turbine single-engine, single-seat kit helicopter. The Brazilian Montaer MC-01 is about to be joined by a four-place sibling, the MC-04. The two-seater is holding its own though with a number of impressive fleet sales and growing popularity here in the states. Life throws challenges at you now and then... and the folks got thrown a curveball at the start of SnF24. AeroSport has been the US Distributor for SkyReach and its BushCat light sport aircraft... until the manufacturer announced that they were not going to offering kits