Tentative Launch Date Now March 11

After four weeks of delays stemming from a persistent issue with fuel control valves, NASA appears nearly ready to launch the space shuttle Discovery less than one week from now.

Flexing Blades Could Make Helos More Efficient

Helicopters today are considered a loud, bumpy and inefficient mode for day-to-day domestic travel... best reserved for medical emergencies, traffic reporting and hovering over celebrity weddings. But NASA research into rotor blades made with shape-changing materials could change that view.

Mountain Empire, Winchester Regional Among Airports Receiving Improvement Money

The Virginia Aviation Board (VAB) recently approved tentative allocations of Commonwealth Airport Funds for Fiscal year 2009 at its meeting on Thursday, February 19.

Specialized Grand Variant To Perform High-Altitude Rescues

AgustaWestland recently unveiled the Da Vinci helicopter to Swiss air-rescue operator REGA during an official ceremony held at AgustaWestland's Vergiate plant. The Da Vinci is a modern top-of-the-range light twin specifically developed from the AgustaWestland Grand to meet REGA's Da Vinci project requirements for a mountain rescue and air-ambulance helicopter.

Will Slash 750 Positions By Mid-June

The firm created by the merger of the El Segundo and Redondo Beach operations of aerospace manufacturer Northrop Grumman plans to cut up to 750 jobs in Southern California over the next three months, the latest casualties of increasing consolidation in the military and defense sectors.

World's Biggest Space Party Comes To Hampton Roads

The world's biggest space party is coming to Hampton Roads. Partygoers will join 198 cities, in 51 countries, for Yuri's Night, a celebration of space exploration, April 4, 2009, from 7 pm to midnight at the Virginia Air & Space Center in downtown Hampton.

Revamped FBO Includes New Pilots Lounge

Jorgensen Air Service (JAS) recently opened a full-service fixed base operator and flight school at Olympia Regional Airport (KOLM) in Washington State. 

Composite Blades May Now Spin Upfront On RVs

Homebuilt aircraft giant Van's Aircraft recently started offering Hartzell Propeller's new ASC-II "advanced composite" constant speed propellers for application on its current line of offerings. Van's RV models powered by Lycoming -360 engines will accept the new Hartzell 2-blade ASC-II composite props, while the RV-10 with Lycoming -540 power plants can use the new 3-blade composite propeller.

Great Lakes Dealership Sole US Distributor For Super Dimonas

Great Lakes Diamond Aircraft Sales, Inc. told ANN Thursday about the reintroduction of the Diamond Hk36 Super Dimona Motorglider for US pilots.

Employees Sue Defunct Planemaker For Back Wages

The lights have been turned out for good at the Albuquerque, NM facilities for the company that once was Eclipse Aviation. When -- if -- they're ever turned on again under the auspices of manufacturing and supporting aircraft, they'll do so with another company at the switch.

Says Lawmaker's Comments Put "The Real Face Of Business Aviation"

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen commended Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) Wednesday for taking to the floor of the Senate to remind his colleagues of the value of business aviation for citizens, communities and companies across the US.

The SkyCatchers Are Coming... Soon!

It won't be long now... before brand new Cessna LSAs start taking to the sky to help a new generation of aviators take wing. At the 2009 US Sport Aviation Expo, ANN's Jim Campbell caught up with the Cessna folks to get an update on the SkyCatcher program.

Judge Tells Mesa To go! Start Over

The attempt by Mesa Air Group to use the name of a former competitor has hit a snag.

Rudy Frasca Recipient Of 2009 Cabot Award

The Aero Club of New England will fete Rudy Frasca, Founder & CEO of Frasca International, as the 2009 recipient of the nationally acclaimed Godfrey L. Cabot Award at a luncheon to be held at Seaport Hotel, Boston, MA Friday, June 5, 2009.

Low-Cost Carrier Thinks Third Time's The Charm For Unpopular Fee

It's not quite the same basement-level practice as charging to use the lav... but we daresay it's close. On Tuesday, Spirit Airlines quietly began to charge customers who book tickets for travel on the ultra-low-cost carrier.

Will Investigate What Went Wrong With Orbiting Carbon Observatory Launch

NASA has selected all the members of the board that will investigate the unsuccessful launch of the Orbiting Carbon Observatory on February 24. Rick Obenschain, deputy director at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD, will lead the mishap investigation board.

Multi-University Entity Would Boost R&D, Promote Spaceport Competitiveness

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University said it is gaining support for a multi-university Space Transportation Research & Development Institute (STRDI) as space industry leaders gather in Tallahassee for Florida Space Day on Wednesday.

Developing Wireless Bus For USAF Research Laboratory

Radios are wireless. Telephones are wireless. Computers are wireless. And in the next step forward in space systems, satellite equipment could become wireless too.

Aero-Linx!

Aerial cinematography often encompasses more than air-to-air photography of other aircraft.

Aero-Terms!

A type of construction for the airframes of aircraft. It makes use of a space frame formed from a spirally crossing basket-weave of load-bearing members. The principle is that two geodesic arcs can be drawn to intersect on a curving surface (the fuselage) in a manner that the torsonial load on each cancels out that on the other.

"You might say we're dreamers.

"Eclipse Aviation was formed with the humble intention of transforming the aviation industry into something better than it was before. You can't do something like that by half measures. That's why we embrace and incorporate innovation, imagination, and boldness in everything we do. There is an intensity and a passion here you just don't find anywhere else. We love what we're doing, and it shows in all we do"

Source: From the Web site for now-defunct Eclipse Aviation. On Wednesday, US Bankruptcy Judhe May Walrath "orally granted" a motion converting what had been a Chapter 11 restructuring effort, to Chapter 7 liquidation. A document making it official should be signed sometime Thursday.